Chapter 341
Chapter 341
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: Immortals and Mortals (10)
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[There is a guest seeking you, Fernandez.]
Lavirata suddenly lifted her head and said as much. The Wraith Lord could see the entire city through her own eyes—or more precisely, through the eyes of the dead she had awakened.
Lavirata raised her hand, and the handmaidens ceased their fanning.
[So, how about bending your stubbornness now?]
“……Stubbornness……?”
[You are as obstinate as an eighty-year-old man.]
“I have no words to deny that truth.”
After the incident at Sun Plaza, Fernandez had begun physical training. Officially, it was to attune himself more quickly to this new body, but both he and Lavirata knew no such attunement was necessary.
His body was, after all, shaped directly from his soul's form into the material world. The bond between soul and flesh was even superior to that of his previous body. And yet, for nearly a full week since, Fernandez had pushed his body to grueling extremes.
It was a form of protest. A declaration that since he was in perfect condition, he could leave the city at any moment. Yet it was Lavirata who had saved him, and departing without her permission would be discourteous to the one who had spared his life.
Beyond mere etiquette, it was a political calculation. Ivaris lay on the major trade route between Kirjat and the Empire. In exaggeration, her wrath could spark a new Fifty Years' War.
[I yield. Were those the words you so longed to hear?]
“I am sincerely grateful for your benevolence.”
Aside from the statue at Sun Plaza, that is. Fernandez replied curtly, and Lavirata burst into clear laughter.
[In truth, it was I who was being stubborn. Very well, your condition is perfect. My aged greed in wishing to keep you has troubled you enough—any further desire would be rude indeed.]
Lavirata had hoped he would not leave. No place in this world was truly safe, but from her position, where she could literally command every revenant in the city directly, everywhere outside Ivaris was a dangerous world.
She could not hold him forever, but at least for a little while longer, she wanted to give this man rest. That was Lavirata's wish, and Fernandez had respected her feelings by waiting.
Even so, a week cut off from the outside world was too long.
Now that someone from outside had finally entered the city seeking him, Lavirata decided to concede cleanly. She could no longer detain him.
[The guest knows you well, but you must be cautious. Your survival is unknown to the outside. If they have found you nonetheless……]
“Either an idealist wandering on the faintest hope, or an information reflex automaton. I expected as much.”
The moment he heard a guest was seeking him, Fernandez considered these two possibilities.
If the former, perhaps Abel. He could not be certain. Given Abel's nature, she was more likely to retreat into seclusion after his death. But not Kirhas or Rene—they had too many responsibilities.
If the latter, then Piel. The orcs had neither reason nor means to seek him, leaving her as the only 'prophet' who knew him well.
‘Feizashi would have had a word or two about this.’
He smiled bitterly at the thought. For some reason, every face that came to mind was a woman's, leaving him utterly baffled at how his life had turned out this way.
[They will arrive here soon, so don your attire and prepare. The send-off will be modest.]
“My thanks.”
[You wound me—were you so desperate to leave?]
“I meant thanks for all your benevolence. Not just the past favors, but right up to this moment.”
As Fernandez donned his overcoat, Lavirata fell silent for a moment before erupting in loud laughter.
[Your trials are not merely due to your way with women. I am not among the living, but I shall offer advice from their perspective—heed it like gold. Your troubles stem not from your looks, but from your tongue. Mind your words henceforth.]
“……I shall consider it.”
[Then wait here.]
Lavirata chuckled and departed. Fernandez glanced at her retreating figure, then dressed fully, secured his greatsword to the saddle. The living horse she had procured neighed roughly under the sudden weight of the two additional greatswords.
* * *
Zephys hoped this was a dream. He had come to the city of revenants, convinced Fernandez might be alive, but the sight before him should not exist in reality.
As the city's skyline came into view on the horizon, he could only mutter blankly.
“Hm. The mirage takes a rather peculiar form.”
His brother's face appeared like a mirage on the city's outskirts. It was too distastefully vivid to be mere longing for a brother thought dead. Just the face looming over the outer wall was unseemly enough.
“The mirage is remarkably lifelike…….”
By the time Ivaris's towering outer wall loomed close, the mirage had drawn equally near.
At that point, Zephys instinctively realized it was no mirage. As a Demonica inquisitor, his sense of distance transcended human limits.
That was no illusion or phantasm—it was a real, existing statue. His instincts analyzed it calmly.
“I can only hope my brother is not in this city.”
Given Fernandez's temperament, he would sooner bite off his own tongue than endure such a sight. Zephys urged his horse toward the outer gate, muttering. Soon, the sentries spotted him.
[Halt, stranger. You approach the great City of the Sun. State your purpose and destination.]
“I am Albert. I have come to this city seeking my brother.”
[There are no living in this city. Mortal.]
The revenant in gleaming armor spoke in a parched voice. Zephys sighed from horseback, pondering. Entering the city would not be easy. But having seen that statue, he needed at least a clue from within.
-Screeeee!
Then, a falcon dove from the city center's sky, perching on the soldier's standard behind him. The soldiers knelt in unison, bowing their heads to the standard.
The soldier speaking to Zephys dropped to one knee and waited silently. The falcon pecked at a golden ornament with its beak, peering down at the soldier.
-Flutter!
Moments later, the falcon flapped away into the sky. The soldier bowed deeply toward the city center, rose, and cleared the path to the main boulevard.
[Follow the main road straight toward the palace in view, to Sun Plaza. Ivaris's King of Kings awaits you.]
Zephys spurred his horse, gazing at the resplendent palace visible amid the densely packed buildings beyond the boulevard.
* * *
[Ah, your guest approaches.]
Lavirata said, looking toward the plaza's entrance. Fernandez deliberately turned his back to the statue, gazing at the sun-baked plaza shimmering with midday haze. Soon, a mounted silhouette appeared. It was unmistakably a man of imposing build, robes billowing as he approached—no woman, by any measure.
Their eyes met. Though still distant, both men could see across such spans as if face-to-face.
“Brother Zephys?”
“Brother……! Alive—truly alive!”
-Clop, clop.
The horse approached at a brisk trot. Crossing more than half the plaza, Zephys leaped from the saddle and ran forward.
“Truly, the Lord has blessed us.”
[I saved your 'brother,' not your god.]
“That too is the Lord's path. On behalf of the Church, I offer thanks.”
[Ha! A living priest flattering me—first I've seen. I like you already.]
Lavirata laughed ha! and nodded. Zephys gave her a brief bow of the head, then gripped Fernandez's shoulders firmly.
“You're really alive. What in the world happened? And that will—what was that?”
“It wasn't a will, but a contingency plan of sorts. Brother, since you mention it, may I ask how far the plan has progressed?”
“Because you held the relic, the plan itself was halted. But now that you're back, it shouldn't be difficult.”
Fernandez nodded silently. He mounted up and turned to Lavirata.
“I depart, Lavirata.”
[I hope, when we meet again, you still live.]
“I'll do my best.”
Fernandez rode off with Zephys. The revenants who had gathered in the plaza to watch them and the pharaoh knelt one by one in time with his steps.
No one spoke. A quiet silence descended over the parched city. Amid this vast metropolis, more ancient than any civilized city, adorned in forgotten dyes and wools, two living men departed.
She had said the send-off would be modest. Yet Fernandez felt this moment would linger longer than the grandest celebration.
“The foundation of High Asit magic is respect…….”
He gazed at the revenants substituting gold with silence, bowing his head in return. The living have their time. These honored it with silence.
Far off, beneath Ivaris's high walls, the gate came into view. On the gate's gallery, High Asit cuneiform read: [We are your future.] In the city where he first saw those words, he had taken them as a threat.
No. It was no threat or hint. Simply the ancients' roundabout way of saying, literally, 'We are your present.'
The living left the city of the dead. They rode once more onto the land brimming with vitality.
* * *
“The revenants seem quite fond of you, brother.”
“It just happened that way.”
“I've never seen such a grand statue in my lifetime. Do they revere you as a god?”
“……I'd rather not talk about it, brother.”
Zephys smiled warmly at the quietly grumbling Fernandez. The eternally youthful man finally looked his age. He nodded readily and took the reins.
“Straight back to the Church?”
“I have a few stops first. The Empire and Church will manage without me, but others won't.”
“Ah, you mean your 'ladies.'”
Zephys teased, and Fernandez glared briefly. Soon, even he chuckled and replied.
“You've brightened up lately. It suits you, brother.”
“Must be joy at your return.”
“And that's not all. You've surely benefited greatly from your 'lady's' graces.”
Zephys said nothing, urging the horse faster. Fernandez laughed ha ha! and followed. It had been ages since such light banter, and only now did he truly feel alive again.
It was more enjoyable than he had imagined. Surprisingly so.
* * *
“Lindbloom.”
Freya gently stroked the sleeping dragon's snout. A hot breath whooshed, scattering floor dust. She watched its enormous eye—nearly as big as her own body—slowly focus on her.
“Don't be startled. Listen. I sense his presence.”
“Judging by the location, he must have holed up in the city of wraiths. The life force Mumto bound across this land is only now blooming late, and with no unusual revenants, I overlooked it. Why didn't I think of that first?”
“Are you listening? Lindbloom. He's alive. And…… heading this way now. Not far—shall we go meet him?”
Freya whispered to the dragon, who merely gazed down silently for a long while. Then, it parted its jaws and whispered softly.
“How long…… how long until he arrives? Here, I mean.”
“At this speed…… two hours should suffice.”
No sooner had it spoken than a blast of hot wind surged. Freya stumbled back a few steps. In her place appeared a woman primly dressed in a shroud. She rushed to a corner of the nest, rummaging frantically.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“A sword.”
“What? Why a sword……?”
Her stored belongings bounced around the nest. After much digging, she pulled out a dusty longsword.
“Alive all this time, and not a single word…… not once reached out. Fernandez…….”
“There must have been circumstances……?”
Freya gulped and retreated from the menacing aura. Abel blew dust off the blade, checking her reflection.
“Nothing odd? Do I look strange now?”
“……You needed a mirror……?”
“Dragon form needs no mirror.”
Abel tilted her head, then smiled like a blooming flower, sheathed the sword, and began tidying the nest.
Two hours. Laughably short compared to the past months.
A mere instant against the decades ahead. She was a dragon, a long-lived being accustomed to waiting.
Yet those two hours weighed heavier than a lifetime, drawing a wry smile as Abel pressed her eyes with both hands.
“If you cry now, what will you do when you see him face-to-face, Lindbloom?”
“Then…… I'll smile. Because I'm happy…….”
“Crying from sadness now?”
“No, from joy……. Joy, gratitude. Grateful, but…… I don't want him to see.”
Time, worn and ancient, began to flow again. Time shrouded in the long dragon's lair. The time of the living.