"Then, Let's Meet Again."
The darkness gradually swallowed the man whole. Embracing Ian and Mir protectively, I glared at him fiercely.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Abigail Carpoem."
"You…!"
Before he could say another word, the man vanished into the shadows. I stared blankly at the empty air where he'd stood, utterly deflated. In the end, I hadn't learned his identity—and I'd been played for a fool.
Gritting my teeth to swallow my rage, I turned to check on the fallen Ian and Mir.
"Ian! Snap out of it!"
"……."
Ian's eyes remained shut, his body utterly still. His already pale face had drained to an even ghostly white.
"Ian! Ian Servbo!"
"……."
I grabbed his shoulders and shook, but he didn't stir. Was he even breathing? I held my hand under his nose—there was a faint breath. His pulse, too, was weak but steady.
"What the hell…?"
What had that man's shadow done to him? Frowning, I recalled the ominous black aura.
"…Cough."
"Sian?"
Turning, I saw Sian suddenly hacking up a mouthful of blood. The Sylestin he'd summoned had vanished, and Ren was rushing to his side in alarm.
"Are you all right?"
"Cough, I'm fine…."
"……."
He didn't look fine at all. Had he pushed himself that far? Were high-level spirits that dangerous?
Puzzled, I asked, "You sure you're okay?"
"…Yeah."
Sian wiped the blood from his mouth and nodded. When I kept eyeing him skeptically, he added defensively, "Really. I just did something I shouldn't have and got penalized for it."
Something he shouldn't have? Penalized? Muttering cryptically, Sian approached, Ren supporting him. We all gazed worriedly at Ian and Mir.
"Mir's body…."
I flinched at Mir's form, growing hazier by the second, turning translucent as if he might vanish any moment.
"Mir…."
"Niv."
Niv staggered over and collapsed beside him. She was unscathed, but glancing back, her tree-body was a wreck—which explained her exhaustion. Her gaunt face stared at Mir, on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry, Mir."
Niv clasped his hand tightly. A soft glow emanated from their joined grip. But like Ian, Mir's eyes stayed closed.
Gazing down at him sadly, Niv spoke. "Mir was originally human. He gained eternal life by becoming my mate."
Her voice dripped with guilt. I clamped my mouth shut. A dryad who knew the first saintess from a thousand years ago—at least a millennium old, yet she looked so heartbreakingly vulnerable. I clenched the hand I'd instinctively reached out to her.
Did I even have the right to comfort her?
"Niv…."
"Mir!"
Mir's eyes fluttered open weakly, his lips moving. A single tear finally fell from Niv's eye.
With a voice as faint as a dying ember, Mir whispered, "The name you gave me—Mirpark—I didn't hate it."
"Mir, Mir…."
"Sorry… I'll go ahead…."
Mir's eyes closed again. His form turned fully transparent and faded away. Such was the fate of a dryad's human mate, leaving nothing behind. I watched the scene with a bitter gaze.
"……."
Niv stared silently into her empty arms for a long while. My heart ached; instinctively, I pulled the fallen Ian close, fearing he'd follow Mir at any second.
"…He'll probably be fine."
"Huh?"
Without turning, Niv continued calmly, "He just doesn't know who he is right now. The priest will light his path soon enough."
"The priest…?"
Did she mean a priest from the Lumine Temple would treat Ian? Then we needed to hurry back to the base where Yurina was. Springing to my feet, I paused at the distant sound of hooves.
Clop, clop!
"Lady Niv!"
A man dismounted and gaped in horror at the devastated field before shouting her name. Niv barely turned to look.
"Priest…."
"Priest?"
I eyed the man anew. He looked every bit the northerner—black hair, black eyes. And his face seemed oddly familiar.
"It's been a while, milady. Or should I say, Little Duke now."
"…No way. High Priest Rald?"
"Yes."
Rald, with his bandit-like ruggedness, looked even more aged after six years.
"Perfect timing, High Priest Rald. Ian's…."
"Mm."
I showed him the unconscious Ian. Rald was Ian's father. Niv said the priest would help, and who better than his own dad? Relief finally washed over me.
But Rald's words shattered my expectations.
"Still alive, huh."
"…What?"
His cold tone—unimaginable—widened my eyes. Niv spoke in my stunned silence.
"Priest, you have to save him."
"But…."
"Priest."
"……."
I watched their wordless exchange in confusion. Why was the priest reluctant to save Ian?
"High Priest, Ian's your son."
"…He is."
"He ended up like this protecting me. His pulse could give out any second."
I gritted my teeth. My sharp aura silenced him momentarily. He sighed softly.
"Sigh, let's take him to the temple first."
"It's close?"
"Yes."
So the Servo Temple was tucked near monster territory—hard for anyone to find. Nodding, I scooped up Ian and rose. The others murmured in surprise.
"No, milady carrying him like… mph."
"Abigail, let me take him."
I shook my head at the flustered Sian and Ren. "Nah, he's not that heavy."
"But…."
"This is insane…."
"…?"
Tilting my head, I turned. Niv remained seated where Mir had vanished, rooted in place.
"Niv, um…."
"I'll be fine."
Her lavender eyes, brimming with tears, met mine with a smile. "I'll guard this place to the end. Go without worrying."
"……."
"And be careful. A great calamity will soon engulf the continent."
I nodded gravely at her warning.
* * *
"This the place?"
"Yes."
We'd left Niv's space and ridden hard. As the priest said, the northern temple wasn't far. It seemed protected by some special power, safe from monsters.
I glanced at Ren, but he shook his head—no mana detectable.
"I'll take Ian."
"Ah, sure."
Rald hefted Ian like luggage and carried him off. Uncomfortable, I followed anyway.
I'd never seen a southern Lumine Temple, but this felt too small for one—barely functional. Knowing my father had fought monsters nearby and visited, had we never supported them? Or had the Servo clan refused out of pride? Lost in thought, I entered.
"Wait here."
He led me to what seemed the largest room. As he turned to leave, I grabbed him.
"Wait, first treat Ian—"
"Little Duke."
His grave expression stopped me cold. I bit back my anger—he was the only one who could help Ian. I was at his mercy.
"Please wait a moment."
"…Fine."
Fist clenched, I watched Rald leave. "Damn it."
"Abigail."
Ren looked at me pityingly, but I lacked the energy to respond, slumping into a chair with a sigh.
"Haa."
I pressed my forehead. My head throbbed. Too much in one day. Eyes squeezed shut—
Flash.
"…Huh?"
Warm, bright light bathed me. Ren's healing magic restored my energy. My weary body eased, mind steadying. Eyes closed, I accepted it.
"Whew, thanks."
"No problem."
Ren withdrew the spell, his tone bittersweet. He continued glumly, "Sorry I couldn't be more help."
His downcast face was heartbreaking. He'd barely contributed in the fight. But it wasn't his fault—who could've guessed a dryad's space blocked mana? And now he was stabilizing me.
I shook my head firmly. "No, don't say that. You're helping plenty."
"Abigail…."
"Mind holding my hand?"
Ren blinked in confusion, then flushed as he understood. Damn, now I'm embarrassed too. I'd said it impulsively, craving warmth, but maybe I shouldn't have. With just us in the room—Sian had gone to rest elsewhere, feeling worse—it had slipped out easily.
"If you don't want to…."
Retracting awkwardly, but Ren grabbed it firmly.
"No, I do. I don't mind at all."
He shook his head desperately. I chuckled at the sight. He'd grown so much, but moments like this recalled the boy he was. My heart settled far better now.
We sat like that, hands clasped, when—
"Ahem."
"……!"
"……!"
Like kids caught red-handed, we yanked apart. Rald stood at the open door, clearing his throat.
"I seem to have interrupted a tender moment."
"N-no, misunderstanding, Priest."
Shaking off the awkwardness, I asked, "How's Ian?"