Chapter 66: Prophecy (5)
Chapter 66: Prophecy (5)
By the time only a little water remained in the jar, the embers burning Marbas's soul had been completely extinguished.
"How do you feel?"
Marbas seemed too overwhelmed even to answer; he simply stared over his soaked body again and again.
His gaze held a kind of happy disbelief, and that was answer enough for Eugene.
"I am glad it was effective."
"What you've given me can't be described with a word as simple as 'effective.' I see now why mages value connections and fate so highly."
To think the salvation he had yearned for all his life, yet never found, would come to him on its own like this. Marbas smiled with mingled joy and bitterness.
Then he sensed someone outside shuffling their feet in alarm.
"Sir Knight! Forgive me for intruding without permission! What on earth happened?!"
The tribal maid who had been waiting outside flung open the door when she saw smoke and smelled sulfur leaking from the room.
"Step back."
"I-I am sorry."
At Eugene's command, the maid dropped flat to the floor. Marbas made a peculiar face at the sight.
Even he, an accomplished mage who had devoted himself to the tribe for years, had never been shown such deference.
'So only a fellow warrior can truly win the hearts of warriors?'
Perhaps she had been told about the prophecy. Even so, Marbas knew the pride of her people; he could only be astonished.
"Leave the door open. There's no fire, so don't worry."
"Yes. I apologize for the disturbance."
Marbas chanted a strange spell and gestured with his hand, conjuring a small gust. It gathered the lingering smoke and sulfurous odor and swept them outside in one burst.
Interestingly, things that might have been blown away by the wind, including papers, did not stir in the slightest.
"Is this summoning magic too?"
"It is. Every mage specializes in a single field chosen by fate. But summoners have no such restriction. They can borrow power from various beings of the Otherworld as needed."
"That sounds like an absurdly powerful advantage."
In versatility and adaptability, no other mage could compare.
"That is why mages welcome summoners. We can have worthwhile conversations about almost any field, especially rare branches of magic."
"Like how Marbas-nim welcomed me?"
"Exactly. People who rarely meet others of their kind are always hungry to exchange ideas and experiences."
Marbas ladled up some of the consecrated water remaining in the jar and held it up to examine.
His eyes sparkled with boyish curiosity. He sniffed it, then cautiously tasted it.
"Are there no drawbacks? Are summoners inferior to mages who specialize in one field, for example?"
"It isn't just that our magic is weaker. There are many forms of magic we cannot use at all, and the price we pay is higher."
Once he asked, the answer seemed obvious.
"The worst drawback is the danger. Every time we use magic, we are effectively setting foot in the Otherworld. It is not a life I would recommend. Summoners die violent deaths more often than any other type of mage."
There was a reason people said you could gauge a summoner's skill by how many wrinkles they had.
Marbas gathered up the now-useless bandages. His movements were rough, as though he were thoroughly sick of the things.
"I swear on my name that I will repay this debt."
"I didn't do it expecting anything in return."
"You wield great magic, but at heart you're still a knight. At times like this, you're supposed to squeeze out every favor you can."
When a mage spoke of a debt of gratitude, it was not just a polite expression. It was more like a blank check.
If Varda were beside him now, she would have clamped a hand over Eugene's mouth and taken over the negotiations herself.
Of course, Marbas was not shameless. He was also deeply interested in the young genius before him, who wielded power in the same field.
"I'd like to follow you, if you'll allow it. I don't have much money left after spending it trying to heal this body. Besides, this doesn't seem like a debt money could repay."
"If an accomplished summoner wishes to accompany me, I have no reason to refuse. But don't you have a contract with them?"
Eugene gestured outside with his thumb.
"My contract gives me the right to leave whenever I wish, so there is no problem."
"Did you foresee a situation such as this?"
"No. I simply didn't want to miss a Mystery worth investigating when one appeared. Every capable mage puts the same clause in their contracts."
Come to think of it, Varda had the same right. Technically, Eugene had offered and sworn it first.
"I'm happy to have you, but I am a little concerned. They invited me as a guest; I wouldn't want them to resent me for poaching one of their best people."
"You needn't worry. They're looking for a place to settle and escape the prophesied disaster. If anything, they'll strengthen the man who will be their key; they won't stand in your way."
Marbas's judgment was accurate.
Chieftain Alessa readily nodded.
"Don't you regret losing such a powerful asset?"
"That's what working with a mage is like. You're lucky for as long as they're with you, and they're free to leave at any time."
At Alessa's words, Eugene thought of Varda once more.
He thought of how she stayed at his side, offering him advice and care without demanding much in return. The beautiful elf mage's presence had become so natural that he took it for granted.
-Are you awake? You were suffering terribly.
The memory of her running barefoot to pull him out of a nightmare at the Knight's House remained vivid.
Just remembering it was enough to throw even Eugene's steel heart off rhythm.
But Varda was free to leave in pursuit of better research, just as Eugene had left House Morad and three comfortable villages behind to choose North Fork.
'I should treat her well while she's here.'
Taking it for granted that Varda would always remain at his side, as she had until now, was far too complacent.
Some time later, Eugene strolled through the outer festival grounds with Varda and Homi.
With Rex's understanding, he changed back into everyday clothes.
"I was trying to show my utmost sincerity, but it seems I only caused trouble."
It had ended well, but there had undeniably been a commotion. Rex conceded the point with a wry smile.
As befitted a northern festival drawing goods from every corner, it overflowed with things to see and eat.
"They say these fruits came from across the sea. Apparently you can hardly find them except at this time of year."
Eugene bought some dried fruit resembling mango. Varda and Homi popped pieces into their mouths side by side.
"It's tasty, but too sweet for me."
Varda stuck out her pink tongue with an embarrassed little grimace.
"...!"
Homi seemed to love it. Beaming, she even finished Varda's share.
"Then how about meat?"
Soon both young women had small chicken and lamb skewers in each hand. They looked like children out with a parent.
It suited Homi and looked adorable, but Varda seemed embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed faintly beneath her hood.
Munch, munch.
Still, Varda was always serious about meat, and she steadily nibbled her way through it.
"Hehe. Why are you taking such good care of us today?"
"Because it's a festival. Is there anything you want to eat?"
"I've had enough food. There's something I want."
"Whatever you want."
"I'd like to look at decorations. Everything in your office was put there by the previous lords. Shouldn't we put our own stamp on it?"
"...That's a good idea."
Contrary to what his unease had suggested, the first thing Varda wished to have from this festival was something for him.
As they browsed for decorations, they passed all kinds of attractions.
There were drinking contests, archery, knife throwing, bare-knuckle fighting, strength contests resembling wrestling, and a dark elf circus troupe performing feats with flexibility beyond any human's.
Thwack!
Homi, distracted by all the sights, accidentally smacked a passerby with her tail.
"Hey there!"
"Ah, I apologize."
Eugene apologized on her behalf.
The snow leopard girl's tail had gone out of control with excitement, lashing back and forth nonstop. Eugene ended up having to hold it firmly as they walked.
'It's not like I'm walking a puppy or anything... but isn't this kind of...?'
The fluffy softness filling his palm, and the powerful pulse of the tail!
It felt like a cross between petting a kitten and fighting a prize catch on the line. It was strangely addictive and hard to let go.
As the three wandered around the festival, they came upon an unusual area.
"This place is..."
Varda's eyes widened in admiration.
A wide clearing was filled with weapons, armor, shoes, cloaks, lamps, mirrors, pottery, furniture of every kind, and sculptures.
"These are all magic items?"
The important thing was that every object radiated some degree of Mystery.
The items were fixed in place to prevent theft, with tribal warriors stationed at key points to guard them.
Eugene stopped a passing worker and asked.
"What is this place? These don't look like they're for sale."
The worker had looked annoyed, but the sight of Eugene's build and the copper coins in his hand brought out a friendly smile.
"Do you see those flags over there?"
The worker pointed to the house banners set up in front of the magic items. Dozens of them fluttered in the air.
"This is where each house shows off its strength during the festival."
"Prowess?"
"They show off by displaying rare items. A lot of tribes that run mercenary companies or live by raiding take part."
"They all look like magic items."
The worker nodded.
"They used to display expensive items. Then one house piled up heaps of gold bars, so the rules changed. Now the winner is whichever house displays the most wondrous item, regardless of price."
That was all the worker knew. Eugene gave him a copper coin for his trouble and sent him on his way.
"Ahahaha!"
A dark elf girl bounced excitedly atop a huge horse statue.
"Oh!"
Amazingly, the horse statue rocked gently on its own.
"That is a golem."
"A golem! This is my first time seeing one in person."
"Living with you, I've noticed you seem to encounter an awful lot of things for the first time."
"I've spent my whole life in the countryside until now."
Both Eugene and Homi looked up at the golem with sparkling eyes.
"I thought a golem would only be a crude lump of rock in human form."
"A lot of people think that because of old folktales. But walking on two legs is extremely difficult for a golem."
"True. If its center of gravity were even slightly off, it'd wobble."
"Real golems are often built as beasts with four or more legs. Even by that standard, though, that statue seems remarkable."
The horse-shaped golem cut an imposing figure. It was far larger than a real horse and, apparently designed as a warhorse, was fully encased in iron barding.
The line was longer than anywhere else because it offered such a rare experience.
"Where on earth did they get something like this?"
"I-I need to use the bathroom."
"Aw, hold it. Look at this line. If we miss our chance, when are we ever going to ride one?"
Even the warriors on guard stood with their chests puffed out. Their house seemed certain to win.
"Wahahaha!"
The young man who had just mounted bounced wildly and kicked the horse statue's sides with his legs.
Sitting atop the enormous moving statue and looking down over the world made him feel like a great general. It was a different kind of satisfaction from riding a real horse.
"Hm?"
"What is it?"
"I don't know if it's my imagination, but the glow in the golem's eyes seems to be intensifying."
The golem's eyes were embedded with large rubies. Apart from the sunlight they caught, something seemed to smolder from within.
"Are you imagining it?"
After the excited young man dismounted and the next guest climbed on, the light in its eyes grew even stronger.
"I'm not imagining it."
"...!"
Varda also sensed the spirit energy inside the golem rapidly growing stronger.
Then trouble broke out.
The instant a bloated-looking man mounted and farted, the golem violently bucked him off.
"Aaaaargh!"
The man went flying with a scream, but luckily landed on a tent canopy and escaped injury.
The massive horse-shaped hunk of stone leaped high and landed on the ground.
THOOM!
The heavy shockwave froze not only the spectators but even the warriors on guard. No matter how brave they were, this was not something anyone could charge with spear and sword.
GRRRAAAK—!
The golem roared, and a bizarre grinding shriek, like stones scraping together, thundered through the area.
Eugene and Varda, already on guard, quickly retreated to safety. They could feel the spirit's rage in the golem's howl.
"Looks like it finally snapped after one person after another climbed on and thrashed around."
The golem returned to the booth where it had been displayed and turned around.
BOOM!
It lashed out with its hind legs, obliterating the booth.
CRUNCH! CRUNCH!
Still unsatisfied after stomping it to pieces, the golem swept its burning ruby eyes around. By then, everyone nearby, including the warriors, had fled.
The golem looked around and spotted the huge market and crowd beyond the entrance.
"Wha-what is that?!"
People scattered frantically before the stone monster's headlong charge, plunging the festival into chaos.
Though it gave off no sense of life, everyone could instinctively feel the golem's rage and murderous intent.