Chapter 94
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Ring of Promise (3)
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"We should share some with the Blue Guard Knights and our neighbors too."
The rich aroma filling the street had Father already thrilled with the tea leaves. His steps toward the teahouse were light.
"Sounds good. Then I'll grab some for the folks at Althur Tower, plus shares for my teacher and master..."
"Don't forget your friends' portions."
"...Ah, right."
The mention of friends brought Clemence and Wedin to mind, weighing heavy on my heart for a moment.
Father glanced down at me.
"I heard the rough details from Shuren..."
"I'm fine. I just need a bit more time."
I forced a smile.
But Father paused on his way to the teahouse and pulled me to sit on a nearby bench.
"And there isn't much of that time left, is there?"
"Well... that's true, but..."
I bowed my head glumly.
"If you part ways without properly talking it out with your friends, you might never know when—or if—you'll see them again. You know that, right?"
I was at a loss for words.
That was my biggest worry. Not knowing when we might meet again. Or maybe never at all...
"Lib, look at me."
As Father removed my hood, bright light suddenly hit my face.
I squinted, rubbed my eyes, and looked up. Father gazed down at me with a serious expression.
"Wedin and Clemence aren't mad at you. They're just struggling to accept it because they care about you. You've made your friends worry plenty of times before."
"Yeah... I have."
From the day I first met Clemence at seven, I'd worried her. And around the time I met Wedin, I was always ending up at the medical center.
So it was only natural they'd react like this to me joining a dangerous knight order.
Especially Wedin, who'd seen so many injured patients at the medical center as a holy mage trainee.
"How about telling them one more time that you're okay now—that you can handle it just fine?"
"Will Wedin even listen to me?"
"Let's prepare some gifts that'll stick in their memories too. You have to try everything you can."
I stared up at Father.
It really was a great idea.
Just like he said, instead of passively waiting out the dwindling time, I needed to do something.
"What do you think?"
Father asked, waiting for my answer. I replied with a smile.
"I've got an idea for the perfect gifts."
"Good. Then..."
Father turned to head off again but paused mid-motion, looking back down the street oddly.
I pulled my hood back on and stood.
"What's wrong?"
The street was quiet and peaceful.
A few people out shopping like us dotted the area, and carriages passed sparingly.
At the far end, the Maggos Troupe wagon we'd seen by the square earlier sat parked, but it was silent—no show today.
"Nah, felt like someone was watching us. Must've been my imagination."
"Probably because we bought so much stuff here."
"Could be. Come on, I'm dying to see what tea leaves they've got."
Father laughed and led the way. With my heart much lighter, I stepped into the teahouse.
Several hours later, we returned to the branch just before dinnertime.
We'd bought so much that even passing Erner got roped in to help unload the wagon—and we still made three trips.
Once Erner realized how much we'd spent, he glared daggers at Father the whole time.
Couldn't outright scold his superior over personal funds, but his eyes screamed deep concern over the spending.
"We don't even know when we'll be back here..."
Father made a lame excuse and handed him a box of tea leaves. Erner sighed and accepted the gift.
I got my haul to my room with Erner's help.
I'd set aside clothes and items for Shuren separately. Meant to drop them in his room, but the door was locked—he must be out at evening training.
Heading down to the dining hall for dinner, I scanned for Shuren and Wedin, but they weren't there.
It nagged at me, but I pushed it down and finished eating with Father and Erner.
As I gathered my things to head back to the sealing room, Grain called out to Father exiting the dining hall.
Looked like he had something quick to discuss. Grain's expression was unusually stiff.
"So, what about it?"
Miles's laid-back voice snapped me from my thoughts.
He was sunk into his ratty old sofa, peering down at my work. One hand clutched his usual stick candy.
"Oh, just a magic tool. Nothing too impressive."
"You made that yourself? Seems like a huge hassle."
"It's more efficient that way."
I arranged the glass beads, wooden supports, and glasswork, then placed the blue acronium crystal in the center.
"Whoa, that's some prime acronium."
Miles's eyes gleamed for a split second.
"It was a gift."
I quickly tied shut the pouch full of acronium.
"One of those could buy candy for life."
Miles muttered glumly.
He'd been hit with a stick candy ration cut as punishment for slacking on sealing room staffing reports.
By his lament, it was a brutal order: over half his usual amount slashed for three months.
The Silver Moon Knights' appeals played a part in the discipline.
Miles had sprinkled sugar dust everywhere in the break room, turning cleaning into a nightmare for the knights.
"If that guy's gone elsewhere, maybe I'll go back to smoking. Switched to candy 'cause no smoking in the sealing room."
Miles grumbled to himself while nibbling his stick candy bit by bit.
I ignored him and kept at my work.
Referring to the book on my lap, I inscribed the stabilizing incantation onto paper.
Miles watched curiously, occasionally yapping nonsense to distract me.
Despite the test of my patience, I pressed on and finally wrapped it up late the next afternoon.
Knock knock.
Holed up in my room after dinner, I flinched at the knock.
Opening the door revealed Grain in casual clothes.
"Lib."
Grain chuckled and plucked a paper scrap from my hair, then brushed string bits from my clothes.
"What's all this?"
"Ah... ugh. Trying something new was tougher than I thought. Come in."
I frantically dusted off my clothes and hair, then ushered Grain inside.
Truth be told, my room wasn't fit for guests.
Colored papers, fabrics, and empty boxes littered the floor. Scissors and rulers sprawled across the table.
"What were you up to?"
"Gift wrapping. Doing it myself is way harder than expected. No boxes fit right, the papers are all different sizes and not even pretty."
Big mistake planning to box and wrap Clemence's and Wedin's gifts.
No shop service meant hunting matching boxes, papers, and fabrics was a chore. And actually wrapping them decently? Torture.
I was confident in magic, but hands-on crafts? Total disaster.
"Ah! Yesterday, Father and I got some great tea leaves from a shop in the street. Hold on, I'll grab some."
I seated Grain in the cleanest chair and rose to fetch the gift tea.
Bought plenty extra in various kinds—planned to share with him too.
"No, no. It's fine, Lib. I already got a box from the Blue Guard Knight."
Grain waved it off with a smile.
"Oh, right?"
Come to think of it, he'd met Father first. Must've gotten it then.
I sheepishly sank back into my seat.
"He was handing out tea leaves to everyone he met. You too, huh? Just how much did you buy?"
"No clue. Father said if we run short sharing, he'll grab more before we leave."
No idea, but definitely not a normal amount.
Shop manager and staff had bowed us out the door with thanks.
That courtesy and top-notch quality clearly won Father's heart.
"So, what's up?"
I peered at Grain's face.
He looked a bit weary, and his usually bright, vivid blue eyes were shadowed with worry.
"There's something I wanted to tell you."
"...Doesn't sound like good news."
His grim expression stirred unease first.
Grain let out a small sigh and gave a bitter smile.
"Wedin avoided you these past few days, so I got the story from Shuren. That kid even snapped at me—asked if I knew you were joining the Silver Moon Knights."
"Ah... sorry."
Grain must've struggled to accept it at first too. And Wedin lashed out at him as well.
He groaned, rubbing his forehead with a complicated look.
"Strictly speaking, not your apology to make. I fully respect the Sage's and White Guard Knight's decision. And your resolve—and your father's."
"...Thank you."
Grain looked up at me, face somewhat stiff.
"That's why... Wedin says he's joining the Silver Moon Knights."
"...What?"
What did I just hear? I stared at Grain, doubting my ears.
Something weird.
"What was that...?"
"Wedin declared he'll become a holy mage with the Silver Moon Knights. Says he won't return to Prion."
"That's impossible."
I shot to my feet.
My head spun; I didn't even notice the chair topple.
I raked both hands through my hair, pacing around the fallen chair.
"He—he's still in training, right? He didn't even know about the Silver Moon Knights until we told him. Too dangerous for a holy mage, and he's short on experience."
I barely knew what I was saying.
But one thought filled my mind: impossible, no way it could happen.
"Lib, Wedin said the exact same things you did. But if you can go, then he can too."
Grain spoke calmly.
I wanted to argue it was wrong, but my voice wouldn't come.
My mind went blank white, screams of no way echoing inside.
"D-did you accept it? Are you sending Wedin to the Silver Moon Knights?"
I stepped close to Grain, pleading desperately.
Grain wouldn't allow it. Wedin was still training, so much left to learn.
But Grain just sighed instead of answering. Clasped his hands, gazing at me sadly.
"The Gloves of the Blue Spring... I went and gave those to him."
Gloves of the Blue Spring.
The gloves Grain handed Wedin when leaving Cornic. He'd worn them ever since.
"Those gloves infused with the essence of a water Arbat, right? What's that got to do with it?"
"It's our holy mages' tradition. When an apprentice proves they can stand on their own, the master gifts them a precious holy tool."
A full-fledged holy mage's worth. So that's why Wedin was so thrilled...
Grain continued with a bitter expression.
"The apprentice who receives the holy tool is recognized as a proper holy mage and can decide their own path."
"Ah..."
I sighed.
So Wedin had chosen his own path. Without even knowing what it meant.