On Borrowed Time (2)
After that, I couldn't have a proper talk with Arthur. Every time I tried to seek him out, he'd make excuses—too busy with work, talk later; had to head out urgently for something. No matter how I looked at it, he was dodging me. What the hell? Didn't he say he had something to tell me in the first place? He even said we'd talk once everything was settled. So why avoid me now? Late-blooming puberty? He just became emperor, so maybe that's when it hits?!
Hmm. Nah, probably not. Logically speaking. Who gets puberty at this age?
Even as he dodged me with those excuses, Arthur handled his emperor duties flawlessly. Romania's situation stabilized on the right track. No one opposed his ascension, and the handling of the previous emperor's—Arthur's uncle's—son, who could have stirred more trouble, was decided. Normally, execution wouldn't have been out of place, but whether my words reached Arthur properly... he got to keep his life. Instead, he joined the Life Church and will spend his days as a priest.
Well, better than dying. Plus, Vivi made sure he wouldn't be left alone. He'll probably never leave the church alive. And so, Romania normalized under Arthur's rule. Except for the famine. Yeah, can't do much about that. The famine played a big role in shifting public sentiment by blaming the previous emperor, but now it's Arthur's reign. Famine. Hmm. Uh-huh... Right. As a final gift, I can resolve the famine. If I use all the magic left in this sage's body to end it, Arthur's throne will be even more secure. Sounds like a great idea, even to me. Yeah.
"But seriously, why's that guy so damn busy? Geez."
At this rate, I won't see his face before we part ways.
I grumbled as I slipped out to the garden behind the castle. A few people glanced at me as they passed, but no one spoke up. Honestly, I wouldn't either. Who'd chat with someone draped in ragged black cloth, face hidden? If I hadn't played a big role in Arthur's coronation, I couldn't roam this freely.
"Hmm. Feels kinda guilty lounging around like this all by myself."
"Ah! S... Gaia."
"Hm?"
As I stepped into the garden, Vivi spotted me while chatting with some priests. She called out. Wait, they seemed to be discussing something important with priests from various gods' temples. Is it okay to interrupt for me?
"The other priests are watching. Focus on your work, Vivi."
"It's fine! We're basically done anyway. Right, everyone?"
Vivi smiled with her eyes, and the priests nodded with odd expressions. Hmmm... Well, if Vivi says so. Even if not, if she wants it that way, it will be. That's the Dragon Maiden's position for you.
"Then we'll meet again. Dragon Maiden."
"Next time, don't come yourself—send someone else. You all have mountains of work; no need to handle trivial matters in person."
Trivial matters...? Their faces were dead serious.
Hmmm... The priests bowed to Vivi, then to me, before hurrying off. Why bow to me too? Hmm. Do they know I'm like Arthur and Vivi's teacher? Otherwise, no reason to bow to this sage's body. It's not even my real form. I'd sealed off all leaking magic, so they couldn't detect my identity.
"So, what brings you here? Didn't you say this morning you were going to talk to big bro?"
"Yeah, I tried, but... Arthur rushed out of the castle for some emergency, so no chance. Seriously, the emperor going out himself... What could be so urgent?"
"Pardon?"
"Eh, he's at that level now—bound to be busy. Gotta understand. Can't be helped."
At my words, Vivi grabbed my shoulders and exploded in fury.
"Ignore that idiot brother's 'busy' excuses! No matter how important this country is, it's not more important than Teacher right now! No! I'll settle it with that jerk once and for all so you two can talk!!"
"Vivi?"
"I want time with Teacher too! What the hell is that moron doing?! Argh! Seriously! Stay right here, Teacher! I'll drag big bro back pronto!!"
Pouring out a storm of words, Vivi grabbed the Tree of Life sapling Sephirot with a demon-like glare, scanned the surroundings—probably locating Arthur with magic—and shouted.
"Found you! You idiot!!"
She whipped up a fierce wind, mounted the floating Sephirot, and shot into the sky. Off to fetch her brother, I guess. Though I've told her a bunch of times to ease up on flying around with wind magic. She never listens. It's a public nuisance with that gale.
"What a troublesome kid. Really."
Well then... Hmm. Bits of stone began flaking from my fingertips. Ah. Time's up already? Hmm... Probably not today or tomorrow. Best case, tonight. This body! Served me well for a long time!
I glanced around the now-empty garden. Hmmm... Perfect. Leave the body in this corner as a statue. Shape it nicely while I'm at it. Humans make graves for the dead, so a "grave" for this body wouldn't hurt. For Arthur and Vivi, a sign that their teacher watches over them always. Yeah, stick it in this secluded spot.
I slowly maneuvered the sage's stiffening body to the garden's shadowy corner. A place untouched by people. Dense trees blocked the sunlight. Hmm. Reminds me of the Deep Forest where the sage lived. This'll do.
I raised a flat boulder to a suitable size and settled cross-legged atop it. Hmm. While I'm at it, might as well fix Romania's famine. Let's see... I drew out some of the magic remaining in the sage's body, channeled it through the boulder into the soil. The body itself was expiring, but magic has no lifespan... A hefty amount from the sage's reserves spread underground. If it's not enough, I can add a bit more of mine. Moderation. Moderation.
As I spread the magic through the earth... Hmm. For some reason, the sage's legs on the boulder started merging with the rock. Unexpected. As magic flows, the stone body fuses with the boulder? Hmmm... Whatever.
I'd spread it across about half of Romania when... something underground touched the edge of my magic. It flinched in surprise and burrowed deeper. Hmm. What was that? Alive? Underground monster? Sandworm type? Or a dwarf digging? Nah, a dwarf wouldn't panic and flee from my magic. Eh, no need to worry. One mystery creature is trivial.
By the time I'd covered most of Romania's territory, my lower body had fully merged with the rock. Can't move now. Should've struck a cooler pose. Sitting like this is boring.
The newly crowned Emperor Lucius Altrius III—Arthur to his little sister and teacher—was in deep trouble.
"You stupid brother!!!"
His sister Vivi suddenly swooped in and socked him without warning.
"Gahk!"
A blow that could've shattered bones for a normal human. But for Arthur, now able to reinforce his body with magic, it was nothing.
"Idiot! Moron! Coward! Wimp! Rat! Is the throne that important?! Enough to ditch Teacher!!"
"V-Vivi! What the—! Gah! Urk!"
Not content with punches, she swung the Sephirot she'd ridden in like a club. The Life Church folks would freak if they saw, but luckily, no one else was around. A remote spot outside Sirius, in front of a small, sparsely visited trinket shop. The Imperial Knights were blocking access.
"Idiot! Idiot!! Moron!! Pig! Dolt!!!"
"At least tell me why! Reason!!"
"What?! You moron!!! Why aren't you with Teacher right now!!!"
"T-Teacher? I was heading there anyway! The item's finally done..."
"What item?! Because of you, I get less time with Teacher! Unfair!! Give me my time back!!!"
Arthur winced dramatically as Sephirot's sharp branch jabbed his vitals. It didn't really hurt.
"Why the sudden rage?! Aren't you getting reports from the temple priests right now?"
"Who cares about that, you idiot!!!!"
Thwack!!! Sephirot nailed his forehead.
"Teacher! Has no time!!!"
"What?"
"Go to Teacher now! Idiot! Unless you wanna regret it forever!!"
"No time for Teacher—what does that mean?!"
"No time to explain! No—I'll just drag you there!!!"
With that, Vivi conjured magic ropes, bound her brother tight, hung him from Sephirot's end, and rocketed back to the castle.
