In front of Nontil’s death, Sinabia couldn’t stop crying. Lofin laid down Vena Esarck and recited a short poem in memory of the deceased Nontil. The red glow of the Vena Esarck, a sword known to kill dragons, contrasted with the emerald light of the chamber, seemed to add color to the dragon’s face. The sounds of the priestess’ crying and Lofin’s voice created a strange harmony, sounding like a sad musical tune.
Pankentin approached Sinabia to comfort her, but he too was unable to compose himself. Tanya and Kassel stood as if nailed to the spot.
Rai remained expressionless, repeatedly spreading and folding his large white wings.
Kassel quietly opened his mouth.
“After the death of the four dragons of Carnelock, countless poets wrote poems singing of the tragedy. They depicted the knights of Excelon as demonic villains, spreading this image among the people. Their revenge was to shatter Excelon’s reputation. I understand now why they were so determined to seek revenge.”
Kassel knelt before Nontil and bowed his head. Lofin finished the memorial poem and stood up.
“That’s why I was in such a hurry and couldn’t come alone, ignoring the procedures of the Lemifs. I should have ignored them.”
As Lofin sheathed his sword, the red light disappeared. Nontil’s face, which had seemed lively moments before, quickly paled.
“By my count, this is the fifth time. There are likely more. But for a dragon bearing the title ‘Le’ to fall! There was a reason Guanil and the Mozes could wander freely within Nontil’s domain.”
Sinabia struggled to her feet, refusing Pankentin’s support. She limped towards Tanya.
With gray eyes, Sinabia looked at Tanya. Her tears were still uncontrollable. She spoke of her sorrow in the language of the Lemifs.
“Tanya… Have I told you why the Hopet of Aranthia could be not lonely for a thousand years? Now, the reason I could be not lonely has disappeared.”
Sinabia clung to Tanya’s arm and collapsed. Neither could find words of comfort, and even if they had, they couldn’t have uttered them. Tears flowed from both.
Tanya, holding the frail Remif woman tightly, said to Lofin,
“The oracle has been disturbed. We need to start over from the beginning… Inform Larden of Nontil’s death and start the meetings over.”
“The god who would have given the oracle is dead. What meaning is there in meetings?”
“We’ve lost the power of Nontil, but the Lemifs are still mighty on their own.”
“That’s not what I mean. Nontil’s death is equivalent to Larden’s death. It’s as if Lutia has lost its White Mystery.”
Lofin said.
Tanya, upon hearing the name of Lutia, managed to regain some composure.
“That’s all the more reason to hurry. It’s not too late to mourn the dead god after catching the one who killed this dragon!”
Kassel also stood up and said,
“Tanya is right. Let’s return to Larden.”
Pankentin, who seemed unable to gather himself, came forward and picked up Sinabia again. Sinabia, sobbing, clung tightly to his thick neck.
Rai, who had appeared uninterested at first, moved closer to Nontil. Naturally, everyone turned their attention to see what he would do. However, Rai only gently touched the great dragon’s face with one hand.
His presence was significant. Whatever simple action he took, it attracted attention. Even when he was just standing still.
As Rai removed his hand from the dragon’s face, he spoke in the language of the Lemifs,
“Just now, a fight occurred.”
“Where?”
Surprisingly, Kassel understood and asked.
Rai replied in human language,
“At the entrance.”
“What fight?”
“I don’t know.”
Lofin suddenly realized and said,
“If Nontil’s power is gone, the guards at the cave’s entrance are exposed to the enemy’s power without defense. It’s too late to go up the stairs now.”
Lofin hurried towards the shattered stone door but stopped. Everyone stopped just before passing through the broken stone door, moving towards the increasingly dark plaza behind Lofin.
Lofin turned around and asked Rai,
“You can fly, can’t you?”
“Yes.”
Tanya quickly grasped Lofin’s strategy.
“If you go straight up without using the stairs, it will be quick. You can go ahead and help our allies.”
“I refuse.”
Rai, unhurried and indifferent to the urgency of the others, slowly said in human language,
“This fight, not my Gider.”
Lofin was taken aback by his response.
“What do you mean, not?”
Rai didn’t reply.
Kassel grabbed his thick forearm and said,
“Why do you think it’s not your Gider, Rai? It’s something you can do and something you should do.”
“The command… You, my promise, not.”
“Promise?”
Kassel, releasing his grip abruptly, said,
“Have you forgotten the real Gider you should be following, thinking only of your desires while you were locked up for so long? This isn’t a command or a promise I made to you. It’s something you’ve forgotten that you need to do, and I’m reminding you.”
“Ugh, teaching, not needed.”
In Rai’s eyes was the characteristic pride of the Lemifs, refusing to compete in wisdom.
“Damn, broadly interpreted, the promise between you and me includes obeying my commands!”
“Not included.”
“Then stay here alone, looking at Nontil’s body, and think about who you were before you became a warrior! Tanya, please help. Like before.”
Truth be told, Tanya would have refused if Lofin had ordered or asked. But at Kassel’s request, she transformed into a wolf without any hesitation. Only after doing so did she realize that she was following Kassel’s orders without feeling out of place.
Kassel climbed onto the wolf’s back without hesitation. He whispered in her ear,
“I’m sorry for asking too much of you twice.”
‘Carrying you is a pleasure. Should I say this?’
Tanya decided not to say anything and just ran.
“Be careful, Tanya! The Lemifs’ Wazaiybt can use magic several times stronger than human sorcerers.”
Lofin shouted from behind.
‘Then I’ll fight with magic several times stronger than that.’
She wanted to reply like that, but by then, Lofin was already far away.
Running up the spiral staircase, which was almost like a cliff on one side, in the dark, was a bit scary even for Tanya. She created a bead of light in front of her forehead, but it wasn’t easy to check each step as she ran. Kassel, riding on top, was terrified but didn’t ask her to slow down.
About a third of the way up, the sound of flapping wings came from below. It was Rai. His wings, several times larger than those of other Lemifs, reflected the light from the bead and shone white. Rai flapped his wings heavily and flew up to a slightly higher position than Tanya, then spread his wings wide.
Tanya kept running, and Rai glided beside her. Floating as if he was stationary, he asked,
“Who was I before I became a warrior?”
“Did you follow because you hate being alone and wanted an easy answer?”
Kassel shouted loudly enough to echo through the vast underground.
“Answer me. You’re a Lemif. You, uh!”
Kassel suddenly stopped speaking.
‘Huh? It seems like something’s hurt?’
Just as Tanya was about to ask if he was okay, Kassel quickly continued,
“A Lemif who worships dragons as gods and thinks of dragons as parents. Who sent you to this land? Even in front of the enemy of your parents, are you thinking about your promise with me? Isn’t it something you should do on your own, even if it wasn’t my promise? No, even if I had stopped you, you should have done it by force!”
In the last moment, Kassel almost cried out in a shout.
“Get lost, you damned fool! A Lemif who can’t even get angry after seeing the body of a dragon doesn’t need to be by my side!”
Rai silently changed direction with a flap of his wings and climbed towards the upper levels with a speed incomparable to Tanya running up the stairs.
Tanya stopped at the end of the staircase and let Kassel down. Then she turned back into a human and was about to run towards the entrance of the cave when she stopped.
Kassel couldn’t follow and staggered. He covered his mouth and turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Tanya asked in surprise,
“What’s wrong?”
“I bit my tongue while speaking on your shaking back. I couldn’t spit blood on you, so I just endured it…”
He spat out blood mixed with saliva again.
“Let me see.”
Tanya almost forcibly grabbed Kassel’s chin and examined the inside of his mouth. It was a mess with blood. She touched the wound on his tongue with her finger. A flash of blue light caused Kassel to flinch from the sudden pain.
“I only stopped the bleeding.”
“Thank you.”
Kassel spoke with a voice that was barely audible.
Tanya smiled faintly.
“Your only weapon has been damaged.”
Kassel also smiled, but he couldn’t make a sound due to the pain.
The two ran out of the entrance and towards the place lined with statues on both sides. Rai was already there. With an expressionless face and arms crossed, he only turned his eyes to look at Kassel and Tanya approaching.
Another tragedy had unfolded at the entrance.
Nontil’s death meant that this secret entrance had been exposed long ago. The enemy must have been ambushing, and Larden’s forces were dispersed.
Rai said,
“I thought about what you said, alone. But, I still don’t understand.”
“It’s okay not to know, Rai.”
Kassel sighed and looked down at the bodies of the Lemifs. It was true that quite some time had passed since Rai mentioned the attack, but not enough for so many to have been annihilated. The details would be investigated by Lofin, but it was clear that the enemy’s forces were overwhelmingly powerful.
“But… ask, Rai. If you don’t know something, ask anytime. It’s okay not to know, but you shouldn’t avoid it saying you don’t understand. Whatever you ask, I’ll find the answer for you. So don’t say things like you did below.”
Rai looked down at Kassel, then back at the dead Lemifs.
“What I said below?”
“Yes. You spoke of Nontil’s death as if it were someone else’s affair.”
“I did not say it was someone else’s affair, only that I would not fight.”
“To me, it’s the same. You should have been angry and fought.”
“Angry?”
“Fury!”
Rai paused for a moment before saying,
“I have a question.”
“Ask.”
“I was angry.”
“Huh?”
“I was sad about Nontil’s death. I was angry. But, is it okay to fight with that anger?”
Kassel tilted his head in confusion. Tanya also leaned in closer, not understanding what he meant. She wanted to ask Rai to explain in Lemif language and then translate for Kassel, but she didn’t interrupt.
Rai pointed to each of the dead soldiers of Larden,
“The one who spoke to me first, the one who lent me a sword, the one who stood by my side. The emotions I had forgotten are coming back. The emotions I had forgotten while I was trapped. But, they’re dead. I want to kill those who killed them. Not the duel you spoke of… just want to kill. Is it okay to do that?”
Anger was evident in Rai’s voice.
“My Gider, not in this fight, such a fight, can I fight?”
Tanya finally realized what Rai was saying. If Rai had fought, he would have brought a bloodbath. Even the fights Lemifs called duels were considered horrifying acts of murder by them. If he fought in anger, it could result in a massacre beyond Lemif standards.
Kassel swallowed the blood in his mouth and said,
“For now, just deeply remember this moment, Rai. When the time comes to unleash your anger, I’ll think it through with you. I’m sorry for shouting earlier. I thought you were without emotions.”
Rai looked at Kassel for a long while before speaking,
“Before I fight, I will ask. You. If I may fight.”
“Thank you.”
Tanya couldn’t discern the emotions crossing between the two men. However, she could tell that at least they shared the same anger while looking at the tragedy before them.
☆ ☆ ☆
“It wasn’t the act of the Fvoe tribe.”
After climbing up the stairs a while later, Lofin, examining the bodies of Larden’s soldiers and the surrounding traces, spoke. Tanya agreed with him.
“There are Venon footprints here. And unlike the Zvi tribe, the Fvoe tribe doesn’t use Venon for riding.”
“It could be they’ve suddenly started using a different method. I don’t think it’s the Fvoe tribe’s doing because of the combat style.”
Lofin explained, pointing in the direction where the footprints were made.
“The attack started from the right. They cut down two at once. Pankentin’s men aren’t the best at preparing for ambushes, but they have their own military order. They would have defended with all their might against the surprise from the right. But the enemy took advantage of that.”
Lofin pointed to the opposite side and continued,
“The second ambush came from the left, causing great confusion among the soldiers. After that, they couldn’t regroup and were annihilated while resisting. That’s what happened.”
Tanya could only find traces of two enemies but couldn’t believe such a massive attack was carried out by just two. She held off on her judgment.
“Really, the work of two?”
“There are only two sets of Venon footprints. And this is the deed of trained knights.”
“Kagua?”
Tanya asked, turning to look at Pankentin sitting next to her.
He was sobbing, unable to suppress his sorrow, his forehead pressed against his hand. Sinabia seemed more composed, perhaps having cried all her tears over Nontil’s death.
Upon hearing the word Kagua, Sinabia turned her head towards Tanya and asked,
“Is it them, the ones who killed Nontil?”
Her voice was filled with force. Lofin forcefully responded,
“They came up from the continent to the Sky Mountains for that purpose. It seems Nontil hasn’t been dead for even a week. And the knight who killed him is named ‘Nathan’.”
Tanya asked,
“How do you know his name?”
“After you three went up, I examined Nontil’s body again. I wanted to find out who the culprit was. There wasn’t much evidence since it wasn’t a battle but a stealth attack on a sleeping dragon. However, the spear that stabbed the dragon proudly had a name engraved on it. It was Nathan.”
Lofin mentioned names while folding his fingers,
“Redward, Holten, Nathan. I’ve found out a few names of the bastards who’ve killed dragons this way. Know any of them?”
“No.”
Tanya and Kassel answered simultaneously.
“They might still be around. If we stay here, we’re just targets. Let’s get out fast.”
Lofin was organizing the backpacks of the dead Lemif soldiers. He discarded unnecessary items and packed only the essentials into one bag, reducing the number of bags. Now, everyone had to carry their own bag. Tanya received one containing food and water. Because Lemifs couldn’t wear anything on their backs due to their wings, their backpacks were designed to be tied around the waist and hung down to the thighs. Tanya simply slung the backpack over one shoulder.
Kassel secured a bag containing bandages and medicine around his waist. Lofin handed the largest bag to Rai, who accepted it without complaint and strapped it to his waist.
“Let’s summarize. The ritual attempted a month ago was blocked by the Fvoe tribe.”
Lofin continued, turning to Kassel and Tanya,
“The Mozes are being led by knights called Kagua, helping the Fvoe Lemifs. And the three knights mentioned earlier have killed dragons, including Nontil. It’s not yet certain, but they are either under Guanil’s command or in alliance with him. And for your information, Guanil is the guardian dragon of the Fvoe Lemifs.”
Lofin also wore a backpack filled with tools for traveling through harsh terrains, switching his belt-mounted sword to his back.
“Kagua, Guanil, Fvoe, Mozes. It’s hard to say they’re all in a union, but it’s clear they’re all intertwined. And there’s a traitor from Lutia involved. It’s safe to say there’s no independent event happening in the Sky Mountains right now.”
When everyone was ready to leave, Kassel stood motionless, looking down at the Lemif bodies. Pankentin, with a hardened face as if his tears had dried, stood beside Kassel.
Lofin, standing next to them, said,
“Let’s hurry.”
“Why aren’t they attacking? If it’s divide and conquer, they should have ambushed Tanya and me as soon as we came out.”
Kassel sharply questioned,
“For ten years, these guys have survived in the Sky Mountains. If they didn’t attack recklessly, there must be a reason. For example, they knew the party included two sorcerors who could represent both Lemifs and humans.”
At Lofin’s words, Tanya shook her head.
“I once fought him, but magic had no effect on him. If he didn’t attack us because he was afraid of someone in our party, it wasn’t me or Sinabia; it was more likely because of Lofin.”
“It doesn’t matter. We need to return to Larden before the sun sets.”
Kassel asked Lofin, who seemed eager to hurry.
“What happens when the sun sets?”
“Why do you think Guanil stopped chasing us at dawn yesterday? Because the sun had risen. You know how much he likes the night, right? Night is his time. It will be a time of nightmares for us.”
Lofin took the lead again, followed by Tanya and Kassel. Pankentin, holding Sinabia in his arms, was behind them, and Rai was covering the rear.
Even as Lofin retraced their steps, he walked as carefully as if it were his first time on that path. Tanya also paid close attention to every sound and object around them.
Kassel was startled by an animal on a tree and jumped to the side. It turned out to be a squirrel with fangs the length of a finger segment.
Kassel, wary of the squirrel, asked Lofin,
“If the ghost-like knights called Kagua are the first knights of Excelon, and they’re hunting dragons, how did they end up on the same side as Guanil?”
“There must have been some kind of deal between them. I’m more curious about why the sorcerer of Lutia would betray Lutia and join hands with them. With events happening simultaneously in different places, a clear clue should have emerged, but there’s still none.”
“It’s frustrating.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you everything I know from the beginning. I was hoping that you would come up with the answers I don’t have. But you came to know too much too soon with hasty deductions. Now that you’ve deviated from my intentions, I hope you can surpass that.”
Suddenly, the trees cleared, and they came upon a well-visible area. Tanya, who had been moving as if hiding, found the wide and easy path unsettling. She didn’t take her eyes off her surroundings and said,
“Now I understand what the word ‘Kagua’ means. They weren’t the cursed hunters of the Lemifs from the Sky Mountains, nor ghosts of the Sky Mountains. It was too simple to notice. ‘Kagua’ was, in fact, akin to being under Guanil.” (TL Note: Remember, ‘Ka’ means Knight Rank for the dragons, as such, Ka-Gua would be Guanil’s Knight)
“Subordinates or minions of Guanil, either is fine. ‘Kagua’ is a generic term. When entities similar to those faded from the Lemifs’ history appeared with black cloaks billowing, the Lemifs instantly attached the legend of ‘Kagua’ to them. That led us into a bias, taking so long to discover that they were human, and even longer to reveal they were knights of Excelon.”
Lofin added,
“Not that we’ve actually revealed anything.”
“If Guanil is an evil dragon that shouldn’t exist in the Sky Mountains and Kagua are his subordinates, what about the Mozes?”
Tanya asked.
“They appeared suddenly and felt similar, so maybe Guanil ‘created’ them. They even smell a bit alike, cold and gloomy… Although from different origins, Mozes might conceptually be similar to Kagua. But how a monster dragon known only for destruction obtained the power of creation is still a mystery.”
After a while, Lofin signaled to stop. Usually, Pankentin or Tanya would join him, but this time he moved forward alone.
Everyone else stood behind in battle stance, quietly. In the midst of this, Tanya began to see Rai, who was standing with his arms crossed, as remarkable. Before, he just seemed indifferent, but that wasn’t it. He was fearless, waiting for more and stronger enemies. But his indifference was due to ‘lack of expectation.’
‘No opponent here is a match for my Gider.’
He seemed to say that.
Tanya kept watching Rai. When she first met Kassel, Rai was fierce. Why did he swing his sword? Because Kassel provocatively incited him? No, it was because of Lofin. Because Tanya was there. He thought only then could he give his all.
‘Rai followed Kassel thinking there would be countless opponents like Lofin beside Kassel. Without such opponents, Rai would turn his sword against Kassel at any time. Kassel seems too trusting of Rai without realizing that. Kassel was angry with him earlier because he trusts Rai that much.’
Lofin returned, shaking his head.
“This way is blocked. There are many traces of the Mozes having passed.”
“Did the Mozes surround us?”
Tanya asked.
“Is that strange?”
Lofin looked for another path, keeping his gaze in the distance.
Sinabia finally stopped crying and got down from Pankentin’s arms to talk with Kassel. Tanya didn’t hear their conversation because she was talking to Lofin.
“It’s definitely strange that monsters like them would set a trap in advance.”
“What do you know about the Mozes, Tanya? Are you sure they can’t think?”
“Maybe it’s just traces of them passing by?”
Lofin was too busy looking for another way to respond to Tanya’s comment. Kassel and Sinabia were still talking.
Tanya continued to be bothered by that.
Lofin came back and said,
“There were signs they tried to hide their tracks. A bit clumsy against me, though. At least a human knight is commanding them. You might not see it, but the place we’re standing is practically the main road leading from the temple to Larden. Naturally, they’re hovering around the main road. It’s not a high-level strategy.”
Lofin chose a new path to the east instead of north. Tanya objected.
“It will be problematic if it takes longer to return. I want to hurry back to Larden, drop off Sinabia, and then I’d like to return to Lutia with Kassel. Otherwise, we should consult with Hudintin and find another way.”
“I know that. But I think taking a detour through this dangerous place will actually save us time. Honestly, I’m willing to fight Guanil, but I don’t want to fight the Kagua.”
Lofin started leading the party again.
“How can that be? You’re more afraid of his subordinates than Guanil himself.”
“Guanil fears my sword, and I fear Guanil. We both can kill each other.”
“Isn’t it natural in a fight for one to die?”
Tanya asked.
“Of course, but knowing we can kill each other, neither of us chooses to fight. But that doesn’t mean Guanil has given up on killing me. He’ll just avoid me and use the Kagua or Mozes. I need to avoid fights to not play into that bastard’s hands.”
The path chosen by Lofin was a grass field up to their waists. Lofin, walking ahead, warned them to be careful of what might be underfoot.
‘If he hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t be worried, but how can I be careful against dangers I can’t see or even know about…’
Tanya vigilantly scanned for traps or snakes.
Kassel followed, pushing through the bushes behind.
“I asked Sinabia just now, but… is there no other way to resolve this without returning to Larden?”
Kassel was obviously contemplating that.
Lofin replied absentmindedly while scanning the ground.
“Like what?”
“What about calling another dragon for help?”
“Would need to find a shaman from another tribe. Can’t Sinabia awaken dragons from other tribes?”
“I asked, and she said she couldn’t. But I wondered if Lofin could.”
“I appreciate your high regard for me, but how could I, a human, do what even a Lemif shaman can’t? Besides, this is Nontil’s territory, and other dragons don’t live here. Even if we wanted to try that, it’s better to go to Larden first. We need to ask Hopet exactly which dragon’s help we should seek and how to gain cooperation from that tribe.”
“Reganel… Landor?”
When Kassel mentioned that name, Lofin, a bit surprised, said,
“Let’s keep it short about that person. It wasn’t me who found him; he found me. And the city of Landor is a three-day journey from here, even if I go alone. Do we have three days?”
“I see.”
Kassel nodded, not entirely convinced.
“Stop for a moment.”
Lofin halted Kassel and suddenly crouched low into the bushes. Everyone else crouched down following Lofin. Even Rai, whom they thought would stand out cluelessly, crouched down.
Lofin stayed that way for a while, more observing the situation from below than hiding. Then he signaled Tanya and Kassel to stay put and dashed off with surprising speed.
“What’s going on?”
Kassel whispered, puzzled by Lofin’s sudden action. Right after he ran off, they heard the clashing of metal. Tanya and Kassel exchanged glances and followed Lofin.
Kassel shouted back,
“Rai, stay with Sinabia.”
Rai didn’t respond.
The grass field ended, and they were back on flat ground. Lofin was alone at the boundary, holding his sword.
“I told you to stay put.”
Lofin reprimanded them.
“Was there something?”
Tanya asked.
“Lemifs of Fvoe. They ran away as soon as I appeared. Tried to capture them but let them escape.”
“How many were there?”
“About three. Probably scouts.”
“Was this path being watched too?”
“It seems they traced our path and followed us. We need to hurry.”
Rai and Pankentin followed, bringing Sinabia with them. Rai loyally stayed by their side. Tanya thought he had simply followed, but Kassel smiled broadly and thanked Rai. Surprisingly, Rai nodded.
‘Did Rai actually listen to something like a request from Kassel?’
If he starts following orders to that extent, the real danger was on Kassel’s side.
‘What will you do if you can’t fulfill the promise, Kassel? No matter how big of a person you are, there are things you can’t hold.’
Tanya kept her thoughts to herself and decided to observe Rai’s actions more cautiously.
Since they weren’t on a proper path, their pace slowed even further, and they hadn’t reached Larden by nightfall. When someone suggested they might be lost, Lofin unconvincingly replied ‘Maybe’.
“You have Nadiuren’s token, and we’re lost?”
Kassel was angry.
“Do you think finding your way in this thick forest is easy, token or not?”
Lofin also showed his anger. Tanya guessed Lofin’s intention. He was deliberately choosing the harder path over the easier one. Assuming that most paths to Larden were blocked by either the Fvoe Lemifs, Mozes, or Kagua, Lofin was searching for a completely different route, which also caused him some confusion. In such a case, having Nadiuren’s token was a separate issue. Now, Tanya also found it difficult to find their way, and both Sinabia and Pankentin admitted they were in unfamiliar territory.
As evening fell, darkness descended on the forest again. And they discovered the bodies of the Fvoe tribe.
In the darkness, the black-skinned bodies of the Fvoe Lemifs were blocking the path, hardly visible. There were over ten of them. Lofin immediately signaled the party to stop and went into the forest alone. Tanya minimized the light from her orb and kept watch around them.
Humans had different skin colors depending on the region. So it was plausible for Lemifs to vary too, but the smooth and white skin of the Zvi tribe Lemifs made the black skin of the Fvoes particularly striking.
The long curly hair of the dead Fvoe Lemifs was muddied with dirt. Their height was about that of humans, their nails long, and their ears hung down rather than pointing up. The agonizingly wide-open white of their eyes seemed to faintly emit light even in the darkness.
‘Whose doing is this? The work of Kagua? Not all Fvoe Lemifs would be on the side of Kagua.’
Soon, Lofin returned.
“This is the doing of Lemifs?”
Apparently, like Tanya, Lofin had suspected Kagua’s involvement but scratched the back of his head in surprise at the unexpected perpetrator.
“Is it an internal conflict? Seeing Venon’s footprints, it seems the Excelon people were here too, but nothing else particularly stands out. Honestly, it’s hard to tell…”
“What will you do? Turn back?”
Tanya asked.
“We press on. From now to Larden, it’s a straight path. We must be prepared to encounter enemies and move straight ahead.”
That’s when Kassel raised his hand.
“What?”
“We haven’t eaten anything since this morning.”
Kassel said. It wasn’t just about him being hungry.
Lofin belatedly looked back at Sinabia. Until now, she had only sipped a little water in Pankentin’s arms. No matter how little she moved, hanging on for so long during their journey would naturally be exhausting.
Both Lofin and Tanya had been too focused on the enemy, neglecting such minor but essential concerns. Hearing that made Tanya realize she was also famished.
“Then… let’s go a bit further and find something to eat.”
After moving half an hour away from where the bodies of the Fvoes were found, the party stopped and shared the food they had in their backpacks. They didn’t realize it while moving, but sitting down and resting brought on late fatigue, and no one could speak. It was unclear whether Rai, who usually didn’t talk much and being a Lemif, was exhausted or not.
Kassel, struggling even to sip water, asked,
“Tanya. Why did Her Highness Sanadiel send only Jaymer and me as reinforcements to Lutia?”
“Do you have something on your mind?”
There were many guesses, but Tanya wanted to know exactly what Kassel was curious about.
“Her Highness said she was aware of everything happening in Aranthia. So, she might have some idea about the seriousness of the situation in the Sky Mountains, right? The danger in Lutia. The appearance of Mozes. Kagua. The death of dragons…”
Kassel trailed off, tilting his head.
“Regardless of the alliance between Aranthia and Lutia, if she knew the situation was this serious, she should have mobilized the entire Wolf Knights to help Lutia. Why did she fulfill the alliance’s duty by sending only me, a mere individual, to Lutia?”
“Her Highness would not have considered Kassel a mere individual.”
Tanya tried to console him, but he waved his hand.
“No, that’s not what I mean. I thought the crisis in the Sky Mountains was directly linked to Lutia’s crisis. The death of the dragons seemed to be connected to Lutia’s danger, not Larden’s!”
“Nontil is the god of Larden, though? And by that logic, Lofin has always placed Lutia and Larden on the same level.”
“But I don’t think that’s the case.”
“…I see, I’m not quite sure what you mean.”
“The Mozes might come from anywhere, and the Kagua’s origins are also unknown, but they’re said to move with the Fvoe. The Fvoe came from the east. So, can we assume the Mozes also came from the east? Then why did the Mozes attack Lutia first, which is further from the east, instead of Larden?”
“Larden is also under threat, isn’t it?”
“According to Master Dethain, Lutia’s fortress has fallen. Compared to that, Larden is just on alert, right?”
Lofin, who had been chewing on something like a dry root, snapped his fingers. His lips curled up on one side.
“Yes! That’s the kind of thought process I wanted from you. Right, the Mozes!”
Then, turning to Sinabia, who was gasping for air and looking exhausted, Lofin said,
“The Mozes have never directly attacked Larden. It’s always been ‘accidental’ encounters leading to ‘accidental’ battles. Can you remember, Sinabia? Use your power to look into everyone’s past. All the battles where Mozes initiated the fight!”
“It’s not possible to peek into the past without a proper ritual. But from Pankentin’s memories…”
Sinabia tilted her head and then took a deep breath.
“Battle… the location of the battle. Ah… The Mozes always encountered us while we were on the move. However, those Mozes on the move did not attack Larden. We were too preoccupied with our own concerns to pay attention to where their movement was directed. We were just relieved that Larden was safe.”
Lofin asked Pankentin in the Lemif language.
“When was the last massive movement of the Mozes?”
“About ten days ago.”
“How many?”
“Between a thousand and fifteen hundred.”
“Which direction?”
“West.”
Lofin looked at Tanya and said,
“The only thing to the west of Larden is Lutia. The Mozes attacking us was an ‘accidental’ occurrence! Their target is Lutia.”
Lofin murmured to himself, wondering why he hadn’t realized it sooner, and clutched his head.
“Kassel was right. If it was an attack targeting the entire Sky Mountains from the beginning, they should have attacked Larden, one of the largest countries of the Lemifs, before moving on to Lutia. But instead, they’re focusing their unharmed forces on Lutia.”
Tanya felt a sinking feeling in her chest for many reasons. She had assisted Sinabia, thinking that helping the Lemifs was the same as helping Lutia. But now, Lofin and Kassel were saying that wasn’t the case.
‘Jaymer, it’s been two days since I’ve been separated from Dethain. Two days! It’s enough time for fifteen hundred Mozes to reach Lutia and then some. What’s happening in Lutia right now? That enormous number of Mozes, those monsters impervious to magic, were heading to Lutia.’
Lofin briefly sorted out other thoughts in his head and then shook his head.
“Ah, Sanadiel. I bow to Your Majesty’s insight.”
Lofin laughed loudly, unconcerned with others’ worries.
“The reason Her Majesty did not send the entire Wolf Knights as reinforcements was exactly that. The solution was in granting permission for reinforcement to Kassel alone.”
“Hold on, Lofin.”
Tanya seemed to be on the verge of realizing something as well.
“Still, the major premise remains unchanged. If Lutia is the Mozes’ sole objective, then naturally, Aranthia would be their next target. Hence, Sanadiel should help Lutia. Isn’t that the way to protect Aranthia?”
“Now you’re using the sorceror’s insight. But it’s not enough.”
Lofin clenched his fist.
“No living sorceror can wield power in front of Aranthia’s queen. No living army can defeat the Wolf Knights. At least, within Aranthia, nothing can stand against the queen’s power. But if the Wolf Knights depart as reinforcements, the enemy can simply redirect the forces attacking Lutia straight to Aranthia.”
Lofin continued in a hushed tone.
“It’s easy to understand, but since I’ve started acting smart, let me explain. The enemy has enough strength to take down Lutia but is waiting instead. If I were the general leading the Mozes, I would push Lutia to the brink but not completely destroy it. I’d wait until Lutia requests reinforcements from Aranthia, pulling the Wolf Knights out!”
Tanya couldn’t believe that the queen had foreseen even this.
The enemy’s target wasn’t Lutia from the start but Aranthia?
“So you’re saying that even Dethain going on a diplomatic mission to Aranthia for reinforcements is part of the enemy’s plan?”
“Whether it’s Dethain himself or the one who sent Dethain to Aranthia… that person is Lutia’s betrayer. They’re part of the Guanil coalition forces attempting to topple Aranthia by holding Lutia hostage.”
Tanya briefly thought of Grand Master Ruskin before hastily dismissing the thought. Someone who had sworn their life to Lutia couldn’t possibly do such a thing.
“Then why… did she send me as reinforcements to Lutia?”
Kassel groaned softly. It was to protect Aranthia that she hadn’t sent the Wolf Knights. Yet, she had sent him and Jaymer. Tanya quickly surmised why he looked disappointed. Lofin was also careful with his answer.
“It could’ve been a strategy to confuse the enemy or, well, Her Majesty had some deeper purpose.”
Kassel muttered bitterly.
“Thinking about it, Jaymer and I were originally outsiders, not part of the Wolf Knights.”
“I know what you’re thinking, Kassel. I can assure you, that’s not the case!”
Tanya glared at Lofin and continued.
“Do not lightly cloud the intentions of Queen Sanadiel. If you belittle the miracle at the White Gate as a mere coincidence, you’re dismissing those who hold it in high regard. That includes me. So, do not show humility so frivolously.”
Kassel looked up with wide eyes and merely nodded dumbly.
Lofin smiled and waved one hand.
“That sounded like a scolding.”
“You always catch on quick, which is troublesome, but it’s convenient in times like these. Even if I beat around the bush, you get it!”
At Tanya’s stern tone, Lofin apologized.
“Think of it as me speaking out of turn, Master Tanya. I’m definitely not underestimating Kassel.”
Tanya then turned her gaze to Kassel.
Kassel managed to relax his expression and said,
“Thank you, Tanya. I was thinking too pessimistically, but I feel better thanks to you.”
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You won’t say that again, will you?”
“No, I won’t.”
“Then let’s discuss what we need to do to avert the crisis in Lutia. Let’s not complicate an already complex situation any further.”
Tanya concluded her words with a sharp tone.
‘I’ve done it again, haven’t I? Making someone feel inferior by saying something that makes them feel that way.’
The moment Tanya began to regret her words, Kassel said,
“I still believe there’s a way to save Lutia by helping the Lemifs. It may be a trap, but after all, Lutia is a city of magic that is important both to the Lemifs and humans.”
Tanya was relieved. Kassel wasn’t the type to be discouraged by such things.
“The Mozes may attack Lutia and target Aranthia, but there’s no way Larden can remain safe in the process!”
Sinabia spoke up weakly from behind.
“If it’s about reinforcements, I will strongly suggest it to the Hopet. You have helped us with all your might. So, naturally, if it’s about reinforcements, we should also…”
Tanya harbored hope and waited for her to continue, but Kassel stopped her.
“No, we have not yet fulfilled our promise. Even without the threat of the Mozes, Guanil and the Kagua remain. To protect Larden, we need the power of dragons. Look. No one mentioned in the prophecy has left us yet.”
Kassel looked around at everyone. Soon, including Rai and Pankentin, everyone had formed a wide circle with Kassel in the center. He continued,
“We still have tasks to perform, and one of them is to awaken the dragons. Only after completing that and ensuring the safety of Larden can you help Lutia. Are you thinking of abandoning Larden to help Lutia, Sinabia? You must not make the mistake that the Hopet of Aranthia did not.”
Sinabia nodded slowly and said,
“I see. But to restart the ritual to awaken the dragons will take a lot of time. We have lost our god. To awaken a dragon of another country, we must meet the shaman of that country and engage in lengthy negotiations. Even if we disregard the Lemifs’ tendency to prolong rituals and follow only the most necessary procedures to awaken the dragon immediately, it would still take about five to seven days. Will Tanya’s city hold out till then?”
Tanya closed her eyes. The tower shining brightly with White Mystery flashed before her eyes.
“There’s not no way.”
Lofin spoke up with a grave voice.
“Certainly, dragons with the titles ‘Le’ or ‘Ka’ are associated with each nation and tribe. But the neutral ‘Sa,’ who manages both ‘Ka’ and ‘Le,’ has no affiliation, right? I’m talking about the dragon High Lords.”
“That’s a point.”
Sinabia also pondered deeply at that. During the waiting time, Kassel and Tanya harbored hope and waited for an answer. However, she shook her head.
“They are known in the world of the Lemifs as ‘beings that exist by themselves.’ They move only by their will and control Gider by their will. There are only three dragons with the title ‘Sa’ across the entire continent, and the name of one of them has not even been revealed.”
Sinabia hesitated to mention the names but eventually did.
“Sa-Nadil, and Sa-Knadil. Even those two are only known by name, and no one knows where they are. Only a very few Lemifs know their whereabouts, and those who know never speak of it. And we never ask.”
“Hudintin?”
“I do not know.”
Sinabia shook her head again, and Lofin paced before sitting down. His left sleeve, hanging loose, seemed particularly devoid of energy.
“If no one knows, it’s certainly safe. Let’s think of another way. It’s not too late when you think it’s late. If it were really too late, you wouldn’t think it’s late but feel it’s over. But right now, I don’t feel like it’s over.”
“Though it might be a sin against other races, what if we completely skip the procedure and go straight to the sanctuary?”
Kassel asked.
“I know.”
Rai interjected, but so quietly that only Tanya could hear.
Sinabia responded to Kassel’s question.
“That’s impossible. Dragons do not listen to anyone other than the shaman serving them. As I mentioned earlier, only those with the title ‘Sa’ respond to all shamans.”
Kassel was about to say more but stopped. Sinabia was looking too strained and sweating profusely. When Lofin went to check, he saw that the wound bitten by the Mozes was not clotting, and blood was flowing again.
“This is dangerous. You need to receive proper treatment quickly or it could be serious.”
Tanya approached and performed magic to stop the bleeding again, but further treatment was beyond her abilities. The bitten area was turning purple, and the flesh had begun to rot.
Tanya asked in Lemif,
“It’s the poison of the Mozes. Weren’t Lemifs supposed to be immune?”
“I’m physically weak, that’s why.”
“Is there a way to treat it?”
“Not now. But if we can get to Larden…”
While Sinabia struggled to talk about the treatment and Lofin searched frantically for relevant herbs, Kassel suddenly remembered and spoke to Rai.
“But Rai, didn’t you say something just now?”
Tanya briefly diverted her attention from Sinabia and the herbs to their conversation.
“I know… I said.”
“What do you know?”
“The dragon with the title ‘Sa.'”
Everyone was shocked into silence as if they had been struck on the head.
Lofin gave Rai a strange look while handing over the herbs he had torn from Pankentin. Tanya also stopped her conversation.
Pankentin was the only one busy crushing herbs and changing Sinabia’s bandages.
Enduring the pain of the new bandages, Sinabia asked in Lemif,
“How do you know?”
“I saw.”
Rai replied dispassionately, as if mentioning having seen a squirrel on the road before.
“How did you know it was a dragon with the title ‘Sa’?”
Sinabia asked with curiosity, not thinking Rai was lying, so it couldn’t be called doubt she was showing. However, Tanya couldn’t help but think it was doubt.
“I spoke with them. They told me my Gider is in battle. They told me I would live fighting and end life through battle. When I first greeted them, they asked me what my name was and revealed theirs too. Their name clearly started with ‘Sa.’ I’ve forgotten the rest.”
Tanya translated everything she heard to Kassel. He was surprised, asking after a delay from Sinabia’s reaction.
“Then where are they now?”
Rai immediately switched to human language.
“Exact, location, unknown, but, not far.”
“This is Nontil’s territory. There’s no reason for a High Lord to be here.”
Sinabia also spoke in human language.
“Reason, unknown. But, present.”
Naturally, there was no sign of deceit on Rai’s face. Lofin too, after a moment of deep thought and tightly closed lips, halted everyone’s conversation.
“We’ve been in one place too long.”
As he said this, Lofin drew his sword. Pankentin, having finished bandaging Sinabia’s ankle, also stood ready with his sword drawn. Tanya lit the orb’s light.
They were surrounded. The sound of footsteps on the forest floor filled the air from all directions.
“Tanya, if possible, fight as a wolf. There are too many trees around to use magic without endangering ourselves.”
Without hesitation, Tanya transformed into a wolf and positioned herself beside Kassel. Kassel drew his sword as well. Whispering voices could be heard in the darkness.
“Rado Worg?”
“Rado Worg.”
It was unmistakably Lemif language. Tanya, preparing for the attack, thought the voice of Fvoe was no different from that of the Zvi tribe. However, Lofin sensed something and stopped Tanya.
Then, Pankentin lowered his sword and shouted,
“We’re Lemifs from Larden.”
The reply came from the opposite side,
“We’re Lemifs from Mandir.”
Pankentin asked,
“Fergusnai?”
“Pankentin!”
A lean Lemif man with short blond hair stepped out of the darkness. Pankentin hugged him tightly. Sinabia, barely relieved, explained to everyone,
“Fergusnai is the captain guarding the east, Mandir. He’s our ally.”
–TL Notes–
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