Behind the castle of Nadium, even though the Aynacast Mountain was not a volcano, it boasted hot springs from its heated underground waters. The Queen’s Garden bordered the mountain, and right next to it was a hot spring exclusive to the Queen herself. It was the place where Kassel and Tanya were summoned for a brief conversation the previous night.
Irine had been visiting here repeatedly since morning. It was not only because the spring was very effective for treating poisons and wounds, but also because she wanted to forget her worries and rest for a while.
The front of the hot spring was open, but being blocked by Aynacast Mountain, it was essentially a closed space. The Queen had always wanted to open this magnificent landscape and hot spring to others, but the maids strongly opposed it. Every time the maids were replaced, the Queen proposed the same idea, and each time, the new maids opposed it.
‘Do not let anyone other than Your Majesty into Your Majesty’s space!’
Even Wolf Knights were no exception. The same applied to female Wolf Knights. Irine was the only exception.
‘Really, it’s a pity to have this place all to myself.’
Due to the slightly cool air coming down from the mountain, more steam rose from the hot spring than usual. The other side of the not-so-large spring was hardly visible. As her wounds healed and her mind eased, worries began to resurface.
The sound of someone dipping their legs into the hot spring splashed. Irine opened her eyes that she had been keeping shut. She saw the faint outline of a woman, with her long hair hanging outside the hot spring, immersing only her body in the water.
“It’s been really long since I’ve shared the water with someone.”
“Me too, Your Majesty.”
Irine said with a smile.
A maid kneeling beside her began to comb Sanadiel’s hair, which was outside the water. Another maid following the Queen approached Irine and laid down clothes for her to change into, along with a glass of alcohol.
“I wish you had brought the whole bottle.”
Irine requested the maid.
“It’s not good for your wounds. Even one glass is a special allowance.”
The maid replied with a chillingly cold voice and left. Irine giggled and asked.
“I’ve always been curious, what’s the selection criterion for Nadium’s maids? The most stubborn person?”
“I don’t know. They all turn out like that once selected.”
The Queen also chuckled briefly.
“How many years has it been since we bathed together?”
Their faces were barely visible in the white steam hovering over the water’s surface, but Irine knew Sanadiel was smiling.
“About five or six years, I guess.”
“For Your Majesty, that’s not a long time. I know it’s funny to say this now, but I’m sorry for being late.”
“You are very late. In that sense, thank Azwin.”
“Her name comes up often. Why her?”
“If it weren’t for her, I would have been really bored, and if so, I would have been very angry with you.”
“But Quain Gant is taking good care of you, right?”
“He’s second to none compared to previous guardians.”
“What if I had became the guardian?”
“Then we would always end up playing and not working, so no.”
Irine laughed heartily, splashing the water surface, then winced and curled her arm in pain.
“It still hasn’t healed.”
“It’s taking a long time to heal. It seems not a usual type of poison. It was from a beast from the Sky Mountains…”
“I felt it too. Master Dethain came by recently and mentioned there were concerns in Lutia. I didn’t hear the details, but if it’s about monsters from the Sky Mountains, it might be related to that.”
“Do you think the danger we face is related to the danger Lutia faces?”
“I’m not sure. What’s going to happen will happen.”
“That’s rather complacent. ‘Aranthia will protect Aranthia’, is it?”
Instead of replying, the Queen smiled gently, and Irine spoke with determination.
“Then, as a part of Aranthia, I too shall protect this place.”
“Do so.”
Sanadiel continued with a bitter smile.
“Irine.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It’s not that I’m without worries.”
The Queen spoke as if reading her mind.
“The number of Wolf Knights is increasing. And you brought Jaymer, a child who doesn’t even belong to the Wolf Knights. Also, the White Wolves brought in a captain from outside.”
Irine knew what Sanadiel was worried about. The strength to protect Aranthia was growing, which inversely meant that the threat to Aranthia was also increasing.
“Stop traveling now.”
Sanadiel commanded in a pleading tone. It was a hard command to refuse, yet not easy to accept either.
“I will think about it.”
Stepping out of the hot spring with only a cloak over her shoulders, Irine saw Quain Gant near the door. His presence, tall and firm, showed no trace of his former naivety. How did Lofin know Quain would become such a talent? And how did Lergo recognize him as the destined owner of the sacred sword?
“Let’s talk.”
Irine placed her hand on the doorknob.
“I’m on duty.”
Quain shook his head.
Irine removed her hand from the knob.
“Then stand with me. After all, the position of guardian was given to us both, and I conceded it to you.”
“No, you ran away. Guardians can’t marry, and you had someone you loved.”
“Was that the rule for guardians?”
Irine leaned against the wall, smiling as Quain silently watched her remove the wet hair stuck to her cheek.
“Did you find Tailed?”
“No.”
“How long will you keep looking?”
“Until I find him. But now the Queen has told me not to leave.”
“About when you talked with Kassel.”
Quain suddenly changed the subject.
“Huh?”
Irine waited anxiously for what he’d say next.
“Did you really not fight because you were afraid of the sorcerer behind Welch, not Welch himself?”
‘Brutal guy. To ask so bluntly. He’s not the old Quain. He’s become colder and more splendid.’
Irine had no choice but to answer honestly.
“No. I avoided it because I had no confidence in beating him if Welch had been resurrected. My skills were too rusty from being away from real combat for too long.”
“Even with Vena Esarck?”
“There’s this line in a magic-related book, ‘The resurrected do not die, and the resurrected are stronger.’ If you knew about the last battle in Lontamon, fought by me, Lumil, Lofin, and Tailed, you would understand why I wouldn’t want to face someone resurrected from death. Having Vena Esarck doesn’t erase that fear.”
Quain closed his eyes and quietly responded.
“I’m grateful you said that.”
“Hmm, why?”
“Because I’m not confident either.”
Irine frowned.
“A guardian shouldn’t say that!”
“Do you think I’ve grown in the past 10 years? I’ve just become better at hiding. I’m still timid and lack confidence. That’s why I found someone in the Wolf Knights with a personality completely opposite to mine and made him my ‘real disciple.'”
“That guy?”
“Yes, him.”
Quain chuckled slightly.
“Still no trace of Tailed?”
“Nothing. Plenty of traces, but they were just that – traces.”
Eight years ago, in Lontamon, Irine and her friends had their final battle with the ‘Demon’, the root of all evil. Just before victory, the Demon fled, and Tailed chased after him. Both disappeared. But before reaching the Red Gate, a sorcerer, emitting a similar aura to the Demon, appeared in the darkness alongside Jaymer.
The resurrected Welch, followed by the sorcerer.
Later, Tanya also mentioned a gray-robed sorcerer to Irine. A demon that all the masters of Lutia combined couldn’t defeat.
‘Can even the power of two Venas stop it?’
Quain was staring into space.
After the continental conquest war ended, when everyone had left to defeat the evil sorcerer of Lontamon, Quain had to stay alone to protect the Queen. His regret of becoming a guardian was solely because he couldn’t fight alongside his comrades. Of course, Quain had to fight a terrifying assassin alone to protect the Queen…
“It’s tough… Have I become dull? I have, haven’t I? Why have I become so weak?”
Irine muttered to herself needlessly.
Quain gently stroked the head of Irine, who had her head bowed.
“I always leaned on you when it was tough, Irine. When you’re struggling, lean on me. I’ll give you all the help I can. But you shouldn’t say you’ve become weak.”
Irine rested her head on Quain’s shoulder.
“I wouldn’t say this to anyone but you, but a woman who says she’s become weak wants to be held. It’s odd to say at this age, but sometimes, I really want to throw a fit like crazy.”
Quain sighed.
“Hey, Irine. Don’t say things like that! You might say it jokingly, but with my position, I can’t even say such things. I wish I could pass it on to someone and step down soon.”
“Do you have someone suitable?”
“All five have the talent.”
They were silent for a moment.
Irine hugged Quain, and he silently patted the back of his long-time friend.
“I miss Tailed.”
Irine closed her eyes and spoke in a sad voice.
“You’ll find him.”
Quain comforted her briefly.
“Thanks. For now, I’ll focus on what’s happening now. They seem to be almost here.”
Irine spoke with her cheek against Quain’s chest, her voice, which had been whining, now sharp.
“Can we leave it to the new captain?”
“We have no choice now. If Her Majesty trusts him, I must too. The Wolf Knights have been out of my hands for about a year now. They move on their own judgments and they choose their own leader. I won’t interfere.”
“Okay, then what about us?”
“We’ll do what we did ten years ago. The Wolves fight the tangible…”
Quain started, and Irine finished.
“…and the heirs of Vena fight the shadows.”
–TL Notes–
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