Queen Sanadiel gently grasped and pulled out the spear tip embedded in Sheyden’s side. A bit of blood trickled from the wound. Despite the severity of the injury, there was no massive bleeding that would typically follow. Sheyden, who had been motionless impaled by the spear, fell to the ground as softly as a feather.
“Quickly, take him to Nadium.”
The Wolf Knights, having finished the battle, swiftly moved Sheyden upon hearing the order.
Franz ran to Sanadiel’s side and jumped off his horse as if he was about to fall.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“I’m fine.”
The Wolf Knights who followed also sighed in relief.
Quain asked.
“What’s the damage?”
“There are many injured. But… no one is dead.”
Franz showed a slight smile.
“That’s fortunate. You led them well, Franz.”
Quain spoke in a kind voice.
Franz shrugged his shoulders and replied.
“Well, I didn’t really do anything. Everyone just rushed out waiting for the captain’s next order.”
“Captain? Order?”
Quain asked, as if he heard something absurd.
“The order not to advance. There should have been a following order, but it wasn’t given. So, we just went ahead on our own.”
The other Wolves behind laughed and chuckled. Quain frowned, feeling like the Wolves were making a joke he didn’t understand, and unwittingly looked back at Kassel.
He was unable to get up, possibly due to facing the grey sorcerer head-on.
“The captain’s order?”
Quain inquired.
“Yes, the captain’s order.”
Franz said with a firm tone.
Billy’s injuries were more severe than Sheyden’s. The Wolves that came to clean up the area couldn’t just take Billy away; they had to administer first aid first. Even then, they didn’t load him onto a horse but waited for a cart.
Kassel, expected to be happy after the fight, was sitting with a dazed, absent-minded expression, so he had to be put in the cart along with Billy. None of the Wolf Knights dared to speak to him. It wasn’t just because Kassel looked too sad. It was also because the fearsome witch Tanya was clinging closely to him.
“Now, everything is settled, let’s also head back.”
Sanadiel waited until everything was in order and then returned to the gate, escorted by the Wolf Knights. She said to Irine, who was continuously by her side.
“I won’t ask why you couldn’t strike earlier.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Will you take responsibility?”
“Yes.”
As Irine replied in a sad voice, Sanadiel wrapped her arms around her waist playfully. Irine also smiled and placed her hand on Sanadiel’s shoulder. The two leaned on each other and leisurely continued their walk to Nadium.
As they were almost reaching the White Gate, Quain said to Sanadiel.
“Your Majesty, a guest has arrived.”
“Huh?”
Even from a considerable distance, she quickly recognized the figure standing in front of the gate.
“Master Dethain.”
Tanya, who was in the cart with Kassel, immediately jumped down and ran to his side. Dethain greeted the Queen, Quain, Tanya, and Irine, acknowledging each one.
“Have you come back to return my wolves you took to the Sky Mountains?”
Sanadiel asked playfully.
“I hurried here after seeing a big incident unfold while coming down from the Sky Mountains. Fortunately, you’re safe.”
“With two guardians like these, the only thing that could harm me would be the end of the world. So, what brings you?”
“It’s going to be a long story.”
Dethain spoke with a somber expression. Kassel, who had seemed to be out of it, was suddenly standing behind Tanya. He was so unsteady that Tanya had to support him, yet Kassel’s first concern was to ask questions.
“Has something happened to the White Wolves?”
Dethain took a moment to assess who Kassel was. Kassel spoke urgently.
“I’m Captain Wolf. I want to know about my friends.”
“You are…?”
Dethain looked Kassel over from head to toe with a slightly puzzled expression before responding.
“It’s awkward to say this, but it’s different from what Loyal, told me.”
“Loyal?”
“Just before coming here, he said this. If it’s the Captain, he could solve ‘this matter’.”
Dethain briefly reported to Sanadiel, skipping the long story for now.
“Lutia has fallen, Your Majesty. And two of the White Wolves are missing.”
☆ ☆ ☆
In the conference room were Queen Sanadiel, Quain, Irine, Kassel, twelve Council of Elders, and five Wolf Knights. Jaymer, apparently not qualified, did not attend, and Tanya was there with Dethain, representing Lutia.
During the conversation, Kassel coughed several times. He was so unwell he could hardly eat lunch, but he insisted on attending. Tanya looked back at him worriedly each time he coughed.
As the Queen listened seriously to Dethain’s story, she said,
“So, a monster invaded Lutia and this monster is impervious to magic. So, you took my White Wolves with you, and now even those four are in danger… To summarize, is that it, Master Dethain?”
The Queen’s voice was a bit angry. To her, the White Wolves were like children, future candidates for guardians, so it was natural for her to be upset that they were put in danger.
Dethain stammered his response.
“It’s harsh to summarize it that way, Your Majesty. The disappearance of the two was an accident. Azwin and Gerald… As you know, the Sky Mountains are a place where even Lutia’s magicians can easily get lost if they stray from the path. Let alone a human who can’t use magic… But those two suddenly disappeared from my sight and did not reappear. I did my best to search the area, but could not find them.”
Kassel, forgetting the blood in his cough, widened his eyes in shock.
Irine defended Dethain,
“As Your Majesty knows, once you enter the Sky Mountains, no magic power can find those who are lost. If they really were lost by accident, Dethain couldn’t have done anything.”
Sanadiel closed her eyes and seemed lost in thought.
“So, you’re asking for our help again, Master Dethain?”
He struggled to choose words that wouldn’t irritate Sanadiel.
“Currently, Lutia is occupied by monsters. Fortunately, many priests and masters are barely surviving under the protection of Loyal and Dunmel. We’ve realized how powerful the Wolf Knights are and have come back here to formally request your help.”
Sanadiel looked down coldly and replied,
“But I can’t spare more troops. It was fortunate that Irine was here. If we had faced a day like today without the White Wolves, I might have died. And yet that enemy is still alive. Who else should I send? Irine? The injured Sheyden? That’s impossible.”
“But… um, Queen Sanadiel, our alliance is not so flimsy.”
Dethain was flustered.
“Who said it was flimsy?”
Sanadiel burst out in anger and then looked around the room. The Council of Elders gestured for her to calm down. Sanadiel opened her mouth to speak again.
“I have no intention of breaking our alliance in this way. First, I’d like to know what kind of forces you’re asking for.”
“Truth be told, I’m not sure myself how much force is needed. That’s why I asked Loyal. So, this is Loyal Wolf’s opinion.”
“Go on.”
“Knight Loyal said that one person who wasn’t brought along, namely Sheyden, and one captain to lead them, would be enough. But…”
Dethain looked at Kassel with a sympathetic expression. Kassel, understanding the meaning behind that look, did not respond. Sanadiel smiled pleasantly.
“I can understand why Loyal would say that. At least half of the Wolf Knights would have died, or rather, half of this city would have been destroyed to resolve the issue, but he solved it without a single casualty… and even the enemy didn’t lose a single person. Well done, Kassel.”
“I didn’t do anything, Your Majesty.”
Kassel said in a somber voice.
“Hmm, doing something without actually doing anything is as difficult as it gets.”
Then Sanadiel extended her hand and commanded.
“Alright, Master Dethain. As Loyal suggested, I will provide two people. No more than that. I still don’t feel Nadium is safe. But since Sheyden is injured and can’t move, in place of Sheyden…”
She looked at the Wolf Knights present and then shook her head.
“Hmm, it’s not for me to decide. Captain Wolf, you choose the one person to take to Lutia.”
Kassel bowed his head for a moment before speaking.
“Your Majesty, and Master Dethain. To be honest, I don’t know what Loyal was thinking calling me. If there’s an ongoing battle there, there’s nothing I can do. Wouldn’t it be better if as many Wolf Knights as possible went?”
“You speak as if you’re not a Wolf Knight?”
“Huh? Oh, well…”
Kassel held back from saying more, but Sanadiel didn’t let it pass.
“Does it sound like you’re trying to pass the responsibility to someone else because you don’t want to go?”
Kassel groaned softly.
“Actually, I do want to go.”
“Even though you said there’s nothing for you to do?”
“There probably isn’t. But it seems more painful to stay here and wait, knowing my friends are in danger.”
Sanadiel laughed with Selina’s smile and then said,
“You should have said so earlier. Now, again! Who will you take?”
Kassel looked at the five Wolf Knights sitting in front of him.
Franz, Alex, Zainon, Malra, Eryl.
Now, they were all calling Kassel the captain without hesitation. Kassel asked them ‘When was that decided?’ To which they all replied differently.
‘When Sildire was chosen to fight Suvel.’
‘When you drew the sacred sword.’
‘When the sacred sword shone.’
‘When you truly stopped the Black Knights’ advance.’
Eryl’s reply was the most impressive.
‘Your name sounds best when it has Captain in it. Mine, on the other hand… Captain Vunataidol! Isn’t that cumbersome?’
They had all wanted to go to Lutia since hearing it was in danger. But Kassel pointed to someone else.
“Any of you would be fine, but right now, there’s only one person on my mind. However, he’s not someone I can order around. I need permission from someone other than Your Majesty.”
“He’s not a Wolf Knight, then.”
Sanadiel, as if she had already guessed, continued gently.
“So, this is Captain Wolf’s wish. Irine, what will you do?”
☆ ☆ ☆
“Is everything packed?”
Irine knocked on the open door and asked. Jaymer was busily stuffing items into his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.
“If I’m going to the Sky Mountains, I’m not sure what to bring.”
“It’s natural not to know about such a place. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I say this because you haven’t yet shown any definite sign of agreement.”
“Then I’ll affirm it. I’ve wanted to see the Sky Mountains.”
“That’s the spirit. Take care on your journey. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Nothing. Well, if I have to ask for something…”
“What is it?”
Jay blushed and couldn’t continue. Irine burst into a hearty laugh and pulled him into a hug.
“Why didn’t you just say it, boy?”
Irine gave him a tight embrace.
“If it doesn’t take too long, be sure to come back. I have a lot I want to teach you.”
Jay also hugged her tightly around the waist and let out a long sigh.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“You’d better, yes. Come back alive. My test for you isn’t over yet.”
The two headed to the entrance of Aynacast Mountain, where everyone was waiting. Irine, holding her staff, eagerly approached Dethain, who was visibly restless. He was worried about the delay. For a magician, he was quite an impatient man.
“Did you see the picture I sent earlier? What do you think?”
Irine approached and asked.
“The monster picture? Yes, I did. They’re the ones that attacked us. Where did you get such a picture?”
“I drew it myself. It seems they’re not only in Lutia but spread all over the Sky Mountains. They attacked me while I was coming from Tracast Mountain. If these creatures are roaming around the Sky Mountains and even attacked Lutia, it’s no ordinary matter.”
Irine whispered softly.
“If my apprentice falls into the hands of those monsters, please contact me immediately. I’ll go there myself and obliterate them.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Dethain coughed and replied. Behind him, Tanya was waiting, and Jaymer had already finished preparing to leave. Kassel was greeting a few Wolf Knights who had come to see him off. Franz shook his hand so firmly it felt like it might break, Putier promised a game of chess later, and Malra gifted him a history book of his country to read if he got bored. Sildire, without saying a word, hugged Kassel with tears in her eyes.
Afterward, Kassel said his final goodbyes to Sanadiel.
“I’m really sorry I can’t meet Sheyden before leaving. Please convey my regards to him.”
“I will. Take care of yourself. As I said before, what you need is confidence. That confidence, along with the White Wolves and your innate abilities, will enable you to perform miracles in Lutia like you did today.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
As Kassel was about to turn away, Sanadiel called him back once more.
“Oh, and Kassel, about the bet…”
“The duel between Franz and Jaymer?”
“I heard it was a draw, but it’s no fun to just let the bet go because of a draw, is it? How about fulfilling each other’s wishes? Tell me. I will grant your wish. And you will fulfill mine too.”
Kassel’s previously somber expression brightened as he smiled faintly.
“Then I will wish for the same as someone who once wished before Your Majesty. Please let me meet the partner I will spend my life with.”
“That’s an easy wish, isn’t it? To meet? Then I’ll tell you this. You have already met this person, and you will continue to have a relationship with them in the future.”
Since there was only one woman nearby who could be considered a potential match, Kassel involuntarily looked at Sildire. She hadn’t heard the Queen’s words and was just waving her hand. For some unknown reason, Kassel smiled.
“What is Your Majesty’s wish?”
“It means I also want to ask for the same favor I asked of ‘that person’ back then, if you choose their wish.”
Kassel’s body stiffened for a moment.
“Are you talking about… bringing a real dragon?”
“Take care on your journey.”
Without allowing for negotiation, Sanadiel sent Kassel on his way.
Kassel waved to everyone and followed Dethain, who had already entered the forest. Jay came to stand beside Kassel.
“Are you worried?”
Kassel seriously considered whether his unsettled heart was indeed due to worry and then replied with a smile.
“No. I’m happy.”
“This guy, you looked like you were about to die a moment ago… What are you happy about?”
“My father said he never went to the Sky Mountains. Somehow, it feels like I’ve won.”
Kassel smiled faintly. Jay couldn’t understand why he was smiling.
The darkness created by the thick forest of the Sky Mountains grew denser. Right before the forest obscured his view, Kassel looked back. He could see the plains in front of the White Gate, where the last battle with Black had taken place.
“May you find peace in your death.”
Kassel bid farewell and entered the Sky Mountains.
–TL Notes–
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