“Mage, welcome!”
Elliot greeted me with a bright smile.
“Ah, my name is Elliot.”
I already knew that……
“What’s our mage’s name?”
“Anne.”
“That’s nice, it rolls right off the tongue!”
He laughed easily and explained today’s schedule.
The place where Seiren’s remains lay was a temple at the center of the capital.
Unlike Carpea, Orphen was a country that worshipped dragons.
Well, that didn’t mean they served dragons as gods or anything.
Originally, a god had existed, but he disappeared after condemning humanity’s selfishness. After that, his servant, the dragon Venous, was left alone and waited for him.
Orphen revered Venous and was currently waiting for the god to return someday.
‘……They probably plan to fit Eileens into the role of that god.’
If that happened, Eileens would be able to reclaim her name and restore her past glory.
She fit perfectly in the place of the nameless god.
“Today, what we ask of you is simple. Since Seiren’s grave is a sacred place, we just need you to bestow a magical blessing.”
“Will that be alright……?”
I fiddled with the bracelet Lily had given me. It was a magic tool imbued with her power, allowing me to use her magic temporarily.
“Yes. You only need to make it look like you're doing it.”
Elliot gave a slight nod.
“It’s just a ritual to prevent the bad energy clinging to outsiders from affecting the deceased.”
“…….”
“Well, it’s a rule that was made only a few days ago, so the priests probably don’t know the details either.”
He scoffed and clicked his tongue, then changed the subject.
“Ah, by the way, do you know how to ride a horse?”
“Oh dear, what should I do……. I’ve never learned horseback riding.”
I felt like biting my tongue.
What have you been doing all this time without learning to ride?
“From what I’ve seen, a lot of mages are like that.”
“I’m sorry…….”
Elliot gave a faint smile and reached out his hand to me.
“Oh, it’s alright! Then shall we ride together for now?”
It was the moment I tried to grab his hand.
“Hic!”
Suddenly, someone grabbed my waist. My feet left the ground, and my view rose sharply.
As I sat dazed on the saddle and looked at Ricardo, he offered a brief apology.
“My apologies.”
Then he mounted the horse as well. He placed his hand firmly over mine, which held the reins, and spurred the horse forward.
Caught by the sudden gust of wind, I instinctively leaned against Ricardo. But the moment I felt his firm body, I quickly straightened my back.
Ricardo also seemed to stiffen.
“……It’s unpleasant, but bear with it for a bit.”
At that moment, his sudden whisper rang in my ear, sending a chill down my spine.
Unpleasant, he said.
At the unexpected words, I glanced at him. Ricardo simply rode with a stiff expression.
The horse’s hooves struck the ground, scattering dust.
* * *
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
Ricardo dismounted and hesitantly offered his hand to me. When I carefully placed my hand over his, he skillfully helped me down.
“……Is that the mage who’ll be entering with you?”
The priests who approached us all had white cloths covering their eyes.
“Yes. She’s from the Tower.”
Even with their eyes covered, I could clearly feel their displeasure toward me.
“Nice to meet you. The temple always welcomes the presence of magical energy.”
It only sounded nice.
“If you’re ready, shall we go meet Lord Seiren?”
With a nervous heart, I looked at Ricardo.
I was supposed to touch his forehead, right?
While wondering if I needed to stand on tiptoe, he quietly knelt on one knee in front of me.
I placed my hand over the hair covering Ricardo’s forehead and managed to speak.
“……I hope only blessings fill your path, Lord Ricardo.”
He paused at my words.
Warm energy transferred to him briefly, and I carefully withdrew my hand.
When I turned to Elliot, he gave me a faint smile.
“I’ll wait outside, so please be careful.”
……Huh?
You’re not coming?
Then that meant I had to be alone with Ricardo.
In the meantime, Ricardo, who had stood up, gave me a slight nod.
“Let’s go in.”
I felt like the world went dark before my eyes.
In the end, I forced my reluctant steps forward.
“The accident at the Imperial Palace was unfortunate.”
As we walked, a priest brought up an unpleasant topic.
“We only hope that this incident won’t strain the relationship between the kingdom and the empire.”
“That’s what we want.”
“Then why would someone like you come all the way to the kingdom?”
His tone was relatively light, but the meaning behind his words was anything but.
“Human life is finite. Knowing that well, how could you suspect Lord Seiren?”
“You know there’s no precedent.”
A faint glint flickered in Ricardo’s eyes.
“You must be referring to the Tower Master. But he gained immortality through a contract. As you know, Lord Seiren died in the Magic War.”
“For someone who disappeared from the world, isn’t he a bit too present?”
Ricardo let out a soft chuckle. His laughter broke and drifted away with the wind.
The frozen atmosphere made my skin crawl.
“You’ll see in time.”
The priest continued speaking calmly.
“That is where Lord Seiren’s remains lie.”
Seiren, the crown prince who was almost a hero to Orphen. The place commemorating him was more splendid than solemn.
The entrance was gilded in gold, and the interior was decorated with various kinds of jewels.
The priest entered the tomb without hesitation and opened the thick coffin.
At that moment, an unpleasant stench lingered at the tip of my nose. It was awful enough to jolt me awake.
Inside lay Seiren, peacefully asleep.
……Though I wasn’t entirely sure this person really was Seiren.
“The body is being preserved with magic.”
He didn’t appear to be thirty yet. A young man untouched by the passage of time.
“Those who participated in the Magic War would recognize him immediately. They’d know we’re not lying.”
He was referring to Blua and Harnen.
Now that I thought about it, why had Ricardo come?
If it was just to confirm Seiren’s remains, it should’ve been someone who fought in the war.
‘……Maybe it’s something that doesn’t need confirmation.’
Ricardo gave a brief silent prayer to the sleeping Seiren.
“Orphen hopes to forget the past and maintain good relations with Carpea.”
The priest continued indifferently.
“Lord Seiren would likely wish for that as well.”
“Let’s leave so he can rest in peace.”
Ricardo gave me a small signal. I nodded and followed him out.
‘They don’t want war…….’
I was lost in thought for a moment when Ricardo’s voice brought me back.
“Thanks for today.”
“Ah, no. I didn’t really do anything.”
“…….”
“……Will you be returning to the empire right away?”
At my question, Ricardo’s eyes wavered slightly. But it was as if nothing had happened, and he quickly composed himself.
“I still have things to do.”
“I see.”
Just as the conversation ended, Ricardo spoke again, a bit cautiously.
“……When are you returning?”
“In two days.”
“You’ll be heading back soon, then.”
I replied with a nod, and that was the end of the conversation. But he continued asking questions.
“Do you live in the Tower as an apprentice mage?”
“Yes.”
“……Will you continue doing that?”
“W-Well, I’m not sure. You never know how life will go.”
“True.”
With nothing much to say, I gave an awkward smile.
This should be the kind of normal conversation a mage would have, right?
As I sighed in relief, he spoke again.
“Have you eaten?”
“I ate well. Y-You, Duke?”
……Was he always this bad with awkward silence?
Watching him try so hard to keep the conversation going made me feel a little sorry for him.
“I have.”
After answering, Ricardo suddenly let out a soft laugh.
“……?”
For some reason, his steps were more relaxed. I didn’t think he usually walked this slowly.
“Are you heading back to your lodging?”
Then, without missing a beat, another question followed.
Was I being interrogated?
“I should. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Even though I was just answering his questions, we somehow ended up in front of the temple’s doors.
“Then I’ll be on my way……”
“An-Anne!”
As I hurried to greet Ricardo, Simon’s urgent voice rang out from somewhere.