Chapter 07
The Sylph flapped its small wings hard as it flew.
It headed toward the sanctuary of wisdom, a sacred place standing apart from all power and resentment.
[Peep peep!]
Its round eyes caught sight of the fortress where its master resided.
Just a little more.
[Peep?]
At that moment, a figure appeared in its vision.
Someone was quietly gesturing, white collar fluttering in the sky.
At first, the Sylph did not realize it.
[Peep!]
■■■ ■■.
A youthful boy smiled faintly and called the Sylph.
The Sylph obeyed his call.
He was not its king, but he was still undeniably a king.
“Is that something you’re delivering to your master?”
[Peep-rolong!]
The Sylph answered loudly.
“Give it here.”
[Peep?]
Why? The Sylph tilted its head slightly.
This was a letter meant for its king’s favored old master.
The boy’s eyes, hidden behind glass-like lenses, curved slightly.
“I’ll deliver it instead.”
[Peep…]
After a brief hesitation, the Sylph obeyed.
As a lower spirit, it could not disobey this boy.
“Good. Go rest now.”
[Peep peep peep.]
He would handle it.
The Sylph dissolved its form into the air, settling into the atmosphere.
Left alone, the boy looked up at the vast sky.
“The gates of the war have opened.”
He murmured softly. The words did not sink into darkness but scattered into the air.
The boy left the fortress.
Contrary to what he had said to the Sylph, his steps headed not toward the castle, but toward his own library.
More than half a month had passed since we stayed in this city.
“…Why hasn’t she come yet…”
Grandfather sighed deeply as he looked out the window.
The longer we stayed, the stronger the unease became.
We were so close to leaving this city.
I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
It was a strange time—boredom that wanted the silence to end quickly, and fear that did not want the ending to come at all.
“…I have urgent news.”
The silence was broken by shocking news.
Roberic was heading toward Terma City.
“Damn it… so he’s coming here after all!”
Grandfather shouted in frustration.
I felt the same.
How did he track us down?
“Should we change inns?”
Perion’s subordinate suggested.
“…It’s no use changing locations when we can’t even leave the city. And we can’t send letters anymore…”
What should we do?
Was there really no way?
I thought hard, but crossing the border checkpoint was on an entirely different level of strictness.
Going there would be like revealing ourselves and begging to be captured.
“…We just have to hide as much as possible.”
Grandfather’s golden eyes shone sharply.
Our only option was to wait.
Wait until grandfather’s friend sent someone to us.
“…Your Grace.”
“Perion.”
A bright smile bloomed in front of him.
“Shut up.”
Perion bit the inside of his cheek.
Please. Please don’t get caught. Not by Roberic.
“You said the report came from where?”
“The inn called Terrafopo.”
“I see.”
“Shall we head there immediately?”
Roberic seemed to think for a moment.
“No.”
Then he said clearly:
“Let’s go through other inns first.”
The knight looked confused.
“Your Grace, if I may ask why—”
Roberic’s eyes curved like a bow.
“Because.”
“Pardon?”
He added as if talking about something amusing.
“It’s fun.”
“…?”
The knight looked completely confused.
He’s lost it.
Perion watched silently.
Whenever Roberic lost his mind in rage like this, he would be influenced by wind spirits and unleash disasters.
Then, after releasing everything, he would act normal again.
But that was not truly the case.
“What do you think, Perion? Should I prepare a gift since it’s been a while?”
That was just a mask forced over a mind still burning with rage.
Under that smiling face, fury was still tearing him apart.
Skipping the reported inn and checking others first meant something else—
He wanted to slowly tighten Si-on Bastavan’s breathing.
A cruel enjoyment born from hatred.
Perion closed his eyes.
Preparing for the moment they would be discovered.
“They’re searching other inns first. What should we do?”
It had finally come.
“…Idis is the most important. I don’t care what happens to me.”
How did it come to this?
“Where can we hide Idis…”
Grandfather bit his lips hard.
“There were crates stacked behind the inn.”
Then he remembered.
Grandfather lifted me into his arms.
“Idis, listen carefully.”
…What is he going to do?
“Yes.”
I answered quietly, full of anxiety.
“Move aside.”
Grandfather signaled to Perion’s subordinate blocking the door.
“…It might be better to surrender.”
But he did not move.
“What did you say?”
Grandfather’s eyes widened.
Killing intent flickered in his golden gaze.
Even though his body was old and worn, the presence he carried was undeniable.
“Move.”
“…Understood.”
Finally, he stepped aside.
Grandfather wrapped me tightly in a cloak and hurried out.
The back of the inn was dark, with no light at all.
Crickets chirped faintly, and stacked crates formed walls of shadow.
Grandfather carefully placed me on top of one of the crates and opened them one by one, searching.
He was looking for a place big enough for me.
“…Grandfather.”
I finally spoke.
“Don’t say anything.”
As if he already knew what I would say, he stopped me.
I bit my lip painfully.
Outside, faint spirit-lit lamps glowed, but here only darkness remained.
Was there any point in this?
Wasn’t the ending already decided?
I hugged my knees.
Still, I had hoped.
But this was the end.
“Ha…”
Grandfather’s heavy breathing came.
I hated seeing him suffer.
Because of me, he had abandoned his peaceful life and endured hardship with his aging body.
That love made me happy—but also unbearably painful.
Because that love was burning him away.
Thinking of the original story made it worse.
The noble Bastavan Duke who once walked above all others, untouched by anyone’s gaze.
Compared to that version of him, the present felt unbearable.
How I wished he could return to who he once was.
If only I could make that happen…
“Idis.”
Grandfather’s voice called me.
I looked up blankly.
Even in the darkness, I could see his sweat-soaked face.
“Listen carefully. No matter what you hear, no matter who calls your name, do not leave this crate. Even if I call you.”
“…Grandfather…”
“Don’t cry. You must not cry. If your voice leaks out—”
What will Roberic do?
Will he hurt someone who once saved him?
No… he won’t.
Grandfather will be safe, and I…
Grandfather carefully placed me inside a large crate, big enough for a small child.
I hurriedly looked up.
He was smiling.
“Close your eyes and think you’re sleeping.”
But tears shone faintly in his eyes.
“Grandfather, no… please…”
I spoke in panic.
“…I love you, my granddaughter.”
“Grandfather!!”
But his decision did not change.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
I could not stop the lid from closing.
“No…”
Alone in the pitch-black space, my voice vanished.
I don’t know how long I stayed there.
I sat hugging my knees, blinking slowly.
The crate felt completely separated from the world.
“….”
No sound.
“It will be okay… it will…”
I kept repeating it.
To escape the fear rising from the ground and swallowing me whole.
Time passed unbearably slowly.
“…Spirit.”
Something to pass the time.
I began recalling the stories grandfather used to tell me.
“In the ancient times, the universe was filled only with darkness. Then, by some unknown divine law, Illypia of life was born from that darkness, followed by death.
After that, many forms of life emerged.
We came to call them spirits.
Countless spirits filled the world, and their kings each had their own names.
Ignis, spirit king of light.
Oried, spirit king of earth.
Naiad, spirit king of water.
Aerial, spirit king of wind.
Phoenix, spirit king of fire.
Dryad, spirit king of forest.
Astrape, spirit king of lightning.
Prince of ice, Frinsher.
And the spirit of wisdom, Lore.
Do you think someone is missing?
Yes. There was darkness that existed even before them.
Darkness also had a name.
That name was—”
Creeeak—
“!”
The sound scraped against my ears.
I opened my eyes sharply.
Grandfather?
Through the slowly opening darkness, the star-filled night sky appeared.
“Grandfather…?”
My stiff neck slowly lifted.
At the end of my gaze—
Red eyes.
Not the golden eyes I had longed for.
I could not breathe.
Those red eyes curved into a smile as they looked at me.
“Idis.”
Roberic stood against the night sky and smiled beautifully.
So beautiful it was disgusting.
