CHAPTER 77…………………………..
“You’ve come, Linnegrim.”
At the highest seat sat Lunaris. The chair right beside him was empty, and Lunaris gestured toward it.
“Right next to Lord Lunaris…?”
Isn’t that too high a seat? To sit beside the head himself—that’s a seat even Grandpa Pondel would deserve.
I hesitated, unsure if I could sit there, when Eve gently took my hand and led me forward.
“Linne, how’s your body?”
He even pulled out the chair for me, softly pressing my shoulder to ease me down into it. Ever considerate, he didn’t forget to check my complexion.
“I’m fine now.”
“I heard you suffered greatly last night. And Tehinra told me about what happened in the prison.”
“Tsk. Must have been unsettling to see such an ugly scene, Linnegrim.”
“Thank you for worrying. And I’m sorry, Lord Lunaris. Because of me, you lost a prisoner you meant to interrogate.”
“But we also gained a clue. Since the purpose of interrogation was achieved, do not concern yourself.”
Lunaris patted the back of my hand. His consolation was a little clumsy, but enough to comfort me.
“They said you weren’t in the future he saw, didn’t they?”
“Yes, he did say that.”
“I heard it clearly as well.”
Lunaris stroked his smooth chin, deep in thought.
“Tearn. Tehinra. Do either of you have a guess?”
At Lunaris’s question, Tehinra shook his head.
“No. ‘Future sight,’ you say? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Not in Drekkie, nor in Axxion or Sinatra, has future sight ever manifested.”
Tearn declared with certainty. He seemed to know the abilities of all the Divine Beasts’ clans inside out.
“Seran. What do you think?”
“Hmm. I can think of a few possibilities.” Seran rested his chin on his hand and continued.
“First, that the mage was lying. But they said a binding spell activated, so that’s unlikely.”
“Then what if he cast the binding spell only to spread false information?”
“Then he’d have cited an ability known to belong to a Divine Beast, not some unheard-of ‘future sight.’”
“That makes sense. Go on.”
“Alright…”
At Tehinra’s sharp tone, Tearn hunched his shoulders.
“Second possibility: he wasn’t truly a Divine Beast. But too much evidence supports that he was. Though I do think a fallen Divine Beast could exist.”
“And a third?”
“Of course. Third possibility: a case like Drekkie.”
“Like Drekkie…”
Tehinra glanced at me.
“Ah, Linnegrim knows. I told her.”
“By a case like the Drekkie, do you mean a Divine Beast created by humans?”
At my question, Seran nodded.
“Our Drekkie were created by humans over a thousand years ago. In that time, it wouldn’t be strange if one or two more Divine Beasts came into being.”
“A new Divine Beast, huh…”
It might not be one of the Five Guardian clans, but an entirely new Divine Beast.
“Let’s leave it as a possibility for now. Reikis, what’s the movement of Axxion and Sinatra?”
“Both clans’ leaders remain guarding their territories.”
“I’m torn whether to inform them of the situation and hunt the traitor together, or to first suspect Axxion and Sinatra themselves.”
“I think acting rashly is dangerous.”
At Seran’s words, Lunaris furrowed his brow.
“So you mean we should suspect the other clans? Our fellow Divine Beasts?”
“The traitor too was once one of us, was he not? Now’s the time to suspect anyone.”
Cold though it sounded, Seran’s logic was sound.
“What if we summoned the heirs of the two clans to the palace?”
“That’s reasonable. Since the clan heads never leave their territories, we’d need to call the heirs at least.”
Eve agreed with Reikis’s proposal.
“But would they willingly come to the palace just to be interrogated?”
“Mm, true. And it feels wrong to lie… but if we tell the truth, we lack certainty.”
Eve held his head in frustration.
“The surest way would be to investigate their territories directly…”
“But we lack justification. Both clans shun outside contact; we cannot simply force our way in.”
“Right, that’s true…”
Silence settled over the chamber. Each person sank into thought until Lunaris finally broke the long quiet.
“…Reikis. Send word to the two clans.”
“Yes. How shall I word the message?”
“Leave out the traitor. Lend me your ear.”
Reikis approached and bent low. Lunaris whispered something, and Reikis nodded.
“That wording should make them understand.”
“Yes. I’ll see to it.”
Reikis departed at once to send the message.
“And what about us? Shouldn’t we help somehow?”
“Sometimes doing nothing helps most.”
“Why, you damned sea serpent!”
“It was a compliment. There’s no reason to doubt Rudeel, after all.”
The Rudeel clan’s inherent ability was healing. Every one of their Divine Beasts shared the same gift, leaving no connection to future sight.
“I’ll watch Drekkie’s leader.”
“You mean to suspect your own father?”
“Didn’t I say? We must suspect everyone. There are no exceptions but Rudeel.”
“What an unfilial wretch…”
Tearn muttered, appalled. His curse rang in the quiet hall, but neither he nor Seran seemed to care.
“If there’s ever a way we can help, say the word, Lunaris.”
“Thank you. Even just saying so eases my burden.”
“I mean it. We Rudeel feel the weight of this as well.”
“Tehinra, aren’t you supposed to sleep for three years to recover? How do you mean to help—Ow! Owowow!”
“Then we’ll be on our way.”
With Tearn’s ear firmly twisted, Tehinra rose from his seat.
“You’re returning to the forest?”
“Yes. The palace gives me a headache. Best return now.”
“That’s because you drained all your divine power! Ow!”
“Still haven’t learned your lesson.”
Tearn’s ear looked ready to tear off. Still gripping it, Tehinra came toward me, dragging him along.
“Lord Tehinra, thank you so much. Lord Tearn, you’ve worked hard too.”
“Think nothing of it, Linnegrim. I only worry for you. I can’t promise such troubles won’t come again.”
A rough hand rested atop my head.
“Take this. It’s nothing much.”
With a clink, a heavy pouch was placed in my hands.
“Thank you.”
“Stay healthy, little Linnegrim.”
“Yes, and may you both be well too!”
With everyone seeing them off, Tearn and Tehinra departed for the western forest.
When I opened the pouch Tehinra gave me, I found a softly glowing divine stone and a small note.
[I drained every last drop of Tearn’s divine power to make this. It’s nothing compared to a fang of mine, but it should be useful.]
“A fang?”
“The fangs of the Rudeel clan are crystallized divine power.”
“Ah, so what you used on Sordim was Lord Tehinra’s fang.”
To think he drained all of Tearn’s divine power for my sake. I’ll never forget this grace, Lord Tehinra!
I waved for a long time toward the direction the two Divine Beasts had gone.
Two days passed since Tearn and Tehinra returned to the western forest.
In that time, I brewed protective medicines, drilled ambush tactics with Helion, and checked on Sordim’s recovery.
“A-ah. How does it sound?”
Sordim touched his throat, still awkward, testing his voice. The harsh metallic rasp was gone; now he spoke in a clear, bright tone, just like any other child.
“Congratulations on getting your voice back, Sordim!”
“Hehe, thank you! But, um, where’s Lord Seran?”
“When he heard your voice, he bolted out of the room.”
Who knows? Maybe he’s crying tears of joy somewhere.
Before the Academy’s new term began, Seran and Sordim planned to travel the capital together.
“I’ll be sure to write you a letter, Teacher Linnegrim!”
The carriage carrying Seran and Sordim departed the palace.
And three days later, the Founding Festival finally drew to a close.
Which meant—
“I can finally go home!!”
The officials cheered as I shouted in triumph.
For the first time since entering the palace, I had a vacation! Ah, these filthy, hectic days had dragged on endlessly. I’d faced death more than once in this short stay.
As I reflected on palace life, my seniors began to chime in.
“Your first vacation, how nice, Linnegrim~”
“What will you do for three days?”
“Hmm…”
I ought to look for a place to live in the capital, but three days felt too short.
I quickly abandoned plans. Forget it. First I’d see Mother. I missed her.
“Don’t neglect the herbs while I’m gone. I’ll be inspecting everything when I return. And don’t touch the glass bottles on my desk, especially!”
“Got it!”
“Don’t worry and enjoy yourself, Linnegrim.”
“Yes, Chief! Then I’ll be off!”
After all the farewells, only departure remained.
“Time to leave…”
“Bwaaaah!”
“Waaaah!”
“Sniff, sniff…”
I’d miscalculated. The three little ones rushed me just as I was boarding the carriage.
I had to watch in dismay as Hina threw herself flat onto the ground, rolling around heedless of her soiled dress.
“Linne really means to abandon us! She’s leaving us behind!”
“Kids, Linne will be back soon. Just two nights of sleep, and she’ll return.”
“Linne, do you not like Luca anymore?”
“Bwaaah! Kinya too? You don’t like Kinya either?”
“Nonsense! Of course not! I’m only going home for a little while. I’ll even bring gifts!”
“We don’t want gifts! Don’t go!”
“Precious things, the Divine Beast Palace has plenty.”
“No! Only Linne matters!”
Kinya alone supported my vacation. But his joy was brief; he clung to the carriage, grunting as he tried to climb aboard.
“Then Kinya will go too! Has Kinya been to Linne’s house? Kinya is amazing, right?”
“That’s unfair! You can’t go alone! Hina wants to go too!”
“Me too, Luca!”
“Brother, sister! We can go now!”
“Yeah! That’s it! Linne, take me! Quick, quick!”
Hina’s squirming body and Kinya’s dangling form were both swiftly lifted and cradled safely into someone’s arms.
My savior had arrived—the dazzling Leti Grisha.
“Lady Leti…!”
“Go on, Lady Linnegrim. Don’t worry about the Divine Beasts, just rest well.”
“Waaah! Put me down!”
“Linne! Don’t go! Linneeee!”
I hurried into the carriage.
