Chapter 40
“…What the hell? You kidnap people now?”
“I seriously wonder what goes on in that head of yours sometimes.”
How did he even manage to come up with that thought?
Joshua shot a glare at Ren, the absurdity of the question too much to ignore, and answered curtly, wanting to avoid any misunderstandings.
“She’s family. Family.”
Ren’s face twisted further in confusion.
And understandably so. Joshua’s only known sibling was Benjamin. Blade had never taken a mistress, and Chase had died leaving behind only two sons.
So… was he saying Lord Blade had a secret lover? Or was it a cousin?
“I’m telling you this just between us. Don’t go running your mouth.”
Well, not that he’d care.
“It’s not like I talk to anyone except other mages. And mages don’t care about stuff like that. Too selfish and unpredictable.”
“So you’re saying you’re not a mage? You lied to me?”
“I’m the exception. I’m kind and gentle to everyone—just like light itself.”
With that, Ren strolled past Joshua and approached Sophia.
“Do you like lanterns? Or flowers? Do you like flowers?”
When she nodded shyly, he picked up a lantern that hadn’t yet been lit. Its plain exterior only made her more curious about what secrets it held.
“Then you’re going to love this.”
As soon as the words left his lips, the lights in the shop flickered off, and the lantern in his hand began to glow.
It shimmered, pulsing like a heartbeat. From within, a tiny sprout emerged, trembling slightly before unfurling. It grew rapidly, its stem stretching, then blossoming into a delicate flower.
All three—Sophia, Joshua, and Benjamin—were transfixed by the sight the light conjured.
“Pretty, isn’t it? But that’s not all. This one’s my masterpiece.”
Ren gently set the lantern on the floor. As soon as it touched down, flowers identical to the one inside began to bloom across the entire shop floor, transforming it into a radiant, blossoming field.
Sophia reached out and touched one. Light scattered under her fingers, only to gather again and resume the flower’s form.
It was warm. Beautiful. No fireplace could offer such comfort.
The shop lights returned, and Ren picked the lantern back up with a triumphant grin aimed at Sophia.
“What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”
“…Yes.”
“And it costs just—”
“Don’t try to sell things to a kid, Ren.”
Benjamin swatted him lightly on the head as Ren tried to flash his merchant smile.
“Then what do you think I did all this for!”
“You said you were kind and gentle to everyone, didn’t you?”
Ren, undeterred, answered without hesitation.
“Of course! You never know who might become a future customer!”
Their bickering was playful—close, even. It surprised Sophia to see Joshua and Benjamin on such familiar terms with a mage.
But then again, they were the kind who could travel freely. It made sense they could make friends.
Unlike her.
In all her life, the only person she could call a friend was Rune. And even he had vanished without a trace. She’d always been alone.
No one to confide in. She’d learned to swallow tears and silence.
As the three chatted, Sophia absentmindedly trailed her fingers along the edge of the lantern. Ren noticed and gently nudged the others aside to talk to her again.
“What’s your name?”
“…Sophia.”
“Nice. Sophia, do you like magic?”
“A little.”
“Do you know much about it?”
She shook her head. She’d read a few books and experienced a bit of it recently through Lucion, but that was all. Just one experience doesn’t mean you understand its nature.
Still, she looked up at Ren with curiosity, hoping he’d tell her something worthwhile.
Ren didn’t mind the way she looked at him. Her interest wasn’t out of desire to exploit magic—just pure wonder. Innocent curiosity. A gaze so different from others he knew.
“Did you know all mages have names in ancient tongue?”
“Yes.”
“My name means the guide who illuminates the path. Ren Aules.”
He repeated his name and made a subtle motion with his hand. A light shaped like a flower bloomed briefly, then faded.
“Mages are given names that match their powers. For example, the most famous of them all—Lord Edmund—his name means blue flower.”
“Blue rose…”
“That’s what most people think of, right?”
A rose that bore the impossible color of blue. A mage had made it real. They said the flower came to symbolize miracles.
Chase used to bring that flower whenever they commemorated his death. She remembered it well.
Sophia and Ren continued chatting quietly about magic until Joshua glanced at the clock and spoke up.
“It’s time to go. The sun’s nearly set.”
“Oh, this time of day? There’s going to be a crowd. I heard a famous bard is performing on Droin Street. People will be flocking there.”
“How crowded could it get?”
“You’ll regret saying that.”
Joshua had already seen how packed it was when they arrived. No way it could get worse.
“Come again, Sophia.”
Ren, catching Joshua reaching for the door, waved at Sophia with a grin.
Sophia gave him a polite nod and followed Joshua outside—only to be hit by a wave of people.
It was a tide. A human tide.
She hadn’t known that Droin Street passed right in front of the shop. The crowd swept her away like a leaf in a stream.
Before she knew it, she was somewhere unfamiliar.
She was lost.
“…I’m doomed.”
Sophia had no sense of direction. That kind of talent probably belonged to Ren.
Brushing off her rumpled clothes, she resolved to ask someone for directions. The carriage was parked near Lookford Plaza. If she could just get there…
She turned to speak to a fruit vendor, but a sharp voice rang out behind her.
“Hey, you! Yeah, you over there!”
Was someone calling her? She turned—and saw a girl with fluffy brown hair.
It was the girl who had bumped into her at the plaza earlier.
She wore a blue skirt with a yellow ribbon tied around her waist. Her hair was done up in two side ponytails with matching blue ribbons—like a little poodle.
The girl’s wide, spring-green eyes met Sophia’s.
“Do you know where Lookford Plaza is? The one with the giant clock tower!”
Another lost lamb.
“No. But I’m headed there too.”
Sophia, at least, was older. She figured she should take responsibility.
A child shouldn’t be lost on their own.
“Oh! Then we’re allies!”
“…Allies?”
“Yeah! Allies! So let’s find the way together. Let’s go!”
Before Sophia could say anything, the girl grabbed her arm and began tugging her along.
Yes, they were finding the way together—but no one said the girl would be the one leading.
Wait a second. Isn’t the normal way to ask people for directions?
As Sophia followed the energetic girl through the crowd, the girl spoke up again.
“What’s your name?”
“Sophia.”
“Nice! I’m Stella. Stella Roash!”
Roash?
Sophia froze for a moment, the name ringing familiar.
The House of Roash—staunch loyalists of the Roberti family. They had sent servants to the castle and remained faithful to them through everything.
That alone made them familiar.
But Stella Roash—that name struck deeper.
In a past life, Sophia had once joined forces with someone to wipe out her entire family. That plan had failed.
They had exchanged secret letters, met only once in person, and executed the plan together.
That person had been Eren Gurt Roash, captain of the 1st Knight Division of the Central Fortress.
Their plan had failed because—even with all his famed genius—Eren couldn’t block Joshua’s sword.
Eren died by Joshua’s hand. And once it was revealed that Sophia had conspired with him, she was executed shortly after.
And Stella Roash…
Was the very heir to the Roash duchy who helped kill her own brother and aided in the Roberti family’s tyranny.
Who would’ve thought they’d meet again like this?
As lost children. As allies in finding a way.
