Chapter 380 - Side Story 5: Wind Flower (5)

The full moon's soft light seeped through the fluttering curtains.

In the dark, Ed raised his head with a serious expression on his face. Like always, he seemed as if he were deep in thought… However, no matter how rational and reasonable a man was, there was a limit.

A person's patience was bound to break eventually.

Ed Rothstaylor's patience and self-discipline could be considered to have surpassed human limits, but it was by no means infinite.

Yennekar's whisper was the final blow to his remaining precarious sense of reason.

"I'm okay."

Their warm-hearted relationship, where they understood and cared for each other, was beautiful. But it wasn't time to think about such things. It was time to finally graduate from that beautiful, fairytale-like story.

It was like the illustrations inside the fairytale books Yennekar read as a child.

The amusing story of an incredible prince seducing the princess, raising her bangs as he leaned in for a cute kiss. Yennekar's imagination always ran wild as she pounded on her pillows and hid under her blankets just imagining such a kiss…

However, unlike those cutely drawn kisses in children's books, she had come to realize that in reality, a kiss was completely different.

Ed's rough hands brushed against her forehead, leaving Yennekar nowhere to hide. Her eyes trembled nervously as her flushed cheeks had nowhere to hide. She was frozen still, waiting for Ed's next move.

Was that what it meant to be caught up in the moment?

At that moment, she was caught up in the atmosphere and being led by Ed Rothstaylor. Being caught up in the moment and feeling as if she were committing an immoral act was a new world for Yennekar.

Ed Rothstaylor was just as nervous. It wasn't that he didn't have experience with women—it was because of the situation. Putting his hands on a girl as innocent and young as Yennekar… It was a different type of nervousness.

The thought of whether it was okay to do or not constantly filled his head… But no matter how rational of a person he was, he couldn't come up with a reason as to why he shouldn't do it.

Yennekar herself said that she was okay. Ed had already declared himself a piece of trash, and the villagers… Even Yennekar's own family had given their approval.

He ran his hand across Yennekar's forehead, straight towards her jawline… He continued to extend his touch down, further and further. Now, no one could stop his hand from going further.

And with no one able to stop it, it continued to go down. Ed swallowed his dry saliva nervously, unlike his usual self. He then brushed Yennekar's bare shoulders gently as he quietly kissed her.

Her lips were on fire.

The surface of Yennekar's skin had risen in temperature completely. She was as embarrassed as she could possibly be.

It wasn't their first kiss. However, kissing in such a situation and atmosphere was completely different than the brief kiss they had shared back at the camp.

The illustrations in her fairytale books couldn't compare to reality. With just their lips touching, Yennekar's entire body trembled as her heart continued to pound harder and harder in her chest.

Love between a man and woman… It wasn't just heartwarming and innocent scenes like holding hands and smiling at each other in a beautiful field of flowers.

Rather, there was a dangerous feeling, as if they were doing something immoral and obscene.

It was the first time Yennekar had ever experienced such a feeling.

Ed moved his lips away from hers as Yennekar took a deep breath, waiting for what Ed would do next.

Ed's hand continued to go lower, but just as it was about to reach another area of her body… Yennekar couldn't help but let out her voice.

"E-Ed…"

Any further and it would become a completely different type of skinship.

Just before they reached that stage, Yennekar barely managed to raise her voice.

"Is it alright if I ask you an embarrassing and stupid question…?"

"Now…?"

"Y-yeah…"

Ed paused for a moment, then he quietly nodded his head.

"A-am I… your first?"

It was as if a knife had briefly pierced his lungs, making him lose his breath. In a situation like that, anyone would stop after hearing such a question, hesitate, and think it over for a moment.

Ed was the same. He was going to think a bit about what he should say, before realizing that thinking was the worst possible thing he could do—that moment of hesitation and thinking it over was an answer in itself.

There was no reason to lie to Yennekar, and being considerate of her would only make things stranger… Ed shook his head.

"Heuk…"

He wondered if that brief reply was a major shock to Yennekar, as it looked as if she was holding back tears. Though in truth, there was nothing that Yennekar could say.

Ed had only met Yennekar after entering Silvenia. As for what Ed had done in his life before that, it had no relation to her. That fact had always been true.

Being a young master of a ducal house, he must have lived an entirely different life from Yennekar. So for Yennekar, all she could do was imagine what his life was like before entering Silvenia.

She couldn't say anything to Ed, who had shaken his head.

"Th-this is my first time…" she said timidly. "S-so, you will have to take the lead… I r-really…d-don't know…these things…at all…"

Even though she spoke with pure intentions, she had no idea just how suggestive those words were to another person.

"Do whatever you want, and I will follow your lead." In front of her, no man would be able to hold himself back.

Ed continued to lower his hand, feeling her curves. Yennekar closed her eyes as she calmed her beating heart. After that, it was as if everything had happened in a flash.

The more Ed's hands moved, the more Yennekar's voice raised in response. At some movements, her voice was loud, showing how she enjoyed the intensity of the moment. At other times it was soft, as if she was hoping the moment could last forever. They held onto each other's bodies tight in such a way.

Hugging each other, making eye contact, and feeling each other's skin.

For Yennekar, who has no such experience, every little action felt as if she were crossing a forbidden line. It was the first time she had ever embraced the entirety of his large and muscular body with her own or allowed her hands to flow smoothly across his skin like water. Being up close to his mouth, hearing his every breath… Everything they did, she was always left with a feeling of doing something they shouldn't be doing.

But only after Yennekar had gotten so close to Ed's body did she realize the bigger differences between the two of them.

Not about status, background, values, or any of that…but more of a wild and primal type of difference. His sturdy hands, tough arms and legs, tall height, and the strength he had to completely lift her up if he wanted. Those fine muscles of his that had become well developed after struggling to survive—it was completely different from Yennekar's thin and pale body.

They continued to kiss each other, and each time they did her heart skipped a beat. Whatever they did, she really couldn't get used to such intimate and romantic actions. She came to realize that fact.

His hands, his lips, his breath, the warmth shared between them. She couldn't get used to any of it. Every time she felt it, it was as if it was her first time. Her heart continued to pound, putting Yennekar on the edge of fainting.

Although Ed realized it, at that moment he wasn't in a state to look after her.

While he was holding her close, he continued to lift up her bangs and make eye contact with her.

Every time he did that, Yennekar couldn't bear it as she tried to avoid his eyes bashfully. However, Ed did not give Yennekar any room to run away.

Each time they made eye contact like that, it gave him a chance to regain his composure… But it was rather counterproductive for Yennekar. Seeing Ed's face up close like that required too much of her mental strength.

He enjoyed watching Yennekar as she closed her eyes in embarrassment, only to look back up at him moments later. It was as if the two of them were playing around.

At that point, Yennekar was only half conscious.

When she felt Ed's touch, she raised her voice. As they made eye contact with each other, they would rest, gently holding onto each other without saying anything.

She enjoyed the warmth as Ed stroked her. He moved his hands as they went back and forth between tense and relaxed.

What surprised her was that she quite enjoyed the feeling.

Even though she couldn't move her limbs, only able to follow his lead, her heart continued to beat faster and faster.

Ed hugged her tight as he patted her head. Yennekar realized that was what happiness was.

While it didn't seem to fully express what she was feeling, it was enough to describe that feeling of satisfaction that filled her heart.

Yennekar Palerover was in bliss. She wasn't simply satisfied. She had a tremendous feeling of positivity and hope for her future life.

That was what it meant to spend the night together.

Being able to affirm each other's love by holding each other close, feeling the warmth between them. It was much more than an obscene desire to simply satisfy one's human cravings.

It was about confirming the fact that you were not alone. Whether she walked down a flowery road or a thorny one, she knew that she would always have someone walking by her side, hand in hand.

Her life wasn't only filled with sunlight. In fact, there were many days of darkness she experienced after entering Silvenia.

The weight of other's expectations weighing on her shoulders. The magic circle that filled the sky, calling on Glasskan. Memories of crying on top of the broken Nail Hall. The Holy Blue Dragon's cries covering the island, with the goal of destroying the world. Friede's roar as she soared over Acken Island. Memories of making her way through countless hordes of monsters.

And the loneliness Yennekar Palerover endured as she bled, cried, and clenched her teeth until the very end.

Even if the terrible memories of the past couldn't be forgotten, she at least had someone by her side who understood her.

Overjoyed with a sense of happiness and relief, Yennekar started to shed a few tears.

"…Are you okay?"

"I'm not crying because I'm scared."

"…Then?"

"Just because."

People even cried when they were happy. She had just realized that fact.

Yennekar felt Ed's thumbs wipe away the tears from her eyes as the corner of her lips went up.

Is she finally no longer nervous?

Ed nodded his head as he grabbed a large pillow from the edge of the bed, putting it under her waist.

Because her waist was lifted, it was as if her body was protruding upwards, emphasizing the curves of her body. She would eventually get used to it, but for the moment, Yennekar was short of breath, blushing.

Ed brushed his hand against her face, then supported Yennekar's waist with both arms.

It was obvious what was going to happen, but she no longer cared. At some point, her mind started to feel a greater sense of satisfaction than her body.

Being able to feel as if they both valued each other more than anyone else in the world was the purest type of happiness a person could feel.

Yennekar held a thought tight in her heart the entire night. Would she ever be able to feel so happy again? A mix of joy and regret filled her heart.

Yennekar held onto the pillow in ecstasy.

Clenching the sheets, holding up her body, hands around the back of her neck, looking up at the ceiling…

After a long time passed, Yennekar realized two things.

One was that her body wasn't as flexible as she had thought. Secondly…was that Ed's stamina, which seemed to go on forever, also had a limit.

Was it almost the end? Ed put his hand against her cheek, holding onto her waist tightly. Yennekar raised her arms, wrapping them tightly around his shoulders.

She didn't want him to run away, so she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Yennekar pressed her face into Ed's wide chest until the very end.

* * *

Quiet, but full of vitality.

Even though it was a contradiction, the village at dawn held that strange feeling.

Because of the fog that came down from the mountains, you couldn't fully see the majesty of the large mountain range. However, the lively noise that filled the village started to grow louder.

Even in the early morning, when the sun had yet to rise, the village was starting to wake up.

As the smoke from my tobacco rose into the air, Merilda kicked her feet.

Merilda was watching the beautiful mountains from the roof of my accommodations. She then looked down at me smoking in the early dawn, smiling mischievously.

[You look tired.]

I sat quietly on a tree stump in front of the accommodations as I listened to the bugs in the early dawn. I was thinking about how to answer her.

Yennekar was completely exhausted, having fallen into a deep sleep. I had put the blanket over her as I came out. It wasn't even five in the morning yet, but people were already starting to leave for work.

"You have a rather mischievous side to you, Merilda."

[I thought you knew that all along.]

Merilda jumped off the roof, landing on the ground and holding down her skirt as it fluttered in the wind.

She pulled her white hair back as she came over to me. She looked down at me as I continued to smoke, her voice teasing when she spoke.

[You piece of trash.]

I was going to say something in return, but kept my mouth shut, deciding it would be better to avoid trying to deny it. In fact, Merilda herself egged me on, so it wasn't like she could say much about it either.

[I don't like having to leave Yennekar alone, but I don't want to pressure her either… Well, I'll admit that you did your best, given your unusual position…]

Merilda sat next to me on the tree stump as she continued to speak.

[Yennekar may have given her permission for you to go off and get involved with other women later on… But I'm sure that, because of that, she's going to have a difficult road ahead of her…]

"Hey!"

[Who knows how things will change? One day you might suddenly see someone else in a new light.]

Merilda smiled in an irritating manner as she cast wind magic, dispersing the smoke from my tobacco.

I knew she was a spirit with a playful temperament, but she seemed to be in a much better mood than usual.

And I knew why.

"We should start investigating Tyrcalaques soon. I need to finish my work quickly and head back to Acken Island."

I put away my tobacco as I spoke to her.

Merilda listened, then responded with an expression of mixed emotions.

[Did you know?]

"What?'

[Here, the flowers that bloom across the mountain ridges are called Wind Flowers.]

"Is that so?"

The refreshing early morning breeze passed them by. The cool breeze that came down from the mountains always felt amazing.

Merilda looked up at the mountains as her white hair fluttered in the breeze.

[Why do you think they call them that?]

"Because they're always swaying gently in the wind?"

[Close, but slightly different.]

With a somewhat serious expression on her face as she looked up at the mountain, the wind wolf spoke softly.

* * *

"Can I get you something to drink?

After smoking, I went back to the accommodation. There, the owner kindly asked me if I needed a drink. After giving my thanks, I climbed the stairs and opened the door. Maybe because I didn't get much sleep the night before, I wanted to lie in bed a little longer.

Yennekar had just woken up and was curling her toes.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to show her face as she hid under the blanket. It had to be what they called 'Post Nut Clarity.'

I sat opposite her on the bed as I placed a kettle on the small table nearby. After pouring a glass of water, I quickly drank it all before putting it down.

For a while longer, it remained quiet. Sitting in that silence for a while, I decided to say something first.

"Y-Yennekar."

As if she was surprised to hear me call her name, she started to tremble and her toes wriggled around.

She then carefully poked her head out from under the blanket, resembling a squirrel hiding in a burrow.

"We should start the investigation."

I felt sorry after seeing her tremble under the blanket. Because of that, I decided to come up with a reason for us to get up and go out.

When there was something you had to do, even if you didn't want to, you got it done.

Yennekar wrapped herself in the blanket as her head came out. She brushed her messy hair back as she looked my way, struggling to raise her voice.

"A-alright…"

Her voice was completely gone.

That couldn't be helped.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 6: Wind Flower (6)

The shape of the valleys across Pulan looked like massive claw marks when viewed from high in the sky.

People often said that looking at the shape of the valleys along with the mountain ranges, it was as if the mountain had a scar. In fact, the terrain was believed to be traces of a large bear's attack from long ago.

It was hard to even imagine just how massive that ultimate-rank spirit must have been to claw at the mountain, creating five distinct valleys. It was such a grand sight that it was hard to believe that scholars had only recently begun to properly research it.

"They call it 'the Calamity of the Mountains.' Some parts are exaggerated, and others must have been left out… They say the occasional appearance of a giant bear in the clouds that stretch across the sky is truly magnificent."

"How old is that story?"

"It's hard to say, as it's been passed down. As you know, here in an isolated mountainous village, we don't have any systematic ways to record our stories or interact with the central part of the continent."

Even though it was an isolated village between the mountains, after witnessing such a large event, the story continued to be handed down…

The more I thought about it, the more Torren Village began to feel like a world entirely separate from the rest of the continent.

"Back then, it must have happened all so quickly. Perhaps our ancestors believed that God was angry, or a great natural disaster had occurred."

"Given that it was such a large incident, it would make sense. It's surprising that they're only fully looking into it now."

"As you know, Pulan is completely isolated. When it happened, long-distance transportation and communication weren't available. Ultimately, the only records of that disaster remain in the form of our landscape."

The village chief, Glems, spoke as he quietly looked at the peaceful mountain scenery.

Now that it was morning, the village became lively. Ranchers and laborers were throughout the village. You could hear the boys pulling along their mules, shepherds leading their sheep to the pastures, and wives changing the clothes on the clothing line.

There was a scent in the air that was unique and could only be found in the countryside.

It was completely different from the Rothstaylor Mansion, where I had needed to act with dignity and authority, or at Silvenia Academy, which was filled with enthusiastic students.

Since life had kept me so busy, it was strangely relaxing to spend time in such a quiet rural landscape for once.

"It's been less than thirty years since our village created a large route that leads to the central continent. It wouldn't have been easy for the imperial household to do it themselves, so naturally we were the ones that made the effort."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. And all of the villagers seem to be adjusting well, so as the chief, it's quite a fulfilling feeling. By the way, Yennekar. What are you doing over there?" Chief Glems asked Yennekar, who was sitting on a bench off to the side with her head lowered.

Yennekar hadn't gone back to her usual self yet. After what we did the night before, she had fallen into a period of embarrassment and shame.

Induced by the atmosphere, she had done something she would have never imagined doing. Now, she was struggling to make eye contact with me, trying to calm her breathing. It was obvious what she was saying in her head. She was clearly berating herself for her impulsiveness.

It was hard to believe that she was a person who held a baroness title. Her pink hair was braided hastily, with pieces of hair protruding here and there. Her eyes were wide open, and her lips trembled.

She tried to get up using her large wand as support, but she only groaned before sitting back down on the bench.

"M-my back…"

I glanced at Yennekar and briefly stiffened.

Yennekar looked fine just the day before. However, now she was complaining about her back pain as if she were dying.

I could not say what others might have thought, but for Village Chief Glems—who had long since seen it all—it was not hard to guess what had happened.

He gave a loud laugh as he whispered to me.

"Just like I heard. You are full of power."

I was thinking about what to say.

Should I have simply told him not to go around saying things like that?

I wanted to be considerate towards Yennekar, but if she found out what I said later, I was sure she would be even more embarrassed.

In situations like that, the best thing to do was to not say anything to him.

"Yennekar."

However, Chief Glems was also a person from Pulan, after all. When I didn't respond to him, he suddenly spoke up so that Yennekar herself could also hear.

"Don't tell Orte and Saila what I'm going to tell you. Try and eat as many foods that give vitality as you can, Yennekar," he said with a warm expression on his face.

Yennekar smiled blankly and giggled. However, when she suddenly understood why he had said such a thing, she started to blush again.

"Wh-what are you saying?!"

"Hm? I was being literal?"

"…Y-you're right! I have to eat food that gives me vitality! Lots of it! That way I can do my research properly! And I'll have to go back to managing the estate when I return to my baroness house, so I need the strength and energy! That's right!"

It was painful to watch her force a smile like that while her lips trembled and her hands pressed hard against her knees.

After telling Chief Glems I'd go ahead and do that, I turned my head and looked out towards the mountains once more.

"Young Master Ed, you also believe that those valleys are the traces of the Ultimate-rank spirit Tyrcalaques running wild, yes?"

"That's correct. Though reports and research regarding the topography in the Pulan region have not been looked into for a while… No matter how much I think about it, that is the only possibility."

"Then why did the wind spirit from the distant past run wild? And if a being that strong had run wild, who could have possibly stopped it?"

Chief Glems asked me a few reasonable questions.

If the ultimate wind spirit Tyrcalaques had truly run wild in a fit of rage, it would have been more than enough to devastate the entire region.

However, the giant bear was subdued by someone and disappeared after leaving only a claw mark in the mountain range.

"Even the legendary Archmage Glockt Elderbane struggled to subdue an ultimate spirit. Who could have possibly done so in this rural mountain range, where there has never been such a talented person?"

After saying that, he fell silent. It was not the sort of question anyone could answer easily. The story belonged to the distant past.

However, I felt like I roughly knew the answer. There was no clear evidence, but considering the circumstances, I could roughly put the pieces together. There were only a few people on the continent ever capable of subduing an ultimate spirit.

The story of Tyrcalaques, the ultimate wind spirit that descended on the distant and isolated lands of Pulan.

How would Merilda, who lived for hundreds of years on Acken Island so far away, know the story of that giant bear?

Given that fact, there was only one conclusion that could be drawn.

"The Great Sage Silvenia."

It was the great sage who defeated Tyrcalaques that wreaked havoc on the Pulan region.

* * *

"Oh my, Young Master Ed! When you arrived in Torren Village, I should have come and greeted you first. I apologize! I was in the middle of checking on the grazing cows out in the mountains, so I couldn't come…!"

I was about to walk around the village to collect information about Tyrcalaques. After arriving at the Palerover Ranch, one of the most famous ranches in Torren Village, a friendly face showed up and lowered their head in front of me.

It was the owner of Palerover Ranch, Orte Palerover. He was a cheerful middle-aged man with sturdy muscles and a lively smile.

Since we'd already met each other before on Acken Island, there was no need for another introduction.

"You must be very busy with the ranch."

"Of course. When you go and check the cows one by one across the pasture, you're forced to pack up your camping gear and sleep outside overnight. You must be exhausted after your long travels coming here. Come inside and eat something! You too, Yennekar!"

"Y-yeah!"

Yennekar's expression started to relax a bit after we'd arrived. It seemed that she could relax a bit after being in her regular comfortable environment.

When I entered, Saila Palerover—who had been cooking some food—quickly bowed to me. It seemed that she was told beforehand that I might stop by, as she was cooking up quite a feast.

Saila Palerover had also kicked Yennekar out of the house the night before. When she saw Yennekar's awkward and bashful smile, she started to grin.

"Young Master Ed. I'm sorry that you have to come to such a shabby place…!"

I took off my coat and sat down at the table. Yennekar followed along slowly, sitting down as well.

Even though it was Yennekar's house, she was acting even more awkward than me. That was because of her parents' large grins as they looked towards us.

It was obvious what had happened the night before, so I felt somewhat uncomfortable as well.

"Ed…"

"What…?"

"I don't know how you feel, but I think I'm going to die of embarrassment…"

"…Get used to it…"

Her parents were like a ticking time bomb. Since I had no idea what they would end up saying, I decided to start the conversation first.

"I was walking around town because there were some things I wanted to ask the villagers for my investigation."

"For your academic research, right?"

"Yes, that's correct. I'm looking into the tale of a bear-shaped monster that was large enough to completely cover the sky. It's an old tale that has been passed down here in the Torren region for quite some time."

After saying that, there was a moment of silence.

Part of me felt as if they knew something, but another part of me felt as if they knew nothing at all… It was an ambiguous reaction.

"Has the village chief told you anything?"

"He gave me a basic overview, but seemed to be avoiding going into any specific details."

"…That makes sense. The elders here in the village know the story well, but it's not something that can easily be spoken about."

"Is that so?"

"He must have decided that rather than sharing it directly himself, it would be better for you to listen to the villagers instead."

Yennekar tilted her head as she looked at the table, which was covered in salads and meat dishes.

"Hm? This is the first time I heard about this, though…?"

"Of course, Yennekar. It's something that doesn't really need to be spoken about."

Orte sat down at the table as he began to speak with a heavy expression on his face.

"Actually, at first we were against sending our Yennekar to Silvenia Academy."

Suddenly, the conversation focused on Yennekar. There must be a reason for it, so I quietly listened.

"We knew that Yennekar was talented in Elementalism. This was actually the reason we were so hesitant."

"What do you mean?"

"This is a tale from the distant past that has only been passed down from word of mouth. Long ago, there was actually another elementalist that was born here in Torren Village."

Yennekar had an expression on her face that said she couldn't believe there was a story that had been passed down for generations in Torren Village that she had never heard.

She couldn't help but be quiet and listen to the story that they had avoided telling her.

"I don't know if you are aware, but supposedly, spirits that live for a long time and accumulate a certain level of magic power can manifest themselves in the form of a human."

Of course, I knew that. In fact, I had one with me that was also capable of doing so.

"Tyrcalaques was a spirit that was capable of that. He was also a spirit that fell in love with an elementalist… Have you heard this story?"

Saila quietly lowered her head as Orte continued to speak.

I started to think that perhaps Chief Glems wanted me to hear the story from Orte himself. It seemed as if it was something he shouldn't be talking about himself.

If that was the reason, then that meant…

"That elementalist's name was Katin Palerover."

It was because it was someone else's family affair.

Spiritual resonance was sometimes thought of as a talent that could be inherited. So, if we looked at how Yennekar got her extraordinary spiritual resonance, it must have come from someone in her bloodline.

Her parents, Orte and Saila, didn't seem to have much talent in that area. However, that didn't mean it couldn't have been passed down to their children.

"…She is our distant ancestor."

"Is that so…?"

After saying that, Orte closed his mouth for a moment. Yennekar looked at a complete loss for words.

A story they never even told their own daughter, Yennekar… There was probably a good reason for that.

"It seems that this story doesn't have a happy ending."

"This is a story that only a few villagers are aware of."

Orte put down his fork as he looked up at the ceiling.

"She was forced to sign a contract with Tyrcalaques, but her magic power resonance started to run wild, leading to her death."

"…"

"This is just a story I heard from my grandfather. At first, she didn't have any talent in Elementalism at all. So, for someone like her to suddenly one day make a contract with a high-ranking spirit… Tyrcalaques had become mad, forcing her to make a contract with him, ending his own life. However, it's a bit strange."

At some point, Yennekar had started listening to Orte earnestly. It was the first time she'd ever heard such a story, even though it was of her own family, whom she'd lived with her entire life.

"Aren't ultimate-rank spirits considered incredible beings? Isn't it a great achievement to even be capable of summoning them once? It was already difficult enough to even forcefully manifest one for even a second, so why did they try and forcefully form a contract…? I can't help but be confused by this."

"What do you think, Orte?"

"Well… It's a story from the distant past. In fact, it was one I never thought much of before. Nor did I have to."

For Orte, it was nothing more than a legendary story told to him by his grandfather long ago.

However, things completely changed when his precious daughter began to show proficiency in Elementalism.

"So, when Yennekar started to form contracts with spirits and said she wanted to go to Silvenia, naturally we were worried. We are proud of our daughter, but… We couldn't help but be concerned."

Considering the terrifying end of their elementalist ancestor, how did they feel when they learned that Yennekar—who was born with the same blood—wanted to follow the path of an elementalist?

"Dad… That's why you were against it."

"Well, after seeing how determined you were, I couldn't help but let you go. But when you failed to summon Glasskan and lost your sanity, how do you think we felt?"

Orte and Saila must have felt as if their world was ending.

Ever since they were young, they had heard the story of an elementalist that died while trying to form a contract with an ultimate-rank spirit. So, the moment they heard that their own daughter had lost her sanity and fainted after getting involved with an ultimate-rank spirit, how would they have felt?

"Though I am so glad that you were able to become a truly capable elementalist now, I couldn't help but feel uneasy while you were on your journey, Yennekar."

Saila, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

Katin Palerover.

An elementalist that died while trying to forcefully form a contract with the ultimate-rank spirit Tyrcalaques.

Something about the story felt off to me, but for the moment I kept that thought to myself.

* * *

Just as mornings came early here, so did nightfall. Perhaps that was simply what rural life meant.

By the time the sun began to set, most of the villagers had already ended their day, and once the moon rose, they were ready for sleep.

Sleep early and wake up early. Of course, that was a great lifestyle, but it didn't match with someone like me. I studied and worked late every night.

Yennekar, however, seemed to be the exception, since she came out to see me while I smoked in front of the accommodations.

It was late summer. That also meant that soon, autumn would be approaching. It was still hot and humid at Acken Island, but here it was already rather chilly because of the tall mountains.

"Ed."

"Why did you come out of the room?"

Even though Yennekar was used to the chill, she was still wrapped in a long gray shawl over her cozy pajamas.

The shawl draped from her shoulders all the way down to her waist, making her look as though she were half-hidden beneath a curtain.

"It's just… I couldn't relax…"

She then came over to sit next to me as I leaned against the outer wall of the town hall.

I was sitting down pretty low on a wooden stump, but Yennekar didn't seem to care as she came down next to me. She let out a deep sigh, struggling to speak.

"H-how should I say it…? Maybe because I was alone in the room…I couldn't think properly…"

"I see. After all, you did just hear a rather difficult story about your ancestors that your parents had been keeping from you."

"Hm? Ah, yeah! That's right! But besides that…"

"Besides that…?"

Yennekar acted as if she was suddenly turning herself inward as she looked my way and spoke.

"I-I'm still not used to sleeping in the same room as you…"

"Still…? Even after yesterday?"

"L-let's not talk about that. I'm not ready yet."

"I guess you're embarrassed about these things."

"I-it's because it was my first time! I-it's weirder if you're not embarrassed about it for the first time…! I-it's just…"

Yennekar put her hands on her knees as she leaned her head against my shoulder.

"I just never expected to experience it myself."

"You're making a fuss. It's something everyone goes through."

"I know that, but… It's just… I can't help but think about it."

Yennekar leaned on my shoulder a while longer as she looked up at the moon. The moon over Pulan brought silence. Those in Pulan went to bed early, the moment the moon rose. So, the village of Torren always fell silent when it was lit by the moonlight.

"It's been a long time since I saw the moon here."

With the two of us in the quiet town, where everyone was sleeping, it felt as if just the two of us were there.

It was as if time had stopped. The only thing that reminded me that time continued to pass was the occasional sound of the bugs and wild animals.

"You must be tired after following me all day. You should go to sleep."

"No. I actually feel like I'm relaxing more right now."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

With her head on my shoulder, she spoke softly. "Can I tell you something strange? Back then… When I saw you for the first time, I was actually uncomfortable with you, Ed."

"That makes sense. Everyone despised me back then. In fact, you were the only one that didn't show disgust towards me. Thinking back on that, you were quite incredible."

"Even though I say I was uncomfortable with you, it wasn't anything unpleasant like you may think. It's just… I didn't know how I should talk to you, and I couldn't predict what you would do…that's how I felt. So, to me, you were someone that was uncomfortable to be around."

Yennekar put her cheek on my shoulder as she looked up at me, making eye contact as she put on a playful smile.

"But now, when I lean on your shoulder like this, I feel at ease and relieved. Rather, being alone in the room made me feel restless and nervous."

I continued to listen contentedly.

"It's strange. You used to be so difficult and awkward to be next to, but at some point, you became so comfortable and reassuring. And I'm not sure when that happened. All I know is that things have completely changed from back then."

I lifted my arm and put it around her shoulder. After hearing her tell me that I was comfortable to be around, I had no intention of sending her away. After all, Yennekar helped me a lot as well.

Back in school, when I was always busy running away from my fear of death, that shy and timid elementalist changed my life. It may not have been anything massive, but the small things she did gradually accumulated over time.

Back then, seeing Yennekar on the other side of my campfire was one of the brightest moments of my life. It was impossible for me to explain in words just how much she had helped me back then.

"I feel rather safe and calm now… Which is why my sincerity or inner thoughts seem to be coming out. Is it okay for me to say them?"

"What is it?"

"…You can act as if you didn't hear anything I am about to tell you."

Yennekar quietly spoke with her face buried in my shoulder.

"When I heard about my ancestor Katin Palerover, I had this thought. She loved an ultimate-rank spirit. A distant being that was completely different in strength, status, and everything else… I wondered how that felt?"

"I'm not sure… It must not be easy to have such an experience."

"But to me, you're that type of person, Ed."

I was at a loss for words. I had somewhat suspected what Yennekar was thinking about, but I needed to organize my thoughts to decide what to say.

Yennekar smiled as she spoke. "It was like a reminder of sorts after hearing that story. This is something so obvious that it's funny that I am even saying it. But…"

Time seemed to have stopped. Rather, it seemed that time was moving too fast. The words she said quickly went through my ears.

"I love you, Ed."

I took hold of her shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace, resting my chin lightly atop her head.

At times like that, it was better to quietly listen than say anything. The human mind was a strange thing. The moment you tried to say something, everything became confusing.

That was why people clung to silent sympathy. It was strange how much could be conveyed simply by holding each other without saying a word.

"That's why… I really want to know what happened to Katin Palerover. I want to learn what really happened, rather than hear stories from others."

Yennekar's words were heavy.

"But I heard that her end wasn't all that great… If we dig any deeper, it might be worse than you can imagine."

"Still, I want to see it with my own two eyes."

"I see… But what if it's much more horrific and bittersweet than you thought? What if…"

I had a feeling that I knew what Yennekar was worried about. I then spoke bluntly, getting straight to the point.

"What if it's like your own future…?"

"That's why I want to see it. I want to know if I can love you."

She didn't need to do that. Katin Palerover and Yennekar Palerover were two completely different people.

The situation was different, and their abilities were completely different. However, most importantly, I was not someone who would neglect Yennekar.

Still, if she was determined, then it was entirely her decision.

"Yes. I am sure you can."

So I answered her question plainly.

I came all the way to Pulan for academic research. So, naturally, I had made some preparations.

I could use Celestial Magic. If the medium and the surrounding conditions were prepared properly, then peering into the distant past was possible—though far from easy.

"Tomorrow, let's bring the magic engineering equipment down from the carriage."

-x-X-x-

Side Story 7: Wind Flower (7)

There was something called a "thoughtography recording magic device."

Back when Cleoh was still an assistant professor, she had used it to investigate the details of the occupation of Ophelis Hall.

It was a magical device managed by Silvenia Academy, larger and heavier than a fully grown man. That was why it was normally disassembled and packed into several bags whenever it had to be transported.

Since it had been engineered using the limited knowledge available on Celestial Magic theory, it was both unstable and delicate. It required only the highest-quality materials to function properly, and the school's best scholars and researchers were constantly maintaining and repairing it. It could easily be considered one of Silvenia's greatest treasures.

In other words, if you wanted to use it, you needed to go through a strict internal examination by the Academic Committee.

The cost of the device alone was extraordinary. It was practically equivalent to hauling around an entire mansion.

The only reason such a valuable item had been allowed to leave the school at all was the influence carried by the name Ed Rothstaylor.

Thankfully, Silvenia Academy had been as understanding and accommodating as possible, and they allowed me to bring that single absurdly expensive device outside.

"Normally, it would be difficult to see anything past a year, no matter how much magic power you put into the device. However, if you are capable of Celestial Magic power, it's a different story."

We were in the middle of the square in Torren Village.

I needed the villagers' help to set up and prepare the device.

We installed the massive device in the middle of the square. Gears all across its frame began to spin, and the mana gem set at its center started to glow with a mysterious light.

Even with the help of the villagers, it took nearly half a day to install.

"When Cleoh was an assistant professor, there was only so much she could do with it. But with my Celestial Magic and the additional research I've done on the subject, we can push it much further now. It may even be possible to glimpse a few hundred years into the past."

"Th-that far? Isn't that incredibly groundbreaking? Then if you wanted to, couldn't you solve every unsolved case in history…?"

"Of course, looking so far into the distant past is no easy feat."

If only things in this world were really that simple.

If I wanted to look into the distant past, I also needed a suitable medium to help me.

I wiped my hands as I looked around.

The villagers who helped with the installation sat around and watched. Yennekar was also there next to them, looking up at the device.

"Now that I've collected all of the basic information I need… It's time to take a look into the past."

Not only did Yennekar ask me to look into it, but it was also a part of my official academic research for the school. I needed to do my job properly to make a living.

And there was someone who could serve as the medium I needed.

I quietly lowered my head as I gathered my magic power. Letting out a deep breath, I focused on my spiritual resonance as I felt my entire body heat up.

Whoosh!

A powerful gust swept through the square as a massive wolf suddenly manifested. Even just standing there, her sheer presence was enough to silence the villagers.

Whoosh.

Merilda stood there with quiet dignity as the wind from the mountains passed by, ruffling her pure white fur.

Everyone in the village gulped as they looked at her. For most of them, it was the first time they had ever seen a high-ranking spirit.

"Th-that's impossible… A wolf…is the size of a house…"

"Shhh… be careful! You might get eaten…!"

For a moment, the villagers were so nervous they could barely breathe. The wolf let out a short sigh and summoned a breeze that wrapped around her body.

Her form began to shift, and by the time she touched the ground again, she had taken the shape of a young girl with her white hair tied up.

[I guess this is how things ended up.]

Merilda patted her skirt as she looked up at Yennekar and me. She let out a heavy sigh as she shook her head.

[You're right. If you use my magic power as a medium, it will be enough to observe the past that's connected to Silvenia. After all, I am able to share quite a bit of my magic power with you.]

"You are being more cooperative than I expected."

[It's not like I can fight back. You two won't listen to me.]

After glancing at the confused villagers, Merilda let out another sigh as she turned around.

[I suppose we can't have you going back to the school empty-handed. You need to bring back something, so let's go look into the past… and the terrible ending the ultimate wind spirit faced.]

After she spoke, I gathered my Celestial magic power.

The villagers were startled upon seeing Celestial magic power, as it was something they had never seen before. As I faced away from them, I clenched my teeth and poured that dark red magic power into the device with all of my might.

Then the device began absorbing the dark red magic. I closed my eyes as a scene started to take shape in my mind, as though a memory were being imprinted directly into it.

* * *

Katin Palerover was just an ordinary girl who loved to occasionally go to the mountain ridge and tend to the pansy flowers.

She was the sort of girl who found contentment in life simply by watching the beautiful flowers sway in the mountain wind.

She had braided hair. She had long, braided hair that fell past her waist. Her reddish hair was as beautiful as the flowers, and the villagers always complimented her on it.

The girl had been born with a trace of spiritual resonance, but nowhere near enough to be considered special.

Occasionally, she could sense the presence of a liquid spirit or exchange a few words with a weak low-ranking one. But that was the limit of her talent, and it showed no sign of growing further… She was a girl destined to live out her life as an ordinary villager's wife.

That is, until she found Tyrcalaques unconscious in the forest with a fatal wound on his body.

* * *

The scene unfolded before my eyes through the thoughtography device as though it were real. I had heard that it imprinted memory directly into the mind, but I had never realized it would feel this vivid.

There was a strange feeling of floating in midair. I still was not used to the sensation of observing the past through the device.

And because of that, the shocking sight Katin Palerover had discovered in the forest felt all the more real.

* * *

The girl was walking through the forest with a basket full of eggs when she found a young man lying unconscious beneath a large tree.

He barely had enough magic left to maintain his manifested form much longer, and all around him was an unimaginable amount of blood—far more than any human could survive losing.

However, what stood out most was the corpse of a giant snake. Just looking at the snake's dead body lying next to the unconscious young man was enough to make her feel nauseous.

* * *

I recognized that snake. If you'd ever studied Elementalism, it was a name you would surely have heard before.

The high-ranking dark spirit, Pulkrox.

If Glasskan didn't occupy the position of ultimate dark spirit, he would likely have sat there instead. He was exceptionally strong amongst other high-ranking spirits and was infamous for his cruelty. His name still showed up in the history books.

The records claimed that he had disappeared naturally over time and simply ceased to appear. In truth, it seemed he had been slain by the ultimate wind spirit Tyrcalaques.

It had the strength to put up a close fight against an ultimate-rank spirit. The poison and curses of that snake were supposed to last for hundreds of years. In the western continent, there was even a city that had been completely destroyed by Pulkrox's poison. Though that was a very old tale.

Tyrcalaques was the one who defeated Pulkrox…?

That alone was a major discovery—one that would force many history books to be rewritten.

I could already feel that this alone would earn respect in the field of academic research.

* * *

"Wh-what happened…?! A-are you okay?!"

Katin Palerover was shocked upon seeing the state of the collapsed young man, and she ran over to give him first aid.

Tyrcalaques had manifested in the form of a human to minimize his consumption of magic power. However, due to the curse Pulkrox left behind just before he died, Tyrcalaques was unable to properly control his magic power.

Spirits didn't have a concept of death. They had what was called 'Natural Regression', which was a cycle that returned them to being a fluid spirit of nature.

Pulkrox was well aware of that fact, so just before he became a fluid spirit himself, he placed a curse on Tyrcalaques.

He did it to trap Tyrcalaques in a weakened human form. With his magic suppressed, he would be forced to suffer endlessly from the pain of a wound that would never truly heal.

Not having the concept of death was both a blessing and a curse. Because of the curse engraved on him, he was unable to properly control his magic power. Thus, he was constantly suffering from the agony of his wounds.

The purpose of the curse was to wear down his mind, driving him mad through a constant struggle against pain.

For Tyrcalaques to be found in that state by a third-rate elementalist like Katin… it must have been some cruel joke of fate.

Everything passed by quickly afterward.

Katin Palerover had been born and raised to live as a villager's wife. That meant she was skilled with her hands and used to all kinds of practical work.

Seeing the young man struggling with his pain, she gathered grass to make him a bed. When that seemed lacking, she went and gathered wood to build him a shelter.

Despite her small frame, there was something impressive about watching her build things with her own hands.

However, Tyrcalaques didn't want to be seen by humans. Spirits were extremely wary of being associated with humans who were not spirits. The reason was obvious. Nothing good happened to spirits that ended up becoming closer than necessary to humans.

Katin understood his feelings, so every time she went to the forest, she made sure to take care of him by herself.

She brought cotton and cloth from the village to make him a proper bed.

In case it got cold at night, she would make a fire to warm him, and in case it rained, she would set up a proper tent to cover him.

Pulkrox's curse weakened little by little with each passing day, but the process was far too slow. Realizing she could not continue caring for him in the open like this, Katin remembered the abandoned cabins deeper in the forest.

Long ago, they had been used as base camps by hunters. But with time, they had fallen into disuse and been abandoned.

Katin dragged the young man's heavy body there over the course of two days.

She lit a campfire in front of the cabin as she brought over a few tools, and from then on, she continued to take care of him.

The sun continued to rise and set. It rained and snowed, but all that time, Katin sat in the cabin next to Tyrcalaques, taking care of him.

She brought over cooking utensils to make him hot soup, but the young man never took a bite. For a spirit, eating served no purpose.

In order to untwist his twisted flow of magic power, he had to rely on Katin's skills as a weak Elementalist.

She sat on the bed next to him every day, observing the flow of his magic power. In doing so, her spiritual resonance also improved over time.

That was because it was a rare opportunity for anyone to be able to observe an ultimate spirit so closely.

In order to help Tyrcalaques, she also had to increase her understanding of spirits. At some point, she had become capable of communicating with mid-ranking spirits. The people in Torren Village began to praise her for becoming a real Elementalist.

Over time, Tyrcalaques's condition improved, and he gradually became able to take care of himself.

He wasn't in his completed state yet, but he was at least strong enough to manage the cabin on his own without Katin's help.

He would drag his tired body across the camp to check on his physical condition and magic power. Over time, his condition improved, and he was able to prepare firewood and fix the cabin himself.

Tyrcalaques lived his life as a human for a short amount of time.

For an ultimate spirit, that period of time was just a fleeting moment. But for him, those brief memories would forever be imprinted in his heart.

He would always remember Katin sitting at his side and caring for him.

She always rolled up her sleeves, helping in any way she could. She was a weak human girl, with a lifespan of less than a hundred years.

Even though he knew he shouldn't, as it would only hurt his heart in the end, he couldn't help but think about following her around.

As they walked across the ridge, looking up at the mountains of Pulan together, he felt a strange sense of calmness.

The mountain range at sunset. Tyrcalaques enjoyed the scenery.

Holding a picnic bag, he walked behind Katin, who was humming along. The view of that mountain remained in his heart like a painting.

"Did you know the people of our village call the pansy flowers that bloom along the ridge 'Wind Flowers'?"

"Wind Flowers? You mean those pansies?"

"Yes. These mountains always have a breeze passing by, and if you look down at them, you can see them swaying back and forth in the wind."

They sat on the roadside fence and enjoyed the passing breeze. Tyrcalaques's dark red hair fluttered in the wind, just like Katin's.

"They are looking in the direction of the wind."

"Is that so…? I never knew humans gave such meaning to these things…"

"Haha. It might seem pointless to you, Tyrcalaques. It might be hard to understand, but humans enjoy giving random meanings to things like this! Look at that."

Katin smiled brightly as she jumped off the fence, looking at the pansy flowers on the roadside.

The swaying pansies were facing towards the direction of the wind.

"These flowers are so beautiful and pretty. We can't help but want to give meaning to them."

"Do you think the same?"

"Hmm… Well, I give them a different meaning."

Katin looked at the swaying flowers as she slowly closed her eyes.

"The wind moves freely all across the world, but these flowers can only stay where they are, their roots buried in the ground. All they can do is watch the wind pass by from the same spot."

"…"

"The reason they flow in the direction of the wind is probably because they want to play with it, but if the flower gets uprooted and flies with the wind, it will die."

The feeling of a flower gazing up at the wide-open sky.

It was like an ordinary person longing for someone they could never reach, no matter how hard they tried—truly yearning for someone unattainable.

Someone who could easily travel across the world and do as they liked, just like the wind. Compared to someone who was grounded in reality, only able to watch them from afar…

The flowers blooming there seemed to carry that same sense of longing and yearning.

* * *

Was it like Katin's love for Tyrcalaques? Or was it like Yennekar Palerover's love for Ed Rothstaylor?

Or was it both of them?

* * *

"Will you be able to handle the curse on your own soon?"

"Yeah…"

"Remember to come and play with me! From a spirit's point of view, humans are weak creatures that quickly die when you don't see them for a bit. So make sure to never forget about me and come as much as you can!"

Tyrcalaques burst into laughter as he pounded his chest.

He could no longer deny it. What he felt for this girl was more than a simple bond.

Even though he knew those feelings were poisonous to a spirit that lived for a near eternity, he couldn't help but admit it was true. Of all the humans he'd ever met, she was the most special.

So, he wanted to make memories with her while he could.

That was the only thing Tyrcalaques believed he could do.

That was until he saw an engraving of Pulkrox's curse on the back of Katin's hand.

* * *

[The reason Pulkrox's curse was able to destroy an entire city was because it spread through magic power.]

I closed my eyes as I heard Merilda's whisper in my ear. It seemed the rest of the story wasn't pleasant.

I knew that as well. This story was never going to have a happy ending.

That was why Merilda didn't want to tell Yennekar about it.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 8: Wind Flower (8)

It had been more than ten days since Katin Palerover had returned to Torren Village.

After learning that Pulkrox's curse was contagious through magic power, Katin refused to return home.

Thousands of villagers searched the forest and mountains to find the girl who suddenly disappeared… But they couldn't find her.

In truth, there were only a very few people in Torren Village who knew how to properly use magic power. Given the fact that the curse was only contagious through magic power, particularly against those who had a large amount of it, even if she went home, it wouldn't cause much damage.

Pulkrox's curse had previously destroyed a magic city in the west.

However, the chance of her village suffering that same level of destruction was low. Even so, there was no easy way to tell who might possess enough magic power to be put at risk. It was not the sort of thing one could recognize at a glance.

Her existence in itself would end up taking the lives of anyone who was capable of wielding magic power. It might be too late, but she decided that she would reduce the possibility as much as she could.

Deciding to do so, she moved to the forest, making it her new home.

Alongside Tyrcalaques.

* * *

Yennekar and the villagers also wanted to watch.

However, it wasn't an easy sight to see. That was because… Katin's appearance as she was gradually engulfed by the curse was very similar to Yennekar when she was being controlled by Glasskan's curse, back when Yennekar fought against Taylee and the others at Nail Hall.

It wasn't an easy memory that could just be forgotten over time.

* * *

Because of the curse, Katin's condition worsened every day.

She lost sight in one eye, occasionally got nauseated, suffered from a high fever, and sometimes even fainted. She was in a state where she could no longer properly move her body. It was no longer Tyrcalaques who was lying in bed, but rather Katin.

Tyrcalaques's condition had improved.

His magic power was slowly returning. At that point, he was stronger than a regular human.

He took care of Katin as he managed the cabin. He was making the necessary preparation for when he would be completely free from the curse.

However, seeing Katin slowly die ate away at his heart. He couldn't help it.

Pulkrox's curse was transmitted through magic power. It also became more effective the stronger and larger your magic power was. At the time, he wasn't certain—but given the symptoms, that seemed to be the case.

That meant it was because of Tyrcalaques that Katin was suffering from the curse and would eventually die.

The reason Katin came into contact with the curse was because she had used her magic power to save Tyrcalaques, and the reason the curse was more effective was because she had grown as an Elementalist while caring for an ultimate-rank spirit.

If she had never come across Tyrcalaques while walking through the forest that day. If she had left him alone or run away in fear… She would have never experienced such a painful death.

Humans lived a short life that lasted no longer than a hundred years. However, it was still Tyrcalaques himself that ruined Katin's short life.

As he regained his strength little by little, he took care of Katin as much as he could, but… No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't lift Pulkrox's curse.

The curse that the high-ranking spirit Pulkrox left behind in exchange for his own life was more of a 'phenomenon' than magic.

It was a spell that any creature, no matter how strong, had to fall victim to. An ultimate-rank spirit might have enough magic power to resist the spell over a sufficient period of time, but with a human's potential magic power, it was an impossible task.

Still, he continued to do everything he could. He analyzed the flow of magic power, researched the spell, examined Pulkrox's corpse, and even conducted all sorts of experiments.

However, no matter what he did, he couldn't remove the curse that was engraved on her body. Ultimately, she would have to overcome it with her own magic power.

Of course, Katin possessed nothing close to that level of magic power. She had been born with only ordinary talent as an Elementalist. The only reason she had even grown capable of communicating with mid-ranking spirits was because she had spent so long beside the ultimate spirit Tyrcalaques.

"Don't make that face, Tyrcalaques."

It was a habit he had as he looked down at Katin lying on the bed.

Every time he looked towards her, he had a habit of biting his lower lip. However, she was always the one trying to comfort him.

"I told you. Compared to spirits, a human's life is incredibly short. There's no reason to extend my short life a little longer."

"Don't say that… Katin."

"Alright. Even if I die, I know you will remember me. Thinking about it like that, even though I might die a few decades early… It is all the more meaningful."

That wasn't true. She was simply saying that to comfort him.

Tyrcalaques was well aware of that, so he continued to try and find a way to remove the curse over and over again.

And after agonizing over that fact for a long time, the conclusion he came to wasn't a normal one.

"Katin… You…need to become a legendary elementalist…"

If she couldn't fight back against the curse with her own magic power, she would end up dying…

That was why she needed to have a relationship with Tyrcalaques, one where they could exchange magic power. Something that could only be done through a contract.

However, was there even an elementalist out there that could make a contract with an ultimate spirit?

Even just being able to summon them once by chance was enough to be considered a historical feat… But to make an entire contract with one, you would have to become the greatest Elementalist, unprecedented throughout history.

However, he couldn't just sit still and do nothing. So Tyrcalaques made a decision.

He would make Katin the greatest Elementalist there ever was. If she became a legendary elementalist who signed a contract with him, he would be able to save her by giving her his magic power.

Hadn't he already helped her grow enough to make a contract with mid-ranking spirits already? That was the influence an ultimate-rank spirit had.

Determined, he planned to repeatedly push his magic power into Katin to help her get used to it. That would also bring out her spiritual resonance past its limits.

Of course, the stronger she got, the more effective the curse would be. However, if she could bear with it to the end… she would grow enough to be able to share magic power with Tyrcalaques.

And then Tyrcalaques could save her.

"Katin, listen to me… This will be a very painful process, but… It might just be a way to save you…"

Rain fell outside the cabin. With his back towards the flickering campfire, Tyrcalaques spoke with his head lowered.

After hearing that, Katin looked up at him with blank eyes.

She couldn't bear to see his face twist in pain because he felt responsible for her. Tyrcalaques couldn't help but want to do whatever it took to save her.

She realized that if she were to lose her life, it would become a life-long scar for Tyrcalaques. So she nodded her head with a serious expression on her face. He was right. They both needed to do everything they could.

And then, an indescribable amount of time passed.

As for how things ended up… we already all knew.

* * *

In fact, Tyrcalaques already knew it himself.

The plan had always been reckless, perhaps even hopeless, but he could not bear the thought of simply sitting still and accepting her death.

It might have been more humane for him to use his own two hands to let Katin die comfortably.

However, doing something like that would be much too cruel and difficult for him. So, after a lot of pain and patience, while trying to help her grow stronger, she ended up dying in his arms.

On the day Katin passed away, the sorrowful roar of a giant bear could be heard across the sky.

The wrath of the ultimate-rank wind spirit that no longer had anywhere to go was shouted at the cruel world. If fate were to take her away like that, then it should have never allowed him to meet her in the first place.

That was right. It would have been better if they had never met in the first place.

He would have struggled in pain for a longer period of time, but ultimately, he would be able to overcome the curse himself. Katin's help wasn't necessary. She had simply shortened the duration of his torment briefly.

If she had never reached out to help him, she would have continued to live her regular life, dying normally.

It was Tyrcalaques himself that ruined her ordinary life.

Tyrcalaques had fully regained his power, and he turned that power against the world. A single gust of wind tore through the forest, uprooting trees and destroying everything in its path.

Tyrcalaques was no longer in his human form as he descended onto the world in the form of a spirit. He screamed out in pain at the world.

With his gigantic claws, he split apart the mountain range, creating various valleys with one swoop. With nowhere to release his anger, it led to the destruction of the world.

The shadow of that giant bear rising above the clouds looked like a calamity descending from the heavens. What the people of Torren Village had witnessed long ago… was nothing more than a spirit writhing in grief.

To any creature with intelligence, the feeling of loss was a heart-wrenching pain.

Even an ultimate-rank spirit was no exception. That was why spirits refrained from growing too attached to humans.

Unable to do anything, the ultimate-rank spirit unleashed his anger upon the world. If he had been left unchecked, the aftermath would have completely changed the map of the Kroel Empire. Thousands of people would have died, with thousands more being affected by the damage… However, Tyrcalaques himself no longer felt anything towards the world.

Boom!

As he drowned in grief, he swung his massive claws at random. After he destroyed a few mountains, what ended up surprising him was…

A massive level of Celestial magic.

A massive magic circle with dozens of layers was cast to restrain Tyrcalaques.

A white-haired magician dressed in a luxurious magician robe landed on top of the mountain. Her name was Silvenia Robester, the Great Sage of the Kroel Empire.

The Great Sage Silvenia, who could perceive the moment disaster descended, always appeared when humanity stood in danger.

Tyrcalaques was running wild, wholly consumed by sorrow. Silvenia had already seen what had happened to him only a few days earlier.

Massive chains stretched out as they began to wrap around his body.

It was the very same sealing spell she had researched in order to bind the Holy Blue Dragon. Even an ultimate-rank spirit could not fight back against the Great Sage's magic, which twisted and overturned the providence of the world itself.

Silvenia watched as he roared out in grief. She then spoke with sad eyes.

"You loved humans."

A supreme being and a kind-hearted woman from a rural village.

Anyone could have guessed that such a story wouldn't end well.

However, one's mind didn't always move rationally. Silvenia was also well aware of that fact as she spoke quietly.

"It must be painful to live forever having to endure that pain of loss. So, once you experience Natural Regression, start over again from scratch."

She spoke like a holy saint rather than a young and immature girl.

That was because she knew that she was the only one who could ease his pain.

"That memory of loss will be left with this body. Go back to being a spirit that belongs to nature… Go back to being a fluid spirit."

Looking up at the massive bear, whose eyes were dripping with tears, the girl raised her wand.

"The lifespan of a spirit is an endless circle. You will go back to being a fluid spirit. And from today on, the seat of the ultimate wind spirit will become vacant."

Her Celestial Magic called forth a violent storm. Tyrcalaques endured that pain, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart—the pain of having lost someone.

Tyrcalaques wept endlessly until the moment he returned to nature at the hands of the Great Sage.

Far away, a single pansy blew along sadly, following the breeze.

Like Katin had said, it was a Wind Flower.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, the sun was already beginning to set. I woke to the red light of sunset dyeing Torren Village's square crimson.

It was hard to adjust to the sudden return to a peaceful and beautiful landscape after watching the mountains of Pulan be devastated. However, I also felt confused as I looked up at the sky over Torren Village and saw how it was just as clear as before.

"Euuk…"

"You are awake."

I must have been asleep, as I was lying on an old bench in the middle of the square.

The village chief Glems, who was guarding us, saw me wake up as he greeted me.

"Eeuuk… What time is it?"

"It's quite late. A fair amount of time has passed since you activated that device. Most of the villagers have already gone back to their work."

"I see… I wasn't even able to say thank you yet… "

"It's okay. Everyone was happy to hear that they could be helpful to you."

My left shoulder felt heavy. Looking over, Yennekar was holding onto my left shoulder tightly, fast asleep.

Since it was a device that used magic power to operate, it seemed that only Yennekar and I were able to glimpse into the past, as we were the only ones who could properly use magic power.

Chief Glems sat across from me, then asked in a polite tone of voice, "Were you able to finish your research?"

"…Yes. I learned quite a lot."

The fact that Pulkrox and Silvenia were related to the end of Tyrcalaques was something that wasn't known among academics. In any case, it seemed that many history books were going to have to change quite a bit.

Was it because I used too much Celestial Magic power? I had a throbbing headache. I pressed hard on my temples.

I frowned trying to bear with the pain when Yennekar, who was wrapped around my arm, suddenly grabbed my hand tightly.

Then, Yennekar opened her eyes as well.

"Hnng…"

Yennekar groaned. She slowly opened her eyes, and we made eye contact.

She looked up to me while holding onto my arm… Then, tears started to form from the corner of her eyes.

"Sniff…"

What did Yennekar think of that story?

She must have also known beforehand that it was going to be a rather sad ending, but seeing it herself must have been an entirely different feeling. Especially because she was someone with a kind and emotional heart.

"Sniff… Sniff…"

As Yennekar began to cry, I hugged her quietly.

Even though he must have been confused by the sudden situation, Chief Glems didn't say a word as he quietly waited for us. It must have been a particularly heartbreaking story for Yennekar.

The pansy flowers that quietly moved their heads where the wind blew…

The flowers that yearned for the wind that was roaming freely across the world would quickly die if they were uprooted…

Perhaps Yennekar felt akin to them…

Thinking back to herself and how she was in love with Ed Rothstaylor.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 9: Wind Flower (9)

[Since you've come this far, there's nothing I can do about it. I'll give you the location of Tyrcalaques' corpse.]

The next morning, I woke up from bed to see Merilda sitting on the shelf, waving her feet in the air.

I was exhausted after using too much Celestial Magic power. Yennekar also seemed to be exhausted, as she had gone straight to bed.

I looked at Merilda absent-mindedly. She shook her head as she spoke.

[What's with you? Are you not awake yet?]

"No, but you should have told me from the start. It's just ridiculous that you kept pushing back telling me about this, as if you were being kind."

[Th-that's true, but… I had no idea you would be so depressed after finding out about it…]

It was rare to see Merilda act like that. She seemed genuinely down after I snapped at her.

Seeing her lower her head and slightly raise her eyes, she really did look like a young girl.

I turned my head to look over at Yennekar, who was asleep.

[I had no idea Yennekar would be this emotional about it.]

"…I wonder if this is something she even needs to feel so emotional about. Her situation and Katin's are completely different."

[I think so, too. Still, you know it as well. Yennekar is a girl who feels inferior to others and takes things to heart.]

Merilda raised her chin as she spoke.

[From my point of view, when she exchanges feelings with you, she thinks it's a blessing. It's to the point that she wonders if it's really okay.]

"But comparing me to an ultimate spirit… How am I supposed to feel about that…?"

[Normally, when people date, they start to think their partner is the most extraordinary person in the world. Have you ever dated before?]

"When you say it like that, it sounds like a rather unimportant problem…"

[That's because it is a rather silly problem to worry about…]

Merilda let out a heavy sigh, jumping off the shelf. Her movements were light, as she was a wind spirit.

She moved a chair from the table over to me. She sat on it as she leaned towards me.

[Silvenia sealed Tyrcalaques' body herself. His soul may have gone back to nature and transformed into a fluid spirit, but no matter how many years pass, the traces of the magic power on his body will remain.]

"Then if I get my hands on it, I will grow rapidly as an Elementalist."

[That's right… So, where do you think it's hidden?]

Ultimate rank spirits normally didn't have anything like a corpse. After all, they didn't have the concept of death and lived for nearly an eternity.

The fact that Tyrcalaques had left a corpse behind was extremely rare. It was a treasure of unparalleled value.

The first thing I thought of was that something so valuable wouldn't be thrown aside just anywhere. Silvenia must have put it in a place that was hard to reach, or where she could implement a massive sealing spell on it…

"Considering the circumstances… She probably would have buried it where Katin Palerover lived when she was alive."

Considering the Great Sage Silvenia's personality, it was an obvious conclusion.

[You really are quick.]

As for where Katin Palerover lived, that was also obvious.

* * *

"I found it."

Hiding right beneath your nose.

A tall old tree in the center of the Palerover Ranch. After using my magic power to dig under it for some time, a wooden door of sorts was found.

"N-no way… Right under the ranch, there was something like this…"

"W-wow… I lived here my whole life… This has always just been under here. I could never have imagined…"

Orte and Yennekar were next to each other, completely surprised. Seeing them act so surprised, they really looked alike. You could tell they were father and daughter.

I grabbed the handle and I lifted up the wooden door, revealing a large staircase to a basement. There was something further underground.

"Since I don't randomly dig around in the ground, I could never have imagined something like this existed."

I lit a lamp I had brought along with magic power. After waiting for the flickering flame inside the glass lamp to catch, I turned my head towards Orte and spoke.

"I'll go inside and take a look with Yennekar. Please stand guard so no one who passes by bothers us."

"Y-yes… I will do that…"

I continued to head down the stairs to the basement with Yennekar.

She followed along, holding onto my arm tightly. She had a dumbfounded expression on her face. After all, she could never have imagined something like that would exist under the ranch, the home where she had lived all her life.

"Be careful not to trip. It's very dark."

"Ah, yeah. You be careful, too, Ed…"

Heading further down the stairs, relying solely on the light of the lamp, we held onto each other tightly—just in case we fell.

After going down for a while, a small stone chamber finally appeared.

It wasn't a very large space at all.

There was a stone statue that looked like a goddess and a shabby wooden box that was placed in front of it.

The wooden box was only the size of a human's torso.

I gave the lamp to Yennekar, who was swallowing her saliva. I bent down and opened the wooden box.

It was an old but fancy decorated box. There was a small magic crystal that was placed on a cushion inside of it.

That was what the corpse of a spirit was.

Rather than being the form of a body like a human corpse, it took the form of an item that acted as a medium and contained magic power.

Perhaps the fragmented memories of Tyrcalaques, who was sealed by the Great Sage Silvenia herself, were contained inside the thumb-sized magic crystal.

In terms of academic and economic value… That item alone had to be astronomical.

The tiny crystal might cost more than all of Silvenia Academy's buildings combined.

"I never imagined that I would find such treasures buried away beneath my own house."

Yennekar spoke as if she were telling a joke.

"That's true, but… I wonder if I should really be taking this. In a way, it's like a treasure that was buried for House Palerover."

Yennekar remained quiet as she held the lamp. She closed her eyes, then smiled sweetly.

"If you don't take it, who will?"

She then walked over to me and grabbed a small leather pouch that I had brought with us in advance.

She put the crystal into the pouch, then pulled on the band to tighten it. Afterward, she put it back in my hands.

As I held the pouch that held the crystal, she said, "I'm sure my mom and dad would say the same. It would be best if you take it, Ed."

"…"

"You're going to use it for academic research anyway. Once you bring it back to school, everyone is going to be at a complete loss for words. I can already imagine them all running up to you, asking how you got it. I'm sure that will be an incredible sight to see."

Yennekar had her hands on her hips, a triumphant expression on her face. From the looks of it, it seemed that she wanted me to compliment and thank her.

Seeing her like that, I spoke honestly.

"You don't have to act so mature like that. Your parents aren't here."

Yennekar's eyes fluttered as if those words struck her.

She lowered her head and she started to slouch back down.

"Yeah…"

Then, Yennekar leaned against me as I stood still.

We stood alone, hugging each other in the underground stone chamber, which only the lamp in my hand lit up. We didn't say a word.

* * *

My work in Pulan was mostly finished.

I discovered a lot while researching Tyrcalaques, and I obtained the rare treasure of an ultimate-rank spirit's corpse.

Once news of my discovery spread, the academic community would surely fall into chaos.

I was sure that many research proposals would come, as well as offers to sell them the corpse directly.

In particular, there were rumors that the merchant Slogg of the Elte Company had been buying lots of items related to accumulated magic power recently. He would surely be interested in the corpse of Tyrcalaques. Of course, I had no intention of selling it.

Tomorrow morning, I would be leaving Pulan.

Yennekar's hometown, Torren Village.

Even though it was a story from the distant past, it was the place where the scars of the ultimate wind spirit remained.

As if that story was forgotten, all that was left in the village was the peaceful and beautiful scenery.

Since I was going back early in the morning, I needed to start packing up. That night, the village would be hosting a farewell party with food and drinks in the square… To be honest, it was a bit burdensome to hear.

Thanks to Yennekar, the people of Torren Village had been especially kind to me. Even though I had only stayed there a few days, I felt genuinely welcomed.

Not only that, but it was a nice town.

The air was good, the water was clean, the wind was refreshing, and the scenery was peaceful. It was understandable that Yennekar was able to grow up like a protagonist in a fairytale. She had grown up in a place that seemed to be straight out of a fairytale itself.

However, it was still time for me to leave.

"Ed, is it fine if we stop by somewhere else before heading back?"

On the way back to the accommodations, Yennekar grabbed my arm.

It was rare for her to suggest going somewhere first, so I simply nodded. She brightened at once and quickly pulled me up the mountain path.

I was confused about why we were leaving the town and climbing up the mountain, but for the moment, I decided to follow her lead.

"It's nothing too grand, but it's still something I wanted to show you."

"…What is it?"

"Hmm…"

Yennekar hummed as she turned to me and slowly said, "I had something like a wish."

We left Torren Village, and we climbed up the mountain towards a trail. Following the road that was bracketed by simple fences, I could see the sun setting behind the mountain.

"Ever since I was little, I thought that the mountain range you see here in Pulan was so beautiful. Even though I saw it every day, I never got tired of it. So, if I ever found someone special to me, I wanted to show them it. It was just a thought I've always had."

Yennekar grabbed my arm as she dragged me past the fence.

"But everyone I knew back then was from my hometown, so there was no point. There's no need to introduce just how great this scenery is to someone who already lives here."

"Well, I guess that makes sense."

"Which is why I'm glad you came here to Pulan. Come, this way. This is the best view."

With the sun setting behind her, she turned around and faced me.

Her hair was dyed red by the setting sun. It fluttered in the wind from the mountain. Yennekar's smile glistened in the light.

"There were a lot of difficult times, but I don't regret anything. I don't know how my life will end up, but I will never regret having met you, Ed. We are different from Tyrcalaques and Katin."

"…"

"Meeting you was the greatest blessing of my life. That's why I really wanted to show you this view."

There was a path surrounded by fencing. The sheep and cattle were occasionally seen out in the grasslands.

The farms, fields, houses, and large lakes were in the distance. The snow-covered mountain tops, birds flying in the wind, and the beautiful pansies on the road.

And a girl.

It was hard to see because of the bright sun, but she probably had a large, satisfied smile on her face.

"I know that it isn't much. It's just a rural town that can be found anywhere… But this is where I grew up. For me, this is my life."

A complicated mix of emotions stirred in me as I looked at the scenery. Before I fully understood why, I found myself stepping toward Yennekar and kissing her.

Yennekar trembled in embarrassment from my sudden movement, but she slowly closed her eyes as she let her body fall into mine.

Afterward, we sat side by side on the ridge and watched the scenery together for some time.

Wrapping my arms around Yennekar, I felt strangely safe. Maybe Yennekar felt the same.

"Yes, this is a beautiful place."

"I'm happy."

Even with a tender and easily shaken heart, she had always lived as best she could until the very end. Yennekar Palerover had always been like that.

We couldn't live without worry in this world, only indulging in happiness like a protagonist in a fairytale. That was why we needed to lean on the people around us.

"Yennekar."

"Hm?"

"…There's no need for you to worry. I can promise you. The two of us will be happy."

And they lived happily ever after. I was well aware that there was no such irresponsible ending in reality. Even though we might struggle, it was just about doing our best to live as happily as possible.

Being able to make such decisions was what it meant to be human.

"Hehe. I'm happy."

And being able to do that much wasn't all that bad.

After quietly saying that to the wind spirit of a distant age, I lifted my head and looked out over the scenery of Pulan.

The pansy flowers blew in the wind.

Like Yennekar had called them, they were Wind Flowers.