"I'm telling you, that fairy from the Fang Clan went back trembling in fear! It was so satisfying, it's a shame you weren't there to see it, brother!"
That evening, Mia recounted the morning's events as if it were a heroic tale.
In contrast to the beaming Mia, Mother's expression couldn't have been darker.
"Kyle, I need to see you. You two, go on inside."
"Huh? But I haven't finished my story yet…?"
"Sister. Let's play in my room today."
The quick-witted Tonelico took Mia away. Before closing the door, the glimpse I caught of Tonelico's eyes was also dark.
She understood what had happened.
Mother called me to her office.
"How far have you thought this through?"
"A war on the clan level, at the very least. If it gets bigger, an allied force might attack us."
"So you think so too. I was hoping it wouldn't come to that…."
Mother's voice trailed off as she walked to the window.
Outside, a storm was raging.
The outline of the World Tree was visible in the intermittent flashes of lightning.
"Didn't you anticipate a day like this would come eventually?"
"I did. But… I didn't want to wake from the dream. Now that the time has come, I am afraid."
Though Mother appeared outwardly calm, her hands were trembling nonstop.
"Will many of the 'Clan of Rain' die?"
Though nothing had happened yet, Mother was already seeing a disastrous future.
Anticipating the worst-case scenario and avoiding it.
That is the qualification of a leader.
"It's not that there's no way to avoid the war."
"…Kyle. You have a way of frightening me sometimes. But I have not the slightest intention of making such a cruel choice. You understand?"
Hand over the 'Fairy of Paradise'.
It might be the most certain solution.
If we try to protect Tonelico, war is unavoidable.
And the 'Clan of Rain' is not strong enough to win a war against the other clans.
Our numbers are few, and we have no weapons. We don't even have any experience with war.
But even if we were to bow our heads, would they let it slide? I don't think so.
"I have no intention of doing that either. In the first place, even if we made the offer, the mainland fairies wouldn't accept it."
"…Why?"
"Because they despise us. They call us cowards who act all high and mighty while living on the upper island."
It's a well-known fact that the mainland fairies fight amongst themselves constantly.
When a dispute arises, they settle it with blood.
And vast lands are a fitting reward for shedding blood.
While they're here to kill the 'Fairy of Paradise', what's stopping them from killing the weak 'Clan of Rain' as well?
"...…We must forge weapons."
"I will go as an envoy. Perhaps we can resolve this through dialogue."
Mother shook her head firmly.
"Surely you don't harbor such a naive thought, Kyle?"
"…."
For a moment, Tonelico's face came to mind.
A warm world. A country where things can be resolved through dialogue.
A dream world that exists only in fairy tales.
"When you can simply take it, why would you talk?"
That was the fundamental way of thinking for fairies.
"So much blood will flow, won't that be delightful?"
Mother forced the corners of her mouth up into a smile, but tears were streaming from her eyes.
"I will do my best to stop it."
"I will be with you. We are all of the same mind."
With determined expressions, Mother and I looked out the window.
"Fortify the island first, and inform everyone that war is coming."
In the distance, the World Tree was weeping.
***
Several months later, a single ship arrived at Orkney, an island filled with fighting spirit.
He was from the Wind Clan, and possessed a pair of magnificent wings the likes of which I had never seen.
Landing on the island with a mischievous smile, he acted in a way completely contrary to our expectations.
"My, my. There's been a strange rumor going around lately, hasn't there?"
"...Yes?"
"The rumor that Orkney is preparing for war. Surely our kind friends from the 'Clan of Rain' would do no such thing."
He shot a quick glare at me, who was standing as the representative.
"Isn't that right?"
I felt a faint killing intent.
But it was only for a moment. I couldn't even be sure if it was killing intent at all.
Old man Cal, who was next to me, called out to me as I stood there dazed.
"Hey, Kyle. Are you really going to let him in?"
"We can't give them a pretext for war. Since he came alone, let's let him in for now."
"Excuse me. Are you finished with your conversation? My legs are getting sore. Must I stand here any longer?"
We opened the gate.
He headed for the royal palace (though it was too small to be called one), carefully observing the village along the way.
He didn't hesitate to ask about anything he was curious about.
Of course, I answered while omitting anything that might be a military concern, but I still felt uneasy.
"Greetings. I am honored to meet the Queen of the 'Clan of Rain'."
"Welcome. Let's get straight to the point. What business do you have in Orkney?"
"Well… there has been a rather unpleasant rumor, and a good rumor as well, so I came to confirm them."
The Wind Clan fairy spread his wings wide. Was that an attempt to intimidate us?
In any case, I couldn't miss a single one of his movements.
"The unpleasant rumor is that you are preparing for war… but now that I'm here in person, I can see it's just nonsense."
"What… do you mean by that?"
"What kind of war could you possibly wage with such shoddy walls and wooden spears? Haha. I don't know which fairy started the rumor, but they must be quite the prankster."
We couldn't retort to his outrageously rude remarks.
I had expected it, but it seemed our military strength looked like mere child's play in their eyes.
"War is a thing of iron and blood. Of course, I am a peaceful fairy who dislikes such lumps of iron."
"…I'm glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up. What is the second rumor?"
"The second rumor is a very sad, and yet joyous, one."
The Wind Clan fairy put on an exaggeratedly sorrowful expression, like a clown.
He continued speaking, paying no mind to our frowning faces.
"Because of the sins of our ancestors, the 'Fairy of Paradise' has come to punish us. This is the sad news. However, the opportunity has come for us to prostrate ourselves before the 'Fairy of Paradise' and beg for forgiveness, so it is also joyous news."
Bullshit.
I resisted the urge to punch that bastard in the face right then and there.
He's lying through his teeth.
"Is that true?"
"To the truth of what are you referring…?"
"I am asking if it is true that you intend to beg for forgiveness from the 'Fairy of Paradise'."
"Mother!"
I turned to look at Mother in shock.
"Kyle. Stay quiet."
Mother was completely serious.
Why?
Why is she falling for those words, which are so obviously a lie?
Look at that Wind Clan fairy now. Look at that sinister smile.
Is that the face of someone speaking the truth?
"...Yes. Of course. I have come because I wish to be the very first to step forward and beg Her forgiveness."
He beat his chest as he pleaded. He was utterly detestable.
"Mother. You must not believe him. It is obviously a lie. How can you trust a fairy?"
"Kyle. You speak as if you are not a fairy yourself. I, the Queen, am a fairy, and the 'Fairy of Paradise' is also a fairy."
"Oh-ho. So the Queen's eldest son was a human?"
This is crazy.
I couldn't understand why my wise mother was acting like this.
"We will not discuss this further. Kyle. Your head seems to be heated. Please step outside."
"Mother…."
"I will not say it again."
I was forcibly kicked out of the office.
By the will of none other than my own mother.
That fact was too shocking.
I stood motionless for a long time in the spot where I'd been kicked out.
About five minutes passed. I heard footsteps in the hallway.
"No. The moment they confirm the 'Fairy of Paradise', war is inevitable. So this has to be Mia. It must be Mia."
She was slowly coming up the stairs.
Brilliant blonde hair was the first thing that came into view.
Tonelico and Mia are both blonde.
There was still... still hope left.
But then her forehead came into view,
and the moment I saw the round lenses of her glasses.
"Brother? Mother called for me, so I came up. ...Brother?"
I collapsed right where I stood.