With magical barriers on all four sides, the young man who was sitting cross-legged in the center collapsed, excruciating blood in pain.
At the same time, the barrier between the two doors that had isolated him from all the noise and attention around him was slowly dissolving.
It was the northern territory of the Holy Human Empire, where the cold of early winter pushed through the windows even though it was midsummer in the world.
‘Bell Curious… … .’
Is it that you interpreted the magic of possession created by this archmage Xernix with those eyes? in that short time?
‘It wouldn’t be possible unless the level was the same as mine or higher?’
No, it will never be above.
No matter what anyone says, there is no wizard in the present age who can compare with this archmage Xernix.
Since the death of the 12th Archmage Obek, the last successor to the Archmage, the position of Archmage of the Empire has been empty.
‘A little boy named Rin was as smart as me, so I didn’t want to kill him then, but I wanted to take his body after he grew up… … Eh, this guy will die before he grows up.’
Since he attacked the commander-in-chief in the stronghold of the white wolves, he would be beheaded according to the Law of the Wall, regardless of his status.
It’s an eye that Ryuken has wanted since he developed it, so I want to take away his whole body, but it’s a pity… … .
Zernix stood up, smudging blood from the corners of his mouth, and took off the rags of eyepatch that he always wore, with seven eyes drawn in a triangle, and stretched out confidently.
“Aww, the mission is over now, there’s no need to control the stinky old bodies!”
Until one of the Spider Lord’s five fundamentals awakens, the beastmen and the wolves are separated to the limit, so there is nothing to do here.
“Should we watch how Baek Do-ryeong slaughter the prisoners?”
No, it’s done. Being in the North for hundreds of years, I’m fed up with this place now. Except for the short trip to the south to break the Lizard Lord’s seal… … .
Was the next mission to Antarctica?
On the way down, I should eat delicious food and hang out with girls. As for women, I really like Republic women. I love that your skin is bronzed.
Wasn’t it that he was revived and received eternal youth in order to enjoy this kind of thing?
“Huh, let’s go pet Tureina in person after a long time.”
* * *
“Execution, behead him immediately, then kick that head over the wall! So that the proud prisoner friends can see it!”
While the second-in-command, who had served for 38 years in the Wall, ran amok, Kiran Wolf Blado firmly checked the main basket on the back of the fallen Lane.
No, this… … ?
He took a deep breath and closed the lid. He looked around carefully, but it seemed that he was the only witness.
“If it is a genuine Ludwig forgery, how are you going to deal with the aftermath?”
The second-in-command wrinkled his brow as Kiran snugly picked up the basket and warned him.
“You know very well that this is a land where the laws of wolves take precedence over the laws of the Wall and the Empire, right? And you saw what I just did! They tried to assassinate the commander-in-chief!”
“… … Could it be that you didn’t hear?”
“What do you mean?”
Didn’t you hear that too… … .
Before the commander-in-chief collapsed, Kiran could clearly hear the strange voices that seemed to dissipate in the air.
But will those who are so excited about explaining it believe it? Everyone is sensitive to the catastrophic failure of the expedition.
“Anyway, there are many crew members who saw the lady of the page come here. Decapitation is a premature decision.”
“Wolves don’t care about the imperial nobility.”
“It’s not something to look out for. Let’s proceed a little calmly. I’ll put you in jail first. When you come to your senses, I will interrogate you.”
* * *
The funeral ceremony passed down from generation to generation was quietly held at Belwyn, the Ludwig family’s mansion.
Since the head of the family, Kavan Ludwig, refused to accept condolences, the other families, the 10-year-old clan, and the 8th to 16th middlemen sent formal condolences and condolences in letters.
Did you not know that fact, or did you come knowing that?
Residents of the territories from the Giriten region of Shiastulica came up and wept sadly as they followed the funeral ceremony.
“… … .”
The waves of grief that swirled around the mansion emptied the hearts of not only the members of the silk family, but also the butlers, maids-in-waiting, and soldiers.
The boy was harsh with no one, discriminated against no one, was merciful to everyone, and treated all people of all ranks as friends.
The bier of Confucius, a boy who died 100 days ago, led a long procession up the summer ridge where tulips were in full bloom.
Since the body could not be collected, the bier was empty. The bier was so light that it brought tears to my eyes, as it contained only a few items.
The former and current heads of the family, Scalzi and Kavan, walked from the left and right of the bier in their robes, followed by the boy’s mother Bream, aunt Elin, younger sister Seri, and younger brother Bran dressed in mourning clothes.
Finally, the trumpeter who was walking in front blew a long trumpet, and the ranks came to a halt amid the sound of the trumpet wagging its tail sadly.
This place, where tombstones that had dried up over time lined up all the way to the horizon, was the land where family members rested eternally.
It was the last resting place overlooking the world of tulips and the Belwyn mansion at a glance, so that fresh green bloomed in spring and covered with white snow in winter.
When the soldiers waiting for the boy’s grave dug up the bier politely and tried to put it into the hole, Brim Ludwig finally burst into tears and held on to the bier.
“lady… … .”
“Oh, madam… … .”
The sorrow of the one who had to send his son to a place where he could not follow was long and heavy. Se-Ri hugged her mother and cried together.
Only the young Bran Ludwig tilted his head with an innocent face, unable to enter this world of sorrow.
After a while, I was able to get Brim and Se-Ri off the bier and push the bier into the pit. The old priest who officiated at the funeral opened the bible.
“The gods have said that parting on this earth is not eternal parting… … Therefore, there is no reason to be sad, but to rejoice… … .”
Emitsa Page is said to have said this to her descendants on the day she closed her eyes.
“I am dying now, but the gods will surely take care of you and guide your end to the land of eternal life.”
“… … .”
“As Karenden promised me, we will meet again there. On the day you meet me again, do your best not to be ashamed and run the race of life. Only spread the light and do good… … Durciel.”
“““Durciel (I want it to be so).”””
Scalge nodded, and the house guards began to fill the pit with shovels, but their tears fell slowly upon the dirt.
“You must have been a really great lord.”
He couldn’t watch his son’s bier being covered with dirt, so after hearing the cries of the residents of Kiriten, the guardian knight Swann gave comfort to Kavan who came out from behind.
“Even though you are young, all the guards believed in you wholeheartedly and followed you… … So did I.”
Kavan’s weak smile was painful and bitter, as if it would break at any moment.
“Yes, thank you.”
And Kavern, who wanted to pass the swan and return to the ridge, put his hand on the young guardian knight’s shoulder.
“Give them something to eat. So that you don’t get tired on the way. These are the ones who have come to mourn the death of my son, so behave with great consideration.”
“I will follow your orders, Your Excellency.”
Elin Ludwig didn’t cry.
Instead, Se-ri, who had been crying endlessly even while the soil was being covered, was forced to stand up and dragged her down from the ridge.
When the tax collector tried to resist, he held onto her shoulder tightly as if to get her to come to her senses.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry! Ludwig’s successor doesn’t show tears in front of others! Neither your grandfather nor Madelia Page ever cried at their father’s funeral?!”
“… … ?”
“Now Lane Ludwig is dead. Do you know what this means? You are the legitimate heir of the family. Sherry Ludwig, you must lead our family!”
On the ridge where the petals rustled in the wind, Se-ri tried to swallow her tears, but the tears came out again and again and her voice thinned out.
“no, I do not want… … I don’t want to be the heir to the family… … I-I just… … I want to see my brother, my brother… … .”
“There is no Rain anymore!”
It sounded like she was shouting sharply, but Elin’s voice, as she knelt in front of him and made eye contact with her niece, was faint as if it were scattered into the air.
“Are you going to show me this pathetic side when we meet again later? I have to become a better person and meet him, so that pathetic person won’t be happy… … .”
As Se-ri recalled those words in her head, she nodded in pain and burst into tears, and Elin hugged her niece and touched her back.
“Now the person who carried the weight of the family instead of you is gone… … Be strong, because you have to be as strong as your pitiful brother… … .”
* * *
It was the sense of hearing and touch that brought consciousness, which had been locked in deep darkness, to the surface.
The sound of someone sobbing and something warm falling on my face… … .
When I lifted my eyelids with difficulty, the first thing that caught my eyes were light purple eyes. The clear snow, in which the dew formed and fell endlessly, had an alluring side to it.
“… … miss?”
Why is Cassena Page crying?
As I tried to raise my heavily stretched body, a storm of dizzying memories raged like lightning in my hazy mind.
Beastmen and wolves, a headache that seems to break, Grifion and Barelzen, the commander-in-chief and the art of possessing, Arakish, and… … .
“A dragon egg.”
Most importantly, Arakish trusted me with her treasures.
He let out a rough breath and hurriedly tried to raise his body, but a heavy lump of metal dragged his hands roughly.
Eyes opened wide.
“… … Handcuffs?”
Yes, it was handcuffs.
This piece of metal, which is shaped like a clenched fist, is a handcuff exclusively for wizards that prevents wizards from using magic.
Bargante types cannot use magic unless they are able to form a hand sign.
Even the Jorgen type, who uses mental arithmetic, cannot activate magic unless he breaks the magic square built on his palm.
The Remidière type can’t use magic without a book in the first place… … .
There was only the stench of cold dust and mold in this place, where dim lamplights were all lighting, and even the lamps were beyond the grate door.
“It’s a prison… … .”
The situation he was in now was so hopeless that he couldn’t believe it.
I don’t have time to be doing this.
Arakish would still be fighting, but even if it was possible to get rid of him, if he goes to Ravenfell… … .
“Sorry, sorry… … .”
Cassena held her knees pitifully and let out a weak cry over and over again.
“Because of me… … .”
“You did nothing wrong, Mrs. It all happened because I was too impatient.”
I had to approach it a little cautiously.
To think that everything would be solved by removing the Spirit of Possession placed on the Commander-in-Chief there… … The thought was too short.
As I let out a painful sigh, Cassena suddenly raised her red bloodshot eyes and shouted.
“no… … Me too, I know everything! before that! Before that!”
“yes?”
“I, I grabbed my ankle again… … At the Imperial Court, and this time too, Rain couldn’t help Arakish because of me… … !”
“… … .”
“So, that’s why I learned so hard, but next time, I don’t want to hold my ankle, but I want to be my strength, my strength, but, but… … .”
For a moment, the words were closed.
I thought I didn’t remember because I didn’t say anything, but did I remember everything? Why did I want to learn so enthusiastically… … .
Was it possible because everyone had such a proud mindset inside?
“You thought so.”
At a time like this, if it were Lista, she would have come closer, patted me on the shoulder, and comforted me kindly. Friede would have encouraged him by quoting a famous Bible verse.
Unfortunately, I can’t act like them. It’s not that kind of personality, and I don’t even know how to say it.
However, I know better than anyone what kind of mindset to act in such a situation, having seen, felt, and experienced it myself.
“I think a little differently.”
telling the truth, telling the truth.
Without the slightest pretense, only if the other person conveyed their sincerity, the other side would also respond sincerely.
“If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have come this far.”
“what?”
“The one who completely convinced the Durancus tribe is the lady. And if it wasn’t for the lady in Ravenfell, I wouldn’t have even talked to Gryfion.”
It’s not a word that I made up for consolation, but it’s a bit of sincerity that I felt during this journey.
Cassena, who was looking at me with wide eyes, probably conveyed her sincerity, turned her head away and bit her lip.
“… … lie.”
“Really. I’m more honest than I look, so if I thought I was a burden, I would have told you earlier.”
“Then, then what are you doing… … Because of me, Arakish, Arakish died… … .”
“No, Alakish is still alive.”
It wasn’t me who answered that, but a young man who entered with the footsteps of leather boots heavy brushing the floor.
And when he finally stopped in front of the prison, Cassena and I jumped to our feet for different reasons.
While I saw the basket of dragon eggs that the young man with dark red hair carefully carried with both hands, Cassena’s eyes were fixed on his face.
“It’s been 10 years, Cassena.”