The Great Hollow lay at the heart of Britannia, its depths a mystery to all fairies.
Conversely, every fairy on the island instinctively avoided approaching it, as though driven by some primal revulsion.
After suppressing the Great Calamity, Shiomi and Aesc naturally set their next destination toward the Great Hollow—a place whose investigation had long been postponed.
This particular Calamity had clearly arisen from near the Hollow, seemingly tied to the recent war.
When the group stopped to camp a short distance away, waiting for dawn, Shiomi raised the question that lay at the core of everyone's unease.
"So, how are you all feeling about this?"
He was addressing the four fairies accompanying them—Totorot, Baobhan Sith, the Black Knight Ector, and Wryneck of the Fang Clan.
Of them, Wryneck stood out most. Now that the war was over, Shiomi found little reason for the Fang Sub-Bell to continue traveling with them.
Thus, when Shiomi asked, Wryneck could clearly feel the pointed intent behind the question.
"You are correct, Sage," Wryneck said respectfully. "My instincts do warn me not to approach the Great Hollow. However, if you deem it necessary to investigate, please allow me to accompany you."
"I recall you're a Sub-Bell," Ector interjected. "As one of the strongest among the fairies, why abandon your clan's affairs to follow us?"
The Fang Clan was infamous for its aggression and temper. Even though Wryneck had fought alongside them to subdue the Calamity, his continued presence still made the others uneasy.
"That's a pointless question. Our Fang Clan follows one principle—'strength is justice.' In Britannia, the Sage is without a doubt the strongest. He defeated me effortlessly. As the defeated, it's only natural that I submit to him and obey his command in battle."
Wryneck gave a short, derisive snort, his pride as a Fang Clan warrior plain in his voice.
"Is that so?" Shiomi said, glancing toward Aesc.
She shook her head lightly, wordlessly assuring him that Wryneck spoke the truth.
His manner was gruff, his words abrasive, but there was no deceit in them. This generation's Sub-Bell had chosen to yield to the stronger power—Shiomi.
"Still," Shiomi said calmly, "to be honest, I'd prefer if you fulfilled your duties as chief of the Fang Clan rather than tagging along with us."
"What do you mean?" Wryneck asked.
"When we're done investigating the Great Hollow, return to your clan," Shiomi said. "Lead them properly. One day, I'll have need of you."
"Understood." Wryneck bowed deeply, then rose and strode out of the camp to take up watch.
"You don't seem particularly happy about that," Grímr remarked, taking a swig from his water flask.
"It's not about being happy or unhappy," Shiomi replied with a faint smile. "It's just the way things are."
He had his share of biases toward the fairy clans.
Ector of the Earth Clan, and Totorot and Baobhan Sith of the Wing Clan, were exceptions.
As a Sub-Bell, Wryneck's strength far surpassed the others', and combined with the nature of his clan, Shiomi treated him with greater caution—his period of observation longer than anyone else's.
"Oh? Is that so?" Grímr murmured, leaning back against a wooden post with his hands behind his head.
Shiomi's gaze drifted to the remaining three fairies.
They had all affirmed that they could endure the discomfort of nearing the Great Hollow.
Satisfied, Shiomi clapped his hands lightly, and everyone dispersed to rest.
But while Aesc and Shiomi were chatting idly with Baobhan Sith, they overheard Ector nearby, speaking rather sternly to Totorot about something.
"No, that's wrong. How many times have I told you? To dye something yellow, you need onion skins. For fading, use salt. Boil the water, dissolve it, and then soak the fabric. I even taught you this yesterday. If you don't want to do it, then don't. Just go tie up enemies with thread instead."
Totorot was sitting there, softly crying.
"...How was I supposed to do it again... how... what do I do with the yarn... what do I do with the cotton... uuu... uuu... I don't know... I really don't know..."
Worried about the group's morale, they went over to check what was going on.
"What happened?" Aesc asked.
"Waaah!" Totorot yelped, startled by the question. "Wh-what?! You're not asleep yet? Didn't you say we're heading to the Great Hollow tomorrow?"
"Your tools are scattered all over the ground… Were you practicing something?" Shiomi noticed the mess of sewing tools that Totorot was trying, unsuccessfully, to gather up. They were all items for stitching and embroidery.
"...Because I said I'd make a wedding dress for Aesc..." Totorot confessed, realizing there was no point in hiding it. "But I only know how to stitch. I can't do anything else."
"So that's why you asked Ector to teach you," Shiomi said, understanding dawning on him. "Judging by how this looks, it's not the first day you've tried. You must've started asking him for help sometime after we suppressed the Great Calamity—on the way here, right?"
"Yeah." Totorot hung her head. "Whether it's something I heard three days ago or two days ago, I can only do what I was born knowing how to do... The Black Knight said all I have to do is fight—that that's my purpose in following you all..."
Shiomi sighed. "That stubborn old man... When did I ever say I made you one of us just so you could fight? Did you ever say that, Aesc?"
"Nope. I just thought traveling with more people would make things livelier and more fun," Aesc said with a shake of her head.
"Uuuh..." Totorot looked on the verge of tears again.
Unlike the fairies of Paradise, the fairies of Britannia did not grow.
And Totorot seemed to have been born with a limited memory span, which made learning anything new even harder.
Unable to do what she wanted, unable to fulfill the "purpose" of her existence, she couldn't help but feel miserable.
"If you can't remember things just by thinking about them, then write them down," Shiomi said, exhaling softly. "You've got a notebook that can record things, don't you?"
"But I only know how to draw. I don't know how to read or write. Even if you teach me, I'll just forget..." Totorot wanted to take his advice, but it was impossible for her.
Aesc was just about to say she'd teach her when Baobhan Sith raised her hand.
"Um... if you don't mind, Totorot, I can study with you."
"Huh? You can read?"
Totorot's eyes went wide with shock.
"I only just started learning..." Baobhan Sith admitted shyly. "The Sage and the Witch are teaching me."
"Hey, hey, hey, hey! That's totally unfair! Aesc! Shiomi!"
Totorot grabbed Shiomi by the collar and shook him furiously, but he didn't so much as flinch.
"You never asked," he said simply, raising a finger in explanation.
...
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