Chapter 199 – Rescue (1)
The night when Edmon, Karans, and Blue were asleep.
By chance, Verden woke up from his sleep and quietly stepped out of the inn.
It wasn't because of any grand purpose.
He simply wanted to get some fresh air, that was the reason.
Even though the night was deep, the streets of Acrien were bright.
Drunken citizens staggered as they wandered the streets, and mercenaries picking fights with one another threw punches in the corners.
The patrol soldiers of Acrien hardly intervened, they just watched like the other onlookers.
It was a liveliness and disorder befitting a tourist city.
"..."
Verden slowly moved his steps.
Alone, without being disturbed by anyone.
And so, before he knew it, he arrived at the pier on the edge of Acrien.
Small fishing boats moored by ropes.
The large ships each had hired mercenaries standing guard almost without a gap. When he turned his gaze to the side, he caught sight of the flickering darkness.
'So this is the sea.'
The night sea bathed in the light of magic stone lamps and moonlight.
Just as Edmon had said, it was quite a spectacle. He was used to ingredients like seafood, but this was the first time seeing the sea itself.
The Magic Tower was filled with every sort of knowledge, but there were limits to what one could experience firsthand.
'Come to think of it, it's been over half a year since I came to the Kingdom of Estiria.'
Verden sat at the edge of the pier and recalled the past days.
From winter to summer.
He had accomplished quite a lot in that time.
Reaching the 5th tier through the battle with the Elder Lich, defeating a dark magus on his own, and awakening gravity attribute magic.
Of the three purposes for coming to the Kingdom, one had already been fulfilled, the other two were in progress. And one of those was now right before his eyes.
If he thought of the other matters as well, there were even more.
He had lived busily indeed.
But he had never once forgotten his original purpose.
Revenge.
The final destination of his journey.
To reach the end of it, he had to become stronger.
The tier was secondary, no matter what, he had to achieve the Way of Magic. Upon reaching the 5th tier, his body was already prepared.
What remained was the mental aspect.
Through Defying the Heavens, he had obtained overwhelming talent.
His goal had never wavered, and his will was clearer than anyone's.
'But then, what exactly is the problem?'
He could not see a way forward.
He thought time would solve it, but… doubts arose. Even if one year, no, ten years were to pass, would his current state of mind change?
'That can't possibly be.'
Verden inwardly shook his head.
His mental strength was not so weak that it would weather away with the flow of time. Pain and resentment still remained, like wounds that refused to heal.
Suddenly, Geltone came to mind.
The mage who, to move forward, had resolved not to return to the Magic Tower he once dreamed of. He chose instead to remain with his companions as an adventurer.
That change had contributed greatly to Verden's understanding of his theory.
He was still at the 4th tier.
But if he rose to the 5th, he might at once become a Magus. If that enlightenment meant he had achieved mental growth.
If that were the case…
'Must I… abandon revenge?'
To take revenge, he had to become strong.
But to become strong, he had to let go of vengeance? What could be more contradictory than that. With self-mockery, he lifted his gaze.
A waning moon hung loftily.
Verden raised his arm and slowly clenched his fist. Of course, he could not catch it. Once… even if he couldn't reach it, he had rejoiced just to feel closer.
'If there is no goal on this path, does it have meaning?'
Of course, he had no intention of stopping here.
It was just that, today, such thoughts came to him.
Verden simply wished to himself.
May his Way of Magic lead him toward revenge.
A life of being used and exploited.
If even that was taken away, nothing would remain for Verden. Lowering his head, he stayed still in silence.
Chwaaak.
The lonely sound of waves lingered in his ears.
***
The next morning.
Verden's party left Acrien early.
Forest spirits had a strong tendency to dislike artificial things, so they had to get as far away as possible from both the Kingdom of Estiria's borders and Acrien.
Thus, they chose the nameless forest in the north.
It was merely a location they had seen on the map, so they couldn't be certain spirits were there, but it was still the most likely place.
It was none other than Karans who had said so.
"Karans, how are spirits and elves connected?"
"The connection with spirits, elves call this a 'contract'. Two preconditions are required for a contract: one is magic power, the other is affinity."
Spirits were abnormal species made of magic power.
To wield their power fully, the contractor had to harbor a pure quantity of magic power equal to theirs.
And affinity was also a very important factor.
No matter how vast and pure one's magic power, with an element one lacked affinity for, one could not form a contract, nor even share communion.
In some cases, the spirit's wrath could even turn against the elf.
"If suitable, the elf and the spirit share each other's magic power. It is normally a ritual that takes a long time, but since I have already contracted once, it will end quickly. By human reckoning, perhaps about ten minutes."
"I see."
Verden nodded.
After a brief silence in thought, he spoke.
"But if those two conditions are met, can anyone form a contract with a spirit?"
"For elves, yes."
"Then it means I could as well."
From the perspective of elves, Verden was an elf.
That means, there is a possibility.
But Karans shook his head.
"Brother, it is impossible. Regardless of conditions, the nature of your magic power is far too strong."
Too strong?
"Yes. Your magic power is… so pure that it is alien. Magic power reminiscent of the World Tree itself. If a spirit were to come into contact with it, in that instant, it would not endure, it would collapse."
"Then what about this one?"
Verden pointed at the blue spirit.
A small light flickered.
Yet Karans's reaction was the same as before.
"Foret… no, I shall now call him Blue. Because brother revived him, and named him so. Blue seems to like that name as well."
'That name was given by Perne, though.'
Verden swallowed the thought.
Such unnecessary information did not need to be spoken.
"In any case, Blue is formed from brother's magic power. Of course, he can withstand your magic, since their natures are identical. That is the problem."
Contracts are made between differing beings.
If they are magically the same, then a contract cannot exist, for it is no different from already being connected.
Edmon nodded from the side.
"That does make sense. I even thought he was a clone at first. Though now, I can easily tell them apart."
"And even if a contract were somehow made, nothing would change. The greatest benefit of a contract is to wield the spirit's power───"
"In contrast, Blue's power originates from me, so it would be pointless."
"Precisely."
He understood.
Honestly, even if it were possible, he had no intention of trying it now. A human contracting with a spirit was something unheard of, an extraordinary matter.
Especially since a contract was directly tied to magic power.
To rush in recklessly might bring changes to his body, restraint was simple common sense. This was an issue before curiosity.
Still, apart from that, there was something he wondered about.
"Karans, there is one thing I wish to ask."
"I am listening, brother."
"Though unintentional, I once killed the spirit you were contracted with. I don't think we have ever spoken about that."
***
Elves had a strong sense of kinship.
That extended to contracted spirits as well. At the time his body had just recovered, he had poured his fury onto Verden.
Thus, it was a question.
Even if Karans perceived Verden as an elf, could he truly cleanse that grudge so completely?
Karans answered.
"Elves are, by nature, rational."
"Ha, not emotional? I think I heard far too many curses for you to say rational."
"That was me restraining myself. Do you really want to see what it means for me to act emotionally?"
White teeth clenched together.
The temporary weapons he had been given, the dagger, the bow, and the arrows. Half-drawing the dagger, Karans's eyes glinted with murderous intent.
Edmon took a step back.
"My apologies."
"Know your place, human mage."
The twisted expression on Karans's face softened.
"Ahem, brother. Elves value emotions, but strive to view situations rationally. Most do, and I as well. That is why I can fully understand the circumstances you were in."
An enraged spirit was a threat even to an elf.
Though it had not been intentional… no, from the start, it had all happened because he was kidnapped by humans. To Verden, suddenly attacked, Karans instead felt sorry.
"And brother, you succeeded in reviving the spirit without destroying the spirit stone. That may not have been your intent, but it is what came to be."
"Even though it changed like this?"
"The essence of its magic has altered in a startling way, but its identity remains. Whether the contract with Foret, no, Blue, is severed, he is always my friend."
Sparkle, sparkle.
Blue shone with a feeling of agreement.
Smiling at him, Karans continued.
"Brother, I believe you know of the conflicts between humans and elves."
The humans kidnapped elves, treating them as objects.
And elves, drawing their blades for the misery of their kin, destroyed entire nations.
A great event, known to most who paid any attention to history.
It was steeped in fury and hatred, yet the elves were not swayed by emotion. Their strategy was devoted solely to thoroughly destroying their enemies. Those records remain, proclaiming the fear they spread.
"Brother, remember this. Elves never forget the pain of their kin, but they are far more skilled than humans at mastering their emotions."
A voice warm, yet chilling.
Through Karans's counsel, Verden came to understand the elves more deeply.
And with that, their conversation ended.
They wandered the nameless forest in search of a forest spirit.
And at last.
"I have found it, brother."
Karans pointed ahead.
A stream of green light flowing between the trees. It was the forest spirit, the same as they had once seen before.
***
The forest spirit.
Karans narrowed his eyes as he stared at it.
"The spirit is showing wariness. It seems there was some threat… could you leave me and stay far back?"
"That's…"
"We'll wait from behind."
"Thank you."
Verden led Edmon and Blue to the rear.
Soon, Karans's figure was hidden by the forest. Edmon stroked his beard with a worried look.
"Asher, is it fine to leave him be like that? If he runs, it would be hard to bring him back."
"It will be fine."
It was not trust, but at least confidence.
And besides, even if Karans tried to escape, he was certain he could catch him. His choice was based on that certainty.
"Very well. I shall trust you."
Edmon too eventually agreed.
After some time, a strange current was felt from where Karans and the forest spirit were.
Fwaaaah.
In that instant, a wave passed through them.
A force brimming with vitality, reminiscent of the forest.
All eyes fixed ahead.
Rustling footsteps over grass, Karans emerged.
The elf, wrapped in green light.
He lightly flicked his finger, and branches extended outward. It was one of the powers of a forest spirit.
"So the contract succeeded."
"Thank you. It was thanks to brother."
Karans smiled brightly.
"Let's leave the celebration for later. Could I ask you to track immediately?"
"Yes, leave it to me."
Karans nodded firmly, placing his hand on a tree.
As he closed his eyes, the forest's murmur fell silent. The wind, the chirping of birds, all faded.
In the prolonged stillness, at last Karans opened his eyes.
"Nature says, humans with powerful magic passed swiftly through here."
"When?"
Karans spoke quietly.
"About one hour ago, by human reckoning."