Chapter 98
“Damn it!”
Lutan cursed, covering his face with his hands.
Maili, watching him, wore a grave expression. She seemed to be consumed by self-reproach.
“Great Archmage, do you really have no way? What is this? She was right here just moments ago.”
“If I can’t interfere, then this authority is likely related to time.”
She had made sure to sever and freeze the power of time so that he would be unable to resurrect her or alter the past. That was the fragment at the northernmost end. These events were likely orchestrated by that fragment.
He had been complacent. He had thought that as long as he was right beside her, he could protect her. His overconfidence had been a grave miscalculation.
He had vowed never to lose anyone again. He had sworn he would never let her suffer.
Maili looked around at him and the knights with a hardened face. Everyone was exhausted after searching through the cold for hours.
“We’re going back.”
“!”
Lutan turned to her with cold eyes. Roina had disappeared trying to save her—so how could she…
“Except for me. Leave me behind.”
“Captain!”
“We cannot allow that.”
In an instant, the surroundings erupted into chaos. Maili raised an eyebrow, then clenched her fist and struck a nearby tree with a loud thud. Branches rattled, shaking loose the snow. Silence fell.
“The heir, Josef, is currently at the lord’s castle, and in my absence, the vice-captain has already done an excellent job leading the order. Do not worry about my absence. Amasto has never once broken his oath. He would never betray his savior.”
She firmly dismissed their protests.
“Roina and I were the only ones who experienced that anomaly. I believe I am also a target of this phenomenon.”
An interesting hypothesis. Lutan stroked his chin. This fragment loathed humans to an extreme degree, moved in secrecy, and reacted particularly sensitively to his presence. The rampaging yeti had been nothing more than a distraction. The true entity was one that lured humans in—like a siren.
“I will remain with your captain. I promise to protect her to the best of my ability.”
With even the Great Archmage speaking in support of her decision, the knights gradually quieted down. They didn’t seem fully convinced, but they respected Maili’s resolve. It was understandable—after all, to them, their master was the most important.
‘But for me, Roina comes before anything else.’
His world was already revolving around a single person.
And now, the emotions that had been frozen in her absence were creaking to life once more, surging forward in a restless flurry.
He felt sorry for the knights, but if he ever had to choose between Maili and Roina, he would not hesitate to choose Roina.
Maili knew this all too well, yet she said nothing. This was what she wanted. Even if there was a hint of falsehood in her words, it didn’t matter—right now, they would ensure her knights returned home safely. That was enough.
The Great Archmage and Maili briefly locked eyes. Without Roina between them, their relationship was nothing but barren.
But at this moment, their purpose was the same.
***
Sparkle. Roina blinked.
A butterfly, one she had never seen since arriving at Amasto’s territory, fluttered gently past her eyes.
‘Where… am I?’
As she sat up, a cascade of flowers spilled over her. It seemed someone had carefully placed heaps of them atop her body.
Feeling a slight tickle, she shook her head. Even her hair had been neatly braided and adorned with flowers.
Looking around, she saw a vast field of flowers. There were flowering trees and a quaint little cottage. But what stood out most was the row of coffins stretching out around her.
All of them had no lids, allowing her to see inside. Each one held a girl, peacefully smiling in slumber, surrounded by flowers.
Stunned, Roina glanced down at where she had been lying. Half-asleep, she had thought it was just a soft bed—but this, too, was a coffin, similar in shape to the others. The only difference was that hers was far more elaborate, made of clear, dazzling glass.
“Eek! You woke up? But we’re not done preparing yet~! Oh no, you could’ve slept a little longer! Was it too uncomfortable?”
At that moment, a tiny fairy carrying a pile of flowers much larger than herself let out a startled cry. She had green hair, a dress made of flower petals, and wings like a dragonfly’s—just like the fairies from storybooks.
The fairy tossed the armful of flowers into the air, twirling in circles as she laughed and flew toward Roina.
“As expected, you really are different, Master. I tried my very best, but it didn’t work at all! But anyway, Master, which do you like better—freesias or roses? I thought the lively yellow would suit you well, but when I held up this red rose, it was just too captivating! Oh, but this delicate pink ranunculus is beautiful too! Maybe because your skin is so fair, every color looks amazing on you.”
Giggling non-stop, the fairy flitted about, pressing different flower petals against Roina. She slid down her shoulder like a tiny slide, perched atop her fingers, and even sat on her head, chattering all the while without pause.
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