Chapter 58
* * *
Lea did not hold back. She began guiding, one by one, the Espers who could be of help to Calix, and fortunately, just as she requested, they kept it thoroughly secret.
There wouldn’t be any Espers eager to share a precious Guide, after all.
However, Calix was unaware of her efforts. Instead, he eventually noticed that the budget for his palace had started coming in again.
“The budget’s coming in properly?”
The first to notice was Daisy, who was in charge of the Imperial Crown Prince’s Palace.
“Yes, Your Highness. And…”
She reported that the Third Imperial Guard, which had been negligent all this time despite being assigned to the Crown Prince’s Palace, had now sent gatekeeper knights and escort knights.
“Ha!”
He didn’t welcome this sudden change. Rather, he suspected Bianca, who had been manipulating both the budget and the knights belonging to him until now.
“What’s gotten into Her Majesty the Empress…?”
“Your Highness!”
Calix, who had been about to go out and train due to the stifling atmosphere in the palace, turned his head at Ilion’s call, wearing a confused expression as he saw the gatekeeper knight.
“What on earth is going on here?”
Ilion knew almost as much about the Crown Prince’s Palace as Daisy did, and he also looked displeased.
“Who knows.”
“She dared to intercept Your Highness’s budget and knights, and now she’s finally come to her senses? That woman.”
“Ilion. This may be my palace, but remember to watch your words in the Imperial Palace.”
“…My apologies.”
“Still, this is good timing. I was feeling stifled and wanted to train. Will you be my opponent?”
“Have you ever seen a physical-type Esper fight an elemental-type Esper, Your Highness?”
“Enough. Stop complaining and come at me.”
Calix provoked Ilion as he headed for the outdoor training ground on the outskirts of the Imperial Crown Prince’s Palace. He was itching to unleash this surging power right away.
Day by day, his condition was strangely improving. At this point, the improvement was so great that unless he used a certain amount of his ability, he would feel stifled.
“Haa, honestly, I don’t think I stand a chance against you.”
Ilion grumbled, but stood facing Calix, looking for an opening.
Physical-type Espers could only attack at close range. On the other hand, elemental-type Espers could launch a variety of attacks at any range, depending on their abilities.
Wanting to overcome that difference, Ilion quickly lunged forward with just his physical strength. As he brought his arm down with force, a small whirlwind formed at his feet and swallowed him whole.
“Urgh!”
Spinning around, Ilion made a strange sound as he was briefly lifted off the ground, only to drop back down with a thud. In that brief moment, a barrier of wind had formed beneath him, so he wasn’t injured at all.
“You seem… even stronger than before?”
Ilion stood up with a bewildered expression and said. Calix stood still, eyes closed, sensing the turbulent power swirling inside him.
“Does it seem like anyone’s around?”
“When I came in earlier, it looked like the knights had no intention of entering the palace. They’re all waiting outside for now… Why do you ask?”
Ilion, lowering his voice, discreetly asked Calix, who still had his eyes closed.
“Then, keep watch for me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The fact that he could handle three elements was a secret only Ilion knew. Not even his father, the Emperor, was aware, so it was best to be extremely cautious.
While Ilion kept watch, Calix attempted an experiment he’d never tried before. He summoned all three elements at once, fusing them into a single power.
Fire and wind had great synergy, and so they blazed up together. Then, the water that lingered around turned into steam, shrouding the area in mist.
“Ah— Your Highness, this is too conspicuous!”
He could hear Ilion’s urgent, hushed warning, but Calix couldn’t stop. A strange longing burned within his chest.
The desire to push his abilities beyond their limits.
Around the small but eternally-burning flame, which had risen despite its destructive power, the misty steam thickened, gradually spreading until it began to swallow up the entire Imperial Crown Prince’s Palace.
“Your Highness! Please—!”
Ilion tried desperately to stop Calix, but his voice didn’t reach him. The flame Calix had created grew brighter, burning yellow at first, then slowly turning black.
The flame, which had once been the length of his forearm, shrank until it resembled a large black jewel, sparkling. Its color was beautiful, but all the more dangerous for it.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.