Chapter 86
“It has been so ti, Lord Aquila Reschenhardt.”
The man wore his helt low as ever, revealing nothing but a firm jawline.
Upon his silver-gleaming armor was engraved the emblem of Sun God Raspalara. Bearing a heavy shield and sword, the Second Commander of the Temple Knights inclined his head toward the familiar faces before him.
“And Lady Cahena, Lord Shen, and Lady Yujelia as well. I am glad to see you all in good health.”
His voice remained as blunt as before, yet the softened curve of his lips suggested genuine welco.
“Well now, Lord Heinen. That helt of yours looks just as dreary as ever.”
“And you, Lady Cahena, appear to have grown stronger in the anti.”
“Oh? So there is soone here who recognizes my improvent. That does lift my spirits.”
Cahena burst into hearty laughter.
As their luggage was loaded one by one, those who had t before exchanged greetings, confirming one another’s faces. It was earlier than expected, but a reunion nonetheless.
“I have heard the explanation from Lord Ianpel. While you remain in Denimarad in the company of the Temple of the Sun, I shall accompany you. I look forward to working together again.”
Heinen placed a hand over the emblem of Raspalara engraved upon his breastplate.
Those who knew him greeted him warmly, while those who had never seen him—having been engaged in the Frost Forest subjugation—regarded him with caution.
Aquila observed the lively gathering before turning his gaze away.
In the distance, a massive Wyvern flapped its wings before calmly lowering its head to accept its feed.
The last ti he had flown over Portplum, he had ridden upon a smaller Wyvern. For long-distance travel, however, one required a creature of that size.
There was nothing particularly grand about it—Wyvern transport was simply a carriage of the sky.
One rely replaced horses with Wyverns.
In any case, as prior notice had been given, only the luggage required transferring. Preparations for the journey to Denimarad were completed swiftly.
The group was divided.
Heinen was already arranged to travel separately with three additional Temple Knights summoned by Ianpel.
“House Raiesel still keeps its doors closed, but they would surely welco you if you went. Is it truly all right not to visit them first?”
Before boarding the Wyvern carriage, Shen asked the question.
He seed to recall how rien Raiesel had sent a telegram demanding to know why they had not contacted her imdiately upon arriving in Portplum last ti.
Now that misunderstandings had been cleared, Aquila doubted she would be angered.
He shook his head and turned his gaze.
The airfield was situated at a relatively high elevation; from there, the Raiesel estate could be seen in the distance.
Yet despite it being May, the estate’s gates remained closed.
Though Collins Raiesel’s mineralization treatnt must have shown progress, his rehabilitation had only just begun.
“House Raiesel likely already knows that I am using Wyvern transport. They will not be ignorant of my presence in Portplum.”
If House Raiesel, burdened with its own affairs, did not seek him first, there was no reason for Aquila to make the initial contact.
Upon hearing that he was heading to Denimarad, they would have deduced that he had been summoned by the imperial family. And for now, he did not require their assistance.
Moreover, from the previous incident, he already possessed the Communication Bracelet number linked to House Raiesel.
Should anything urgent arise, he could contact them—and rien would likely do the sa.
And that promise.
Aquila turned his gaze away from the estate.
“When the ti cos, House Raiesel said they would extend an invitation. That will be sufficient.”
By the ti he returned to Portplum, the estate’s gates would likely be wide open.
The journey ahead would be far longer than even those accompanying him anticipated.
“Let us go. To Denimarad.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Very well. Let us go, Young Master.”
Shen and Yujelia nodded firmly.
They boarded the Wyvern transport bound for Denimarad.
***
As the Wyvern spread its enormous wings and took flight, the ground fell away in an instant.
The wind at such altitude was rciless.
Though protective magic shielded Aquila and his companions from its physical force, it could not entirely mute the roaring sound.
They continued onward, landing at interdiate stations at least three tis to allow the Wyverns to feed and rest.
A day and a half passed.
At last, they landed at the largest Wyvern airfield near Denimarad.
“…We have finally arrived.”
Shen drew a deep breath as he stepped onto solid ground.
Perhaps because he had not ridden directly upon the Wyvern’s back this ti, he seed sowhat better than before.
His complexion remained pale, and Aquila had discovered that Shen harbored a slight fear of heights.
“Solid ground truly is wonderful. It is certainly wonderful…”
“I agree…”
Yujelia, stretching her stiff limbs from the long flight, echoed his sentint.
She rolled her shoulders, and Aquila rotated his neck lightly, his own fatigue evident.
“We will rest here for the night. Tomorrow, we will proceed to Denimarad.”
Having regained his composure, Shen announced the plan.
They transferred their luggage once more into a prepared carriage and made their way to the designated lodgings.
Though exhausted from the prolonged flight, they moved quickly in their eagerness to rest.
“Why do they not install teleportation circles throughout the continent instead of relying on Wyverns…”
Though now far removed from that other world, Aquila briefly recalled airplanes he had once boarded elsewhere.
“If one intends to pursue fantasy, one should commit to it fully. Introducing these oddly realistic systems only makes matters tireso.”
Of course, he knew the reason.
Teleportation circles did exist across the continent.
They simply no longer functioned.
The cause lay in a disaster triggered by Black Magic.
With stolen formulas, teleportation circles had ceased to be safe ans of travel and instead beca tools of terror.
Thereafter, all circles were shut down.
Since then, they had lain dormant, buried in history.
Though attempts had been made to restore them, the magical formulas had been forcibly erased, preventing recovery.
The Mage Association and the lords of the Magic Towers claid this was the reason.
But Aquila knew better.
Restoring the teleportation network across the vast Delvion continent would require imnse funds, labor, and mana.
It was easier to leave them untouched.
“…Still, it is fortunate that I know of a few that remain operational. If matters in Denimarad do not proceed well, I can withdraw through one of them.”
That was his hidden assurance.
Through countless cycles and extensive exploration of the continent, Aquila knew the location of a functioning teleportation circle near Denimarad—and the precise coordinates to reach the East.
Of course, it would be a last resort.
Using it would an traveling alone.
It would amount to little more than running away.
Aquila surveyed the others as they hurried about.
“I have the dicine Lord Erzet prepared. And here is water, Lord Shen.”
“…Thank you, Lady Yujelia.”
“My, look at that face—like a boiled vine. Walk straight.”
Cahena clicked her tongue as Shen’s eyes dimd again despite his attempts to steady himself.
“And our young master seems rather well. Have you overco motion sickness entirely? Ah—Lord Heinen! Over here!”
Cahena grinned as she examined Aquila’s complexion and beckoned to Heinen, who had just finished unloading.
Despite the long flight, Heinen appeared no different than when they had last seen him in Portplum.
“If I disappear, they would be troubled. I must find another solution if possible.”
Listening quietly to their conversation, Aquila turned his head away.
***
The capital, Denimarad, was a vast city.
Geographically, it resembled an elongated branch stretching north to south.
Thus, it was commonly divided into three districts within itself: North, Central, and South Denimarad.
As befitted a bustling capital, crowds filled every corner—far more densely than Portplum.
Though it was said that only nobles of the highest rank could reside near the imperial palace, in truth Denimarad was also ho to wealthy nouveaux riches who had climbed the social ladder.
Whether in the North, Central district, or near the Southern imperial palace, one could see nobles holding their heads high.
And in this city steeped in hierarchy, the very first act of a blood mber of one of the Four Great Houses—
“Ugh…”
—was to suppress the urge to vomit.
“To think I forgot that one must step onto a magic circle before passing through Denimarad’s gate…”
Aquila endured the ringing sensation in his skull, clutching his hair as though he might tear it out.
As the seat of the imperial palace, the gates of Denimarad were especially strict.
Inspection was conducted to ensure no magical artifacts, formulas, or threats were brought inside.
For that purpose, one rely needed to stand upon a specially inscribed magic circle.
If one was pure and forthright, nothing would react.
Aquila was forthright.
The problem was that his body was highly susceptible to fluctuations in mana.
Assuming it would be harmless, he had stepped onto the circle unprepared—only to feel the tremor of a crack within himself.
“Young Master! We are looking for sowhere suitable nearby—please endure just a little longer!”
“Young Master, try lying down more comfortably. Can you drink so water? You should take dicine…”
Having experienced this before, Shen and Yujelia tended to him as best they could.
The carriage bearing the dragon’s crest veered from its original destination, racing toward another location near the gate.
There was no ti to argue.
“…Damn it…”
The carriage’s violent shaking only worsened his condition.
To hell with Delvion. To hell with dragons.
Silently cursing both the dragon who had left him in this state and the imperial family who had summoned him here, Aquila endured.
At last, the carriage lurched to a halt.
Shen flung open the door and leapt down. Cahena dismounted and swiftly lifted Aquila into her arms.
“I retract my claim about overcoming motion sickness!”
Seeing his ghostly pale face, she stiffened before rushing into a nearby inn.
Several others followed in haste.
It was a scene of palpable urgency.
Onlookers near the inn halted, casting curious glances at the cluster of carriages.
“What in the world is happening?”
“Why are so many carriages gathered here of all places…?”
Among those observing stood one individual slightly apart.
From the shadows, the person murmured softly.
“Aquila Reschenhardt has arrived as scheduled. Yes… Understood. Do not worry. I will continue surveillance without being detected.”
A faint smile touched the otherwise expressionless face.
“May the guidance of the Night be with you.”
A dim glimr flickered briefly at the wrist before fading away.
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