Elga furrowed her brow after hearing everything.
“A new god? That’s one hell of a weird story. And they seriously believe that crap? Sounds like a bunch of lunatics. You’re telling there are idiots like that swarming all over the Church?”
Elga spoke as if she couldn’t believe it. And I understood her reaction. To most people, it would just sound like the nonsense of fools.
Mirna added:
“How deeply heretical and blasphemous. There have been plenty of cults spreading such talk before... But for the Roman Main Sanctuary itself to be tainted by heresy—that’s unthinkable.”
As a devout follower of the Church, it was clear Mirna couldn’t tolerate this sort of thing. From her perspective, it must’ve sounded like nothing but the rantings of heretics.
That was when Stella spoke up.
“Hey, that scroll you ntioned—did you bring it? Mind if I take a look?”
Stella was an adventurer, and sothing of a scholar in her own right. If she got a look at the scroll copied from the tablets, maybe she could say sothing aningful about it.
So I pulled the scroll Antiek had given out from the [Squirrel Vault] and spread it out in front of them. Stella examined the illustrations one by one, humming softly.
“These are definitely ancient-style pictographs. And if an elf like calls sothing ‘ancient,’ you know it’s really ancient. A thousand years? Nah, so of these might be even older.”
I asked her,
“Can you tell if it’s real or not?”
“That, I can’t say for sure. But I know a guy back in Ark who’s been studying similar stuff. If I send him a copy, maybe we’ll get sothing useful out of it.”
I see.
So we won’t know right away. Then again, maybe we can find out. My eyes shifted to Ayra, who was /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ quietly watching butterflies flit through the air. She didn’t seem interested in the conversation.
But I knew Ayra had a special kind of sight.
She could see into the distant past. If anyone could tell whether the illustrations on the scrolls were real, it was her.
...But I couldn’t ask her here. Ayra didn’t like letting others know about her gift. Maybe because it was that very gift that entangled her fate with Solomon in the first place.
I’d ask her later, when it was just the two of us.
Then Elga said:
“So what now? Whether the story’s true or not honestly doesn’t matter that much. But it is true the Church is split and fighting. Shouldn’t we cancel the wedding?”
Cancel the wedding. That... was a valid point. Holding a wedding in the middle of this kind of ss might be difficult. But then Ayra, who had been silent, spoke up.
“I disagree. We should go through with the wedding. Of course, if you don’t feel up to it, Elganes, you don’t have to join us.”
“What do you an, I don’t feel up to it? I’m just saying the timing sucks. And this bastard Teo went out and brought back so new hassle again. Seriously, what a pain.”
“I-I’m sorryyy....”
“Cut it out with that weird-ass apology already.”
Still.
Talking it over with them made feel a little better. Just knowing I had people to consult with and lean on gave strength to keep going through all this.
I found myself thinking—I really wanted them to be my family already. If they were, then no matter how hard or complicated life got, I’d be able to overco it.
Yeah. Especially because tis were hard, we needed to go through with this wedding.
I said:
“We’ll go ahead with the wedding. Invite everyone, bring in the nymphs and imps, let it get loud. Big enough to shake the whole kingdom with joy.”
Instead of answering, everyone just looked at one another. But even without words, I could tell they agreed. It brought so relief.
“But before that, I’d like to stop by Gracia—”
“This damn half-elf—”
Before I could finish, Elga reached out and grabbed my cheek.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going again right before the wedding?! Huh?! You don’t want to marry us, is that it?! Just say so!!”
Streeetch— She pulled my cheek up so hard I thought I’d cry.
“That hurts...!”
***
“Ugh...”
I rubbed my swollen, red cheek.
“You’re going to let go in the end anyway. So what’s with all the acting tough?”
I had my fairy technique: [Puppy Eyes]. When I looked at them with eyes clear and shiny as stream water, they couldn’t help but grant my request.
Thanks to that, I was granted permission for a sa-day trip to Gracia. Ti was tight—the sun was already starting to set—but I was grateful just to be allowed to go.
“Open—Gate of Dinsions.”
With a simple incantation, I opened the palace’s dinsional gate.
My body rose as the world blurred around . In just a mont, I’d be at my destination, probably thinking “whoa” again.
Ah, I’m already here.
“Man, this really is an amazing spell.”
Solomon had created plenty of brilliant spells, but for , this dinsional gate was the best of them. If it could be comrcialized, people’s lives would be so much easier.
Sssnnff—
I inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of Gracia’s air for the first ti in a while.
“Mmm. That Gracia sll.”
“Sir Teo, what’s with all the mumbling? Did Elga pinch your cheek so hard you lost so brain cells?”
That was Mirna, pinching my side from behind. Yes. Mirna had co with to Gracia. It was her suggestion.
—“I’ll go to keep an eye on him. I need to stop by Gracia anyway to pick up a few things.”
Gracia was the hotown of both Mirna and Nare. This was just as much her trip as mine. Honestly, I was happy to have her with .
“I’m glad I ca with you, Miss Mirna.”
At my honest remark, Mirna twitched.
“Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden?! If you think you can butter up with sweet talk, it won’t work! I’m keeping a close watch on you today!”
“No, I an it. I’m really glad.”
“...I didn’t think you were the type to be so expressive. They say nymphs get sentintal in the fall. Are you getting like that too, Sir Teo?”
She gave a strange look. But I understood. I wasn’t soone who expressed myself well.
I was stiff, cold, selfish—because I’d never had anyone express their feelings to before, I’d never learned how to express mine.
And I’d always vaguely thought, once all the craziness ends, then I’ll be better. I just had too much on my plate to worry about emotional stuff.
But today, I had a thought.
If Archbishop Antiek was right, and we didn’t have much ti left—then maybe there was no “later.”
So I tried, awkwardly, to show my feelings in the mont. Maybe, like Mirna said, I was just getting autumn-sentintal.
I asked:
“Was it weird?”
“Hmm... well... It was nice, I guess.”
Mirna gave a flustered little snort and turned her head.
“Anyway, let’s get this done and get back. We still have to paint our honeymoon portrait in Monarch City, and find dresses. There’s a lot to do.”
“Right.”
With five brides, I’d probably have to do five tis the usual prep. I really didn’t have ti to be hanging around.
We hurried off toward the mansion of a certain man. I expected to find Marmar and Professor Balan, whom I’d sent ahead.
But for so reason, they were nowhere in sight. All I saw was a man tending a bonfire made of fallen leaves.
Crackle, crackle.
Was he roasting sweet potatoes in it? Slled good. Just then, the man spotted us, stood up, and removed the hood from his head.
His face looked to be in his early thirties—sullen features and a pale, shaved beard gave him a drained, decadent look.
Teodoros, the monk corrupted by grand sorcery, bowed his head to .
“Master.”
“Teodoros.”
“I had a vague sense you’d co. Though you’re a bit earlier than I thought. The sweet potatoes will be ready soon.”
Sssht.
He gestured toward the two tree-stump seats already prepared for us. Mirna and I sat by the fire, warming our hands in the gentle heat.
Gracia’s autumn nights were chilly, and the fire felt just right. The smoke stung a little though.
Squinting against the sting, I asked:
“Teodoros of Roman—do you know why I’m here?”
“I can guess. You’ve co to reprimand for failing to extract the grand sorcery from Saint Friga’s soul, correct?”
“That’s one reason. But I’ve encountered so troubling things today. I’d like you to answer truthfully this ti. Otherwise...”
I let my words trail off. But Teodoros had mild precognition—he likely knew what I ant. He stroked his pale chin.
“You intend to erase .”
“Depending on what you say, yes. I’m giving you a chance. Professor Balan believes you betrayed . I don’t... not yet.”
“Betrayal...”
Teodoros only stared into the flas.
Then he poked through the leaves and pulled out a baked sweet potato. Wrapped in newspaper, blackened skin peeling at the ends, the golden flesh looked tempting.
I didn’t eat it right away. I just held it to warm my hands.
And decided to press further.
“I visited Roman. I learned more about your past there. The Church is fractured—Roman and Gracia are in open conflict. Did you know?”
“...Roman and Gracia. History repeating itself. I know. Friga and I were caught between those gears.”
“Teodoros, be honest. Is this ‘new millennium’ truly real? You must know.”
He stopped stirring the fire.
His blue eyes flickered as he gazed into the flas.
He said:
“Teo Gospel. Do you know what that na ans? Do you know why I tried to give it to myself? Master, do you understand its weight...?”
Before I could reply, it was Mirna who reacted first.
“There’s... aning behind that na?”
Teodoros nodded lightly.
“I was ant to be the vessel of that na. But that’s in the past. The world has changed. My master—no, Teo Gospel. You must now bear the weight of the na you chose.”
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