TPOP 141

Chapter 141

***

The Princess of Delos had deep ties to the Empire. This was evident from the fact that she had personally contacted the Karman Command just a few days ago, and for anyone who remembered Felix’s name, there was no question about it.

Strictly speaking, she was a woman connected to his late mother rather than to him personally. Although he wasn’t thrilled that it was the Princess of Delos who had received Diana’s invitation, he was in no position to be choosy.

“There’s a path along the northern moat...”

Felix mulled over the information relayed by the princess’s squire. His hesitation lingered, and he was aware that he was hesitating in a way that was uncharacteristic of him.

The line Diana had drawn to keep him out still stubbornly rejected his presence. If he tried to force his way through the wall, an intangible energy that surged from the transparent barrier cunningly targeted his right hand and right arm. These were the very same entities that had mercilessly shattered his hand the day Diana fell from the rain-soaked cliff.

“It’s a hand I’ve already discarded—why shouldn’t I give it up if necessary?”

Yet when he snapped at them in frustration, they’d been so terrified they’d fled. In any case, since the spirits would act according to Diana’s will, it was obvious that forcing his way in would only serve to fuel her loathing.

‘I don’t want to do that.’

It wasn’t that he was worried about losing a hand. Felix simply didn’t want her to hate him. He never wanted to see those tears stained with contempt and resentment again.

So, should he just keep waiting here? Wasting time persistently on the bridge turned out to be better than he’d expected.

It was a world of difference from the way he used to hunt, but this actually put his mind at ease and seemed to suit him better. That was, until Diana sealed off the entire castle with thorn vines.

No, it’s still too early to say that.

Felix nervously bit his lip. It hadn’t even been a few weeks since Diana had truly begun to recognize him. He keenly felt the need to reshape the impression he’d made on Diana, but so far, nothing had changed.

Yet a fundamental question suddenly surged to the surface.

How long does he have to wait?

If he waits, will her hatred ever fade?

Is it even the kind of anger that could fade?

Felix let out a dry sigh.

“No way, really.”

The people Diana had brought into her lair were, nine times out of ten, those she’d summoned to deal with Karman—that was, Felix himself. They were people she’d tracked down to drive him out of Dortes by any means necessary. Not to hide him away securely inside that fortress, but to kill him and retake this place.

Diana hated him that much. So much that she couldn’t tolerate his very existence. Even though he had known this fact in his head all along, his heart burned as if it had been scorched by fire.

It might be that she would never come to love him after all.

In that case, wasn’t the outcome the same either way—whether he crossed Diana’s line and fueled her hatred, or waited endlessly on the outside only to be struck down by her sword?

“Aha.”

Felix, having reached his conclusion in an instant, smiled wryly. It was a matter that didn’t even require hesitation in the first place; he’d been the fool.

“If the end is going to be the same anyway, I’d rather see your face one more time, Diana. Don’t you agree?”

***

Upon entering Mepen Royal Castle—once the symbol of the capital of Dortes, but now transformed into something entirely different—visitors could not help but marvel at the panoramic view of the castle the moment it came into view. Ianna, who had been a longtime friend of Dortes’ last queen, was no exception.

As they crossed the underground passage beneath the northern moat and entered the palace grounds, willow trees with branches hanging long like the hems of a garment greeted the visitors.

Beneath the trees lay thickets and pools; what had been nothing more than a shallow stream splashing at their feet gradually deepened as they moved forward, eventually becoming a vast lake. Aspirating ash trees had taken root along the castle walls surrounding the lake. Sunlight streamed down like rays through the lush, verdant foliage.

The air was fresh, and the rippling water was crystal clear. If paradise existed, it would surely look like this.

“What an overwhelming scale.”

Allot, the Second Prince of Grenia, murmured softly. His eyes, scanning every corner of the royal palace without missing a single detail, glinted with greed.

“It’s almost a shame to call it merely a spring. According to the rumors I’ve heard, the legendary Spring of Balestega wasn’t this massive, was it?”

Rodette, the princess of the Kingdom of Delos, replied.

With her long, deep-purple hair braided down her back, she glanced back at the path she had walked every ten steps, as if expecting someone to be following her. Ianna’s gaze lingered on the princess for a long moment.

“Not many have seen the Spring with their own eyes. Most of the rumors are probably exaggerated.”

“That’s true—but that was before the spring was trampled. It’s common knowledge across the entire continent that the Karman Imperial Army advanced right up to the Spring’s doorstep. At least a hundred Imperial soldiers must have seen the Spring’s true form with their own eyes.”

Allot snorted at Ianna’s remark. Leading the way, he spread his arms wide and took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the fresh scent of water and earth.

“To have revived the Little Spring to such a grand scale—the master of this place is truly remarkable. To have even gathered such heavyweights, who are rarely seen, all in one place.”

The Prince of Grenia, the Princess of Delos, the Queen of Ormance, and the Grand General of Ielon. Each was a pillar of their respective nations. The sight of them all gathered together was a rare occurrence indeed—especially since they were here alone, without a single knight in tow. Some had arrived with their bodyguards, but they were all blocked by the wall of water that had surged upward from the northern moat.

There was only one reason these heavyweights had willingly gathered here, even at the risk of danger.

Allot curled the corners of his mouth into a smirk.

“So, I think it’s about time you showed yourself, don’t you agree? Spirit Master.”

Though he used honorifics, his tone was commanding.

As if in response to that arrogant summons, the wind began to blow. The leaves that had led them here swirled and gathered toward a single point.

Dozens, hundreds, thousands. The ceaseless stream of falling leaves soon took on a distinct form.

Though they couldn’t clearly make out the facial features or be certain of its gender, it was unmistakably human. A mixture of awe and bewilderment spread across the faces of those gathered. General of Ielon, who had remained silent the entire time, spoke for the first time.

“Are you the Spirit Master of Balestega? I understand that Spirit Masters are human.”

Form is irrelevant.

It sounded just like the voice that had come from the leaves that had led them here. A mysterious resonance, entirely different from a human voice, echoed in their minds. The mouth of the leaf-human did not move at all.

Nor is there any obligation to take on a form.

Balestega was, in essence, the Primordial Spirit itself—the ancient spirit sent down to Earth by the Divine to create this world. It was said that after shaping the continent’s terrain, filling it with water, and nurturing life, Balestega transformed into a small spring and vanished from the world. It was a legend known to every inhabitant of the continent.

“Since you said you were choosing a friend, I assumed you needed one of us.”

We make the choice. And....

The winding stream parted beneath the four of them, cutting them off from one another. The Princess of Delos let out a small scream, and Prince Allot, equally startled, drew his sword. General of Ielon also gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. Only Ianna wore a faint smile, as if relieved.

Soon, the wall of water completely enclosed the four of them. Their figures faded as they were trapped within the foam. A thunderous proclamation struck them right between the eyes.

The trial begins now.

***

“What do you think?”

Ever since returning to her hometown, she’d been talking to herself more often. Holed up in the underground cave beneath the spring, Diana muttered rapidly into thin air.

“I think Ielon looks the best. The Prince of Grenia has such a grim expression, so I’m not really sure about him.... Of course, you shouldn’t judge a person by their appearance alone. The Princess of Delos? Ah, she doesn’t seem bad either, but strangely, she keeps glancing over her shoulder. It’s as if she’s hoping someone is following her....”

A whirlpool of water formed behind her as she was lost in thought. Beneath the droplets scattering in all directions, the shadow of a tall woman appeared. Sensing a presence, Diana jumped to her feet.