<Episode 104>
***
“Welcome, first princess of Hacardella.”
A dignified woman, seated on a throne carved from white stone, greeted the princess of Hacardella in a voice full of authority.
“I’ve heard about you through Rezeck.”
This young woman was Alcype Dryad, queen of the forest kingdom of Dryas. As her surname, Dryad, suggested, she was likely a parent or relative of Siphea Dryad, the grand spirit summoner of the forest.
My maternal grandmother, Atara Hacardella, was a descendant of the ruling family of the fallen Principality of Water.
Similarly, Siphea Dryad was a descendant of the royal family of the equally fallen forest kingdom.
What a curious connection this was.
“I greet Your Majesty, Queen of Dryas. Despite your own burdens… you have graciously welcomed my sister and me, and for that, I am deeply indebted.”
“There’s no need to feel such obligation; it is only natural. Dryas and Hacardella have long been allies, sister nations. It would be unthinkable to turn a blind eye to the struggles of a friend.”
Alcype responded warmly before asking, “Did you face any difficulties on your journey?”
“Well…”
I glanced at Rezeck.
His expression hardened slightly as he gave a small nod.
“In truth… while crossing the Ahilan River, we were pursued by the prince of Nisha and had to fight our way free.”
“The prince of Nisha?”
Khalid Ilkai, the Prince of the Crescent Moon.
At the mention of our encounter with him, Alcype’s face visibly stiffened.
“Prince Ilkai?”
“Yes. He introduced himself as such.”
“…I see.”
Hearing this revelation, she pressed her hand to her forehead and let out a heavy sigh, her expression clouded with worry.
“With Hacardella fallen, Dryas will surely be next.”
Her brilliant green eyes shone with a deep sorrow.
“This is no time for idle talk. What concerns me most is the safety of the relic of water.”
After a brief silence, Alcype composed herself, erasing all traces of concern from her face.
“According to Rezeck, it has been enshrined along with the forest relic?”
“Yes. It rests alongside the source of life in the royal forest beside the palace.”
A massive forest adjacent to the palace—it seemed to serve as the sanctuary of the Dryad royal family.
“In that case… would it be permissible for me to confirm that the relic of water is safely stored?”
The relics of water and forest—priceless artifacts, untouched and intact, were of immeasurable value to me.
“The relic of water is originally Hacardella’s possession. There is no need to seek my permission. Let us go now.”
“Thank you.”
Rising from her throne, Alcype gestured for me to follow her.
“Come with me.”
As I trailed behind her, I fell into deep thought.
The future in which the kingdom of Dryas also falls is unchanging. So before it is swallowed by the hands of Arkane, along with the kingdom of Nisha, I must find a way to keep both relics safe.
***
A serene stillness enveloped the space. Majestic white columns lined the sides, supporting the high ceiling, while beyond them stretched a breathtaking scene.
The flowers, once praised as the ancient legacy of Dryas by the Roshan Empire in later years, stood silently, their beauty undiminished, as they bore witness to the passage of time.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Morning glories, blooming in a riot of colors that scattered across my vision, cascaded in layers so dense that the walls behind them were obscured.
Alcype reached out, parting the curtain of nature. Then her hand pressed firmly against a gray stone wall that lay revealed.
“…!”
A faint green sigil appeared on the back of her hand, glowing with a mysterious light before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, like an illusion.
Boom—
The seemingly unyielding wall, towering high as if reaching for the heavens, began to split apart with a rumbling vibration that shook the ground.
The wall slowly opened, creating a space wide enough for two people to pass side by side, and then stopped.
“Beyond this lies the sanctuary of the Dryad royal family, where the relics bestowed by the Spirit King are enshrined.”
The forest of the Dryad royal family, veiled in mystery, awaited.
Alcype led me into the heart of it.
Step, step—
Soft breaths and the faint sound of footsteps on grass filled the silence for a while. Then, as we emerged from the shadowed, narrow passage…
“…Ah.”
A vast forest spread out before me.
Trees with thick green canopies grew in layers so dense that no end could be seen.
Flowers, fully in bloom, released a unique and profound fragrance.
The rustling of bushes suggested the presence of small animals.
Ssshhh—
A strange wind stirred, inexplicably unsettling the heart, as white birds suddenly took flight, scattering into the wide, open sky.
This place, silent yet throbbing with the raw pulse of life’s mana, was the sanctuary of the forest kingdom, blessed by the Spirit King.
“That…”
For a moment, I wandered in a daze, gazing at the forest. And then, at last, my eyes reached the heart of it.
“…!”
An ancient tree, seemingly the very heart of this forest, stood before me.
Its age spanned thousands of years, embodying the history of an entire nation. It had witnessed all beginnings and endings, standing as a living testament to time.
Its towering trunk reached for the heavens, its countless branches interwoven into a natural canopy of green, spreading a celestial curtain of shade.
Sunlight filtered through, scattering into fragmented beams like midday stars, pouring down over me.
Overwhelmed by a mixture of awe and reverence, I stood still, gazing up at this majestic wonder shaped by nature.
“This ancient tree was personally planted and nurtured by Dryad themself long ago. Since the founding of the kingdom, we have entrusted our relics to this tree for safekeeping.”
Alcype extended her hand toward the weathered bark of the ancient tree. Once again, a green sigil appeared on the back of her hand, glowing briefly like an illusion.
The tree’s bark split open, forming an oval-shaped hollow space. From the darkness within, something began to emerge, radiating a serene, majestic light.
“That is…”
It was exactly as Count Jupes had described it to me: a relic in the form of a seed, imbued with a brilliant glow and painted in vibrant hues—the Source of Life, the forest relic.
And next to it, there stood another object.
A crystal radiating a dazzling, translucent light.
Embedded with aquamarine gems shimmering with radiant blue, it exuded an aura so mystical and regal that no monarch’s crown could compare.
It was the object I had longed for during this entire journey—the Water Relic, the Crown of the Spirit King.
“It is said that the Crown of the Spirit King once belonged to the Spirit King of Water,” Alcype explained.
It was Naiad’s true crown.
I remembered thinking how much her coral-adorned head resembled a crown the first time I saw her.
The fact that she would gift such a symbol, something she must have used since her creation, to the spirit summoner she loved…
I was overcome with a deep sense of wonder and awe at Naiad’s profound devotion.
“With this, the relics of both nations are safe,” Alcype said, breaking my thoughts.
For a brief moment, I felt relief.
“…Indeed.”
But soon after, my heart grew heavy with concern.
In the distant future, both relics would eventually vanish without a trace.
Even though they were enshrined in the sanctuary of the Dryad royal family, I could not rest easy.
When the calamity began, the kingdom of Dryas would fall as well.
What could I do to retrieve these two relics from the sanctuary and secure them in a place even safer than the royal forest?
“…Seeing them in person is reassuring. I believe we can return now.”
“Yes, let us head back.”
For now, I kept silent.
To insist that the relics should not remain here, that they needed to be moved elsewhere, would surely be dismissed as madness.
“Sigh…”
How could I possibly persuade the queen to let me take the relics elsewhere? Should I first find a safe place to store them?
Lost in thought, I followed Alcype as we exited the royal forest.
Boom—
As she sealed the path leading into the sanctuary, a familiar voice called out.
“Your Majesty! Rose!”
Rezeck came running toward us, his face pale as if he had been waiting for us to emerge.
“The prince of Nisha, Khalid Ilkai…”
He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with restrained fury.
“…has arrived at the palace and requests an audience with Your Majesty.”
“…What did you say?”
The moment I heard that name escape his lips, a chilling memory surged to the forefront of my mind.
‘…Do not attempt to harm yourself. As you said, I will not give up.’
Under the blackened night sky, on a swaying ship’s deck, his cold, hollow eyes gazed down at me.
His words echoed in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine.
