<Episode 106>
“…Surely, you don’t mean to seek the Spirit King’s help?”
Alcype asked, her voice betraying her bewilderment at my request.
“But, Lady, just as your homeland met its downfall, such an attempt would be futile…”
“I ask this in earnest because there is something I must know. Please, Your Majesty.”
I implored, my tone resolute.
At my firm request, Alcype seemed lost in thought for a moment.
“…Very well. We shall summon Him in the Royal Forest.”
At last, she relented, rising from the throne.
“Rose… What do you intend to do?”
Beside me, Rezeck asked with a look of concern.
“We’re at an impasse. …So, we must try anything we can.”
I replied briefly, clutching at straws, and followed Alcype toward the Royal Forest.
***
“O you, children of the undying life, answer the call of one whom your immortal heart has blessed. [Dryad].”
The stillness of the serene surroundings was interrupted only by a gentle breeze.
Standing beneath the ancient tree that the Spirit King of the Forest had nurtured long ago, Alcype recited the incantation.
“-!”
A rich, bittersweet fragrance, sharp enough to tingle the senses, began to permeate the air.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the wind swirled violently, scattering my hair in all directions.
I shut my eyes tightly and raised an arm to shield my face.
When the storm subsided, the intense and enchanting aroma lingered, now refined and softly filling the air.
[What business brings you to summon me, Alcype?]
A woman’s voice, overflowing with vitality and seductive charm, resonated in my ears.
“Dryad…”
As Alcype called the name, I slowly lowered my arm and opened my eyes to behold the Spirit King.
Like Naiad, Ilipia, she predominantly took the form of a human woman, but…
Her skin was a light, earthy brown. Her head was adorned with a crown woven from flowers of various hues—blue, pink, yellow. Her golden, slit-pupiled eyes narrowed as she gazed down at Alcype Dryad.
Her flowing attire, as if made from pure, untouched blossoms, exuded elegance and vitality, while her cascading hair, formed from dense green vines bristling with thorns, waved gently.
Looking upon the ruler of the kingdom she blessed, Dryad’s gaze was filled with an affectionate and tender beauty, like one admiring the most beloved creation.
Then, her sharp eyes turned to me.
Unlike Naiad, whose profound beauty evoked the calm of an endless ocean, Dryad exuded a wild heartbeat-like intensity and the purest essence of vitality.
[And you are…?]
The Spirit King of the Forest studied me for a while before gasping softly in surprise and exclaiming.
[A descendant of Hacardella?]
With visible astonishment, Dryad quickly turned to Alcype.
[Why is a child of Hacardella here? And this energy… Is that the Crown of the Spirit King? Good heavens, why is part of Naiad with my child?]
Her questions flowed out like the chirping of a bird, her tone filled with shock as she gestured toward the ancient tree she referred to as her ‘child.’
Every gesture, every word revealed a vivaciousness and familiarity that set her apart from the other Spirit Kings I had encountered thus far.
She seemed almost human.
“Dryad, the reason for this situation is…”
“Not long ago, the Principality of Hacardella fell. Surely, you are aware of this, Dryad,” Alcype replied.
[…Ah, yes. That did happen, didn’t it.]
Dryad’s curious expression faltered at Alcype’s words.
Her movements stilled, her face darkening with somber realization.
“The princesses of Hacardella, seeking to prevent the Relic of Water from falling into the hands of the Nisha Kingdom, came to Dryas to entrust its protection to us. I accepted their plea and enshrined the relic along with the source of my life.”
[So that’s how it happened. …Well done, Alcype.]
Dryad muttered in a subdued tone, gazing down at me with deep sympathy in her eyes.
[Child of Hacardella, what is your name?]
“…Rose Hacardella.”
I answered cautiously, pondering if the Spirit King of Death had perceived something unusual due to his domain over death itself.
After all, I wasn’t the original owner of this body. In truth, Rose Hacardella was meant to have died long ago.
[Rose. I see. Poor child, how much hardship must you have endured to appear so worn and frail?]
Dryad’s gentle eyes studied me with a compassionate gaze, seemingly unaware of anything amiss.
At least she appeared to be favorably inclined toward me, which was a relief. But it felt premature to dive into the main topic right away.
“Dryad, might I ask how the Spirit King of Water is faring now?”
First, I needed to inquire about Naiad’s whereabouts.
While Spirit Kings were said to refrain from interfering in the mortal realm, I couldn’t help but wonder how she was doing now that the country she cherished had fallen to Nisha’s invasion.
[…]
At that moment, Dryad’s expression visibly darkened.
[Though I understand your feelings, such matters fall under the domain of the Spirit King. I am under no obligation to answer a human.]
Her previously lively and kind tone turned firm and cold.
“…”
Just moments ago, she had been so warm and approachable. Yet, at the mere mention of Naiad, her demeanor shifted drastically.
Though the unexpected response gave me pause, I couldn’t back down.
“It was I who requested Your Majesty’s summoning from the king,” I stated.
[Indeed. Why did you seek me out?]
Dryad’s curiosity showed briefly as she asked. My reason was simple.
“The Kingdom of Nisha is relentlessly pursuing both me and the Relic of Water. You must be aware, Dryad, that their ultimate goal is to completely destroy the relic and obliterate everything that once belonged to Hacardella.”
In truth, they aimed to destroy one of the fragments capable of sealing the Spirit King of Darkness, Arkane. However, revealing that I knew such details would seem suspicious.
I finished speaking and raised my eyes to meet Dryad’s.
[…]
Her expression grew increasingly grave, as if sensing the ominous clouds looming over the world.
“And so, I must ask boldly. Is it possible to protect the relic… by embedding it within a human body?”
[…What?]
“What are you saying, my lady?!”
As soon as I uttered the words, both Alcype and Dryad’s faces were painted with shock.
[Wait a moment… Are you suggesting embedding the Spirit King’s relic into a human’s body?]
Dryad struggled to maintain her composure, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Yes, even I knew how outrageous the idea sounded. But…
“Consider the crisis we are facing. Today it’s the Relic of Water, but next it will surely be the Relic of the Forest. To protect both, we must devise a plan that catches them off guard.”
I continued, my tone firm.
“The Nisha clan’s persistence and cruelty have been proven throughout history. No matter how we strive to preserve the relics through conventional means, we will ultimately fail. And so, I ask once more: Spirit King of the Forest, can a Spirit King’s relic be fused into a human body?”
This idea had only occurred to me because I was aware of the existence of Great Spirit Priests/Grand Masters—those born with part of the Spirit King’s essence within their souls.
While such a process might be too much for an ordinary human soul, it wasn’t impossible.
From what Mekaila had told me, the Spirit Kings themselves were already preparing for the disasters to come, likely accepting the creation of Great Spirit Masters as inevitable.
I had thought Dryad would understand this easily.
[An astonishingly reckless notion. Do you truly believe a human soul and body could bear the relic infused with the Spirit King’s essence?]
Contrary to my expectations, Dryad shook her head firmly, expressing strong opposition.
[No matter how powerful a Spiritist may be, they could never withstand it. Such a thing has never been done since the relics were created…I understand your desperation, but give up.]
“That’s…”
I faltered in the face of her outright rejection.
Why? Was the soul destined to become a Great Spirit Master fundamentally different from that of an ordinary Spiritist?1The Great Spirit Masters are Mekaila, Siorn and the others, the spirit masters or spritists are the rest of people capable of summoning spirits.
But there was no other way.
“No matter where we hide it, we can’t guarantee its safety. Only by hiding it within my own body can I feel truly secure.”
I argued, refusing to back down.
“Even if my life ends, the relic fused with my soul and body cannot be stolen or destroyed!”
