<Episode 107>
[Truly, this is madness. You’re not in your right mind…]
Dryad looked down at me with a pale expression, murmuring as if she were utterly appalled.
[But still…]
However, even she couldn’t ignore the gravity of the current situation.
Dryad whispered in a subdued voice, then fell silent for a moment.
“Lady Dryad…”
Alcype, her expression laced with fear, called out to the spirit king of the forest.
[Alcype.]
Finally, Dryad broke her silence and turned to Alcype.
[You must have heard what the descendant of Hacardella said. The fragment of the source that split away from us has been kept within relics passed down from your ancestor until now.]
The spirit king of forest spoke firmly, gazing at the ruler of the land she once blessed.
[Not once has it ever been attempted to fuse the relics with a human body. But the urgency of our situation is too great to remain paralyzed by fear of potential side effects.]
At that moment, vibrant green leaves scattered in the air.
[Descendant of Hacardella.]
The spirit king of forest fixed her sharp gaze on me and asked,
[Can you truly contain the source of the spirit king, held within the relic, in your body?]
“That’s…”
[This is not about whether it’s possible or not—I’m asking about your will.]
Though I struggled to form words, Dryad’s resolute tone silenced me.
The spirit king of forest, who usually wore a lively smile, was now utterly serious, pressing me for my resolve.
And that made it all the harder for me to answer.
“…”
If this body were my own, I would have answered without hesitation.
But I had no intention of embedding the water relic into Rose’s body.
“Since you have granted my request, I’d like to share my plan.”
Rose was already dead. There was no sense in embedding a relic in the body of the deceased.
Moreover, I was in a position where I needed to track down the remnants of other relics.
I couldn’t afford to carry the immense burden of the water relic on top of that.
…Thus, I had to bear the inescapable weight of guilt.
“I will serve as bait. I will make them believe I have fled with the water relic so they will pursue me away from Nisha.”
[Then…]
“As her elder sister, making such a decision pains me. However, the safest option would be… embedding the water relic into Marie’s body, not mine.”
I had to entrust this dangerous, potentially catastrophic task to Marie.
Was there truly no other way?
I had agonized over it countless times, but Marie, being a direct descendant, was slightly more likely to withstand the water relic compared to Rezeck, who was a collateral relative.
…Between Rezeck and Marie, it was unclear which of them would one day become the parent of my grandmother, Atara Hacardella.
I had no way of knowing how this decision would ripple into the future, and the crushing fear of that uncertainty consumed me.
“So, Spirit King of Forest, I will convince Marie. Please, grant me a little more time.”
I had to focus solely on my mission.
With the remnants of relics destroyed by Arkane still unaccounted for, I had to protect the intact forest relic and water relic at all costs.
[…Very well. Go on, then. Alcype, you too, take the time to make your decision.]
Dryad’s soft reply deepened the shadow of anguish on Alcype’s face.
[However, we will first attempt to embed the water relic into a human body. No matter how vital it is to protect the relics, I will not allow my children to be lost.]
“…Yes, I will obey.”
Persuading Dryad was already a miracle. After giving my firm response, I quickly exited the royal sanctuary.
***
As soon as I entered Marie’s quarters, she darted toward me like a little squirrel, her light brown curls bouncing as she bombarded me with questions.
“Sister, what’s going on? I asked Brother Rezeck so many times, but he wouldn’t tell me anything! Why am I the only one left out? And why do you look so pale?”
Then, realizing the gravity of my expression, she stopped and murmured blankly,
“…Marie, I need to ask something difficult of you.”
I gritted my teeth and stayed silent for a moment before finally speaking.
“Nisha will never let us go. Not until they completely destroy the water relic. After trampling everything in the Duchy of Hacardella, their next target will be the Kingdom of Dryas.”
Marie’s complexion turned deathly pale as she listened.
“Then… what should we do? If they’ll chase us no matter where we run…”
“That’s why I’ve found a solution.”
At my strained words, Marie’s face lit up as she eagerly asked,
“Really? That’s great! I knew you’d figure something out, Sister. What’s the plan?”
“…To merge the fragments of the spirit kings’ sources, contained in the water and forest relics, into a human body.”
The radiant silver eyes momentarily lost focus.
“…What? No, wait. The relic… its essence, you’re saying to fuse it into a human body? Sister, what are you saying…?”
“Marie, the situation is that desperate. If the relic can perfectly merge with a body, even if they kill us, they won’t be able to destroy the relic. We would exist as the relic of the Spirit King itself.”
Marie listened to my explanation in a daze, then suddenly shuddered and grabbed my hands.
“Sister, you’re not planning to attempt something so dangerous on yourself, are you? Right?”
“…Marie. I want… to entrust the relic to you.”
Marie’s face, already pale from fear and worry, was now filled with astonishment.
Unable to meet her gaze, I spoke, burdened by guilt.
“As before, I plan to act as bait. They’ll continue to focus on and chase the duchy’s heir. Meanwhile, you will carry the relic within your body and hide in a safe place with Brother Rezeck…”
What if Marie refuses? How could I, already in such torment, force her to comply? To demand her to follow my will regardless of what happens to her…
If I did that, I’d become no different from the people I despise most—a cruel hypocrite, blinded by a mission that justifies everything.
“I’ll do it, Sister.”
At that moment, lost in confusion and unable to say another word, I heard her speak.
“What…?”
Her voice, resolute and unwavering, made me lift my lowered head in astonishment.
Marie was smiling.
It was a smile of pure joy—bright, unwavering, and resolute, gracing her youthful face as she looked at me.
“Finally, I can share your burden.”
Marie murmured softly, squeezing my hands tightly.
“I’m glad, Sister. Until now… you’ve always carried everything on your own. But for the first time, you’re asking for my help.”
“Marie… don’t you resent me?”
I couldn’t stop myself from showing a crumbling expression in front of her.
“Not at all.”
Her youthful voice, though trembling, was steady as she answered my question.
She looked at me with eyes full of kindness.
“…Because I know this decision hurts you far more than it hurts me.”
Her quiet words, spoken with calm sincerity, cut through my guilt.
“…I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry…”
Unable to bear it any longer, I collapsed to my knees at her feet, tears falling freely.
Marie knelt beside me, soothing me with gentle touches.
***
[Alcype, are you truly willing to bear this source for the rest of your life?]
Dryad, looking down at Alcype, asked as if caught off guard.
[I expected you to suggest someone else from the collateral royal lineage, not yourself…]
“As the ruler, how could I push this danger onto someone else?”
Alcype replied firmly, glancing at Marie and me, who still held hands.
“It is said that Hacardella and Dryas have long shared the bond of sisters, sharing each other’s joys and hardships. For this reason, I will accompany this young princess, who offers her body for the greater cause, on this perilous journey.”
There was no doubt she was an extraordinary woman.
I bowed deeply to the Ruler of Dryas, full of respect.
[Very well. Naiad and I are equals among Spirit Kings. Though water is not my domain, as a Spirit King, I can wield its essence freely.]
And so, the dangerous decision born of desperation was about to unfold.
[Come closer, descendant of Hacardella. I will first grant you the relic’s source.]
At this moment, it was about to begin.
