At the training grounds behind the Crown Prince’s palace.
Jin tugged lightly at his tunic, which was soaked through with sweat. Across from him, Xiaoshi was in the same state. Both men were dripping with sweat as if they’d been doused with water, while Jeirutt, standing between them, simply clicked his pocket watch.
“The break will be over shortly, Your Highness.”
“Hah, hah…”
“Control your breathing slowly. The more rushed you are, the more important it is to breathe properly. Otherwise, you lose your form, and that means you show an opening.”
“You’re merciless, Jeirutt.”
“It is not I who am merciless, but the sword.”
“Xia, come at me with him this time.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Xiaoshi took a large gulp of water and tightened his grip on his sword. It was a dull training sword, but its weight was identical to a real one, perfect for simulating actual combat.
Jin lowered his stance, focusing on the tip of Xiaoshi’s sword, and charged the moment Jeirutt pulled the chain of his watch.
Thump-thump! Thwump!
Swoosh! Clang! Clang!
“Good, Your Highness. When you parry a blade, push more of your strength into it. It will be easier if you use your hips more fluidly.”
Small sparks flew each time their blades met. Jin and Xiaoshi, teeth clenched, exchanged an endless series of blows, while Jeirutt, with the eyes of a hawk, corrected their posture. Though, in truth, his main focus was Jin.
“Sir Xiaoshi! There was an opening just now, was there not? Why did you not press the advantage? Is it because your opponent is His Highness, the Crown Prince?”
“…That is not the case.”
“Xia! I told you, didn’t I? It doesn’t matter if I get cut!”
Screeech!
As Jin pushed forward with his blade, Xiaoshi stepped back and twisted his body, revealing an opening at his side.
Jin swung his sword fiercely, attacking Xiaoshi’s flank, but even as he fell, Xiaoshi thrust his own sword toward the right side of Jin’s neck.
“Enough.”
At Jeirutt’s intervention, both swords stopped simultaneously, their tips hovering just inches from each other’s vital points. Jin and Xiaoshi, panting heavily, glanced at their own neck and side, then broke into weary smiles.
“A draw this time, I see.”
“Well done, Your Highness. You are growing stronger by the day.”
“Indeed. I will continue to grow, so you must improve as well. The day I finally defeat you, Xiaoshi, I will hold you accountable.”
“Yes, I will take your command to heart.”
It would be unthinkable for an officer of the Imperial Defense, a man sworn to protect the Empire, to lose to the Crown Prince in swordsmanship, wouldn’t it? Jin clapped Xiaoshi on the shoulder as he stood up and coolly drank the water a servant handed him.
Thump-thump-thump!
“Your Highness.”
Just then, a presence was heard in the distance. The hurried, pattering footsteps seemed particularly urgent, and Xiaoshi and Jeirutt both turned their heads.
“What is it?”
“Word has arrived that Prince Noah of Clifford has entered the capital. He will be arriving at the palace shortly. What should be done about his entrance…?”
“Ah.”
The Imperial Palace had been expecting the Clifford delegation to arrive in time for Jin’s coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. But such a sudden, unofficial visit?
Unlike the flustered servant, Jin raised an eyebrow as if he had an idea of the reason.
“Permit his entrance. Treat him with all due courtesy, but if he wishes for an audience with me, he will have to wait until my schedule is finished. If it is an urgent matter, tell him to come here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
His schedule for the day would only end late at night, so he would probably come here. Jin personally wrapped his hands in bandages, while Commander Jeirutt silently put on his protective gear.
“You seem to be overworking yourself these days, Your Highness.”
“With a war on the horizon, I am merely trying to set an example as the Crown Prince.”
“And not because you wish for time to pass more quickly?”
“Of course not. With the entire nation in a frenzy over the coming-of-age ceremony, where would I find the time for that?”
Jin chuckled and lightly denied Jeirutt’s teasing question, but his tone held a hint of admission. He was counting the days, waiting for the ceremony to be over so he could welcome the day the Ministry of Magic would gather. Or more accurately, the day the Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo, would return to the Imperial Palace.
“That’s enough chatter for now.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I look forward to the match.”
Jin threw a powerful punch, signaling the start of the next sparring session.
Xiaoshi stepped back to watch for a moment, and soon felt a presence echoing down the corridor. Prince Noah had arrived.
“Your Highness, it is Prince Noah of Clifford.”
“Hah, hah. Let him enter.”
Creak!
Noah entered the training grounds with a stiff expression. His long, waist-length hair was tied back in a single tail. In contrast, Mei, who followed directly behind him, had her hair cut short.
Jin straightened his posture and smiled faintly.
“It has been a while, Prince Noah.”
“I offer my greetings to His Highness, Crown Prince Jin.”
“But what is so urgent that you have arrived at the palace ahead of schedule? Has the situation in Clifford improved recently?”
It was a question asking if it was acceptable for the heir to so easily leave his country, and at the same time, a reprimand for the sudden visit.
Noah gave a light bow, then looked straight at Jin. His long, narrow eyes were particularly cold. If one were to label the emotion, it was anger.
“My apologies, Your Highness. As you know, Clifford is still writhing in agony. The people grieve for their lost future and live in fear, never knowing when monsters might appear.”
“Is that so? How truly unfortunate. Then why, I wonder, is the Prince here?”
Asking when you already know. Noah wondered if the sly fox before him was really the same boy from ten years ago. It was impossible to believe they were the same person.
“You have summoned all the mages back to the Imperial Palace, have you not? How—how could you do such a thing? Do you know what will happen to the Clifford rift if all the mages withdraw? Have you forgotten our contract?”
That was the price for Clifford ceding its right of indemnity to Bariel in the Clifford-Burgos war. The dispatching of mages to the south to investigate and, furthermore, to manage the rift.
But how could they recall the mages so soon? For Clifford, this could be a threat even greater than war. If the mages left, no one knew how the Clifford rift would react.
“I have not forgotten. It is a contract between nations. How could I?”
“Then why!”
“I believe I stated that it was a temporary summons.”
“But no time frame has been set, has it? Everyone in Clifford is worried that ‘temporary’ could become ‘indefinite.'”
“It seems the Prince has not read the contract’s clauses thoroughly. It is clearly stipulated that we may withdraw the mages at any time should a situation arise that threatens the security of Bariel. The summons was based on that clause.”
“But we have no way of knowing whether the current situation is a threat or not!”
“You state the obvious, Prince Noah. Did you think I would inform a foreign kingdom of the Empire’s dangers? I suppose our relationship was stronger than I thought. Hm?”
Noah bit his lip at Jin’s light jab. Of course that wasn’t the case, but wasn’t there a certain amount of trust built up over the years? Noah forced himself to swallow a sigh and added.
“Your Highness. From Clifford’s perspective, this was clearly an act tantamount to a mere notification. As this is a matter of great national importance, it would be right for Bariel to show respect to Clifford as an ally.”
“And so, I told you to come after some time. Assuming there is enough Yggdrasil, I judged that there would be no problems for a fortnight to a month, even without the mages.”
He refuted every single point, leaving no room for rebuttal. It was infuriatingly good. This sense of deja vu, reminding him of someone, somewhere. It didn’t take long for Noah to realize it was Ian.
“…Your Highness, is the rumor true?”
“What rumor?”
“That you are preparing for war with Burgos. If that is why you have gathered all the mages to the Imperial Palace, I ask that you reconsider. Clifford will provide you with commensurate military forces.”
“It is laughable to equate the value of a mage to that of mere soldiers. Besides, what would you do if Burgos were to invade your now-empty country?”
“It means that Clifford is willing to give its all. For the sake of the mages.”
Jin leaned back on the sofa and stared up at Noah. If Bariel didn’t clarify its position here, how would Clifford react? They could detain the mages, hold them hostage, or perhaps attempt a three-nation alliance as before. It wasn’t a major threat, but for Jin, who had to stabilize the country immediately after his coronation, it was certainly an added headache.
Jin gestured to the sofa opposite him, inviting Noah to sit.
“Sir Ian has returned.”
Pause. Noah stopped, halfway to sitting, and turned to look at Jin.
Did I hear that correctly?
“Sir Ian? The Sir Ian?”
“He will be coming down to the capital from the north with the Imperial Royal Guard. The summons of the mages was a command issued by Sir Ian, so I, as the Crown Prince, have no justification to interfere. Nor do I have the authority.”
“W-Wait a moment.”
“Once Sir Ian returns, he will send aid to Clifford again under his own judgment. Know this and relay it to your King. Oh, and the matter of military support you proposed is truly intriguing. I will discuss it positively with my ministers.”
Jin smiled with satisfaction, as if nothing could be better. Just by briefly shaking a long-standing contract, Bariel had gained a new advantage: a justification to demand military support from Clifford should a war with Burgos break out.
Clifford would naturally try to minimize the scale of the dispatched troops, but he could leverage the value of the mages to secure even greater support.
However, Noah set aside all these circumstances and focused solely on the news of Ian’s return.
“Wh-When will he arrive at the palace? The coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow.”
After the ceremony, Noah was scheduled to return to Clifford. But it would be a great shame to leave without seeing Ian, wouldn’t it? His appearance would create a whirlwind not just in Bariel, but throughout all of Gaia. It would be wonderful if he could discuss the current situation with him.
However, Jin just shrugged, as if it was something he himself didn’t know.
“There has been no detailed word.”
“H-Haha. Good heavens…”
“In any case, tell Clifford not to worry too much and to trust Bariel. I will relay more once Sir Ian returns.”
Jin noticed Xiaoshi’s signal indicating the next item on his schedule and rose from his seat.
When is Ian coming? Jin himself was the one most curious about that. He had even developed a habit of looking out the window in that short time, wondering if another carrier pigeon might arrive.
“Is there still no word from the Ministry of Magic?”
“No, Your Highness. I will ask again.”
“…Let it be. They must be in chaos. Let them be. After the coming-of-age ceremony, I will dispatch someone to the north myself.”
If his return was slow, he would just have to be guided back.
Jin glanced at the window but failed to notice the cherry blossom petals fluttering beautifully outside, lost as he was in thoughts of longing for someone.
***
“Lord Romandro!”
“What now! Every time you call, my heart sinks!”
As Jin had worried, the Ministry of Magic was so chaotic they were practically running themselves ragged. While other departments were steadily preparing for the coming-of-age ceremony, they had to track down their scattered colleagues to fulfill the Minister’s command.
To make up for the manpower shortage, the mages worked like mad, to the point they wouldn’t have noticed if they’d put their clothes on inside out.
“The report you requested earlier.”
“You’re giving this to me now? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“I’m sorry. I’m buried under a mountain of backlogged work myself.”
“Hey, the administration office! Anyone available to go to the administration office? No time to ride a horse. Fly there and back, quick.”
“Ugh. There’s no time to ride, but I’ve got no energy either.”
“What? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m a little, yes, it’s tough, but I’m fine.”
As the mage smiled, wiping away sweat, Romandro looked at him in alarm, sizing him up. He looked to be in terrible condition, but the words “take a break” wouldn’t come out. What should I do? he wondered.
BOOM!
“Nyahaha!”
Akorella, who had been holed up in her research lab, kicked the door open and entered.
Everyone froze. Romandro and the mages stared blankly at Akorella, then simultaneously rushed forward, grabbed her by the collar, and shook her.
“Y-You crazy Captain! Everyone’s busy as hell, and you’ve been cooped up in your lab and won’t come out? And you call yourself a Captain?”
“Hey, you’ll rip my collar, you punk.”
“Captain Akorella, this is too much. What have you been doing all this time?”
“Aw, c’mon. Look carefully. See what I made.”
Akorella winked, shaking a liquid-filled glass bottle. An attitude that clearly said, I know I did wrong.
“This is a welcome-back gift for Sir Ian. A mana recovery potion! If he’s tired enough to stop by the north on his way back, his condition must be pretty bad. One drink of this, and his mana will be full in no time!”
“The last one wasn’t very effective.”
“Ahem, you can’t compare it to that. This one’s been improved for a long time. No matter how crappy his condition is, he can get back to his original state in one go.”
“…What are the side effects?”
“Side effects?”
Whoosh!
Akorella grinned and pulled one of the mages closer. There are some. But, well, it’s fine! It’s on a very cute level, so we can just let it slide.
So…
“If you’re curious, you’ll just have to try it yourself. Right?”