344. The Immortal and the Mortal (13)
-Pop!
In the dense jungle, a bud suddenly burst and bloomed. Nameless, and of various kinds, pure white flowers began to bloom one after another, creating a path.
Quite a romantic invitation, albeit a bit late. Fernandez smiled bitterly and followed the flowers. Just then, Zephis, who was walking alongside him, stopped.
“Brother?”
“Go alone.”
“…Huh?”
“As a priest, I cannot ignore this summons. If the gods themselves are presiding, there’s even less reason for me to intervene.”
Zephis chuckled and stepped back. He took off his cloak, spread it on the ground, and sat down. After opening his water bottle and taking a sip, he gestured casually.
“Take your time.”
Fernandez found Zephis’s sudden behavior hard to understand. But the flowers… It must be Freya’s invitation, and her presence meant there were no threats nearby.
This was purely to celebrate the return of a comrade who had come back alive. Fernandez nodded readily and walked along the blue path strewn with flowers.
* * *
It was his first time visiting the Dragon’s Nest, but Fernandez felt a familiar sense of déjà vu. The white flowers blooming in the thicket grew denser, and soon the entire forest path was glowing pure white.
Crunch, crunch. The sensation of stepping on the flower-strewn path felt like walking on snowflakes. Feeling as though he were walking through an untouched snowy field, Fernandez walked on with a deeply sentimental feeling.
Soon, a clearing appeared. As if a blizzard had swept through, the familiar scent of flowers wafted through the late summer heat.
“You’ve come.”
In the distance, a woman in robes sat quietly. Fernandez instinctively clenched his eyes shut.
It felt familiar… Like the first time he met her in the City of the Awakened Dragon. The scenery of her Realm of the Imagination resembled this place. A woman holding a tombstone, weeping in eternity under snowflakes that scattered like flowers.
Now, she sat atop a mound of flowers, smiling directly at him.
“I had many things I wanted to say if I ever saw you again. How it felt to send you away, what kind of emotions I had to endure, what kind of time I had to spend…”
Abel slowly rose from her seat. In her hand was an old Saintmetal Greatsword. She gripped the hilt and pulled it to her chest, standing it upright.
“With each passing day, hope dwindled, and a day’s worth of misery followed. Regret, remorse, lament—call it what you will. Without a single day’s respite, I gazed out at the vast wilderness, just like that. Just like that.”
-Crunch.
She stepped forward, treading on the flower-strewn grass. Holding the sword in both hands.
“Draw your sword, Fernandez Sernerd.”
“…Abel.”
“There’s much to think about and much to say. But our time is too precious to waste on complaints. Isn’t a single exchange of swords worth more than a thousand words to a warrior?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Enough.”
-Screech.
Abel drew her sword and pointed it straight at Fernandez. It was an old etiquette, a gesture of respect before engaging in an Honor Duel. Fernandez reflexively gripped his sword and assumed the same stance.
“Fernandez. From now on, when you apologize for the past, don’t use the present tense.”
Always the past tense. Fernandez understood the meaning behind her words and nodded quietly. This, too, was a Classical Noble Etiquette, unique to the nobles of the Dane Kingdom.
When apologizing for the past, use the past tense. It’s not just a matter of grammar. It’s a plea to return, no matter how many mistakes are made. It was the words of ladies handing handkerchiefs to knights heading into battle.
Fernandez chuckled softly at this old-fashioned dragon’s sentiment. He drew his sword and pointed it at Abel. Their gazes met, and they swung their swords simultaneously.
-Clang!
The first strike was a simple probe. Maintaining a straight posture, anticipating the opponent’s block. As if they had rehearsed it, their blades lightly tapped each other, then they pulled back for the next strike—
-Swish!
The swords intertwined, swinging as if to lay the blades flat. A gesture indicating no intent to harm the opponent. Again, as if synchronized, they struck and withdrew simultaneously. Another strike.
-Clang! Clash! Swish!
After the first two exchanges, Fernandez focused entirely on defense. All the offensive strikes came from Abel’s hand. Faster and more passionately.
-Clang! Clang! Crash!
The blades gnashed at each other, as if trying to tear each other apart!
How sorrowful, how lamentable, that time. What kind of hell those months had shown her. The swordplay continued, pleading, almost like throwing a tantrum. The swords clashed, bounced, and mixed again as the strikes continued.
-Clang!
And Fernandez remained focused solely on defense. Absorbing every strike as if embracing it. Finally, as her onslaught began to wane…
-Screech…
The tip of the sword stopped just before Fernandez’s nose, trembling and weeping softly. Fernandez glanced at the cold blade. The intense swordplay had caused the surrounding flower buds to scatter, fluttering down like snowflakes.
Before his eyes, a single petal fluttered down onto the quiet blade.
“Will you accept it?”
“Will you not regret it?”
“Since the day I lost you, I’ve used up all my regrets, Fernandez. There’s nothing left to shed, so I hope you can fill it.”
“Always with grace and beauty…”
“You probably won’t be able to wear or eat it. You don’t have the ability or the luck for it.”
“At least I can always see you.”
With a *clink*, Abel gracefully sheathed the sword she had extended. She paused, trying to catch the falling petals, then started grumbling.
“But it’s strange. Usually, isn’t it the man who approaches the lady first? Why do I feel like I’m the one being led by the nose? This is my first time confessing, and also my first time receiving a confession… It doesn’t feel right.”
“So be it.”
After mixing his sword with sighs and regrets, and extending it to convey his feelings, there was no longer any place to run or any reason to do so. Fernandez sheathed his sword on his back and reached out his right hand into the air.
A single magic circuit responded to his beastman nature, activating. Soon, branches sprouted from his fingertips, blooming into a bouquet of pure white flowers.
He handed the bouquet to her and smiled.
“Now, I won’t let you leave me. Stay with me.”
“Gladly.”
Abel smiled back, tears welling up in her eyes. She reached out and took the bouquet from his hand, holding it close to her chest.
-*Boom!!!*
Above their heads, petals exploded in all directions, creating a loud noise. Fernandez frowned deeply and looked towards a distant corner.
“Freya.”
“Ahem. Yes, I am the goddess in charge of officiating, guests, and decorations. I also handle flowers, spring, and a few other things like new life, but you don’t need to worry about that now. The goddess is just part of the scenery.”
Freya spoke playfully, spreading her arms wide. She swayed slowly, as if she were a tree branch.
“Now, ignore the goddess and let the bride and groom kiss.”
“Could you stop this?”
“Why? Don’t you southerners have a tradition of scattering petals at weddings?”
“Where did you see that?”
“Marketplace romances always end like this. The knight slays the dragon and marries the lady.”
Fernandez hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to talk about this in front of the dragon they were about to marry. Abel just smiled demurely. It seemed like the only word she could hear right now was “wedding.”
Feeling awkward, Fernandez shook his head and brushed off the petals sticking to his face.
“I won’t slay any dragons, and the story isn’t over yet. Freya, will you join us?”
“…Good heavens, Lindworm… I… I don’t know. Didn’t I tell you? This man is a flirt!!”
“What are you…?”
Freya suddenly turned pale and began to flutter.
“Good heavens, good heavens! A groom who confesses to the bride and then does the same to the guest! The goddess… the goddess is now afraid of the south!! I miss the straightforward and robust culture of the north!!”
* * *
After sending Fernandez off, Zephis smiled for a moment, watching his retreating figure, then pulled out a Bible from his pocket. It was one of the most meaningful ways he spent his time.
Then, a shadow stretched out before him. Zephis opened his mouth without closing the Bible, already sensing someone approaching.
“Unexpected to meet you here again, Lady Tremule.”
With the sunlight streaming through the dense forest behind her, Everiz cast a shadow over Zephis, who was sitting. She brushed her hair back with one hand and spoke.
“Sir Zephis. It’s disappointing that you left so suddenly.”
“I’m truly sorry for not being able to respond to your kindness.”
“I understand you had urgent business, so it’s fine, sir. Is Lord Sernerd at the end of this road?”
“Yes, but I’m also waiting.”
“If I’m not disturbing you, perhaps we can pass the time together without it being dull.”
Everiz smiled sadly as she spoke to him. Zephis looked at her face for a moment, then closed the Bible, put it in his pocket, and moved aside.
The two spent time in silence under the sunlight. After a while, Everiz fiddled with her fingers and looked at Zephis.
His strong jawline and firm eyes. Zephis was simply looking up at the sky without any expression. Everiz, who had been staring at him intently, suddenly spoke.
“The sunlight is nice.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Have you taken a vow of chastity?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Or are you a homosexual?”
“…No.”
“Then perhaps you’re already married, have a woman in your heart, or have a mistress. Or any other reason?”
“I don’t understand your intention, but I’ve been a priest since I was very young.”
Silence fell again after his words. After a brief pause, Everiz spoke quietly.
“What about Everiz Zephis?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Or Zephis de Tremule is fine too. Actually, I prefer this one. My younger brother probably won’t be able to have children.”
Looking at the confused Zephis, Everiz pulled out a document from her pocket. On the envelope was a seal he knew well—the seal of the Vaitas Papacy.
Everiz smiled confidently and handed him the document.
“We’re married.”
He wasn’t a fool. Of course, he knew that this naive countess had feelings for him. He had tried to refuse indirectly and had even avoided her.
It wasn’t that she was lacking or that he disliked her. Zephis was an Inquisition Officer, and even if he were excommunicated, he had vowed to hunt demons and their followers for life. He wasn’t foolish enough to bring a companion on such a thorny path.
But for a moment, he was stunned, replaying her words in his mind. ‘We’re married?’ Not ‘will you marry me?’ but ‘we’re married’?
Everiz smiled brightly at his reaction and nodded.
“Robert, if that child has no children, then my child will be the next Count Tremule. Both His Majesty the Emperor and His Holiness the Pope have gladly approved this marriage.”
Zephis looked at her face and realized he had to revise his previous assessment of her. The thought that she was a sincere, kind, but naive noblewoman was completely wrong.
She was a proper court noble of the Leviathan Empire. The kind who prepared political traps in advance to get what she wanted.
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