C1106
—Just as one would expect from that Pointy Ears!
Wrath smacked his palms together and burst out with enthusiasm.
—At any time or place, stirring up mischief is completely his style!
He laughed softly, remarking that it was entirely typical of Rimmer to carelessly evade Lady Siyana’s strikes, even under such critical circumstances.
"Stop laughing."
Raon nudged aside the chuckling Wrath and gave a subtle nod to Siyana, indicating it was time for another assault.
"A-a-again!"
Siyana lifted her hand clutching the ocarina and ordered the Highest-grade Spirits to launch an attack. With an earth-shaking bellow! In contrast to their previous approach, the Highest-grade Spirits dispersed their Spirit Energy broadly rather than focusing on one spot, unleashing torrents of fire, gusts of wind, quakes of earth, and surges of water from all four corners. The power reverberated through the atmosphere!
The torrent of Spirit Energy discharged by the Highest-grade Spirits formed enormous shockwaves as it surged toward the nebulous shroud encircling Sepia.
"There's no way he can evade every bit of this."
Raon gave a nod while gradually lowering the hand that had been grasping the Heavenly Drive.
"Let’s find out just how much he can deflect."
He stretched out his Aura Perception to gauge the strength required to cleanse Rimmer's soul. Yet, as before, events unfolded unexpectedly. With a sudden whoosh! The crimson mist and swirling wind, steered by Rimmer’s very essence, spontaneously carved out gaps, redirecting the assaults of the Highest-grade Spirits into the void.
"Huh...?"
Siyana’s lips quivered as she observed the breaches in the sky, then shifted her gaze toward Raon.
"L-Lord Raon, what is happening? You mentioned that Older Brother would allow himself to be struck..."
Her hand clutching the ocarina trembled, silently questioning why events diverged from the plan. With a piercing shriek! The Highest-grade Spirits appeared astonished, their momentum halted in mid-flight by the effortless evasion of the mist and wind.
"I am sorry."
Raon cast his eyes downward, unable to return Siyana’s gaze.
"I hadn’t foreseen this turn of events either..."
He had assumed that Rimmer had arrived in Sepia to cleanse that red malice, anticipating that he would accept the blows willingly. Instead, Rimmer adeptly manipulated the mist and wind to ward off the spirits' assaults, resolute in avoiding impact.
"Perhaps I ought to obliterate it myself?"
Were he to deliver sword strikes with such rapidity that there’d be no chance to counter, he could swiftly dispel the mist and wind. Yet, doing so would nullify the objective of cleansing Rimmer’s soul.
"Moreover..."
Siyana would lose the opportunity to secure the backing of the elves, especially with other elves gathered here. Should he resolve the issue in place of Siyana, it might actually diminish her standing instead of bolstering it.
"Is it possible that Older Brother has been corrupted by malice?"
Siyana disregarded the stares of the other elves, her focus solely fixed on Rimmer’s soul.
"That seems unlikely."
Raon shook his head with a composed air.
"Had Master been corrupted by malice, he wouldn’t merely be evading—he would have struck back. His stillness hints at a different purpose altogether."
The red mist and wind, fueled by malice, possessed enormous strength. Despite having ample power to retaliate, his calm demeanor signified that Rimmer’s soul was still pure.
"Exactly. That imbecile might be foolish, but he would not be defeated so readily."
Sterin gave a solemn nod, his trust in his grandson Rimmer evident.
"Indeed. Master is the kind who maintained a smile even while withstanding the wrathful spirits bound within the Blade of Requiem."
Martha pressed her lips into a tight line, a clear sign of her confidence in Rimmer.
"S-So, why is he behaving in this manner?"
Siyana cocked her head, perplexed.
"I’m not entirely certain either. He’s always had an odd way about him..."
Raon exhaled deeply as he observed the crimson mist and swirling winds that encircled Rimmer’s soul.
"It appears he’s trying to convey a message."
Being outside the mental realm and lacking the Blade of Requiem, they had no means of discerning Rimmer’s thoughts.
"Then I shall attempt once again!"
Siyana gathered fresh Spirit Energy to assault the red mist and wind, resolute in her mission to save Rimmer. With another whoosh! The Highest-grade Spirits unleashed even more powerful and rapid strikes than previously, yet the wind and mist receded like a waning tide, dodging every onslaught.
"Eek!"
Siyana bit her lip in exasperation.
"Maybe..."
Raon furrowed his brows while moving up behind Siyana.
"Could you call forth Elayim?"
"Elayim?"
Siyana’s eyes grew wide at the abrupt invocation of Elayim’s name.
"You know well, Lord Raon, that Elayim and Ifrit are presently occupied with securing the spirit realm, making their arrival quite challenging. But why do you ask?"
"I believed that Elayim could shed light on why Master is behaving in this manner."
He requested Siyana to call upon the Water Spirit King Elayim, assuming that she might be capable of conversing with Rimmer under these conditions.
"I’ll attempt to reach her."
Siyana shut her eyes briefly as she dispatched the Highest-grade Spirits back to their own realm.
—And you still hold that one. That pitiful Fire Seed.
Wrath jerked his chin in a mocking gesture, implying they should summon Ifrit.
"I’ve been summoning him, yet he remains unresponsive."
Even back in the conflict with the White Blood Religion, whenever he sought to harness Ifrit’s might, his calls were met with silence.
"Nevertheless, to be safe..."
Ifrit! Raon shut his eyes tightly and invoked Ifrit’s name, resonating with the power of his soul.
"Ifrit! Respond if you’re within earshot."
Focusing his thoughts, he cried out to the Fire Spirit King, yet once more, silence prevailed.
"Hah..."
Siyana exhaled deeply, apparently unable to reach Elayim as well.
"It appears that attempt failed."
"Ah, wait. I actually established contact."
She gave a nod, signifying that she had conversed with Elayim.
"However, she informed me that she’s deeply involved in crucial tasks and is unable to dispatch even an avatar. She also noted that Ifrit is incapable of replying, and she requested that I relay her apologies."
Siyana rubbed her cheek while clarifying the reasons behind Elayim and Ifrit’s absence.
"Ah, I see now..."
A faint smile crossed Raon’s face as he grasped the reason behind Ifrit’s silence; at least, the link was not entirely broken.
"For now, we must simply bear with it..."
"But didn’t Elayim say that it might be possible to converse with Lord Raon’s spirit?"
Siyana stretched out her hand, directing attention towards Raon.
"My spirit? I have no affiliated spirit aside from Ifrit."
Raon blinked in confusion.
"What? She unequivocally mentioned that there is one."
Siyana cocked her head again, affirming that Elayim had indeed declared that.
"A spirit that I possess... Ah!"
Raon clapped his hands upon realizing which spirit Elayim was referring to.
"I do have one. While we haven’t formed a formal contract, I merely bestowed it a name."
He had assumed that without a formal bond, he couldn’t summon it, having only assigned it a name.
"By naming a spirit, one forges a bond even stronger than that of a contract. After all, spirits hold their names in the highest regard."
Siyana nodded in encouragement, urging him to proceed without delay.
"I shall try."
Raon shut his eyes as he gently extended his hands.
"Haerang."
From deep within, he summoned the Sea Spirit who had been pivotal in the war against the White Blood Religion. With a splash! A tiny droplet of water emerged between his hands and metamorphosed into a youthful wolf imbued with the essence of the sea. With a piercing howl! Haerang emitted a sharp cry directed at him, seemingly questioning why he had delayed the call.
—Rebuke him further! It’s as though he forsook you!
Wrath furrowed his brow, remarking that it was excessive to leave such a young one by himself.
—That fellow has always been callous and trivial. Don’t be offended—simply come to me, your King.
He caressed Haerang’s back, assuring him that the demon king, Wrath, would welcome him personally.
"It wasn’t that I didn’t wish to summon you. I believed it best to leave you undisturbed, considering you dwell in the sea."
Raon patted Haerang’s head, expressing his surprise that the spirit had been waiting all along. With a playful growl, Haerang visibly perked up, beaming with delight at the apology.
—What sort of wolf possesses such a gentle nature! Go on, bite him!
Wrath gave Haerang a pat on the rear, instructing him to nip at Raon’s arm. Naturally, Haerang, oblivious to Wrath’s command, simply wagged his tail at Raon.
"C-Could that little one be a Sea Spirit?"
Siyana’s eyes widened in astonishment.
"Yes, indeed. This is the very spirit that was instrumental in the war against the White Blood Religion."
Raon nodded approvingly as he softly pressed Haerang’s forehead.
"Hmm, while it appears rather youthful, its power surpasses that of even a Highest-grade Spirit by a wide margin. Remarkable."
Sterin exhaled deeply as he felt the magnitude of Haerang’s Aura.
"It’s due to his arduous past. That strength served as both a boon and a curse."
Raon offered a bitter smile as memories of Haerang’s struggles surfaced.
"Truly, the realm of the soul operates on an entirely different plane. That child may very well grasp Older Brother’s true intentions."
Siyana licked her lips, suggesting that Haerang might unlock the secrets behind Rimmer’s motives.
"Then I shall dispatch him."
Raon gently raised Haerang, locking eyes with the spirited creature.
"Haerang, Master’s soul lies within that turbulent mist and wind. Would you mind inquiring of that damn Elf what his intentions are here?"
While caressing Haerang’s head, he made his request. Haerang wagged his tail in assent, then sprang upward. Wisps of sea-colored waves enveloped his spirit as he started repelling the fierce wind and crimson mist.
Haerang surged through the impenetrable mist and wind—barriers that stymied even the Highest-grade Spirits—until he reached deep into Rimmer’s soul.
"H-He actually penetrated inside!"
Siyana stamped her feet with exhilaration.
"Such prowess, even though he is not one of the four Spirit Kings... Perhaps we are witnessing the emergence of a new breed of King..."
Sterin gave a thoughtful nod, implying that Haerang could well ascend as a new Spirit King. As nature’s Guardian all his life, he appeared to glimpse the spirits’ future. Shortly thereafter, the mist cleared, and Haerang started his gradual descent.
His look remained unaltered from earlier, hinting that no real battle had taken place.
"Are you okay?"
Raon inquired while catching the descending Haerang with both hands. With a bark, Haerang maneuvered all four legs in a manner reminiscent of swimming, clearly signaling that he was unharmed.
"So, did you catch what Master conveyed?"
He swiftly turned his head to face Siyana and Sterin. Haerang landed and made his way towards Sterin, his legs initially trembling as if in pain, only to abruptly stiffen and let out a proud howl.
Afterwards, Haerang positioned himself in front of Siyana. He trembled momentarily as if startled, then regained his composure, straightening his four limbs and unleashing a regal roar akin to that of a sovereign of the grasslands.
"Why is he behaving in such a manner?"
Martha tilted her head, her expression full of confusion.
"Perhaps he’s simply hungry?"
Evelyn blinked, sharing the puzzled look.
"Ah, now I see!"
Dorian shouted, leaping forward enthusiastically.
"Master intends to imbue Lord Sterin with renewed vitality to rescue him, and at the same time, empower Lady Siyana with the courage needed to assume the role of Guardian!"
He nodded emphatically, convinced of his interpretation.
"...That is indeed correct."
Raon blinked slowly, his eyes closing and reopening with a heavy sigh.
"In line with Dorian's words, it appears that Master wishes to aid Lady Siyana and Lord Sterin."
He nodded in agreement with Dorian’s assessment.
—When did you start thinking along those lines?
Wrath blinked, as though questioning his meaning.
—Only a moment ago, you were musing the same absurd notion as that madwoman—that he was hungry!
"I did think so internally."
—No, I was actually reading your thoughts...
"I truly did."
—There’s no need to deceive your King...
"I assure you, I did."
—...You absolutely insane bastard!
***
"Even beyond death, he continues to worry about me!"
Sterin bit his lip as he grasped Rimmer’s true intentions while hovering in the sky over Sepia.
"That reckless grandson!"
Despite his stern words, his eyes reddened with a deep emotional hue.
"Older Brother..."
Siyana too let out a soft sniffle upon realizing that Rimmer still harbored concern for her.
"I’m sorry, for being such a senseless little sister..."
She lowered her head in apology directed towards Rimmer.
"Some individuals truly never change."
Martha glanced skyward with a knowing smirk, seemingly delighted that Rimmer remained unchanged.
"But even if I understand his reasons for remaining so, what course of action should we take?"
She narrowed her eyes, underscoring that this was the paramount issue at hand.
"Indeed, merely purifying that Aura will not suffice to imbue vitality and courage."
Evelyn gestured with her finger, insisting that a rational approach was necessary. At the same time, Haerang barked in turn while glancing at the ocarina in Siyana’s grasp, the World Tree, and Raon’s sword, as though signaling his awareness of the matter.
"The World Tree, the ocarina, and the sword?"
Martha cocked her head in utter confusion.
"I understand."
Raon nodded as he inspected each object that Haerang had indicated: the World Tree, the ocarina, and the Wooden Ring Sword.
"I believe I grasp what this signifies."
—What utter nonsense.
Wrath wrinkled his nose, chiding him for feigning knowledge while being utterly clueless.
"This time, it’s for real."
He brushed Wrath aside, firmly asserting that he truly comprehended the situation.
"R-Really? What course of action should we pursue?"
Siyana joined her hands together, proclaiming that she would go to any lengths to save Sterin and retrieve Rimmer.
"It isn’t overly complicated. With my help..."
Raon unsheathed his Wooden Ring Sword and directed it towards the ocarina in Siyana’s hands.
"How about we perform a duet?"
-
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