IADTVR 16

~Chapter 16~

Even though there was a commotion at the shop yesterday, I woke up to a normal morning.
No investigators or guards came by about the disappearances.
The people who disappeared lived in the shadows anyway, and this was Udes.

I got up, ready to make breakfast, but as I sat on the bed, I felt something bump against my toes.

“Huh? What’s this?”

A large frame covered in white cloth was lying on the floor. Did Keia bring it here? It was too big to be one of the general store’s products. I quickly pulled off the cloth to check.

“Huh…?”

“‘Lans de Fuiseng, Mother and Daughter.’”

I saw the artist’s name and title written in the corner and opened my eyes wide.

It was a portrait of a young mother in a dress with a five-year-old girl. I stared at the painting, lost in thought.

I thought I’d never see this picture again.

But why was this painting, which belonged in a museum, here?

While I was confused, the door creaked open and Edell walked in.
Freshly washed and looking clean, he came over with a blank face and asked,

“This girl is you, right, Ciella? And the woman next to her is your mother?”

Edell pointed at the mother and daughter in the painting, both with the same long golden hair and green eyes.

“How did you know?”

“You look exactly like her.”

His finger traced slowly, pointing at the mother.
Just as he said, the people in the portrait were my mother and me when I was five.

I ran my fingers over my mother’s last image in the painting and lowered my eyes.

I did look a lot like my mother.

Suddenly, I remembered Philip Kilosikos, who barged into the general store.
His words came to mind.

“I thought I’d seen you somewhere. You look a lot like her.”
“When I was a kid, I went with someone for a job and met a woman who looked just like you.”

Could he have meant my mother, Irellia Belmour?

Was her death really just from illness? Or was there another reason?
Edell watched my face grow dark, so I quickly tried to smile.

“Anyway, who brought this painting here?”

“I did.”

I looked at Edell in shock. He brought it? Did he break through the national magicians’ barrier?

“Did you steal it?”

“I’m just returning it to the original owner.”

“No, this is…”

I trailed off, running a hand over my face.

This was my mother’s only remaining image, so before I was exiled from the Spirit Castle, I’d secretly donated it to the museum—so I could visit anytime.

I guess I also “stole” it in a way.

“Edell, tell me the truth. How did you get it? There’s a strong barrier there.”

Faced with my firm question, Edell looked away and let out a long sigh.
He hesitated, then slowly answered.

“I broke it.”

Being honest must mean he trusts me.

Edell’s eyes widened for a moment, then softened.

“Pat my head, Ciella.”

He wants praise after this? It’s sad and scary how he thinks only extreme methods solve things.
It shouldn’t be like this…

I thought back to when I first met Edell.

He’d been unconscious, hanging from a tree branch, and I nursed him carefully.
When he woke up, the first thing he said was,

“What are you looking at? Want to die?”

“Someone like you saved me?”

“If you don’t want to die, don’t touch me carelessly.”

He also acted like an arrogant young noble.

At first, not knowing who he really was, I thought he’d lost his manners with his memory.
I figured his rude words were just a defense to protect himself, and tried hard to open his heart.

It was harder than taming a wild cat into a house pet.

Still, I didn’t give up and kept caring for him.
Even though he turned out to be a villain, he had definitely softened, and I felt proud of our growing trust and bond.

But now, I wondered if my efforts had made Edell worse.

I stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Edell came closer and asked,

“Are you mad because I snuck out last night?”

“Don’t sneak out. It’s dangerous, and I worry.”

Other people are in danger, and I worry you’ll cause trouble.
And I’m scared Philip will reveal you’re a black mage.

Maybe sensing my worries, Edell shook his head.

“Don’t worry. That Philip guy who ran away last night won’t tell anyone.”

“Why?”

“He’s a black mage too.”

“How do you know?”

“You can feel black magic. Especially between black mages.”

Well, that’s a relief… although it’s strange to call it “lucky” to run into a black mage.

I sighed and took Edell’s hand.

“Edell. Don’t you want to get along and have fun with people?”

“No.”

So blunt. I closed my eyes and shook my head.

“To live with me, you have to try. You need to become a member of society. Humans can’t live alone.”

Edell clearly saw no point in it.

“There are laws and rules for society. The most basic is respecting others—so you’ll be respected too. But if you kill someone, others can kill you or those around you. Just like you killed people yesterday.”

That was the best advice I could give.

Just telling him won’t be enough.
He needs to meet more people to learn.

“Let’s meet lots of people together from now on.”

I’ll introduce him to some honest people in Udes, and other kids his age.

Even if there aren’t many, there are still good people here.
When you spend time with others, your thoughts can change.

“If you ever think ‘getting rid of someone’ is the answer, ask me first.”

“Okay.”

Edell nodded, as if he had no choice. At least he listens now.
If he ever regains his true “Yuri Sinclair” self, I’ll deal with that then.

“Someday, I’ll take you somewhere filled with light.”

I don’t know how, or what the future holds.
But no one knows what’s ahead—who could have guessed I’d pick up a villain and try to “fix” him in Udes?

I hugged Edell. The scent of soap and his warmth made me feel drowsy.

But suddenly, I felt a hot sensation deep in my chest, and my whole body began to shiver with cold.

“Huh?”

What’s this? I’ve never felt like this before.
Edell, still in my arms, put his hand on my forehead.

“You have a fever.”

My vision spun, and my mind faded to black.

I woke up to the smell of grass and flowers, with the wind brushing my cheek.

Was this a dream?

I looked around in a daze. I was standing in a field covered in moon mist, with stars and the moon hidden.

I followed a distant light through the fog.

A shining, round orb floated ahead, leading me like a guide star.

“Hello.”

The guide star bobbed up and down as if to greet me.
On the way, little lights danced and swayed like I’d seen drawn in books, looking like ether elements.

The further I walked, the thinner the fog became, until I reached the top of a tall hill.
Beyond the clear mist and river, I could see the distant city of Spirit Castle.

Seeing the high castle where I’d lived made me strangely emotional, even in a dream.

Just then, from the now-clear sky, colorful shooting stars began to fall.

“Beautiful.”

It was so pretty, I forgot all my worries and just stared.

‘Good child.’

The guiding star floated closer.

‘Can you treasure everything you have and everything you lost?’

I nodded without hesitation.

‘You’re not alone.’

The passing breeze felt like a gentle hand stroking my hair.

The river shimmered, comforting me, and reflected the sky full of shooting stars.

The little orbs of light gathered around me, as if skipping along.

The lights floating in front of me joined together, making shapes like rune letters.

I crouched down, resting my chin on my hand, watching.

“This is a really nice dream.”

It feels so comforting.

Just then—

Ping!

The orbs formed two fancy shapes and stopped.

‘Light and Shadow.’

Suddenly, everything became bright, and from the sky, two giant comets fell.

They sped up, becoming as bright as the sun, racing toward the ground—
Like the sun and moon were crashing down.

“Huh…?”

Flash.

A blinding white light filled my vision.