🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 18
“Are you ready, Asha?”
“Yes. I’m ready, Princess!”
The next morning.
I took Asha, who had carried the warm wash water, and headed outside. This time, I brought my staff because I had been scolded so much for going too far before.
The air, which had felt like it would freeze my lungs, had softened somewhat overnight. Now, I felt like I could do it.
I brought Asha here to confirm that I really saw her myself.
I took a deep breath.
When I pulled out the grip, a clear metallic sound rang, and a sharp blade emerged.
“T-There’s a sword inside?”
Asha flinched in surprise and pointed at the sword with her finger. I wasn’t startled because I already knew it was there.
“Asha, how’s the sword’s condition?”
“Huh? Oh… it’s very well sharpened. There’s no sign of rust or breakage.”
That was a relief.
I put the sword back into the staff.
Now, it was time to take action.
Tap, tap, tap.
I tapped the ground three times. I had a habit of tapping my staff on the ground whenever I was nervous or deep in thought, so it didn’t feel particularly difficult.
But nothing happened.
What’s going on? Did I misunderstand the instructions?
Not once, but twice, nothing changed. I couldn’t help but doubt whether I had misheard.
Just as I wondered if something was wrong with the staff, a clear ding suddenly rang in my head.
The pitch-black world changed.
“Huh?”
Whenever I dreamed, I often saw vivid, colorful, and detailed dreams because of memories from my previous life.
In those bittersweet dreams, I sometimes felt sorrow knowing I would soon wake, but at the same time, I felt boundlessly free.
“Princess, what’s wrong?”
Asha’s voice echoed in my head. The ringing sound spread as waves from the staff, revealing the contours of the objects around me.
As the waves passed over the blackness, white outlines appeared, showing the shapes of people and objects nearby.
I was so shocked that I dropped the staff. Asha ran toward me, clutching her skirt in both hands.
“P-Princess! Are you okay?”
Even with the staff dropped, Asha’s image rushing toward me was vividly visible.
Seeing a scene I had never witnessed in 23 years, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.
“Asha… that’s…”
I couldn’t speak and just stared at her, kneeling over me, peering down.
Even kneeling, Asha was taller than me—probably about a handspan taller.
She wore a dress that flowed along her body’s contours, tied tightly with a ribbon at the waist, and an apron with frills.
Yet, her face, dress color, and the surrounding colors were still in black and white.
“You… you’re about a handspan taller than me.”
“D-Do you… see me?!”
Asha spoke excitedly in a loud voice. I fumbled, holding onto the staff in her hands.
“I can’t see your face or colors… but I can see the outlines.”
“Then… would you like to touch my face?”
“Huh? Is… is that okay?”
Was it really okay to touch someone else’s face like this?
Flustered and hesitant, I didn’t answer, but Asha replied energetically.
“Of course! What could be impossible?”
“Then, excuse me…”
“If it’s the Princess, you can always do so.”
Always… allowed?
I smiled faintly, then put down the staff and explored her face with my hands.
I could tell from the lifted cheeks that Asha was smiling broadly.
Her overall expression felt lively and spirited, perfectly matching her usual playful personality.
“My hair is black, my eyes are brown! I have my hair tied up! And… can you see the hairband on top?”
“Hmmm… I still can’t see your face or color, but I can see everything else.”
As soon as I imagined Asha’s face, it blurred, like a light going out, and the outlines of all other objects vanished as well.
Back in darkness, I withdrew my hands from Asha’s face.
“Princess?”
Sensing something was wrong, Asha called out cautiously.
As she had suspected, trapped in darkness again, I let my hands fall weakly. The scene I had just seen now felt like a dream.
But.
I understood the significance of Russell giving me this staff.
“Asha.”
“Yes?”
I gripped the staff with both hands and stood.
“We’re going somewhere. Will you follow me?”
From what I had just experienced, two major things were clear.
First, I could see the outlines of the surroundings, but I couldn’t see faces or colors. I had to see the scene as if painting white on a black canvas.
That’s why Asha had to describe her hair and eye color, and I had to feel her face with my hands to understand her features.
While vision had returned only partially, it was still remarkable.
Second, the effect was truly temporary.
I had probably only seen the surroundings for about a minute. Before using the staff’s ability fully, I had taken Asha to the castle gate.
Holding Asha’s hand and stepping outside, I felt my heart, previously dry with despair and sorrow, swell with hope.
I didn’t know exactly how it restored a blind person’s sight, but this staff was like a lantern illuminating my dark world.
“Princess, we’re here.”
“Mm. Seems like it, thank you.”
I let go of Asha’s hand and walked alone.
The cold wind brushed my cheeks, yet my heart pounded as if it would burst, heightening my emotions.
After about twelve steps, I stopped and raised the staff high.
I wonder what the North looks like.
Thinking this, I tapped the staff on the ground three times.
A crystal-clear chime rang in my mind. With each ring, waves spread, sketching everything around me.
Snow-covered hills, clouds drifting across the sky, sparse trees enduring the harsh northern wind. Countless breaths exhaled as white mist.
And behind me, a huge, magnificent castle I had never seen before stood.
Its stone walls were tall and sturdy. At the gate, a sculpture of an angel playing a giant harp was displayed. The fortress was more elegant and noble than the fortress Russell had described, resembling a cathedral or temple more than a military fort.
Seeing this castle, I felt tears threatening to fall.
I had never seen such a beautiful world.
And.
A figure was crossing the snowy courtyard toward me from the main entrance.
Even though I rubbed my eyes, the figure didn’t vanish. It wasn’t Asha; clearly, it was a man.
He was about a head and a half taller than me. His face was hidden, but his body looked solid. He wore elegant attire with ceremonial epaulets on both shoulders.
Due to his size, he quickly approached me. Hesitant, I froze as he spoke first.
“It seems you liked the gift I gave you.”
“Ru-Russell?”
“Yes. It’s me.”
I was surprised. Russell’s physique was even more robust and solid than I had imagined from Asha’s descriptions.
“A staff that restores a blind person’s sight… the ancient sages were clever, weren’t they?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer this question. It implied he knew the staff’s ability when he gave it to me.
As I hugged the staff and stepped back, his hand reached closer, gently brushing the tears from my eyes. He then placed his hand over his chest and bowed gracefully.
Then he spoke softly.
“Fiana. Will you lend me your time?”
