67 – Bombshell Revelation

Sylvia, just now,

is in a state of unprecedented disarray.

Yesterday, and today as well.

The swarm of people crowded around her.

The gazes of those who approached,

clearly with a certain agenda in mind.

Sometimes glazed with lust,

or pupils brimming with greed and envy.

Since childhood, Sylvia had become exceptionally skilled

at reading the emotions of others, and was accustomed to such feelings.

As an Elven princess,

there were inevitably forces that sought to exploit her.

But accustomed or not,

that didn’t mean she was alright.

Her age may have been older than her classmates at the Academy,

but that was only by human standards.

By Elven standards, where one lived for centuries at the very least,

she was still a young Elf.

“Lady Sylvia, perhaps after class you might consider joining us…”

“We have some questions about the Elves, perhaps we could speak privately for a moment…”

“There are magics known only to Elves…”

‘If only I had even a single attendant…’

And so, she couldn’t possibly cope alone

with the ceaseless barrage of questions,

clearly intended to target her.

Furthermore, she couldn’t treat them carelessly.

She was, after all, dispatched to foster

harmony between the Empire and the Elves.

In other words, each and every word and action

could impact the amity with the Empire.

“Forgive me, I have a sudden headache…”

“Ah, perhaps we should escort you to the infirmary…!”

“No, I wouldn’t want to trouble anyone for such a reason,

I’ll go on my own.”

And so, rather than refusing or rejecting them outright,

Sylvia chose to remove herself from the situation.

“Wow, Elves are as kind-hearted as they are beautiful…”

“She seems to have a strong sense of self, how admirable…”

‘…That’s not quite it, though.’

Muttering rose from behind,

caught by the elf’s delicate hearing,

but she did her best to ignore it, pressing onward towards the infirmary.

What mattered to her now

was not clearing up misunderstandings, but rest.

Even the briefest respite,

a moment to beg forgiveness from her weary body.

And so, at last, she arrived at the infirmary,

and the scene that greeted her as she opened the door was…

“..Huh?”

“…”

A pristine woman, one she knew well, bending at the waist before the dark-haired man she’d met yesterday.

*

He had to clear up the misunderstanding.

With the elf, who still stood awkwardly in the doorway.

“…Would you mind closing the door, please?”

“Y-yes, of course.”

The door shut, and she stepped inside,

furtively glancing between the two of them; Silvia.

Clearing things up with her took time.

Explaining the incident with the Order’s attack,

and what happened with the Saintess because of it, even requesting she keep the affair a secret.

“…If that’s the situation, I understand.”

“Thank you.”

Unexpectedly, she didn’t seem

particularly bothered by the matter.

She simply climbed into bed,

indifferent.

Surely, she was the only person in the Academy to react like that to the Saintess.

Then, the Saintess, who’d been quiet until now,

spoke, seeing her lying down.

“Uhm… Silvia… nim?”

“You can call me Silvia.

You are, after all, the Saintess of this nation.”

“Ah, why did Silvia come to the infirmary?”

You don’t seem unwell, Saintess murmured, making Silvia flinch.

As if pricked by something within.

“..Came because I’m not feeling well.”

“Oh…where does it hurt?

Perhaps I could take a look—”

“Ah…no! That won’t be necessary!”

The Saintess’ sincere concern

startled her. Her face remained unreadable,

but she couldn’t quite stop

the flush creeping up her ears.

I could surmise her reasons well enough.

Though I’d only glimpsed it briefly,

she didn’t seem fond of extended conversations.

Likely, she’d simply grown weary of the throng

and sought a moment of peace.

To preserve her dignity,

I took hold of the Saintess’ shoulder, who still tried to check on her condition,

gently pulling her away.

“Saintess, you look tired,

perhaps we should take our leave.”

“Ah, but I haven’t received your definite—”

“I’ll consider it favorably.”

At my last words, her face brightened instantly.

She bowed her head in gratitude

and hurried out, *bbolbbolbbol*.

And so, at present,

only Sylvia and I remained in the medical room,

a perfect opportunity for me,

who had a matter to request of her.

The usual crowd that clung to her was absent,

making it easy to approach.

She, in turn, seemed a little flustered,

apparently not expecting me to stay and approach.

“Umm…is there something you wished to say?”

“Sylvia-nim.”

“Ah, if it’s about yesterday, I’m sorry for misunderstanding—”

“No, it’s not that.”

I quickly cut off her words,

lest she fall prey to yet another strange presumption.

“Sylvia-nim, I have a favor to ask.”

“…A favor?”

For some reason, her face stiffens.

To a degree unseen even in one usually so expressionless.

The brows that typically ran horizontal

Now angled diagonally,

And from her cool gaze, the pupils,

I could sense a profound indifference.

Moreover, it felt as though the temperature

In the surrounding space had dropped, just a hair.

“…Speak your piece.

I shall at least listen.”

“…I was hoping to acquire a single spirit stone.

Perhaps you could procure one for me?”

“…A spirit stone?”

“Yes.”

“…Is that all?”

“Yes, that is all I require.”

“Is that so…”

The instant I utter my request,

The frigid air that had been hanging, ice-like,

Lifts as though the cold itself were a lie.

What’s more, ever so subtly,

The chill in her eyes softens,

And her brows ease back to their usual position.

Besides all that, a ghost of a smile

Plays about her lips,

And from who-knows-where appear

Her spirits, chuckling once more.

As my gaze unconsciously fixes on them,

She clears her throat, drawing my attention back.

“Ahem, a spirit stone is presently unavailable.”

“…Why is that?”

This news landed like a bolt from the blue.

I needed to test it as soon as possible,

To put it to use in my research.

Evidently, my feelings were plain on my face,

For her expression became more solemn than before.

“I know not what you intend to do with the spirit stone,

But a spirit stone is, in a way, also a spirit.”

“….”

“A spirit is as good as family in our Great Forest,

“I cannot simply hand it over to someone who hasn’t been verified.”

“Then, is there any other way to obtain a spirit stone?”

“Likely not. Not unless the spirits themselves come forward, practically begging you to forge a contract.”

“….”

“Of course, you being human, the degree of natural affinity required… it’s safe to say it’s impossible.”

Seeing the unwavering look on her face, I knew she spoke the truth.

“…How does one become verified?”

“Before we proceed, may I ask just one thing?”

“…Please, do.”

“What reason could you possibly have, so dire that you need a spirit stone?”

“….”

“You are a peculiar human, indeed.”

Unlike the rumors, you are neither dissolute, nor do you seem unduly consumed by luxury and pleasure.

You do not provoke others, nor harass the fair maidens about.

Violence does not seem to be in your nature.

Standing before one of elven princessly status, you make no move to gain any advantage.

You neither shower her with insincere compliments, nor do you gaze upon her with lustful eyes.

Sylvia found herself intrigued, for she saw in him a reaction unlike any she had witnessed in humans before.

If he were a half-elf, harboring a deep-seated affection for the elves, all of this would be readily explained, yet he denied being anything other than human.

A young elf she may be, but Sylvia was well acquainted with the desires of humans.

She understood all too well how humans acted in accordance with their cravings.

And so, more than ever, she sought to understand his purpose.

What reason could he possibly have to need a spirit stone, to this extent?

If it was truly necessary, then…

Why did not even a hint of flattery show?

So, I asked him the reason…

But he remained silent.

It seemed less that he *couldn’t* answer, and more that he *wouldn’t*.

And that made me all the more curious.

What reason could he possibly have for keeping it a secret from others?

“You… you want this Spirit Stone, by any means necessary, is that it?”

“…Yes.”

“Gaining the favor of Elves, and Spirits, is no simple matter.

Are you prepared for what it entails?”

“Yes.”

In his eyes, answering without a moment’s hesitation,

burned a fierce determination.

No lust, no greedy visions of future gain,

tainted his resolve.

That the Elves were arrogant, that they looked down upon, even rejected, other races, was certainly true.

But that was merely a trait of the race as a whole.

There surely existed individual Elves who were different.

And Silvia, if anything,

leaned closer to the latter category.

‘…The fact that he’s a human with an exceptional affinity for nature, too… Perhaps I should at least ask my mother…?’

“Alright… I understand.

Would it be alright if we spoke in more detail tomorrow?”

“…Thank you, Lady Silvia.”

No sooner had their conversation ended,

then Jennison was gone, bursting through the medical ward doors.

And Silvia, left to herself,

hardly had time to rest before returning,

to be engulfed once more by the throng.

*

That was the end of their conversation.

If there were tests or verification needed, he was confident he could face them, whatever they might be.

But he couldn’t even begin to imagine *what* those tests would be.

He tried to speak with her alone again,

but conversing with her while surrounded by the crowd,

seemed more difficult than plucking a star from the sky.

And so, he had to simply let the day slip away.

Or so he thought…

“Come with me to the Great Forest, Jennison.”

It was the second bombshell of the day.