70 – Too Early Still

Sylvia moved so suddenly,

Robert had no time to be flustered before advancing on me.

“..Lady Sylvia, might we offer a tour of the village?

“We were all quite weary, you see.”

“I can certainly imagine.”

Pleased, perhaps, that his words were acknowledged,

Robert subtly stepped closer, lessening the distance,

but Sylvia took a step back in response.

“Follow me, the village is this way.”

“…Haha, I appreciate the excessive kindness.”

Robert’s last words were slightly mumbled,

but Sylvia brushed it aside and headed toward the village,

and so, without straying,

we arrived at the elven village.

The elven village was a rather beautiful place.

Towering trees stretched high into the sky,

and upon each and every one of them, houses were suspended,

and the scent of flowers and grass that filled the village

seemed to refresh my very mind.

The appearance of the elves, seen here and there, also

served to highlight the beauty of nature, and

whether the sight was only visible to me or not,

the spirits, too, seemed so full of life.

The one regrettable thing was that,

due to the lateness of the hour, we couldn’t linger longer to admire it.

“First, I’ll show you to your lodgings.

Please come this way.”

Sylvia’s sharp tone roused us from our admiration of the scenery,

and with Robert leading the way,

we slowly began to follow her.

*

The lodgings were not bad.

No, they were rather good, in fact.

A bed with the sensation of fluffy cotton,

and a room filled with the rich scent of wood.

And the subtle fragrance of hundreds of flowers,

wafting from the dried petals.

Thanks to lodgings and facilities so fine that

most inns wouldn’t even dare compare,

the knights and the other members of our party

also seemed to be in the highest of spirits.

“First, as it is late tonight,

“Perhaps you should see to your rest first.”

“Ah, would it truly be alright if I did so?”

“Yes, I will see that you are given a thorough tour of the village tomorrow. Rest easy.”

Those of us who had been inside the carriage this whole time, I cannot say, but for the knights, it was the best news they could have hoped for.

All day they had to escort the carriage, and even during the march, they were afforded no respite.

To finally be able to lay down their bodies, heavy with weariness and exhaustion, what could they possibly complain about?

“I shall enter first and unpack our things, young master.”

“..Very well.”

Perhaps due to the eyes watching from all around,

Ella, her tone now changed, included,

The knights, as if they would take flight to their respective rooms to cast off their fatigue,

And Robert, conversing with Silvia until she turned to depart, before slowly entering his own room.

In the end, the one left behind until the very last was

I, who had missed the timing to enter,

And just as I was about to head to my own room,

Someone grasped my shoulder.

Instinctively, I turned and pulled away,

And long, perfume-scented hair brushed against me.

“..Who?”

“I apologize if I startled you.”

A silhouette of a person swayed in the dark hallway.

A black robe was pulled down to cover their head so thoroughly,

That it was hard to see, but thanks to their voice,

I could at least surmise they were female.

At my wary tone,

They took a step back and lowered their head,

And only once my guard had softened did

They speak of their purpose for being here.

“A message from Lady Silvia Restonil.

When all are asleep at dawn, come to the place where the wind lingers.”

“..The place where the wind lingers?”

“I have delivered the message. Then—”

“..Wait a moment.”

Thinking they had accomplished their task,

Turning, I caught the woman’s wrist as she tried to slip away.

She seemed flustered, attempting to wrench her hand free,

but when it didn’t yield easily, she created even more of a commotion.

“L-Let go of me, now!”

“Calm yourself, just listen to—”

“Truly, one cannot trust human nature…!”

It seemed a misunderstanding was growing, escalating quickly, so

I hastily covered her mouth and slowly continued to speak.

“You need to tell me where this place you speak of is,

so I can actually find it.”

“..Ah.”

Only after hearing my words did she seem to realize this fact.

She withdrew a map from within her robes, indicating the location.

Even though she was entirely enveloped in the robe,

I could see her face reddening, but

I decided it was likely just the light in the hallway,

and dismissed it as such.

“You go this way…are you listening?”

“Ah…I am listening.”

“And if you go straight that way, that person

will be waiting.”

Finishing her explanation, she vanished this time

without a trace.

Why they were calling me out in the dead of night, of all times,

and what her reason was for wanting to meet me…

The questions piled up like a mountain,

but I didn’t bother asking her.

I’d be meeting that person soon enough anyway.

*

“You’ve arrived?”

“..What is the reason for summoning me?”

Moonlight,

a softly shimmering moonlight.

Jade-colored hair gleamed, tinted a vibrant blue.

The blue was only further emphasized by the moonlight, an

image that stole my gaze for a moment, but

I regained my composure

and slowly approached her.

“So, what is the reason you summoned me?”

“..Unless we’re going to talk from a distance,

“I would have you draw a little nearer.”

“Ten paces to your left, seven on the diagonal,

and, Princess, three steps directly behind you.”

At my sudden, inexplicable words,

she tilted her head in puzzlement, but

I maintained a blank face, continuing my thread.

“If you deal with those hidden there,

I shall approach.”

“..Impressive.”

The words barely left her lips before

three elves materialized at her side in a blink.

Two male, one female.

Though they stood directly before me,

I detected no trace of their presence,

a testament to their considerable skill.

“Is it to your satisfaction now?”

“..Yes.”

“Forgive me if I caused offense.

I merely wished to minimize my escort.”

I accepted her apology with equanimity, and

slowly moved forward.

My guard remained up, of course, but

she seemed satisfied by even this small gesture.

“The reason I summoned you..

is to ask a boon.”

“..A boon, you say?”

“Indeed, a request you are entirely free

to refuse, as you wish.”

She paused, as if gathering her breath, then

suddenly began to sing.

A song whose words I scarcely understood,

a melody carried only by her voice, unaccompanied.

The instant that song entered my ears,

a tremor ran through me.

With each syllable that reverberated,

the very nature around us stirred.

The wind howled,

the leaves danced,

the earth itself trembled.

The natural world, it seemed, was enraptured by her song.

Simultaneously, a staggering number of spirits swarmed around her.

Spirits of every hue and form commenced their dance at her side,

a dance that showed no sign of ceasing even after her song had finished.

Finally, the song concluded,

and at that very moment, she cleared her throat once,

then approached me, grasping my shoulders in both hands.

“What did you feel?”

“….?”

“What did you feel,

what did you see,

what did you receive?”

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking.”

“..You felt nothing at all?”

“I thought it was magnificent.”

Something in my statement seemed to trouble her,

for she covered her mouth with the hand that held my shoulder.

What is it?…Is there a problem?… I could hear

incomprehensible murmurings, but I paid them no mind.

“Well then, I’ll be heading back─”

“Wait, hold.”

“…”

“Well, there seems to be a slight issue, but

in any case, you are the only one who fits the criteria.”

“I still don’t quite understand what you’re saying─”

“I implore you, good sir.”

At her words and bowing head,

not only I, but the elves behind her as well,

could not hide our bewilderment.

“P-Princess, please raise your head…!”

“That’s right, even if he is the one spoken of by the prophecy,

how could the Princess demean herself before a human…!”

“Silence.”

Sylvia brushed aside the supporting hands

of the elven men who were rushing to raise her.

And at the same moment, she looked upon them

with an icy, chilling, yet hushed voice.

“What if he *is* human?”

“Our hope, you see, hangs by a thread…a thread woven from the very humans you so readily dismiss.”

“B-but…!”

“Still haven’t grasped the gravity of it, have you?”

Cutting off the Elf’s sputtering protest, she advanced, each step deliberate.

When she finally stood before them, not a single Elf dared raise their gaze.

Her eyes were too glacial, too fierce.

“The preservation of the bloodline, the traditions we so vaunt…it all hinges upon a single human.”

“…”

“You should be groveling, begging for his aid. What is it that makes bowing your head so unpalatable?”

Her pronouncements were absolute, crystal clear.

Evidently, none were foolish enough to argue, their mouths spilling forth apologies tinged with regret.

Yet, even that displeased her. Her face contorted once more, and she gestured toward me.

“The one you must apologize to is not me, but him.”

“P-Princess…?!”

“Bowing to a…human…!”

“I will not repeat myself. Apologize.”

Her expression, her aura, brooked no argument. No other words could be spoken.

They offered their meek apologies to me.

“So, might I learn what it is you wish to ask of me?”

“Hm…in your current condition, it might prove quite difficult.”

“Pardon?”

“I regret to say it appears my mother’s assessment was correct. It seems it is still too early for you.”

“…..”

“Therefore, I will request something else.”

With those words, Silvia bowed her head to me once more. But this time, someone attempted to stop her.

It wasn’t.

Only she was there, a touch more grave than before,

a touch more solemn.

“I wish for you to meet my mother, the current ‘Oracle’ and Queen

of the Elves.”

“….?”

And the words that fell from her lips

matched the deepened weight of the atmosphere.