Chapter 39. The Wind Is Nothing More Than the Wind
2023.09.08
Ellis took out a pen for the first time in a long while.
It was the pen she used for drawing magic circles.
To get used to the crafting pen again, Ellis rolled it a few times in her hand.
It fit perfectly in her grip, and yet felt strangely unfamiliar.
It was only natural.
This had been Ellis’s very first crafting pen, and among the pens available on the market, it was the cheapest kind.
So after receiving a new crafting pen from Chase as an engagement gift, she hadn’t touched this one again.
In fact, the last magic circle she drew was scratched out only with her fingernail, so this was practically the first time she was holding a pen in eight years.
“I think it’s been about three months since I last saw you holding a pen, my lady.”
Of course, if you counted only this regressed life, it had only been about three months.
I don’t know if I can manage this.
Cheap crafting pens break easily if you don’t pay close attention to the flow of mana.
Although Ellis didn’t have enough mana to actually break one, she was still nervous since it had been so long.
She looked at the small diamond embedded in the gold nib and took a deep breath.
Then she slowly infused mana into the translucent body of the pen.
Pearlescent mana filled the barrel.
“No matter how many times I see it, your mana is amazing, my lady. To think it changes color depending on the light—it’s beautiful.”
At Regina’s admiration, Ellis smiled bitterly.
Each wizard’s mana had its own color, and the purer the mana, the more vivid and primary the hue.
Mana like Ellis’s—subtle and shifting depending on the light—meant only one thing: the quality was poor.
That was why Iris always had something to say whenever Ellis drew a magic circle.
“A mongrel, mixed with this and that.”
Turbid mana disrupted the smooth flow of magic and lowered its efficiency.
Ellis had always hated her murky mana, but after hearing Regina’s words, it didn’t feel quite so bad.
If I had been a truly capable wizard, Father would never have let me go so easily.
The same went for Chase. And Iris’s torment would have only grown worse.
Who would have thought the day would come when she’d actually be grateful for her lousy magic?
Ellis allowed herself a faint smile, thinking that people really did need to live long to see such things.
“But, my lady, what are you planning to do? Isn’t this the crate of salt Lady Jasmine gave you?”
“Regina, I’m going to scatter salt around the area.”
“Salt? All of this?”
Ellis nodded and began to inscribe a magic circle onto the salt crate.
Regina quickly closed her mouth.
Drawing a magic circle demanded the utmost concentration.
Especially for Ellis, with her turbid mana, she had to be more meticulous and precise than anyone else.
Every time she drew a single line, Ellis held her breath.
Though it didn’t take very long, beads of sweat soon dotted her forehead.
“Hoo, done.”
Ellis switched the pen to her left hand and flexed and clenched her right fist a few times.
“What did you draw, my lady?”
“A spell to lighten the weight.”
The salt was far too heavy for just her and Regina to move and scatter around.
There were only two types of spells for handling heavy loads:
One was to reduce the weight of the object. The other was to enhance the strength of the person carrying it.
The latter was a spell cast directly on humans, so it couldn’t be done with a magic circle.
And since it was only for temporary strength enhancement, no one would bother enduring the pain of scratching a circle into their own skin.
So Ellis simply reduced the weight of the salt.
It was a very simple spell with short duration, so even her magic circle was enough to activate it.
“Alright, let’s lift it. Careful now, you might get hurt.”
“Oh, with your spell this should be—urgh.”
Regina, who had underestimated the weight, gritted her teeth.
“My magic has its limits. Sorry, Regina.”
It was impossible to make the crate as light as a feather.
“No, it’s fine. I just let my guard down. This much—I can carry with one hand even.”
She forced a laugh and braced her legs.
For more than an hour, Ellis and Regina carried the crates and scattered the salt around.
The ground was wet and muddy, ruining their shoes and dresses, and their faces were drenched in sweat.
At first they had chatted as they worked, but by the time they were nearly done, only the sound of their breathing remained.
“My lady… this really is important work, right?”
Regina’s arms trembled as she set the empty crate back in place.
“Yes, it’s important.”
It was a matter of life and death. Regina had many more questions, but she didn’t ask.
Because ever since Ellis had strangely changed two months ago, everything she did had carried meaning.
Before, she never knew what she was doing, and it was all so precarious.
Now, whatever she did inspired trust. That dangerous air about her was completely gone.
In just two months, she seemed to have become an adult.
“If we’re done, let’s head back, my lady. I think dinner’s ready. I’ll prepare your bathwater after the meal.”
“Just a quick wash will do, Regina.”
“Oh come on, my lady, you can’t sleep if you feel dirty.”
“No, it’s really fine. Out here, taking a proper bath would be a luxury.”
Ellis walked ahead.
Her low shoes, pulled on because of the sinking mud, peeked out from beneath her dress now and then.
She’s changed completely.
Compared to Iris, Ellis had always been kinder, but she had her noblewoman’s lines she never crossed—things like a comfortable bed, bathing morning and night, and proper shoes.
But ever since leaving Bedroka, she hadn’t complained once. In fact, she even stopped Regina when she tried to fuss over her.
The change left Regina speechless.
“Regina, hurry up! At this rate we won’t have anything left to eat.”
Ellis smiled brightly. It was the smile of an adult.
Regina quickly hurried after her.
By the time Karan returned to the carriage after finishing dinner preparations, Ellis had already removed her mud-caked dress and shoes.
Thanks to Regina’s diligence, her body was wiped clean as well—it was practically the same as bathing.
Thanks to that, Ellis was able to avoid letting Karan find out what she’d been up to.
“This is delicious.”
Ellis tasted the stew Karan brought and let out an admiring sigh.
Though nothing special had been added, it was excellent.
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
“There’s meat in this?”
“Yes. I cut up some jerky.”
“Jerky?”
When traveling long distances, jerky was essential.
Nothing replenished stamina better than meat, and journeys demanded plenty of it.
Usually it was carried in small pouches, sliced into strips, and chewed on while traveling or during meals.
But Ellis had never had it soaked in stew before.
The softened jerky, soaked with broth, had both excellent taste and texture.
Ellis kept scooping it up, chewing happily.
Karan didn’t even touch his own bowl, just watched her with quiet delight.
“Your Highness, you should eat too.”
Ellis realized she’d been too focused on eating and flushed with embarrassment.
“I must have stared too much. Please, go on.”
Finally, Karan lifted his spoon.
Once she saw him begin eating, Ellis refocused on her meal.
For a while, the only sounds inside the carriage were of their eating.
Karan lowered his gaze entirely to his bowl.
He kept wanting to look at her as she chewed, but he was afraid it would make her uncomfortable, maybe even cause her to choke.
Still… he wanted to look.
The way she enjoyed his cooking was too beautiful.
He had to grit his teeth to keep from watching her.
“Thank you for the meal, Your Highness.”
At last!
Karan’s head snapped up. His gaze was so intense that Ellis blinked in surprise.
“…It was really delicious. I think I’ll crave it again next time.”
Feeling she had to say something, Ellis spoke earnestly. Every word was true.
“I’ll make it for you again.”
Karan was, in truth, a bit of a boaster.
Once they reached Tetris, he wouldn’t be cooking anymore.
There would be at least ten chefs there to serve him.
Still, the promise wasn’t bad. Ellis smiled brightly.
“You promised, Your Highness.”
After dinner, Karan summoned Hartvin and Bernard to his small tent.
The only furniture inside was a round table for meetings. Once the three men gathered around, the tent felt crowded.
The tent’s only purpose was to keep off the morning dew. Hartvin and Bernard swallowed hard at the sight.
Karan’s army always lacked supplies. The King of Tetris never provided proper support.
Of course, Karan could have covered some of it with his private wealth, but he deliberately chose not to.
If the king found out about his fortune, it could be dangerous—and besides, Karan never felt particularly inconvenienced.
It’s only us who suffer, only us!
Hartvin clenched his fist in frustration.
No matter how often he saw the King of Tetris slight his master, he could never get used to it.
“This was the only suitable spot for a campsite, so we settled here, but it’s not safe.”
Karan placed both hands on the map spread out on the table.
“We understand, Your Highness. We’ve formed nine two-man teams. Three teams will rotate on watch duty. Don’t worry too much.”
Bernard, who commanded the Tetris warriors, reported.
“I’ll join them.”
“That won’t do, Your Highness. Tomorrow the road is long. You need as much rest as possible. And from tomorrow we can expect rough terrain.”
Hartvin objected immediately.
From tomorrow onward, they would truly enter Ragnarok’s domain. They could not avoid clashes with monsters.
“I’m not the only one who’ll face the rough road.”
“But you want the fastest possible breakthrough, don’t you? That requires Your Highness to stay strong.”
Bernard tried to persuade him. It was a reasonable argument, but Karan shook his head.
“Don’t worry. Standing watch won’t make me weaker.”
Hartvin let out a short sigh.
“Is this because of Lady Ellis?”
Karan stared fixedly at the map.
“Your Highness, please trust us.”
“I do.”
The answer came quickly, but it rang hollow.
“Your Highness, we’ll guard Lady Ellis well. If you don’t trust the others, then I’ll take personal charge.”
Bernard stepped forward. He was one of the most skilled warriors in Tetris, acknowledged by Karan himself.
“That’s out of the question. No one approaches Lady Ellis’s carriage. Not you, Hartvin, either.”
Karan’s gaze turned sharp.
Both men sighed faintly, but Karan ignored them.
He had no intention of sharing even Ellis’s breathing with anyone else.
Her protection was his duty alone.
He would not divide that honor with anyone.
Hartvin and Bernard realized they had failed to persuade him.
They exchanged glances.
Nothing will happen.
Yes… let’s hope so.
But their hopes turned out to be nothing more than the wind.
Late at night, a warrior holding a torch high shouted out:
“Monsters! A horde of Froglizards is approaching!”
