Chapter 397
Sshhh—!

Zaira soared endlessly through the sky.

Higher, higher, even higher—toward the distant, faintly glowing moon.

The mage who had accompanied her motioned for her to stop, as if saying it wasn’t necessary, but the child kept her gaze fixed solely on the moon and continued to climb. It seemed less like a reconnaissance mission and more like a desperate attempt to shake off a suffocating feeling.

She rose until the entire city of Clifford’s capital lay beneath her like a miniature model, then slowly exhaled. The biting wind seemed to slice away at the weight of her breath.

“Zaira, you will see worlds farther than I ever have,” her grandmother’s voice echoed softly in her mind.

“Farther than you, Grandma? Why? Can’t we see them together?”

“That’s not possible. I lived first so that I could show you these things. Zaira, it makes me happy to show you this world. And I’m sorry. The farther worlds are unknown—places where I can’t hold your hand.”

“It’s okay. When the time comes, I’ll be able to walk on my own.”

“Yes. And the path you take will one day be followed by your younger sibling. That’s the way of human life.”

Zaira’s body spun slowly in the weightlessness, as if swimming through the air. Her grandmother’s voice continued to ripple in her ears—so vivid it felt like a whisper right beside her. But Zaira knew the truth.

That she and her grandmother now lived in different worlds. That she had stepped into the farther world her grandmother once spoke of.

“Zaira!”

Sshhh!

The mage who had struggled to keep up shouted sharply, warning her there was no time for this, that such reckless actions would only bring trouble to everyone.

Zaira nodded slightly and slowly withdrew her magic. Her body, which had been floating, suddenly sank like a lead weight and then plummeted rapidly.

Sshhh!

Lights flickered across the city—fires burning along the walls of Clifford’s barrier and throughout the capital, centered around the royal palace. From this height, it looked like a night sky, tiny stars twinkling in the darkness.

As the barrier drew closer, Zaira unleashed her magic without restraint, spreading her energy wide.

Ziiiiiing! Ziiing!

It was as if she was silently demanding to be noticed.

King Eriphoni had ordered her to return discreetly but clearly. Zaira thought of her younger sibling left behind in the palace and vowed obedience, but everyone there could guess the truth.

No matter how incapacitated the Bariel mages were, surely they would notice an approach? In the end, the king’s true desire was information and a safe return. Nothing more.

Shwaaak!

Inside the barrier, the soldiers became visible, their numbers clear. Suddenly, something flew up and blocked Zaira’s path. Red hair fluttered wildly, and eyes identical to hers stared back. It was Beric.

In the brief moment their gazes locked midair, Zaira instinctively unleashed a magic orb, which Beric caught with his black sword.

Fwoooom! Boom!

“Ah! What the—? Suddenly!”

“Look! Something’s in the sky! It’s an air raid! We can’t tell if it’s monsters or what—it’s too dark!”

“Stay calm! The magic swordsman will handle it! Soldiers, hold your positions and defend the barrier!”

“Don’t panic! Keep your eyes on Burgos and Luswena!”

The sudden burst of magic in the night startled the soldiers. They scrambled to reorganize their ranks, and news quickly spread that a magic swordsman had stepped out to confront the intruder.

Zaira hovered in the sky, scanning her surroundings slowly. She had no idea where the one who had just fallen had gone.

“…Dead?”

“Who said anyone’s dead?”

Fwoooom! Bang!

Then, Beric rose again from behind. Unable to maintain his stance in midair like a mage, he had leapt back onto the barrier.

Reacting swiftly to the attack from behind, Zaira frowned.

“A pesky little fly… but a feisty one, huh?”

“Are you crazy?”

“What’s a brat like you saying!”

Crack! Boom!

Beric stabbed his black sword into Zaira’s shield and dangled there.

The child scowled at him, and he wiped the grease from his mouth with a grin.

“Came alone?”

“Step aside. You’re not worth my time.”

“We were eating, and because of you! Look what you made me do!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Shwaaak!

“I’m working my ass off here! Answer me properly!”

Beric unleashed his magic, tearing through Zaira’s shield. The child stumbled back, and her robe tore, the hood slipping off.

Even though she had expected to be discovered, she hadn’t wanted this kind of commotion. Zaira glanced toward the Luswena camp and bit her lip hard.

“I don’t go easy on anyone, even kids. We each have one life—fair’s fair, got it?”

No commotion came from the right flank. Maybe the mages’ quarters were on the left, or perhaps the mage who’d caused the earlier trouble hadn’t dared approach.

Whatever the case, Zaira quickly scanned the camp’s interior. Fire. Figuring out why the fires had been lit was her priority.

“Hey! You ignoring me?!”

“Where’s the Minister of Magic?”

“Ian? Hmph. Damn it, I get it. You came to avenge the dead Luswena mage, didn’t you? Then all the more reason not to! He’s finally enjoying some meat after a long time!”

Bang!

Piiing!

“So he’s alive, huh? After killing Grandma like that.”

“Why blame Ian for Grandma’s death? It’s your king’s fault. If you say that in front of Ian, you’ll get a royal knuckle sandwich for sure.”

“You’re close with the minister?”

“Hey, watch your tone.”

Clang! Clang!

Fwoooom!

Every time Beric attacked, Zaira quickly conjured a new shield to block it lightly. She frowned with disdain.

“If I die, will the minister come out?”

“If I die? Probably, yeah.”

“Good.”

Zaira pressed her hands together, then slowly spread them apart. Cold air gathered, swirling into a massive whirlwind.

“…Tell the minister to come out. I have questions.”

“If you wanted to meet him so badly, why not come through the front gate? Follow the proper procedures politely. Then they’d have let you see him. But coming like this? No way.”

“Are you an idiot? I thought you might be, but you really are.”

“What? Damn, it’s hot after a while. Ha ha ha!”

Beric landed atop the barrier, fanning himself with a look of disbelief. He seemed to hope someone would say he was wrong, but the soldiers had long since evacuated the skies. No one was there to back him up.

Zaira thought even his laughter was foolish and let slip a piece of information.

“We’ve got one Bariel mage in custody.”

“So?”

“So? You’re asking ‘so’? Seriously?”

Zaira felt the blood in her head freeze. Of all people, the first one she ran into was this idiot. Talk about bad luck.

“…You don’t get it.”

She had questions for Ian.

But this was wartime. And now that she held a Bariel mage prisoner, no matter how she contacted him, Zaira couldn’t guarantee her own safety.

So she planned to cause a small skirmish under the guise of reconnaissance. That was the safest, most certain way to meet Ian.

Ziiing.

Zaira sharpened the wind in her hand and hurled it at Beric.

But before it could reach him, the attack scattered like dust. Captain Jarrett had arrived. He landed lightly, looking down at the disheveled Beric.

“Hey, old man. What’s with that look in your eyes?”

“What look?”

“You’re looking at me just like that kid did.”

Beric had been babbling about chasing flies and whatnot, but look at him now. How could someone with feet on the ground stand against an enemy in the sky?

Beric propped himself up on his black sword like a cane.

“Ah, come on. I’m fine. Go inside and have some tea with that Maxim guy.”

Smack!

“Ah!”

Jarrett instinctively smacked Beric on the forehead, just like he had in the palace. He’d tried to keep up appearances in a foreign land, but with no cooperation, it was impossible.

Jarrett raised his hand and summoned his magic sword.

Ziiing. Ziiing.

“The Luswena mage crossed the line at this hour. Consider this a declaration of war. I won’t pity a child. Only your fate.”

“Who’s pitying who…”

Sshhh!

Thwack!

Zaira frowned and cast another spell.

From the darkness, the palace guard leapt up in unison. Like when they faced the black-armored foes, they attacked from every angle—360 degrees—leaving no escape.

Startled, Zaira quickly transformed her offensive magic into a shield, but already a sword grazed her calf.

Shwaaak!

“Ahhh!”

She let out a short scream and fell, only to be pinned down by soldiers wielding Idgal spears. Countless blades pressed against her neck.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Ah, damn…”

Things had gone sideways. She was confident she’d survive, but if she couldn’t meet the minister after coming this far, it would be a disaster.

Zaira stared up at the full moon, thinking hard. Earlier, she’d counted about a dozen magic swordsmen. Since no mages had appeared yet, it was clear the enemy was on high alert.

“Hey, you crying?”

At that moment, Beric’s upside-down face suddenly filled her vision. He sniffled and watched her with a smirk. Annoying as hell.

“Not crying. Are your eyes crooked or what?”

“Damn, you’re really rude! Hey! Let’s fight again! I didn’t even fight properly! I’ll—”

“Beric.”

Beric. Just the sound of that name carried an unusual weight. It was like a glass marble drifting silently through the stillness of dawn.

Zaira tilted her head toward the source of the voice. Leaning against the railing, a young man with blond hair and green eyes was looking down at them.

Ah, that’s him—the one who confronted my grandmother earlier today.

“Ian!”

“For someone who told you to keep eating, it’s awfully noisy.”

“Have you finished your meal? Is there any meat left?”

“Enough.”

Whether he meant he had eaten enough or there was enough meat left, Beric smiled with satisfaction and dashed toward the building where Ian stood.

Zaira’s gaze met Ian’s, who was leaning back casually.

“Minister Bariel of the Magic Department!”

Ian propped his chin on his hand and nodded slightly.

From the moment he approached without hiding his magic, Zaira had suspected he had some ulterior motive. At first, knowing he was just a kid, she thought it might have been a mistake.

But even surrounded by soldiers, he carried himself with such confidence—it was clear he had a purpose.

“I’ve heard that Bariel’s Magic Department is part of the royal palace, and within it, specialists are divided with great precision. With a long history stretching back to the dawn of time and the alliance of countless mages, its development is unmatched across the Gaia continent.”

“You know your stuff, kid. But if you came here just to praise Bariel, you’re being awfully rude.”

A faint smile played on Ian’s lips. His tone was gentle, but his voice was chillingly cold.

Jaret and the magic swordsmen swallowed hard, their eyes fixed on Zaira. If this kid was using forbidden magic like the old man, it would be a serious problem.

“I came to ask something. If you’re the Minister of Bariel’s Magic Department, then you must be the pinnacle of Gaia’s mages. That’s what my grandmother told me.”

“Asking is your right, but answering is mine.”

“Is there a way to save a mage who’s fallen into forbidden magic?”

Ian hesitated.

The mages who had followed him murmured among themselves, wondering what nonsense this was. Save a mage lost to the abyss? Such a thing couldn’t exist.

“Rustwena brat! Don’t spout such foolishness! There’s no such thing! You even know what forbidden magic is, right?”

“Everyone else, step back! I’m asking the minister!”

“Look at this little smartass. Wow, just like Beric.”

“Is there a way to reverse forbidden magic or not?”

A single tear slipped from the corner of Zaira’s eye as she lifted her chin defiantly.

Ian fell silent for a moment before speaking with certainty. If such a way existed, how wonderful that would be. If everything could be undone, she could endure even crossing the abyss twice.

But reality is reality.

“There isn’t.”

“There isn’t? Really?”

“Yes. There isn’t. Forbidden magic is both truth and end in itself. There’s no way to reverse it.”

Zaira’s tears finally spilled freely. Then, with a voice trembling with desperation, she shouted again.

“My grandmother said there’s no such thing as truth, that the only truth is that there is none! I’m asking one last time! Are you sure? You’re not just pretending not to know?”

“Hey, hey, watch your mouth with Ian!”

Voices rose in protest, but Ian remained still, as if time had frozen, looking down at the girl. If he declared it didn’t exist, it would be as if it truly didn’t, and he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Zaira screamed, clutching the dirt in her fists.

“Say it exists! If you say it does, I’ll find a way to save my grandmother no matter what! Please, say it exists!”