Chapter 29: Priest of Resurrection [After]

The staircase was long, but Vane and the others ran, whipping their bodies to check for any effects caused by Orphide’s power ahead.

If they found any, they would cleanse it with the power of Squall or Vane. The staircase was covered with moss-covered stones on the walls, floor, and ceiling.

After running for a few more minutes, the seven of them felt the wind. They had reached a place within Windea, a large hollow that seemed to have been carved out entirely from the inside of a cylindrical shape.

“What is this place?”

“Look at that!”

Charlotte pointed to the center of the large hollow. In the large hollow they had entered, there was a path along the walls that reached their standing height, drawing a circle.

From the circular path, several arch-shaped bridges stretched towards the center. In the center of the hollow, a complexly intertwined light sphere was floating, created by lines of emerald and azure. In addition to the particularly large light sphere, several smaller light spheres floated around it.

The largest light sphere they had found was floating in the center, and it was being eroded by black mist, just as Ren had feared. Changes were happening from within Windea.

“I think this is a sacred place where Windea’s magic gathers, don’t you?”

“I agree. I think the same.”

Following Kaito’s agreement, Squall, looking tired, said.

“Let’s cleanse it quickly.”

However, when they tried to cross the arch-shaped bridge, they were obstructed by a powerful wind. They were almost blown off the edge, and no one wanted to think about what would happen if they fell from this height with no bottom in sight.

They realized it wasn’t just any wind; it was there to protect the power within Windea’s center, and they couldn’t think of a way to stop it.

Squall used magic.

First, he used magic to dispel the curse. Then, he used advanced white magic to ward off the evil power.

The wind obstructing the bridge weakened, but Orphide’s power continued to corrupt Windea’s magic. When it was thought that they might try to do something about it with Vane’s power, Charlotte carefully observed her surroundings.

“Could it be…”

Among these seven people, her eyesight was the best. She found a difference within one of the several light spheres surrounding the particularly large light sphere.

Unlike the other light spheres around it, it was enveloped only by wind magic. Inside the light sphere enveloped by wind magic, something was certainly there.

That was…

“Why is it… here?”

She couldn’t help but doubt her own eyes, just like Kaito last year.

However, there was no mistaking it. Charlotte had only seen it in pictures, but the silhouette within the wind and light sphere was undoubtedly the bow used by a certain individual.

The bow of the Lophelia family’s ancestor, one of the Seven Heroes’ bows.

The question of why it was here was the same as when they found Airia. It seemed to be a moment that made them think there was some reason.

They couldn’t ignore that bow. Its name was “Wind King’s Bow: Sylphina,” said to have received the blessing of the Wind Spirit, and it was here, as if supporting the wind within Windea.

Could they take it, and how could they obtain it? Charlotte hesitated, and the other six also saw Sylphina within the light sphere.

Suddenly, when the wind and light surrounding Sylphina subsided, it slowly descended.

“Wait!”

Charlotte forgot that she had sprained her foot and ran. Even though she felt a sharp, burning pain, she moved her feet as if she didn’t notice it. She used wind magic to pull Sylphina, which was about to fall into the abyss, towards her. Sylphina didn’t fall to the bottom of the hollow and was safely held in her hands.

“Charlotte-Senpai!”

Vane, who had grabbed Charlotte, rolled over on the arch-shaped bridge due to his excessive force. While holding Sylphina, Charlotte quickly apologized, thanking Vane for supporting her.

When their friends rushed to them, Charlotte stood up with Vane’s help. Even though she confirmed the pain from her sprained foot, she asked the question, holding Sylphina as if it were precious.

“Why was this bow here?”

With Sylphina held preciously, she expressed her question. Sarah stood next to her and asked.

“Hey, Charlotte, maybe it’s…”

“Yeah. I don’t know why it was here, but maybe it’s with Airia.”

“That’s right. I still don’t know why things turned out like this on my side…”

Kaito laughed with a smirk and said.

“Maybe our ancestors’ power called us.”

“Maybe…”

Charlotte saw the black magic that attacked the particularly large emerald. In a straight line, as sharply as an arrow she released. Then, Sylphina, whom she held, emitted a beautiful blue light similar to emerald, trying to convey something to Charlotte.

“It seems like she’s telling me to use her.”

It was a bow with an imposing appearance, cut from a huge emerald, decorated with beautiful wooden ornaments.

The string was golden. Although it seemed to be tightly strung, when Charlotte pulled it, it didn’t resist much.

After confirming the feel of it, she stepped forward to see the light sphere before her friends. As usual, she simply drew the string and took a deep breath. There was no need to physically load an arrow. She just had to focus on her fingertips, and an arrow created by wind magic would appear.

Without turning around…

“I’m sure this bow is really strong! So, make sure to keep us from falling with the wind!”

When the wind magic arrow appeared, a powerful wind surrounded Sylphina. More than the wind Charlotte usually used, centering on a bow used by one of the seven heroes. The wind was dyed emerald, making it visible to anyone, and swirled towards the arrowhead.

However, perhaps due to exhaustion from the battle with Orphide, her aim wasn’t steady, and her legs weren’t cooperating. Because of her sprained foot, her lower body didn’t respond as she wanted, but…

“If you miss, I’ll tease you to death, you know!”

She received a glare from Lizred, whom she had cared for like a younger sister, and turned around once. She looked at Lizred, who seemed worried and had a slightly tearful expression as she clenched her lips. After seeing her, her strength returned to her unsteady legs.

“Idiot, say it as much as you want.”

“Don’t get it wrong. I’m not worried about you, Charlotte.”

Still, she saw…

“Since long ago, I’ve always been weak when it comes to Liz!”

Perhaps it was because she had been doting on her like a real younger sister. She couldn’t express her gratitude openly, maybe because she also wanted to show a cool side of herself.

Charlotte regained her composure and aimed carefully. This time, there was no trembling or shaking.

—The master archer, Charlotte Lophelia.

The wind that surrounded Sylphina in her hand calmed down, making her smile. The ritual to confirm her as her master was already complete.

“If you acknowledge me as your master—”

She let go of the magic arrow.

“Then show me what you can do and get rid of that filth!”

The sacred wind’s power turned into a flash of blue and flew. 

The black magic extending to the giant light sphere transformed into arms, reaching out, but they all burst and disappeared. A few remaining arms twisted around the flash of light but couldn’t even touch it, piercing through Orphide’s magic, which was trying to reach the inside of the light sphere.

The large hollow was filled with green magic, flickering like fireflies. The wind that reached the bodies of the seven purified their souls, and Charlotte’s body trembled. Sarah supported her.

“Well done, Charlotte.”

She welcomed her with a beaming smile. 

For the seven of them, the battle had finally come to an end here.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The effects of Charlotte using Sylphina reached Ren and the others who were fighting in the temple.

The exterior of the temple was constructed like a colonnade, allowing them to easily see the outside. Even at night, the surroundings were only dimly lit by the light of the stars.

Priest Orphide, who had been in the temple, breathing heavily and protecting his injured arm, looked around Windea before jumping out of the colonnade.

“I didn’t think I would be completely defeated like this.”

Orphide remained composed and even had a cool smile on his face. However, he absolutely refused to answer any questions about the girl he referred to as ‘that person.’ Her information was more important to him than his own life, and he could have said that much.

He was being cornered. 

All of his powers should have been enhanced by the sacred relic, but he couldn’t win like this. What he needed now was a draw as close to victory as possible.

“I am a priest.”

Orphide, holding his upper body with both arms, emitted black waves from his entire body and blasted Ren away.

“I have no intention of bowing my head to an Elfen child!”

In the brief moment, Ren created a magic circle on the square, glowing purple. The surging magic within it had the destructive power to turn anyone it touched into ash.

In the center of the magic circle… Orphide lost strength in his knees while laughing.

He leaned against the rocky surface, sitting on the broken stone pavement. He had no more strength to stand.

Orphide stood several miles away from Ren and exchanged words.

“How about this? Would you like to fight me again in the afterlife?”

“Did you think I would accept?”

“I don’t think so. But I would like you to consider it. Because you’re in danger.”

Ren thrust his water magic sword into the stone pavement and switched to the mithril magic sword. The silver and pitch-black magic that couldn’t be contained in the mithril magic sword covered his arm.

Before leaving Elendil, Ren had been seen off by Licia and Fiona. The two colors of magic reminded him of them even in this situation, and he felt encouraged.

“…I’ll come back right after everything’s over.”

When the power of the magic circle expanded completely, Orphide, who had been sitting, reached out his hand toward Ren.

Magic filled the palm of his hand.

Ren raised his mithril magic sword.

Then…

A momentary sound of the wind cutting through.

A radiance the size of a dragon’s breath, similar to the one Lizred had released, emanated from the tip of Orphide’s outstretched hand. It was the same color as the magic circle, accompanied by magic that flickered like flames in the surrounding area.

It headed straight for Ren, destroying the stone pavement along the way. From the lowered mithril magic sword, the sword of authority was released.

It was the real last showdown, a face-to-face battle.

The sword of authority, released by Ren, gradually diminished the power of the enemy’s radiance.

“Guh…”

But Ren also bore the consequences. One of his arms was burned by Orphide’s magic. It was a pain caused by a curse that sought to penetrate deep into his muscles and fibers.

However, he didn’t release his grip on the mithril magic sword, holding it firmly.

“You fool… even like this, are you—!?”

The end came abruptly.

And it was brilliant.

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

Finally, the Mithril Magic Sword that wielded the sword of authority’s power was swung down completely, with Ren roaring.

A swirling mix of a storm and violet lightning clashed, and in the end, it became a wind without destructive force and burst. The silver and pitch-black flashes shattered, sliced through, purified, and annihilated Orphide’s emitted radiance, along with the deployed magic circle.

Orphide’s magic disintegrated into particles of light, drifting in the sky. The previously intense scene had now turned into something subdued.

A beautiful and fantastical scene unfolded, where the light from the destroyed magic circle mixed with the vivid blue magic from the water magic sword. 

The spectacle of dancing particles of light and water appeared to move extremely slowly.

Orphide remained seated and said.

“Magnificent—”

He didn’t want it to be stolen from him by the descendants of the Seven Heroes or by Ren.

“Today, of all days, to be such a beautiful day of calamity.”

Orphide faced the detestable beauty. He didn’t fall to Ren’s hand, but rather, he naturally met his end. He held onto his determination that he wouldn’t fall into Leomel’s hands until the very end, and even just before he passed, he smiled at Ren.

…And there were those who witnessed the end of the battle.

It was Vane and the others.

They had come out after Orphide had deployed the magic circle and witnessed the final battle. 

The crystallized space of blue magic and the silver and pitch-black magic were intertwined. Everyone had a feeling that something terrifying was about to happen, but none of them had ever dreamed that the situation would turn out like this.

“…”

Ren, standing still after the battle, didn’t say a word. Due to the effects of their final clash, one of his arms hung limp.

No one knew what he was thinking at this moment.

Eventually, a girl, Lizred, spoke up.

“…That’s…”

He…

“Ren Ashton, the Sword Saint of hard swordsmanship?”

In the night of Windea, a gentle breeze danced. It was as if she was expressing her gratitude at the end of the battle, calmly.

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