RODH Side Story Chapter 10

Side Story 10. The Life of Newlyweds

“Do you have a reason for being so certain?”

Ian asked, and Luke scratched his beard before answering.

“Just a hunch. And really, isn’t it stranger that protective artifacts don’t function in a castle this large?”

“That’s true.”

Ian carefully inspected the protective artifact to see if anything looked suspicious, but nothing stood out.

This was the kind of situation where an expert was needed.

The first person that came to mind was, of course, Alvis.

But it felt wrong to rely on personal connections for an official matter.

And more than anything, Ian wasn’t feeling well.

“Your Grace, are you all right?”

“The air down here is too damp. Let’s go back up.”

“Yes.”

Once the heavy, damp air lifted, Ian began to feel better too.

He had always heard that adventurers endured changes in environment without faltering, but here he was, failing the test.

The sting of defeat clung to him as he sat deep in Nevan’s chair, warming himself by the fire.

Did Nevan work from this very seat as well?

“Blony, does His Grace usually work here too?”

“Well… I’m not sure, but I’ve heard he works everywhere—his office, his room, wherever he is.”

“Really?”

Ian wondered what kind of thoughts Nevan might have had sitting here, gazing at the fireplace.

He probably hadn’t been thinking much—just working. But now that they were married, Ian found himself curious about even the smallest things.

“I should try working here too.”

“You mean what you were looking into earlier, in the underground?”

Blony set down walnut pie and tea so Ian wouldn’t faint from hunger.

Ian decided to review what Berkisto’s journal had written about the “protective magic stone.”

[Protective Magic Stone: A special kind of magic stone that, by imperial law, only those of count rank or higher may possess.

Unlike ordinary stones, its distinguishing feature is its massive size.

The protective magic stone connects with the castle’s heart to form a barrier, and only then does it function.

P.S.: Different stones are used depending on the castle’s type and the region.]

Could it be that the north used a special kind of stone?

Ian briefly considered this, then shook his head.

That was something northerners would certainly know better than him.

Then was it truly as the sorcerers said—Anna Tuatla’s will interfering?

Ian decided he would have to meet Anna Tuatla again.

That evening, he raised the matter of the protective stone with Nevan.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with it.”

Nevan worried Ian might get hurt if he investigated.

After all, Anna Tuatla was no ordinary spirit, and her temperament was notoriously difficult.

“Spirits enjoy tricks. The tale of a traveler who returned to a house thirty years older in the span of three days is quite well-known here in the north.”

“But if we leave things as they are, who knows when another attack will happen? Next time, it could be your office collapsing.”

Ian’s blunt words left Nevan unable to give a proper reply.

After a long moment of thought, he said,

“Then let’s go together.”

“Together… you mean?”

“Yes.”

With that, an expedition was formed.

It was supposed to be just Luke, Blony, and a few guards, but the scale quickly grew.

Before he knew it, Ian found himself seated across from Nevan.

“Weren’t we supposed to ride separately?”

He thought about asking, but Nevan acted so naturally there was no room to object.

They arrived at the sacred stone—the very place where Ian had once granted Anna Tuatla’s request.

“Klain.”

Nevan dismounted and took a handful of almond powder.

As he scattered it before the stone, the sky dimmed slightly before a bright light spread across it.

A warm breeze swept in, and Anna Tuatla appeared.

The horses whinnied nervously, and the knights, seeing a spirit for the first time, murmured among themselves.

“Greetings, Bringer of Spring.”

She floated close to Ian as she greeted him.

“How have you been?”

“I’ve been well. Ah, I never prepared a wedding gift for you. Take this, though it’s late.”

Ian received what she handed him.

A small seed.

He studied it closely.

He had seen something similar before.

“Is this a seed of the Winstoll tree?”

“I knew you’d recognize it. Bringer of Spring, it’s no ordinary seed. Wherever you plant it, it will guard your domain.”

“Thank you.”

Ian carefully tucked away the blessed seed.

“But what brings so many people here today?”

“The expedition was my idea. I apologize if it has troubled you.”

Nevan bowed immediately, and Anna Tuatla’s pupils shifted.

With the whites of her eyes black as ink, most of the knights couldn’t even bring themselves to look at her directly.

“Already binding your mate so tightly?”

“I apologize.”

“It was praise. You’ve done well.”

Her smile made the smaller spirits burst into tinkling laughter.

“So, what business brings you?”

“The sorcerers said you were preventing the protective stone from working. Is it true?”

“I didn’t do it.”

“…”

Anna Tuatla folded her arms and muttered irritably.

“Whoever spread that lie deserves to have their mouth torn open. I never laid a finger on the castle.”

“They must have been mistaken. Then can you tell us why it isn’t working?”

Ian asked cautiously, and Anna Tuatla’s voice softened again.

“Ask the castle itself.”

“You can converse with the castle?”

“The castle the Grand Duke resides in is very old. It would be stranger if nothing had filled it by now.”

She advised them to find a wizard.

“A wizard can help you commune with the castle. Preferably a mana master.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

She lifted her hand, raising the little spirits.

They scattered like stardust, whispering “Goodbye!” to the stiffened knights before vanishing.

* * *

At Ian’s request, Alvis came quickly.

The northerners, seeing a real magician for the first time, whispered that he was truly different from a mere sorcerer.

“He is my dear friend. Please treat him with respect.”

“Understood, Your Grace the Grand Duchess.”

Ian cleared away any muttering that might offend Alvis before leading him into the castle’s underground.

As before, Blony and Luke followed.

Luke said it was an honor to finally meet the Blue Magician he had only heard about in rumors.

“In fact, during the battle with the Demon Lord, I watched you from a distance as you drew the magic circle. To face such a monster that couldn’t even die… magicians are truly remarkable.”

At those words, Alvis’s expression hardened.

Luke wondered if he had said something wrong, but he had only offered praise, nothing insulting.

Alvis glanced at Ian briefly before answering.

“It was not my strength alone. And if Ian had not been there that day…”

“Alvis.”

Ian cut him off, worried he might bring up the story of sacrificing himself with life magic again, which would only sadden him.

Fortunately, Alvis caught his cue and fell silent.

Luke tried to dispel the awkward mood with several forced coughs, only to earn a scolding from Blony.

At last, they reached the place where the protective artifact was kept.

Like Ian had done before, Alvis inspected the magic stone.

“There is nothing wrong with the stone itself.”

Alvis said the problem lay with the roots that connected to the protective stone.

Luke protested that such a thing was impossible and asked him to check again, but nothing changed.

“If the roots don’t connect with the castle’s heart, what about replacing them?” Ian asked.

But Alvis shook his head.

“The castle’s heart and the roots are one body.”

“Then is it safe to say the castle itself is rejecting the protective artifact?”

“We’ll have to ask directly.”

Once again, Alvis cast his spell without any elaborate incantation.

“Connect!”

A booming voice resounded.

—Who dares disturb my slumber?

Ian was the first to answer.

“I am the Grand Duchess of this castle.”

—Grand Duchess?

“Yes. The protective artifact is not functioning, so we had no choice but to wake you. I apologize for that.”

—Hmph. To rouse me for such a petty reason.

“There was a wyvern attack not long ago,” Ian explained. Even a strong castle could not withstand repeated assaults forever.

The castle snorted in reply.

—Let dozens, let hundreds of wyverns come! I am resolved to stand until death!

This castle… it didn’t seem like a reasonable conversation partner.

Ian was at a loss for words when Alvis muttered dryly,

“This castle has inherited the same stubbornness as the northerners.”