Book 12 Chapter 22
Side Story Part 2, Episode 15
The Child Who Weaves Hearts (15)
Nanjing (南京), <Aiden>.
It is a great fortress ruled by the Duchy of Arhwen, one of the five Electors of the Holy Human Empire.
Therefore, it is called Nanjing, meaning "capital of the south."
"A dragon! It's a dragon like Nen!"
Nen fussed excitedly, seeing the majestic Azure Dragon emblem fluttering above the city walls.
The Azure Dragon is the emblem of the Duchy of Arhwen.
There were originally four Elector families, and each chose one of the Four Auspicious Beasts as their emblem.
However, Tisria in the central region, who later obtained a ducal title, uses a rainbow, not one of the Four Auspicious Beasts.
The Electors considered the peace and order of their territory as part of their own dignity, so the city appeared orderly starting from the outskirts.
"Since the cities of Elector families have strict entry procedures, let's review one last time before we go in. Nen, how old are you this year?"
At Rain's question, Nen hesitated for a moment, then pursed her lips.
"I'm nineteen!"
Nen was naturally not good at lying, so it took two weeks just to train her in this.
"What's Dad's name?"
"Dad!"
Rain laughed.
"What's Mom's name?"
"There's no Mom."
"Good."
Before Rain could even give a thumbs-up, he had to suffer a bump appearing on his head. Miria asked again with a sigh.
"Nen, what's Dad's name?"
It seemed like a question, but in fact, when Miria asked, the correct answer also appeared in her mind, so it was closer to a lesson.
"It's Ren."
"What's Mom's name?"
"It's Ring."
"Perfect! What's your sibling's name?"
"It's Ram!"
Ellaham, held in Miria's arms, reached out to Nen and smiled.
"Laa, Laaam, Laam."
They had secretly written a letter to father Cayburn, and a reply arrived about a month later.
Along with disguised identification cards.
They had been perfectly transformed into a family registered in a village in the Siastulika area, the territory of the Ludwig family.
"So, if they ask how you came to take the Bandoran ranking exam even though you're not a noble?"
Nen fidgeted with her fingers, looking around to avoid seeing into Miria's mind as much as possible.
Her purity, refusing even a legal cheat sheet!
Her sincere heart was so lovely that Rain wanted to hug her tightly, but he suppressed the urge. The training had to proceed perfectly.
"Well, while inspecting the Yonghyun area…? You taught me magic… and said my talent wasn't bad, telling me to take the Bandoran exam… so I came to take the exam!"
Rain cheered wildly and lifted Nen up.
"Our Nen, you're so wonderful!"
"Nen is wonderful!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Rain recalled having given Aky a similar task before, which had been several times more difficult.
Oh… why tears?
No, Aky grew up healthy, so it's fine. Our Aky gets full marks just for being strong.
"Alright, let's go in!"
The Empire has a clearer hierarchical order compared to the Republic, so its guards are more on edge.
This is because, excluding the seven great cities of ancient tradition, the Republic generally feels more steeped in corruption.
Among the many castles of such an Empire, an Elector's castle naturally has even stricter discipline.
"Halt."
A burly man, who appeared to be the gatekeeper, puffed out his chest and blocked the family's path.
Compared to Bat, this one was just a pipsqueak acting cocky.
Subordinate guards crossed their spears left and right, blocking entry to the city gate.
"What is your business?"
"The Bandoran ranking exam."
"Show your identification."
The gatekeeper glared, and Rain fumbled in his pocket to pull out an envelope and present his ID badge.
"Here."
"You mean a mere farmer's daughter is taking the mage exam?"
"We are not mere farmers."
"Hahaha! Then what is your profession?"
"I was a Great Sage (7-star) of Shinsei, former Archmage, and Vice-Leader of the Magic Alliance, you fool."
"Huh, gasp! I apologize! Great Sage, I didn't know!"
Rain chuckled inwardly, dreaming of such a development…
The gatekeeper simply checked the ID badge, nodded, and had his subordinates lower their spears.
No, he was a much more decent human being, despite his gruff expression.
"Many people have come to the capital for the Bandoran ranking exam, so it will be difficult to find accommodation. It would be better to search for a place to stay first rather than going straight to the exam hall. Pass."
Rain thought it was truly fortunate that Nen currently couldn't read his mind.
If she had just read that thought, her respect for her father might have greatly diminished.
Since Rain had money to spare (the salary he received during his tenure as Archmage alone was beyond imagination), he could have gotten the best accommodation, but given their disguised identity as commoners, they had to settle for an ordinary inn.
However, both Rain and Miria had slept rough countless times in their previous and current lives, so such places actually felt more comfortable.
The family unpacked their bags at the inn and set out for a brief city tour.
"What about Nen's studies?"
"I'm a believer that cramming the day before an exam is useless."
"How impressive."
"Hey, what do you know? The magic ranking exam isn't like a simple test. You have to clearly demonstrate your accumulated skills to pass; cramming doesn't determine whether you pass or fail."
And Nen had an immense amount of time, so he wanted her to have more experiences like this for now.
"Nen, don't you want to go sightseeing too?"
"Nen wants to go sightseeing too!"
"Great~ Let's go!"
Nanjing <Aiden> was built north of the Red Mountains.
The Red Mountains were originally the territory of the Lord of Time, and <Those Who Came> also had to fight fierce battles to conquer this place.
The traces of that brutal war were preserved as cultural heritage in the city and its outskirts, and Nen was fascinated by the remnants of those ancient artifacts.
"Most of the Empire's Electors were people who participated in the War of Liberation. Should I call them leaders among them?"
<The Forgotten Kings> were the highest lieutenants of Yotos, Lord of the Abyss, causing even <Those Who Came> to suffer great damage.
As the war entered its later stages, military power became insufficient, and liberated people voluntarily stepped forward to replenish that military strength.
Among them, the most famous would be the beastmen soldiers whose origins were erased from history by Zernix.
"War is scary."
Nen, who had been carefully examining the cultural artifacts in the museum, was felt to nestle closer into Rain's embrace.
He could also feel the beat of her delicate and fragile heart.
That beat resonated with Rain's heart as a shared pain, a pain that was probably a sense of despair towards the mortal limit that would prevent him from being with her in that final era.
"…"
A faint shadow also fell across Miria's eyes, who was holding Ellaham in her arms.
Surely, the powerful wave of magic that triggered the period of turmoil was unfolding in her mind.
It had been an enjoyable journey because they were with companions, but that by no means implied their enemies were easy.
Every battle was an all-out war against nightmares.
"Nen, the era you will have to live through from now on will definitely be… even darker and more brutal than the era we two lived in."
"It's scary."
"It is scary. It will be scary. To say otherwise would be a lie. But Nen, you'll be able to overcome it. I think so. Do you know why?"
"Nen doesn't really know. I can't see Dad's heart."
"Even if such an era comes… Aky and Mir will always be by Nen's side."
Then, a lively vitality sparkled in Nen's cross-patterned eyes.
From the strength of her vigorous nodding, the light of life could be felt.
"Sister Aky and Mir-Mir are always together with me!"
"Yes, so don't worry. You know that a triangle is the most stable shape among all geometric figures, right?"
"Yes! That's why fire-attribute magic is the most powerful!"
"Nen, you, Aky, and Mir will become that era's triangle. Supporting each other and protecting everything within."
Rain gently pushed back Nen's conical hat and pressed his forehead against hers.
Her horn had not yet grown as large as her older or younger siblings', making this action easy, and Nen truly loved this exchange of warmth.
Rain offered a prayer-like blessing to the warmth of Nen, whose forehead was pressed against his, up to the sky.
'You are not alone…'
The mission entrusted to you by the Black Sun Kalenden will be desperate, but you won't be lonely…
'Just as both of my lives have been, so too will your lives…'
* * *
The practical examination of the Bandoran ranking exam is held in 'Azure Dragon Plaza,' the largest square in <Aiden>.
To take the practical exam, one must first pass the written exam during the morning.
The written exam began in a magic school converted into an examination hall, and naturally, guardians were not allowed to accompany students into this hall.
"Nen, then we'll go to the plaza first."
Rain said that, but his feet wouldn't easily move.
Nen seemed not to hear Rain's words.
The tension and anxiety that people typically harbored when coming to an examination hall would be more than enough to negatively affect Nen.
'You have to overcome it, Nen. From now on, you'll have to keep receiving even darker and more sinister emotions than this. You have to get used to… human weakness.'
Immediately after Rain and Miria left, Nen was indeed exposed directly to the despair and anxiety swirling like a storm in her mind.
'If I fail this time too, I'll be expelled from the family…'
'I'm so nervous my stomach hurts…'
'Oh, I hate this. I just want to give up everything and go back…'
Nen felt a fierce darkness squirming and trying to leak out from within her soul.
It was the darkness of the heart (暗黑).
A wave of emotions, as the darkness in people's hearts congealed within Nen's soul and flowed out.
'It's okay, Nen is okay.'
Nen pressed her fist tightly against her chest.
Freed's words came to mind.
She recalled that black is the color of fusion, where all colors are combined into one, and that this black forms the very foundation of all underlying lines of the world.
- Nen!
- Nen.
- Nen?
Instead of confronting that darkness head-on, she recalled a brighter and more brilliant light… the light of memories.
That light was Rain's warmth, Aky's smile, Mir's expressionless murmurs, Miria's voice, and Ellaham's laughter.
As that light of the heart, the radiance of destiny given by the providence of creation, shone upon the darkness… the darkness could not prevail and began to recede.
'Oh?'
'Hmm?'
'What is this?'
The examinees suddenly blinked their eyes at the warm sensation enveloping their bodies, minds, and even their souls beyond.
All tension and anxiety…
A light and warmth, as if gently caressing, brought a sense of calm, and inner peace was found.
'I don't know what it is, but it's warm…'
It was a fragment of the power that weaves hearts.
The manifestation of the mission residing in the name Setsunen, and of compassion (哀情; a sorrowful heart).
The direction of life that this final dragon must pursue throughout its existence: to bear all sorrows on behalf of others, yet share its own joys unsparingly.
'Somehow, I feel like I can take this exam in the best condition!'
It is said that on that day, in the written exam for the Bandoran ranking exam, which was administered nationwide, the examinees in <Aiden> showed an abnormally high pass rate, exceeding the average.