Book 12 Chapter 26

Side Story Part 2, Episode 19

The Child Who Weaves Hearts (19)

Rain Ludwig decided the next destination for the Osarius School's magic tower would be Blade Peninsula.

Blade Peninsula is a peninsula located in the south-central part of the Akrad continent, and it was called Blade Peninsula because it protrudes in the shape of a blade.

Blade Peninsula was the center of religion and unification, as it was home to the Holy See, the nest of Haraderyman the Radiant Dragon, master of the Golden Dragon Legion.

The world, having passed spring and entered summer, was overflowing with intense vitality.

It was a complete contrast to the summer 300 years ago, when yellow dust covered the world.

"……"

As he crossed the border of Siastulika, a landscape of memories unfolded in Rain's mind.

He remembered first meeting Fride somewhere in the central region.

And if he went further south from here, the Kyeslantin Mountains, a gateway between the south and the central region, would appear.

'Is what I'm feeling now joy or sorrow…?'

Rain glanced back at Nen, who was sleeping soundly in his arms.

'This child… these children… will have to feel these emotions I'm feeling now for decades, for hundreds of years…'

Rain felt sadness amidst the immortality of an immortal being and the limitations of a mortal being.

'If these children had been born as lives through human bodies… would I have been able to lessen these worries?'

But if that were the case.

Wouldn't that Aki not be Aki, and Nen not be Nen, and Mir not be Mir?

'Even fulfilling a mortal lifespan is this daunting, so what kind of goals could an immortal life possibly have…?'

Rain would be gone.

An era where only these children are left.

His worries for that era grew day by day, and this time, there was a definite need to address those concerns at the Holy See.

* * *

"Ellaham, it's Hero Square!"

"He-ro Square!"

A colossal square was formed in the courtyard of the Holy See in the golden city of <Haraldoniki>.

In its center, the statues of the four heroes who pacified the era of turmoil, the Rista Party, exuded eternal majesty amidst the cherry trees.

Rain and Miria gazed up at the statues for a moment, perhaps for a very long time.

'Fride, Kyes.'

At that time, when they departed from the Holy See, those two were by their side.

All hardships, when faced with those friends, were not considered hardships, but merely a part of memories that passed with laughter.

The longing for those brilliant days of youth seemed to be unfillable by any joy of this era.

"Dad, there are lots of painters!"

Indeed, painters were drawing portraits of people with the statues as a backdrop.

They had drawn so many that their skill in uniformly depicting the Rista Party statues was quite impressive.

No, looking closely, it seemed they had simply arrived early in the morning and pre-drawn dozens of pictures of the hero statues.

Below that, they would draw the customers' portraits.

"Nen, do you want that picture?"

"Nen wants it!"

"Alright, then let's have one drawn."

A venerable old man had just finished a family portrait and was wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

Nen's eyes sparkled as she approached him and exclaimed.

"Grandpa, please draw a picture for me!"

When Rain paid for the picture in advance, the old man unfurled a new canvas and began to wield his brush.

There was no need to fight for a spot in front of the crowded statues.

Since the old man had already drawn the background, they just needed to stand in a comfortable spot and pose.

'Hmm, that's quite an innovative method, isn't it?'

Miria held Ellaham, and Nen chose to stand between Miria and Rain, holding Rain's hand.

After holding that pose for about half an hour, just as their legs were getting cramps, the old man nodded.

The rough sketch was already mostly finished, and now only a few more detailed descriptions were needed, which he seemed to do from memory.

The finished painting depicted a harmonious family standing with the statues of Hero Square as a backdrop.

'Ah.'

It made him feel sorry and sad. Somehow, it felt like only Rain himself had become happy.

Miria might have felt a similar emotion.

It seemed dangerous to let that emotion infect Nen. He wished for the scenery of that day to become Nen's most brilliant memory.

"Nen."

Rain carefully placed the canvas in Nen's arms and said.

"Keep this painting with you your whole life as a symbol."

"Nen keeps it as a symbol for life?"

"As proof that we, me and Miria and Ellaham, all loved Nen so, so much."

On that day when Rain and Miria both depart, and she is left alone…

Although it is just one painting.

He put a simple but earnest wish into this painting: that it would become a lamp to guide this child to the future. That it would give her the strength to endure each day.

* * *

"Miria."

As soon as they entered the Holy See, a welcome presence greeted the family. Miria warmly exclaimed.

"Elder Yoshuhar!"

Yoshuhar was one of the five cardinals known as the Five Pillars, and he had always shown favoritism towards Rista.

That favoritism extended to Rista's companions and family, to the point where Yoshuhar provided all kinds of conveniences for Rain and Nen.

Since they had applied for an audience with the Radiant Dragon through Yoshuhar via the post office in <Winter Horizon> in the north, it was safe to assume he had been awaiting the family's visit.

"Yes, this is your child."

"Yes, this is my child."

Yoshuhar looked at Ellaham with immense affection and smiled. The radiance dwelling in his fingertips spread to Ellaham's body.

"Warmth… A good name. I too shall pray to the Great Light for this warmth to spread throughout the world."

After Rain offered his thanks, he asked.

"Elder, what happened? Has the audience been granted?"

As the Radiant Dragon's illness was severe, an audience was not easy.

However, Rain was prepared to wait for years.

If it didn't happen this time, he would simply return to the bakery and wait.

However, this time, guided by the Genesis, it seemed there was no need to repeat such a troublesome process.

"The greatly benevolent Radiant Dragon has, with the utmost joy, agreed to meet with you and speak. Ascend to the Celestial Palace (Heavenly Palace)."

The Celestial Palace.

Located on the 100th floor at the top of the Holy See, this place, situated in the sky above the clouds, could oversee both the peace and turmoil of this world.

Here, closest to the light in this world, the Radiant Dragon was recuperating his old body, which was undergoing abyssal erosion, and he looked several times weaker than before.

"Ah, it truly is good to meet again…"

The Radiant Dragon greeted the family with the other four cardinals standing by his left and right.

"It was over 300 years ago that I saw the two of you together… seeing that love come to fruition truly shows how beautiful the will of Genesis is…"

Miria bowed, her smile almost a cry.

"It is all thanks to Genesis, who helped us through Your Holiness."

"All I did was merely mediate, so gratitude towards me is misplaced. My reward in heavenly paradise would vanish, so raise your heads."

"Yes, I understand."

The Radiant Dragon greeted the family with such great and deep benevolence, but the cardinals cast rather stern gazes at Rain. Chief Cardinal Inrahit spoke.

"The letter stated that you wish to be granted permission for research into space-time, but this is not even right to discuss."

The Genesis Gods clearly drew the limits between creator and created at the moment of creation.

The creator can exist beyond space-time, but the created were designed as beings bound by time and space.

Therefore, space-time type spells are a means to transcend this limit.

However, corruption frequently occurred through interaction with the universe, leading the Holy See to prohibit such research, thus severing the lineage of space-time exploration.

"Yet, Black Sun Karenden, the progenitor of magic and sorcery, was a genius of space-time spells. Am I wrong?"

Cardinal Hagon mused deeply.

"He was one who received fragments of creation from the Mother of Light, Geldharia. It is impossible to discuss him by the same standards as those afflicted by mortal desires and limitations."

"May I take that to mean that if a being possesses immortal permanence, then such research would be permissible?"

"What do you wish to discuss with us? Speak clearly and unequivocally."

Yes, let's speak clearly, without hedging. Not just probing, but properly asserting our opinion here.

"As you know, Zernix was a master of space-time spells, and his power itself was a formidable threat to the entire world. While it is true that the exploration of space-time can lead to cosmic delusion and then to corruption, I believe that when such power is used correctly, its value is immeasurable."

Chief Cardinal Inrahit countered with a firm stance.

"What mortal would dare wield such vast knowledge? Cosmic enlightenment is communication with the universe. When the rulers of the outer universe offer such ecstatic temptations as 'I will let you gain the world, I will let you have what you truly desire,' what mortal could possibly resist?"

The other cardinals, except Yoshuhar, nodded in agreement. Rain said.

"The point is, are you saying you would permit the exploration of that power if a being neither possesses mortal limitations nor falls for such temptations, having an upright heart?"

Cardinal Parehm nodded.

"The final approval for this matter rests with the Father of Light, not us, but if such a being exists, there is no reason to object. That is, *if* such a being exists."

Rain took Nen by both shoulders and stood her in front of him.

"That being is right here."

Nen was trembling.

Nen feared the cardinals, with the exception of Yoshuhar.

To the cardinals who valued conservative rules and order, Nen was too great an anomaly, leading them to guide her more strictly, and this was likely the repercussion.

"That child…?"

Cardinal Inrahit flinched.

Inrahit was the most cold-headed and decisive among the cardinals.

His failure to complete his sentence this time was not due to embarrassment, but rather because the ultimate decision-making power rested with the Radiant Dragon.

"I know what you are thinking. I know it well. Nen is still unstable. She is weak and fragile. But someday, that very weakness she has now will become her greatest strength."

"……?"

"Your Holiness the Radiant Dragon! I intend to begin research into space-time starting today. I guarantee that I will establish a space-time magic even more perfect than Zernix's."

It was not a space-time magic for all humans, but a theory of space-time meant as a gift for Nen alone.

"And on the day this child's heart and mind are fully developed, I will entrust all research to her. I am confident that this power will surely become a great strength when the world faces its final hour."

Research into space-time was an inviolable rule decided by the Radiant Dragon and the Water Dragon.

Even a Dragon Sage, who among past and present humans has come closest to transcendence, is not permitted to dare touch that inviolability.

As the cardinals tried to dismiss the Dragon Sage's plea with such words, the Radiant Dragon, who had been struggling with his eyes closed and receiving medical care, opened his mouth.

"Your will is beautiful. You are the vessel chosen by my father, Karenden. Your will resembles my father's, reminding me of him. Go forth and unfold that will."

At this very moment, the stark difference between dragonkin and humans was revealed.

For dragonkin, a leader is an absolute authority in both mind and body.

Because they believe there is no error in that decision, no one raises an objection.

The fact that the cardinals, who had just moments ago been chastising Rain, were all bowing their heads low in submission, was proof of this.

"Thank you, Your Holiness. Truly, truly thank you."

Rain, who had saluted the Radiant Dragon repeatedly, then bowed to the cardinals as well.

"And my esteemed Cardinals, that my words today were not mistaken… Nen will surely prove it someday. I promise you."

▶ ▶ ▶

Setsunen of the Thunder Incense.

Later, that dragonkin, who mastered space-time control, widely spread that power in the final era, as promised by the Dragon Sage.

In the face of terminal tribulations that could not be endured or overcome… she protected the lamp for all life, ensuring it would not be extinguished until the very end.