"What illness is the saint suffering from?"
— Hmm… Think of it as a type of endemic disease unique to the Wave Tribe. I don't know the details myself. But if you go there and ask the Wave Tribe people, you'll be able to learn more.
"I understand the cause of the disease and the treatment, but it's a bit strange that they can't heal it themselves."
— The Wave Tribe actually has quite advanced healing techniques. But this case is very unique. In order to heal that child, Claudius is absolutely necessary.
"Hm… I see."
Thanks to the twelve years spent in Espetara, even when faced with an unfamiliar situation, my curiosity as a healer surfaced.
'A disease that only exists on a legendary island, and requires Claudius for treatment… What could it be?'
However, Ramute seemed to interpret my pensive expression differently and spoke cautiously.
— Actually, we've already prepared a way to take you to Modenas and bring you back. But you'll need time to think. I'll give you that time. So once you've made your decision, let Belzekiel know…
"If transportation is ready, that means we can leave immediately, correct?"
— Huh? Well, technically, yes.
"Then let's leave right now."
— What! Right now?
"Yes. It may be difficult to resolve everything today, and we'll need to return before dawn, but I'd like to assess the patient's condition as soon as possible. If it's better for me to handle the patient rather than my father, then there's no reason to delay."
— But making a decision so quickly… Are you sure it's okay? The Wave Tribe is different from the mainlanders, and you don't know much about Modenas.
"It doesn't matter whether I know Modenas or not. What matters is that there's a patient there who needs my help. If someone is ill, it is Claudius's duty to go to them without hesitation. Please guide me."
Whoosh.
The luminous moss glowed even more brilliantly. And then, a voice filled with that brilliance was heard.
— Belzekiel, did you hear that? What do you think now? Do you still think my judgment was rash? From what I can see, Pagan has already developed the mindset of a true Claudius more than anyone else.
— Well… Orpheus did emphasize courage as a healer. Hey, kid, you actually looked pretty cool just now!
Perhaps just as moved by my words, Belzekiel flapped its wings energetically and circled around my head.
— But now that I think about it, this is annoying. Hey! Why do you speak politely to Ramute but use informal speech with me?
"If you're curious about the reason, instead of asking me, why not reflect on your usual behavior?"
Gripping the ever-soft and fluffy Buksel, I steeled my resolve.
Although I felt a bit sorry for the two who seemed deeply moved by my statement, the truth was that my decision to head to Modenas immediately was not only out of a healer's sense of duty.
Even if I set aside my sense of duty completely and analyzed it rationally, accepting this proposal was the right move.
'If this gamble succeeds, the reward is none other than Orpheus's legacy. The stakes are too high to back down just because the destination is unfamiliar.'
I didn't know what dream Orpheus had left unfulfilled, but I instinctively knew that the legacy of the progenitor of Claudius would be of great help to my future.
With more than enough reason to go, staying here any longer would be a waste of time. Wrapping Buksel's fluffy tail around my thumb, I urged them once more.
"Well, I don't know exactly where we're going, but let's go. Buksel, let's move!"
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Woooom.
From red-blue-yellow to yellow-blue-red.
Stepping away from the multicolored magic circle, I found myself welcomed by a temple corridor adorned with blue stone.
— Have you ever seen a temple built in this style before? This is unique to the Wave Tribe. That blue glow comes from sea stones ground from the depths of the ocean.
"I see. It certainly has an interesting look. But I was really surprised. I never expected there to be a teleportation magic circle on that rocky island connecting to Modenas…"
A legendary island, reached via the magic circle beneath the rocky island where Ramute resided.
The air in Modenas carried a much stronger scent of the sea than Espetara's.
— I contacted them before we left, so people should be coming soon. And don't be too nervous.
Perhaps to ease my tension, Ramute rubbed its beak against my cheek, and a comforting warmth spread from the contact point.
Flaming red feathers and jewel-like eyes.
Ramute had a form reminiscent of a phoenix, and from its small body perched on my shoulder, a constant warmth radiated, bringing a sense of peace.
Clack.
As we reached the end of the corridor, a door opened, revealing a pair of individuals wearing blue masks.
"$#%@$"
— You don't understand what they're saying, do you? Hold on a moment.
Ramute, still on my shoulder, fluttered into the air and circled above their heads, releasing a few floating feathers.
"Successor of Faith, welcome to Modenas."
"Thank you sincerely for traveling such a long distance to help."
Thanks to Ramute's translation magic, I could finally understand their words, and in response to their welcome, I gave a slight bow.
"Please follow us inside. We will escort you."
What was interesting was that despite my young age, they showed no signs of surprise.
Could it be that, in Modenas, it was common for children of my age to take on significant roles?
Or was their trust in Ramute's choice so strong that my age simply didn't matter?
Clink, clink.
Every step they took caused the curved jade ornaments attached to their garments and headbands to jingle.
Ornaments with a design completely unlike anything found on the mainland.
And hair as blue as the essence of the sea itself.
It didn't take long for me to fully realize that these people, living on the legendary island, had a way of life entirely different from the mainlanders.