It had been over a thousand years since Aesc last returned to the northern land of Orkney.
Ever since Londinium had been founded, she had regarded that city—the embodiment of her and her husband's ideals—as her second homeland, pouring her wisdom and power into its prosperity. The city had indeed become an ideal kingdom, yet in the end, it crumbled along with those very ideals.
"Perhaps I'm a cursed woman. Every home I've ever called my own always meets the same fate."
As their ship landed on the shore of Orkney, Aesc stepped down, steadying herself with Shiomi's hand as she spoke with quiet self-mockery.
"Don't say such sad things," Shiomi replied. "Londinium hasn't been destroyed. It just needs time—perhaps as long as it took to build—to flourish again."
Once Aesc stood firmly, Shiomi released her hand and continued holding Baobhan Sith close in his arms.
"Brrr… it's freezing! Was Orkney always this cold?"
Totorot, the last to disembark, let out a startled exclamation.
"Normally, outside of winter, it wouldn't be this cold." Shiomi shook his head, gazing up at the heavy, gray sky. "This isn't ordinary snow. It's the tears of the Rain Clan—the residue left behind after their annihilation. A warning to the other clans... and an unending song of grief."
Hearing that, Totorot suddenly remembered the event every Britannian knew.
"Oh, right… 3,600 years ago, the Wind, Wing, Fang, and Earth Clans joined forces to attack the Rain Clan and destroyed them." She pursed her lips, guilt shadowing her face.
The allied army of the four clans had also been wiped out that same day. In particular, the three Sub-Bells who perished together had never reappeared—only the Fang Clan had produced another Sub-Bell, Wryneck.
As a descendant of the Wing Clan, Totorot had never given the event much thought before. But now, she felt genuine remorse for the sins of her kin.
"It's enough that you feel that way," Aesc said, shaking her head gently. "It wasn't your fault, Totorot. I never held you accountable."
"Mm…"
Shiomi smiled and nodded quietly beside her.
"Let's go. There's still a long way to the Rainlands. Since we left the carriage behind in Londinium, we'll have to walk."
Aesc moved closer to Shiomi, glancing down at the child in his arms. "Is it really all right for her in this cold?"
Even though she had never seen a true newborn before, Aesc instinctively sensed how fragile Baobhan Sith was—adorable, yet helpless and delicate. The smallest bit of harsh weather could endanger her life.
"Don't worry," Shiomi said with a reassuring smile. "The swaddling is thick, and I've layered it with protective Magecraft. She'll be fine."
"Now that you mention it," Totorot asked curiously, "Baobhan Sith seems to be sleeping all the time. Doesn't she need to eat?"
Aesc nodded, sharing the same thought.
"As long as she has enough Mana, that's all she needs," Shiomi replied. "Besides, she has her own Divine Authority."
They began following the shoreline, moving deeper into Orkney as Shiomi spoke.
"What do babies actually eat?" Aesc asked with curiosity. "Especially human ones."
After all, the fairies of Britannia had no such thing as infancy.
It had been much the same for Aesc. Though she had drifted to Orkney as an infant, the Rain Clan princess who took her in had no experience raising children either, so she had done her best to nurture her as one would a human.
"We know, we know! Humans born in factories are fed with magical nutrient solutions until they can eat regular food," Totorot said eagerly, raising her hand.
"That's only true for the special humans of Britannia," Shiomi explained. "Normally, humans are born from their mothers. During infancy, when they can't eat solid food, they rely on their mother's milk for the nutrients they need to survive."
"Mother's… milk?" Aesc repeated, puzzled. She had never seen such a thing before.
Strictly speaking, dairy products existed in Britannia, but they came from Phantasmal Species resembling cows. It was said that humans once raised by fairies discovered the milk was drinkable, and it eventually became part of Britannia's cuisine—especially as a key ingredient in sweets.
"Uh…"
Shiomi had expected Aesc to understand immediately, but when he saw her completely lost, he awkwardly pulled her aside. After whispering an explanation in her ear, Aesc's face turned bright red as she cupped her chest.
"So… that's how it works?" she said, staring at Shiomi oddly. "My husband seems quite fond of this area then, doesn't he? Every time, he—"
"Don't say nonsense like that! That's not the same thing at all!" Shiomi interrupted her hastily before she could finish that dangerous thought.
"…Is that so?" Aesc still looked unconvinced.
Totorot's curiosity was about to burst. "What? What are you talking about? Tell me!" she pressed eagerly.
Aesc leaned closer and whispered the explanation to her—carefully skipping over Shiomi's personal preferences.
"Wow! Humans from Proper Human History are amazing!" Totorot shouted in astonishment, her voice so loud it shook snow off the treetops nearby.
Shiomi immediately regretted not stopping this topic sooner.
While having Totorot accompany them gave Aesc another friend to talk to, some subjects inevitably turned awkward due to unnecessary "sharing"—like breastfeeding, for example.
That thought reminded him of when he had first taken in Caren. She had been much like Baobhan Sith now—small, fragile, and silent.
Caren's mother had been gravely ill before giving birth, nearly dying in childbirth. Unable to nurse, the church had arranged for a wet nurse to care for the child. After Shiomi gained custody, he continued that arrangement until Caren turned two, before leaving Italy with her.
Thanks to that experience, he now felt confident about raising Baobhan Sith. Especially with Aesc by his side this time.
And when Baobhan Sith grew old enough to walk, Totorot would be there to play with her—
At that thought, Shiomi suddenly inhaled sharply.
"Wait… I just realized I've been thinking of her like a pet. Given her size, I suppose that's… a bit disrespectful."
He muttered to himself, not noticing that his stride had lengthened and he had walked ahead of the others. It wasn't until he heard Totorot calling that he stopped to wait.
"Were you lost in thought again?" Aesc caught up, her tone carrying a hint of mild reproach.
"I was thinking about what we'll do next," Shiomi said honestly. "We can't have Totorot staying in our room, so I'll need to prepare a separate one for her. And for Baobhan Sith, a cradle might be better than a normal bed. Then there's also—"
He continued listing plans fluently and rapidly, leaving Aesc staring at him in dazed confusion.