Hendrickson's sudden entrance into the throne room—with his short white hair and piercing yet calm gaze—startled everyone. And yet, his words lit something in Zephir's anxious heart: hope.
"I overheard your conversation," he said humbly. "And I believe… I might be able to help."
Zephir narrowed his eyes, guarded.
"And you are…?"
Elizabeth gently stepped forward with a kind smile.
"This is Hendrickson, a former Holy Knight of Liones. After the Holy War, he became a royal pharmacist. But he still practices the sacred druid arts."
Zephir's eyes widened slightly.
Meliodas added calmly,
"You can trust him. If there's any way forward… it'll come from him."
Hearing the conviction in their voices, Zephir nodded slowly.
"All right… So, this 'residual resonance'—what exactly is it?"
Hendrickson explained:
"Using a personal item strongly tied to the missing person, we can trigger a magical echo. It allows us to sense their presence—or even locate the remnants of their aura. But… there are risks."
"What kind of risks?" asked Meliodas.
"If the enemy used advanced cloaking magic… the resonance might distort. In that case, I won't be able to do anything."
A heavy silence settled. Zephir clenched his fists.
"Let's try it anyway. If it fails… I'll keep searching on my own. But I have to give everything I've got."
Hendrickson nodded.
"Then I'll begin preparations. Bring me what you have of your daughter."
Zephir took out a bracelet woven from tiny island flowers—one of the last things he had of Rebecca. Meliodas stared at it, visibly moved.
"You sure about this?"
"We've got no other lead, Meliodas. You know if this were Tristan… you'd have cast a hundred spells already."
Meliodas chuckled softly.
"Fair point."
Moments later, a luminous druidic circle shimmered at the center of the hall. Ancient runes floated like glowing fireflies in the air.
"Step into the circle," Hendrickson instructed. "Close your eyes. Think of your daughter. Her laughter, her voice, her arms wrapped around you…"
Zephir knelt inside the circle, clutching the bracelet to his chest. His eyelids closed. The room grew still.
For a long while… nothing happened.
Then his body suddenly trembled.
"Zeph?" Meliodas asked.
"He's aligned," Hendrickson murmured. "He's reaching out…"
Suddenly, Zephir gasped and opened his eyes, staggering. Meliodas caught him just before he collapsed.
"You okay?!"
Zephir nodded slowly.
"Yeah… I saw something. A place… I think… ruins."
Elizabeth stepped forward.
"So… it worked?"
Zephir smiled faintly, though his eyes still trembled.
"I caught a glimpse of where they're being held. Miranda… Rebecca… my son. They're alive. I know it."
Meliodas's expression sharpened.
"Do you know where?"
Zephir hesitated.
"I know it's south. It's still blurry… but a ruined kingdom… a crumbled castle…"
Meliodas's eyes widened.
"…The ruins of Camelot."
Zephir stood, his fists clenched, his eyes burning with purpose.
"Then let's go."