"What! Was that really a dragon that just disappeared?"
Martha squinted as she looked up at the clear sky.
"Why is there a dragon in Sepia?"
She bit her lip, seeming to sense something ominous.
"Dragon..."
Burren clenched his fist, revealing a fierce killing intent. He seemed to still harbor anger towards the dragons that had destroyed Zieghart's walls.
"A Gold Dragon. And it was much larger than a mature dragon..."
Runaan nodded, saying it was an elder-class Gold Dragon.
"T-Then, could it be the Dragon Lord?"
Dorian's eyes trembled as he gasped.
"The Dragon Lord is a Gold Dragon, and it's the largest!"
"It's not the Dragon Lord."
Raon shook his head as he lowered his gaze.
"The Dragon Lord is even larger than the Gold Dragon that just disappeared."
Having encountered the Dragon Lord in its true form several times, he roughly knew its size. The Gold Dragon that had just vanished was elder-class, but it wasn't the Lord.
-That's right.
Wrath nodded quickly.
-Unlike that old one, this one looked quite lively. *slurp*
'Why are you suddenly drooling?'
Raon tilted his head as he watched Wrath wiping around his mouth.
-The lizard's flesh looked so tender that this king couldn't help it. *slurp*
He was already drooling again, seemingly imagining roasted dragon.
'Sorry, but it's already gone.'
Raon sighed with cold eyes.
'Wake up.'
In truth, there was much to ask the dragons. Why they destroyed Zieghart's walls, why they sided with the Five Demons, what hidden purpose they had. They needed to punish the dragons and uncover mountains of information, but there was no time to chase after one that had already disappeared to fight it.
As Karoon had warned, there was no guarantee he would win unconditionally either.
-This king feels like we'll eat it again. No, meet it again. *slurp*
Wrath blinked his dreamy eyes as if longing for roast dragon.
'This glutton, really...'
Raon shook his head and turned around.
"Let's go. We'll find out what's going on when we reach Sepia."
He gestured to the Light Wind division and stepped onto the path opened by the trees and undergrowth. He headed towards Sepia, recalling memories of coming here before with Rimmer.
"Stop."
Raon halted after walking through the forest for about 30 minutes.
"What's wrong?"
Burren quickly looked around with his hand on his sword hilt.
"Someone's coming."
Raon lowered his hand and lightly flexed his fingers. Though still far away, he sensed very faint presences ahead. It was the movement of elves who could utilize nature itself like wild animals. As they stood waiting, the dense foliage on the opposite side parted, revealing elves armed with bows and swords.
They were the Guardians protecting Sepia. Their breathtakingly beautiful appearances shone even more elegantly in the sunlight filtering through the forest.
"We greet our benefactor."
The blue-haired elf leading the Guardians bowed his head towards Raon. It was Erian, Rimmer's friend and the leader of the Guardians. Since Raon had summoned Ifrit to save Sepia, he had called him a benefactor.
"We greet our benefactor!"
The other Guardians followed Erian's lead and bowed to Raon.
"Hello."
"Have you all been well?"
Dorian and Yua waved their hands, greeting the familiar faces. However, their expressions were not bright, as they had come to deliver sad news.
"It's been a while."
Raon bowed his head in return to Erian and the Guardians.
"And I'm sorry. We entered first because you didn't come even though we waited outside the Great Forest."
He apologized first, as it was essentially the same as breaking in, even if they had been invited.
"Not at all. We should have gone, but we were delayed due to an issue."
Erian shook his head with a polite tone, unlike when he had come with Rimmer.
"If it's an issue, is it related to the dragon?"
Raon asked, noticing the hint of irritation in Erian's eyes.
"...So you saw."
Erian sighed briefly as if embarrassed.
"That's right. We had a visitor briefly."
He admitted that a dragon had come, since it had been witnessed.
"May I ask what happened?"
"...I'm sorry."
Erian shook his head firmly.
"Even if you are our benefactor, it's difficult to discuss our private matters."
He apologized, clasping his hands, saying it wasn't something he could talk about.
"No, I shouldn't have asked."
Raon waved his hand at Erian.
"...I heard what happened."
Erian's lips trembled slightly as he looked at Rimmer's sword at Raon's waist.
"So there's one thing I'd like to know."
"Please ask."
"Rimmer. Is that bastard really dead?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Raon took a deep breath before saying he had personally sent Rimmer off.
"I see. Then indeed..."
Erian's expression darkened like a shadow falling over a tree, and the atmosphere among the other Guardians grew heavy as well.
'This is a bit strange...'
Raon furrowed his brow, feeling the suddenly oppressive air. It was different from what Rimmer had said about elves accepting death naturally.
-It's certainly peculiar.
Wrath nodded in agreement.
-Even when that fire ghost popped out and the pointy-ears died, the mood wasn't like this.
He narrowed his eyes, referring to the Crimson Flame Demon's attack.
'Then was Master truly a special existence?'
Looking at Erian and the Guardians' eyes, it seemed Rimmer had been a special person to all of them.
"I'll guide you to Sepia. Ah, before that, may I ask one more thing?"
Erian stopped as he was about to turn around.
"What was that bastard's end like?"
He turned his head back, as if that was the one thing he wanted to hear.
"He was smiling. As if he had let go of all his regrets."
Raon smiled bitterly, recalling Rimmer's final appearance.
"I see. Thank you for telling me."
Erian nodded with slightly brighter eyes before moving forward.
'This is frustrating.'
Raon bit his lip as he watched Erian's back. If Erian, who seemed molded from the very word "elf," was in this state, he worried how Siyana, who had been greatly influenced by humans, would react. He sighed deeply as he gripped Rimmer's sword.
'What should I do, Master?'
* * *
The true sacred ground of Sepia where the World Tree had taken root.
"No."
An elf whose very existence sparkled golden, as if wreathed by the sun, brought her hand down sharply.
"This is absolutely unacceptable!"
She shook her head, saying it was something that couldn't even be considered.
"Siyana."
Sterin, the Guardian of Sepia, called the golden-haired elf's name with a short sigh. He looked as if he was soaking in the dregs of time, his muscles sagging and his entire face etched with wrinkles.
"The situation is not good. If they suddenly attack, we have no way to stop them as we are now."
"But Grandfather!"
Siyana stomped her foot, biting her lip.
"Don't just get angry, think about it calmly."
Sterin shook his head gently.
"I'm growing weaker even at this moment, and you can't call Elayim, can you?"
"That's..."
Siyana bit her lip, unable to refute.
"In the last war, Elayim and Ifrit descended in an unstable state to stabilize the spirit realm, so they haven't been able to answer your calls until now. Sepia has lost both its sword and shield at once."
Sterin shook his head, clenching his trembling hand into a fist.
"Then we should ask for help. Like Zieghart. Or the other Five Kings."
Siyana clenched her fists, suggesting they contact others.
"For how long?"
Sterin sighed briefly.
"To protect this place, one needs to be at least a Transcendent Warrior. In a situation where war could break out at any time, there's no place that can keep sending Transcendent Warriors here. And even Zieghart's situation isn't good."
He sighed, asking if she hadn't heard about the circumstances.
"Siyana. One must protect one's own tree with one's own hands. If we rely on others' hands, the land will start to wither."
Sterin shook his head, saying there were limits to borrowing others' strength.
"For now, let's think about various directions..."
As he was about to continue, Leylan approached and bowed her head.
"Guardian. I apologize for interrupting, but Raon is coming this way."
"Raon?"
Siyana lifted her head as if startled.
"Has he arrived already?"
"Yes. Erian went out to greet him while you two were talking."
Leylan nodded, saying they would arrive soon.
"I see..."
Sterin nodded and slowly rose to his feet.
"Let's continue this conversation later."
He said they should go out to greet Raon and opened the door leading to Sepia.
"...Alright."
Siyana nodded, biting her lip. She looked up at the World Tree before going outside.
* * *
A mystical sight, as if the forest itself had transformed into a village rather than being cleared for one. Raon smiled faintly as he looked at Sepia, unchanged in the slightest.
'This place is still the same.'
Many areas had been burned in the previous battle with the Crimson Flame Demon, but it seemed to have recovered to its original state through the power of nature.
'No, not everything is the same.'
Unlike before, the natural energy seemed to melt into his skin, drawing closer. It felt like a sensation he could perceive because he had reached Transcendence.
'It feels like my aura is rising even while standing still.'
Perhaps because the World Tree was nearby, pure mana naturally seeped into his body. His entire body's mana circuits were filling with pure mana. However, he wasn't particularly happy. The person who would have been most delighted by this wasn't by his side.
"We greet our benefactor."
The elves standing at the village entrance bowed their heads towards Raon. They too, like Erian, didn't look to be in good spirits.
"It's been a while."
Raon bowed his head to the other elves with a stiff expression.
"Hello!"
"Have you been well?"
Dorian and Yua, who had come together before, also greeted the elves.
"Nice to meet you."
"The atmosphere is different from that person."
"Hello... to you too."
Burren, Martha, and Runaan also nodded to the elves melded with nature. The Light Wind division maintained a calm aura, not forgetting they had come to deliver news of Rimmer's death, and didn't even turn their gaze elsewhere.
As Raon nodded with satisfaction at the Light Wind division, the elves at the front of the village stepped back, and Sterin and Siyana walked forward.
Siyana trembled, her eyes red as if forcibly holding back sadness, while Sterin looked as if he had aged decades since they last met. Their emotions seemed to transmit directly, making his heart ache.
"We greet the Guardian."
Raon bowed his head towards Sterin along with the Light Wind division, biting his lip.
"Rise."
Sterin shook his chin with a calm tone.
"I was about to call for you, so thank you for coming."
He waved his wrinkled hand as if to say they had done well to come.
"Raon."
Siyana gave an eye greeting with her sleeves tucked in. The fact that the word "handsome" didn't come from her mouth made Rimmer's death feel real once again.
"Follow me."
Sterin turned his back after making a light gesture. His steps seemed to lack strength, making Raon's heart feel constricted.
"...Yes."
Raon followed behind Sterin, unable to say all he wanted to. He stopped in front of a small house that didn't seem fitting for a Guardian's residence.
"Well."
Sterin nodded as he leaned against a tree that seemed to reach the sky.
"I heard that bastard died, but the reason wasn't properly written. It seems you've been through a lot. Can you tell us?"
He nodded, seeming to have already sensed Raon's level, asking to hear the circumstances.
"Yes. I'll explain from the beginning..."
Raon nodded and his lips trembled slightly. Perhaps because he had comforted the children on the way here, it was difficult to bring up that incident again. As he tried to steady his breath, he felt a warm sensation on his back. Runaan had placed her hand there, as if sensing his emotions.
"It's okay."
Runaan nodded slightly as if to say take it slow.
"Thank you."
Raon shook off his suppressed emotions with a small smile.
"I'll explain from the beginning. In the previous war..."
He told them everything that had happened so that Siyana and Sterin could understand all the circumstances.
"Ah..."
Siyana's chin trembled as if she couldn't have imagined such things had happened.
"So that's how it was. Then he's certainly dead..."
Sterin sighed briefly.
"But why did it turn out like that?"
Erian narrowed his eyes as if he didn't understand.
"...I'm sorry."
Raon knelt before Sterin.
"If I had been just a bit more level-headed, or stronger, this wouldn't have happened. I'm truly sorry."
His lips trembled as he bowed his head. Realizing his master's death and conveying it to his family were vastly different. His hands and feet shook from the pain that felt like his heart was being stabbed.
"It's alright. He died protecting you all, so he must have been satisfied. That's why he probably left with a smile."
Sterin gently reached out and grasped Raon's shoulder.
"Besides, haven't you heard before? Elves become one with nature through death. It's not an end, but the beginning of a new start."
He shook his head, telling Raon not to worry.
"The reason we're so serious isn't because Rimmer died."
Erian sighed as if frustrated.
"What? Then..."
"Elves return to this World Tree to have their souls purified before melding into nature, no matter where they die. But..."
Siyana shook her head, biting her lip.
"Big brother's soul hasn't returned yet."
She shook her head, saying that's why everyone was worried.
"Truly a troublesome bastard. Making us worry whether he's dead or alive."
Sterin deeply furrowed his brow.
"..."
Raon frowned at the people's expressions before placing his hand on the Blade of Requiem and swallowing dryly.
'Wait a minute, then...'
Was this elf really stuck in here?