"That doesn't matter. If Tiel can't go, then we just won't send her."
Karsus spoke. Ferdie and Ludian looked at him.
"There's no reason we can't protect just Tiel here in Asterian. It'd be better to inform them in advance that she won't be able to attend due to her health."
"But then what about the temple...?"
"What does the temple have to do with me?"
At Karsus's words, Ludian and Ferdie nodded. Though Karsus could be stubborn at times, he wasn't wrong.
With a flick of his hand, Karsus summoned a small salamander from the air.
It was slightly larger than the salamanders Ludian and Ferdie had, but still small enough to fit in someone's pocket.
But just because it was small didn't mean it was insignificant. Everyone in Asterian knew its true power.
This tiny salamander would transform into a large, fiery flame at the moment its master was in danger, burning fiercely.
"I'll attach this salamander to Tiel for now. It'll guard her while she can't use her powers."
"I'll cast the direct protective magic."
Alpheus stepped forward. Karsus nodded.
The flame power residing in Asterian's underground prison was also Alpheus's. When it came to those matters, Alpheus was more capable than Karsus.
Though they hadn't spoken of it in front of Tiel, everyone in Asterian knew that Tiel's powers had weakened.
But so what?
Whether she had her powers or not, Tiel was their granddaughter, daughter, and sister—an important member of Asterian.
They had to protect her with everything they had. For them, the state of her abilities wasn't the issue—only her safety mattered.
"And we should investigate the disappearance of her powers further. Something doesn't feel right, no matter how I think about it."𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Are you suggesting someone intentionally weakened Tiel's powers?"
"It's impossible, but... I have a feeling it could be possible."
Tiel had grown up experiencing strange and unimaginable events.
So, it was essential to consider every possible scenario. Alpheus stood, considering his next move.
"I'll go to the Emperor. There might be related documents in the imperial archives. And..."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"We need to find a way to break the mark."
"Are you really going to do that?"
Ferdie spoke up.
"Tiel wouldn't want that. Besides, I've never heard of anyone breaking a bond, and there's no telling what might happen during such a process."
Ludian remained quiet, seemingly agreeing with some of Ferdie's concerns.
"Even so, are you still going to break it?"
"That's not for me to decide."
Alpheus cut off Ferdie's objection.
"That decision is for the Crown Prince. My role is to assist him when the time comes for such a choice and decision."
"That's exactly what you're saying."
"Ferdie."
Alpheus turned to look at him. Ferdie nodded as if indicating he should continue.
"We all care for Tiel just as much as you do."
"..."
"Our decisions are always made with her best interests in mind, and I have no intention of putting her in harm's way."
"...Yes."
"So don't worry. For now, you should stay at the estate and keep an eye on Tiel's condition. I'm still worried about her."
"I will."
Ferdie responded briefly.
Alpheus then sent a letter to the Emperor and went to prepare himself for the meeting, mentioning that he would ascend after receiving a response.
Karsus, meanwhile, sat on the sofa, lost in thought, his salamander flickering in and out of flames in his hand.
After a while, Ferdie and Ludian left the room, leaving Karsus to ponder.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Karsus didn't leave until long after they had departed.
***
"Why is this one coming out of here?"
Tiel's fish always appeared inside or close to her body.
These fish were fragments of Tiel's powers, manifestations of her abilities.
However, the fish that was swimming towards them now didn't come from Tiel's body or anywhere near her—it had simply appeared inside the void.
"Come here, little one..."
Tiel whispered, and the fish swam closer, nuzzling its head into her palm.
"Look, Ian, this one appeared inside here...! Were you trying to show me this?"
"Yeah, there's something I haven't told you yet."
Ian Dross looked at Tiel.
The void was still pitch-black, so dark that they couldn't see a step ahead, but with the fish in Tiel's hands and others swimming around them, they could see each other.
"Actually, when you collapsed, I was trapped inside the void."
"...Trapped?"
"Exactly. I was on my way to Asterian Estate to celebrate your birthday, and when I regained consciousness, I found myself stuck in the void."
Ian Dross narrowed his brow, recalling the memory.
"It was a shabby room I had never seen before. I thought it was just one of the many rooms in the void, so I tried opening the door to leave."
"..."
"When I opened it, I found another identical room. I was confused but opened another door."
Behind it, another identical room. And then another, and another... Ian Dross told Tiel the same story he had told Karsus and Alpheus.
"Then, suddenly, your fish appeared. It seemed to be waving its shimmering fins, leading me to an exit."
"My fish?"
"Yeah, so at that time, I thought you... must have subconsciously used your powers because our minds are connected."
Ian Dross gently tapped the nose of the fish, which was wriggling adorably in Tiel's hand.
At that moment, a short but strong flash of light illuminated both of them before fading.
"When I heard that you could absorb fragments of your powers, I thought it would be good if you absorbed the fish I saw in here..."
Just as Ian finished speaking, the fish in Tiel's hand suddenly slipped out.
"Huh?"
"...Hmm?"
"Did it run away because you mentioned absorbing it?"
"No, it wasn't even a living fish to begin with. It's just a part of your power."
"But it ran away...! You need to apologize to the fish!"
Ian looked at the fish in disbelief.
The fish floated a bit away, staring at them both intently.
Even when Tiel called it, it didn't return to her hand. It was strange because the fish was made from Tiel's own energy.
"Come here, I'm sorry. I won't absorb you..."
Tiel spoke softly and gently, as if talking to a living creature.
Ian Dross thought to himself, 'Maybe I should whisper to absorb it when it gets ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don't copy, read here) closer.'
But the fish didn't enter Tiel's hand. It continued swimming in circles around them.
Tiel and Ian both understood the signal the fish was sending.
That was a signal to follow.
When they first stepped into Arcadia, the fish had guided them in the same way, swimming in circles.
Tiel and Ian exchanged a glance. After several more circles, the fish swam off in another direction.
The faint-light fish around Tiel followed the lead fish, swimming after it.
"Where is it going?"
"That's what I'm wondering... Should we follow?"
Tiel spoke, watching the light grow fainter in the distance. Ian Dross nodded.
To absorb and use that power, they needed to follow the fish.
But Ian was worried. Recently, his void space had been unstable, with things disappearing or shifting.
Yet, they couldn't just let the fish go, so Tiel and Ian slowly followed the fish, tracking the trail they left behind.
The shining fragments of light that the fish left in their wake guided them, and occasionally, the fish would pause to make sure they were following, allowing them to stay on the right path.