“It is so. When the closet was opened by the soldiers, those runes came to my head. And I started humming it while waving the wand given by my father.”
The effect of the spell that Tiffania recited was identical to the one earlier today – soldiers forgot what they came to do in the first place, Tiffania said.
“The runes that came with the tune I heard from the opened music box, remained forever in my head. Since then, those runes saved me many times…”
When Tiffania finished talking, she drank up the glass of wine slowly. Then, she muttered to herself.
“So, ‘Void’ you say. I however, thought it to be a mystic force…”
“You should not speak about that to people.”
“Why?”
“Void is a legendary power. There might be guys who try to use that power. It is dangerous.”
“Legendary? Exaggerated!”
Tiffania laughed.
“Me, such a failure, a legend? That’s too weird!”
“It is true.”
When Saito said it seriously, Tiffania nodded.
“Understood. If you say so – I won’t tell this to anyone. Or perhaps, I could tell, then just later remove their memory...”
To Tiffania, who has grown up in a separated from people place, it was hard to understand the importance of this thing.
Saito drank wine as well.
While drinking, his eyelids became heavy.
Tiffania was literally shining like moonlight.
Saito ruminated through the story.
Such a beautiful, fairy-like, girl, has such a tragic past.
With his eyes closed, Saito fell into the world of drunken slumber.
The left hand of God is Gandálfr, the ferocious shield of the lord. His left hand wields a large sword and his right hand wields a long spear, protecting me with endless vigilance.
The right hand of God is Vindálfr, the kind-hearted flute of the lord. He dominates all beasts of life, leading me through earth, sky, and water.
The mind of God is Myoznitnirn, the book that carries the crystallization of thought. It carries all knowledge and provides advice whenever I am in need.
There is one more person, but remembering its name gives me trouble…
Taking the four disciples, I came to this land…
Saito was woken up by a singing voice.
It was not daybreak, as the two moons were hanging outside the window.
“…Sorry. Did I wake you up?”
Tiffania sat in front of the fireplace, holding a harp.
“Could you sing that again?”
Tiffania began to sing again.
The way her voice pierced the mind. The way the moonlight shined within her hair. She had a beautiful singing voice.
“Was this the song you heard together with the runes?”
Tiffania nodded.
After that, she started to play the tune with the harp. She didn’t sing this time. Saito, while listening to the tune, whisperingly asked Derflinger, who was leaning against the chair.
“…Hey, Derf. You know something?”
“What?”
“If there are other Void users… there must be other familiars like Gandálfr too.”
“Aah.”
“Talk.”
“There is a possibility. However, just the possibility. Not necessarily the reality.”
Saito got angry at Derflinger's feigned ignorance.
“Tell me.”
“What?”
“Louise’s Void must also have been awaken not by coincidence. There must be some kind of reason, right?”
“I do not know. After all, I am just a sword. I cannot understand some deep things. But, it is not that important to know anyway. Partner, you are not a Gandálfr anymore.”
“I think you are hiding something from me.”
For a moment, Derflinger’s voice became serious.
“Partner, I will say it once.”
“What?”
“I love you. Strange and honest. Therefore, please remember one thing: no matter what I say or do, I think about what is better for you. I will tell you when the time is right…”
“Is that so?”
“It’s wisdom, I tell you, it’s wisdom.”
Though Saito was about to say something… he shut his mouth.
Tiffania kept on playing. Saito closed his eyes
“..hmmm. Damn.”
“What is it now?”
“When I hear this song, I wonder why I am reminded of Earth.”
“Earth?... Is that partner’s hometown?”
“Aye.”
“It can’t be the reason for nostalgic feelings. It’s the tune that Brimir played while thinking about his hometown. It’s just homesickness I say.”
“Brimir's hometown was a sacred ground?”
“It is so. Maybe.”
“Maybe? Remember and answer properly!”
“Stop saying foolish things. It’s hard to remember things that happened thousands of years ago. Can you in detail, remember even the most recent things?”
Saito poured wine into the glass.
He drank it and muttered.
“Brimir is a god, I guess. Everyone, in Founder Brimir’s presence… starts saying prayers.”
“Idiot. He is not a god. Brimir was a free person. No, not much… he was God’s spokesman… The nearest entity to it… I think.”
“A great person anyway.”
“That is right.”
“Is this whole mess because this great guys' hometown was taken over by elves?”
“That’s not true.”
Tears were falling from Tiffania’s eyes now as she played the harp.
Due to her bond with her mother… she could recall the homeland where the elves live.
Saito felt a sense of intimacy with Tiffania.
Her hometown was also not here.
She, like me, was a foreigner. That's why she feels so strongly about her pointed ears.
Tiffania's tears, illuminated by moonlight, shone brilliantly.
Various things whirled in Saito’s mind.
The war that finally ended…
The sign of Gandálfr that disappeared…
The meeting of a new Void user…
And… Louise.
I, who am not a Gandálfr, do not have the qualification to stay by the pink-haired girls side.
Therefore, I cannot return to Tristain.
I cannot meet Louise.
Because… all that Louise needs is Gandálfr… not this Saito Hiraga.
As he thought, he unknowingly began to cry.
The tears of homesickness and tears of heartache melted together.
Chapter Six: The Nations Conference
It was just the second moon of January since the end of the war… On the first week of the moon of Haegl, on Freyja's week, one by one, nobles from all countries gathered up in Albion’s capital Londinium.
Londinium.
Compared to all other cities of Halkeginia, it had a new atmosphere around it. The central portion of the town was skillfully built from stone, which continued to build up due to constant ruling.
One hundred years ago, Londinium was hit with a conflagration, and because the town was built of wood, it almost burned down completely. By order of Albion’s king at the time, the construction of wooden buildings had been forbidden in Londinium ever since.
This order was also meant to increase Albion's air power, which would roar over Halkeginia, as it protected the timber resources Albion needed. It had a powerful fleet established with abundant timber, and looked down on all Halkeginia from above the clouds…
However, now it was only a fairy tale of the past.
At present – Albion was like a chicken placed on the table. Wings and nails were taken off and put on the plate – burnt poultry. Halkeginia’s most powerful figures were staring at the meat like starving wolves.