“But like, with that horn, she’s gonna stand out anywhere she goes… How’s she ever gonna get to be free? And it’d be a huge pain in the antlers if someone started up some Exinov restoration movement or something… I don’t think it was such a good idea to let her go.”
“If yer gonna whine about it, why the hell’d you let her go in the first place? You agreed at the time, so just suck it up and quit gripin’.” Kudo flicked Hort in the forehead with a claw.
“Ouch!” she cried, covering the spot with her hands.
They were on the roof of the bell tower, looking out over the city of ice.
Everything had happened so fast after the battle with the dragon. Utsuwa was officially installed as the new Keybinder, with Seth and Har as her lieutenants. Her soul was inside Danna Ryl’s body, with its broken horn. Once an honest account had been given to the people, including an explanation of the interrupted rite of rebirth, almost all were wholly sympathetic to Utsuwa; there were only a very few dissenting voices. There was likely to be tumult in the New World for a while yet, but at least they could move forward through the confusion. The stagnation of the past was over, and they were on a path to a better future.
“There’s a ship arriving from the Forbidden Land today, right?”
“Yeah. Saybil went to meet it, said someone he knows is on board.”
“Huh? Who?”
“Ulula.”
“What?! Hey, I wanna see her!”
“Then go.”
“You know her, too!” Hort jumped up and raced down to the pier, dragging Kudo along with her.
+++
“Saybil!”
“Ulula!”
The ship came in─but before it even reached the pier, the fluffy owl came flapping down from the deck and into Saybil’s open arms. They spun around and around as Saybil enjoyed the first feel of her soft plumage in quite some time.
“Oh my, what’s this? I wasn’t expecting such an enthusiastic welcome. You must have been awfully lonely without my company!”
“Yup, sure was. I’ve made a little progress on my research over here, too, and I’ve been itching to share it with you.”
“Hmph! Well, I, for my part, have made leaps and bounds while you’ve been away!”
“Wow, I can’t wait to hear all about it! You really are the best, Ulula. And so fluffy.”
“You know perfectly well that I’m not fluffy by choice!! I simply haven’t found a body worthy of containing me just yet!”
“You sure this isn’t the perfect body for you, though?”
“I most certainly am!” Ulula gave Saybil’s forehead a vigorous pecking.
“Wh-Whoa… She hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Ulula! You’re as awesomely fluffy as ever!”
Saybil turned when he heard Kudo’s voice, only for Hort to charge up and rip Ulula out of his arms. She hugged the owl to her chest, stroking her all over, but Ulula didn’t seem particularly put out.
“H-Hort…! I expected you’d have forgotten all about me by now…!”
“How could I ever forget you with a personality that over the top?!”
“Then why didn’t you come see me? I’ve been cooped up in the Forbidden Library all this time!”
“I-I was kinda busy with work…”
“Your work is more important to you than your dearest friend?!”
“I’m sorry! Really, I’m sowowowww!”
Ulula’s mood, which had seemed to soften for a moment, took another turn for the worse, and she began pecking at Hort’s forehead in turn.
“But, how come you’re here?” Saybil asked.
Ceasing her onslaught, Ulula perched expertly atop Hort’s antlers and puffed out her chest. “To find myself a body, of course! My research has come to something of a stopping place, for the time being.”
“A body… But aren’t Fianos and Kukuru looking for one for you?”
“Father and Kukuru are here, too, obviously!”
Saybil froze. Ulula’s father, Fianos─the tall, slim, beautiful manipulator of human relationships known as the Bondweaver Sorcerer─was intent on marrying Los.
“F-Fianos is here…?” Saybil stammered.
“Hm? He should have arrived before me.”
“But the ship only just─!”
“Oh, he came on one of those thaumatherium things. Apparently Loux Krystas mentioned an urgent matter and told him to fly here at once.”
“Professor Los did?!” Saybil was stunned. After a few moments of agitation, he managed, “I’m just gonna go see her for a minute…!” And with that, he was gone.
Ulula and Hort watched him go, their eyes narrowed.
“Sayb just has no idea about girls.”
“He truly is the worst. Unbelievable.”
“Uh, I mean, I know why Professor Los called Fianos here, if yer wonderin’…” Kudo muttered.
Hort and Ulula turned their narrowed eyes on him.
“What?! They’re gonna have it out?!”
“Is this girl talk?! A tale of stolen love?!”
“No, no, no!”
Hort and Ulula closed in on Kudo, and it took everything he had to evade their clutches.
“The war’s over, and there’s a brand-new leader, right? Now, why d’ya think she might wanna summon the Bondweaver Sorcerer…?”
Hort and Ulula’s eyes went wide. The real reason for the lack of upheaval, for the broad acceptance of Utsuwa’s leadership, was suddenly clear as day.