“It’s delicious,” I said. “It has a gentle flavor that seeps right into your bones.”
Elly and Norris had been watching me a little anxiously, but they finally smiled with relief.
“Gramps, you gotta eat more!” Alto said. He piled more food onto my plate without waiting for me to respond, and I thanked him with a smile. When he wasn’t looking, I quietly passed it over to Setsuna to finish. It was our little secret.
At teatime, Sophia arrived with a jelly made from elga fruit—a delicacy that didn’t grow in cold places like Lypaed, so they were very rare here.
“I know that fruit! It’s really yummy!” Alto said excitedly.
I felt a combination of gratitude and guilt. All these people had gathered out of concern, just because Alto had taken on my quest so long ago. That one choice had created all these bonds, which were so incredibly dear to me.
That evening, the house was so quiet it felt like the commotion of the day had all been just a dream, and I finally decided to make my move.
This will be my last little prank.
I quietly slipped into the living room and stood in front of the liquor cabinet. Carefully, so as not to make a noise, I opened it and took out two letters from my pocket.
It’ll be up to luck if they find them. But that’s how pranks should be.
I stealthily tucked the letters between two bottles, then closed the cabinet just as gently as I’d opened it.
I did feel a bit sad that I wouldn’t get to see how the prank turned out. But if it brought even a bit of cheer to ease their grief after I was gone, then that was enough. I left the room, hoping that when they opened the letters they’d laugh and think, “That’s just like Ragi.”
The third day after my fight with Setsuna, I felt ill.
I sat in a chair by the window, watching Alto and Setsuna go through their morning training outside. Alto couldn’t seem to concentrate and kept glancing over at me with concern. Setsuna gently scolded him but soon after called the training session to an end early.
Later that morning, Lord Keith and Fred came to visit, saying they’d heard from Sophia that I was ill and wanted to check on me themselves. They explained that Prince Eugene was planning to come too but he couldn’t slip away from his duties, so he’d visit in the afternoon instead.
True to his word, Prince Eugene arrived after lunch with Georges in tow. He thanked me again for the dinner we’d shared and added with a kind smile that he hoped I would recover soon so we could have another dinner party.
“I heard you’re something of a connoisseur, so I brought some wine for you as a gift. This is aged twenty years from a vintage right here in Lypaed. I was told you’ve lived here for about that long, so General Dolph gave me this bottle. Please save it for when you’re well.”
I accepted it gratefully even though I knew I would never recover.
After they left, I lay in bed and closed my eyes. I must’ve drifted off soon after, because it only felt like a few moments before I heard the door open again. I opened my eyes and felt something warm. I looked over and saw the dim shape of Alto in his baby wolf form curled up beside me, already sound asleep. Surprisingly, the room was dark… The sun had set a while ago.
Setsuna stood in the doorway, watching me with concern. “Did we wake you?” he asked softly.
“It looks like I slept a little too long,” I murmured.
“Are you hungry? I can make you something.” I almost told him I didn’t need anything, but instead asked, “Would you share a drink with me?”
He smiled warmly. “I was thinking the same thing. Would you wait for me in the living room?”
“No, let’s have it here. Whenever I’ve drunk alcohol in this room before, it’s always been alone. I’d rather have you and Alto here with me tonight.”
We both knew this would be the last time we shared a drink.
“Sure. I’ll go get the glasses and a little something to eat.”
“You already know what we’re going to drink, don’t you?”
“Of course,” he said with a glint in his eye.
He glanced at the twenty-year-old wine.
We drank together, sharing a bit of food and quiet conversation. Eventually, we began to talk about the protection I carried and how I’d ended up with it.
“That’s a surprise. I never knew a dragon went to Sagana and fought Sledea. When was that?”
“You’re interested, are you? Well, you are a scholar. It was about three hundred and fifty years ago, back before Sagana splintered into the various beastfolk nations.”
“That makes sense. So it was before Eln was founded.”
“Oh, you know the name?”
“I’ve studied it a little.”
“I see. Well then, perhaps you don’t know this part.”
“Oh?”
“All those kingdoms that Sledea went on to destroy—Eln included—were founded by those who stood against Sledea in battle.”
“So you think it was revenge?”
“I believe so. Although, it may have just ended up like that because the ones who weren’t in those places didn’t go on to found a nation.”
The conversation came to a lull, so I sat up a little straighter and looked him in the eye.
“Setsuna,” I said quietly.
“Yes?”
“After I’ve gone to the Waterside, I’d like you to have the sealing bangle.”