On a late afternoon in Kingsland, the city’s citizens were astounded by the collection of mighty Ishtarican warships gathering at the port. However, tensions remained high as everyone’s focus was locked on the looming threat slowly approaching their city.
“Perhaps it saw the Leviathan heading in this direction and figured it was chock-full of nutrients,” Misty surmised.
Slowly inching their way towards Ishtarica, a series of roots had left Heim’s shore and scattered themselves throughout the ocean.
“The roots crossed such a great distance...just to come here?” Lloyd muttered, his eye widening with astonishment. While standing on the Leviathan’s deck, the marshal proceeded to deliver his orders. “Prepare for an attack! It’s a threat devised by the—Heim’s ominous machinations!”
Lloyd’s heart panged with guilt. He despised himself for referring to his prince as a Heim-created threat, but it was his duty to stop those roots.
“Don’t worry. Even if you hit him with a full-scale attack, it’ll be but a mere scratch to Ein,” Misty assured him.
“Then that means we have no hope of stopping the roots, right?” Lloyd inquired.
“I didn’t say that. That’s what Ramza and I are here for.”
The Dullahan and the Elder Lich had proven themselves to be reliable allies. While nothing was for certain, Misty had claimed that the tree roots could be stopped, though she mentioned that they were running short on time. To stop Ein’s rampage, they had to prevent him from going even a second longer. At this rate... We won’t be able to stop Ein’s rampage, Misty thought. They had to act now and stop those roots, or they wouldn’t make it in time. She couldn’t wait for Katima and their allies in Ist. With that in mind, she felt the hand gripping her staff starting to tremble.
“Lady Misty!” Lloyd called.
She spotted the large, growing roots trying to swallow an entire warship whole and drag it down to the depths of the ocean. But just as she firmly grasped her staff and Ramza raised his sword, the unexpected happened. The skies and the ocean rippled; it felt like the entire world shook for a moment as a lone girl gently landed on the Leviathan’s deck.
“I’ll take care of it,” she said.
Both Misty and Ramza were familiar with this voice. The last time they’d heard her tones was just before she’d gone on a rampage.
The girl raised an arm over the roots. “Sleep just a little while longer,” she said kindly. “We’ll come and save you in a flash.”
Amethyst lightning rained from the heavens—a torrent of power that triumphed over all. Even if the royal warships were to fire their main cannons all at the same time, they wouldn’t have stood a chance against this majestic display of power.
✦ ✦ ✦
Following her hasty return, Katima found herself standing before her father and a handful of others in White Night Castle’s audience room. Before Silverd could punish her for her actions, she was asked to explain what she’d seen at the Tower of Wisdom. The princess left no detail out, adding that her unconscious companions were in stable condition. A few sailors had stopped by to share their stories as well, but no one had the time to process what they’d heard—Misty declared she’d be leaving as soon as possible to end Ein’s rampage.
“Don’t punish them,” she said. “I asked them to do this for me.”
“I simply do not understand,” Silverd replied. “Lady Misty, why did you entrust them with your request?”
“Because I believed that they could resurrect Arshay. The chances were slim, but I thought that they could do it. Additionally, the researcher’s true identity as a red fox was well within my calculations.”
She discreetly glanced at Katima—the Elder Lich was lying. There was no way that she could’ve predicted both outcomes, but Misty planned to protect Katima and her companions. That much was crystal clear, but even Silverd couldn’t argue with the first king’s mother. He didn’t pursue the subject.
“At this point, nothing you say can surprise me,” the king sighed.
The recent onslaught of stunning acts and revelations had turned the king numb. However, he wasn’t all that shocked that Oz ended up being a red fox.
“And there’s no need to worry about those ladies,” Misty reassured him. “Though she is heavily injured, the elf is of Jayle and Laviola’s blood. She should awaken in the near future.”
“M-Mrow? Mrooow?” Katima asked, tilting her head. “Lady Misty, mew make it sound like Chris is a part of the royal family.”
“Oh, how smart you are. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Mrooooow?!”
Among those present, only Silverd knew of the Wernsteins’ direct blood ties to the first king. Fresh off the warship, Lloyd hadn’t heard a lick of this, nor had Lalalua—the queen herself. It was difficult to not be taken aback by this revelation.
“I’d love to fill you in, but as you can see, we’re running short on time,” Misty said. “Why don’t you gather everyone at a later date? Perhaps take some time to hear the truth as told by your father?”
“Mrow... I understand.”
Unlike the casual Misty, who’d seemingly dropped a bombshell, Silverd had buried his face in his hands. He didn’t want the truth to come out so suddenly. He’d been meaning to tell everyone one day, of course.
“I’ll tell you everything once this is all over, Katima,” Silverd said. The king didn’t have time to spare either. “And Lloyd, needless to say, you must keep it a secret.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Ramza,” Arshay said to the man she regarded as her older brother. Unbefitting of her title, the Demon Lord carried herself quite casually. However, this did allow her company to calm their nerves. “Did you swim all the way over here?”
“I did,” Ramza replied. “I ran into a large fish on the way here, so I stabbed it with my Phantom Hands and made it listen to me.”
“You’re a meanie.”
“That really is rather cruel, dear,” MIsty chimed in.
“You’re both unreasonable,” Ramza replied.
The Demon Lord trio were very calm. Perhaps they were overjoyed by their reunion, but they didn’t seem at all nervous. Even Silverd and the others started to ease up upon witnessing their wholesome family interactions.
“Your Majesty Arshay, may I?” Silverd asked.
“Mmm, I don’t like the sound of that,” Arshay replied.
“Pardon me. Lady Arshay, I’m rather perplexed. You were once a Demon Lord, feared as the Nightmare of Envy.”
“Mmm...”
“How are you maintaining your composure? Would you kindly enlighten me?”
Despite his status as his nation’s king, Silverd couldn’t deny that he was afraid to ask this question. But when he thought back to the newcomers’ claims to protect Kingsland and Ein’s previous report, the king had no choice but to confirm his suspicions one last time.
“That’s easy to explain,” Arshay replied. She approached Silverd, turned around, and undid the top buttons on her dress. “Hup. It’s all thanks to this, right here.”
On her bare back lay a large scar—the remnant of a deep and painful gouge to her body. Even Misty and Ramza looked surprised as they intently stared at her wound.
“This is the scar from Jayle’s killing blow,” Arshay said. Her death had allowed all her dark emotions to spill out and disappear. “That kid was kind to me until the very end. He aimed precisely for the spot between my core and my magic stone, taking extra care not to damage my stone.”
Only Arshay and Jayle knew of the tale that was born between them. Silverd was moved by the fleeting smile that the girl had flashed in front of him. She was aware of her position as a monarch, much like him.
“So, now it’s my turn to stop this,” Arshay said.
She looked undaunted, her amethyst eyes twinkling with ferocity, using the power coursing through her body to silence those around her. Even Ramza, the world’s strongest swordsman, fell silent as he started to wrap his mind around the powerful resolution that she’d made.
“That woman might’ve sent me into a rage, but I caused the Great War,” Arshay said. Her tone was benevolent and sincere. “I know a simple apology won’t cut it. When this is over, I’ll accept any punishment I’m sentenced to, and I’ll atone for my sins to the best of my ability.”
She tacitly requested just a bit more time as she buttoned her dress, hiding the wound.