She remained silent for a long moment, pursing her lips. Eventually, she slowly lifted her face, turning back toward me—and as she did so, her smile was like a sunny morning after a night of rain. “You’re right. Yes, I would like that.” “If the idea brings you real happiness, it’s natural to be afraid of failing to reach it.” “And it makes you want to run far away… Maybe that’s how my mother felt.” “…Maybe. But that could hurt someone you love. When someone you love vanishes without saying anything, and you have no idea why they’re gone… That’s really hard.” I thought of Allie. We’d reconciled during the royal tour a few months back, but without that chance, we might have been estranged forever. I was weak. I couldn’t be satisfied just protecting myself, and I had failed to live up to my responsibilities. Above all, I couldn’t bring myself to face him. That was my fault. It was a wound that would fill me with deep regret each time I had cause to remember. But I couldn’t wallow in my guilt. After all, I was still alive. I would spare no effort to live life to its fullest. Even if there were times when I felt like stopping, I would keep pushing forward until the end. All the more so because I wanted to keep those I cared about close. If I didn’t face them properly, I risked losing everything. I couldn’t afford to look away, even if I was afraid. “It’s hard, truly believing in something,” I observed. “It is, isn’t it…?” The two of us stared out into the night sky filled with countless glimmering stars. “…You really are incredible, Lady Anis,” Lainie murmured. “I’m not so sure. I suppose it’s hard to see yourself from the outside. From where I’m standing, you’re so kind, generous, and caring, Lainie. I’m sure you’ll be fine once you work out which path you want to take. You just need to take the time to make sure it’s the right one.” “…I wish I could be everything you see in me. Would someone like that be able to overcome all these worries?” “I’m sure you will, Lainie.” With those words of mutual support, we took in the beautiful night sky. The day after we visited the grave of Lainie’s mother, we set out farther east. According to what Lainie had heard from her father, Baron Cyan, he and Tiris had first met at the adventurers’ guildhall where they were both based. Hoping that we might be able to learn more about Lainie’s mother there, we set out for the town of Filwach. Filwach was one of the potential mining sites for spirit stones that we had identified in the vicinity of the Black Forest, and it was also one of the largest towns in the eastern regions. As such, it tended to attract a great many adventurers. “It’s been a long time since I last stopped by here…,” I mused. “Have you worked around here, Lady Anis?” Lainie asked. “Yeah, I’ve passed through quite a bit. The area isn’t as well-developed as the Black Forest, but compared to most places, it’s easier for people to band together here. Easier to hunt monsters, too, with the hunting grounds being maintained pretty well.” As Lainie and I discussed my history with the area, we arrived at the Adventurers Guild. The guildhall may have been smaller than that in the royal capital, but I quite liked its rustic character. I let the nostalgia wash over me, while Tilty squinted in my direction, holding a parasol over her head. “Adventurers, huh…? Aren’t they a rough sort? They tend to bring trouble.” “You’re one to talk! You dive into trouble headfirst!” I retorted. “What did I tell you about picking fights?! And just so you know, I may be retired, but I’m a former adventurer myself! A high-ranking one at that!” “Why would a royal princess even set out as an adventurer, much less achieve a high rank?” Navre muttered under his breath. “That’s Lady Anis for you,” Garkie chuckled. Hey, this isn’t about me, all right?! What’s important here is getting information about Tiris! After taking a moment to regain my composure, I threw open the doors to the hall with a mighty thump. “Hi there!” I immediately caused a scene. The adventurers eating and drinking in the guildhall’s dining area were all startled to see me. “Huh…? Whoa, Lady Anis?!” “Wha—?! It’s her! What’s the Marauder Princess doin’ here?! Shouldn’t you be in the castle?!” “Ain’t you quit adventurin’?!” I raised an eyebrow, fixing them all in a glare. There was one word among the hubbub that I couldn’t stomach. “Which one of you called me the Marauder Princess?! How many times do I have to tell you?! At least call me the Mad Princess!” “Ha-ha-ha! Sorry, my bad!” “Forgive us, Lady Anis! How about a drink?!” “You’re here on the sly, aren’t ya?! Then drink, drink!” “I’m not here for drinking!” I cried back, frustrated. I could feel my cheeks turning red with embarrassment. Nope, this place hadn’t changed at all. This was the same Adventurers Guild that I knew and loved. It was easy to be yourself here, without having to worry about title or status, though things could get rough at times. As I soaked up this warm, familiar feeling, Navre was wound tight as a spring. “They seem to admire you, Lady Anisphia,” he murmured to me. “Ah, well, for a while, adventuring was her main line of work,” Tilty added. “She’s probably more suited to it than all that royal stuff,” Garkie whispered in agreement. The only one who didn’t join in on this conversation was Lainie, wearing a slightly awkward smile. I clapped my hands together in an effort to change the mood. “All right, all right,” I called out. “Sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t my big return to adventuring. I’m here because I have questions.” “Questions?” “I heard that Baron Cyan used to be based here. It’s him I want to ask about.” “Ah, Dragus, you mean? He’s risen up in the world. Doesn’t show his face ’round these parts no more,” one of the adventurers called back, reminiscing. He looked to be around the same age as the baron, maybe a little older. “These days, he teaches swordsmanship to the knights at the royal palace,” I explained. “He also instructs them how to use the magical tools I’ve built.” “Ha-ha-ha! He really has moved up in the world! And to think he’s takin’ on work from you, Lady Anis!” “The guild’s two brightest stars have come together! Hah! Maybe we should drink to your success?!” “You don’t need my permission to drink. You know that,” I said with a sigh. “You can say that again!” Laughter and guffaws erupted all around as the adventurers drained their tankards and ordered more. I headed for the counter and pulled my wallet out of my pocket, then handed a few gold coins to the barwoman. “Eh, g-gold?!” “Take it,” I said. “Drinks are on me today, so use it all up.” “Aren’t you generous, Your Highness? Or should we be calling you the Royal Sister now?” “A toast to our generous princess! Drink up, Lady Anis!” “I told you, I’m not here to drink,” I said with a smile. The adventurers were all in high spirits, and it lifted my spirits as well. They really were mercenary—or easy to handle, to put it more kindly. “I heard Baron Cyan used to have a friend, a female adventurer he liked to hang around with back when he was based out here,” I said. “Does anyone know of her?” “Ah, you must mean Tiris,” answered one of the older adventurers. It was the same man who had responded when I first mentioned the baron. Lainie startled. I gave her a sideways glance to make sure that she was all right before I turned back to the middle-aged adventurer. “Yes, Tiris. Can you tell me what you know about her?” “Why do you want to know about Tiris?” “She was my mother,” Lainie said, moving to stand by my side. “I want to know what she was like before she passed on.” The adventurer’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Tiris…?! No, you’re not her… You look just like her. She was your mother, you said? You’re Tiris’s daughter, miss?!” “My name is Lainie Cyan… My father is Dragus Cyan.” “Dragus and Tiris had a kid?!” the adventurer exclaimed, so astonished that his voice echoed off the walls. The middle-aged adventurer wasn’t the only one taken aback hearing this—several others all but froze in place, too, their eyes turning as one to Lainie. “What?! H-huh?! They had a daughter?! I mean, she’s the spitting image of Tiris, but with Dragus?!” “You’re Dragus’s girl, miss?! How about that…!” “How did Dragus end up with such a pretty daughter?! What’s the world comin’ to, eh!” “Nggghhh! That man really knows how to pick ’em! Why’s he got all the luck?!” “The more you look at her, the more she looks just like Tiris…” Making a huge commotion, the adventurers gathered around to inspect Lainie’s face—prompting Navre and Garkie to immediately step in to shield her. “All right, all right, calm down,” I urged. “Yes, this is Lainie Cyan, Baron Cyan’s daughter. We’re here today because she has some questions about her mother. Basically, she wants to get a better idea of who she was. I’m really just her chaperone.” “I see, so that’s what this is about. Ah, what a surprise…” The middle-aged adventurer and his colleagues slowly regained their composure, but their eyes remained fixed on Lainie. “Um, I was wondering if you could share what you know…,” Lainie stammered. “O-oh… I’m afraid there ain’t much we can tell you, though?” “Tiris was as secretive as they come, you know?” The adventurers seemed at a loss as to how to respond to our request. “She was an elusive woman, that Tiris.” “She was great at gaining people’s trust, and at breaking up fights, too. Tended to attract a lot of attention to herself.” “She was always hangin’ out with Dragus. I guess they were around the same age. They were pretty close, so I always guessed they might end up tyin’ the knot one day…” I frowned at this news. Quick to gain others’ trust, good at settling fights, and yet she was elusive, a mystery. …Was this all the result of her vampire powers? “One day, she suddenly vanished… I’d never seen Dragus so depressed. Really felt for him, I did.” “She disappeared?” I asked. “Without warning?” “Not a word to no one. Just up and left. She was an adventurer—a darned good one, though—so we all wondered whether somethin’ had happened to her.” “Dragus was really down in the dumps after that. Not surprising, considering how much he cared about her. Must have come as a heck of a shock, seeing as she didn’t say nothing to him, either.” “Um, how did my father come across at the time…?” Lainie asked. “Rough, I’ll tell ya. Could hardly bear to look at him. Turned into a right lunatic, he did, without Tiris ’round. Guess you could say he’s got losing her to thank for that noble title he won himself.” “I heard from friends in the capital that he found himself a good wife and settled down. I knew him during the worst of it, so I was glad to hear he’d found peace.” “Yes, he’s very close to my stepmother. She’s good to me, too…,” Lainie remarked. “I see. I’m glad to hear it.” Lainie’s expression softened with relief. Listening to everyone’s stories, I got the impression that Baron Cyan was a good man, beloved by all those around him. Maybe Lainie felt the same way. That would explain why she seemed so relaxed now. “Ah, but you’re a dainty lass. Not at all like old Dragus…” “Come on, now. Doesn’t she strike you as an honest girl, just like Tiris?” “Does Lainie really look like her mother?” I asked. “Identical, like two peas in a pod. Hard to believe she’s Dragus’s at all, if you ask me.” “You can say that again!” Maybe they were drinking a little too much, as the group started chortling with laughter. If Baron Cyan were here, he would beat them all to a pulp. “So, about Tiris. She was almost…otherworldly, you know? But not like a noblewoman. Weren’t no one like her, and her skills as an adventurer were top notch. No matter who she worked with, she always delivered. If she had kept on going, she probably would’ve been made a chapter chief sooner or later.” “So she was that talented…” Becoming leader of one of the guild’s many chapters was no simple task. You needed an incredible reputation, plus the support of your fellow guild members. In that respect, if Tiris did indeed have both of those things, she may well have secured such a position for herself one day. “You said she used to work with Dragus often. The two were close, then?” I asked. “She was a good lass, could get along with practically anyone. But at the same time, she always kept herself at arm’s length, you know? She was a good woman, and we all liked her, but no one ever really got to know her all that well.” “Dragus knew how to play along and work with her without stepping on her toes. From the outside, they looked like the perfect match.” The adventurers seemed to have a mix of reactions, some sentimental, some tinged with regret. But I couldn’t sense any animosity at play. They were being honest here. And that was enough to tell me that their memories of Baron Cyan and Tiris were good ones. “They made a perfect team, those two did. If you asked me back then, I’d have told you it was only a matter of time before they were more than a team. So I was confounded when I heard she’d up and left like that.” “Lainie, you said your name was? Is Tiris…?” one of the adventurers began. Lainie offered up a faint smile, then gently and silently shook her head. “We traveled around the countryside after she gave birth to me, but she fell ill while I was very young…” “…I see…” A chorus of deep, heavy sighs filled the room. The merriment of the adventurers had turned to sorrow. “I can’t even imagine Tiris falling sick, but I suppose no one’s invincible. And leaving such a gorgeous daughter behind without anyone even knowing… It’s cruel, it is…,” an adventurer said under his breath, a slight tremor to his voice. A sense of melancholy filled the air. “It’s a good job Dragus found you!” “Yes. He recognized me as my mother’s daughter the minute he arrived at the orphanage where I was staying…” “Of all the luck! So his lover, his wife, and his daughter are all jewels…! Why does he get everything?!” “Damn him! Here’s to Dragus, the luckiest scoundrel in the world!” “And another for that heartbreaker Tiris!” The adventurers all raised their drinks into the air in somber silence. This was how they paid homage to the dead—grieve over the loss but try to brush it aside with a laugh so as not to sink into despair. After all, adventurers died often, for all sorts of reasons. You couldn’t let it drag you down. That would be to risk slipping up on a job and losing your own life too. Trying to rally myself, I turned to my next question. There were still so many things that I had to ask. “So, do you know where Tiris came from? Like her hometown, or where her family lived?” “Not that I can recall.” “She said she was from out east. I assumed she meant the frontier… Does anyone else have any idea?” The remaining adventurers all shook their heads. No one seemed to know. She must have taken care not to reveal her origins. But the sudden mention of the east struck a chord in my memory. Not too long ago, we had heard about other vampires residing somewhere beyond the eastern frontier. In all likelihood, Tiris came not from the frontier, but even farther east. That was the only possibility that made any sense. But if Tiris was a vampire hailing from beyond the realm’s borders, what purpose could she have had for coming to the Kingdom of Palettia…? While I was busy pondering this question, Lainie thanked the adventurers for sharing their anecdotes. “Thank you for telling me about her,” she said. “I really do appreciate it.” “Don’t mention it. I’m sorry we don’t have more to offer you. Ah, you really are her spitting image, Lainie. You’re gonna be a real beauty, that’s for sure.” “Oi, back off! She’s less than half your age!” “Dragus will hang you from your guts!” “Shaddup!” The chiding shouts soon turned to laughter. Lainie, too, was quickly growing accustomed to the personalities of the adventurers, responding with a composed smile. I doubted that we would learn any more about Tiris for now. Just before I could suggest that we call it a day, the middle-aged adventurer from before called out to me. “Lady Anis? This is a separate matter…but I heard somethin’ you should probably know.” “What is it?” “People are sayin’ the monsters ’round these parts have been actin’ strange since the start of the rainy season… It’s got us all on edge…” “…In what way?” “Well, to start with, there’s so few of them…” The adventurer trailed off, unable to make heads or tails of it. I tilted my head, my interest piqued. “What do you mean? There aren’t enough monsters…?” “No. You can go to the huntin’ grounds, but you won’t find much.” “…They’ve left? Like before a stampede?” “No, it doesn’t feel like that. The air’s different.” “So it doesn’t feel like a stampede…and yet there aren’t many monsters about? Are you sure about their numbers?” “Yeah. A lot of us have noticed it. But like I said, there’s no sign of a stampede. It’s just…spooky.” “I can’t really put my finger on it,” another adventurer joined in, giving similar testimony. “It’s just quiet. The kinda quiet that makes your hair stand on end…” In other words, this wasn’t just one person’s imagination getting the better of them. The adventurer who had just entered the conversation rubbed his arms anxiously. “There’s no sign of monsters in the forest,” he continued in a hushed voice. “Every time I go in, I can’t hear the sound of it—the rustling of the trees, or anything.” “I felt it too,” the middle-aged adventurer added. “The forest ain’t changed. It’s just the monsters are gone. If there was a stampede, they’d at least be havin’ scuffles over territory, right?” Listening to the adventurers’ testimonies, I rested a hand under my chin and tried to piece together everything that I had just heard. The number of monsters in the hunting grounds had diminished, and the other creatures of the forest were gone without a trace. “…So they just vanished one day, without any warning? What about other animals, aside from monsters?” I asked. “…Come to think of it, I haven’t seen many of them, either.” “That is ominous. You’d expect to find something if there was a stampede coming…” Stampedes were often the result of the overall number of monsters increasing, leading to territorial disputes as they vied over diminishing territory. Such conflicts always left visible signs to the attentive observer. How could the monsters vanish without leaving behind any clues as to why? It certainly wasn’t a normal occurrence, which meant that something out of the ordinary was afoot here. “Does everyone know about this? Have you told people to be on their guard?” I asked. “The chapter chief put out a warnin’. And the guild has requested additional patrols, askin’ people not to push too deep into the forest and to report anythin’ out of place.” “That’s good to hear.” “Yeah. I hope we’re worryin’ over nothin’, but I thought I’d better let you know.” “I appreciate it.” After thanking the adventurers for the information, we left the guildhall. On the way back to the inn, I mulled over the ominous reports we’d just heard. “Hmm… Something must be going on in the forest…” Navre’s expression was serious, too. “…Princess Anisphia, should we wrap things up here and return to the royal capital?” “Do you think we should, Navre?” I asked. “I’m not particularly familiar with the adventurers here, nor with the forest…but if you think the situation is out of the ordinary, there’s a good chance that trouble is afoot. In that case, our first priority has to be your safety.” “…I suppose that’s true…” Navre was right, of course. Given my status, it was only natural that we steer clear of any danger and return to the capital. But something was holding me back. A sense of foreboding had fallen over me after listening to the adventurers’ stories. Could I really just leave things be and wait for them to play out? At that moment, a light impact hit me square on the forehead. I looked up to find Tilty staring at me. “That hurt! What was that for, Tilty?!” “Yes, yes. You want to investigate anyway, right?” “Huh?! What are you suggesting, Lady Claret?!” Navre gawked, incredulous. Tilty fixed Navre with a dark frown before letting out a resigned sigh. “We’re here in private, so you can just call me by name, you know? Besides, Navre, what you’re saying might make perfect sense, but do you realize who you’re talking to?” “…I—I…” “Don’t look at me when you’re talking to me. I can’t stand it,” Tilty said, shaking her head in exasperation. Navre averted his gaze, unable to refute her. Come on, he had to have known this from the start! “If we said we’re going home, would you kick up a fuss?” Tilty challenged. “…W-well, I mean, I might not be able to sleep at night, out of worry. I don’t want that,” I replied. “Just spit it out.” “I want to go home after investigating!” I confessed, succumbing to the interrogation. “I thought so. See? We’ll just have to add this to our agenda, then.” “…I’m opposed…,” Navre insisted in a strained, crushed voice. “Hmm… I’m on Lady Anis’s side, I guess. But officially speaking, I have to agree with Navre,” Garkie added. “Your job is to protect her, Gark. Stand up for yourself a bit more…,” Navre murmured. “Yeah, but there’s no way I can talk her out of something once she’s really set her mind on it…” Basically, Garkie was choosing to remain noncommittal. He had faith in my abilities, but he still thought it best that we avoid danger where we could. “Do we really have to investigate, Lady Anis?” Lainie asked, looking straight at me. Her eyes were piercing, with a strength of will not present before—or maybe I was only imagining it. I crossed my arms, taking a moment to organize my thoughts and feelings. “…I think we should,” I answered at last. “Why?” “I’ve got a bad feeling about it.” “Hmm… Another of your premonitions…?” Tilty murmured, one eyebrow raised. “Oh dear… That doesn’t bode well…,” Lainie added. Navre watched the two of them with suspicion. “What is it, Lainie? It’s just a feeling, right?” “Lady Anis’s premonitions have a way of coming true…” “She has a very high rate of accuracy,” Tilty added. “It never bodes well when she feels this way. I’ve seen it more times than I can count.” “What…?” Navre narrowed his eyes in distrust, putting me at a bit of a loss. “It’s true. I’m not trying to boast, but most times when I feel this way, it means something bad is headed over the horizon.” “…I can’t go along with this on the basis of a hunch, even assuming your suspicions are often borne out,” Navre protested. “I am not in favor of letting Princess Anisphia venture into the forest to investigate. The local adventurers are more than capable of dealing with the situation. We should leave this to them. If you’re really worried, we can inform the local lords to remain on high alert.” “That’s a very sensible stance…,” Tilty remarked. “But in that case, shouldn’t we have stopped her from looking into the forest around Viscount Persimmon’s estate last time?” Garkie asked with an inscrutable air. “Ngh…!” Navre groaned. “Ordinarily, that wouldn’t have been appropriate, either! But the viscount didn’t have any resources to spare, so we had little choice! No matter how skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable you are, Princess Anisphia, you’re irreplaceable! The risk is too great!” “It isn’t even clear there’s any real danger yet, though…,” I pointed out. “We cannot rule it out, so as your escort, it’s my responsibility to make your safety my highest priority. What do you have to say to that, Princess Anisphia?” Navre asked upfront. He’d phrased it so bluntly, I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. Objectively speaking, he wasn’t wrong, by any means. There wasn’t yet any real danger to steer clear form—I merely felt like something bad was approaching. As such, the situation didn’t necessarily call for action on my part. Navre was right, technically. Yet I still couldn’t go along with him. “Right now, I think peace of mind is more important than my safety,” I answered. “…You do realize there’s no one else who can take your place if anything should happen to you?” “I won’t do anything rash, and we won’t push any deeper into the forest than we have to. We’ll just take a look, and if something’s wrong, we’ll turn back. Can we agree on that?” “…I will obey your command,” Navre said, still unconvinced. I felt bad about forcing the matter, but it was decided. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long to work out why the forest was so quiet. We would just have to see what we could find, I thought with a sigh. “So, who’s coming with me…?” I asked. “I will,” said Lainie. “Me too,” Tilty added. “…Lainie? Tilty? This is the forest we’re talking about here, you know? Especially you, Tilty—you hardly ever go outside. Will you be all right?” “Lainie and I can just follow from above on an Airbike, can’t we?” Tilty answered. “There’s no need to actually step into the forest. And that way, we can leave quickly if we have to. You can report your location to us by sending magic signals up from below. How about it?” “…Then you should take Navre with you, just in case,” I advised. “Garkie and I will go into the forest. I want the three of you to keep an eye on things from above. If we find somewhere you can land inside the forest, we can rendezvous there.” “…Very well,” Navre said reluctantly. “Understood,” Garkie nodded. Thus, we were to be the ones to survey Filwach Forest.
Chapter 89
23 min read