“Princess! These are land creatures!”
“Mr. Golden Hair, thank you for taking away my pain,” the child went on, ignoring her mother’s scolding. “And big fox and little girl—thank you for letting me see my mommy again.”
A golden light spilled from the bowing child, flowing into Lord Reineke. The spirit received it with a satisfied nod, then glared at the rest of the merfolk. There was a small amount of light accumulating within them too. Even in their defiant silence, they obviously felt grateful for Lord Reineke’s help.
After watching her daughter, the mermaid queen finally lowered her head.
“I am...thankful...for your help.”
As soon as the words left her lips, a burst of golden light spilled out of her. The emotions she’d suppressed in her pride now came forth like a bursting dam.
Lord Reineke smirked haughtily.
“Good to see you understand. Now, don’t ever touch Renard again.”
The merfolk nodded.
“This situation may have been caused by a misunderstanding, but we still burdened you. From now on, as a token of our gratitude and apology, we will grant safe passage to all vessels bearing the Reineke symbol,” the queen proclaimed.
Lord Reineke nodded.
“And we’ll keep custody of these humans. We still need to question them further,” she added.
With that, the merfolk began traveling back to the sea, pushing the raft along with the culprits.
Once the riverbank grew silent, an autumn breeze blew past. I sighed in relief.
Marcel approached Bal and placed his hand on his head.
“Bal?”
“M-Master, I...”
The boy glanced up at the man nervously, then lowered his head in dejection.
After witnessing Bal use the light-based magic tool, Marcel must’ve realized Bal’s true identity. Bal was an honest boy who disliked telling lies, and looked like he wanted to confess everything then and there. However, he knew that doing so would endanger House Renard. So he bit his lip, desperately trying to hold it all in.
Marcel sighed, then chuckled and patted Bal’s head.
“I won’t ask,” he said.
Bal’s eyes brimmed with tears.
“But...” He paused, casting Liam an uneasy look.
Liam nodded. “It’s fine. You can tell him.”
Bal turned back to Marcel. “M-Master, I...”
“Yeah?”
“I never met him, but...”
“Mhm?”
“Apparently, His Majesty is...my father,” Bal admitted at last, sounding ashamed and casting his eyes down.
“I see,” replied the unsurprised Marcel.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“No need to apologize. And since it’s you, I won’t say anything,” Marcel said with a laugh. “Besides, I was the one His Majesty asked to help your mother escape the palace. I suppose you can say I’m an accomplice.”
Bal’s eyes grew wide. “His Majesty asked you to—”
“Yeah. If your mother had stayed in the palace, her life would’ve been in danger. So...I’m glad you made it.”
Bal gripped his chest, mumbling to himself. “So...His Majesty didn’t abandon us?”
Tears streamed down the boy’s face. Marcel patted his shoulder.
“I heard the queen was aiming to kill not just the woman, but even the unborn baby. I guess His Majesty figured your mother would never be safe in the palace, what with all those people from House Cordier. I couldn’t just let an innocent child be murdered, so I let your mother escape. After that, knowing that light magic wielders were only decreasing in number, I began a journey to search for the successor of the holy sword. And I followed Joyeuse’s guidance all the way to Renard.”
Marcel scratched the back of his neck, glancing at Liam.
“When I first came here, I thought it was a strange domain. Just having a great spirit like Lord Reineke physically manifesting was a miracle unto itself, but I could also sense signs of dark magic here.”
Liam flinched, drawing back.
“Initially, I was worried that dark magic might be smothering light magic. But I soon realized that my fears were unfounded.” Marcel smiled at Liam. “I can tell that the dark magic wielder is a very caring person.”
Marcel took off the bangle around his wrist. “However, we cannot have the palace find out that someone of light descent lives here,” he said, wrapping the bangle around Bal’s left wrist. On its own, the bangle grew smaller to become a perfect fit for the boy.
“Huh?!” Bal choked out.
“Here you go. That sword’s chosen you too,” Marcel said with a grin.
“But master, this is—”
“Yes, it’s the holy sword Joyeuse, one of the two swords handed down in the royal family for generations. It’s said to choose the bravest of people with hearts worthy of light to wield it.”
“Holy sword Joyeuse...” Bal raised his arm into the sky, staring at the bangle with a shine in his eyes.
“I’ve always been searching for this sword’s rightful heir. Bal, that heir is you.”
Marcel’s grave proclamation snapped Bal out of his wonderment.
“I am passing it onto you,” Marcel concluded.
“Why now?” Liam asked.
“It won’t be long before the capital finds out that someone used a light magic item here. Besides the item’s owner, only the royal family or light magic wielders can do that. The royals will likely suspect Bal, but if he wields Joyeuse, it won’t seem so out of the ordinary. See?” Marcel grinned, his white teeth flashing.
Liam smiled, relieved. “Thank you very much!”
“Master!” Bal exclaimed tearfully, hugging Marcel. “I’ll do everything I can to become a man worthy of wielding Joyeuse!”
“Good for you, Bal!” I said happily.
Marcel rubbed Bal’s back, but I noticed him glaring at Liam’s sword. A disturbing growl resounded from the Eclipse Blade, as if responding to the silent threat. Liam stroked the sword in an attempt to pacify Nott. Seeing that, Marcel burst into laughter.
“Master, will you not question me about my own sin?” Liam asked.
As a former swordmaster, Marcel had defeated countless evils. The Lord of Darkness’s name itself was a taboo. Liam would be in great danger if people were to find out he wielded a sword that contained that very spirit.
“As long as you can control the spirit, it’s fine. But don’t mention anything to the royals. As things are now, they wouldn’t understand,” Marcel said with a bitter smile.
Liam simply nodded.
“Thank goodness,” I muttered.
“There was no need to worry,” Lord Reineke huffed. “If Marcel had tried to punish Liam, I’d have punished him instead.”
Marcel’s face paled at the sound of the spirit cackling.
“Very funny, Lord Reineke,” the man said, though he looked worried.
Lord Reineke cast Marcel a sideways look and smacked him with his tail.
“Well, for now, just train those two so they don’t stray onto the wrong path.”
Marcel nodded. “According to an ancient legend, light magic might disappear without dark magic. If that’s true, then guiding the wielders of each is extremely important.”
The spirit nodded as well.
“Renard Water Transport can resume service tomorrow, so we’ll need to arrange flags bearing Lord Reineke’s symbol as quickly as possible,” Liam said.
“My symbol, hmm?” Lord Reineke asked, wagging his tail.
“The grapevine crest on your forehead is wonderful!” I said.
The fox grinned. “Isn’t it?”
“Then a golden grapevine will be a symbol of Lord Reineke’s divine protection!”
Afterward, we got onto the spirit’s back and began traveling back to House Renard. Lord Reineke’s shadow stretched on the riverbank. As his warm, fluffy back rocked me back and forth, I let out a yawn.