The following night, I was leisurely enjoying a book after finishing my daily work. With the big confrontation with Lord Slade happening so soon, I needed to do what I could to calm my nerves.
“You’re really enchanted by that book, Your Majesty,” said Alicia as she prepared my tea. I was once again back to reading The Genesis of Ausgrid. I’d been reading it in my free time ever since I talked to Freesia and Howard about it.
“I suppose I am. Have you read it before, Alicia?”
“Many times, when I was much younger!”
“Hmm. I see.”
I closed the book with a thwap.
“I believe it to be a tale recording the arduous trials and tribulations of mages.”
Alicia tilted her head at my unexpected remark.
“For example, the Dark One mentioned in the story,” I pointed out. “Such horrific monsters do not actually exist in this world, do they?”
“Dragons, you mean? They don’t.”
“Perhaps the dragon is a representation of those who oppress mages. And the original king of this kingdom founded it to protect those with magic. That’s my theory,” I said.
“Hmm, I see! I have heard Ausgrid treats its magical citizens more fairly than other nations. I can’t use my magic properly, but I’m sure I’d have met a much worse fate if it’d gone out of control anywhere else. Not that I’ve been hassle-free for everyone here in Ausgrid with my mishaps…”
It’s not your fault, Alicia. Before the kidnapping—before you lost your memories—you were an incredibly gifted mage. Your pained smile makes me desperately wish I could tell you.
“Incidents of magic going out of control are much like a natural disaster, Alicia. You have no need to look down on yourself like that. Without you, my life would be very different.”
At that, her taut smile bloomed like a beautiful flower.
“Just let me know if anyone gives you trouble for it, all right?” I pressed.
“It’s no problem! Everyone’s really kind, so I doubt that’ll happen.”
“You think so? I suppose Freesia can ensure your safety as well. Hmm…”
“She absolutely can!” Alicia agreed. “So, about that book—wasn’t the first king just so amazing? Founding a kingdom simply to protect those with magical gifts.”
“It is the ideal I strive for.”
What would our first king have thought if he saw the current state of our kingdom, a country that captured magical children and sold them like cattle? Would he have felt the same sadness and rage that I did? Would he have lost all faith in the world?
“The Sacred Swords embody his hope for the future of the nation, do they not? Looking at them that way tickles the imagination, certainly,” I said.
“Sure does! Me and all the other mages of this nation are blessed.”
“What’s gotten into you?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“I truly believe you’ll become a wise ruler like the first king. I’m happy I got to live in the same era as you.”
“You hold me in too high regard, Alicia.”
Her little fantasy was too much for me to bear, and all I could muster was a forced smile in response.