“But what’s this static electricity crackling through it?” Agnes wondered.
“We use the Visage power of the dragon to strengthen the Oreillian lattice,” Claude said. “Currently, it’s mainly my power…but since the lattice has weathered and its power is weakening, I’ve had to reduce my output a little. I’m concerned about the lattice being destroyed.”
The electricity crackling was Claude’s lightning magic at work. On closer look, Agnes could see that the roots were discolored in some places, and some were withered and broken.
“That’s why the mist leaks out,” she said.
“Some leaking is expected. But if the lattice fails when a big wave comes…”
Even as Claude spoke, a large amount of black mist spilled through the barrier, but Ciel sprang into action and devoured it, licking his chops. They couldn’t expect Ciel to chomp up all the black mist that leaked through, though. And if the lattice itself were to break, there would be no hope.
Did this situation not call on Agnes to create a new lattice using the divine protection of the spirits, her birthright as an Oreillian royal?
But what if she failed? Sorry, I tried? The situation was too serious for that. She suddenly felt such a sense of pressure that she struggled to breathe.
“It’s all right,” came a kind voice as Agnes felt a warm arm around her shoulders.
Looking up to see those familiar eyes narrowed warmly at her, Agnes felt the weight in her chest lighten.
“Agnes, all you need to focus on is fixing the cracks in the lattice. I’ll be right by your side,” Claude reassured. “Right, Ciel?”
“Rawr!” Ciel roared in agreement.
Though nothing about the situation had changed, Agnes’s entire mood had lifted.
“Thank you.”
It was Agnes herself who decided to come here. Agnes who had decided to use her Oreillian birthright for good. So, she would need to do everything in her power.
“Spirits!” she called.
Multiple balls of light began to swirl around, responding to Agnes’s call. The mellow glow they gave off was beautiful, like fallen shooting stars. The nearby knights let out gasps of admiration.
“I want to fix this grid. Can you lend me your help?”
Though she tried asking them outright, the spirits didn’t act. Instead, the balls of light began to sway back and forth, as if they were trying to tell her something.
“Rawr,” Ciel growled, staring intently at the light balls and rubbing his cheek against Agnes’s arm.
“It seems…they’re saying it is better to break down what’s already there, and completely rebuild it,” translated Claude, which shocked Agnes.
“Huh? But if the grid is removed, even for a second, the mist will overflow…”
The balls of light swayed more in response to Agnes’s doubts, and Ciel rumbled again.
“Fixing it will keep it weak. Starting from scratch will make it strong. I see, yes, that’s certainly so.”
“Claude?!”
Agnes didn’t understand. If the grid was broken down to nothing, there would be zero protection at all. And if Agnes had to create the new grid… Well, there was no guarantee that she’d be able to do a good job.
“Existing records state the grid has indeed been destroyed several times in the past, but that the seal was sustained through dragon power alone for several days,” Claude said. “I’m sure things will work out. After all, we have a Queen of— I mean, a Mushroom Princess on our side.”
Agnes was glad Claude had corrected himself, but at the same time, she felt embarrassed. Would this plan really work? In theory, a Queen of Mushrooms would have a stronger spirit blessing than a King of Roots.
A yellow, rod-shaped Clavulinopsis helvola grew on Claude’s shoulder, appearing with a loud pop as if in response to Agnes’s turmoil. The balls of light also began to swirl playfully around Agnes, appearing to cheer her on.
“Rawr!”
“They want you to call on them.” The strength in Claude’s voice made Agnes feel silly for worrying.
First off, give it a try. Agnes was supported by so many wonderful people who’d changed her entire philosophy on life. And she was proud of who she was becoming—someone capable of believing in herself.
“Right. I trust the spirits. I trust the mushrooms.”
The red and white mushrooms on Ciel’s head released a puff of spores, as if to say, “That’s the spirit!”
“We will break down the current grid and install a new one,” Claude announced to the knights. “Be prepared for an onslaught of mist and monsters. Be prepared for battle. Notify the entire city, just in case.”
“Yes, sir!” the knights responded with enthusiasm to Claude’s instructions.
They dispersed to tackle their tasks, preparing weapons, making reports, and getting into battle formation. Agnes felt reassured that all these good soldiers were here, working together to handle the situation.
“Incidentally…how are we supposed to break down the grate?” she asked.
“I could break it down, but I don’t want to open the floodgates,” Claude said. “If the spirits did it in the past, then perhaps they can do it this time, too?”
“Can you?” Agnes asked the spirits. The balls of light glowed quickly in response to Agnes’s question, as if saying it was possible. “Then, please destroy the grid.”
Instantly, the balls of light began to gather around the grid. The roots gradually dried up, changed color, and eventually fell apart. In an instant, the grid lost its shape, and the electricity crackled and disappeared. Then, the undulating mist began to sway violently.
Though Agnes had been expecting…something…the oddness of its weird mix of colors and the creepy sounds it made caused a chill to run down her spine.
With a disturbingly wet noise, the mist oozed from the hole with surprising and increasing viscosity. It seemed sentient, realizing the blockade was now gone, and surged forth.
“It’s coming. Lightning bolt!” Claude chanted.
The mist that spilled onto the ground reformed itself into about a dozen bird-shaped monsters. Claude’s lightning bolts instantly rained down upon them, with a flash of light so blinding and a crack so loud, Agnes feared losing both her sight and hearing. Losing many of its monstrous shapes to the wind, the black mist fragmented and left only the smell of burnt earth behind.
“A-Amazing…”
“Incredible, Prince Claude. That many monsters in the space of an instant.”
The knights seemed taken aback and impressed, but Claude was still on high alert.
“Don’t let your guard down, the next wave will come soon! Agnes!” Claude shouted.
“O-On it!” Agnes took a deep breath and focused on the hole overflowing with dark mist. “Spirits, Mushrooms! Please, make a grid to close this hole!”
As soon as Agnes finished her request, the balls of light began to shine brighter. The glow became thin and snaky like a vine, zooming toward the hole, and forming a delicate lattice in an instant. The mist stopped glopping forth but was not held back completely. It continued to ripple and undulate violently. Then, something like a long, thin thread appeared from nowhere and intertwined with the lattice of light, which became thicker and more robust.
Mushrooms began to grow rapidly on the lattice.
A red lattice-shaped Clathrus ruber and a black-brown bumpy Morchella esculenta now wove through the lattice. Was that meant to happen?
Brown Termitomyces mushrooms were concentrated in the center of the lattice, making them look like one large mushroom at first glance. Bright red-capped Hygrocybe coccineas and a stack of pink-capped Podoserpula miranda gave off vibrant pops of color as they scattered throughout the white lattice, giving off a lovely impression.