9

“Do you still need my magic?”

The eye Arabetta turned toward the smiling, one-eyed Ains was filled with strength.

“No, Ains-dono. Your words made me realize it. It seems that time has not yet come for me.”

Let us stop using fine-sounding words like standing back up. Arabetta resolved herself to struggle, to simply keep writhing through this present moment with honest stubbornness.

“You should not be alone.”

Immediately after Ains said that, the door to the study was knocked on and opened from outside.

“Arabetta-sama, a letter has arrived.”

The butler who entered with a bow handed Arabetta a sealed letter.

“Who is it from?”

“Yes, it is from Marquis Brandy.”

“That schemer…”

Arabetta cut the seal with a paper knife, quickly read through the contents, and smiled faintly. Written there were warm words from an old and close friend, showing concern for Arabetta, who had been caught up in the recent turmoil in Elias.

The words of Kansas, who had experienced various hardships as a fellow lord and comrade-in-arms, sank deeply into Arabetta’s heart.

Arabetta could stand once more. Before her was someone who earnestly threw words at her. And around her were close friends.

That alone was enough.

“Thank you, Ains-dono.”

As Arabetta bowed her head and thanked him, Ains merely smiled faintly.

As if Ains had known this would happen, as if he had guided things so they would turn out this way.

“That said, Arabetta-sama.”

“What is it?”

“Your strong heart surprised even me, Arabetta-sama, but in this situation, it is also true that spirit alone cannot solve everything.”

“That is true…”

What Arabetta had resolved herself to do was to walk the thorny path where this hardship would continue. There were people who would support her, but right now, she did not have the powerful legs needed to break through it by herself.

“Arabetta-sama, would you like to turn the resolve you have chosen, your own way of being, and your strong feelings for Elias into real power?”

“…Into real power?”

Ains nodded.

“You have a vague but strong desire to overcome this hardship and protect the good people of Elias. Would you not wish for a power that could give shape to that desire and save everything?”

What Ains pointed to was sweet nectar itself to Arabetta. But even Arabetta understood that such all-purpose power could not exist, and that was precisely why she grieved over reality.

“If such a thing existed, there would be nothing more to say, but something so unrealistic…”

“That can be done with sorcery.”

“Sorcery?”

Magic and sorcery. Arabetta knew both of those words. However, she did not know the absolute difference between them. She recognized sorcery as an application of magic, something more complex and more powerful.

Because Arabetta viewed sorcery as the same as magic, she could understand Ains’s words, but she could not accept them.

“Magic and sorcery are similar, but different things. Sorcery is born from one’s strong wishes and feelings, so strong that they gain form and manifest in the real world. It is also one’s own way of being.”

“My way of being, is it?”

From Ains’s words, Arabetta could see some small part of her own way of being.

“And sorcery—strong feelings possess power mighty enough to distort the laws of reality.”

“Ains-dono, are you saying that I can reach that?”

“It would be impossible for the current Arabetta-sama alone. But I will assist you.”

“You will, Ains-dono?”

Arabetta had seen Ains use excellent magic. She had no doubt about his ability, but from Ains’s explanation, she understood sorcery to be, in other words, a matter concerning Arabetta herself.

If so, what did Ains mean by assisting her?

“I am a sorcerer, Arabetta-sama. Not a magic practitioner, but one who handles the sorcery I just spoke of. I am saying that because I am a sorcerer, I can become your strength, Arabetta-sama.”

“I see.”

That said, to Arabetta, it was far too sudden and outlandish, and she could not fully understand Ains’s words.

However, the way Ains spoke was filled with confidence. As if, to Ains, this was realistic and natural.

Ains had saved her, supported her, and made her stand up time and again through his power and his words. If he said so, then this time as well, Arabetta could believe that he was thinking of her.

“Since you say so, Ains-dono, it is something someone like me cannot understand, but I will believe you. I would very much like to receive your assistance.”

At Arabetta’s words, Ains’s eye shone. Arabetta noticed that the corners of Ains’s mouth rose slightly, but in an instant, his expression returned to normal.

“?”

“Understood. Though it was only for a short time, this is also a city that cared for me. I do feel that things cannot remain as they are.”

“Ains-dono…”

Before Arabetta stood the figure of a fine young man who thought of her, thought of Elias, and extended his hand to her.

“Then let us begin at once. Please allow me to ask you several questions.”

“Questions?”

“Yes. They are meant to help you deepen your understanding of yourself as you answer them, Arabetta-sama—”

He was trying to hide it, but Sophia could see a somewhat delighted expression on Ains’s face, as if he had been waiting for this.

“What, is it over already? I was sure I would get to see something interesting.”

That voice belonged neither to Ains nor Arabetta. It was not Sophia’s, who had been holding her breath, nor was it Talidge’s voice, who had been yawning.

It was the voice of a fifth person who had not originally been there.

“Who are you!”

Sophia immediately turned a stern gaze toward the direction of the voice.

“Oh, scary. Don’t give me such dangerous looks. I waited without interrupting your exchange, didn’t I? Taking that attitude right away isn’t good, you know.”

The woman who replied with a shrug was leaning against the window as if completely relaxed.

“This is not about whether you interrupted us or not. I am speaking of the fact that you invaded this place without permission from me, the master of this mansion. You are awfully brazen for a thief.”

Arabetta had been speaking with Ains, but at the appearance of an outsider, she immediately switched her mind over.

“Hmm, personality-wise, I’d say I’m more carefree than brazen, but that doesn’t matter. Don’t call me a thief. I have a name too, you know.”

“Then state it first.”

The woman said, “Ah, right. I hadn’t introduced myself to the people here yet,” scratched her head, and pushed herself upright.

“My name is Lydia. I don’t know whether you people know this or not, but I’m the one leading the Next-Era Luminaries. Do you know them?”