The Flame Swaying In The Heart

“Then, I shall be off.”

“Have a safe trip.”

The servants bowed to Ornis. As Kardia’s disciple, he was treated as a guest in this manor.

“Wait. You’re headed to the square, right? I want to go too.”

Fluttering the outfit the servants had put on her, Noi ran. The hair Kardia had tied for her every morning now hung loose and natural.

It was still early morning, but Kardia, Aidoni, and the captains had already gone out—to the reconstruction sites.

“Please don’t get in the way.”

“I know. I’ll behave.”

Having decided to live on her own from here on, Noi first thought to do what she could in this land.

Even if she was shooed off as a nuisance, unless she had the grit to keep at it, she likely wouldn’t manage to live alone from now on either.

When she went to the square with Ornis, the scene was far worse than she remembered.

Debris torn from the floating isle sprawled everywhere, blocking their way, and the trees raised to buoy that rubble had grown thickly, vertical and horizontal. On top of that, overflowing lake water had muddied the roads, grass, and house walls all around.

And in the lake that was the square’s landmark, the floating isle was rammed in at a slant.

The dreadful sight nearly crushed Noi’s heart.

Many townsfolk and soldiers had gathered in the square. Civil works had already begun; logs and stones were being brought in to build scaffolds. Under canvas tents, soup kitchens served food, and many of the afflicted had gathered.

“…I wonder if I can help with anything.”

“That’s why I brought you.”

“Understood.”

Noi, nodding to Ornis who spoke while facing forward, started toward the tents. Ornis caught her by the collar.

“Where are you going?”

“Hmm? To help.”

“To the soup kitchen? How many times must I tell you to recognize your own skill at cooking?”

Pressed with frightening intensity, Noi could only freeze with a squeak.

Ornis, eyes narrowed to slits, led her away from the tents.

As Noi was dragged along, villagers were loudly airing grievances.

“—Ugh, honestly. For the Demon King to revive in a backwater like this—what rotten luck!”

“Rumor has it it came targeting the Magic Count.”

“My word! What a nuisance! Even just dropping that huge island was trouble enough for a lord!”

“I heard he managed the rain… but it’s just rain, isn’t it? Did he have to go so overboard?”

“You don’t go against nature.”

“It was a nuisance floating up there, and noisy even when it came crashing down.”

Perhaps it couldn’t be helped that those robbed of their land felt that way. In a situation like this, it was better not to bottle up resentment that had nowhere else to go.

Even so, a gloom spread through Noi’s heart.

(…This land had lived in peace without suffering from rain thanks to Kardia.)

The villagers were unfortunate to bear all eighty years of misfortune in a single blow.

But was Kardia—who had sustained a barren fief foisted on him by the kingdom for longer than a human lifetime—truly so blameworthy?

“I heard that Dias is taking over as lord, yeah?”

“So he wasn’t just a traveling mage. We were grateful for the help, but if he’s the lord, that’s only natural.”

The villagers suddenly noticed Noi’s gaze. Looking abashed, they glanced behind her and went rigid. No doubt Ornis stood there with the face of a gatekeeper from hell.

A relatively young woman among them frowned at Noi.

“You’re the lord’s wife, aren’t you? Help out! You’ve had it easy till now!”

She likely knew Noi from when Kardia had introduced her to the villagers once before.

“Understood.”

Noi slipped free of Ornis’s hand and went to the woman.

“I’ll be of use. What should I do?”

At Noi’s question as she rolled up her sleeves, the woman faltered. Perhaps it had only been a snide remark. But Noi had come here intending to help with the reconstruction from the start.

“Hey! I’m telling you—what could you possibly do here?”

With a barked shout, her collar was seized again.

“Even if you get covered in mud and move a single pebble, it won’t be worth a damn.”

At Ornis’s merciless logic, Noi couldn’t hide her shock.

The villagers, too, looked at “Demon Ornis” as if to say, “You don’t have to go that far…”

Indeed, all Noi could likely do was slow people down and get in the way while they worked. Even if she tried her utmost, she would produce results beneath those of other children. From her slender, pale arms, it was obvious she wasn’t suited to hard labor.

“Is there a problem?”

While Noi was crushed by his words, several men approached. From their imposing bearing she could tell they were royal soldiers.

The villagers grimaced as if guilty and hurriedly scattered.

“Oh? Sir Ornis. And this is?”

“This lady is called Noi-sama. She is Lord Kardia-sama’s guest.”

Ornis did not introduce Noi as a “fiancée.”

She knew why, but felt a small pang of loneliness and stiffened her expression to cover it.

“I’m Noi. I came to help.”

“To… help?”

The royal soldier looked her over from head to toe. He unmistakably wondered what such a small girl could possibly do.

“Lady Noi, are you also the Hyuetos Magic Count’s disciple?”

“No.”

“Sorry. I don’t have mana.”

With a face plainly asking, Then what are you here for? the frank soldier was elbowed hard by the man beside him.

“—P-pardon us. In that case, perhaps you could help with the soup kitchen.”

“It would be wise to refrain. You’ll be served charcoal.”

“I’ve told you those were yams.”

He retorted, but Ornis instantly cut him down with, “Charcoal.” Then, after scanning the area, Ornis asked the soldiers:

“Who is in charge of the mages?”

“…We’ll show you. This way.”

Suspicious but unable to slight Kardia’s disciple, the royal soldiers guided Ornis along.

They headed—to the mages in matching robes—the Royal Court Mages.

(…So here.)

Understanding Ornis’s intent, Noi drew a deep breath.

—Royal Court Mages were largely from noble and distinguished houses.

With no fitting status, no firm patron, and no mana strong enough to silence dissent—less than even a mere girl—Noi would not have her opinions heard if she joined them.

Yet if she wanted to achieve more than moving a single pebble, it was clear she had to be included here.

(…I have no intention of giving up from the start—but if I become a disruption, I’ll withdraw cleanly.)

Morale was high at a site personally mobilized by the king. Noi couldn’t butt in and throw the place into confusion.

“Excuse us. This personage—said to be a guest of the Hyuetos Magic Count—has offered to cooperate—”

When the soldier entered the tent and said as much, the four mages inside turned to Noi. Most wore openly displeased faces.

(…Ah. This won’t fly.)

Noi raised the white flag at once.