“Delphinad was founded after Sing fell? Then could the end of the Faceless Age have been the fall of Sing? And Delphinad was founded afterward, in the Age of Princes?”
At Gene’s question, Luke narrowed his eyes.
“To be honest, Captain, you’re rather suspicious. You know the strangest things.”
Instead of answering, Gene fell into thought. Repeating the word Sing had made it feel familiar. Was that merely because it had been on his mind since Rosa mentioned it before? In any case, Gene spoke again.
“Then are the general and his people descendants of that ancient kingdom?”
“They might be descendants, or people who inherited some religious custom. Or simply fanatics obsessed with old tales. Whichever they are, the problem is that they don’t just go around praising an ancient kingdom. They actually have power. Power that lets someone revive after being stabbed over and over, or suddenly robs another person of all their strength.”
Rosa seemed to have watched Gene’s duel in considerable detail. Tahyang straightened a little and spoke to him.
“Do you remember the black shadow that appeared on the floor?”
“You struck it with your dagger.”
Tahyang drew the dagger from his belt and laid it before the three of them. Looking closely, they saw it was not metal, but carved from an animal’s bone. Tahyang spoke.
“This is made from the bone of a dead snow lion. The Firran treasure snow lion bone above all other materials for magic. With magic, this dagger has also been given a spirit for the dead snow lion’s master. Such a dagger has the power to drive away evil spirits that would harm its owner.”
“Then that shadow was an evil spirit?”
“I don’t know. But I too sensed it was no ordinary shadow. And whatever the source of its power, an ordinary weapon cannot contend with a being possessed by something. That was why I used this enchanted dagger. It seems to have had some effect.”
“I think… I heard something like a scream too. Until then I could hardly hold myself upright, but it brought me to my senses a little.”
Gene could not clearly remember what had happened. Recalling the moment the black shadow seized him made his spine grow cold. Never in his life had his strength suddenly failed him like that, leaving him unable to support his own body. It had shaken his confidence in himself to an almost unreasonable degree. Gene had rejected the gifts that came to him by chance and trusted that no one could take away what he had honed and trained for himself. But he had been wrong.
Gene took the dagger from Tahyang. He turned it in several directions over his palm, changing his grip in an instant, then spoke.
“I’d struggle to fight with this.”
Tahyang looked steadily at him.
“You mean to fight again.”
Lowering his gaze, Gene smiled bitterly.
“I’ve come too far to turn back.”
“I won’t oppose you, but you’ll need to prepare. Nor will I send you alone again. Look for an enchanted weapon. If we truly can’t find one, perhaps I can at least make a short staff from this.”
Gene nodded.
“A sword would be best, but a spear will do.”
Thoroughly trained since childhood, Gene could handle almost any close-combat weapon. Luke spoke.
“To sum up the power in question, it not only strengthens the user’s body, but steals another person’s energy. Would that be right? It’s too vague even to investigate… Friend, did you notice anything distinctive about its appearance? The shadow, I mean.”
“Well…”
Tahyang thought for a moment, then spoke.
“Its shape was rather strange. It divided into several branches… Like roots of some sort. Black roots?”
“A black tree?”
At Rosa’s interjection, Tahyang shook his head.
“Not a tree. Roots. Like the roots of a medicinal herb.”
“So, something like this…”
Rosa sprang up and took a cold piece of charcoal from the extinguished brazier beside them. It was not a season for a fire, but Gene had claimed he needed one as an invalid and made Daniel bring it. She drew on the floor with the charcoal.
“Did it look like this?”
Gene too raised himself a little to look down. A shape stretched in every direction, like a tree or roots. Tahyang spoke.
“Not exactly, but quite similar.”
Rosa stood again, went into the next room, and returned with a large piece of cloth. It was the flag she had picked up on the shore with Nana. Unfolded, its design was visible. As Rosa explained how she had found it, Luke nodded.
“No doubt about it. This is their symbol. Their power itself as well. I don’t know whether it’s a tree or roots, but now that we have something distinctive to go on, it will be easier to trace. Though who should we ask? The mages?”
“Do you want to go back to Ayanad?”
Rosa gave him a sideways look, but Luke shrugged as though it were nothing.
“Well, I don’t think we were quite at death’s door. Next time, we can find a door near that café.”
“You have a remarkably resilient mind. You remember only the welcome we received.”
“That’s a serious misunderstanding, young lady. But where else should we look for answers, if not among mages?”
“The library. The librarian promised to find books related to it.”
Luke chuckled.
“You managed quite a few bargains in the midst of everything. Are you going tomorrow?”
“Yes. And I’m taking you, Luke.”
“Oh dear, decided without my consent. Is this the sorrow of being useful?”
Rosa shrugged, then turned toward the bed.
“The patient is staying here, of course.”
Gene stared at her in dismay, then spoke.
“Ah, so you’re on their side too, Rosa. Now I’m certain to be imprisoned for three days.”
Then Rosa smiled, the corners of her mouth turning up. It was a mischievous expression Gene had never seen on her before. While he was still unable to look away from it, Harat knocked and called for Rosa. When she rose and went out, the three men looked at one another. Gene spoke.
“Rosa, I mean. She seems different from before…”
Luke explained with a poet’s insight.
“The testing period is over. She’s decided we can be trusted.”
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