Death’s Daughter and the Ebony Blade: Volume 5, page 11
“That young man came back safe? Was he injured?”
“He has his share of bruises, but nothing severe enough to pose a threat to his life. He returned to the house on his own two feet.”
“That means Olivia is back too, I suppose?”
At Olivia’s name, fear filled the owl’s eyes. “Yes, My Seraph. Death God Olivia returned with him.”
“Very good. Thank you for your report.”
“My Seraph.” The owl left the room. Sofitia made her way over to the gray sofa in the center of the room.
As she went, she called over to Lara, a smile in her voice. “As you’ve just heard, Lara, the young man is safe and sound.”
“I really didn’t think he’d make it, given what happened...” Lara said. He had fallen down a cliff after being thrown aside by the Norfess. On Sofitia’s orders, Lara had put together a search party, but she had expected it to be a wasted effort. As such, Lara was quite amazed to hear that he had survived.
“Truly, he is favored by fortune. I wonder if perhaps Strecia has bestowed her grace upon him,” Sofitia said, adding, “Don’t keep standing there. Come and sit down.”
“Thank you, My Seraph.”
Sofitia watched her sit, then called for a servant to bring them some tea.
“Now, Lara. I have determined that I simply must have Olivia.”
“Because you saw her battle the Norfess?”
“But of course. It really makes a world of difference seeing with one’s own eyes what one has only heard of. A perfect example of a picture speaking a thousand words,” Sofitia said good-humoredly. Lara held back a sigh.
“My Seraph, I beg you will not take offense at what I am about to say.”
“Go ahead. I do not ask for flattery.”
Lara expressed her thanks, then drew herself up. “After seeing Olivia with the Norfess, it is my view that acquiring her would invite danger. If she had used magecraft it would be one thing, but she killed that beast with only a sword like it was nothing. She isn’t normal.” After Lara finished, silence stretched between them until, as if they had been waiting for the ideal moment, the servant returned with their tea. Sofitia daintily took her teacup and took a long sip.
“She will be beyond my power to control. Is that what you wish to say, Lara?”
“Not at all, My Seraph. Only, as Zephyr said before, there is something about her beyond normal human limits, something that defies all common sense. It’s that, I think, that so perturbed Johann.”
Lara thought back on Olivia’s battle with the Norfess. Though terrifying—so much so that she had felt her very soul tremble—it had also been beautiful. “First-rate” seemed too weak a word, whether one was describing her sword work or her athletic prowess. Lara understood now how Johann could decisively say that Olivia was on a level above all of them. With the aid of magecraft, Lara was confident that she too could slay a Norfess. But she couldn’t even imagine herself defeating Olivia in a sword fight. Even Historia, with her innate genius for the blade, looked like a child beside Olivia. Such was the awe she inspired. Then there was what Lara saw as the greatest danger Olivia posed.
She was smiling. She looked at the Norfess, the feared beast of legends, and she smiled. All through the fight, she had the hint of it on her lips. No matter how you look at it, that isn’t natural.
Lara herself sometimes forced a fearless smile to inspire her guardians. But Olivia’s smile had been different—another sort of thing entirely. Lara couldn’t help but find it horribly unnerving.
Sofitia’s glistening lips slowly parted. “To distance oneself from danger is to take the easy path. But that way will not lead us to domination over all of Duvedirica. You see that, don’t you, Lara?”
“I agree that may be so...” Lara said reluctantly. Sofitia’s eyes were sparkling as though they were full of stars.
“Olivia is strong enough that she didn’t have to use magic—she did it all with just a blade. To put it as you might, Lara, our simple categories of ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ cannot be applied to her. I understand now, with every fiber of my being, why the empire was unable to cow her. But if we make her ours, why, then, the dream of unifying Duvedirica suddenly seems quite plausible.”
“When you saw her fight, you didn’t feel afraid of her?” Fear was the natural emotion for anyone to have experienced upon witnessing Olivia’s common-sense-defying battle with the Norfess. Even the Seraphic Guardians, those brave warriors who feared not even death if only it were for Sofitia’s sake, had all worn the same look of terror back there.
“Afraid? On the contrary, I was impressed. I thought it would drive me mad, she was so lovely.”
As Sofitia smiled, Lara felt goose bumps break out all over her body. So Sofitia plans on enjoying the danger of having Death God Olivia at her side...
Realizing that any further attempt at persuasion would fall on deaf ears, the only thing Lara could do, as Sofitia’s loyal servant, was to put her full trust in her seraph’s words.
“Very well, My Seraph. I have nothing more to say.”
“As I told you once before, I believe myself cognizant of the danger Olivia poses. As such, I mean to take your thoughts to heart,” Sofitia said. Then, as if to clear the air, she clapped her hands and said brightly, “Oh yes! What is the plan for tomorrow?”
“With your leave, My Seraph, I would like to hold the military parade we delayed.” The military parade had only one purpose—to show off the might of the Winged Crusaders to Olivia’s party—and, for that matter, to all of Fernest. Their plan had been to hold the parade the day after the hunt, but in consideration for their guests’ predicament, it had been delayed until the situation was resolved.
“Ah, yes...” Sofitia said. “Now that the young man has been found alive, I see no reason why not. You may proceed.”
“Thank you, my Seraph.”
“I would also like to invite Olivia to dinner again the day after tomorrow.”
If all went as scheduled, Olivia and her party were due to return to Fernest three days hence. Lara knew that Olivia had deferred her answer to Sofitia’s invitation, which meant Sofitia undoubtedly intended to raise the subject again over dinner.
“I’ll convey as much to Angelica.”
“Thank you. For the next two days I want Olivia’s every wish to be granted, and for her to feel as much in debt to us as is possible. So much so that she feels bound by her obligation to us.”
“Very well...”
Though each to differing degrees, humans were creatures of obligation. But they were dealing with Olivia, a being to whom the label of “human” did not seem to apply. Did she even experience obligation like other people? Lara was doubtful.
The following day, Angelica came again to take Olivia and her companions to attend the military parade that the search for Ashton had delayed. They rattled along in a carriage together for around ten minutes before they arrived at La Chaim Palace. There, they were escorted to the Viridescent Chamber, where Sofitia awaited them.
This room is spectacular, just like the rest of the palace.
Ashton looked around in wonder at the chamber with its broad, vaulted ceiling. His eyes alighted on a balcony, where he saw the beautiful woman from the dinner party—Lara Mira Crystal. She was discussing something with Sofitia.
“My Seraph, I present Lady Olivia and her company!” Angelica announced. At this, Sofitia came over to them, silver staff in hand.
“Thank you, Angelica. And Ashton, it is a relief to see you safe.”
“Y-You’re too kind! I, um, I heard that you—Your Majesty aided the search effort so, um, please accept my thanks!” Ashton was so taken aback that Sofitia had addressed him directly that he forgot to kneel as he stammered out his gratitude.
“You needn’t thank me,” Sofitia replied. She didn’t look at all annoyed; in fact, she smiled at him. “I only acted as anyone would.”
At this indifference to his lack of decorum, Ashton was struck once more by how gracious Sofitia was. Seeing her up close, she really is beautiful. Small wonder that Ashton had heard the common folk called her smile “the joy of the goddess.”
As he stared at her, captivated, she cocked her head at him. “Is there perhaps something on my face?” she asked.
“N-Not at all! You’re just so beautiful!” Ashton clapped his hands over his mouth, knowing he’d let it run away from him. Sofitia’s eyes widened, then she gave a tinkling laugh.
“To have a man say such a thing so directly to me, I think I may blush.”
“I beg your forgiveness!” Ashton exclaimed, kneeling.
Behind him, he heard Ellis mutter, “Terrifying...”
Claudia, as it happened, stood beside him. Ashton stole a glance at her and saw her face was frozen in a strained smile. Her hands were clenched in fists and trembling.
“We shall enjoy the military parade from here.” Her smile never faltering, Sofitia led them out onto the balcony. There, Lara showed them to a row of seats. Meanwhile, Sofitia showed Olivia to a seat on a higher level than the rest and sat down beside her. The whole scene—lavish, thronelike chair and all—was a silent statement that she and Olivia were equals. But Olivia appeared indifferent to the first-class privileges she received.
“This chair is super comfy. It’s so squishy,” she said, totally at ease.
“It will begin soon,” Lara announced in a clear voice. As if matching her, a trumpet rang out to declare the start of the parade. From either side of the leveled square, guardians in fine armor marched forth bearing the banners of Mekia. After they met at the center of the square, another two columns of guardians in full plate armor the color of new leaves emerged from the front. The two columns broke off, one left and one right, advancing in perfect formation before turning to face Sofitia. One by one, they saluted her.
It doesn’t take a veteran to see they’re very well trained, Ashton thought. They look like they’d be happy to die for Sofitia...
The parade wasn’t made up only of guardians. After them followed armored vehicles introduced as “chariots,” as well as other contraptions that looked like cutting-edge weapons of war. This was a display of the strength and breadth of their technology.
“Wouldn’t want these guys as an enemy,” Ellis muttered. She looked grim. Beside her, Evanson nodded in silence. Ashton was of entirely the same opinion. They couldn’t afford to underestimate Mekia just because it was a so-called “minor nation.” He, too, saw how they had defeated the Stonians with fewer than half as many soldiers.
Finally, the guardians formed a block seven ranks deep. They raised their swords in front of their faces, then cried out in unison, “Eternal loyalty to the seraph! May the light of Strecia be with her!”
Sofitia rose from her chair. She raised a hand and gave a small wave to the guardians, at which an earthshaking roar of joy and devotion filled the square. In days of yore, or so it was told, the legendary Queen Kaguya had conquered Duvedirica with her rare beauty and irresistible charisma as her weapons. Seeing Sofitia now, it was as though Queen Kaguya had come again.
While Sofitia smiled, Olivia gazed at her as though mystified.
III
It was the night before their return home.
“Right, be back in a bit.” Olivia had been invited to dinner by Sofitia. With unease in their eyes, Ashton and Claudia saw her off as she boarded the carriage sent for her and set off for La Chaim Palace alone.
“Your ceremonial uniform suited you very well, but you are just as stunning in a dress.”
These were Sofitia’s first words when she saw Olivia. Olivia looked down at the lilac dress she wore and cocked her head.
“You think so?”
“Oh, yes. It suits you very well.” The dress had been delivered the previous day by a merchant, Sofitia having apparently made arrangements for it especially for the occasion. Olivia had tried to refuse, saying her uniform would do fine, but Claudia had warned her that this would cause Sofitia to lose face. She’d had no choice but to wear it.
Sofitia, meanwhile, wore red. When Olivia commented that her dress was even more sparkly than usual, Sofitia whispered in her ear, “Actually, my ladies-in-waiting select everything I wear. I don’t get a choice in the matter.”
Not that Olivia could claim any better when it came to clothes, but she did think it must be horribly inconvenient being the ruler of a nation if you couldn’t even choose what you wore.
I wonder if she always eats at a big table like this. The table could have comfortably seated twenty people on just one side. Olivia sat down in the chair drawn for her, just as the door to the neighboring room opened and a procession of servants emerged wheeling silver wagons.
“Here we have a herb-roasted agate dove.”
“Here, a chatreised sallow fish.”
“Here...”
The servants laid out plate after plate before Olivia, listing off the name of each dish in turn. Mekian cuisine was more delicate in flavor than that of Fernest. As a rule, Olivia preferred richer food, but she still liked this.
“Please, eat. There’s no need for restraint.”
“Ashton says I left the word ‘restraint’ behind in my mother’s womb.”
Sofitia chuckled. “Then I needn’t have spoken.”
“Pretty much.” With that, Olivia set to work on the plates of food. Sofitia watched her eat, a smile playing around her mouth as though something amused her.
It’s about time to get to business. Sofitia sipped the wine that a servant had poured into her glass. Olivia wielded her knife and fork as if to demonstrate that eating was a war in its own right.
“Angelica tells me that you visited the library yesterday,” Sofitia said.
“Mm-hmm.” Olivia nodded, her cheeks full to bursting like a frog’s.
The Holy City of Elsphere had its fair share of sights to see. Chandelson Avenue, for example, which thronged with shops selling all manner of goods, boasted the liveliest atmosphere in the city. Then there was the statue of Strecia, standing tall enough to touch the sky, or the divine sight of the clouds that seemed to flow over the mountains that awaited those who ventured to the outskirts of the city. Sofitia found it curious that Olivia had disregarded all of these in favor of the library.
“Weh’eah. I wike ‘ookth.”
“I beg your pardon—did you say you ‘like books’?” Keeping her knife and fork in constant motion, Olivia confirmed with a simple nod. Olivia was simply such an exceptional warrior that Sofitia, without making any particular judgment, found this rather surprising. She was to get a second surprise when she asked what sort of books Olivia read. Olivia replied with a wildly varied selection, even including the kinds of tomes a scholar might pick up.
“You are exceedingly fond of books, aren’t you?” she commented. With a mighty gulp, Olivia swallowed her mouthful, then smiled and nodded.
“That was Z. Z gave me heaps and heaps of books.”
“Z...” Sofitia said. “You were living with Z, Olivia?”
“Yep. We lived together deep in the forest.”
Olivia had told her she had never known her parents, so Sofitia had more or less guessed this meant that this “Z” person had raised her. Only, even she hadn’t imagined them living not in a city or a town, but a forest.
She had ordered the owls to investigate Olivia’s background, but they hadn’t managed to turn up a single scrap of information prior to her enlisting in the Royal Army. If she had been living in a forest, then Sofitia could understand why.
“Is that so?”
“Yep. It shouldn’t be too far from around here,” Olivia said. Unable to maintain a show of indifference in the face of this remark, Sofitia almost dropped her glass. If what Olivia said was true, it was more than possible that Olivia—and Z, for that matter—had been living within her own domain.
Without hesitation, Sofitia summoned her butler and had them bring a map.
The map of Mekia and its surrounds was brought at once, and Sofitia opened it up. “Do you know where the forest was?”
Olivia ran her eyes over it, then pointed. “Here,” she said.
Sofitia did a double take. “Just to be clear,” she said, “you’re absolutely sure it was this forest?”
“Yep, I’m sure.”
“I-I see...” To cut to the point, the forest was indeed within the domain of the Holy Land of Mekia. But in a sense, it was also not. The forest Olivia had pointed to was to the southwest of Elsphere, a great sea of trees commonly known as “the Forest of No Return.” True to its name, it was known far and wide that none who set foot under its godforsaken boughs ever made it out. Several years earlier, Sofitia had dispatched several owls to investigate the veracity of the rumors, but in the end, not one of them had returned. And this Forest of No Return was where Olivia claimed to have lived.
She doesn’t seem to be joking. And besides, she has no reason to do so. This has truly been one surprise after another... Sofitia still managed to arrange her face into an expression of calm as she went on. She chose her words with the utmost care to draw more information out of Olivia.
“So you lived in the forest since you were a baby. Is that right?”
“Well, yeah. I was thrown away as a baby, remember?”
“Ah, well, yes. You did mention that.”
“And after that, Z took me in.” Olivia recounted this sensitive episode of her past with her usual lack of concern. Sofitia had to assume it didn’t bother her to have been thrown away. What interested her was how Olivia had survived until Z found her, rather than being gobbled up or mauled by some beast. When she asked as much, Olivia frowned. “I don’t know why—I was a baby, after all.”
Put like that, Sofitia thought with a wry smile, she had to concede Olivia had a point. At the same time, she felt satisfied with the information she had acquired. Sitting up straighter, she looked directly at Olivia.
“Olivia?”
“Yeah?”
“May I expect an answer from you soon regarding my question from the other day?”
Just like that, Olivia’s face went hard. She set down the teacup in her hand silently, then said, “I’ve decided to stay with the Royal Army.”
