It had been over ten days since Kaitin Faelover did not return to Toren Village. After discovering that the Plcrocus's curse was contagious and reacted to magical powers, Kaitin was determined never to return to the village. The sudden disappearance of the girl prompted the villagers to search the forests and wander the hills, but Kaitin did not come forward.
In reality, there were hardly any individuals in Toren Village who could properly wield magic. Considering that one's magical abilities enhanced with the amount of magic they held, even if Kaitin visited the village several times, it wouldn't result in significant harm.
The cities that were destroyed by the curse sigil of Plcrocus were magic cities of the west. While a rural village like this wouldn't suffer devastating damage, there was no guarantee that a person with magical talent wouldn't suddenly emerge. And accurately distinguishing those with magic from those without was nearly impossible.
Kaitin's existence would endanger the lives of those who wielded magic. It might already be too late, but that possibility must be reduced now.
Realizing this, Kaitin started wandering the forest, changing dwellings here and there, along with Tir Kalax.
"…"
I wonder if Yenika and the villagers are witnessing this scene. If so, I wouldn't feel too good about it. Because… Kaitin, slowly being engulfed by Plcrocus's curse sigil, presented a sight no different from that of Yenika under the control of the cursed sigil of Glascan.
Thinking back to Yenika's condition when she faced off against Taely's group at Nailwhan, it was a scene that could not be laughed off.
The cursed sigil worsened Kaitin's condition day by day. She lost sight in one eye, suffered from nausea, high fever, and at times lost consciousness. Now, completely unable to control her own body, it was Kaitin and not Tir Kalax who lay in bed.
Tir Kalax's condition, on the other hand, improved. His magic was slowly returning, and he now had a strength surpassing that of ordinary humans. Managing the cabin where Kaitin rested, he was preparing to fully break free from Plcrocus's curse.
However, the sight of dying Kaitin gnawed away at his heart. Inevitably so. The curse of Plcrocus spread through magic and intensified in response to it. Though not certain, the symptoms nearly confirmed it.
If so, Kaitin suffering and eventually dying from the curse was all due to Tir Kalax. Kaitin had come into contact with Plcrocus's curse in an attempt to save Tir Kalax. And the power of the curse grew because she, a Spirit Master, tended to and grew alongside a high-rank spirit.
Initially, had she not found Tir Kalax wandering in the forest, had she run away scared or left him there, she wouldn't have needed to experience such agonizing death.
A short human life, not even a century long. It was Tir Kalax himself who had ruined Kaitin's life.
Slowly regaining his strength, Tir Kalax cared for Kaitin as best as he could… but no matter what, he couldn't lift Plcrocus's curse.
The curse sigil that the high darkness spirit Plcrocus had locked in, in exchange for its own life, was closer to a 'phenomenon' than magic.
It was a sigil inscribed upon the order that all beings living above the natural law should follow. It might be possible for high-rank spirits to resist over a sufficient period, but for mere humans with dormant magic, it was impossible.
Still, Tir Kalax tried everything to help. He analyzed the flow of magic, conducted research, and even dissected Plcrocus's corpse in various experiments.
Yet, he couldn't remove the curse that was engraved in Kaitin's body. In the end, Kaitin had to overcome it with her own magic.
Of course, Kaitin didn't possess such a level of magic. As a Spirit Master, she was born with only ordinary talent. The reason she could even interact with a mid-tier spirit was due to the influence of Tir Kalax, the supreme-tier spirit.
– "Don't make that face, Tir Kalax."
It was what Kaitin habitually said, lying in bed.
Whenever Tir Kalax would look at her, biting on his lower lip had become a habit, but she was always the one offering comfort first.
– "Didn't I tell you? Human life is fleeting and brief compared to that of spirits. If I'm pulled a bit early, it's not a big issue."
– "That's not something you should say lightly… Kaitin."
– "It's okay. Even if I die, Tir Kalax, you'll remember me. Thinking like that makes an earlier departure all the more… valuable to me…"
That couldn't possibly be her true feelings. Kaitin was just trying to console Tir Kalax.
Knowing this fact all too well, Tir Kalax set out multiple times to find a way to lift the curse.
After much deliberation, the conclusion he reached was nothing ordinary.
– "Kaitin… you're… going to become an even greater Spirit Master…"
If Kaitin couldn't resist the curse with her own magic, but could with the magic of Tir Kalax…
Then the solution would be to establish a contract that allows the exchange of magic between Kaitin and Tir Kalax.
However, who in the world could contract with a supreme-tier spirit?
Just summoning one was historically significant, let alone contracting… She would have to become an unprecedented, great Spirit Master to manage such a feat.
But doing nothing wasn't an option. Tir Kalax resolved himself.
He would make Kaitin the greatest Spirit Master in the world. If she could form a contract with Tir Kalax, the supreme-tier wind spirit, then through their exchange of magic, she could be saved.
He had already enabled a Spirit Master with no inherent talent to contract with a mid-tier spirit. Such was the influence of a high-tier spirit.
Resolved, he poured his magic into Kaitin, making her accustomed to it through repetitive processes, drawing out an empathy for spirits beyond her limits.
Of course, the stronger Kaitin's magic became, the more the curse would torment her. But if she could endure till the end… If she gained the sensitivity to accept Tir Kalax's magic…
Tir Kalax could save Kaitin.
– "Listen carefully to me, Kaitin… It may become a painful process… but there might be a way to save you…"
In the cabin with the rain pouring, Tir Kalax spoke, his back to the flickering light of the campfire.
Hearing these words, Kaitin looked up at Tir Kalax's heavy expression with dazed eyes.
Watching his face, filled with the pain of responsibility, was difficult. However, he would want to exhaust every possible method to save Kaitin.
If Kaitin were to lose her life like this, it would undoubtedly leave a lifelong scar on Tir Kalax. Therefore, with a resolute look, Kaitin nodded. At least trying everything within their power was the right thing to do.
Thus, an indescribable amount of time passed.
And the outcome… we are all well aware of it.
* * *
In truth, Tir Kalax must have known too.
That almost reckless plan was nothing but flailing desperation. It might have been more humane to grant Kaitin a peaceful rest with his own hands instead of sitting idly, waiting for death to come.
The process was indescribably arduous and difficult. Enduring much pain and patience, in the end, Kaitin departed this world in the embrace of Tir Kalax.
On the day Kaitin passed away, the mournful roar of the great bear, Tir Kalax, split the heavens. The highest spirit, now with nowhere to direct his fury, lashed out at the innocent world. If she were to be snatched away, they should never have met at all.
Indeed, it would have been better if they had never encountered each other. Although Tir Kalax would have struggled in agony for a longer time, he would have eventually overcome the curse of Phlcurox on his own. Kaitin's aid wasn't indispensable. It merely shortened the period of suffering.
If Tir Kalax hadn't reached out, Kaitin would have lived a normal life as a village maiden and left the world in an ordinary manner. It was Tir Kalax himself who disrupted that ordinary life.
With his powers fully restored, Tir Kalax's magical energy surged towards the world. The biting cold winds tore through the forest, uprooting trees, and the aftermath of his magic destroyed everything in its vicinity. Having forsaken his human form, Tir Kalax revealed his true spirit nature and screamed his grief into the world.
With his massive claws, he split mountain ranges, and with the back of his hand, he pounded the valleys. His aimless rage eventually moved towards a path of destruction. The shadow of the towering bear rising above the clouds was like a disaster. The calamity that the residents of Toren Village had witnessed in the ancient past was, in reality, nothing more than a grieving spirit writhing in agony.
Loss delivers a heart-wrenching pain to all sentient beings.
Even the highest of spirits, considered the supreme beings, are not exempt. That's why spirits usually hesitate to grow fond of humans.
The highest spirit, overcome with resignation, poured out his rage onto himself. If left unchecked, his influence would completely reshape the map of the Clorel Empire. Countless lives would be lost, and massive destruction would ensue, but Tir Kalax felt only the emptiness towards everything in the world.
– Kwaang!
The highest-ranking wind spirit thrashed wildly in his grief. It seemed he would only calm down after smashing several mountain ranges, but he was subdued by an immense celestial magic spell.
A huge magic formation covered him layer upon layer, and formidable binding magic started to subdue Tir Kalax. Landing on a mountain ridge was a white-haired girl magician clad in a luxurious mage's robe. Her name was Sylvania Robespierre, the Great Sage of the Clorel Empire.
The Great Sage Sylvania, who could observe moments of disaster, always appeared when calamity struck to protect humanity. She had predicted Tir Kalax's rampage a few days prior with great difficulty.
Great chains rose and started to wrap tightly around Tir Kalax.
It was a sealing formation developed for binding the holy dragon. Even the highest of spirits could not resist the sealing magic of the Great Sage, known to twist the providence of the world.
Gazing at Tir Kalax, who roared in his sorrow, Sylvania said with sad eyes, – You loved a human, didn't you?
An exalted being and a kind-hearted village maiden.
One could surmise that their ending couldn't have been good by any means. Yet, the heart doesn't always move with reason. Sylvania knew this fact all too well, thus she spoke gently, – It's also a painful thing to carry that pain of loss through eternal life. Return to nature for now, start anew from the beginning.
Her speech was saintly, unbefitting of a young girl.
At this moment, only she knew that she could ease the pain of Tir Kalax.
– Leave the memory of this loss in that flesh, and return as a spirit bound to nature… become an ethereal spirit once again.
Looking up at the tearful form of the great bear, the girl held her staff upright.
– The hierarchy of the spirit realm is but a cycle turning full circle. From today onwards, the seat of the highest-ranking wind spirit shall be vacant.
In the storm of celestial magic, Tir Kalax cradled a pain akin to his heart being torn. It was the agony of loss.
Up until the moment he returned to nature by the hand of the Great Sage, Tir Kalax continued to shed endless tears.
The single pansy flower at the edge of my sight sadly bobbed in the wind.
It was what Kaitin called the windflower.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, the sun was setting.
The red sunset bathed Toren Village square, painting everything in hues of crimson. It was challenging to adapt from witnessing the complete devastation of the Phulanshan mountain ranges to suddenly being back in this peaceful, bucolic scene.
Nonetheless, as if indifferent to my internal turmoil, Toren Village's sky remained high and blue.
"Ugh…"
"You're awake."
It seemed I had fallen asleep, leaning against an old, small bench in the village square.
Next to me, who had regained consciousness, Village Chief Glems greeted me.
"Uh, what's the time now?"
"It's quite late. A while has passed since the operation of the magical artifact, so most of the villagers have gone to their livelihoods."
"Is that so… I haven't properly thanked them yet…"
"Don't worry. Everyone was happy to have helped you, Mr. Ed."
My left shoulder felt heavy. Yenika was fast asleep, having leaned against it.
Apparently, only Yenika and I could experience that past, given that we could receive the magic properly.
Village Chief Glems, sitting across from me, asked with a composed voice, "Did you find any scholarly insight?"
"… Yes, quite a lot."
The fact that Phlcurox and Sylvania were involved in Tir Kalax's demise was not known in academic circles.
There seems to be a likelihood that many descriptions in the spiritology books would need updating.
Perhaps it's because I used too much celestial magic, but a throbbing headache was pressing in on me. I pressed my temples as pain shot through and, in a while, the hands of Yenika, which were wrapped around my arm, gripped tightly.
Yenika then opened her eyes swiftly.
"Uh, huh…"
Yenika let out a soft moan and managed to meet my eyes with hers.
With my arm firmly in her embrace, tears began to streak down her cheeks.
"Uuk…"
How had that scene appeared to Yenika?
She probably knew it was a bittersweet story, but seeing it firsthand was definitely different, especially for a girl with a gentle heart and an ability to sympathize deeply.
"Uuk… huh…"
As she continued to weep with her head bowed down, I quietly embraced her.
Though the situation was unexpected, Village Chief Glems said nothing and patiently sat, waiting for us.
Perhaps the story struck an even more painful chord with Yenika. I had already had a feeling.
Looking toward where the wind blew, the pansy flower remained quivering, planted in the ground.
That delicate, single flower, yearning for the freedom of the wind, would soon perish upon lifting its roots.
Perhaps Yenika also felt a kinship with it – empathizing with her own love for a man named Ed Rothtaylor.