The reason Epherna came to the Katia Duchy was to ensure Bergamot attended the New Year’s Festival.
That objective was achieved as soon as Ern returned from meeting Sky King Temur.
“You’re coming, right?”
“Of course. Though I was confined because of someone, the misunderstanding has been cleared up. Since I can go now, I must go.”
Bergamot initially stated she couldn’t attend the New Year’s Festival due to the unsettling movements on the plains, which seemed like preparations for war.
As the landowner near the plains, Bergamot had judged she couldn’t leave the situation. However, now that there wouldn’t be a war, she could safely attend the New Year’s Festival.
“But, little one, there’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“How did you make a contract with Temur? That proud Urgan tribe leader obeys you like a loyal dog.”
“Oh, that’s because of this.”
Ern raised his hand to reveal the Seal of Wind.
“Is that the blessing of the essence?”
“Yes. I received it four years ago in exchange for saving Temur’s life. It functions like a solemn contract.”
A few days ago, he renewed it by making a new contract with Temur.
“Oh… So, the Autumn Wind has such a power? Do you think the Princess can do it too?”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps she can?”
Epherna possesses the Summer Sun.
It’s uncertain whether the contract-making power is a common ability of all essences. Given that it isn’t related to Autumn specifically, it might be possible.
“What are you two talking about?”
At that moment, Epherna entered the room.
She had been delayed while changing clothes, prompting Ern to ask.
“Perfect timing. I had something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Do you think you can make a contract with the Summer Sun?”
“I’ve never tried. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Epherna continued the conversation about the Summer Sun while sitting down.
“No human has ever used the Summer Sun before. I’m the first. There’s so little known about it.”
That’s true.
The Spring Leaf is held by the Elder of the Clearie Shamans. The Autumn Wind is with Temur. The Blizzard of Winter was once held by the First Prince. In contrast, Epherna is the first in history to possess the Summer Sun. Previously, it was always kept by the Eastern Principality.
“If other essences can do it, then maybe. Otherwise, it might be a unique ability of the Autumn Wind.”
Even Epherna, who holds the Summer Sun, could only speculate and wasn’t certain.
“Shall we try it out?”
“How?”
“When Temur and I made our contract, there was something I saw. I’m not sure if it will help, but it might be worth trying.”
When Temur etched the seal, he didn’t use mana but something else, concentrating it in his index finger to draw directly.
The pattern was the symbol of the Urgan tribe, which had been with him all his life. When he asked why it was that symbol, he said it represented him.
Once the pattern was completed, they each made their vows. Although he didn’t know what happens if he lied, he definitely felt the contract was ‘sealed’.
Upon hearing this, Epherna pondered what symbol might represent her.
Then, after a moment.
“Mister, give me your hand.”
“You want to test it on me?”
“I don’t have anyone else to test it on. Besides, you have experience. It will be a simple one.”
It was reasonable, so I accepted and offered my hand. Since my right hand already bore Temur’s mark, I extended my left hand.
Epherna focused her will into her index finger. Then, not mana, but another energy emerged, and she drew something on my hand.
It was a pattern that seemed familiar.
Ah, it matched the design engraved on Epherna’s earring.
“This is the only meaningful symbol I have.”
When Epherna lifted her finger, the pattern began to glow brightly in gold.
“Do I just need to speak now?”
“First, set the terms of the contract and the consequences of breaking it. You must establish a separate rule for breaking the contract.”
And the intent of the parties must be true.
Only then will the contract form, and the symbol will remain without fading.
“Let’s make it simple. I’ll ask you something you can answer with yes or no.”
“Alright.”
“Mister, you’ll be engaged to me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then if you don’t get engaged to me, you’ll die.”
“…What?”
“You have no choice but to get engaged. I couldn’t think of anything else, so I kept it simple.”
“Oh, uh… Right.”
Though I felt uneasy for a moment, she wasn’t wrong. Reluctantly, I replied.
“I accept.”
The pattern shone brightly for a moment, indicating the contract’s completion.
When the light faded, the golden symbol remained on my left hand.
“Done?”
Epherna reacted.
A look of joy at her success.
It felt like I had been tricked, but I dismissed it as just my imagination.
*****
With Bergamot’s participation in the New Year’s Festival confirmed, it was time to return.
With less than a month left, preparations for the festival were urgent.
Epherna had arranged for the carriage to take her back to the imperial city as soon as it was ready.
When only ten minutes remained until departure.
“Princess, do you plan to attend the Academy?”
Bergamot asked, and Epherna replied as if she had forgotten.
“Oh, right. I need to think about that too.”
The Lurun Academy, the only and largest academy in the empire.
Though the usual age for enrollment was seventeen, there was no issue with Princess Epherna entering as a third-year at nineteen.
The First Prince attended Lurun Academy, as did the Second Prince. Almost every royal family member had spent a year at the academy as a tradition since its founding.
The purpose was to preemptively recruit the Empire’s future talents.
But since they couldn’t afford to spend three years away from external affairs, Epherna would enter as a third-year, allowing her to graduate in a year while also holding a senior position.
“I have to go. I’ve been feeling the shortage of talents keenly.”
“Have you thought about what Lord Astra will do?”
“What?”
“While it’s customary for the Personal Guard to enroll with the royals, Lord Astra’s age…”
“Oh…”
Twenty-six.
When Epherna turns nineteen after the New Year’s Festival, Astra will be twenty-seven.
“If it were just a year or two difference, it might not be an issue, but with an eight-year difference… Moreover, his abilities are far beyond those of the students…”
“That’s true…”
Epherna and Bergamot fell silent.
In the ensuing chilly silence.
“What’s wrong with my age? I look young enough to be mistaken for a student.”
“It’s not about your appearance.”
Epherna and Bergamot grew solemn, and I felt needlessly offended.
“If possible, I suggest enrolling him as a student. If that’s not feasible, perhaps he could join as a professor.”
“Thank you. We still have some time, so I’ll consider it.”
“I look forward to seeing you again at the New Year’s Festival.”
As the time came, Epherna and I boarded the carriage.
We were finally returning to the capital after roughly two weeks.
Although not much time had passed, it felt like an enormous amount had happened.
‘A lot really did happen.’
In the north, we fought with Duke Lemea, battled Living Armors, got forcibly teleported and spent a night in a cave, met a Prophet who gave clues about my name, and discovered Duke Lemea’s true intentions.
That was just in the north.
The events in the duchy were relatively minor and peacefully resolved, but the potential consequences of failure could have been more severe than those in the north. We could have gone to war with the plains.
Ah, right. There was one more thing that happened.
“Did you find anything useful in the Duchess’ library?”
Epherna had spent two days in Bergamot’s library.
I heard she spent the entire time exploring its knowledge without sleeping.
Epherna smiled mischievously.
“Let me show you!”
She held out her hand and formed a sphere of mana.
At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary sphere, but any high-level mage could recognize it.
“You’ve learned to manipulate external mana?”
The ability to interfere with the mana flowing in the world rather than using the mana within one’s body.
Once rumored to possess nearly infinite mana, Bergamot was able to be called the Disaster of the Sky thanks to this critical ability, which Epherna had now learned as well.
“It’s still lacking, but I’ve managed to do it. And I learned one more thing. I need you to be my test subject for this one.”
“Alright. I’ll stay still.”
Even though she had learned to handle external mana, she had mastered another skill as well.
What could it be?
The first demonstration was so astonishing that my expectations were high.
“Close your eyes.”
“Okay.”
As instructed, I closed my eyes and heard a snap. The sound of fingers snapping.
Then.
“Did it work?”
Epherna waved her hand in front of Ern’s blank face.
She slapped his cheek lightly, but there was no reaction.
Epherna rejoiced at her success.
“It worked…!!”
What she had learned was a type of illusion magic.
It was an absolute hypnosis that could make the target move according to the user’s will under certain conditions.
