Episode 15. Bercheria's True Location
"Ugh."
Lacrahan, too, opened his eyes and looked around at the struggling movement.
The two instinctively hugged each other tightly.
Meanwhile, the tower, which had continued to shrink, reached its feet and vanished in an instant.
The moment all traces of the tower vanished, the two began an endless plummet toward the ground.
The moon-shaped sculpture atop the tower remained, falling alongside them.
"Catch that!"
Bercheria shouted, piercing through the wind that pierced her body like a blade. Lacrahan desperately reached out and snatched it.
The small sculpture sparkled and disappeared between the two who had been holding each other.
The two stared at each other in bewilderment. They had never imagined such a situation would arise, and so they struggled to come up with a plan.
The pitch-black night sky gradually receded, and the green forest drew closer.
Bercheria gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on Lacrahan. She then shouted into his ear,
“If I fail!”
The wind was so loud that he could barely hear her voice.
“Use my body as a shield.”
Lacrahan’s eyes tightened.
“I won’t die, so think only of how you will survive.”
Atop a hill overlooking the northern portal.
Prince Laurent of the Derancys Empire stood with his feet propped up on a knee-high rock, watching the knights of Lacrahan and Princess Kelita converse.
“It’s surprising that Lacrahan hasn’t come out.”
He raked his red hair and nibbled on a foxtail.
“Beloveye. Do you know where he is?”
Beside him stood a man encased in blue.
The blue hair and blue eyes alone were incredibly mysterious, but the fist-sized sapphire hanging from his thick neck was breathtakingly beautiful.
“No matter how I look at it, it’s still fascinating. How can such a large body suddenly turn into a small lizard?”
“I just don’t like running into humans. Don’t worry about it. Look over there.”
Laurent looked curiously at where he was pointing.
Even though Laurent was quite tall, he seemed small next to the giant Beloveye.
“Even if they’re both gods, it’s hard to believe that you can sense where someone is.”
Laurent’s lips curled up, pointing between the green forest and Beloveye.
“Not all gods have that ability.”
Beloveye moved his calm, ocean-like eyes to Laurent.
“It’s not mine either.”
“Then?”
“It’s the power of Bercheria. Humans don’t know this, but she’s a higher being who encompasses all the guardian deities.”
“What does that mean?”
“The sea and the earth. And the one who supports them.”
Beloveye raised his head and looked up at the sky.
“Weather. That’s Bercheria’s true location, Laurent.”
“As expected.”
Laurent leaned his upper body against the rock, his arms intertwined with his thighs.
“She’s the perfect wife, isn’t she?”
“Honestly, Laurent, she’s a shame to give you that.”
“Yes? What are you talking about now?”
Laurent wiggled her eyebrows at Beloveye.
“I’m planning on making her the happiest woman in the world, right? And of course, I’ll give her back her strength with my element.”
Beloveye let out a deflating laugh at Laurent’s words.
“I’ve said it time and time again, but the only thing the weather goddess can do is ice. It’s impossible for someone like you, a water element. Even if the absolute god wanted to separate Lacrahan and Bercheria, he couldn’t even adjust their elements, right?”
“Why are you denying it without even trying? I have a feeling it’s going to be a strange situation.”
“That’s boundless confidence.”
"And look. Do you think there's any woman who wouldn't love a handsome Prince?"
Laurent, more beloved than anyone in his empire, had a worldly outlook.
He seemed to have no concept of failure.
Of course, that's why Beloveye had come to Laurent.
"Whatever it takes, quickly restore Bercheria to her full power. Before the continent's defenses are completely shattered."
"I know."
Laurent squared his shoulders and stood facing the forest where Bercheria was supposed to be.
“Why would you come to a human and ask for help? I know.”
Still unaccustomed to the cold northern weather, Laurent rubbed his reddened nose and turned around.
“I thought Lacrahan would be an obstacle, but it won’t be. He's not in a position to refuse the Emperor’s marriage proposal anyway.”
“Good timing.”
The two of them gazed at the fog-filled forest together.
“Ah. But how did you say you were going to get Bercheria to come over?”
Laurent smirked and pulled a small, toy-like arrow from his pocket.
It was a real arrow, complete with a bow and arrowhead, but it was no bigger than a thumb.
“It’s a new weapon.”
“I brought it from my father’s warehouse. I thought it might be useful.”
“Do you think it would work on Bercheria?”
“We’ll have to try. If you want to win a beautiful woman, you have to use any means necessary, right?”
“You’re working hard.”
Beloveye shook his head and laughed.
‘What should I bring? Rain? Lightning? Snow?’
Bercheria turned her head to the sky.
There was no time to even think.
'Snow. It'll at least help absorb the shock.'
But a lot. As much as possible.
As soon as Bercheria finished her thoughts, snow began to fall so heavily that it was impossible to see.
The snow was piling up in an instant, but it wasn't enough to relieve her.
"Bercheria! Can you gather the snow in one spot?"
Lacrahan gestured toward the forest, which was now almost touching.
Beneath their feet stood a large, leafy tree, and beneath it, a cluster of bushes.
"Sprinkle it roughly. I can control the direction!"
Bercheria concentrated her strength to focus her eyes on that spot.
Born as an Awakened, she'd never used her powers, but even an abused god was a god.
Just imagining it gave Bercheria control of the situation.
A man-sized layer of snow piled up on the trees and bushes, and with a thud, the two bodies fell onto it.
After being bounced off the tree twice and losing his bearings, Lacrahan kicked it and veered into the snowy thickets. The endless snow was a welcome sight, but the problem was that there was no telling how deep it was.
The two, holding onto each other like a rope, were thrust down through the snow.
Thud.
And then they landed on grass.
“Haa, haa.”
“Whew.”
The relief of survival finally washed over them as they felt the hard ground.
Buried in the grass, they couldn’t get up for a moment.
“It feels like my bones are all shattered. How many times is this today?”
Bercheria groaned at Lacrahan’s voice.
He tried to ask if she was okay, but the pain was so intense that he couldn’t speak.
As they were trying to get up, they suddenly heard someone screaming, as if it were a ripple.
Lacrahan covered Bercheria’s mouth and crouched down.
“Where are you! Where are you?”
"Ugh."
Lacrahan, too, opened his eyes and looked around at the struggling movement.
The two instinctively hugged each other tightly.
Meanwhile, the tower, which had continued to shrink, reached its feet and vanished in an instant.
The moment all traces of the tower vanished, the two began an endless plummet toward the ground.
The moon-shaped sculpture atop the tower remained, falling alongside them.
"Catch that!"
Bercheria shouted, piercing through the wind that pierced her body like a blade. Lacrahan desperately reached out and snatched it.
The small sculpture sparkled and disappeared between the two who had been holding each other.
The two stared at each other in bewilderment. They had never imagined such a situation would arise, and so they struggled to come up with a plan.
The pitch-black night sky gradually receded, and the green forest drew closer.
Bercheria gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on Lacrahan. She then shouted into his ear,
“If I fail!”
The wind was so loud that he could barely hear her voice.
“Use my body as a shield.”
Lacrahan’s eyes tightened.
“I won’t die, so think only of how you will survive.”
***
Atop a hill overlooking the northern portal.
Prince Laurent of the Derancys Empire stood with his feet propped up on a knee-high rock, watching the knights of Lacrahan and Princess Kelita converse.
“It’s surprising that Lacrahan hasn’t come out.”
He raked his red hair and nibbled on a foxtail.
“Beloveye. Do you know where he is?”
Beside him stood a man encased in blue.
The blue hair and blue eyes alone were incredibly mysterious, but the fist-sized sapphire hanging from his thick neck was breathtakingly beautiful.
“No matter how I look at it, it’s still fascinating. How can such a large body suddenly turn into a small lizard?”
“I just don’t like running into humans. Don’t worry about it. Look over there.”
Laurent looked curiously at where he was pointing.
Even though Laurent was quite tall, he seemed small next to the giant Beloveye.
“Even if they’re both gods, it’s hard to believe that you can sense where someone is.”
Laurent’s lips curled up, pointing between the green forest and Beloveye.
“Not all gods have that ability.”
Beloveye moved his calm, ocean-like eyes to Laurent.
“It’s not mine either.”
“Then?”
“It’s the power of Bercheria. Humans don’t know this, but she’s a higher being who encompasses all the guardian deities.”
“What does that mean?”
“The sea and the earth. And the one who supports them.”
Beloveye raised his head and looked up at the sky.
“Weather. That’s Bercheria’s true location, Laurent.”
“As expected.”
Laurent leaned his upper body against the rock, his arms intertwined with his thighs.
“She’s the perfect wife, isn’t she?”
“Honestly, Laurent, she’s a shame to give you that.”
“Yes? What are you talking about now?”
Laurent wiggled her eyebrows at Beloveye.
“I’m planning on making her the happiest woman in the world, right? And of course, I’ll give her back her strength with my element.”
Beloveye let out a deflating laugh at Laurent’s words.
“I’ve said it time and time again, but the only thing the weather goddess can do is ice. It’s impossible for someone like you, a water element. Even if the absolute god wanted to separate Lacrahan and Bercheria, he couldn’t even adjust their elements, right?”
“Why are you denying it without even trying? I have a feeling it’s going to be a strange situation.”
“That’s boundless confidence.”
"And look. Do you think there's any woman who wouldn't love a handsome Prince?"
Laurent, more beloved than anyone in his empire, had a worldly outlook.
He seemed to have no concept of failure.
Of course, that's why Beloveye had come to Laurent.
"Whatever it takes, quickly restore Bercheria to her full power. Before the continent's defenses are completely shattered."
"I know."
Laurent squared his shoulders and stood facing the forest where Bercheria was supposed to be.
“Why would you come to a human and ask for help? I know.”
Still unaccustomed to the cold northern weather, Laurent rubbed his reddened nose and turned around.
“I thought Lacrahan would be an obstacle, but it won’t be. He's not in a position to refuse the Emperor’s marriage proposal anyway.”
“Good timing.”
The two of them gazed at the fog-filled forest together.
“Ah. But how did you say you were going to get Bercheria to come over?”
Laurent smirked and pulled a small, toy-like arrow from his pocket.
It was a real arrow, complete with a bow and arrowhead, but it was no bigger than a thumb.
“It’s a new weapon.”
“I brought it from my father’s warehouse. I thought it might be useful.”
“Do you think it would work on Bercheria?”
“We’ll have to try. If you want to win a beautiful woman, you have to use any means necessary, right?”
“You’re working hard.”
Beloveye shook his head and laughed.
***
‘What should I bring? Rain? Lightning? Snow?’
Bercheria turned her head to the sky.
There was no time to even think.
'Snow. It'll at least help absorb the shock.'
But a lot. As much as possible.
As soon as Bercheria finished her thoughts, snow began to fall so heavily that it was impossible to see.
The snow was piling up in an instant, but it wasn't enough to relieve her.
"Bercheria! Can you gather the snow in one spot?"
Lacrahan gestured toward the forest, which was now almost touching.
Beneath their feet stood a large, leafy tree, and beneath it, a cluster of bushes.
"Sprinkle it roughly. I can control the direction!"
Bercheria concentrated her strength to focus her eyes on that spot.
Born as an Awakened, she'd never used her powers, but even an abused god was a god.
Just imagining it gave Bercheria control of the situation.
A man-sized layer of snow piled up on the trees and bushes, and with a thud, the two bodies fell onto it.
After being bounced off the tree twice and losing his bearings, Lacrahan kicked it and veered into the snowy thickets. The endless snow was a welcome sight, but the problem was that there was no telling how deep it was.
The two, holding onto each other like a rope, were thrust down through the snow.
Thud.
And then they landed on grass.
“Haa, haa.”
“Whew.”
The relief of survival finally washed over them as they felt the hard ground.
Buried in the grass, they couldn’t get up for a moment.
“It feels like my bones are all shattered. How many times is this today?”
Bercheria groaned at Lacrahan’s voice.
He tried to ask if she was okay, but the pain was so intense that he couldn’t speak.
As they were trying to get up, they suddenly heard someone screaming, as if it were a ripple.
Lacrahan covered Bercheria’s mouth and crouched down.
“Where are you! Where are you?”
“Ugh!”
Bercheria’s eyes widened.
The voice was different, but it was her mother.
Her mother was nearby, searching for her.
A rustling sound could be heard from afar.
"Bercheria. My child. Where are you? This mother is looking for you. Come out quickly."
A woman's feet appeared, walking through the bushes about half a span apart.
Lacrahan's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of her unusually ornate shoes and a skirt adorned with lace.
"My child. You know how much this mother loves you. Come here quickly. You must not trust humans. You know how monstrous they are."
Lacrahan turned his head and met Bercheria's gaze, pinned beneath him.
Seeing her eyes filled with fear and confusion, he slowly shook his head. He longed to seize that woman, to ask what had happened, why she had acted so cruelly, to inflict even more pain on Bercheria than she had inflicted on him.
"Now is not the time."
She was someone he could not confront unprepared.
He had to prepare thoroughly and send her off at once.
"Bercheria."
Bercheria’s eyes widened.
The voice was different, but it was her mother.
Her mother was nearby, searching for her.
A rustling sound could be heard from afar.
"Bercheria. My child. Where are you? This mother is looking for you. Come out quickly."
A woman's feet appeared, walking through the bushes about half a span apart.
Lacrahan's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of her unusually ornate shoes and a skirt adorned with lace.
"My child. You know how much this mother loves you. Come here quickly. You must not trust humans. You know how monstrous they are."
Lacrahan turned his head and met Bercheria's gaze, pinned beneath him.
Seeing her eyes filled with fear and confusion, he slowly shook his head. He longed to seize that woman, to ask what had happened, why she had acted so cruelly, to inflict even more pain on Bercheria than she had inflicted on him.
"Now is not the time."
She was someone he could not confront unprepared.
He had to prepare thoroughly and send her off at once.
"Bercheria."
My dear daughter, Berche.
As the woman's footsteps drew near, Lacrahan covered Bercheria's trembling face, hiding her from view.
- Berche
As the woman's footsteps drew near, Lacrahan covered Bercheria's trembling face, hiding her from view.
- Berche
- Shall we talk? Mom doesn't scold you. You know that, right?
"Ugh!"
When Bercheria, nauseated, turned her head, the woman's steps stopped.
Lacrahan reached out and tightly gripped the handle of the sword at his waist so as not to make a sound.
- Berche
"Ugh!"
When Bercheria, nauseated, turned her head, the woman's steps stopped.
Lacrahan reached out and tightly gripped the handle of the sword at his waist so as not to make a sound.
- Berche
- There you are!
Kelita's maid, Rosie, adjusted the hem of her master's skirt as she sat in the carriage, smiling out the window.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"I think you've been in the carriage too long."
"That's fine too."
Rosie was tempted to suggest that they go to the castle and wait, but Rosie wasn't one to meddle much.
Besides, the Emperor had personally ordered Lacrahan to obtain a marriage promise, so she might be reprimanded for entering the castle without an escort from her future husband.
To be precise, it wasn't the Emperor, but the government, who was in charge.
"Princess. If you have any difficulties, please let me know."
"Yes, thank you. I have no one but Rosie."
Even though Rosie had been a maid in the imperial household for quite some time, there were times when she couldn't quite grasp what kind of person Kelita was.
From a young age, Kelita was beloved by everyone.
Even Gerard, the most cruel and greedy of her siblings, didn't interfere much with Kelita.
As long as she wore pretty clothes and smiled brightly, everyone let their guard down.
Rosie hadn't lived long in the royal family, but observing the nobility, she occasionally saw women living like Kelita.
Content with beauty without much thought.
They all knew without a doubt that she would meet a good husband and live a life of love.
They spent long hours dreaming about who that person would be.
Will he be handsome? Will he be tall? Will he have a good voice?
What kind of gaze will he give her?
These were the girls who spent long hours pondering such things from a young age.
Most seemed to live up to their own expectations, but...
Now, when Kelita was on the verge of realizing her dream, she couldn't understand why she felt so uneasy.
"I, Kelly..."
"Princess Kelita."
***
Kelita's maid, Rosie, adjusted the hem of her master's skirt as she sat in the carriage, smiling out the window.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"I think you've been in the carriage too long."
"That's fine too."
Rosie was tempted to suggest that they go to the castle and wait, but Rosie wasn't one to meddle much.
Besides, the Emperor had personally ordered Lacrahan to obtain a marriage promise, so she might be reprimanded for entering the castle without an escort from her future husband.
To be precise, it wasn't the Emperor, but the government, who was in charge.
"Princess. If you have any difficulties, please let me know."
"Yes, thank you. I have no one but Rosie."
Even though Rosie had been a maid in the imperial household for quite some time, there were times when she couldn't quite grasp what kind of person Kelita was.
From a young age, Kelita was beloved by everyone.
Even Gerard, the most cruel and greedy of her siblings, didn't interfere much with Kelita.
As long as she wore pretty clothes and smiled brightly, everyone let their guard down.
Rosie hadn't lived long in the royal family, but observing the nobility, she occasionally saw women living like Kelita.
Content with beauty without much thought.
They all knew without a doubt that she would meet a good husband and live a life of love.
They spent long hours dreaming about who that person would be.
Will he be handsome? Will he be tall? Will he have a good voice?
What kind of gaze will he give her?
These were the girls who spent long hours pondering such things from a young age.
Most seemed to live up to their own expectations, but...
Now, when Kelita was on the verge of realizing her dream, she couldn't understand why she felt so uneasy.
"I, Kelly..."
"Princess Kelita."
A gruff voice cut off Rosie from outside the carriage.
"Rosie. Could you open the door and tell me what's going on?"
"Rosie. Could you open the door and tell me what's going on?"
Kelita gestured to her maid.
"Yes, Princess."
As she opened the carriage window, a man as tall as a door suddenly poked his head out.
"Oh, dear."
Seeing Rosie's surprise, Kelita laughed out loud and pressed her face against the window.
"Wyatt. Has His Highness returned?"
"No. That's not it..."
Wyatt scratched his forehead and looked behind him.
"Oh my."
Kelita covered her gaping mouth with both hands like a little girl, noticing the scenery unfolding behind him.
Snow was falling heavily from the sky.
"Yes, Princess."
As she opened the carriage window, a man as tall as a door suddenly poked his head out.
"Oh, dear."
Seeing Rosie's surprise, Kelita laughed out loud and pressed her face against the window.
"Wyatt. Has His Highness returned?"
"No. That's not it..."
Wyatt scratched his forehead and looked behind him.
"Oh my."
Kelita covered her gaping mouth with both hands like a little girl, noticing the scenery unfolding behind him.
Snow was falling heavily from the sky.
Comments
Post a Comment