Episode 56. Evaporation
“Where are we going?”
Dipper crinkled his eyes and laughed.
“Muha is all well and good, but if the problem is that he can only go to one place once he goes into the forest, then that’s a big problem.”
“Ah.”
Bercheria, who had already experienced it once, steeled herself and crouched down.
And soon after, Muha, who had settled into his nest, shook himself and dropped the two of them inside.
“Damn it, where did he go?”
The man from the Royal Guard closed the window, leaving Bercheria hanging on the railing.
As if that wasn’t enough, he also angrily drew the curtains.
The cold wind blowing in from outside suddenly stopped, and the only sound left in the room was the bustling sounds of the Royal Guardsmen moving about.
“Your Highness.”
Dylan, who was behind Lacrahan, said, tightening his grip on his sword.
“Where did you take Bercheria? I clearly saw her here just a moment ago.”
Lacrahan let out a short laugh and flicked Dylan's sword from his throat with his fingertips. He then turned and looked at Dylan with a downcast gaze.
"You fed her hallucinogens. To a dead woman."
Dylan stared at Lacrahan as if deaf.
His gaze, looking up at Lacrahan, who was a hand's length taller, was blatantly hostile.
"The imperial court might have used such methods to imprison innocent people, but it's impossible here. Captain, we knights don't personally judge crimes."
Lacrahan sighed and wiped his dry face.
The dried blood that had splattered on his face clung to his palm, and he rubbed it against Dylan's chest above his uniform.
"I don't know where you learned your lessons or what your beliefs are, but this is the North, Captain. I will not wrong anyone in the lands I rule. So use your shallowness wisely. Understood?"
Lacrahan tapped Dylan on the chest and stepped out of the room.
“Your Highness!”
His knights heard the commotion and rushed to Lacrahan.
“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
Lacrahan lightly tapped Wyatt on the shoulder and brushed past.
“Please take care of the back.”
Lacrahan’s steps were heavy as he walked down the hallway.
“Haa.”
Every time he thought of Bercheria jumping out the window, his heart felt like it was plummeting to the bottomless pit.
“I’ll be back. Soon.”
Lacrahan clutched his arm, engraved with the divine seal.
In his tightly clenched fists lay the ring he had yet to give to Bercheria.
As soon as he left the crowd, Lacrahan wiped his dry face.
Closing his eyes, the image of Bercheria jumping out the window repeated itself over and over again.
Of course, he knew it wasn’t because she didn’t trust him.
Rather, she probably wanted to protect him.
Bercheria knew how to act according to her convictions, and at that moment, those were probably her beliefs.
But what Lacrahan wanted was for her to feel safe within him.
To enjoy what he gave her, to be completely at peace within him.
He wanted to show the woman who had never had a fence for herself how comfortable and delightful that was.
Just as children, who had received enough love trust that their love will remain unchanged even when their parents are no longer around.
“Haa...”
White breath escaped Lacrahan’s lips as he looked up at the star-filled sky.
He closed his eyes and recalled the moment he had kissed her.
The trembling breath, the moist touch of their lips, clinging and then separating.
Lacrahan wanted to know all the stories she kept hidden.
He wanted to see Bercheria babbling away, whether it was hardship, pain, or even the simple joys.
He wanted to understand, even a little, the heart that licked her lips, desperate for her story.
What was on her mind when their lips touched? How did she feel when Bercheria’s breath trembled?
"If you run away on your own, you won't be able to tell me anything."
He wanted everyone to listen.
Even before becoming a divine beast, Muha, who still possessed the characteristics of a condor, had a habit of building nests on cliffs.
So, Muha had just thrown Bercheria and Dipper onto a cliff so steep that escape was impossible without wings and flown away.
Looking down at the bottom, she saw the rough sea crashing and creating waves.
“Ha.”
Bercheria tucked her palms, scuffed from hanging on the railing, between her armpits.
The wind blew fiercely on the cliff facing the sea.
“It’s okay. At least we’re safe for now.”
She was worried about Lacrahan, whom she had left behind in the castle, but without Bercheria to protect, she figured it might actually be helpful.
Turning her head at the sound of a tapping noise, she saw Dipper diligently tidying up a corner of the nest.
“I think it would be better to tidy up our place a bit.”
“I’ll help too.”
As Bercheria approached, Dipper raised both hands and waved them.
“Never! Never come here. It’ll only get in the way.”
“...Then if there’s anything I can do for you, just let me know.”
For Bercheria, it was safer to be with Dipper, a god, than with a human.
Bercheria turned her head and gazed at the vast, rolling sea.
The sight of the blue waves brought back a dream she had briefly forgotten: a man riding a horse and decapitating an Awakened being.
The man's voice continued to linger in her mind.
'What we want is the next Bercheria to appear after you disappear. She'll make a beautiful prey.'
What do they want from me? Why would they use me as prey?
The face of the Awakened, brutally murdered, flashed through her mind.
She couldn't understand why humans would kill a god.
When a god bestows the power of protection upon his people, they gain much.
Sometimes, life that should have died is revived, and if desired, creating new life is easy.
Everything on this earth is protected and becomes vibrant.
Fruits become sweet, animals grow plump, and plants grow straight, strong stems.
What do humans gain by giving up such benefits?
"Dipper."
Dipper, who was arranging branches to make a place for Bercheria, brushed back his hair, which was tangled like a wild horse.
His arms, exposed by his sleeveless robe even in this cold weather, bulged with muscle, like those of a beast.
“Tell me, Bercheria.”
“Have you ever heard of the Awakened One, who was Bercheria before me?”
Dipper put down the branch he was holding and tapped his hands.
“Yes.”
“What kind of person was she?”
He crossed his arms, his face grave as if gathering his thoughts for a moment.
“But wouldn’t Bercheria know better? The memories of the Awakened One would remain.”
Dipper, being an Awakened One himself, would know.
What she sees and how she feels.
“Beloveye is a god who doesn’t need Awakened Ones. You know that, right? It’s just you and I on this earth.”
“...”
“Seeing the same thing and thinking the same thing.”
Bercheria’s golden eyes blinked slowly.
Seeing the same thing doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same thing.
And just because the method is the same doesn’t mean seeing the same thing.
“Bercheria. Come with me to the Kingdom of Contana. I’ll treat you well.”
Bercheria’s eyes narrowed.
They were clearly talking about something similar, but Dipper and Lacrahan’s faces now were so different.
Lacrahan's face, as he spoke of marriage, held many things: tension, worry, caution.
And above all, she felt he cared more about her than himself.
But Dipper...
'It seemed like he was just reciting a prescribed line. As if it were a duty.'
"Did you say the Supreme Being had given you a revelation that you and I must marry?"
"Yes. That's right, Bercheria. You know how we are to listen to the Supreme Being."
"I know. Of course I know."
Bercheria clearly remembered the words of the man who had killed the Awakened in her dream.
Next Bercheria.
Pretty prey.
Who on earth was behind that man?
What would they gain from this marriage?
One thing was certain: all conclusions were pointing toward Bercheria leaving Periat.
Why shouldn't I be here?
To protect something? Or to avoid being discovered?
She couldn't even begin to fathom it.
Even if Bercheria remained in Periat, there was nothing she could linger on.
There was nothing she'd regret leaving this place, nothing she'd miss.
Just...
“Ah.”
“Lacrahan.”
The moment she thought of his name, Bercheria felt a heat rise in her eyes.
“I did it because I wanted to kiss you. It wasn't a mistake.”
Since then, Lacrahan had been unexpectedly touching her lips.
Not to regain her powers, but simply to kiss her.
Lacrahan's actions left Bercheria with a strange feeling.
Her mother would visit Bercheria and tell her how miserable her time with her was.
Every single day, without fail.
It was as if he were trying to make her miserable.
To Bercheria, who had lived her whole life like that, Lacrahan's voice seemed to open up a whole new world.
He wanted to kiss her, to cherish her, to make her feel like a good person.
It wasn't just words.
He had actually done so much for Bercheria. It would be a great regret to leave someone like that behind. It wasn't a regret for not receiving anything. It was a regret for not having given her anything.
And that's why she cherished him.
If Bercheria had to choose one thing she'd regret leaving this place, it would be Lacrahan. That man.
But reality doesn't always unfold as planned.
"Bercheria."
The sudden sound of Dipper's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Where are we going?”
Dipper crinkled his eyes and laughed.
“Muha is all well and good, but if the problem is that he can only go to one place once he goes into the forest, then that’s a big problem.”
“Ah.”
Bercheria, who had already experienced it once, steeled herself and crouched down.
And soon after, Muha, who had settled into his nest, shook himself and dropped the two of them inside.
***
“Damn it, where did he go?”
The man from the Royal Guard closed the window, leaving Bercheria hanging on the railing.
As if that wasn’t enough, he also angrily drew the curtains.
The cold wind blowing in from outside suddenly stopped, and the only sound left in the room was the bustling sounds of the Royal Guardsmen moving about.
“Your Highness.”
Dylan, who was behind Lacrahan, said, tightening his grip on his sword.
“Where did you take Bercheria? I clearly saw her here just a moment ago.”
Lacrahan let out a short laugh and flicked Dylan's sword from his throat with his fingertips. He then turned and looked at Dylan with a downcast gaze.
"You fed her hallucinogens. To a dead woman."
Dylan stared at Lacrahan as if deaf.
His gaze, looking up at Lacrahan, who was a hand's length taller, was blatantly hostile.
"The imperial court might have used such methods to imprison innocent people, but it's impossible here. Captain, we knights don't personally judge crimes."
Lacrahan sighed and wiped his dry face.
The dried blood that had splattered on his face clung to his palm, and he rubbed it against Dylan's chest above his uniform.
"I don't know where you learned your lessons or what your beliefs are, but this is the North, Captain. I will not wrong anyone in the lands I rule. So use your shallowness wisely. Understood?"
Lacrahan tapped Dylan on the chest and stepped out of the room.
“Your Highness!”
His knights heard the commotion and rushed to Lacrahan.
“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
Lacrahan lightly tapped Wyatt on the shoulder and brushed past.
“Please take care of the back.”
Lacrahan’s steps were heavy as he walked down the hallway.
“Haa.”
Every time he thought of Bercheria jumping out the window, his heart felt like it was plummeting to the bottomless pit.
“I’ll be back. Soon.”
Lacrahan clutched his arm, engraved with the divine seal.
In his tightly clenched fists lay the ring he had yet to give to Bercheria.
***
As soon as he left the crowd, Lacrahan wiped his dry face.
Closing his eyes, the image of Bercheria jumping out the window repeated itself over and over again.
Of course, he knew it wasn’t because she didn’t trust him.
Rather, she probably wanted to protect him.
Bercheria knew how to act according to her convictions, and at that moment, those were probably her beliefs.
But what Lacrahan wanted was for her to feel safe within him.
To enjoy what he gave her, to be completely at peace within him.
He wanted to show the woman who had never had a fence for herself how comfortable and delightful that was.
Just as children, who had received enough love trust that their love will remain unchanged even when their parents are no longer around.
“Haa...”
White breath escaped Lacrahan’s lips as he looked up at the star-filled sky.
He closed his eyes and recalled the moment he had kissed her.
The trembling breath, the moist touch of their lips, clinging and then separating.
Lacrahan wanted to know all the stories she kept hidden.
He wanted to see Bercheria babbling away, whether it was hardship, pain, or even the simple joys.
He wanted to understand, even a little, the heart that licked her lips, desperate for her story.
What was on her mind when their lips touched? How did she feel when Bercheria’s breath trembled?
"If you run away on your own, you won't be able to tell me anything."
He wanted everyone to listen.
***
Even before becoming a divine beast, Muha, who still possessed the characteristics of a condor, had a habit of building nests on cliffs.
So, Muha had just thrown Bercheria and Dipper onto a cliff so steep that escape was impossible without wings and flown away.
Looking down at the bottom, she saw the rough sea crashing and creating waves.
“Ha.”
Bercheria tucked her palms, scuffed from hanging on the railing, between her armpits.
The wind blew fiercely on the cliff facing the sea.
“It’s okay. At least we’re safe for now.”
She was worried about Lacrahan, whom she had left behind in the castle, but without Bercheria to protect, she figured it might actually be helpful.
Turning her head at the sound of a tapping noise, she saw Dipper diligently tidying up a corner of the nest.
“I think it would be better to tidy up our place a bit.”
“I’ll help too.”
As Bercheria approached, Dipper raised both hands and waved them.
“Never! Never come here. It’ll only get in the way.”
“...Then if there’s anything I can do for you, just let me know.”
For Bercheria, it was safer to be with Dipper, a god, than with a human.
Bercheria turned her head and gazed at the vast, rolling sea.
The sight of the blue waves brought back a dream she had briefly forgotten: a man riding a horse and decapitating an Awakened being.
The man's voice continued to linger in her mind.
'What we want is the next Bercheria to appear after you disappear. She'll make a beautiful prey.'
What do they want from me? Why would they use me as prey?
The face of the Awakened, brutally murdered, flashed through her mind.
She couldn't understand why humans would kill a god.
When a god bestows the power of protection upon his people, they gain much.
Sometimes, life that should have died is revived, and if desired, creating new life is easy.
Everything on this earth is protected and becomes vibrant.
Fruits become sweet, animals grow plump, and plants grow straight, strong stems.
What do humans gain by giving up such benefits?
"Dipper."
Dipper, who was arranging branches to make a place for Bercheria, brushed back his hair, which was tangled like a wild horse.
His arms, exposed by his sleeveless robe even in this cold weather, bulged with muscle, like those of a beast.
“Tell me, Bercheria.”
“Have you ever heard of the Awakened One, who was Bercheria before me?”
Dipper put down the branch he was holding and tapped his hands.
“Yes.”
“What kind of person was she?”
He crossed his arms, his face grave as if gathering his thoughts for a moment.
“But wouldn’t Bercheria know better? The memories of the Awakened One would remain.”
Dipper, being an Awakened One himself, would know.
What she sees and how she feels.
“Beloveye is a god who doesn’t need Awakened Ones. You know that, right? It’s just you and I on this earth.”
“...”
“Seeing the same thing and thinking the same thing.”
Bercheria’s golden eyes blinked slowly.
Seeing the same thing doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same thing.
And just because the method is the same doesn’t mean seeing the same thing.
“Bercheria. Come with me to the Kingdom of Contana. I’ll treat you well.”
Bercheria’s eyes narrowed.
They were clearly talking about something similar, but Dipper and Lacrahan’s faces now were so different.
Lacrahan's face, as he spoke of marriage, held many things: tension, worry, caution.
And above all, she felt he cared more about her than himself.
But Dipper...
'It seemed like he was just reciting a prescribed line. As if it were a duty.'
"Did you say the Supreme Being had given you a revelation that you and I must marry?"
"Yes. That's right, Bercheria. You know how we are to listen to the Supreme Being."
"I know. Of course I know."
Bercheria clearly remembered the words of the man who had killed the Awakened in her dream.
Next Bercheria.
Pretty prey.
Who on earth was behind that man?
What would they gain from this marriage?
One thing was certain: all conclusions were pointing toward Bercheria leaving Periat.
Why shouldn't I be here?
To protect something? Or to avoid being discovered?
She couldn't even begin to fathom it.
Even if Bercheria remained in Periat, there was nothing she could linger on.
There was nothing she'd regret leaving this place, nothing she'd miss.
Just...
“Ah.”
“Lacrahan.”
The moment she thought of his name, Bercheria felt a heat rise in her eyes.
“I did it because I wanted to kiss you. It wasn't a mistake.”
Since then, Lacrahan had been unexpectedly touching her lips.
Not to regain her powers, but simply to kiss her.
Lacrahan's actions left Bercheria with a strange feeling.
Her mother would visit Bercheria and tell her how miserable her time with her was.
Every single day, without fail.
It was as if he were trying to make her miserable.
To Bercheria, who had lived her whole life like that, Lacrahan's voice seemed to open up a whole new world.
He wanted to kiss her, to cherish her, to make her feel like a good person.
It wasn't just words.
He had actually done so much for Bercheria. It would be a great regret to leave someone like that behind. It wasn't a regret for not receiving anything. It was a regret for not having given her anything.
And that's why she cherished him.
If Bercheria had to choose one thing she'd regret leaving this place, it would be Lacrahan. That man.
But reality doesn't always unfold as planned.
"Bercheria."
The sudden sound of Dipper's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
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