Chronicles of Nog-Aldo 12 [#FantasyNovelCategory]

Chapter 11: The Truth of the Tragedy

The light released from the |Pupil of Ephemera| enveloped the great hall of Yubel Castle in blue. When Lazuli, who was at the center of it, began to speak, the surroundings fell strangely silent.

“...Back then, I was the one who was 'it' for hide-and-seek. When I peeked at the guest room balcony, Queen Aqua was there. She smiled shyly, saying, 'You found me.' The moment after we laughed together, that storm hit. A gale blew as if it were trying to destroy the castle. We tried to escape together, but the wind was too strong to walk properly. The balcony began to creak, and I became unable to move, terrified by the shaking. Just when I thought it was all over, Lapis, who had come with Elif, rushed to the balcony.”

Aiol, Igni, and those around them listened to Lazuli's story without a single person interrupting.

“But no sooner had Lapis come to help than the balcony reached its limit and collapsed. The three of us fell into the river. Although we were swept quite a distance, we got caught on a huge fallen tree and were swept no further. At Lapis's judgment, I was to get to land first, then Queen Aqua, and finally Lapis. The water gained momentum, and the river began to flood. And just after I crawled onto land, a large rock came flowing toward us. I, who had gotten out of the river, and the small Lapis were safe, but Queen Aqua had her leg pinned by the large rock that had washed down. No matter how desperately I pulled, it wouldn't budge. Queen Aqua said, 'You two should escape at least.' Honestly, I intended to do just that once I pulled Lapis up. However, Lapis was different. He dove into the river, trying to save Queen Aqua's pinned leg. It's a pathetic story. My younger brother was risking his life to save the Queen, while I, the older brother, was just blubbering. But Lapis was still just a boy. He didn't have the strength to move the large rock. Then, a torrent like a flash flood came and swallowed them both. Igni arrived just after that.”

Igni remained silent, staring at the floor as before. Prince Lapis had tried to save his mother. Unable to accept that fact, Igni raised his voice in anger.

“Shut up with your gibberish! You say Mother was saved by Lapis? Don't mess with me! How could I believe such a thing!”

Igni could not control his complex emotions, a mixture of anger and agitation. Lazuli, standing before such an Igni, slowly spread both his hands.

“That is correct. It is no wonder you cannot believe me. That is why, in return, I offer this body to you. You may carve it up as much as you like, be it my neck or my arms. But Lapis and the Holy King are innocent. I am the only one at fault. I apologize for my rudeness, but would you forgive me for this?”

At Lazuli's resolve, Igni and the people around him were speechless. On his slender right arm was a large wound from a throwing axe, and bright red blood was dripping from it.

A silence continued for a while. After that, Igni slowly switched the throwing axe to his right hand and, shouting “Damn it!”, slammed it into the floor as if taking out his frustration. When Igni regained his composure and opened his mouth again, the hatred had vanished from his eyes.

“No... I'll stop. If it weren't for you... Prince Lazuli, Mother might never have been found during that game of hide-and-seek.”

Although his expression was stern, there was no more hostility.

“Moel, treat the injured. Every last one of them. Volcano, help out too.”

The calmed Igni gave orders without looking at his subordinates. Moel smiled gently and went around casting recovery magic on the Liberation Army soldiers. Seeing that, Emera supported Moel. Volcano, looking embarrassed, went to rescue Ventus, whom he had knocked unconscious.

“I don't fully trust you. But... if what you said earlier is true, I would become a huge fool who killed my mother's benefactor. Do as you please with the rest. I will explain it to Father... King Garne of Eld myself.”

At Igni's understanding, the twin princes looked at each other and smiled. Kilo, who was watching that, cheerfully patted Igni on the shoulder.

“Man, you're a guy who understands! I don't dislike that kind of thing!”

“You're too familiar, you.”

“By the way, I have a consultation, Igni-bro.”

“Who's Igni-bro?”

Everyone laughed at the comedy-like exchange, but Kilo continued regardless.

“When explaining to King Garne, I want you to let our Liberation Army attend as well.”

“Huh?”

“The coup is over, and the invasion is called off. If only Igni-bro goes back to report, won't you just end up being scolded by the King? If you bring the key members of the Liberation Army, who represent the three nations, even King Garne won't be able to ignore us, right?”

“Hmph, do as you like.”

“Thanks! As expected of Igni-bro!”

“Stop with that 'Igni-bro' thing!”

The great hall was wrapped in warm laughter.

With the end of the coup, the Liberation Army finished its role, but for convenience, it was decided that the same members would head to the Kingdom of Eld.

Just as they finished treating the injured and preparing for the expedition, a shadow appeared at the entrance of the great hall. The entire body was wrapped in a black robe, and the face was hidden by a hood and a mask. One person who saw that figure let out a voice strained with fear. It was Turquoise.

“I-it's him... He's the one who incited me...!”

Why was the mastermind who manipulated Turquoise from the shadows here? The masked man remained silent, opened his right hand, and thrust it forward. Then, black shadows appeared from nowhere and began to run around at a speed too fast for the eye to follow. Aiol and the others braced themselves, but the speed of the shadows was so fast that there was no way to deal with them. When the shadows returned to the man, unexpectedly, not a single person was injured. However, only three people—Aiol, Lazuli, and Kilo—noticed something.

“Huh...? It's gone...”

“You too, Lapis?”

“Ah, my spear, the |Claw of the Earth| is gone!”

At the feet of the masked man were two blue orbs, a golden spear, and an emerald green shield. Yes, the |Dragon Artifacts| had been stolen.

“No way!? Are those also |Dragon Artifacts|!?”

“Why did you have the |Claw of the Earth|, Kilo?”

To the twins' barrage of questions, Kilo answered quickly, “That's my standard equipment! Besides, now is not the time to be saying things like that!”

While the three were having that exchange, a throwing axe flew from nowhere and hit the mask with force. It was Igni's doing. The mask made a high-pitched clinking sound and shattered, flying away.

“I'm not one to talk, but breaking in and stealing people's things is the height of rudeness. Who are you?”

The man let out a chilling, low voice and took off his hood.

“'Who am I,' you ask? To forget this face, you are quite something too... Brother.”

The cold smile that appeared from within the hood was Elif's.

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