Chapter 28

Chapter 28 - Valda (4)

Homi looked at him with eyes that sought an explanation.

"I have heard of them from my mother. They are attendants and guardians commanded by those who wield forest magic."

Ten Dryads stood in line at the entrance of the mansion. With every breath of wind, the vines of green leaves that served as their hair fluttered profusely.

'Should I enter, or not?'

Just as he was debating the matter, the doors of the mansion opened and a young female Elf appeared. Her flowing blonde hair, reaching down to her waist, was like silk spun from molten gold, and her noble eyes sparkled like amber fashioned from honey.

"You have labored much to reach this place. I am Valda, the mistress of this mansion. I truly welcome your visit."

It's the voice he had heard when breaking the seal of the letter. However, the voice that rose through her moist vocal cords without magical distortion was so beautiful.

"Pray, forgive the rudeness of not meeting you despite having invited you. There was one I had to tend to, so I could not leave the site."

Valda bowed her head in apology.

"It's fine. Though I was a bit startled, there was no problem in entering."

"I, too, believed that since you are one who cradles a strong mystery, you would break through with ease."

The Dryads stood in lines on either side, forming a path of welcome.

"Pray, enter quickly. The journey was not an easy one, so you must wish to rest."

Valda, who had been looking at the guests with a composed face, vanished inside.

"Shall we enter?"

As they dismounted at the entrance of the mansion, the Dryads approached.

Neigh!

Snort!

Might and Sandy trembled their brows and stuck close to their masters. They had desperate looks in their eyes, as if begging not to be left with the strange wooden monsters. However, that was resolved by the vegetables the Dryads held out.

Sniff, sniff!

They flared their nostrils before a yellow vegetable that resembled a carrot but had a different color, then carefully placed their mouths upon it.

Splutter!

The horses' eyes widened.

Crunch, crunch.

As if it were truly delicious, the fear they had shown a moment ago vanished completely, and they were busy eating frantically. The Dryads lured the horses with the fruit and led them to a wide stable. A horse with ivory-colored fur stood there and welcomed the two.

Upon entering the mansion, herbs and fruits hanging from the ceiling caught his eye.

"It's a nostalgic feeling. Our cabin where we lived was similar to this, was it not?"

Homi scanned the surroundings, her ears twitching as if searching for Valda, who had vanished.

"It's fine. I can tell where she is."

Valda had left behind a fragrance of magic like breadcrumbs. Though Homi's nose could not smell it, Eugene could follow her footsteps.

Rounding a corner, a wide room appeared. There was a large Dryad lying on a wooden recliner chair and an Elf standing beside her as if nursing.

"I am Knight Eugene Meyer. Having received the letter delivered by the eagle-owl, I have responded to the invitation. This is my squire, Homi."

"As I introduced myself a moment ago, I am Valda, the mistress of the mansion and the one who invited you."

The Elf expressed her gratitude by placing her hand over her heart.

"So, the one who requires assistance was the one beside you."

The small Dryads outside were no different from soulless dolls. However, the large Dryad before his eyes had expressions that were alive, and a strong will could be felt from her.

"This is my nurse, Grace. Almost no vitality or time remains within her body."

"I understand why you could not leave her side. Family is always paramount."

Nod.

Homi also agreed with a face that had completely softened.

"My lady. I could have given a better impression to the precious guests, yet because of me for naught..."

Despite being a body made of wood, affection for the Elf was clearly revealed in every expression and gesture.

"I cannot just lie here while hosting guests, either."

"You must not rise."

"Hush... it's fine."

Grace stood up, soothing Valda who was worriedly trying to stop her. She was indeed large. She was of a tall stature that even Eugene had to look up to.

Valda looked sadly at the wooden branches that had broken and fallen onto the chair.

"Do not wear such a face. They are already dead pieces. Whether they are attached to my body or fallen from it, it holds no meaning."

"Even so, I am happier when they are attached to your body, Grace."

"We have guests who have visited for the first time in a truly long while; we must treat them politely. They are those who have stained their hands with blood to respond to our call, are they not?"

She likely referred to the battle with the bandits at the campsite.

"Did you know that we fought? We rode straight here without rest."

"The Emerald Forest is the mistress's home, and also her eyes and ears. She can observe the outside through various methods."

Grace pointed to a corner of the room. Several nests shaped like cradles were there.

"We meet again."

The eagle-owl that had come to deliver the letter was dozing with an expression that said 'I loathe the day'. Beside him was a hawk glaring at the strange guests as if to say 'what are you looking at?', and a crow pecking at a peanut. Several cradles were empty, perhaps because their occupants were out on a mission. Through the window, which served as the birds' departure route, the sky tinged with twilight was seen.

Creeak.

The small Dryads entered, carrying vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

"Warm bathwater is prepared. How about loosening your body within it, having a meal, and then sharing a conversation?"

"I understand."

Eugene also felt grimy, having come without rest after fighting in the early dawn. A time to wash and catch his breath was most welcome.

* * *

True to being a home for an Elf and Dryads, the bathroom was made of solid wood. There were no rotted or mossy parts, and it smelled pleasant. Compared to the stone bathroom in the mansion for VIPs in Bonyard, it was much smaller, but it overflowed with a coziness and refreshment that were not present there.

By the time he came out after finishing his bath, darkness had fallen outside.

"The preparation is lacking, but pray, eat much."

"It's a banquet."

On the table Valda had prepared were various fruits, vegetables, biscuits, and honey.

Sssszzz.

The main dish was a thick piece of meat with grease sizzling on the surface. Judging by the color, at least six kinds of seasonings had been sprinkled over it.

"It's a proper steak."

"I love meat. Even if I grill just one piece, I try to grill it deliciously."

"It's to the extent that I frequently nag her to eat some vegetables."

"Grace."

Valda glared at Grace, but she soon softened. It seemed she, too, liked the lively atmosphere of the meal after a long time.

Chomp!

Homi took a large bite out of a big hunk of meat with a fork, without even slicing it. She chewed with a happy face. Looking at her with a satisfied look, Valda also placed a sliced piece of meat into her mouth.

'I know not how to describe it. Compared to a soldier, it's a meal with a different manner of discipline.'

Valda's meal almost gave the impression of watching a tea ceremony.

"The meat is purchased from the villages that have received favors from the mistress."

"The Bonyard envoys should have waited at the village slaughterhouse rather than wandering the forest."

Grace laughed. Perhaps because she was a large Dryad, even when she laughed, the sound of wooden branches moving was heard faintly.

Once the meal ended, the small Dryads cleared the plates and brought tea. And then, the true business commenced.

"As you can see, the life of my beloved nurse, Grace, is coming to an end. Strictly speaking, it's more like I am forcibly extending what has already ended."

Valda stroked Grace's withered and rotting arm.

"Though I mobilized every bit of my knowledge of the forest, I could not instill vitality in her. She only continues to grow frail."

Valda's golden eyes looked at Eugene.

"However, O Knight. Your prayer of blessing that you performed in the remote village might be different."

"It was for a Dhampir who had grown frail while imprisoned in a dungeon. I blessed the blood of field mice and had her drink it."

Valda nodded as if she had expected it.

"How did you know? Even Homi, who was nearby, did not know until I told her."

"My ears are special. I can eavesdrop on magic from some distance away through the wind in the night sky and the fluttering leaves."

"That is amazing."

An Elf indeed! It seemed her long ears were not just for show. Since she was a magician as well, it must be even more special.

"I was merely lucky. It's a thing that was only possible in this mansion where the aura of the forest and magic is extremely abundant. Had I been engaged in outdoor activities, I would not have heard it."

"The mistress would frequently go out of the forest to find a way to save me."

This was why a forest magician, who barely needs any outdoor activity for magical research, had frequently ventured out into the world.

"Afterward, my friends in the heavens told me the news. That a powerful warrior was traveling upon the road to the village that was always empty."

Eugene recalled the eagle-owl, the hawk, and the crows.

"You took down a Warg with ease and even achieved the feat of a Victorious Knight. I judged that you were certainly the noble person I was looking for."

"Was there not a possibility that I was merely a peerlessly strong knight? Or that the one who performed the prayer of blessing was a different person."

Valda shook her head.

"Your divine power has surpassed the bounds possible by the strength of muscle. My guess is that you are linked to the realm of mystery in some form. If so, the prayer would also be your work. I have never heard of a blessing so powerful."

Eugene thought he had done well to accept this invitation. The Elf before him was a person who could teach him many things he did not know or with whom he could discuss them.

A small Dryad came carrying a green cloth with both hands. Upon it sat a longsword enveloped in a sophisticated scabbard.

"It's a gift for a precious guest."

"It's too early to receive a gift. I have done nothing yet."

"It matters not. This was yours from the moment you decided to accept my invitation."

"If you say so, I shall receive it without hesitation."

Eugene drew a long breath to calm his throbbing heart as a knight and gripped the scabbard.

"Oh!"

As soon as he gripped it, he could feel it was a masterpiece with perfect balance.

"May I draw it?"

"Of course. Consider this as your own home."

Cling.

The aura of the silver blade was sharp enough to make one's skin feel cold just by looking at it.

"It's a sword handed down from the time of Lui-Amor."

"Lui-Amor! You mean the first unified dynasty?"

It was an artifact that was unbelievably ancient. To think he gained an unexpected treasure just from traveling a bit.

"A great sword must write a great epic. That sword has been slumbering for far too long. Now that it has come into the hands of a worthy warrior, the sword too shall be delighted."

When one thinks of the greatest blacksmiths, one often thinks of dwarves, but that is a perception mixed with misunderstanding. It is true that they are capable throughout the entirety of blacksmithing techniques. It is also true that their engineering skills in creating mechanical devices such as pulleys or siege engines are the best. However, if one were to name legendary weapons, shields, or armor, those were always works created by elven artisans. Pieces of equipment regarded as divine artifacts of great noble families were mostly made during the time of Lui-Amor. To the extent that a great noble who took a dwarven-made piece of equipment as a divine artifact would be subtly ignored as having no roots, no further explanation is needed.

"What is written upon it?"

Eugene pointed to the elven letters engraved on the lower part of the blade.

"Last Autumn."

Valda looked down at the sword with quiet eyes.

"It's a poetic name to give to a sword."

"Perhaps. But it would suit that sword better than anything. For it is a sword forged by the last royal family as the era of Lui-Amor was ending."

Clatter.

A dried branch fell from Grace's collarbone. The gazes of everyone gathered on the dead piece tumbling on the floor. Eugene lowered the corners of his mouth, which had risen due to the excellent sword.

"Joy can come later. I must handle the urgent matter right away."

"I thank you."

Eugene coolly examined Grace's body. Since he could see and feel mystery, he could tell what state this Dryad was in.

"It will not be easy."

Eugene's face hardened.

"The Dhampir to whom I offered my blood was dwelling within the time permitted by her life. The blessing merely gave vitality to that. However, Lady Grace..."

"My branches are already dead and sap does not flow within my body. If compared to a human, it's like the blood has stopped and the muscles are rotted. In a body that cannot receive nourishment, what meaning is there no matter how good a medicine is used?"

Grace spoke kindly, as if she knew the meaning. In this place, the stubbornness was entirely Valda's part.

"Still, I wish to attempt it. For I loathe losing her without having done anything and then regretting it."

"I, too, think so. Success or failure aside, we must make an effort. For we are family."

Valda showed a smile to Eugene for the first time.

"..."

Her pose was like the moment the first rays of morning sunlight repel the darkness. Even Eugene, who thought saving Grace was impossible, was reminded of hope for a moment.

"Then I shall begin."

As Eugene rose from his seat, the others rose as well.

After finishing some preparations, Grace sat on the sofa in the living room. Eugene knelt before her, and Valda and Homi watched from a short distance away.

The Holy Communion for the Dryad facing death commenced.

A powerful blessing that could have only been possible for an ancient Pope... an unknown vitality, which even felt viscous, was summoned wriggling from beyond the world.