By Zephyria The Divinity held within the Blue Star stretched out warmly like the dawn-brightening sunlight.
I remembered the day I first saw the Blue Star. Back then, it was an ordinary Igshar, making me wonder if I had gone through all that trouble for just this kind of fellow.
I also recalled the day it gradually swelled its body to possess brilliant Divinity. The ecstatic blue light I saw in the battle between the mad Oasis and the Blue Star filled my vision.
At some point, I must have grown accustomed to the Blue Star returning in the guise of an ordinary human, sticking close to its bride with a dopey grin. Its current form, standing and scattering overwhelming Divinity, felt incredibly unfamiliar and distant.
I had never truly grasped the meaning of ‘brilliant’ until now. My eyes were dazzled by the Divinity, shining as if about to burst.
It wasn’t the first time I had seen a Sacred Tree grow. Didn’t Duke Ernhardt’s Territory already have a similar tree? But the Divinity the immature star evoked back then was like a stream, while the Divinity it evoked now was like a vast, tranquil lake. Having drunk deeply of that sweet water, the Sacred Tree swelled with ease.
Was this how it felt to witness the birth of a Divine Beast?
On each branch of the tree that stretched out long, round, and glittering leaves formed. A sound like the patter of rain flowed from the Tree of Life. The low, soft whistle of wind crossing sand dunes, the thumping heart of a desert mouse licking dew from cactus thorns, the sound of thirsty tree roots stretching after a downpour.
How would this overflowing Divinity appear to the eyes of ordinary people?
The verdant Mana, quenching the dry land, filled the entire world. A gentle, warm energy pulsed in the clearing deliberately made for the Sacred Tree and the portal, in the building made of red bricks that had stood there for ages, and in the faces of the people watching them with tears of emotion.
Sylphs, popping into existence from the air, burst into giggles and danced among the leaves. Not just the Sylphs nurtured by the Blue Star. Spirits, drawn by the dense Mana, clung to the Sacred Tree, swinging and playing, making the surroundings sparkle. Mischievous winds constantly ruffled people’s hair, leaving them all with hairstyles like bird’s nests.
And so,
One, two, three.
Three Sacred Trees stood tall, spaced slightly apart. As if waiting, two Wizards leaped between the Sacred Trees.
Even with my untrained eyes, every glance and breath seemed calculated. The old Wizard and Marianne’s hand movements, as they skillfully wove Magic Circles and drew spell formulas, were like a well-rehearsed dance. The Divinity that had been surging all around gathered like wool, was spun into fine yarn, and settled down neatly.
Withrow had an unusually large number of people who could see Mana. The gasps that erupted one after another piled up like ripples, becoming waves.
I had wondered if Spiritus, who insisted on joining the journey, would lend a hand, but that wasn’t the case. Without a word, she stood quietly in a corner, cradling the Blue Star’s egg, watching the Wizards create the Magic Circle. The serene, pleased smile that spread across her face touched Marianne’s cheek.
At the moment a new passage, crafted entirely by human hands, began to glow.
Tick, or click. The sound of a rainbow-colored iguana swallowing. The ecstatic Divinity that had filled the surroundings to a deafening degree, yet posed no hindrance to creatures without gills, was neatly organized into the form of Magic.
Then, the Blue Star, standing at the center of the Magic Circle, smiled radiantly and reached out to its bride. The Emperor, who always maintained a straight posture and never took his eyes off her husband, gently placed her hand on the star’s forearm, readily accepting the escort.
Standing at the center of the completed Magic Circle, before the unopened portal, the Emperor murmured.
“The path is open.”
The voice, amplified by a Magic Artifact, boomed. It felt as if no one in the world would fail to hear him, even without raising his voice. The Emperor and Empress, standing in the most sacred place on this land, looked incredibly divine. Even setting aside the fact that one of them was a true god.
“Behold, my people. Witnesses to a brilliant history. The proof that the Empire has conquered distance and time is before your eyes. I declare in the name of the Sierran Empire: From now on, no citizen of the Empire will ever be lost or starve on the road. Henceforth, Withrow will forget its history of isolation. In place of the many gods, I, Rubel Anti Searon, shall watch over you.”
Throughout the Emperor’s speech, the Blue Star’s gaze never left his face. His eyes, a blue so sweet it seemed to melt, were filled with ecstasy and love, causing everyone watching him to adopt a similarly gentle gaze.
The Duke watched the Emperor and Empress with a proud, satisfied expression, like a parent watching their child. When the Emperor’s gaze turned to Duke Withrow, she stepped forward without hesitation. With an uncharacteristically formal posture, she prostrated herself before the Emperor and Empress and knelt.
“Duke Withrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I bestow upon Withrow the authority to inspect this portal. Remember that all this has been achieved under the name of Sieron, and never neglect your responsibility.”
“I shall engrave Your Majesty’s grace upon my bones. Withrow pledges to remain an eternal guardian of the Sierran Empire.”
“In the name of I, Rubel Anti Searon, I grant all citizens of the Empire permission to use the Withrow Duchy portal, effective this very moment.”
I had never heard such thunderous applause in my life.
I heard the cheers, shouts, and cries of the people gathered in the plaza to their heart’s content.
People who witness beauty often shed tears. Hugh, still holding my hand tightly, sniffled, his nose twitching. Crying again? I glanced down, but Hugh was smiling.
Duke Withrow, who had remained prostrate waiting for the people to cheer sufficiently, rose at the Emperor’s gesture. And then, not to the Emperor, but to everyone around, she shouted loudly.
“How can a few words express our gratitude for such immense grace? To commemorate the sacred blessing obtained through Your Majesty’s insight and decision, we shall hold a festival. We humbly request that both Your Majesties graciously accept our thanks.”
The Emperor nodded.
Sylphs sang, and people danced. I imagined this must have happened every time a new portal opened. Hugh leaned his temple against my shoulder. As I looked down at his dark hair, my chest felt strangely fluttery. I now knew what to call this feeling.
I was happy.
This was the most magnificent party ever held in the Withrow Duchy.
Seeing the main hall of the Duke’s castle open for the first time, except for send-off ceremonies and funerals, I was dumbfounded. Bright Magic Lamps were densely packed throughout the hall, which was always dim. Even without a single chandelier, the scattered light was so dazzling it was blinding.
The sheen of the rich meat sparkled. Usually, Withrow’s table featured rough, hearty stews, but today was different. Most of the dishes on the plates were large, heavy chunks of meat in their original form, but with added decorations, they were like paintings in themselves.
Half of those carrying countless beer mugs were Knights. This was because not many people could carry eighteen mugs of beer at once. I wondered who would drink so much, but empty mugs were constantly being replaced with new ones.
Somehow, I felt I should have a drink too. No, I already had one in my hand. Hugh, laughing cheerfully, gulped down his beer, handed the empty mug to a servant, and received a new drink. I took a couple of sips as well. For beer, the alcohol content was high. My tongue tingled, and my stomach felt warm.
The Emperor and Empress were lost in their own world in the center of the hall.
The lively and cheerful melody that filled the hall gradually became more intimate, entirely because of the two of them. Everyone kept glancing at the Emperor and Empress, holding hands tightly and exchanging affectionate gazes. Their passionate movements were so intense that I worried the Blue Star might just swallow the Emperor with every step he took.
The Emperor wasn’t much different. I don’t know why he kept swallowing as he looked at someone’s face. The Emperor’s hands, slowly tracing from Mikael’s shoulder blades down to his waist, looked less like dancing and more like something else. It made my back itch just watching.
Just as I thought they might kiss right there.
“Aren’t you two having too much fun by yourselves?”
A clear, cheerful voice cut through the sweet music. It was Marianne. She was holding Benjamin’s hand tightly, and as soon as she stepped onto the stage, she spun around three times. Her Wizard robe, worn over simple clothes, billowed out like flower petals with her dance moves.
Marianne spun Benjamin around, just as she had done to me. Benjamin, without a moment’s hesitation, followed Marianne’s lead with graceful movements. The sight of that large man being led and pushed by the petite Marianne drew laughter from many.
Mikael, catching a glimpse of them, burst into laughter. With the Emperor and Empress’s permission, people who had been hesitant one by one began to approach them like ants drawn to honey. Some held their lovers, others their friends. Some danced, matching their steps elegantly like the Emperor and Empress, while others just swayed their bodies, doing a shoulder dance alone in a corner.
I watched the people dancing, letting the music and the alcohol guide them, then lowered my gaze. Seeing Hugh’s fingertips twitch, I grabbed his wrist.
“Wh-what, hey. Wait, I, I’m…”
“Let’s go together.”
“No, you’re not usually like this, why are you…”
Hugh and I stepped out alone.
It had looked lively from afar, but up close, the music was louder and the laughter more boisterous than I expected. Drunken revelers were spinning around, and since most of them were Knights, it was hilariously amusing that no one bumped shoulders or fell amidst the chaos.
I hugged Hugh tightly around the waist. He was such a slender body, barely fitting into my grasp. Hugh, his face flushed red, looked flustered and darted his eyes around, then awkwardly wrapped his arms around my waist and placed a hand on my shoulder.
Marianne, looking this way, grinned, wrinkling her nose. She grabbed Benjamin’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Then Benjamin’s mouth contorted into a funny shape.
Seeing Marianne burst into laughter, I felt a sudden urge. I decided to follow Marianne’s lead.
Holding Hugh tightly, I took two steps to the left, one step forward, turned half a circle, and took three steps forward.
And then, I brought my lips to Hugh’s ear.
“I like you.”
Hugh didn’t reply. But his face turned as red and moist as a ripe raspberry.
I opened my mouth wide, wanting to bite him, but stopped when I saw familiar Knights looking this way and smiling broadly. Somehow, I wanted to keep this sight to myself. A strange desire arose.
I pulled Hugh’s shoulder, making him bury his face in my chest. Hugh smelled faintly of alcohol. Strangely, I didn’t dislike it.