Chapter 3
Fifteen days after leaving the Berhi estate, the party arrived at Hingis’s childhood home. He was overcome with emotion upon reaching the Nordo County estate after more than a decade.
"Tower Master—no, Lady Astina. This is my home. Please, make yourselves comfortable during your stay."
He laughed and announced his return to the butler. A moment later, Count Nordo and his youngest daughter, Eonora, came rushing out.
"Father! I’ve returned! And Eonora, my goodness! I barely recognize you, you’ve grown so much!"
Hingis’s father, Count Nordo, greeted his returning son with a resounding smack on the back. Then, grabbing his ear, he dragged the prodigal son away. Astina, Theo, and Mikhail were left standing awkwardly at the entrance.
Sighing at the sight of her brother’s predicament, Eonora bowed gracefully to Astina. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Eonora, sister to the fool who was just dragged away. You must be my brother’s friends. If you would permit me, I can show you to your quarters."
Still dazed, Astina nodded. With impeccable politeness, Eonora guided them to the annex. The Nordo family might deliver a harsh welcome to a wayward son, but their hospitality to guests was flawless. They were served delicious tea and refreshments. As befitted a kingdom famous for its fruit, a colorful array was laid out on the table. Astina’s eyes widened at the sweet taste of a soft, light-green fruit.
"This is incredible. What is it? How is it so sweet?"
"It’s called a Melon," Theo explained, offering her another piece on a fork. A gentle smile touched his lips, charmed by her star-bright eyes. "I believe it only grows in the southern part of the Gail Kingdom."
"Melon? To think such a delicious fruit existed… We have to let my sister try this!"
"We can buy a ton of it on our way back."
"But that’s too long to wait! I want her to taste it now."
"Then we shall ask Sir Hingis to procure some for us when he returns."
"This one, too! This one’s delicious!" Astina said, pointing to a fruit that looked like deep purple beads. As Theo smiled and nodded, her fork moved to a pale yellow fruit she’d never seen before. It smelled faintly like the mamong she enjoyed in Dresden. Thinking of Brillin, she popped a large piece into her mouth.
"Oh! Tina, that’s—"
It was too late. An electrifying sourness shot through her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, her lips puckering as a shiver ran down her spine. "Ugh. Ughhh." Unable to spit it out, she forced herself to swallow, her face a mask of misery.
Theo handed her a slice of Melon. "That’s a Lemon. It’s known for being incredibly sour."
"Sour is an understatement! Are you sure it isn’t rotten?"
"No, that’s just how it tastes."
Munching on the sweet Melon, Astina shot a venomous glare at the offending Lemon. She had thought all fruits were wonderful, but she had just met a truly wicked one.
They enjoyed their refreshments for some time, but Hingis didn’t return. A knot of worry began to form in Astina’s stomach. She set down her fork. "Do you think Hingis is alright?"
Mikhail, sipping his tea, answered in Theo’s stead. "He’ll be fine," he said breezily. "That’s just how fathers and sons are."
"Is it? He hit him awfully hard."
"My father draws his sword whenever he sees me."
"He what?!" Astina gasped, but Mikhail just waved a dismissive hand, smiling as if it were nothing. And it was true. His father, Marquis Ingvelin, had expected his second son to become the commander of the Imperial Knight Order now that Hafen was Emperor. Instead, his son was perfectly content as a butler. From Mikhail’s perspective, a father who used his palm instead of a blade was a gentle one indeed.
A short while later, Hingis appeared, rubbing his back after a rough but affectionate reunion with his father. He laughed, embarrassed to be seen in such a state by a worried Astina, and quickly changed the subject. "I’ve contacted the mages in Olgen. They’ve agreed to gather here, so we should be able to learn the details of the situation soon."
Two more mages had vanished during their journey. Fewer than ten now remained in all of Olgen, and every one of them was terrified.
Before long, mages began to arrive at the annex. All but Bergin, the chief royal mage and Hingis’s former teacher, had gathered. They turned to Astina as if she were their last hope.
"Tower Master, please, you must help us," pleaded a man named Gerald, who introduced himself as a friend of Hingis. His face was a mask of grief. "These are no simple disappearances."
Astina frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Someone is intentionally abducting mages. Of that, we are certain."
Abduction. What kind of madman would target only mages? It was difficult to believe, yet it was the only explanation for the events in Olgen. Eight mages had vanished in just over two months, with no clue as to their whereabouts or if they were even still alive. The King of Gail himself had launched an investigation, but even so, the disappearances continued. The remaining mages were paralyzed by the fear that they would be next.
Listening to Gerald’s desperate account, Hingis cut in. "What is Sir Bergin doing? Is he simply watching this happen?" Bergin was the most powerful mage in the Gail Kingdom. He should have been able to do something.
Gerald’s face grew darker. "Sir Bergin has been residing in the royal palace since last year. By the king’s grace, he is receiving treatment from the royal physician."
"Treatment?" Hingis asked, alarmed. "What ails him?"
"It seems even magic is powerless against disease."
At that, Hingis fell silent. A heavy quiet settled over the room as every eye turned to Astina. She scratched her cheek, glancing at Theo. Hearing the story firsthand, the situation was far worse than she had imagined. If someone was truly abducting mages, the culprit was no ordinary person. Perhaps another monster had appeared in the Gail Kingdom. As troubled expressions dawned on both Astina’s and Theo’s faces, the last flicker of hope began to die in the eyes of the mages who had come to them for help.
As the Tower Master, Astina had no obligation to intervene on behalf of mages who were not part of her tower. The situation was perilous, and she could easily be drawn in herself. If she chose to turn her back and leave, they would have no grounds to stop her.
Jerald heaved a deep sigh, and the other mages bowed their heads in despair. It pained Astina to see them so cornered and hopeless. She had left the Berhi territory intending to resolve this matter and return swiftly, but it seemed her stay would be far longer than anticipated. Still, how could she abandon people who were trembling in fear, begging for her aid?
Her brilliant gaze swept over the mages. "I’ll catch the bastard for you," she declared, her voice ringing with confidence. "So hold your chins up high."
"D-Do you really mean that, Tower Master?" Jerald looked up, his face alight with hope.
When Astina gave a firm nod, a collective sigh of relief washed over the mages. They exchanged a flurry of glances, a silent conversation passing between them, before Jerald stepped forward as their representative. "Then, how can we possibly repay your kindness, Tower Master? We’ve made some preparations, but…"
"Preparations?" Astina tilted her head. "What kind of preparations?"
"It is woefully insufficient for the grace you are showing us, but we felt we had to offer some token of our gratitude," Jerald explained cautiously, trying to read her expression. Astina’s, however, only grew more puzzled.
Sensing the awkwardness, Theo leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I believe they’ve prepared a reward."
Even after his explanation, the concept didn’t quite click. Astina blinked. "A reward? You mean money?"
"It would seem so," he confirmed.
The thought of accepting payment had never once crossed her mind. She tilted her head again, then turned back to the mages with a bright, disarming smile. "I don’t need money. I have plenty."
Her response left the mages bewildered. The great Tower Master herself was offering to help them, strangers to her tower, and they could not simply accept such a boon without offering something in return. They had felt compelled to show their sincerity, but her reaction was entirely unexpected.
Wondering if she desired something else, Jerald pressed on. "Then is there anything else you wish for?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Then… why are you helping us?"
Astina’s lovely eyes crinkled as she smiled, a look of pure, unadulterated sincerity on her face. "Because you asked for help."
Faced with such an innocent answer from the twenty-two-year-old Tower Master, Jerald and the other mages were at a loss for words. To extend a hand to someone in need—it was a duty they had all been taught, a responsibility that came with power, but it was a path that was never easy to walk. Yet here before them stood someone who walked it with a face so radiant it could light up the world.
