kscans

Chapter 191 - <15>

"Anna, hey, wake up, Anna."

I opened my eyes to a gentle nudge. Ritz's face was right in front of me. I instinctively shoved him away, and Ritz, without any resistance, fell backward onto the white sand in a spread-eagle and sighed.

"Looks like you're okay. We were lucky to survive that."

The words brought the current situation flooding back. Looking up, I saw the cliff jutting out far above. It's a miracle we survived a fall from that height. Ritz, who had tried to cushion my fall, seemed to be uninjured as well.

For a moment, I was relieved, but then I remembered the situation on the cliff before we fell, and anger started to bubble up. Ritz had tried to kill himself to save Anna. And after that argument. I slowly sat up and stared at Ritz.

"Why did you save me?"

"...What do you mean, 'why'…"

Ritz's exasperated tone as he sat up only irritated Anna further.

"I probably killed so many of the Soukai Clan and the soldiers. There's no point in saving me."

My body trembled as I spoke. I didn't remember it clearly, but I knew I had lost myself to anger and caused something terrible. My rage had likely cost many lives. If that was the case, there was no place for me to go back to.

So why did Ritz save me, and at the cost of his own life? He should have protected himself, the one who had people waiting for him, instead of someone like Anna. I just couldn't understand it.

"There's no way it's pointless. I made my own judgment and decided it was better for you to live."

As Ritz said this, averting his gaze, a sense of frustration welled up inside me.

"So why does Ritz get to decide something like that?!"

"Between you and me, it's better if you survive, right?"

"Why?!"

I couldn't help but scream. Ritz, still looking down, shouted back in irritation.

"Because you're precious to me!"

For a moment, I almost felt happy, but Anna stopped herself. Ritz had his pretenses. He probably didn't mean it.

"Liar!"

"It's not a lie!"

"Didn't you say we couldn't be together anymore?"

I glared at him as I asked, and Ritz muttered awkwardly.

"That was, uh, a figure of speech."

"What's a figure of speech? Ritz's favorite pretense?"

"..."

I could see Ritz grit his teeth, his face still downcast. I thought he was regretting it, but I couldn't just wait silently for his words.

"You said we should go our separate ways. I'm just a burden to Ritz, anyway! If I'm in your way, just say so!"

"How could you be in the way! You're the one who's getting in my way!"

"That's not true!"

"Don't be ridiculous. You've been hating my guts, haven't you?!"

That was completely unfair. It was the exact opposite.

"Of course I don't hate you!"

"You're the one who's lying! You gave up on me because I'm a good-for-nothing, didn't you?!"

"What do you mean, gave up on you?!"

"You don't want to even see my face, do you! You can't stand being touched or held by me! I'm sorry for not realizing and holding you and being so dependent on you until now!"

"That's just your assumption! When did anyone ever say that?!"

"I don't have to be told, I can tell!"

"I'm telling you, it's an assumption! No one hates Ritz!"

"Lies!"

"It's not a lie!"

"I'm telling you it's a lie!"

We glared at each other, panting from our shouting match. Ritz seemed to realize something, gasped, and turned his face away, sighing and running a hand through his hair.

"This isn't a childish squabble. Let's just calm down for a minute."

"There you go, acting like an adult again."

At his mature attitude, I couldn't help but turn my face away and mutter under my breath. At that, Ritz clearly got angry and turned back to Anna.

"I'm not acting like an adult. I just need to calm down a little…"

"Whatever, I'm just an emotional child. Just someone for Ritz to protect. I could never understand an adult like Ritz."

"Are we back to that?!"

I knew I was being childish. But I couldn't be honest, and there was nothing I could do. A sense of resignation grew from my anger, and all the complaints I'd been hiding started spilling out.

"Ritz should just be honest, too. To you, I'm just some third-rate girl, right?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Averting my eyes from Ritz's deeply furrowed brow, I continued.

"I thought I might be the most important person to Ritz, but that wasn't true at all. It was such a letdown. Number one is some woman I've never even met, and number two is Qiuzi-san, right? Maybe there's a number three and four, too. After all, I'm just Ritz's burden. Just something he's looking after for my adoptive father until he can give me back."

"...How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Because I'm a child and Ritz is an adult. Adults can live with pretense, so you were able to pretend I was important, right? I didn't even notice. I was completely fooled by Ritz."

"Fooled…"

With a complex expression that was a mix of confusion and anger, Ritz averted his gaze from Anna. It must be true, then. He'd been dealing with Anna purely out of pretense. A sad sigh escaped me.

"I really thought you considered me special, Ritz. I'm sorry for misunderstanding. There's no way I could ever be special to you."

"Anna…?"

"Is the person Ritz loves most Qiuzi-san? You kissed her, after all."

"That was beyond my control."

"But you were holding her afterward, right?"

When I asked that, Ritz was clearly flustered, and he scratched his head while keeping his eyes averted.

"How do you know that?"

"When Ritz held me… I could smell Qiuzi-san's perfume…"

"Ah, that time…"

Ritz looked down with a sigh.

"So that's why I was so… surprised… that you were so close with Qiuzi-san…"

I have to say it properly. My true feelings. Otherwise, nothing will get through. But I didn't want to say it. I knew that even if I did, it wouldn't get through.

I knew that if it was over, it had to be over. Ritz had someone else he loved. Even if we made up and he held me or touched me again, I could never feel at ease in his arms like before. I would surely see the shadow of that someone else and feel jealous or sad.

That's why… it had to end. The back of my nose started to sting, but I properly lifted my head and looked at Ritz.

"I don't hate you, Ritz. I'm the one who's a nuisance to you. If you were just pretending to be my guardian, that's fine now. You've fulfilled your promise to my adoptive father. You can go to the person you love most now."

"Are you okay with that?"

"...Yeah. I was… really… happy… to have been with you until now."

As I murmured this, Ritz let out a deep sigh and seemed to think about something for a while. Then, he looked straight into Anna's face.

"Just listen to my side of the story for a bit. Don't jump to conclusions on your own."

His calm, adult tone set me on edge again. Was he going to act like an adult and lecture me again? Even though I said it was fine.

"Ritz is always the one who jumps to conclusions!"

"You're right. You're right, but will you just listen to me?"

Was he trying to persuade Anna? But that was the last thing I wanted. I just wanted to be left alone.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Ritz is always full of excuses! I'll just get fooled again."

Ritz, who had been trying to remain calm, finally seemed to snap at these words and raised his voice again.

"I never meant to fool you, not that much!"

"So you did fool me!"

"A little, just a little!"

"Lies! You always lie! Anyway, no!"

I was scared that if I listened, everything would really be over. I was scared that the person I cherished and my first love would all go far away. I thought I was prepared, but I was still scared to have the final conclusion laid out.

I really didn't know what to do anymore.

"Just listen!"

"I don't want to hear any more adult logic or pretenses!"

"Listen to me!"

"Absolutely not! I don't want to hear it!"

"Please, just listen to me!"

"No!"

"Anna!"

I covered my ears, closed my eyes, and shook my head. I curled up my body, expressing with my whole being that I didn't want to hear anything else. I couldn't. I just couldn't bear it if Ritz went to someone else. If he told me about his past and made me realize that I, who had met him later, could never reach him. If I was told that I could never be the one he loved most.

I didn't know what to do anymore, what kind of face to make from now on. I had said he could go to the one he loved, such a drastic thing, but if he really did, it would be too painful.

As I stayed curled up tightly, Ritz's large hand suddenly cupped my chin. I sensed he was about to scold me and opened my eyes, only to be surprised by how close his face was. His eyes were so serious that I couldn't look away.

I tried to pull back, but I realized Ritz's other hand was holding me securely, and I couldn't move back at all.

Unable to move a muscle, my body tensed up. Before I knew it, his lips were gently pressed against mine. I was so surprised I couldn't even flinch.

His lips, the first I'd ever touched, were soft but a little cold, probably from being in the water.

In the quiet space, I could hear the sound of raindrops falling on the water. I hadn't realized it, but it seemed it was still raining. It wasn't a downpour, but the sound of heavy rain hitting the water and sand, a surprisingly soft sound, filled the space around us, enveloping us.

As our lips touched gently, they gradually grew warmer, and it felt so incredibly good that I softly closed my eyes. But I didn't know what to do, so I couldn't move a muscle.

After a time that felt both short and very long, Ritz slowly pulled his lips away with a faint, breathy sigh. I opened my eyes to find him staring directly at me, and I froze. I had no idea why he was doing this, or how I should respond. My mind was a complete blank.

Ignoring the frozen Anna, Ritz lovingly ran his fingers through her wet hair. Then, as if reluctant, he gently let her go. I felt all the strength, all the anxiety and unease I'd felt until now, quietly drain from my body, leaving me completely weak. I happened to lift my face and met a pair of calm eyes gazing quietly at me.

As I stared back at those eyes, at a loss for words, Ritz lowered his gaze slightly and opened his mouth.

"I'm such a hopeless adult that I can't live without pretense. I'm the kind of adult who has to hide his true feelings behind a facade to get by."

With that, Ritz gave a lonely smile.

"This is another excuse, isn't it? Just like you said, I'm a man full of excuses and logic that you can't trust. So let me correct myself one last time."

Unable to speak, I nodded, and Ritz smiled and said.

"You're important to me, Anna. I truly, deeply care about you. There's no way I could ever think of you as a nuisance."

"...Huh?"

"I'm not in love with anyone else. So please, tell me the truth. Let's stop this."

Anna realized there was no pretense, no adornment in his words. If so, now was the only time to clear up the misunderstanding. She hesitated for a while, listening to the sound of the dripping rain, and after much deliberation, only one phrase came out.

"I don't hate you. That's why… I don't want you to go to someone else."

As the words came out, I started to sob. I had wanted to say it for so long, but I couldn't. I thought he would think I was being selfish.

"I love you, Ritz. That's why I hate it when you hold other girls. It's painful, it hurts so much…"

"Anna…"

Ritz's gentle, concerned voice made tears stream down my face.

"But when you asked if it was romantic love or family love, I didn't know. I can't tell the difference between my feelings of 'like' yet…"

The feelings I'd been hiding spilled out. I like Ritz the most. More than my adoptive father, Anton. More than anyone in the world. That was a fact, and it hadn't changed. But sometimes, anxiety would creep in. If I went back home and saw Anton's face, maybe I would realize I loved my father the most after all.

"There's so much I don't know. That's why I was so scared, I didn't know what to do… but…"

But this, I could say with confidence.

"I could never, ever hate Ritz!"

As I declared this, I was gently pulled into an embrace. The long-awaited hug was so calming it made me sigh. This place felt so safe. How could I have ever stayed away from something so precious and warm?

I wrapped my arms around his back and clung to him, and a gentle voice washed over me.

"There's no need to rush. I'll wait patiently until you have your answer."

"Ritz…?"

"I'll also do my best to be able to talk about everything without pretenses by then. So… let's make this homework for later."

"...Homework?"

"Yup. For now, once we get back to Sears safely, let's check our answers."

"What answers?"

"Our truest, most honest feelings for each other."

If, at that time, I was in love with Ritz and could tell him he was the one I liked most, would he perhaps give me the same answer? Thinking that, I gently touched my own lips.

A kiss on the lips is a kiss for the one you love most.

Ritz, knowing how much Anna cared about that, had kissed her. It was a soft, warm, and truly gentle kiss from Ritz to Anna.

Maybe Ritz liked Anna the most.

If that was the case… I would be so happy.

"How does that sound?"

Ritz asked with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Okay."

"Alright. Fight's over, then."

Her smile prompted a smile in return, and Ritz laughed with the innocent expression of a child who had just thought of a prank, a look she hadn't seen in months. It was the unadorned expression Anna loved.

"Alright then, now that we've finally made up, let's figure out how to get out of here."

"Huh? We can't get out?"

"You really haven't been looking around at all, have you?"

At his words, I finally looked around. There was a roof over our heads. Or rather, we were under the terrace of the cliff we'd fallen from. The ground beneath our feet was a white sandy beach, but it wasn't very wide. And in front of us was a stretch of sea so narrow it could have been a river, with a dense cluster of sharp reefs jutting out before us.

"We fell from up there, right?"

"Yeah."

"It's a miracle we survived."

I murmured in awe.

"...Yeah, it is. I have no idea how we did. Not even a single scratch."

Falling from that terrace should have sent us straight into the reef. We could have been impaled. But here we were, on a sandy beach invisible from above, having cleared not only the reef but the sea as well.

Considering the towering reef before us, the sandy beach we were on now was likely invisible from the sea as well.

That thought made me gasp.

What had happened on the sea? Had the Water Dragon Anna had unleashed really destroyed the people who were fighting? Had they been saved? Was it okay for me to get out of here alive?

Until now, I'd been so wrapped up in myself that I hadn't thought about it deeply. It all felt like a dream, lacking in reality. But Ritz wouldn't lie, so there must have been actual casualties.

"...You know, Ritz."

"Hmm?"

"Maybe I shouldn't get out of here."

"Huh?"

"Because, I might have killed a lot of soldiers and Soukai Clan members, you know? Is it really okay for me to look for a way to be saved?"

My voice trailed off in uncertainty, but Ritz answered firmly.

"Of course it is."

"But…"

"If, hypothetically, a lot of people died, then someone needs to atone for it, right? Running away won't solve anything."

"...You mean I have to apologize properly."

"That's right. And since half of it was my fault for fighting with you, I'll apologize with you. Don't worry, I won't let you face the music alone."

"Okay."

Normally, I would have said, 'It's my responsibility, so I'll do it alone,' but for some reason, I was able to nod obediently.

"Let's worry about it after we get out. If we stay here, we won't even be able to worry."

"Why?"

"We have no food. And the only water is from the waterfall."

Ritz's expression was dead serious as he said this. For the duo of Ritz and Anna, that was a matter of life and death.

Anna, who had fallen from the cliff without a chance to put down her pack, realized she still had the bag she always carried and checked its contents. But her usual belongings and the snacks she kept stocked were all soaked and inedible.

"This is rough, huh?"

"It's rough. I'd rather die than starve to death."

"Yeah. I wouldn't like that either."

I nodded solemnly, remembering how I'd felt the same way when we were locked in the dungeon in the capital. Besides, there was a reason I absolutely did not want to die.

"Let's definitely make it to Sears!"

I said, implicitly looking forward to his answer, and Ritz nodded as well.

"You're right. Come on, let's check over there."

I took Ritz's outstretched hand and stood up. Normally, he would have let go right away, but Ritz casually kept holding my hand. He didn't seem to have any intention of letting go. I felt a mix of happiness and embarrassment, but I didn't want to let go either, so I squeezed his hand back.

The lower part of the green terrace that miraculously existed on the cliff face jutted out far into the sea like a wall, completely blocking the view of the other side. The only thing we knew for sure was that there was a waterfall on that side, as it had been falling from the terrace.

We had to get to the other side of the terrace to at least secure drinking water, so we entered the sea from the sandy beach. Even though it was already summer, the seawater was surprisingly cold.

The clear, cold water wasn't as deep as I had imagined; it only came up to Anna's upper knees. Any deeper and the cold would have been unbearable.

When we reached the other side, the sight that greeted us took my breath away.

"Now this is a spectacular view."

"Yeah…"

Before us, with the terrace as a roof, was a magnificent scene of light and water.

The waterfall cascading from the terrace was pouring into the sea with a roar, sending up spray on the white sandy beach. The area behind it was deeply carved out and recessed, creating a space that spread out behind a curtain of water. At the back of that space, a fissure in the cliff face gaped open like a cave.

From its position, this must be that deep fissure that ran from the other side of the island. In other words, this was the end point of that fissure.

The bottom of that fissure had been impossible to see, so it should have been quite dark, but the entrance to the fissure, visible from the white sandy beach, was filled with light. As we stood there, stunned by the mysterious sight, still holding hands, a voice called out to us from within the fissure.

"Was that commotion earlier caused by you two?"

It was the voice of a gentle-mannered old woman. Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw an old woman standing there with unusual copper-red hair, just like Luan's, tied up in a strange style. Her clothes were also a bit strange; the front panels were folded over several times, and there were long drapes under the sleeves. And her eyes were a clear cobalt blue, like the deep sea.

"A member of the Soukai Clan…"

I murmured, and the old woman smiled.

"That's right. And who might you be?"

"Um, we were hoping the Soukai Clan would show us their holy land…"

"Y-You idiot!"

Before I could finish, Ritz clamped a large hand over my mouth, but it seemed it was already too late.

"...To see the holy land?"

As she tilted her head in confusion, Ritz seemed to give up and released his hold on Anna. I decided to try and persuade Ritz directly.

"It's better to be honest, Ritz."

"...The Soukai Clan has been made to think we're a calamity by Kuchiba, you know? You can't just bluntly ask to see the holy land like that."

"But they'll understand if we explain."

As I finished speaking, Ritz sighed and placed a hand on Anna's head.

"Alright. I'll leave it to you."

"Thank you!"

With Ritz's permission, Anna turned back to the old woman.

"Um, we've been on a journey to see the holy lands of all the different races."

Putting her heart into it, Anna explained their journey so far. The past few months of being at odds with Ritz, full of pain and hardship, had taught her that honesty was the most important thing in making someone understand.

She also spoke honestly about Kuchiba. About how he was monitoring their journey, and how he had laid traps for them at every turn. She explained how he had created a rift between them and the humans by telling the Soukai Clan they were a calamity, causing a falling out and starting a war.

Her explanation jumped around and went in different directions, with Ritz occasionally helping her out, so it took some time. But when she finally finished, the old woman, who had been listening silently, smiled and nodded.

"I understand now."

"Really?"

"Yes. I can see clearly that you are not lying. Thank you for telling me."

Her calm tone and smile brought Anna a sense of relief. Speaking honestly could indeed be a help.

"But, I'm sorry, could you show me the Eye of the Spirit?"

I felt a little disheartened, wondering if she still didn't trust me, but seeing my expression, the old woman smiled gently as if to reassure me.

"You're going to the holy land of the Soukai Clan, aren't you? Even if I know I can trust you, I can't just invite you into our sacred place. Normally, only the elders of the Soukai Clan and I are allowed to enter the holy land. I would be happy if you could understand."

Seeing the genuinely apologetic look on the old woman's face, Anna nodded. It was a holy land, so it was only natural to take such precautions.

"Yes, of course."

Satisfied, Anna brightly took out the jewel and showed it to her. The old woman took it gratefully, gazed at it intently, and then smiled as she returned it.

"This is indeed the same as the Eye of the Spirit that we possess. Those who hold this are messengers of the Spirit King and servants of the Goddess. We of the Soukai Clan welcome you."

It seemed that here, too, just as with the other clans, this Eye of the Spirit King was revered. If so, then perhaps all the Spirit Kings were gathered beyond this Eye.

"So we can go to the holy land?"

"Of course. It is only natural to invite those who hold the Eye of the Spirit King to our sacred place, is it not?"

"You believe us?"

"Yes. More than the Eye of the Spirit King, I believe your eyes. I am Renfa, the Miko of the Water Spirit King. My judgment of character is sound."

At the old woman's words, Ritz let out a cry of surprise.

"A Miko... Does that mean... you're the one protecting the Soukai Clan's holy land?"

"Yes, that's right. It is I."

"Which means, could it be…"

As Ritz asked with a stunned expression, the old woman smiled.

"That's right, young man. This is the holy land of the Soukai Clan."

At the old woman's matter-of-fact statement, Anna's eyes widened. Looking around again, the beautiful scenery did indeed seem worthy of being called a holy land.

"This is the holy land…"

"Yes. A holy land that only those with power among the Soukai Clan can cross the reef to reach. I was surprised, as I never thought there would be a water spirit user with power greater than even the most skilled of the Soukai Clan."

The Miko of the Water Spirit King said with a smile.

"Did you see everything, by any chance?"

At Ritz's question, the Miko smiled.

"Yes. Everything."

"Then tell me. Why did we survive the fall from up there?"

"Ah…"

Anna wanted to know that, too. From that position, they should have been impaled on the reef together. The Miko looked puzzled.

"Weren't you the one controlling that Water Dragon?"

"The Water Dragon?"

"Yes. That magnificently large Water Dragon, the likes of which I have never seen. I thought that you, having fallen, had made that Water Dragon save you."

"Um, I was the one who summoned it, but I was barely conscious at the time…"

Feeling embarrassed, I scratched my cheek with my index finger, and the Miko's eyes widened.

"Then that Water Dragon saved you of its own accord?"

"Probably. The Water Dragon has saved me before…"

"My…"

After letting out a sigh of undisguised surprise, the Miko respectfully took Anna's hand.

"Then you may be the reincarnation of the Water Spirit King that we of the Soukai Clan have been waiting for."

"Huh?"

"Even among us of the Soukai Clan, there is no one who possesses such power."

"Is… that so…"

For a moment, Kuchiba's words came to mind. Kuchiba had called Anna the 'Princess of all higher races'. Hearing something similar from the Miko of the holy land felt complicated. I nodded vaguely and looked at the Miko. I don't know how she interpreted my complex expression, but the Miko smiled.

"We've strayed from the topic. It was about how you got here, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

Grateful that she changed the subject, I nodded vigorously.

"I only saw a part of it, you know?"

"That's fine. Please tell us."

As I stared at her intently and made my request, the Miko nodded and looked back at Anna seriously.

"At that time, a terrifying amount of water power began to overflow, so I came out from the holy land out of concern, and the area was filled with the frightened murmuring of water spirits. Yes, the spirits were afraid. Frightened, yet the water spirits seemed to be rejoicing."

"Rejoicing?"

"That's right. They said their king was awakening. The highest-ranking spirits are dragons. You know that, don't you?"

Asked, Anna nodded. She'd learned that much on this journey. She'd been taught the concept of handling spirits and a heart of reverence and love for the Goddess, but her adoptive father, Anton, hadn't spoken in much detail about using spirits. He surely never dreamed that Anna would become a spirit user with such powerful abilities. The Miko explained to Anna in a soft, instructive tone.

"All living things in this world have a heart, and a spirit dwells within them. That is the same for trees, mountains, and even lakes. But among them, the six strongest spirits are called the Six Great Spirits. The six races of demi-humans, us, are the people who worship those Six Great Spirits."

"Yes."

"The highest-ranking being of each of these Six Great Spirits is a dragon. But dragons exist to protect their land and their place, so each powerful user borrows the power of their land's dragon. However, it is said that there exists a powerful dragon for each that can command all of those dragons."

The Miko, who spoke with such seriousness, stared intently at Anna. A powerful dragon that commands all other dragons…

"That… is the king, isn't it?"

"Yes. What awoke at that time was… the King of Water, mad with rage."

At the appearance of the Water King who ruled over all water dragons, the Miko was unable to command the water dragons she could entrust her vision to. She knew that if she did, she would be drawn in by the immense power of the giant water dragon.

"In other words, it was the Water King who saved you."

With that, the Miko smiled.

"It was my first time experiencing something like this, and it was frightening, but at the same time, it was thrilling. In all my seven hundred years of life, nothing like this has ever happened before."

"Seven hundred years…"

That meant the Water King had not awakened for that long a period. And yet Anna, who had been alive for a mere thirty years, had summoned the Water King. Wouldn't that support Kuchiba's words?

The Princess of all higher races…

Who on earth was she? Who on earth were her parents? For the first time, she felt a fear mingled with her desire to know. She had a feeling that knowing would change her world.

She realized she was being gently enveloped in an embrace from behind. Realizing how tense her body had become, she relaxed in those arms.

"Are you okay?"

Asked by the gentle voice that had been so distant until now, she gave a small nod. That's right, she wasn't alone, so she was okay. The thought eased her mind a little. No matter what kind of being she was, this person would probably be fine. He would stay with her, even if she was a nobody. She thought so, honestly.

"So what happened to us?"

In place of the speechless Anna, Ritz asked the Miko.

"Well, the Water Dragon's presence suddenly changed. All the anger vanished, and the Water Dragon came straight toward us. I was scared for my life, but the Water Dragon caught something that fell from the top of the cliff, returned its own body to its original water form to soften the impact, and safely lowered that someone down. That someone was you two. I was watching it all happen."

In other words, the Water Miko had been watching the entire scene, from the moment Ritz and Anna fell from above.

"But I was surprised when you started fighting as soon as you regained consciousness. I saw the whole thing. I'm so sorry."

As she nodded in understanding, Ritz let out a deeply suspicious voice.

"...You saw the whole thing?"

Anna noticed the tremor in his voice. The 'whole thing' the Miko had seen must have been everything from the moment the Water Dragon went berserk until now.

"Ah, could it be…"

I couldn't help but let out a gasp, and the Miko smiled mischievously.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, you know? But it was lovely. It made me think how wonderful it is to be young."

It seemed she had seen the entire exchange with Ritz afterward. I glanced up at Ritz and saw that he looked incredibly awkward. In this situation, Ritz's feelings, so embarrassed he was practically squirming, were as clear as day only to Anna.

Ritz was fundamentally shy and extremely disliked others seeing him when he was alone with Anna. That didn't change whether it was his best friend Edward or their companion Franz.

So to be seen by a complete stranger, and the Miko of the water spirits at that, must have been incredibly embarrassing. Anna was a little embarrassed about the situation too, but she felt so happy about it that she didn't think it was something to be hidden.

I couldn't help but let out a muffled laugh, and Ritz, his brow still furrowed, lightly tapped Anna's head. Just that simple act made the anxiety of not knowing who she was fade away. It was strange. With Ritz, she wasn't scared at all.

"If you could control that Water King, and if the King himself chose to save you, there would have been no need for me to see the Eye of the Spirit King."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. From ancient times, we have called a child with extremely strong spiritual power, who is protected by the spirits, the 'Beloved Child of the Spirit King'."

"Beloved Child?"

"That's right. It is not about handling the water spirits, but about being loved by the water spirits that is the most important qualification for a water spirit user. We will gladly welcome you to our holy land."

With a cheerful smile, the Miko beckoned to Anna, and Ritz asked.

"I don't have the qualifications, do I?"

It was only when he said that that I realized. Ritz couldn't see spirits. But the Miko shook her head slightly.

"No. You also possess the Eye of the Spirit King. That alone is enough."

"Is it… really enough?"

"Yes. The Eye of the Spirit King is a light that sees through all things. It is a sign of a messenger of the Spirit King and the Goddess."

"Is that all it takes? Even if we're said to be bearers of misfortune?"

"Of course. If you possess the Eye of the Spirit King, we would have freed you and welcomed you to our holy land."

"I see… a clever plan…"

With that, Ritz groaned. His eyes were frightening, so he was probably thinking about Kuchiba. Leaving the pensive Ritz aside, the Miko started walking toward the fissure in the cliff face.

"Shall we go, then?"

The Water Miko smiled at the two of them. I tugged on the clothes of the still-thinking Ritz and followed the Miko.

The ground of the dim fissure was made of the same white sand as the beach, and it made a small sound like a little animal crying when stepped on. As I walked, feeling the strange sound I'd never heard before and the sensation of my feet on the sand, I saw a place ahead where a single ray of light was shining in.

"Wow…"

I let out a gasp of admiration. Looking up, I saw that this light was pouring down from above the fissure.

Reflecting that light with a sparkling brilliance was a pond filled with beautifully clear water. The reflection of the light was born from the water peeking through the gaps of countless round leaves floating on its surface.

From between those mysterious round leaves, slender stems stretched up gracefully. At their tips, beautiful pale pink flowers, the likes of which I had never seen, were in full bloom. The base of the petals was white, and the color changed to a deeper pale pink toward the top, a sight that could only be described as elegant.

"It's so beautiful!"

The flowers were large enough to fit perfectly in Anna's cupped palm. The round leaves repelled water, holding beautiful droplets on their surface.

"Those are lotus flowers."

"Lotus…"

"That's right. A flower unique to this country. You can see them often in the ponds and marshes of Tarnien, but this variety is only found here. Aren't they beautiful?"

"Yes!"

When I touched a soft petal, it swayed gently. I wanted to look at the flowers longer, but with a reluctant heart, I lifted my head and looked forward. At the center of the pond, there was a small, high place that looked as if it were made of white sand. A stone monument, the same as the one I had seen in Tashkur, stood there.

Looking closely, I found a bridge leading to the center of the pond, hidden by the overflowing leaves.

"There it is…"

My voice escaped me. It echoed strangely in this space surrounded by cliffs.

"May I see it?"

When I asked, the Miko smiled gently.

"Of course. You are more than qualified."

Reincarnation of the Water Spirit King, Beloved Child of the Water Spirit King. Both felt like titles ill-suited for Anna, an orphan raised in an orphanage, and it made her feel complicated. She couldn't help but look up at Ritz, and he gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Want to go together?"

"Yeah."

We crossed the small bridge, just wide enough for one person, one by one, and stood on the mound of white sand in the center. The place, which could only hold a few people, was bathed in bright light, giving it a divine feel.

Standing side by side in front of the stone monument, I gently brought the jewel in my hand closer to it. Like the breath of a living creature, it pulsed with light once, slowly, and then faded.

"It's reacting again. It's almost like… they're calling to each other."

"Maybe so."

Ritz, who had nodded at Anna's murmur, gently traced the characters carved into the stone monument.

"'O, my beloved children of water, who have visited this sacred land. Approach me, and open your gentle hearts and eyes before my eye. I am the guardian of the spirits, and I shall grant you the blessing of water'… huh?"

"The wording is almost the same as the Earth and Fire Clans, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Which probably means the wording for Light and Wind, which we haven't actually seen, was the same too."

Muttering, Ritz took out his own jewel and gazed at it. What did Ritz see in that jewel? Was it about Kuchiba, who knew the secret of this jewel and was also his uncle?

"Sorry, but could you tell me which way this monument is facing? The direction the eye is looking."

Ritz asked the Miko. Anna nodded too, knowing that Franz had been concerned about the direction.

"Let's see… I have heard that it is to the west."

"West, huh…"

Ritz nodded as if he understood. Anna didn't know, but it seemed he knew what lay to the west from here.

"Also, I believe there's a legend associated with this jewel."

"That's right! Miko-sama, is there a legend of the Water Spirit King?"

I turned and asked, and the Miko smiled.

"There is. Would you like to hear it?"

"Yes!"

I nodded with all my might, and the Miko smiled gently and began to chant a prayer in a soft voice, one that seemed too young for a woman her age. The voice created a beautiful resonance in the rock cavern, a sound that seemed otherworldly.

To my proud clan, born of the sea, the source of all life, the blessings of the Goddess and the Spirit King.

We are messengers of peace and healing, sent from the heavens.

We are all born of the falling rain, follow a distant path, and return to our mother, the sea.

Water gives birth to life, and becomes a cradle that nurtures life alongside us.

When our eternal duty is done, and we are summoned to our Goddess in heaven,

We shall become clouds rising from the sea, and journey to a land of high comfort.

May the tears we shed as we fly away become a merciful rain upon all people.

"It is the same as my daily prayers. I rarely let others hear it, so it's quite embarrassing."

The Miko, having finished singing the legend, said with a calm smile.

"No, it was truly wonderful!"

"Thank you. It makes me happy to be praised by the Beloved Child of the Spirit King."

"Not at all…"

I was about to say that I was not worthy of such a grand title, but I felt it would be rude. Even though I was out of control, it was true that I had summoned that Water Dragon, and to deny my own power would be like criticizing the Miko's judgment of character.

"Would you like to rest in my room for a while? I can at least dry your clothes for you."

Taking the Miko up on her gentle offer, the two of them decided to take a short break. It was probably getting close to evening. In this still-chilly place, having only wet clothes was tough.

The Miko lived in a room carved into the cliff face, away from the stone monument. The few pieces of furniture and daily necessities were polished to a shine.

"Do you live here all the time?"

When Anna asked, the Miko nodded.

"Yes. I'm here most of the time. But it's fine. I go to the settlement once every few days."

"But aren't there only people in this settlement during the pearl trading season?"

"That is a pretense for the human side. When the pearl trade is over, this becomes an island of the holy land, where people who serve the Water Spirit King live. In the first place, we made this a trading island to protect it."

"Why?"

"If we of the Soukai Clan visited this island frequently, people would start to wonder if there was something here. But by trading, we have a reason to enter the island without arousing suspicion. It is impossible for us to change the holy land. So we hide the holy land in a place where people come and go. People often miss the forest for the trees, after all."

As the Miko spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Anna gave a small nod. Pretense could also be used to protect important things. Maybe it wasn't something that could be dismissed as entirely bad. I glanced at Ritz, and he gave me a wry, troubled smile.

We spent a peaceful time drying our clothes by a warm hearth, sipping tea and eating a few small sweets. But in just two hours or so, our preparations were complete.

"Are you leaving already?"

The Miko asked, looking at the two of them. She seemed lonely being all by herself, so I thought it would be nice to stay a little longer, but Franz would be worried that they might have died.

So even if we were reluctant, we couldn't stay long.

"Yes, we're leaving now. Our companion is worried."

"I see. It is a pity, but it cannot be helped."

With that, the Miko led the two of them to the water's edge before the stone monument.

"The path out of here is one-way. You won't be able to turn back, but you haven't forgotten anything, have you?"

"No!"

"Then let us open the path."

With that, the Miko offered a prayer. The water began to recede rapidly.

Eventually, where the water had been, a stone door appeared.

"If you go through here, you will reach a certain building in the settlement."

"Thank you very much!"

I bowed my head, and the Miko smiled gently.

"Blessings upon the Beloved Child of the Water Spirit King. May you be happy."

"Yes. You too, Miko-sama."

I nodded, and the Miko looked at Ritz.

"You as well."

"Yeah."

Ritz nodded with a complex expression and quickly placed his hand on the stone door.

"Anna, let's go."

"Okay!"

Nodding, Anna ran toward Ritz.