Chapter 139 - Spirit of the Guardian Tree (18)

Damian left Trisha where she was and laid his head back down. It hadn't been a particularly welcome birthday, and fortunately, it had ended safely with the arrival of morning.

However, one more thing had been added to disturb his mind during the night. Lisa, the gift, the prophetic dream, the woman whose face he didn't know. Even with morning's arrival, Damian's mind couldn't rest easily.

He couldn't interpret what the dream meant. He had never seen any of the people or places in it before.

Though emotionally confused, when in a situation that couldn't be helped by effort, it was better to immerse himself in something else. It was impossible to erase thoughts, he could only cover them up.

Damian got out of bed and picked up Trisha. Outside the room, he saw dried bloodstains in the hall. Yet now his body was clean without a single bloodstain. He could imagine what trouble Trisha had gone through during the night. He felt guilty for causing another woman to worry, not just his master.

He moved Trisha to a second-floor room and cleaned all the bloodstains. Then he prepared breakfast in the kitchen. He made salt-cured grilled pork and tomato stew for Trisha. Afterward, he went up to Trisha's room, left a note saying breakfast was ready, and left.

As he came out of the labyrinth, Silveryn's Stitch flew in as if it had been waiting.

Damian quickly checked the letter.

[No such things for disciples who don't keep promises. It's vexing that you tried to trick Teacher. You won't see the marking until we meet again.]

Due to Silveryn's severely hurt pride, it seemed it would take time before he could ask questions and seek advice.

***

Elias looked around and moved to a shaded area behind the living quarters. Then she pushed aside a roadblock marked with stripes. Where the block was lifted, there was a ladder leading underground.

She checked her surroundings again, climbed down the ladder, and returned the block to its original position.

A damp, musty smell of mold moistened her nose.

She reached the bottom of the ladder. There, underground waterways stretched like a maze.

Elias moved through the waterways, following coded messages written on the walls. After about ten minutes, she finally reached the magic stone door she was looking for.

A magic circle was drawn on the door.

She whispered the password, "Secrets washed away by rain gather underground."

Soon the magic circle glowed and the thick magic stone door slowly moved.

A huge hidden underground space was revealed.

In that damp space where it seemed no one would visit, other students were waiting beside Elias.

This was the hideout of "Eternia's Underground Dwellers," Eternia's secret deviant organization.

Rupert greeted her lazily from a hammock.

"You're early."

Without greeting, Elias went to the target board on the wall and removed a note someone had arbitrarily posted.

"I said not to post anything here carelessly. It's a rule that nothing can be posted without everyone's agreement."

The “Underground Dwellers” club was originally formed to explore ancient magical ruins supposedly hidden beneath Eternia. This purpose evolved into investigating all secrets related to Eternia.

The target board listed only mystery items acknowledged by everyone: the Van Misael incident, Mirror Ghost, Sentient Plantera, Death Prophecy Letters, Guardian Tree Spirit, Silveryn, Masked Man, and so on.

Elias checked the note Rupert had posted and frowned.

[Why does Sion expose her lower body?]

"Don't post such things again."

Rupert joked, "Why? Aren't you curious? The boys around me are dying to know. They're going crazy because they can't ask directly."

"I'm not interested in your perverted tastes."

"We need to satisfy everyday curiosity too. The club faces extinction every year because we only deal with serious, heavy topics."

The Underground Dwellers club was so secretive that it faced extinction yearly from lack of awareness.

The 80-year-old prestigious club had nearly disappeared naturally just a few years ago when only one graduating member remained.

"Stop talking nonsense, where's Victor?"

"Victor's in consultation with a senior in Private Room 2."

Elias moved through the main hall to the private room where Victor was.

There, first-year Combat Department student Victor was striking a scarecrow with his sword, while third-year Magic Department student Zenia sat cross-legged in a chair behind him, talking, "How was our Art Club junior in Combat Department practice?"

Victor answered while continuing to strike the scarecrow with his wooden sword, "He didn't fight. Just threw his sword, hit the eye, and declared forfeit."

"I heard Principality officials were observing. Shouldn't he have tried harder to make a good impression?"

"He probably didn't want to overdo it, knowing his skill level."

Zenia disagreed, "That Damian, he's someone Haley, who you respect, highly praised. Not just because he's an Art Club junior, but sincere praise."

"I wouldn't know. Haven't seen much."

"It's not just because he's good-looking. Haley rejects even princes if they're empty inside."

Victor answered, dripping sweat from the humid air, "Well... maybe he didn't need to make a good impression. I heard the Principality's envoys visited that Damian and Gale Varianne yesterday. Seems he knew about it."

"Haa, trying to make connections because he's Professor Silveryn's disciple? Will Damian really take the escort mission then?"

"Probably. But is the escort mission really that good?"

"Of course, the Duchess is already guarded by near-archmage level mages and knights who've won the Floral Tournament. A mere student just needs to go, watch, travel with the Duchess, and enjoy banquets."

"Seems like a boring gathering to me."

"Our talented junior keeps getting attention from high-ranking women. Let's bring him in before his price goes up."

"With Professor Silveryn on our dissection list, would he take it well?"

Zenia showed a suspicious smile hiding schemes.

"His help is actually essential to uncover Professor Silveryn's secrets. Plus, I know one secret about that master-disciple relationship... no, I'll tell you later."

"...?"

Elias, who had been listening from a few steps away, finally seized the opportunity to join the conversation.

"Um... I came to tell you something about the Duchess."

Only then did Zenia turn around.

"Oh? When did you get here, Elias?"

"Just now. It's chaotic upstairs because of the Duchess. I came to tell you about that..."

"...Why?"

"The Duchess came to Eternia with her guard. She just went to the reception room with the Dean, causing quite a stir since she came suddenly without warning."

While the Duchess's visits were rare, they weren't strange. However, visiting abruptly without notice was a breach of protocol. Zenia asked curiously, "Why did she do that?"

"She came to meet Damian. Apparently, he rejected her proposals several times."

Zenia stood up in surprise.

"What? Rejected? Him? Is the Duchess still here?"

"Yes, she's waiting because Damian hasn't shown up yet."

"Crazy, let's go watch right now. Show us the way."

Zenia led Elias out of the private room. Then, as if suddenly remembering, she turned back to Victor.

"Ah, are you staying here?"

"I'll come too."

"Okay, hurry and clean up."

Zenia left first. Victor stopped training and headed for the door. Then he stopped and looked at his wooden sword hand thoughtfully as if something occurred to him.

Then he suddenly threw the wooden sword hard at the scarecrow. The sword rushed quickly but bounced off helplessly when its handle hit the scarecrow's shoulder.

"..."

***

Damian found it strange to see many students gathered in front of the Grand Hall.

In the clearing before the Grand Hall, knights holding the Principality's flags stood with a line of luxurious carriages behind them. Beside the carriages, mages holding staffs and knights in silver armor stood solemnly.

Some must have been high-ranking mages and knights with well-known achievements, as even the proud Eternia students whispered their names.

"That's really Alixia the Mage of Madness."

"Isn't that the Floral Tournament victory badge?"

"That's last year's winner Lady Nielin, stupid."

Judging by the status of those accompanying and the scale, such a magnificent procession was only possible for the highest nobility.

As Damian approached, several people glanced at him as if recognizing him. Gradually attention focused on him until a path opened before him.

Five Principality attendants hurriedly ran forward and bowed to the puzzled-looking Damian.

"Are you student Damian?"

"I am."

"Finally, we meet you. Duchess Bibi Gainax wishes to meet you personally."

He stared intently at the attendant's face for a moment.

Though such matters should have been carefully approached through consultation with professors, Damian couldn't refuse.

Because the attendant before him was one of the figures from his dream.

***

When Damian entered the reception room, he immediately faced a group of people.

A woman wearing an elaborate hat, sitting cross-legged in a chair. And behind her, a line of guards stretched out.

Though her face was hidden by the hat, he could immediately tell she held the highest authority there.

It was Bibi Gainax.

A strange sense of déjà vu from those facial features.

Damian strode forward before Bibi and knelt on one knee. Then slowly raised his head. Only then did he face Bibi, who had been hidden by the hat.

"I am Damian from the frontier Wiesel."

"How dare you raise your head so boldly before the Duchess!"

Despite the breach of etiquette, Damian wasn't intimidated at all by the retainer's shout. He just stared firmly at Bibi's face as if examining every detail.

Bibi looked down at him with a surprised expression. Soon silence swallowed the reception room. With Bibi not speaking, no one beneath her dared speak either.

The corner of Bibi's mouth curved up slightly as she looked at him. Finally, she spoke, "Do you know me?"

"I have already seen you once before, Your Grace. As vivid as last night."

"Hmm, I don't remember, where did you see me?"

"It was just a fleeting moment, like a dream. Even if I tell you, Your Grace won't remember."

"Yes, meeting properly like this is what matters. It's quite meaningful to face the Archmage's disciple."

"It's also an honor to meet you, Your Grace. However, Professor Silveryn merely took me in temporarily, and there's no connection between my abilities and Master's magical status. Without that label, I'm just a lowly orphan."

Then Bibi covered her mouth and chuckled for a while as if mocking, then said, "Ah, I see. But it's my principle to treat those with ability well, and even if incompetent, I'll find a role for you, so don't worry. Just having connections with the Archmage is meaningful enough to me. However, I'm curious why you've now appeared and knelt before me after constantly hiding from my presence until now."

Damian stared intently at Bibi's face again, as if confirming something. His pupils gradually dilated. Finally, he spoke in a firm tone, "...To accept your offer of escort duty, Your Grace."

Bibi tilted her head.

"Oh? Hmm, why? Even Eternia refused your dispatch. What made you change your mind?"

Was he tempted by wealth and glory? Momentarily captivated by my beauty? Or he could have hidden his true intentions behind grand principles about honor.

Damian stared directly into Bibi's eyes again. Unlike his delicate appearance and calm expression, something intense lurked in his eyes.

It was ambiguous how to define the emotion in those eyes. It was subtly misaligned with expressions like sadness, anger, or passion.

Damian opened his mouth. And Bibi held her breath momentarily at his completely unexpected answer.

He was incomparably bold.

"I simply needed something to cool my head."

A straightforward, unwavering tone. Only then could Bibi see through to the true nature of the emotion hidden in his eyes.

It was "madness”.