Chapter 390.1

The first sliver of dawn painted the sky a bruised purple, the darkest moment before light. Unease gnawed at Eugene all day, a disquiet born from the strange encounter with Alber in her dreams. Had something happened to the elder?

Alber’s abrupt disappearance likely stemmed from magical interference, and Eugene harbored a chilling suspicion of Sang-je’s involvement. The rogue mage’s cruelty was a constant worry, a shadow over her thoughts.

Lost in her anxieties, Eugene barely registered the maid’s announcement of lunch. Time had slipped by unnoticed, stolen by her worry for Alber.

“Enough,” she muttered, forcing her thoughts away. Stewing wouldn’t help Alber, nor would it bring news. “Focus on what you can control. That’s how you help her.”

A solution simmered in Eugene’s mind, a way to breach the Holy City’s protective spell. But it wasn’t a simple choice. Should Mara risk direct confrontation, venturing into the heart of the city to dismantle the barrier? Or could Flora manipulate magic, subtly diverting the watchful larks? Both options felt precarious, leaving Eugene hesitant.

“Mara or Flora…” she murmured, tracing the lines on Aldrit’s spellbook with a restless finger. Picking up her pen, she hovered it over the page, then let it fall back down. “Get a hold of yourself, Eugene.”

Eugene carefully opened yet another spell notebook, brimming with anticipation. True to her expectations, she found a fresh set of sentences penned by Kasser. Today’s entry was more substantial than usual, nearly filling an entire page. As Eugene delved into the text, her astonishment grew with each passing word.

He attempted to breach the Holy City barrier using a lark seed? Remarkable. How did he think of it?

Kasser recalled his own futile attempts at capturing larks by scattering seeds throughout the night, only to meet disappointment. Yet, as Kasser succinctly put it, the endeavor was not without its complexities. Hunting proved to be a task fraught with challenges, despite the ease with which it was portrayed by the kings. Determined, Kasser resolved to try again come nightfall.

An inner conflict waged within Eugene, torn between seeking guidance from Kasser regarding her dilemma between Mara and Flora, or facing the weight of decision-making alone. She hesitated, her pen hovering over the parchment, unable to commit her thoughts to paper.

Coward, she chastised herself inwardly. You’re not seeking counsel; you’re evading responsibility.

Recalling the wisdom garnered from conversations with Alber, her diligent studies alongside Aldrit and Rihan, and her ties to the wanderers, Eugene realized the need to exhaust her own efforts before seeking external opinions.

The time for hesitation has passed. A decision must be made.

With resolve bolstered, Eugene unfurled the notebook once more, inscribing her intentions to Aldrit with deliberate clarity.

“Aldrit, the Holy City is ensconced within a formidable magical barrier,” she began, succinctly outlining the dire circumstances. She implored Aldrit to enlist Mara’s aid in dismantling the spell, assuring him of Mara’s safety under the protection of the kings. Eugene pledged non-betrayal in return for Mara’s assistance, urging Aldrit to discern Mara’s true intentions on her behalf.

In the end, Eugene’s choice fell upon Mara, despite the undeniable animosity between Mara and Sang-je. As for Flora, her intentions remained shrouded in mystery.

Previously, when Flora expressed her desire to converse with the leader of the wanderers, Aldrit had divulged everything he knew to her. However, since then, Flora had retreated into silence once more.

Eugene paused, her pen hovering uncertainly above the paper. “How is Flora faring?” she finally wrote.

[There haven’t been any noticeable changes,] Aldrit responded. [She maintains her meals but remains inert within the confines of the house. Just the day before yesterday, I inquired, and she confessed to not even acknowledging Mara’s attempts to engage her.]

Eugene released a soft, sympathetic sigh. “It must be disorienting,” she mused.

[Keep me informed if there are any developments.]

[Of course. I’ll discuss your concerns with Mara.]

With a pensive air, Aldrit closed the notebook, lost in contemplation. “She must be under significant duress to seek Mara’s assistance with such urgency,” he reflected.

Glancing around, he called out for Mara, but the usual chorus of small animals that typically accompanied his presence was conspicuously absent. It dawned on him that Mara and the elders were likely sequestered in the underground cave.

As Aldrit prepared to depart, a moment of hesitation gripped him. An unexpected figure stood before his doorstep.

Flora had arrived a short while ago, deliberating whether to announce her presence with a knock or wait for his emergence. Their eyes met as the door swung open, a silent exchange pregnant with unspoken emotion lingering between them.

“How may I assist you?” Aldrit asked.

Flora couldn’t shake her disbelief that this young man, younger than herself, held the mantle of leadership among these people. It was a concept difficult for her to grasp, but there was an undeniable air of wisdom and maturity about him that belied his age.

“Well… I seek an audience with those who safeguard the magic. I wish to meet them,” she ventured.

“Even if you meet them, their words will echo what I’ve already conveyed. I’ve spoken truthfully,” he affirmed.

“It’s not that I doubt your honesty… My entire belief system has been shattered. Everything I once held as truth has proven false. So, I…” Flora trailed off, grappling with the complexity of her emotions. She felt lost, adrift in a sea of confusion and disillusionment. It seemed as though the very fabric of her reality was unraveling before her eyes.

“I understand. Yet, this decision isn’t mine alone to make. I must consult the elders. If they consent to Anika’s audience, I shall guide you,” he assured.

Flora nodded, her expression a mixture of daze and relief. Surprisingly easy permission, considering she had resolved to press him further if denied. As Aldrit respectfully bowed, Flora reciprocated with a slight bow of her own. She watched him depart, her thoughts swirling.

Flora’s resolve wavered. In the wake of her lengthy discourse with Aldrit, she realized she might have been misled by Sang-je more frequently than she dared admit. The weight of disillusionment settled upon her heavily. What must Jin have thought when she claimed to be the harbinger of divine retribution? She buried her face in her hands, a deep sigh escaping her lips. Shame washed over her so intensely, she almost wished for death.