Ashes and Kingdoms

When the agenda broke apart, Varis came by Finn and whispered.

"The more I helped earlier. Thank you for your success."

"Was that good?"

"Mm-hmm. It's easier to believe in contagious madness than in disaster. It was an unexpected development, but thanks to Fercius, it also saved me the hassle of persuasion"

"... yes, I will give this back"

Finn couldn't handle it and took out the key that he left behind instead. Varys receives it with the look on his face as if he had forgotten, and asks.

"Was there anything I should have brought out?

"Speaking of greed, everything but magic tools, is. None of them are too unwell."

Finn sighed honestly as he remembered inside the treasure trove. Varis gets a slightly more pleasant look and raises his eyebrows.

"Is that a word as a dragon marquis, or as an enthusiast of art?

"Come on. Is it both"

Finn also smiled bitterly at himself and shook his head.

I never had a chance to meet the finest of arts, but Nanice once had a piece made by a home-grown artisan. I can understand apart from the power of living there how precious crafts made in the era of inheritance are. But now it's a phase where we should focus more on actual problems than sentiments. Finn went on to regain his mind.

"As I said, there was nothing that held strong power. But I think we should destroy the tools of magic."

"Hmm?"

"Magic is essentially what forces dragons and spirits to attract and use, so we can say it's similar to that disaster. You may not have a problem throwing it away, but just be careful. Except for those, there are about ten points left, but there's not much big stuff left, so I thought I might be able to take them all."

The number of treasures was lower than expected. Apart from the so-called treasures, Finn was given the key to a warehouse that kept only special relics of ancient times. They were all faded, blackened, or partially damaged, making them feel old. Same as Ferrendaine before Finn got his hands on it.

When Finn or Lena touched it lightly, some things made slight singing noises. After nearly a thousand years, I guess we continue to wait for the new Lord.

"Wasn't there anything I could use?"

"Because I already have Phalendyne," Finn replied terminally, lightly touching the pattern. "I'm going to pay you back sooner or later, but it's a lot longer than I thought, and I might stay borrowed. Apparently the weapon in this hand... when I use it, it creates some kind of bond."

Ever since I decided to go back north from the Imperial Capital, I have used it like every day. Now the pattern is familiar to my hands, and my senses have changed considerably since the beginning. Finn smiled a little and added.

"I've never even heard of the dragon horses in the epic, who were stiffened with weapons, armor, shields in their helmets and all of them specially made. I'm sure you could only have one at a time."

"I see, and I guess that leaves a small number of treasures. All right, then we'll try to carry it out as best we can. Can we discern the tools of sorcery?

"Yeah. There was a dragon eye in the warehouse - it's that big sphere - but it's definitely a magic tool with a pattern similar to the one depicted on the surface. Let's go back to the royal palace and write down what they look like."

"Once? Are you going somewhere?"

Varys frowns suspiciously. Finn nodded.

"I don't see any more dangerous people in the senator. A lot of people seem to have been under Senator Fercius's influence, but not until they've been eroded. I'll fly to Quanos and put a sign on the ground with a warning."

If we put the power of the dragon on the ground with the procedure of keeping the beast of darkness away, when the disaster has spread, we can know its progression, even if it is not stopped. Whether there is a respite to pack your bags, or whether you should run and run in your clothes without worrying, or just be clear about that, it will somewhat reduce the confusion.

When Finn explained that, Varis was convinced to give permission.

"Let's be good. Then return to the Imperial Capital as soon as that is done. I'd like to ask for an important role."

……

If it's any emergency, shall we clean it up first - as I ask, Finn tilts his neck. Varys laughed dangerously at the obedient manoeuvres that did not match Master Dragon Hou. Cough up to deceive me and prompt me to go quickly by hand.

"If you have dragon wings, you'll be able to go back tomorrow. It is also after tomorrow that Parliament will adjourn and people will actually move. Never mind. Come on."

Finn saluted the emperor's subtle voice in response to yes, even as he felt uninterrupted.

Take Nakte Street east - as you head to Quanos, the power to pull becomes stronger, and the sky dims. Nellis cling to Mac sitting in front of the saddle, asked him to stop.

"Looks like it's time for the limit. Stay away from me."

"Okay."

When Mac pulled the reins, he called out in solidarity to the legion soldiers who would go forward. The two who were ahead come back and look worried, compare what Nellis looks like to the end of the street.

"Let's give up now."

When Mac said, the soldiers both nodded uncontested. The signs of too strong a "hunger” darkens the mind, even without the eyes of the priest, in the midday when the sun shines brightly. They still feel it, too.

Besides, the impotence until we got here was also killing our willingness to move forward.

"Now let's go back to the previous Tsuji and head south"

Soldier suggests, Mac nods too. Between here and Khonos, there should be just two lodging towns, but I just wish good luck to the residents there. If there were a decent priest or one of his qualities, he would have already fled somewhere else. If we get this close to the center, we'll know the danger is imminent without refusal.

- But in the western village than here, none of those with that much sense of urgency were close to nothing.

So even though Mac and the others preached danger and encouraged evacuation, the reaction was dull and hard to trust. Mac had no choice but to switch to the story of the Fourth Regiment starting a riot and tell him to run because it would be looted. The former legions of soldiers looked humiliated, but unavoidable.

No one tries to imagine a catastrophe until it concerns their own lives. Obviously there are soldiers in legion gear, even if Nellis is wearing priestly clothes. No, because it is, it seems that it is barely necessary for stones to be chased.

It is troubling to note that many of those who do not listen to what they say have already suffered some erosion of spirit. No hope, no willingness, no sense of purpose. Even if they hear that disaster is coming, they can't accept it as reality, and even if it does, so what? That's the time, one day you'll die anyway, like that.

Now, he only has the feeling that he's losing something, losing it. If you want me to evacuate, cover my life, but demand that I pay for a crop that I leave behind without being able to harvest, and if you don't respond, I will leave with my nose ringing.

"I hope there's more to it."

One of the soldiers snapped. We split up and headed all over the streets, but Nellis, who could be blessed, decided to go along the most dangerous streets of Nakute.

"It would be helpful if the priest cooperated on the way."

Nellis also responds like he's talking to himself. Only one town with powerful priests responded decently to my arrival so far. The priest said he had already noticed for a long time the existence of something that took vitality away from the people of the town every night. Her efforts led her to prepare herself for evacuation only in the town without any problems.

There is little respite. It's ahead of the Fourth Legion thanks to the horses, but it'll be a day or two at best. By now, the first village I warned must have been trampled by the steps of death. Some villagers were the wind thinking about evacuation, and some were granting some protection, so it's not as if they've all been involved before, though.

(If you have a brother)

Nellis thought of nothing and bit her lips in remorse. Granting the blessings of the goddess Naena to those who had already been eroded only made them vain. Though the soul that should be the receptacle is not completely damaged, it is too powerless to fill and retain the blessing. It leaves only a few drops, the same as pouring water coarsely in my eyes, and it all goes bare.

With Finn and Lena, things would have been different. Haven't people been given hope and vitality again, like fixing a torn net?

(It's not just because you're a dragon marquis. Your brother always gave us hope before he became dragon marquis)

I traveled to Winnea believing that I could call for help to Nanais. Even after it was wasted, it never became a throwaway bowl, and even fled to Comris, to the mountains, to the country at the end, but at the end of the day it raised the hope of returning to Nanais, and even made it happen to show it.

(That's probably what Lena says about Brother Finn being clean)

Vaguely realizing, Nellis regretted it only a little. I'm no match for myself. We cannot continue to move forward in such an indomitable spirit.

I am rarely depressed by my lack of strength. And, Mac seemed worried, he spoke over his shoulder.

"Is it easier to get some rest?

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Let's get the hell out of here."

"Right. Okay, just be patient."

I said, "I'm fine."

Say, fix your posture on the saddle. The two soldiers also turned their attention to Nellis before beginning to return to those who came down the street.

On the road, Mac said the same thoughts as Nellis, even without trying.

"I wish I had a brother. I'm sure it'll work out better than just us."

"That's not true," Nellis reflexively denied. "You know, it's useless to be here. You're a shady, silent, lousy talker, and you just scare people for nothing."

"Um, but don't you think if my brother said it, disaster or danger, it would be so much more authentic?

Nellis unwittingly swoops at the words of a clouded Mac. Enjoying the onset of the ensuing explosion, I agreed that maybe so.

"What a headstone."

Yeah, yeah, and Mac nods too. Nellis grinned, realizing that thanks to her, she had lost her shoulder strength. Sensitive to me, even to Mac's kindness.

"Thanks."

Whisper in a whisper and bring a flutter to your warm back. Mac, hugged by his new wife, looked silent and odd, but when he twisted his body forcefully, he kissed lightly. And a word.

"Sometimes it's convenient to be short."