The Northern Fairies and the Fang Clan's ambush troops clashed at dawn. The autumn forest caught fire with frightening ease. The Fang Clan charged after the Northern Fairies, unaware they were being lured deeper into enemy territory.
Advancing from the north into a clearing, the Fang Clan fairies paid no attention to the carpet of dry branches and leaves underfoot. Each clan was composed of different kinds of fairies. True to their name, the Fang Clan resembled beast-like creatures and were the most battle-hardened among all fairy clans.
Back in the Rain Clan's homeland, among the Sub-Bells who fought Shiomi to the death, it was a Fang Sub-Bell who, within the "Fairy Domain" created by the Wing Sub-Bell, tore off Shiomi's right arm and managed to wound him. But Shiomi seized that chance to destroy the Fang Sub-Bell's unique "Star-Lungs." Unable to heal her injuries, she was ultimately slain by the crimson spear, becoming the first Sub-Bell to fall.
The Fang Clan had the strongest physiques, even showing some resistance to Mors. Unlike other fairies, mere contact would not immediately corrupt them. Believing in the creed that "might makes right," they were also the most arrogant and domineering of the fairies.
Now they had drawn the Wind Clan and Wing Clan to their side, wielding weapons forged by the Earth Clan, and formed an allied army to strike the Northern Fairies. As the vanguard and main force, the Fang Clan threw themselves into this war with unmatched zeal.
Suddenly, flames erupted across the forest, swiftly encircling the Fang Fairies. Fire clung even to their furred bodies. Ordinary fire they could easily extinguish, but these flames were reinforced with Primordial Runes by Shiomi. Once ignited, they would burn endlessly unless quenched by magecraft—and only a top-tier Magus like Aesc could manage that.
The fairies' death-cries rang out like beasts' last howls, echoing through the morning forest. From atop a mountain overlooking the battlefield, Shiomi slowly drew back his gaze.
"Victory is certain. Won't you use the Mirror to see for yourself?" he asked the Aesc behind him.
Sitting on a rock, Aesc refused indifferently.
"No interest. If the Northern Fairies have already won, then shouldn't we be leaving?"
"Mm, we can leave whenever." Shiomi frowned slightly, a touch of melancholy flickering in his eyes as he answered softly.
Since the destruction of the Rain Clan, Aesc had been this way. Her wish was to make Britannia a land free of strife—a wish entrusted to her by the Rain Clan as well. Carrying it, she took Shiomi's hand and set foot on the Britannian mainland, just as they had originally planned. Yet no matter how hard she suppressed it, the hatred and grief never disappeared.
She loathed all fairies outside the Rain Clan. Though she still fought for Britannia's peace, she cared nothing for the happiness of the fairies. Shiomi understood this, accepted it, and even believed it to be the truest feeling.
But—
"You should rest a little longer," he said gently. "It's still early, and you didn't sleep at all last night. There's no need to hurry."
"Then… let me rest for a while." Aesc leaned into Shiomi's arms, turning her head against his chest.
Warmth wrapped around her. She felt his right arm holding her close, his body's heat warding off the morning chill.
She remembered the time she had seen him sacrifice an arm and a leg, draining every last drop of life force to annihilate an army of tens of thousands from several clans, along with three Sub-Bells. When she carried him back unconscious, she had been terrified he would never survive such devastating injuries.
Yet before long, Shiomi recovered. His broken leg healed, his severed arm regrew, and every wound vanished. His regeneration and vitality, so immense that even Aesc could not comprehend, brought her deep reassurance.
Overnight, she had lost everything she once held dear. Now, all she had left was him—her husband.
"Why... whenever I'm near Tenkei, whenever I'm by your side, I feel my exhaustion fading away." Aesc spoke without much thought.
"It's probably psychological. If my wife still felt tired in my presence, then I'd be failing as a husband." Shiomi replied with a smile.
Aesc closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek against his chest. "But in those moments, I really am exhausted."
"That's different," Shiomi argued in a rougher tone.
"Hehe~" Aesc let out a soft laugh.
The pain and sorrow hadn't left her yet, but so long as he held her close, she believed the wounds in her heart would eventually heal, and the ache would fade away.
"But if I have to be honest," Shiomi added gently, "it's actually intentional."
"Intentional? Were you trying to please me?" Aesc asked.
Shiomi looked a little embarrassed. "I meant the part where your fatigue disappears."
"That isn't Magecraft, is it?" Aesc had already begun to suspect the truth.
It interfered with magical energy, yet followed laws and paths entirely different from magecraft. Even the most refined fairy eyes could not see its essence.
"It's Authority—a power that belongs to the gods," Shiomi explained softly. "I never knew how to tell you, and since you never asked, I couldn't find the right chance."
"Tenkei... are you a god?" Aesc's eyes flew open in surprise as she lifted her head to look at him.
From beginning to end, he was unmistakably human—just different from the humans that currently lived in Britannia.
"No, only a child of the gods." Shiomi closed one eye, speaking with a faint hint of pride. "In the myths I told you before, the goddess Tiamat—she is my mother. What I have now is only the faintest fragment of her Authority."
"That's still remarkable," Aesc thought, understanding dawning on her.
That was why all her exhaustion and pain from battle and travel melted away—the endless vitality flowed from him into her.
Yet Shiomi suddenly grew silent, his gaze fixed on her eyes as though studying something.
"Wh-what is it?" Aesc grew tense, thinking he might attempt something like that here. Not that it was impossible, but it would be... difficult.
"The flow of mana in your eyes is a bit clouded," Shiomi said, lifting his left hand to cup her face. "I'll have to take care of it."
He leaned forward until their foreheads pressed together. In the gentle contact, Aesc felt something murky being drawn out of her—his usual way of purifying her fairy eyes.
"You're doing this again... Don't try to shoulder everything on your own," Aesc wanted to resist.
"Forgive me for saying so, but you're strong, Aesc... just not stable. At least for now, let me interfere a little longer." Shiomi's voice was soft, his smile carrying an apologetic warmth. "Your eyes are far more beautiful when they're pure and untainted."
Aesc gripped his hand, a defeated look crossing her face. "Fine. Since you like it, I suppose I'll give in."
"Good. Now, rest easy. I'll still need your eyes to help me see through the fairies' lies," Shiomi teased.
"Then I'll just close my eyes and pretend I can't see."
Amid their lighthearted banter, Aesc drifted into a peaceful sleep beneath the warmth of the autumn sun.