Chapter Thirty-Eight: Farewell

Edgar looked up from the stack of official documents, unable to mask his surprise.

"...Leaving now?"

Erik nodded, handing the letter in his hand to his uncle. "This is from the Saintess. I’ve already had my luggage packed and the carriage prepared; we depart shortly."

Edgar took the letter and scanned it carefully, his brow furrowing as he read.

"Is the Saintess failing..."

*Not that quickly,* Erik thought. *At the very least, she could hold on for another year or two.*

Outwardly, however, he assumed a similarly grave expression. "Perhaps the Saintess has already sensed that the day of her return to the Divine Kingdom is approaching."

"Still, this is far too abrupt." After finishing the letter, Edgar rubbed his temples. "The Saintess says that someone with the authority to make decisions for the Cimino family must accompany you..."

"I can go on my own," Erik said, looking at his uncle. "Surely I have enough authority for this matter, don't I?"

Edgar studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. "If the future you saw is true, then the Cimino family would rather forfeit the status of being the Saintess’s heir. Do as you see fit; do not let it weigh on you."

*The greatest loss would only be the loss of this succession status,* he thought.

Erik gave a solemn nod.

His uncle added, "This is your first time traveling so far. Will you be alright?"

"I am not alone," Erik replied.

Edgar was taken aback. Erik placed his hand over his heart and lowered his head slightly. "The sacred Yella watches over me. She will clear the path of obstacles and dissolve all ill-fated calamities."

"..."

Edgar pursed his lips, suddenly realizing that his nephew was only saying this to put his mind at ease, so he swallowed his sigh.

"I hope so."

He thought of something else. "Does Irene know about this?"

Erik shook his head. "I was planning to go see her now."

"Then go at once." Edgar glanced at the documents on the desk and stood up. "I will go and check if anything has been overlooked for your journey."

Upon entering his sister’s room, he found Irene still in a deep slumber.

Erik did not wake her immediately, choosing instead to sit by the bedside for a while. He had not expected that before he could find a way to resolve Irene’s struggle with magic, he would have to leave his home for the distant Holy Capital.

"I shouldn't be staying there for too long..." Erik muttered to himself.

The fact that the Saintess had sent a letter asking him to come to the Holy Capital for a discussion, rather than simply dismissing him, already spoke volumes about her attitude. There was a high chance he could replace Irene—the meteor shower he had predicted likely played a role in this.

Once he officially attained the status of the Saintess’s heir, he could set aside matters there and focus entirely on finding a solution for Irene—either by seeking out the Moon Elves to resolve the root cause, or by secretly finding a reliable magic tutor for her.

Erik gently took his sister’s hand from where it lay outside the blanket and prepared to wake her, only to turn and find she was already awake, watching him.

"Irene."

"Erik..."

"I am going on a long journey," he said.

Irene tilted her head on the pillow, a look of confusion surfacing on her weary face. "Didn't you just get back?"

"I did," Erik forced a smile, feeling somewhat helpless. "But this time I have to go to a very distant place, and it will be a long time before I return."

Irene tightened her grip on his hand. "Is it dangerous?"

"No." Erik looked upward. "At most... at most I might get a stern scolding."

Irene smiled. "Has Erik made another mistake?"

Erik shook his head. "Perhaps."

"Go, then." Her tight grip slowly loosened. "Do not worry about me."

Erik pressed his lips together, took his sister’s hand in both of his, and kissed it.

"You as well. Remember to have the maid take you out for some activity whenever you are lucid."

He suddenly felt Irene’s hand tense; looking up, he saw she seemed to be trying to sit up.

"I am clear-headed right now. Take me for a walk."

Erik opened his mouth, then smiled. "Alright."

Without needing to change clothes, Erik led Irene out of the room, strolling along the corridors of the Lord’s Manor. Although she was often in a daze, Irene’s physical health was not too poor—at least she could walk normally, provided her mind could hold on.

The two walked for a while, with Erik keeping a close watch on her state, noting how she struggled to maintain her consciousness.

"Are you still holding up?"

"Mhm." Irene nodded.

Erik looked at the corner of the corridor ahead, deciding to turn there and take a different path back to Irene’s room. Before they reached it, however, Alana and Sophie appeared.

"Master Erik... Lady Irene?"

Alana greeted them, her gaze lingering on Irene’s face for a moment longer than necessary.

"Have you finished packing?" Erik asked. Since the Saintess had summoned him, these two envoys would naturally be returning to the Holy Capital with him.

"We have... there wasn't much to pack to begin with," Sophie replied, her eyes also drawn to Irene, who was staring at her from beside Erik. "...Lady Irene."

Irene smiled at them, blinked slowly, and then her body swayed.

"Ah!"

Sophie instinctively reached out, but Erik had already caught his sister, realizing she had fallen back into a deep sleep.

"..."

Taking a breath, he turned and hoisted Irene onto his back. He said to the two nuns, "My things should be packed as well. Once I return Irene to her room, I will be ready to depart."

Alana nodded, and Sophie followed them without another word.

"Is Lady Irene... always like this?"

Erik glanced back at Sophie, then toward Alana, who was standing by the window, before turning his gaze forward again. "Yes, it has been this way since she was young. For many years."

Sophie quickened her pace, quietly reaching out to support Irene’s back. "Is that why you intend to take Lady Irene's place, Master Erik?"

"That is part of the reason," Erik said.

"Perhaps there will be a way to cure this... condition in the Holy Capital," Sophie offered comfortingly.

"The solution already exists; it is merely difficult to implement."

"Oh?"

Erik shook his head, adjusted Irene’s weight on his back, and said no more.

Under Sophie’s "escort," Irene was safely returned to her room, where she lay on her bed, resting in silent peace. Seeing her eyes tightly shut, Erik gently pinched her cheek and left with Sophie.

Descending to the courtyard, Mother Superior Alana had already arrived. Two high-end carriages equipped with magical shock-absorption devices stood in the yard, and Edgar was there as well.

Without teleportation gates, arrays, or airships, the carriage was the primary mode of long-distance travel in this world.

"Since the Saintess wants you there as soon as possible, do not delay on the road," Edgar said. "I have arranged for four coachmen. We will travel day and night; you should reach the Holy Capital in five or six days via the Hero’s Highway."

*Day and night... that might be pushing it.*

Erik did not argue with his uncle’s decisive manner. Once they departed, he would be the one arranging the schedule, and he could adjust it then.

"I understand."

Erik went to the carriage to check the luggage, discovering that his uncle had also included the chest of gold coins he had brought back earlier. Beyond that, there was a set of what appeared to be newly forged light armor, as well as the Arancian steel sword he had retrieved from the depths of the underground mine.

He had just reached level thirty, and this magical weapon would serve him well for quite some time.

After his inspection, Erik looked at his uncle. "I should be back before autumn."

Intuition told Edgar that his nephew’s plans would surely fall through, but he said nothing, only reminding him to stay sharp and cautious once he reached the Holy Capital.

Sophie and Alana boarded the carriages one after the other. As he parted, Erik whispered a promise to his uncle: "I will change the fate of the Cimino family."

Edgar was stunned; he patted his nephew on the shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.

"As long as you and Irene both survive, that is enough for me."

Erik boarded the carriage and waved goodbye. He watched his uncle’s figure grow smaller until it merged into the manor, which also began to fade into the distance. Only then did he lower the curtain and turn his gaze away.

The carriage was outfitted with bunks. The other two coachmen, responsible for the night shift, had already settled into their roles, their snores rising and falling in rhythm.

"..."

The brief touch of melancholy Erik had felt regarding his departure was immediately scattered by the sound of the snoring.

He opened the small window and looked at the carriage ahead.

*Although it might be a bit rude...* he thought, *the carriage is quite spacious. During the day, if I go over to squeeze in with the two nuns, they shouldn't have too much of an objection, right?*