Chapter 125 - Unnamable Mana

There was a difference between telling a few people and publicly revealing her identity. Azriel had a troubled look on her face.

“I don’t feel comfortable showing myself publicly,” Azriel said.

“I understand. If you did, you won’t be able to take a step out of your room because of the crowd. Everyone will frantically cling to you,” Pendelok chuckled and looked at her with a smile on his face. “That’s our principle, but I should reward you since you helped us first. Edith and I will try to pull strings for you. His Majesty will cooperate as well, so you will get permission soon.”

Azriel’s face brightened. She bowed her head and thanked him. “I know that it’s a lot to ask. I appreciate your help very much.”

“Compared to what you are doing for us, this is nothing. But by any chance, can you… let us know if you find out what is in it?” Pendelok asked like a child who was expecting a gift.

“If I succeed, I will let you know,” Azriel replied to him willingly. As long as it is something that can be known. She did not say the last words. Pendelok sprang up excitedly and grasped her both hands.

“Thank you, thank you! Ask me if there’s anything you need!” exhilarated, he chattered for a long while and went back. Marthi stuck his head from the blanket when Pendelok left the room.

“You decided to stay in the underground tower because of the disc rental, not out of a fit of anger. I dared to misunderstand you, master,” Marthi said.

“Oh, yeah. Right,” Azriel answered, avoiding Marthi’s eyes. It was because a piece of her mind had an intention to run away from the house in a fit of anger.

*

Rhema Reshith was looking down at a nest on a roof. A grey egg was neatly laid covered in unknown magic, but the bird that was protecting it could not be found. It was his first time seeing the nest without Ofeq in a period of hundreds of years. Rhema pulled a thin thread of mana which connected the familiar spirit and the wizard. The space before his eyes was distorted and a colorful bird popped out.

“Ofeq, where have you been?” Rhema asked.

[Caw?] the bird tilted his head with innocent eyes as if he was asking what was going on. Then Rhema wagged his finger.

[Squel!] as if it was being grasped by an invisible hand, the bird was thrown next to its nest. His feathers dizzily scattered in the air.

“I asked where you have been,” Rhema said firmly.

“Hey, can’t I take a flight?” Ofeq squealed in a boy’s voice. Rhema looked down at the bird with cold eyes. Then the bird’s neck was pressed down. He frantically struggled, scattering his feathers and groaning loudly that its sound rang around penetratingly. When his shaking wings drooped down, the force that had been strangling the bird’s neck disappeared.

“A familiar spirit that lies- Do you want to die?” Rhema asked.

“Kek, cough! You, crazy, lunatic, it’s not a lie!” Ofeq yelled.

“You’ve never taken a flight by yourself since you were born, but a flight? I don’t remember making you such a being.”

“Is it too much to ask when I just want to go out after being stuck for some hundreds of years? It’s not like I neglected the seal, so can’t I just take a little breath?”

“Your priority is to protect the seal. If you’ve neglected it, that means there’s something wrong with you,” Rhema said and held out his hand. His hand seemed to intend to kill and make Ofeq again. Startled, Ofeq took off and shouted hysterically. “Oh, like you said, I’d never neglect that freaking egg! All my actions and thoughts are to protect you! Can’t you trust me when it’s you who made me that way?”

“So, where have you been?” Rhema asked again.

Ofeq’s beak shut tightly. The bird landed on his nest in a slow manner and sat on the cracked egg. After that, he replied reluctantly. “I just went to see it for a moment.”