And so, the conflict with the foreign tribes reached its conclusion.
No formal ceasefire or peace treaty had been signed, but the messenger from the tribes had declared that they would never invade again. It was nothing more than a verbal agreement, yet the tribes had lost a significant number of warriors in this campaign. It would be at least a decade before a new generation of fighters could come of age; they wouldn't be in a position to strike again for a long time.
"You have done well, Count Clover. You are undoubtedly the top contributor of this victory. Truly, you have my thanks."
Bareia Catreia spoke with solemn gravity upon their return to the fortress.
"No, I only did what was necessary," Rest replied.
"In time, you will be granted a fitting reward. However, there is something that must be done before that."
"The Geisel Empire... right?"
While they lacked definitive proof, the shadow of the Geisel Empire loomed over the tribal invasion. Reports had also indicated suspicious activity along the eastern border; even with the tribes repelled, the geopolitical situation remained volatile.
"Count Clover, I want you to return to the royal capital immediately to report the events that transpired here. Afterward, you are to follow the instructions of His Majesty the King."
"Understood."
While the order felt abrupt given how recently the battle had ended, Rest recognized that Bareia wouldn't have demanded such a forced march unless the situation was dire.
"We will follow as soon as the cleanup here is finished. I'll see you in the capital."
"Yes... Well then, I'll take my leave."
Rest offered a brief farewell and departed from the fortress, launching himself into the air with magic. Manipulating the wind to carry him, he soared southward toward the royal capital.
The battle wasn't over yet.
He knew that the Curse User was a member of Takfir Kahen, a secret society hostile to the Council of Sages. Rest didn't fully grasp their ultimate objective, but judging by the man's tone, it was undoubtedly something sinister.
(I need to get back to the capital and coordinate a response as quickly as possible...)
Once he reported to the King, what would his next move be? The Academy Director was apparently a member of the Council of Sages known as a Satellite. If Rest spoke with him, he might finally understand what the enemy was truly after.
"I have to hurry!"
He blasted currents of wind behind him to accelerate. The landscape below became a blur as he raced through the sky. If he hadn't deployed a defensive barrier around himself, the sheer air pressure likely would have crushed him. Traveling by foot would have taken days, but the sky offered a shortcut that saved an incredible amount of time.
"Gyaoooooon!"
"What...?"
Even the sky wasn't entirely safe. A massive shadow lunged toward him.
The culprit was a colossal avian monster, over three meters long. Roughly the size of a small elephant, the bird dove toward Rest, sharp talons bared.
"You're in my way... Move!"
"Gyau!?"
Rest struck it with a Thunderball, causing the creature to flinch. He tried to slip past during the opening, but the bird was persistent. It pursued him at a speed that rivaled his own, its massive beak snapping hungrily.
"Good grief... I'm in a hurry, and now I have to deal with this."
He hadn't intended to kill it, but the bird seemed starved, chasing him with strings of drool trailing from its mouth. Rest had no choice but to come to a halt in mid-air. He turned and aimed his magic at the beast.
"If you're that hungry, then eat your fill of this!"
"Gyau!?"
He conjured a dense mass of earth and shoved it straight into the creature’s maw. The bird tried to snap its beak shut, but Rest didn't let up. He poured more and more soil into its gullet, packing it in.
"Gyapuh..."
"There. Enjoy your meal."
The bird, its belly bulging and heavy with soil, could no longer stay airborne. It plummeted toward the forest below. After confirming his pursuer was gone, Rest resumed his flight toward the capital.
"I can see it...!"
Finally, the city came into view. He flew over the familiar streets and descended directly into the gardens of the royal castle.
"Who goes there!"
"An intruder!?"
The castle guards, startled by his sudden appearance, swarmed toward the garden.
"Ah, oops."
In his haste, Rest had forgotten the obvious: appearing inside the palace grounds without passing through the gates was a surefire way to be treated as a criminal. The soldiers surrounded him with weapons drawn, their gazes sharp and suspicious.
"Um... I can explain..."
"Rest!"
"Lord Rest!"
Before Rest could offer an excuse, voices he had longed to hear cut through the tension. Two young women pushed through the line of soldiers and rushed toward him.
"Welcome back, Rest!"
"Thank goodness... Are you safe, Lord Rest!?"
"Viola, Primula...!"
They were the two young ladies who had changed his life. His fiancées, Viola Rosemary and Primula Rosemary, threw themselves at him, disregarding all public decorum.
"I'm back," Rest said, his voice thick with relief. "I'm home!"
Rest was swept up in the moment. He pulled them both close, embracing them as the surrounding guards watched on in stunned silence.