A pale, holy light illuminated the garden night.
This took place on the same day Ren had spoken with Chronoa regarding the matter of his Magic Sword Summoning Arts.
"What do you think?"
Ren was the one asked to evaluate the effectiveness of that light—Licia’s Holy Magic. The two sat across from each other at the terrace tables in the garden.
"Your proficiency seems to have reached a new level, Licia-sama."
"I’m glad. It seems all that practice was worth it."
"I knew you were practicing every night, but even so, 'remarkable growth' feels like an understatement..."
"Is it? Then again, the same could be said for your swordsmanship, Ren."
She wasn't wrong, but Licia’s own growth in Holy Magic had been staggering. It was unrecognizable compared to the magic she had wielded when they first met. Even during their battle against Jelququ, her power had been impressive, but it paled in comparison to what she could do now.
Her skill with a blade was already established, but for Ren, her rapid mastery of Holy Magic was equally worthy of marvel.
"But there’s still something I’m not satisfied with," Licia said, staring intently at him.
"Oh? What would that be?"
"From your perspective, it’s not a lie that my magic has grown, right?"
"Of course not. I wasn't just paying you a compliment."
"Then... that makes it even more frustrating."
Licia pursed her lips slightly. This was the natural, age-appropriate side of her—the one she never showed at the academy, but often revealed to Ren. It was a side of her that appeared precisely because she felt no need to put on airs; she could simply be herself around him.
"Even when I use Holy Magic on myself, I still can’t beat you, Ren."
"Come to think of it, we haven't had a serious sparring match lately."
"Yes. I’ve been so preoccupied with my Strong Sword Arts training. Besides, with my duties as an Executive Committee Member, I couldn't afford to be reckless and get hurt."
When Licia combined her Holy Magic with her Enshroud, her combat capabilities skyrocketed. Her ability to exert power far beyond her physical limits—enhancing her speed and coordination—was her greatest strength. Yet, she remained dissatisfied because, despite those gifts, she had never once defeated Ren since they were children.
The first time they had clashed using her Holy Magic was at the Ashton Manor. Then there was the training at the Clausel Manor, and even after arriving in Erendil, there had been numerous opportunities. The result was always the same.
Recalling those past defeats, Licia let out a soft "Muu," pouting again as she sat across from him. She didn't look at him with resentment; rather, her frustration with her own perceived inadequacy was written plain across her face. Even so, the expression was undeniably charming.
"Shall we... try a match for the first time in a while?" Ren suggested tentatively.
"No. I’ll hold back for now. The Lion King Grand Festival is almost here, and it would be a disaster if I overdid it and got injured."
Licia smiled, returning to her usual composure. Quite a bit of time had passed since they had come out to the garden. Ren stood first and walked to her side, offering his hand. She accepted it, her expression softening with a hint of a smile at his consideration.
"I won't lose next time," she promised.
"I’ll be ready."
With that, they concluded their night training and headed back into the manor. They spent the remaining time before bed as they usually did—studying in their respective rooms or simply resting.
After a quick bath, Ren was catching his breath in his room when an attendant arrived to summon him. It seemed Lord Lezard wanted them both in his office. Ren arrived a moment before Licia.
Once they were settled, Lezard began briefing them on the protocol for handling guests during the Lion King Grand Festival. He also explained the various ways Erendil would transform to accommodate the influx of visitors.
"There is also the matter of the Magic Ships flying routes that aren't normally available," Lezard added as they were reviewing the details.
Ren and Licia looked at him blankly, prompting Lezard to elaborate.
"As you both know, we expect a massive number of guests from across the empire and beyond. Many of them are devout Elfen Followers. Visitors from foreign lands, in particular, often use this festival as an opportunity to make pilgrimages to the holy sites."
"Does that mean the Imperial Capital Grand Temple will be crowded, Lord Lezard?"
"Indeed. Not only the Grand Temple, but even Erendil itself is a land of noble history. It is the place where the Lion King himself offered prayers before departing for the battlefield. Erendil's Old Temple will undoubtedly be teeming with pilgrims."
Licia tilted her head, still curious about the mention of the Magic Ship routes. It didn't seem immediately connected to the temples in the city.
"Father? Why the special routes for the Magic Ships?"
"Ah, as for that—"
Lezard spread a brand-new map across his desk. It had been prepared specifically for the festival, with Magic Ship flight paths marked in red lines, accompanied by detailed figures for distances and travel times.
"It is roughly thirty minutes by Magic Ship from Erendil. These ships will travel to the vicinity of an old sanctuary not far from the Imperial Capital."
Lezard’s finger landed on a specific point on the map.
(Wait... that's...)
Roses Kaitas.
It was a place that had existed since the ancient past, its origins lost to time. The terrain looked as if a massive portion of a mountain had been hollowed out, leaving behind a row of colossal Divine Statues. In ages past, it was said to have been a bustling hub for Elfen Followers.
The only other thing Ren knew about it was that the entrance had been sealed centuries ago after an attack by the Demon King's army.
(I'm pretty sure you couldn't even go there in The Legend of the Seven Heroes.)
He remembered an icon on the game's map that looked like it. However, the player could never visit the site; they could only hear snippets of lore about Roses Kaitas at the Imperial Capital Grand Temple. Because of its suggestively placed icon, fans had long speculated that it would finally be featured in The Legend of the Seven Heroes III.
Seeing Lezard point to that very spot piqued Ren's intense curiosity.
"Are you two familiar with this place?" Lezard asked.
"Yes, of course," Licia answered.
"I know of it as well," Ren added.
"Then I’ll omit the history lesson. There are several reasons this has come up now. While the majority of Roses Kaitas is currently sealed along with the mountain, the foothills are an exception. If you try to climb, you’ll be stopped by the barrier eventually, and the view beyond is obscured by mist, but one can still approach the perimeter."
Because so many people wished to visit, the empire had authorized special Magic Ship transport. Since there was no permanent Magic Ship Dock at Roses Kaitas, a temporary facility was being erected in a nearby clearing.
"Furthermore," Lezard continued, "there is a highway leading there from Erendil, but it is ancient. Much of the stonework is cracked and crumbling. In the process of repairing it, a proposal was made to establish a waystation between Erendil and Roses Kaitas."
"A waystation? Like a town?"
"No, nothing on that scale."
It would serve as a hub for managing highway safety, complete with a Knights' Guardhouse and basic lodgings. Naturally, it was also a lucrative business opportunity. Ren imagined something slightly larger than his home village after a bit of development.
"With this project underway, we have a constant stream of Civil Officials and nobles visiting the site, independent of the pilgrims. Since many nobles and merchants who aren't usually in the capital are visiting for the Lion King Grand Festival, it's a convenient time for them to inspect the work."
This, Ren realized, was the primary reason for the temporary Magic Ship routes.
"Is the area around Roses Kaitas safe?" Ren asked. He knew traveling by land involved a long trek through potentially monster-infested forests.
"There is no problem," Lezard said firmly. "Because it is managed jointly by the Holy Land and Leomel, there isn't a single monster in the surrounding woods. Furthermore, the seal protecting Roses Kaitas possesses immense power; it hasn't wavered in hundreds of years."
It was said the site was saturated with holy power, which only bolstered the barrier. Hearing that, Ren couldn't help but marvel at the enduring strength of the ancient magic.
"When the Demon King's army approached the capital, Leomel and the Elfen Church joined forces to repel them. Roses Kaitas was a primary battlefield, and it’s been sealed ever since," Sera explained the following day.
She was walking down the hallway with Licia during a break between morning classes.
"It’s layered with Elfen mysteries. They say it’s impossible to replicate a seal like that with modern magic. I’ve seen it from a distance before—even from the outside, the pressure from the barrier is incredible."
The seal had been placed to weather away the corruptive power the Demon King had granted his subordinates. Since even the Elfen Church’s purification rituals couldn't fully cleanse the taint at the time, they chose a method that would take centuries to succeed.
Perhaps if the Seven Heroes had been present at that moment, the outcome might have been different, but...
"Anyway, Licia, why the sudden interest in Roses Kaitas? Did the Grand Temple reach out to you?"
"No. It just came up in conversation with my father yesterday."
"Ah... Viscount Clausel must be swamped. It’s because of those extra Magic Ship flights, right?"
"Yes, exactly. I’ve never actually been to Roses Kaitas, so I thought maybe you had seen it, Sera."
"You should go if you get the chance."
"I can't. My schedule is full, and I don't really need to go during such a busy time."
"Fair enough. Between the committee and your family duties, you’ve got your hands full."
Unlike in the past, the Clausel Family was no longer in a position where they had to bow to every whim of the high-ranking nobles. They had gained enough influence to stand their ground. In short, they could focus on their work without being paralyzed by social rank.
As they walked, they spotted Ren approaching from the opposite direction. Sera watched out of the corner of her eye as Licia’s gaze fixed on him.
Suddenly, Licia spoke up, her voice uncharacteristically hesitant.
"Hey, Sera..."
To Sera, her friend's behavior seemed quite telling.
"Have people... called you by just your name for a long time?"
"My name? What do you mean by—"
Sera glanced at Ren, who was passing by, and then back at Licia. The realization hit her instantly.
"Oh... I see how it is..."
Finding it amusing to be asked such a thing by the usually composed Licia, Sera began to reflect on her own past to find an answer.