Chronoa reached out her hand, attempting to sense the surrounding mana, but the outlook didn't seem promising.
"L-Let’s look just a little longer! Okay?" she suggested, her voice filled with gentle consideration.
After exploring the area around the shattered Statue of the Water Goddess for several more minutes, Chronoa didn't say another word to suggest the situation had improved. Ren, for his part, had been picking up pieces of rubble and searching for anything resembling a holy relic—like the one belonging to the Goddess of Time that had once sealed Roses Kaitas—but his search was equally fruitless.
...There’s no way it’d still be here, he concluded.
Upon further reflection, the Elfen Church had already conducted a thorough investigation of Roses Kaitas. There was no reason for such valuables to have been overlooked. Before him lay nothing but the debris of a divine monument. He couldn't bring himself to step carelessly upon it.
Chronoa walked lightly across the remaining footholds, her robe fluttering softly as she observed the ruins. Standing near her, Ren turned his gaze toward the Great Pit.
At the climax of their battle, he had fallen into the depths of the earth from that very spot while settling things with the Sword Demon. Now, he had ascended to the rank of Sword Saint and mastered the demon’s own techniques. As memories flooded his mind, Ren stopped to take a breath and peered into the crystal embedded in his bracelet.
Ren Ashton
[Job] Ashton Family Eldest Son
[Skill] - Magic Sword Summoning (Level 1: 0/0) - Magic Sword Summoning Arts (Level 6: 5112/6500) Level 1: Can summon one magic sword. Level 2: Grants Physical Ability Boost (Small) while the bracelet is summoned. Level 3: Can summon two magic swords. Level 4: Grants Physical Ability Boost (Medium) while the bracelet is summoned. Level 5: Unlocks Magic Sword Evolution. Level 6: Grants Physical Ability Boost (Large) while the bracelet is summoned. Level 7: Can summon three magic swords. Level 8: ***.
[Acquired Magic Swords] - Great Tree Magic Sword (Level 5: 2864/5000) Enables attacks equivalent to Nature Magic (Medium). Effective range expands with level. - Mithril Magic Sword (Level 5: 289/8500) Sharpness increases with level. - Thief's Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/3) Provides a fixed probability to randomly steal items from a target. - Shield Magic Sword (Level 2: 0/5) Deploys a Mana Barrier. Potency and range increase with level. - Flame Magic Sword (Level 1: 1/1) Its hellfire is the Dragon's Anger and the Incarnation of Power. - Water Magic Sword (Level 1: 1/1) The power left behind by the Water Goddess.
Ren couldn't quite remember the last time he had checked his status so thoroughly. It had likely been during his desperate search for a way to reach the rank of Sword Saint.
The most notable changes were the growth in proficiency from his rigorous winter training with Estelle and, more importantly, the experience gained from slaying two of the Apostles of the Giant God, Wadatsumi. And then, of course, there was the existence of the Water Magic Sword.
As he gazed at the glowing crystal, Ren naturally began to reflect on the events of the past winter.
It had been a brief window of time shortly after the battle with Wadatsumi.
Licia had abruptly changed her plans to return to the Clausel territory and rushed to Eupeheim after hearing the news. Fiona was already there, having returned to her family home for the season, and Ren had stopped by the city due to a sudden turn in the weather.
One day, shortly after the fighting had ceased, the three of them had gone to check the condition of the coast just outside the city.
"It’s... beautiful," Licia had whispered.
"Amazing... it looks just like a gemstone," Fiona added.
The two girls had been captivated by the sheer beauty of the Water Magic Sword when Ren summoned it. The blade possessed a majestic, translucent quality that shifted between the color of a clear sky and a pale sea—a brilliance similar to the mysterious key Ragna had shown him. In form, it was a longsword, though its exquisite finish made it look more like a masterfully polished jewel than a weapon.
The summoned sword floated before Ren’s eyes. When he gripped the hilt, the lush blue blade seemed to pulse with light. However, perhaps because it was his first time wielding it, Ren hadn't been able to master its power at all. Even when he swung it toward the ocean, he could only manage to manipulate the waves slightly. At that time, the ability to weave high-level Water Magic had still been beyond his reach.
Then there were the combat arts that didn't appear on the crystal status.
When he reached the rank of Sword Saint, Ren fought using two primary techniques. The first was the Authority Sword, and the second was the art he had learned after his duel with the Sword Demon.
The former varied wildly depending on the user, with its potency, vibrations, and the very color of its mana changing to match its wielder. The latter, much like the Sword Demon’s signature move, allowed him to dominate space with incredibly dense mana. Anything caught in the wake of its vibrations would be lifted into the air, crackling with purple lightning as it gathered destructive force. Ren could thrust his blade into the earth to shatter the landscape as the demon had done, or fire the energy directly at a foe, as he had against Wadatsumi.
However, one thing concerned him. He still wasn't sure what unique property his specific Authority Sword possessed. Typically, it was supposed to exert a variety of effects beyond mere offensive power. The only thing clear was that Ren’s matured mana seemed to have been influenced by Licia and Fiona, judging by the visual effects when he unleashed it.
"What should I even call that Sword Demon’s technique?" he muttered to himself.
"Ren-kun? Did you say something?" Chronoa asked, hearing his whisper.
"No! I just thought the footing was a bit treacherous!"
"Ahaha! Don't worry. Even if you fall, I'll catch you with my magic and make you float!"
"...Thank you, Chronoa-san."
Technically, even if he did fall, it was just water down there, so he would have been fine. But Ren decided to take the opportunity to ask her properly.
"Chronoa-san, do you have a moment?"
"Hmm? What is it?" she replied, still scanning the area.
"Since I fought the Sword Demon, I’ve become able to use the same technique he used, but..."
"Is that so?" The Academy Principal stopped in her tracks and turned toward him, blinking in surprise. "That’s strange. I feel like this is the very first I’m hearing of this."
"I'm sorry. I forgot to mention it."
"I see, I see. You just happened to forget, huh?"
Ren thought she was going to let it slide, but Chronoa walked right up to him and poked the tip of his nose with her finger. "You have to keep me informed about these things, you know?"
When Ren apologized again, she laughed softly.
"I'll forgive you this once. So, what about the technique?"
"That’s the thing. It's awkward to keep calling it 'that guy's technique.' I was wondering if you knew what it was actually called."
"I see. Tell me, what was it like when you used it?"
As Ren described the sensations of the dense mana and the spatial distortion, Chronoa crossed her arms, looking intrigued. There was a certain mature charm in the way she brought her fingers to her lips in thought. Despite the scarcity of information on the Sword Demon, she searched her vast knowledge for a match.
"It might be Sanctuary Fall."
She hadn't chosen the name out of a dislike for holy sites, nor simply because the demon had destroyed Roses Kaitas. There was a historical precedent for it.
"The legendary bard Muedi sang a song about it. Long ago, she witnessed a sacred site of the Elfen Church on the Martel Continent being completely leveled by the Sword Demon. She called the technique 'Sanctuary Fall.'"
"It’s a bit of an ominous name, but I’m relieved to finally have one," Ren said.
Though they didn't find the item imbued with the Water Goddess's power as he had hoped, Ren felt it might be for the best. Taking anything from here without the Church's permission would have been a diplomatic nightmare anyway.
By the time Ren returned to Erendil, it was past seven in the evening—long after his usual dinner hour.
The night was cold enough that his breath turned white. After a hot bath, a quick meal, and his nightly studies, he sat at his desk and spread out a map of the Leomel Empire.
Windea, the Place Where Water and Wind Sleep.
In the original game, this was the first major stage of the adventure in The Legend of the Seven Heroes II. Ren traced a pen across the map, checking the distances.
It was about a two-hour trip from the Imperial Capital to Windea by magic ship. It was a distance that could easily be traveled in a single day without staying overnight. While it was a longer commute than his trip to the academy, it wasn't an impossible journey.
What worried him was what he needed to do once he got there. It would be simple enough to head straight for the mountaintop temple and examine the spring, but there was a specific reason he couldn't do that immediately. Because of the steps involved, he would likely need to stay for several days.
And then...
"Ah."
He realized he hadn't figured out how to secure a magic ship for the trip. He slumped onto his desk and groaned. "Ugh... there’s so much to think about."
Needing to clear his head, he stepped out of his room and into the night garden. He hoped the brisk air would help him think, but he quickly realized he was overcomplicating things.
"Ragna-san will probably handle the transport."
A man who traveled the world as the Bag Traveler would likely have no trouble securing a magic ship. They could even sleep on board to save on lodging. Ren sighed at his own unnecessary worrying, then another thought occurred to him.
"...I don't need to go with Vane and the others."
His monologue carried the weight of a firm decision. It was now confirmed that Vane possessed the Power of the Hero. In the spring, the descendants of the Seven Heroes would likely head to Windea to test and strengthen that power. Joining them would be far too conspicuous, and he didn't want to exploit his connection to Ulysses.
It would be much more straightforward to simply ask Ulysses to lend him a vessel. Just because they were headed to the same place didn't mean they had to travel as a group. Ren needed to find the Ring of the Water Goddess, an objective entirely different from Vane’s pilgrimage to the temple. Acting separately was the only logical choice.
Besides, Ren remembered exactly how to obtain the ring. He still held a vague memory of the specific, albeit troublesome, procedures required.
"Well, it'll work out," he muttered.
"Ren? What will work out?"
"I was just thinking I should act on my own for this one."
"I don't quite understand, but... are you planning on keeping a secret from me?"
"No, I meant I should probably stay separate from Vane and the—wait, Licia?"
Ren, who had been naturally answering the voice, looked down to see Licia standing right beside him. They were close enough that their shoulders almost touched. Her skin was slightly flushed, likely from a recent bath. She was wearing a coat, but it looked far too thin for the night air, so Ren immediately took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"Oh... thank you."
"Don't mention it."
There was no sense in standing out in the cold, so he began to walk her back toward her room.
"About what you said just now," she started. "You’re planning something again, aren't you?"
"What do you mean 'again'? You make it sound like I spend all my time acting in the shadows."
"I didn't say all your time, but you do have a certain... tendency for it."
"This way," Licia said, taking Ren’s hand and leading him toward the kitchen. She prepared a warm drink for herself before turning back to him. "Did you already accept an Emblem-bearing request?"
"That’s impressive. How did you know?"
"A girl just knows these things."
Ren accepted her explanation with a simple "I see" and proceeded to explain the details.
"I’m helping Ragna-san find something he’s looking for. He put out a request through the guild, and I’m planning to head to Windea in the spring. I was going to tell you properly, I promise."
Since there was no reason to hide it, he explained the situation regarding the key found at the Jeno Orphanage and the goal of repairing it. He also mentioned that information regarding the Ashton family might be hidden in Muedi’s Hideout. Licia was already familiar with the story of Cecil Ashton and the Blighted Princess, and she knew the painting in Ren’s room depicted those two ancestors.
"I’m hoping to either have Ragna-san provide a ship or borrow one from Lord Ulysses."
Given his recent service regarding Wadatsumi, Ulysses would likely grant him the favor. Still, in moments like these, Ren wished the Clausel family had a magic ship of their own.
As they sat in companionable silence, both thinking the same thing, a servant entered the kitchen to prepare a snack for Baron Lezard, who was working late.
As she was leaving, she turned back to them. "Young Lady, Master Ren, a letter has arrived addressed to both of you."
"A letter?" they asked in unison.
"I wonder if it’s an invitation?" Licia mused.
"This one is from Master Verrich. He also sent word to the Baron... something about wanting to conduct a Test Flight."
"A Test Flight?" they repeated together.
The servant couldn't help but giggle at their synchronized reaction. "Have you forgotten the item that was being repaired in the Sky Garden Dock?"
Then, one more time.
"—Ah."
Their voices overlapped perfectly.
The magic ship Lemuria. It was a beautiful vessel resembling a legendary sailing ship. Verrich had spent years repairing it using materials from the dragon Asval, and now, it was finally ready to return to the sky.
Faced with such perfect timing, Ren and Licia could only share a wry smile.