The opportunity to ask Chronoa about what Lutreche had mentioned came during a break the following day.
She appeared from around a corner in the hallway where Ren was walking, the tip of her pointed witch’s hat bobbing slightly as she turned. Then, she peeked her head out.
"Ah, Ren! Sorry for greeting you so suddenly!"
It was the Academy Principal, Chronoa Highland.
She had lustrous hair that looked like spun gold. A half-elf who inherited the blood of both humans and elves, her appearance combined an almost haunting loveliness with a beauty akin to a gemstone. She was one of the world's greatest mages, and according to the Legend of the Seven Heroes, she was one of those destined to have her life taken by Ren Ashton, just like Licia Clausel.
Ren’s gaze dropped to Chronoa’s hands.
He noticed the thick stack of documents clasped to her pale arms, which were visible beneath the hem of her sleeveless shirt.
"I’ll help you with those. Where are you taking them?"
"Thanks! I'm heading to the Reference Room. Is that all right?"
"Of course. Let’s go."
Ren took most of the documents from her and looked at her again.
"Sorry to bother you when you’re finally on a break," she said.
"It’s no trouble. Though, wouldn't it have been easier to carry these with magic?"
"Normally, yes... but some of these are sealed with magic tool stamps. It’s a huge pain if something goes wrong because of mana interference."
Chronoa looked at Ren as they walked.
"About your arm—make sure you don't overdo it next time."
Ren gave a small, wry smile. He felt like he had been hearing that a lot lately.
"Since both of you have been working so hard on it every day, it’s already mostly healed."
"Ahaha! Licia and Fiona were really something back then, weren't they?"
"But speaking of curses... we know the Demon King Cult can steal the power of Holy Relics, but it doesn't seem like they're stealing them just for that purpose."
"I might have mentioned this before, but the only other thing I can think of is that they want to destroy something specific."
That was exactly what Ren had experienced.
"Ren, do you still remember the necklace from Roses Kaitas?"
"I remember exactly what it looked like."
It was a Holy Relic imbued with the power of the Goddess of Time. When the Demon King's Army had closed in on the Imperial Capital, that relic served as the catalyst for the seal that the Elfen Church and Leomel placed on the entirety of Roses Kaitas to quarantine the battlefield.
Chronoa readjusted her grip on her staff and waved it through the air. Countless particles of light flickered into existence, forming a shimmering imitation of the Necklace of the Goddess of Time.
"The power residing in Holy Relics is potent, so they might be using them to fuel something. I still don't know why they're targeting Leomel, but... if they're aiming for something in the Imperial Capital, it might be the Grand Temple."
For a moment, Ren considered the possibility.
(In the Legend of the Seven Heroes, the Imperial Capital Grand Temple was never supposed to have been attacked.)
The only battle he could recall occurring there was a single, haunting scene. After defeating a giant monster in the waters off the capital's port, the player would head to the Grand Temple—only to witness the sight of Ren Ashton piercing Chronoa Highland’s chest with his sword.
However, he faintly remembered that there were no signs of an actual battle within the temple itself in that timeline.
"In any case, you mustn't push yourself too hard," Chronoa repeated.
"I know. Actually, Lutreche told me the same thing recently."
"Heh... You two talked about that?" The world-class mage sounded delighted. "That’s rare... I didn’t think she was the type to worry about anyone else."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She always told me she wasn't interested in anything besides her sword."
"Right. Lutreche also mentioned that the two of you traveled together once."
"We did, but..." Chronoa trailed off, staring intently at Ren. "...It really is rare. To think she’d even mention that to you."
"It was only a brief mention."
"Even so." Chronoa added that their journey had been intended to deepen their insight into the world and see new sights. She tilted her head, looking up at Ren curiously. "I really do wonder why she’s so fixated on you... I don't think I'll find an answer no matter how much I think about it."
She finished with a short laugh and a shrug.
Once they reached the Reference Room and put the documents away, Chronoa changed the subject.
"How has your exam prep been going lately?"
"I think I’m doing okay. This year’s history—especially modern history—is a lot to memorize, so it’s been a challenge."
"In your curriculum... that would include the Medil Dukedom, wouldn't it? Have you covered much of that yet?"
"We’ve almost finished it," Ren replied instantly. "Medil was destroyed around the time before I was born, right?"
"Right. Did they teach you that it was destroyed by the activation of a Forbidden Curse?"
"Yes, just the other day. They also mentioned that the Allied Forces saved as many civilians as they could before the curse took hold."
Chronoa organized the remaining documents, pressing an index finger to her lips as she thought about where to start.
"Since Medil was a small nation with no cities other than the Ducal Capital, the rescue operations were completed relatively quickly."
The nation’s history was as ancient as Leomel’s, dating back to the Era of the Lion King. In a region of the Western Continent visited by people weary of war, many temples were built in the name of peace. Eventually, the land became an inviolable territory. Those with influence there became nobles, and eventually, the rank of "Duke"—the highest peerage in the region—was established. Until recent times, it was known as the most peaceful country in existence.
In the history books used by Leomel and other nations, the end was recorded as follows:
'With the activation of the Forbidden Curse, the Medil Dukedom fell, and the Children of the Duke vanished. This marked its de facto destruction.'
The catalyst was the Duke reaching for a Forbidden Book kept within a temple. The fact that he eventually invoked the Forbidden Curse was the final entry in the history of the Medil Dukedom.
'Just before that land sank into the depths of the abyss, a pillar of brilliant light pierced the heavens from the temple.'
It was recorded that way in books, but because neither Ren nor Chronoa had seen the actual magnitude of the destruction, they could only imagine it.
After a short silence, Chronoa waved her staff, sending green particles of light toward Ren. He felt the light dissolve into his body, bringing a sense of serenity to his heart.
"Thanks for the help! Now, what kind of magic do you think that was?"
"Based on your usual style, Chronoa... was it something to calm the mind?"
"Close! That was magic to make you feel like you’ve taken a deep breath in the middle of a lush forest!"
Truly, he had been only slightly off. Ren smiled as he watched her laugh.
In the lands separated by the borders of the Elfen Continent, there were several places known as Neutral Cities. One such place was a port town, aged but brimming with an exotic atmosphere.
Walking along the brick-paved seaside street was a woman with violet hair. Her form, as perfectly proportioned as a doll’s, possessed a striking purity. A subtle allure emanated from the beauty mark beneath her glasses. Her appearance was exactly as it had been when Ren had spoken with her in a different city.
With the sea breeze fluttering through her hair, she leaned back against an iron fence overlooking the water.
"...I found no books of interest in this town either."
She let out a quiet sigh and began to walk again.
Listening to the cries of gulls and the crashing waves while breathing in the salt air, she moved with an elegant grace, looking for all the world like a noble lady on a holiday. In the past, she had often sought out quiet places like this to lose herself in books where no one could disturb her.
After walking for a few minutes while lost in these memories, she stopped at a corner of the port. It was near a bench shaded by trees, shielded from the eyes of passersby.
A man was standing by the fence ahead of her.
"What a coincidence, meeting in a place like this," he said, staring out at the sea.
The woman replied with a note of reluctant acceptance. "If you’re pretending this is a coincidence, then you must have quite a lot of time on your hands."
"I wouldn't say you're entirely wrong. I certainly made time specifically to talk to you. Though that wasn't the only reason I was here."
"I'm honored. To think someone of your status would trouble himself on my account."
The man turned to face her. He was dressed lightly in a white shirt and a stole. Because she knew him well, she forced herself to listen.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"I came to see how you were progressing. The time is near. You know that, don't you?"
"Is this regarding the Tears of Elfen?"
"Yes," the man said, his voice carrying on the wind.
"There is no need for concern. I haven't forgotten, and I understand the weight of the situation. I will join the others before the Promised Day."
As he spoke, the man turned back to the horizon, his voice remaining flat.
"It’s about your book—the one with the mana stone. The things needed to complete it were thought to no longer exist in this world. After all, there wasn't a single lead on what you were searching for."
"...What about it?"
"I'm simply curious. There are few people as detached as you. And yet, you are fixated solely on a landscape you saw in your childhood. What is it that drives you so?"
"My purpose for existing. To complete that book and decipher it. I have staked everything on that; I long for that day. What else could I possibly need?"
"Nothing. I simply find that sense of purpose to be precious."
The man basked in the sea breeze.
"God's Haze. You found the thing you were obsessed with, the thing you searched for to complete that book, didn't you?"
The man was looking at the ocean, and between that and his eyepatch, he shouldn't have been able to see her clearly. Yet he noticed when the woman gave a firm nod.
"I could not have imagined that such a thing still remained in this world," the man admitted.
"It is a residue of divine power. I believed it might still exist in a temple untouched by human hands. With God's Haze, I should finally be able to see that landscape once more."
"The one from your childhood?"
The woman answered immediately.
"The radiance of God's Haze will weave new pages into that book. What dwells within this body is an intellectual curiosity deeper than even my mother's. There is no way to satisfy it other than by reading those pages."
She continued, her voice devoid of inflection.
"I will not allow anyone to obstruct that curiosity. Not even you."
"I have no intention of doing so. We have also craved the book's completion. If we miss this window, the next opportunity will likely be far in the future."
He hadn't come to give orders.
"The Promised Day is nearly here. I wanted to see you before then. I respect your reason for being, so I wanted to speak with you directly."
Having said his piece, the man began to walk away, satisfied. He spoke one last time over his shoulder, his voice mingling with the sound of the waves.
"To die is to no longer be able to sing. Do you know the legend who said that?"
"The minstrel Muedi. Those were the words she left for the King of the Beastmen while traveling the Western Continent."
"I imagine that for you, death would be the inability to complete your book. The thought simply crossed my mind."
With those final words, the man vanished as if he had never been there.
Left alone, the woman stared at the open sea for a long time before finally lowering her eyes to listen to the waves. When she opened them again, she looked up at the vast blue sky.
"The truth of the world... I shall read it at last. Elfen."
A gust of wind swept across the water, ruffling her hair as she stood by the shore.