Father and Daughter

The process makes my thought process come to an immediate halt. Before, though, I send my consciousness into Niklaus, who stares at me in awe, and erase all his guilt. After my consciousness returns, I look down at the river. "It's complete."

"By the gods, Lizard, ya a unique specimen, I tell ya. Scales as black as the night and a divine aura like none I've seen. I've never seen sucha beautiful skin before. Ya even brought a tear ta ma eye."

My scales start peeling away. Gaia, as quick as a mouse, jumps to collect them all. One falls before Niklaus, who finally snaps out of his daze. He bends to pick it up. "So, these are dragon scales?"

"Be careful, boy. Freshly shed scales are still fragile, which makes em easier ta mould. But that also makes em fragile enough ta break if they land too hard." After collecting all of the scales, Gaia runs back to his store, saying, "Come in a couple hours. I'll have ya weapons ready then."

"He's a busy dwarf," I say, returning to my human form.

"He said his name was Gaia, but who exactly is he?"

"Gaia the legendary smith. He's one of the only beings alive to have lived through the Ancient Magic War."

"What!? That dwarf?"

"Yes. But that's not all. He was the dwarf responsible for creating the emblem used to seal the demon race. With a hammer bestowed upon him by the God of Flames and War, created one of the greatest weapons in existence."

"If he's that great, why is he in this small port town?"

"I don't know." I look at Niklaus, who has a bright smile on his face. "Is there something on my face?"

He shakes his head. "No, I just feel… free. Like a burden was raised from my chest. I don't know what it was, but I have a feeling you were the reason for this feeling. So, I want to thank you…" His expression dulls, "… And ask for your forgiveness. I acted like a fool because I felt weak… No, I was weak. And prideful. In the end, I only caused you trouble. For that, I apologise."

"All's forgiven. As long as you don't go calling me a monster again."

He giggles, "Fair."

After two hours pass, Niklaus and I stand inside Gaia's store. Hanging on hooks and shelved in compartments all around us are expertly crafted armours and weapons. Each one gives off a vibrant aesthetic–as though the craftsman cared for the metal through each whack of his blade. In the back, we still hear the pounding of metal and steaming off of a molten blade. The room warms and the heat waves flood over us.

"Must be intense," says Niklaus, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Yeah."

Even for me, this heat is something else. How is Gaia surviving in there?

Another thirty minutes pass. The heat subsides and the pounding stops. Gaia emerges from his smithy, surprised. "Yer here already? Sorry it took so long. I was workin' on somethin'."

"Did you finish the sword?"

He smirks. "A hasty one, ain'tcha, Lizard?" Gaia goes back into his workshop and brings out two displays, covered with white sheets. He tugs on one, revealing a midnight blade. The golden guard arches towards the pommel, with reptile heads on each side. The reptiles' heads are crested with rubies to display blood-red eyes. "The blade reflects ya beautiful scales, Lizard. As for the reptiles, I added em fa the aesthetics. And this guard," he says, taking hold of the sword, "is wrapped with the Three-Horned Boar's hide. A tough material ta collect, I tell ya." He smiles again, and continues, "This one here is ma third masterpiece."

"Third?"

Gaia places the sword in its display and grabs his hammer. "Ya know what this is?"

"A hammer?"

"Yes, and no. This here is a hammer I was gifted—from the God of Flames and War. With it, I crafted four masterpieces. The first was the Emblem of Restriction—that godforsaken device took me years ta forge. Second, was the sword from ya story, Lizard."

"You forged it?"

"Yeah. Old man Alvis sought me out ta make a weapon for em. At first, I refused, but that old coot has a way with his words, I tell ya. Anyway, he made me add strange ingredients when makin the sword, which caused it ta become a Cursed Sword. Though I call it a masterpiece, it's also ma greatest mistake. If that sword ever gets in the hands of a bad person, this world's doomed."

"Wait, you said you made four masterpieces. If Niklaus' sword is the third piece, what's the fourth?"

His face brightens. He places his hand on the second sheet. "This here," he says, tugging on the sheet, "is ma fourth masterpiece." Below the sheet, a pair of gauntlets are revealed. Like Niklaus' sword, the gauntlets are also black. Gaia takes them and hands them to me.

"For me?"

He nods. "Put em on. Let's see."

I place my hands inside. "They're light."

"Cause they're made from yer scales. But wait till ya see this…" He adds mana into my gloves. The hue changes to a warm orange. "Ya like em?"

"This is awesome! Thanks, Gaia. Guess you aren't just a grumpy dwarf."

He jumps up and knocks me over the head. "Whaddya call me, ya little lizard… Hmm?" He looks at his hand and screams in pain. His hand starts swelling, and Niklaus and I burst into laughter. As he blows his swollen hand, he says, "This… here gauntlets were made with Phoenix Feathers as well. That's why they glow when ya add mana. They'll also recover no matter the damage they receive. So long as ya add mana."

Phoenix Feathers? This is a great addition to my arsenal. Maybe with these, I can break through that barrier-like ability of Hafiz.

"Thanks, Gaia. I'm in your debt."

"No need fer thanks, Lizard. I took yer remainin' scales as payment."

"Haruki, we need to return soon. I'm concerned for Louisa."

"You're right. Gaia, you made such wonderful weapons. Again, thank you."

"Wait, before ya go, I need ta tell ya the names of these here weapons." He takes the sword from its display and hands it, sheathed, to Niklaus. "This here is Yonaka—cause its colour is like the midnight sky."

Niklaus takes hold of the sword and unsheathes it. "Yonaka, you say? I like it."

"As fer yer gauntlets, I named em Yugure."

"Yugure? Like the twilight sky."

"Yes. When ya add mana ta yer gauntlets it becomes a beautiful twilight shade. So, I named em accordingly."

Yugure, huh? Let's work well together, Yugure.

Upon returning to Duke Reinhart's mansion, I hear a commotion.

'What do you mean?'

This voice…?

'You heard what I said, Duke Reinhart.'

Quick footsteps slam down, and a slap sends someone falling to the ground. 'Don't you dare take that condescending tone with me, Selina.' He grinds his teeth. 'That boy thinks he can walk over me. In my home?' He bursts into a chuckle. 'Doesn't he know he's just a cog? He's nothing special. And when Lady Elisabeth deals with him, he will know the true limits of his pompous behaviour.'

Lady Elisabeth?

'As for you, Selina. You've failed me.' His foot rises off the ground and he steps onto something. What he steps on does not sound like the floorboards. Instead, the cracking of ribs and Selina's cries of agony enter my ears. 'You had one job,' he says, as he continues to stomp away on Selina. 'But you failed me. We graciously accepted you, a Maga Noctis, into our ranks, yet you constantly prove your uselessness. You are not only the spitting image of your mother; you also fail at simple tasks like she did.' His stomping halts. The fabric of Duke Reinhart's pants tightens. The rustling and stretching of hair follow. 'Did you use your Eromancy as I told you to?'

'I… did…' she says, panting. 'I did, but my spell… disappeared last night.'

'Disappeared?' He bursts into laughter once again. 'Explain how that happens, hmm? Tell me, Selina, how can a spell just 'disappear'?'

'I… don't know.'

After a few seconds of quietness, Selina cries out in pain again. Her bones start to crack once again. 'You don't know? You're telling me you don't know? He… hehehe… You don't know, you say? Well, figure it out! Find out why that boy can resist your charms. If it's something we can't deal with, so be it. Then you will focus your attention on that 'Hero', Niklaus. He is weak-minded, so controlling him won't be difficult.'

'What about tonight?'

'Tonight, we go forward with the plan. Your Transmutagene magic is the only reason I'm not killing you right now.'

Transmutagene magic? Eromancy? If I remember correctly, the former can alter a being's genetic composition and the latter is a seduction magic type. Is that why I felt strangely attracted to Selina? And what's happening tonight?

"Haruki? Are you okay? You've been spacing out for the last few minutes."

I explain everything I heard to Niklaus. "And that was their entire conversation."

"Lady Elisabeth, you say. Are they talking about Elisabeth Faith?"

"Elisabeth Faith? Who's she?"

"She is… the leader of the Illuminati."

The Illuminati's leader? This is the first time I have heard that name. Of that, I'm sure. But what is this strange nostalgia? "Elisabeth," I mutter.

"Did you say something?"

"Hmm? Ah, no. I was just thinking. Anyway, if Duke Reinhart is calling her Lady Elisabeth—"

"Then he could be working with the Illuminati. And the attacks were just decoys to drag us here. The question I have, though, is why?"

"Something about the disgust in his voice reminded me of the assailants from last night."

"Do you think his agenda fits theirs?"

"Possibly." Am I missing something? He has a vendetta against non-humans. But that can't be the only reason for dragging us out here. Is Elisabeth Faith after me like Hafiz's organisation? I don't find that hard to believe, but something doesn't feel right. Could that be all to this matter? He mentioned tonight, but what's happening that I don't know of? I look at the sky. "The moon is still visible."

"The moon?" Niklaus looks up and smiles. "You're right." He stares at the moon blankly for a few seconds before turning to me, and says, "That's right. Tonight is a Blue Moon."

"A… Blue Moon? What's that?"

"It's exactly as it's named. A massive blue moon. It's more beautiful than a full moon. Rumour has it that Blue Moons amplify magic, but I never felt more powerful during a Blue Moon, so I can't attest to that rumour."

"You have fascinating lunar events in Leagard."

"Do you not have Blue Moons in Ragnarök?"

I shake my head. "Ragnarök is like a dessert. There are not many interesting lunar patterns. Even the moon is something we rarely see."

"Rarely see?"

"The moon appears only as a full moon. Every month, for one day, the moon shines alone in a starless sky."

"That's—"

"Haruki! Niklaus! You're back." Louisa greets us from a distance.

"Niklaus," I say, staring at the morning sky, "there are times I envy your life. You live in a boundless realm with a sibling who loves you. I've only ever experienced uncertainty since my birth. Their eyes stared at me like I was a monster. I couldn't handle it. And my children—"

"Haruki," he says, shaking me. "A-are you okay? Your eyes were crimson. It's like…"

I push his hand away gently. "I'm good, Niklaus. I was just reminiscing, that's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, quite sure."

We inform Louisa of what I learnt. She didn't seem surprised at the fact that Selina was not human. It actually made her wear a troubled expression. But with three minds working together, we came up with a plan.

After spending some of my free time in the library, I go to the east wing of the mansion—to Selina's room specifically. When I arrive at her room, I knock thrice on the door. No one answers. I knock again.

"Come in," she says. I open the door and enter her room. Selina stands at the open window, looking at me over her shoulder, with a cold glare. "What do you want?"

"Thank you for the warm welcome."

"Cut to the chase, I'm busy as it is."

"Busy?" I search the empty room. "With what?"

She twitches, then turns her gaze to the courtyard. "Forget it. What is it you're doing here at this hour?"

"Changing your speech, are you?"

"Hmm?"

I shake my head, "Nothing. I just came to ask you something."

"If it has anything to do with me being—"

"What's so special about the Blue Moon?"

She spins around. "How did you—" Fright fills her expression after I zip forward, nearly pressing my face against hers.

"What," I repeat, "is so special about the Blue Moon?" She doesn't say anything, only falls to the ground. I sigh, "You see, I know it's something that happens after the full moon, but what makes it special? Well, asking you what's special about the Blue Moon is not the true reason I came here. I want you to judge a theory I have."

"A… theory?"

"I heard the Blue Moon can amplify magic spells. Since I never experienced this lunar phenomenon, I cannot attest to the reliability of such a rumour. But I thought about it and there is nothing else happening tonight. So, Duke Reinhart's plan must involve the Blue Moon."

"How do you—"

"That being said, I couldn't find anything else special about this moon. So, I thought about it for a while. What if the moon amplifies certain magic?" Her heart beats faster and no matter how hard she tries to hide it, her face fills with a defeatist expression. "I see. So far, I'm correct. Now, let's continue this theory. Since the Duke so graciously revealed your magic attributes, I assume you are the centre of this plan. If so, I can only guess this moon is something that amplifies your race's magic spells, right?" She hides her face. "And if it amplifies your magic spells, knowing your relations with the Illuminati, I assume you plan to use Transmutagene magic to do something. What that is, I can't figure out. Would you care to tell me?" She doesn't utter a word and keeps her face hidden. "Your silence gave me the answer to my theory, but," I pull her face towards mine, "I asked you a question that your silence won't answer. What are Duke Reinhart's goals?"

She remains silent, but not for much longer. I put pressure on her jaw, and it cracks. She screams like a selfish child, crying and wriggling on the ground after I let her go.

Despite all this, she won't spill the tea? I make my way to her writhing body and heal her jaw. "I'm sorry, I lost my temper there. It wasn't fair to harm you as your father did. Selina," I say, taking her hand in mine, "I care for you. Moreso than your father. If there's anything he'd do to harm you, or any other non-human living in Leagard, I want to put a stop to it. Will you help stop Duke Reinhart?"

Her look of horror fades into a tear-filled look of pain. She shoves her head into my chest as she cries and yells, "I don't want this! I don't want any of this! Please, Haruki… Please, help—"

Her pleas are cut short when the sound of a dagger being drawn reaches my ears. I jump to the side, Selina in my arms, and stare at the flowing drapes. "I know you're standing there. Whoever you are, show yourself." The assailant does as I say. A woman? She is covered in concealing black clothing like a ninja. A sword decorates her back and daggers her waist. "Who are you?"

"J-Jinx… what are you—"

"Silence! You are a traitor to the Illuminati. For that reason, I will rid this realm of you and your boy-toy."

"You can't! Lady Elisabeth gave strict orders to keep him alive."

"I did not intend to, but he will not allow me to kill you. I've seen many of these kinds before. They are utterly repulsive."

"While I don't care for your insults, I'll allow it to pass. So, tell me, Jinx, what is it—"

She wastes no time attacking Selina. I push her out of the way and block Jinx's attack with Yugure. "See, his interference is inevitable. For that reason, I will have to disobey Lady Elisabeth's orders."

"Your point is?"

"Hmm?"

"What if I interject in Selina's cold-blooded murder? Does that mean the orders from your leader amount to so little? Or is it that your leader is just incompetent?"

Her cold glare turns into murderous daggers. "What did you say?" She attempts to kick me in my spleen, but I catch her leg and throw her into a wall.

"You came with such a bravado, so I thought you were powerful. But to my disappointment, you turned out to be so weak." I walk over to her, much like I did with Selina, the only difference being I exert pressure on her with my mana. And like Selina, she writhes in agony. "My mistake, I misjudged you. That toss would have broken several bones in any ordinary person. But you appear jolly. Did you reinforce your body with mana? That's a smart defence mechanism when you fight against someone unimaginably more powerful than you. You're quite adept at fighting. Moreso than those henchmen from last night. Are you perhaps higher ranked?" I increase the pressure exerted on her body. She gasps for air as the floor below her starts creaking. "I asked you a question. Do you want to be on the receiving end of my ire?"

"I… am…"

A smile creeps on my face. "Good." I lower the pressure exerted on her. "Am I not kind? I even let you breathe more comfortably. Now, tell me, why did Elisabeth Faith take an interest in me? I remember that from your naïve conversation before me. But I can't understand why she would be interested. Is it because of my race? Does she want a dragon's power?"

"I… don't know…"

I grab a handful of her hair and shove her head into the ground. "My kindness, like my patience, runs thin for ignorance. I don't want to hear the words 'I don't know' coming from your mouth."

'He's going to kill me.'

Hmm?

'How do I… get out of this?'

"Are these… your thoughts?"

"What?"

'No. He's bluffing. Our intel says he is only proficient in Healing Magic. He shouldn't have—'

"The more you think, the more I know. Why I have such an ability is a mystery to me as well. But I couldn't ask for anything better right now." I lift the pressure exerted on her and take a few steps back. "Now, answer my questions, Jinx."

She wastes no time trying to escape. Like a cat, she leaps to the window and onto the courtyard outside. She moves fast. But, "Not fast enough." I raise my hand, fingers drooped as if a puppeteer controlled it, and whisper, "Return, Jinx." Jinx's figure disappears and reappears before me.

"Wha—"

I grab her by the mouth. "You dare try an escape attempt?"

"Y-Your hair… Why is it white?"

White? I look at the mirror, reflecting my image. White hair and crimson eyes, with a black aura. It's just as Louisa described it. Just what—

"AARRGGHH!" My heart starts throbbing—pounding with no end like a runaway train. What's… happening? I fall to my knees and let go of Jinx. She wastes no time and disappears faster than before.

Selina's door flies open and Niklaus storms in. "Haruki! It's Louisa. She's… betrayed us."