The Duty Of A King And A Pupil
Reina and I came back from the forest, sweat cooling on our necks. With Tessa and Mariada joining us, we settled in the dining room to resume the argument I’d failed to win all morning: me leaving the Mist Country.
“You’re agreeing with this as well, Tessa?” I asked.
“Yes. In fact, I strongly disagree with you leaving this place for any reason whatsoever.”
Her voice was iron. Her gaze didn’t blink—pinning me to the chair until I yielded.
“But… why?” The word slipped out sharper than I meant.
They were immovable. Reina was calm, Tessa was adamant. Without giving me a believable reason, I was going to keep pushing.
“You’re the lord of this place—it's king, if we’re honest,” Tessa said. “If anything happens to you outside, your subjects lose their pillar, and this land will collapse before it rises.”
She stood so fast that the chair's feet scraped. “I will not let that happen.”
The flare of anger surprised me. “You mean those subjects who clearly have no intention of following me?!”
“Even so. They are still your subjects.”
“Tch.” I turned my head.
I didn’t want to abandon anyone. I just wanted to step beyond the mist without the country breaking.
“Krai, your life is important to this country’s survival. You’re not living only for yourself anymore,” Reina’s tone was gentle and somehow heavier.
“I’ll have Mary,” I said. “If anything happens, she can teleport us back. I’m not going to be reckless.”
No one suggested forming an escort, maybe because someone had to keep watch here.
“It seems you forgot Mary can only teleport once a day,” Reina reminded me.
“I didn't,” I said. “She’ll use it to bring us back if it goes bad.”
“And the refugees?” Reina asked mildly. “If her one use is spent, how do you intend to take them back?”
“For that, we’ll use the teleportation circle in the forest…” My voice dimmed. “I’ve thought this through.”
Reina stared at me. They both stared. The plan was sound, and a safety net was in place. Still, they shook their heads.
Especially Tessa.
I understood. After the mess with the Count, the outside was a stirred nest. People would be hunting us. I was willing to risk it.
We hit an impasse.
“Actually,” Mariada said softly, “I can use my teleportation more than once now.”
She’d been quiet beside me. When she spoke, every eye turned to her—especially Reina’s and mine, with a flicker of surprise.
“…Since when?” Reina asked.
“The naming ritual didn’t just change my body,” Mary said, steady. “I gained new aptitude. I can teleport as long as I have mana—” She lifted a finger. “—but only a limited number of people per jump, and only to places I’ve seen or visited. And if I chain too many jumps, I’ll get mana‑sick. Keep that in mind when you use me.”
Silence pressed in. She’d just placed a national treasure on the table—and put rails around it so it wouldn’t break the world.
But more importantly, I saw an opportunity to back my case.
“There,” I said, maybe too quickly. “Mary can teleport us anytime. So can I go now?”
“No means no,” Tessa snapped. “Young master Krai, if you’re only going to accompany them, let someone else do it.”
“Tessa…”
Guilt pricked my throat, so I uttered her name unwillingly. What Tessa suggested was reasonable—if I were only a chaperone, I could easily assign the task to someone else.
But—
I looked down at the wood grain until it stopped blurring.
“There’s something else I have to do.” I breathed once. Then I met Reina’s and Mariada’s eyes. “I want to go to the Zeus Woods. I’m asking you two to come with me.”
Reina and Mariada went still. They knew the purpose of going to the Zeus Woods despite its danger.
Tessa’s confusion lasted a heartbeat—confusion about why they suddenly became quiet. Then she realized the severity of the destination.
“The forest of the elves? That’s hostile territory.”
“I know you’re worried, Tessa, and I’m grateful,” I said. “But I can’t be a ruler if I don’t do this. I have to learn whether Sir Marcus is alive—or should I lay him to rest. I have to put my mind at ease."
Her face trembled, then I hammered it home.
“I am going, Tessa.”
“…ah…”
It shocked her—the way I said it. When I saved Mary, anger shoved me forward. But this wasn’t anger. It was the clean edge of resolve.
A hunter's determination to see their hunt through to the end, no matter what.
That's what she saw. No matter what, I was going to say goodbye to Marcus.
Tessa then let out a soft sigh.
“Fine,” she murmured, looking away. “I can’t believe my own intentions have come to haunt me. Is this karma for pushing you into the naming ritual?”
"O—kay," I raised an eyebrow.
She calmed down so quickly that it left me feeling off. I didn't know how to react to that.
“Idiot,” Reina muttered, but there was warmth in it.
Tessa scowled at her on reflex.
“Thank you for understanding,” I said.
“Well, I’m still worried,” Tessa admitted, sitting. “But I won't let you attempt such a task without my blessing. Be safe, okay. I’ll watch over this place while you’re gone.”
“Then I’m counting on you.” I dipped my head.
With that, the matter was settled. Reina reached into her satchel and set something on the table with a dull metallic clink.
“Since we’re all here,” she said, “there’s something I need to show you.”
The object was grotesque in profile. Upon seeing it, Tessa's lip twitched, and then her eyebrows dropped.
“Where did you get that?” She asked instantly.
“Count Juliq had it,” Reina said, eyes dim.
Tessa gazed at her and then back at the object.
Clearly, the object raised some concern. She felt uneasy after seeing the Void Cup.
I, on the other hand, was clueless about what that creepy cup on the table could be.
I stared at the ugly cup. “And what is this… thing?”
“That,” Reina said, “is the Void Cup.”
“Creepy,” I muttered, reaching.
“Don’t,” Tessa barked, catching my hand.
I stopped before even touching the cup. I looked at her, wondering why she was reacting like that. What was so special about that cup that she had to stop me like that?
“It’s fine,” Reina said, "The cup won't be activating as long as it remains in that ice. But don't touch it all willy nilly."
“Got it.” I pulled back.
Tessa turned the Cup just enough for its carvings to swallow the light.
“Artifacts like this were banned under the Concord of Nations. The originals—Seven Taboo Stars—were said to be sealed since they cannot be destroyed.”
"Seven Taboo Stars, what are those?" I stared at Tessa with curiosity.
She placed the cup down.
"They are Seven Primordial Artifacts rejected by God." She responded. Then she raised five of her fingers to count. "There's the Ira sword, Acedia Hourglass staff, Avaritia hands, Gula chalice, and Luxuria mask."
She said while counting down her five fingers to nothing after each Star.
Then she continued, "This cup is actually an imitation of one of the stars."
"Whoa."
I couldn't help but be amazed by this news. The world I knew was expanding just from the arrival of this cup.
"Yes," Reina added. “It's an unstable replica. If Count Juliq knew how to use it, I might have lost.”
"Huh?!" I said.
We all looked at her. I even sucked in a breath. Reina—the Mother of Ice—“nearly killed” by a cup?
Tessa’s mouth curled. “Who knew a counterfeit would give you more trouble?”
“Shut it. I was out of mana back then. At full strength, I would’ve shattered this thing to pieces,” Reina snapped.
“Whatever helps you sleep,” Tessa said.
Reina snarled at her, but Tessa didn't pay it any mind. The smirk on her face fell.
“Regardless," Tessa continued. "Possessing this is a breach of international law. If word leaks, we’ll have envoys and assassins in the same week.”
“Then what do we do with it?” I asked. “Use it, destroy it, hide it?”
“I brought it back to study,” Reina said, “but that can wait until we return from the Zeus Woods.”
"That makes sense. Then let's prepare to leave so we can return as soon as possible." I said, placing my hands on the table to stand.
"Wait..."
I stopped and stared at her. "What is it?"
“...Let me handle the artifact,” After a moment of silence, Tessa said. “You focus on what you need to do. I’ll take it to the forest ruins and study it—far from anyone."
Reina looked at her. “You sure?”
“It’s fine,” Tessa said. “I’ll need something to keep me busy while you’re gone anyway.” She paused. "I'll layer it with wards. And if it twitches wrong, I'll seal it immediately."
Reina looked at her and then—
“Okay,” Reina agreed.
Though I was listening, something else was amiss about the story. I was about to ask when Mariada jumped in.
"Miss Tessa," She said. And Tessa reacted. "You said there were seven, but you only mentioned five."
She too illustrated with her hand, fingers raised.
"Oh, I mentioned five because the remaining two are missing," Tessa said.
"Do they at least know what they are?" I asked. With my hands open, ready to receive an answer.
Tessa closed her eyes and shook her head. "Mhmh. Even the Concord of Nations has no idea what they are."
Everyone remained silent. There was nothing to say or do about the missing ones. But that knowledge was important if we were to study the Void Cup.
"For now, let's focus on the Void Cup. If this thing is powerful enough to push Reina back, it's a dangerous artifact, and we must prepare for future encounters." I said.
"Yes, young master," Tessa nodded.
Reina, though quiet, was embarrassed and frustrated about how I phrased the situation. She couldn't stomach losing, let alone looking weak in front of her pupil.
“Right, then. Since we're done, I’m heading out,” I said, already at the door.
I pulled it open and nearly collided with Asahi. His eyes were downcast. Something tight was coiled behind them.
“Oh—hey, buddy,” I said.
“Ryuu… can I—ask you a favor?”
“S—sure.”
I couldn’t read the storm in him, only the weight of it. I stepped outside, and the door closed on the warm light behind us.
The favor waited between us. And I wanted to know what could make him look like this.
