Longing for the Clouds

    Longing for the Clouds

    After repeating the explanation of past events several times, it was gradually becoming organized.

    However, regardless of it being organized in her mind, Yona couldn’t speak properly as she was half crying.

    “Yes, yes… Yona, you’ve been through a lot of heartache… Going through such things, yes… yes.”

    It’s understandable, it’s understandable to apostatize— but she couldn’t say those words.

    Yona didn’t expect Eize to say such things either.

    It’s something that a proper clergyman couldn’t say, that it’s understandable to apostatize, all the more so.

    “So, what are you going to do now?”

    “I think I should speak about that point.”

    The answer came from a completely unexpected place.

    The two people who had been so focused on each other that they hadn’t heard anything turned simultaneously to where the voice came from.

    A blonde elf with no particular emotion visible.

    A silver-haired elf with a face full of smiles.

    It was Alebbian and Ceres.

    The moment she saw those two women, Yona clenched her fist tightly.

    She hadn’t told Eize about Ceres and Alebbian either.

    Even if she had, there’s nothing she could do about it now, and given Eize’s personality, it was obvious she would immediately rush at the two.

    And settling things with those two was something Yona had to do, not something for Eize to interfere with.

    “Yona. It’s okay. Elder Ceres helped us meet.”

    Not knowing Yona’s inner thoughts, Eize, thinking Yona was tense because the Celestine Church elder Ceres had appeared, rather warmly wrapped her hand around Yona’s tightly clenched fist.

    “Don’t worry too much. Teacher is here, Yona.”

    “…Yes…”

    Yona bit her lip and forced a smile at Ceres.

    And as if mocking such a Yona, Ceres approached with relaxed gestures and stood next to Yona.

    “As Priest Eize said, I think there’s room for consideration even if Yona has become an apostate. Don’t you think? Well, it’s not for me as an elder to say. I can say this because I’m an elder but also half-detached. So, Yona.”

    “…Yes.”

    She couldn’t show her true feelings here.

    Eize is quite perceptive, and she didn’t want to worry Eize any more than this.

    For that, acting was necessary, so it couldn’t be helped.

    “Let’s go to the Katus Empire. If you come with me, entering the country shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

    That was the original plan.

    ‘I can’t understand what she’s thinking… Such an irritating woman.’

    As if reading Yona’s thoughts, Ceres smiled at Yona.

    That smile looked so detestable that Yona was overwhelmed with the urge to slap her face.

    “Katus… you say?”

    Eize looked at Ceres with a puzzled expression.

    Katus is a country of beastkin.

    It’s in a predator-prey relationship with Capatia, separated by the sea connecting Lübe – Vitia Strait – Plavus Sea.

    Eize couldn’t understand Ceres’s words about crossing over to such a Katus.

    “In this Capatia, everyone will be after Yona’s life. You’ve seen it too, haven’t you, Priest? The bounty on Yona’s head.”

    The bounty on Yona’s head was more than just a fortune.

    Even just for information, there was enough gold to make a fortune, and if someone brought her body, the reward was literally enough to spend lavishly for generations and still not use it all. It’s undoubtedly very dangerous to be walking around like this.

    “So first we cross over to Katus. In Katus, we catch our breath first, and then find a way to start, that’s the idea.”

    Something feels fishy.

    It feels like an excuse to cover up some other purpose.

    But Eize also knew, thinking about it carefully, that there was no other choice besides this.

    Even now in Evian, everyone was in an uproar over the news that Yona and Alec had become apostates.

    “So first to Katus. It’s the closest, right? From Evian.”

    “…That’s true. But why are you, Elder, trying to help Yona to such an extent?”

    At Eize’s question, Ceres paused for a moment.

    She must have ulterior motives.

    Eize is too quick-witted to believe such a convenient excuse that it’s just because she understands how Yona came to apostatize.

    Without any calculation of interests, Ceres would lose too much to help to such an extent.

    “Personally, I’m very interested in Yona. Have you heard that I was also present at that time, when the Celestine Church headquarters was attacked?”

    “I have heard.”

    Eize’s eyes were shining unusually.

    Unlike priests who are stuck in cathedrals and only revered when they occasionally come out, knowing nothing about how the world works, Eize had lived as an adventurer for a long time and was thus quite suspicious.

    “I’m very interested in the demonic energy Yona wielded at that time. Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m speaking of interest as a scholar, as a mage. I want to research the differences between holy power and demonic energy. From that perspective, is there a better teaching material than Yona?”

    It’s quite ridiculous how Ceres lies so smoothly without even coating her words.

    “…Are you saying you want to use Yona as an experimental subject now?”

    Eize’s voice sank.

    Eize was glaring at Ceres as if she couldn’t allow anyone to approach Yona with strange intentions, regardless of what kind of goodwill or thoughts they started with.

    “Experimental subject? It’s just a desire to observe a bit while traveling together, that’s all. I’m a person with a conscience too. Aren’t you thinking of me as too much of a cold-blooded person without blood or tears?”

    Ceres showed a slight smile regardless of Eize’s reaction.

    Eize stared at Ceres for a long time without saying anything, as she spoke as if she really had no other intentions at all.

    “…Priest Eize, I’m helping to this extent only because my interests align, you know? It’s your disciple Yona who needs a helping hand, not me. I’ll get into various troubles too if it’s discovered that I’m researching demonic energy, so I don’t particularly need to do this. But if not me, how far can you protect Yona, Priest?”

    At those words, Eize softened her fierce gaze.

    Ceres’s words were not wrong at all.

    Thinking coolly, no matter how much of a high priest Eize is, she doesn’t have the ability to guarantee Yona’s safety, who has been branded an apostate, within Evian or even outside Evian, while also calming the situation.

    But Ceres had the power, position, and wealth to do both.

    Therefore, the best option now is indeed to rely on Ceres.

    There was no other choice besides that.

    “Then, I’ll take that as your agreement. Yona? What will you do, Yona?”

    “Why are you asking me that again? …Fine.”

    Because that’s what we were going to do originally.

    Though she knew it was just a formality, Yona answered as gruffly as possible— as gruffly as she could.

    “Alright, good. I don’t want to increase the risk either, so I think it’s best if we move quickly.”

    Ceres smiled brightly once again.

    “The time for reunion shouldn’t be too long. I understand you’ve met after a long time, but it would be good to move to Lukasia quickly, even now.”

    Ceres said while tapping Alebbian’s carriage.

    Though they hadn’t arrived long ago, Yona had no particular lingering attachment since she had achieved her goal of meeting Eize.

    “Alebbian, please take care of them until Lukasia. I’ll sort things out with the hero’s group and then cross over to Lukasia right away.”

    “Alright.”

    From Evian to Lukasia.

    It’s quite a long distance even by carriage.

    Ceres and Alebbian checked the carriage, and then Alec, Kaiyak, James, and Rubina all boarded in succession.

    Now all that was left was Yona.

    “Teacher.”

    Eize’s hand caressed Yona’s cheek.

    Though a tingling, stinging pain arose every time that hand touched her, neither of them cared about such things.

    “Yona, you must stay healthy. Don’t skip meals. Eat well. Understood?”

    Eize’s voice was level.

    The depth of emotion that finally doesn’t show after suppressing feelings so much.

    Yona’s face had become unrecognizably gaunt, and every time she saw that face, it felt like her heart was breaking.

    “I, even if the whole world collapses, I believe in you, Yona. That you couldn’t have done this, that if you apostatized, you must have had a reason. I’m unconditionally on your side, Yona. You understand? If it ever gets too hard, come find teacher. How could I not protect just you?”

    Biting her lip so hard it hurt, Yona forced a smile.

    Her eyes were already swollen from crying, and if she cried again, she would look terrible, and besides, she wanted to part with her teacher looking good.

    “I’m, I’m okay. Teacher, I’m really okay. Really… I should have studied harder earlier.”

    “When I scolded you so much to study every time you went out playing, you never listened, and now you regret it.”

    “That’s right. Regret is, no matter… no matter how… ah… ugh. Uu… hic…”

    In the end, the words couldn’t be finished and turned into tears.

    Though she tried so hard not to cry like that, the tears flowing down Yona’s cheeks are all the more sorrowful for having been suppressed.

    “Don’t cry, don’t cry… Yona, my beloved disciple. You mustn’t cry. You must become strong. From now on, you must become strong…”

    Eize hugs Yona and pats her back.

    Yona bursts into tears again while being held by her like that.

    “Don’t cry, Yona. How can someone who’s been an adventurer for 3 years be so soft-hearted? How can… hm? How can teacher send you off like this? You mustn’t cry. Yona, stop.”

    Eize slightly released Yona who had been hugging her and looked at her face.

    That face which had only been so beautiful was now a mess with tears.

    Eize raised her hand and gently wiped Yona’s eyes.

    The tears coming out are so clear and transparent, but is Yona’s sorrow like that too?

    “Now, get on quickly. It’s a long way to Lukasia. You need to leave soon. Okay?”

    “…Teacher.”

    Reaching out her hand, Yona held Eize’s hand.

    Worried about that hand which was only cold, Eize firmly grasped Yona’s hand.

    “When, when I’m gone. Please… inform them that I was in Evian and left. To the cathedral.”

    “…What are you saying?”

    “Someone might have seen us like this. So, teacher, please inform them in advance. That I came to find you, and you urged me to turn myself in, but I fled.”

    “……”

    Eize couldn’t say anything.

    It wasn’t because she didn’t understand the meaning of Yona’s words.

    It was because she knew Yona’s heart, worrying about her teacher even in this situation.

    “…I’ll decide about that. You just think about arriving safely in Lukasia.”

    “Teacher, please promise me. That you’ll definitely inform them. That’s the only way you won’t be implicated in apostasy charges.”

    “I’ll take care of it, Yona. Now go. Alec, please help Yona get on.”

    This could go on endlessly.

    Only after being almost carried into Alec’s arms did Yona board the carriage, and even through the carriage window, Yona clung and waved to Eize.

    The carriage gradually moves away.

    Eize, left standing alone with Ceres, quietly watched that sight.

    They say there’s no finger that doesn’t hurt when you bite all ten, but Yona was an especially painful finger along with Bigrind.

    Eize’s heart ached that such a Yona had come to suffer such hardship.

    “…Elder Ceres, please… take good care of Yona.”

    “Don’t worry at all, Priest. Don’t worry about Yona. …As for Yona.”

    Ceres showed a fresh smile.

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