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The Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom

Harboring Fire Within the Body

Translated by: S3

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

Never before had she been so conscious of her own death. At the moment the pillar began its descent, Elna tried to move her body to at least shield the girl, but she wasn't fast enough. No, that wasn't it. Elna’s body wouldn't move even a fraction of an inch. Even the dancing flames had frozen in place as if stitched to the air. Strangely, Elna found herself looking down on the scene, perceiving everything with perfect clarity.

There stood a woman with golden hair. She wore a pure white dress that seemed utterly out of place in this crimson-stained environment. Her bare feet were white, right down to her small toenails. Her waist-length golden hair glittered like stars with every step she took, and the corners of her mouth were pulled into a soft arc.

Since her body was frozen, Elna frantically shifted only her gaze to track the woman who seemed to be standing behind her. While time remained stopped, the woman yawned and approached Elna with a leisurely gait.

「I believe I told you that I liked humans.」

She was the high-ranking Water Spirit Elna had encountered while walking through town with Feliol. More than surprise, Elna felt confusion, but she couldn't even manage a sound. The spirit was already standing directly behind her. She breathed a cold sigh into Elna’s ear.

「Why didn't you call for me? Did you forget? Honestly, I’m quite offended.」

Though her voice was bright, the air grew rapidly colder with every word she spoke.

「If I recall, I invited you to play with me someday. Well, since it's you, I wouldn't mind lending a hand just this once. What do you say?」

Some spirits were dutiful, while others were whimsical. Elna’s intuition told her this spirit was the latter. She had no idea what would happen if she accepted the help, but she didn't hesitate for a single second. If help was being offered, there was only one choice.

「I’m so happy! Thank you!」

The spirit placed her slender fingertips on Elna’s shoulder. At that simple touch, Elna trembled with a violent pain that felt as if her internal organs were being turned inside out. She gritted her teeth—or rather, her frozen body wasn't even permitted that much.

Still, she endured. To protect the one she held dear, Elna bore the agonizing pain ravaging her entire being. The woman’s hand sank deeper and deeper into Elna’s shoulder.

「Does it hurt? Is it scary? Of course it is. You're forcing the power of water into a body that holds the soul of a Fire Dragon. This is pure insanity!」

It could no longer be called mere pain. Her vision blurred, and from one end of her body to the other, right down to her fingertips, it felt as though she were being replaced by something else entirely. There was only a terrifying sense of dread.

「Be afraid, suffer, laugh, cry, and get angry for me! Show me every part of you! This is exactly why I love humans so much!」

Elna howled. Her throat vibrated with everything she had as she screamed. Frozen time resumed its march. The woman was nowhere to be seen. The roaring flames resumed their attempt to burn Elna’s body without hesitation.

She wouldn't say she felt no pain. But there was something far more important than attending to her own suffering. Elna shielded the girl lying on the floor and caught the falling pillar with her other arm. There was a sound of something being crushed—the sound of the floor beneath Elna’s feet shattering under the immense weight. To Elna, whose body was now saturated with the power of water, the flames meant nothing. And a mere falling pillar was far too weak to injure her now.

「Graaaah!」

She bared her teeth and shoved the pillar aside. At the same moment Elna pulled the girl into a tight embrace, a shockwave swept through the area, destroying the rest of the building. For an instant, the flames were blown away, though they immediately began to flare up again. However, she could see the sky. The impact had been strong enough to blow away the second floor and the roof. Heaving with exertion, she looked up at the heavens. She exhaled and inhaled the harsh air.

The roar of the fire echoed around her.

「...Vanish.」

She looked up at the sky with a raspy voice. She stared at the gray sky, choked with dust and smoke.

「Vanish!」

She sought only one thing. Still clutching the girl, Elna shouted a wordless plea. The body in her arms was warm and carried the soft scent of life.

***

「Rain...」

Someone muttered. In the smoke, the dirty gray of the sky shifted into an even darker hue. A droplet fell, then another. Just as people began to wonder if it was their imagination, the drops intensified, veering into a heavy downpour that shrouded the world in a gray veil. With a fierce sound, the flames were gradually extinguished. Drenched from head to toe, the people cried out, unable to distinguish between the rain and their own tears. They were witnessing a miracle.

In the midst of it all, a girl stepped out from the ruins of the collapsed building, one slow step at a time. Her body was covered in dirt, and her castle servant’s uniform was scorched in several places. Yet, she was firmly cradling a young child in her arms.

「Ah... ah...」

The first to rush forward was the mother of the child. With her bangs plastered to her forehead by the rain and her face wet with tears, she reached out a trembling hand. The girl—Elna—handed the daughter she had been protecting to her mother. As she did, her exhausted body finally gave out, and she collapsed toward the ground. At the last second, Feliol and a soldier rushed over to catch her.

「Elna, you...!」

「Are you okay? Is the rain really falling? Did the fires in the city go out...? My eyes are a bit blurry right now.」

「They’re okay! They’re safe! Everything, all of it is over! Don't push yourself, don't say another word!」

Feliol’s voice, thick with tears, reached Elna’s ears from somewhere far away.

「Call the healers immediately! No, we’re taking her to the castle!」

「...Wait, I’m okay. I’m just... very tired. My vision is... slowly coming back.」

The blurred scenery began to resolve into clarity in Elna’s eyes. As the rain weakened, the full view of the city became visible. It was a heart-wrenching sight. The beautiful cityscape was gone, replaced by a sprawl of collapsed buildings. People were suffering in pain.

「Feliol. Please send help to those who are more seriously injured than I am...」

After conveying that much, Elna blinked her blue eyes slowly. Every citizen present was staring at her. It was a strange, heavy silence. Supported by the soldier, Elna blinked and looked around, but everyone had the same expression. They looked frightened, perhaps even awestruck. Their gazes didn't feel particularly warm. Elna swallowed hard and remained silent.

「Are you... perhaps... the reincarnation of Lady Elnalfia...?」

The one who broke the silence was the mother who was still crying as she held the daughter Elna had saved. Elna looked down at her in confusion.

「You dove into the flames, and then... then... the rain! You made it rain!」

As Elna opened her mouth to find a response and then closed it again, a young man nearby raised his voice. Perhaps he had seen her through a gap in the ruins, or perhaps those with even a slight connection to magic or spirits could sense the nature of this rain. Before Elna could speak, the townspeople began to shout one after another.

「I heard a rumor that Lady Elnalfia’s reincarnation was at the castle! Those clothes are proof she works there, aren't they?!」

「She saved the child. And she saved our lives...」

「Thank you! Thank you so much! The legendary dragon has protected us...!」

Even the soldier supporting Elna was sniffing back tears. This was becoming quite a predicament. Feliol was flustered, shouting, 「E-everyone, calm down! Stay calm!」 as he looked back and forth between the citizens and Elna. Elna couldn't help but give a small, wry smile.

She heard voices calling the dragon’s name, "Lady Elnalfia," over and over. It was a warm sound, filled with joy. What she had perceived as fear was surely just their overwhelming surprise. She thought for a moment and then shouted as loudly as she could manage.

「My name is not Elnalfia. ...It’s Elna!」

Her voice was quite raspy; she wondered if it had carried. The crowd went silent for a heartbeat, and then someone yelled, 「Lady Elna!」 Under the clear blue sky that had emerged over the broken city, bright voices calling her name echoed. Elna gave a strange little laugh. In all her life, she had never had her name called so loudly and so many times. It was then that Elna’s eyes widened at a sight that nearly made her scream.

A part of a damaged building began to wobble dangerously. Directly beneath it stood a man waving his hand at Elna.

(Oh...)

「Watch out, get away!」

No, even if she shouted, she wouldn't make it. The man waving his hand realized the danger, but he was frozen in shock, unable to do anything but stare at the debris above him. Thinking she had to save him, Elna tried to push away from the soldier supporting her and move forward. But her shaky legs wouldn't obey, and she tumbled onto the wet ground.

Feliol cried out her name. Ignoring him, Elna frantically reached her hand forward, her face covered in mud. Time seemed to flow painfully slow. She wasn't going to make it again. She lacked the strength.

「Hiyah!」

The muddy sluggishness of time was blown away by a powerful shout. Standing next to the man who had curled up to protect his head was a tall man. He wore a bandana around his brown hair and was gripping a thick piece of timber in both hands. He swung the timber with all his might, batting the falling rubble away.

The bandana-wearing man let out a great huff from his nose, standing firmly with his legs spread wide and his chest puffed out. It was the leader of the self-proclaimed vigilantes—the youth who had kidnapped Elna.

Among the wide-eyed crowd, the self-proclaimed vigilante huffed again. He looked stern, but the moment his eyes met Elna’s, he broke into a wide grin. Despite his age, it was a somewhat boyish and charming smile.

「Lady Elnalfia—no, Lady Elna!」

After his broad grin, he suddenly looked sheepish and bowed deeply. 「I’m really sorry about what happened before!」 He was a busy man, emotionally speaking.

「Hey, you guys! Now is the time for the vigilantes who protect the city to shine!」

The man tossed the timber aside and swung his arms with enough force to let out a shout that echoed throughout the area. Immediately, several young men covered in soot responded to the battle cry, raising their voices from all around.

「You got it!」

「We’re on it!」

「Follow the boss! Is there anyone still trapped in the buildings? The fire might be out, but we can't let our guard down yet!」

Elna watched blankly as they scattered in every direction. She didn't even notice Feliol’s hand being offered to her for a while.

「You go and help with the rescue as well. Make sure no one is left behind.」

「Yes, sir!」

Hearing Feliol speak to the soldier who had been supporting her, Elna snapped out of it and looked up. She met the eyes of Feliol, who was smiling weakly, and with his help, she slowly stood on trembling legs, burning the scene before her into her memory once more. The young men were working alongside the soldiers to rescue the people. Their clothes and hair were black and tattered, a testament to how they had been running non-stop through the chaos.

Suddenly, a wave of intense shame washed over her.

(What... what exactly had I been looking at until now?)

「...To be honest, I think I looked down on them in the depths of my heart.」

It was Feliol who whispered. Still holding Elna’s hand tightly, he looked straight ahead.

「There was no difference between us and them in our desire to protect the city. Why do I keep repeating this? ...I really am a fool. I’m ashamed of my own shallow nature.」

Instead of a verbal reply, Elna squeezed Feliol’s hand slightly. The burn on her palm stung a bit, but she didn't mind.

「Chocolate cake. They are also 'chocolate cake' to me, aren't they?」

「...Yeah. That’s right.」

It was a mysterious flavor that you wouldn't know until you tasted it. From now on, Elna and the others would discover many more flavors and continue to be surprised. Praying for that to be true, she looked up at the sky, reflecting on her own actions. Before she knew it, white clouds like fluffy pastries were swelling in the blue sky, and a cool, refreshing breeze whisked between the two of them.

***

When she returned to the castle supported by Feliol, the first person to come crying to her was Kyle. Seeing Elna with scorched clothes and burns all over her body, he began to weep.

Having apparently become quite close with Kyle, the hamster spirit perched on his shoulder directed a silent, heavy pressure toward Elna. It let out squeaks that sounded like growls and clicked its front teeth, showing them off to her. She felt guilty for making them worry, but she didn't regret not taking the spirit with her. If it had been in her pocket, she wouldn't have been able to dive into the flames. Still, she gave a proper apology: 「I’m sorry.」 It was a wonderful thing to have someone who worried for her.

It was soon discovered that the number of casualties was remarkably low compared to the scale of the damage. This was thanks to Feliol, the Knights, and the vigilantes guiding people to the plaza early on, as well as their tireless rescue efforts through the day and night after the fires were out.

Yet, not a single life should have been lost. In the Kingdom of Wizrain, the dead are cremated, and their white bones are buried in the earth. The fire is said to grant the blessing of Elnalfia, and the bereaved pray for the purification fire to burn away the suffering. However, the many thin trails of white smoke rising into the air were terribly sad.

Several days passed, and the reconstruction of the city proceeded little by little, with Feliol at the center of the efforts.