Chapter 4: Mano’s Spring
At the very moment Banessa and Calisto blew off the ceiling of the imperial banquet hall,
Mano saw the two of them in a dream through Gilead’s ability.
Waking from the dream, Mano pressed on her pounding heart and smiled brightly.
“That was such a delightful dream.”
Thanks to Gilead’s power, Mano could also feel the emotions of the characters in her dreams. Thinking of Banessa setting the banquet hall ablaze made her feel elated. Mano immediately got out of bed.
It was a good dream, and the moon was bright.
So, it’s time for some fireworks!
Mano started rummaging through her room, collecting things that would catch fire easily. The drawings she had doodled and the dried flowers she had picked recently.
After stuffing everything into her pockets, she laid the pillow horizontally and covered it with a blanket. After singing a lullaby and patting the pillow, she put on her hood. As she fumbled with the knot, the door creaked open with a squeak.
“Madam Mano!”
“Hm? Is the little one here?”
Mano, who was busily adjusting her hood, looked up in surprise with wide eyes. Leticia, looking between the pile of blankets Mano had made on the bed and Mano herself, couldn’t help but laugh as if she couldn’t stop.
“I didn’t think it would be true, but it seems Dietrian was right. I’m glad I checked.”
Dietrian wasn’t in the royal palace at the moment. He was visiting the territories near the capital and would be away for a while. A letter had arrived.
“It seems the dream was strange. Mother climbed the palace walls alone and was playing with fire. I hope you’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything dangerous.”
Upon receiving the letter, Leticia had come to Mano’s room late at night, just in case. And indeed, Mano was preparing to go out alone.
Leticia fastened Mano’s hood and, holding her thin hand, asked,
“Madam Mano, where are you going? If it’s something fun, I’d like to join you.”
Leticia’s warm smile spread to Mano’s face as well.
“I was going to play with fireworks. Do you want to come with me?”
“Fireworks?”
“Watching the fire was such a thrill. Let’s go together.”
“Alright. Then let’s enjoy the moon and the fireworks together.”
If Dietrian’s dream was truly Gilead’s dream, then that scene would eventually come true. In that case, it was better for Leticia to experience that dream with Mano directly.
Leticia led Mano towards the palace wall. Under the round full moon, the massive stone wall loomed high. Leticia called upon the spirit of the wind.
Whooo—!
[Lady Leticia—!]
“Can you safely lift Madam Mano up there?”
[Leave it to us!]
Excited by Leticia’s call, the spirits of the wind gently lifted Mano into the air. Mano laughed gleefully as she embraced the spirits.
“Wow! It’s so high! Come up quickly, little one! Okay?”
“Yes, Madam Mano.”
Leticia’s body lightly floated upward. The spirits of the wind, laughing innocently, drew from her divine power.
“Thank you, everyone.”
[Call us again next time—!]
As the spirits of the wind disappeared, the spirits of the earth quietly approached. They meticulously arranged the spot where the two sat. Soft moss spread out around the area where Leticia and Mano were seated, creating a comfortable place to sit as if on a plush cushion, allowing them to view the capital with ease.
“The night view is truly beautiful, isn’t it, Madam Mano?”
The Gilead Castle was situated on high ground, allowing a sweeping view of the capital’s nightscape. The twinkling lights against the night sky were breathtakingly beautiful.
“Yes. But when will we start the fireworks?”
“Just a moment.”
Leticia smiled and called forth the purifying flames. Mano was thrilled to see the white flames she had seen in her dream.
“That’s right. This was it.”
“Madam Mano, did you see the purifying flames in your dream?”
“Yes. There was a huge fire on the roof, and it looked like it made everyone so happy.”
Leticia, tilting her head, asked,
“Was the person who seemed happy Banessa?”
“Banessa?”
“The wing who controls the purifying flames. He used to visit Madam Mano often. He has red hair, scarlet eyes, and darker skin.”
“Hmm…”
“Oh, and he was the one who got scolded by Julia for showing you how to wield a storybook recently.”
“Oh! I remember now.”
Mano clapped her hands in delight.
“Yes, that person… What was it?”
“Self-defense.”
Remembering, Leticia chuckled.
Banessa, who came to read storybooks to Mano at Julia’s request, realized his reading skills were terrible and decided to change his strategy. He taught Mano how to use the storybook as a weapon.
And he got a sharp kick from Julia when Mano struggled to wield the book.
“Yes. That was him. Banessa.”
Mano’s voice, calling Banessa, held a strange resonance. Leticia, sensing something, cautiously asked,
“Did you dream about Banessa?”
“Yes. A precious relationship has begun. He helped catch a big bug.”
“A bug?”
“He was such a fun person, but it’s a pity to part ways. It might be hard to see him often if we get separated. It’s good for him, though…”
“Parting ways… Where is Banessa going?”
“Perhaps that’s where he needs to be. His power will be needed there.”
The conversation continued with incomprehensible statements. It was something that often happened when Mano became deeply immersed in Gilead’s power. Familiar with this, Leticia did not press further and waited for Mano to awaken from Gilead’s influence.
“Hm?”
After a while, Mano seemed to regain her senses and looked around. Leticia gently held her hand to ensure she wasn’t startled. She had also asked the wind spirits to keep watch below the wall just in case.
“Madam Mano, do you know who I am?”
“Leticia?”
“Yes. We came out to enjoy the moon and play with the cute spirits.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Mano nodded with a cheerful smile. The white flames danced in front of her, quickly turning into a small puppy that ran through the air. Mano clapped with excitement, and Leticia reflected on this.
‘It seems something very important is about to happen to Banessa.’
Though curious about what might be happening, it seemed difficult to find out immediately. Since it was said to be something good, there was no need to worry. Once things became clearer, she would have to inform Banessa.
At that moment, Leticia’s eyes widened with interest.
“Madam Mano, it seems Kailas is still awake.”
In the distance, a building that should have been cloaked in darkness was brightly lit. It was the doctor’s hospital where Kailas worked.
“Kailas?”
“Yes. Even though it’s quite late, she seems to have a lot of work.”
“I like Kailas. She can be a bit strange sometimes.”
“Strange?”
“When I hold hands with Kailas, it feels like something strange enters my body.”
“Oh. Is the healing power uncomfortable lately?”
Mano had initially been unfamiliar with the healing power. Until she became accustomed to it, Julios had to hold hands with her during treatments.
“It’s not that, but my heart starts to race. I feel nauseous. Strange thoughts come up. My heart feels odd. I feel like crying…”
Every time the healing power accumulated in Mano’s body, something precious yet sorrowful filled her chest. Something she should meet but couldn’t. Something she had lost for a long time seemed to be trying to reach her again. It was a mixture of pleasant feelings and a fear of the unfamiliar sensation. Sometimes she felt like crying and wanted to run away.
“Madam Mano.”
Tears that Mano had not yet fully acknowledged were forming. Leticia gently wiped away her tears and intertwined their fingers.
“Madam Mano, shall we go visit Kailas together?”
“Huh?”
“Kailas might help stop your tears. Let’s go see her together.”
* * *
“Ugh, blood.”
Kailas rose from her seat, pressing her nose. Red blood trickled between her fingers. The nosebleed quickly stopped, but dizziness remained.
“I must have overworked today.”
Kailas sighed lightly as she looked at her desk. Thick books were piled up on the wooden desk, all read during the past week.
It was for Mano’s treatment.
Since starting the treatment, Mano’s body had become remarkably healthy. The once gaunt wrists had flesh on them, and her posture had improved.
The problem was Mano’s mind.
Initially, it seemed like her condition would improve quickly, but it did not. Mano had been uncomfortable with the healing power. Even though she adapted well at first, recently she had started to be uncomfortable with it again. Thus, Kailas became even more cautious in her treatment of Mano.
With both the patient and the healer being cautious, the treatment progress was inevitably slow.
The seemingly endless treatment made Kailas anxious. After much deliberation, she decided to look for answers in books. Lately, she had been exploring magic and dragon powers. Since both powers had commonalities in their manifestation despite differing origins from the wing’s power, she hoped to find some clues.
“Ways to help those unfamiliar with magic.”
“Methods to use dragon powers more effectively.”
“Methods to reduce the aversion of the precursors.”
The white stack of paper on the desk was filled with content Kailas had compiled. Despite her efforts, she felt weighed down.
Even though she had researched so much material, she still couldn’t find a suitable answer to treat Mano’s mind.
Although some time had passed since arriving in the principality, Kailas still felt like an outsider. She felt she needed to prove her worth to find peace of mind. Everyone who knew her might say that such proof was unnecessary. She had already demonstrated her value by treating numerous patients in the principality.
Yet, Kailas remained restless.
It was because she could not cure the patient she wished to help the most—Mano.
“Haa.”
As Kailas let out a long sigh of self-reproach, a chilly breeze brushed against her neck. Startled, Kailas looked around. The window was still firmly shut.
“It’s the wind spirit.”
She felt a familiar presence in the breeze rustling her hair. At this hour, there was only one person in Zenos who would lead a spirit to visit Kailas.
Kailas quickly opened the firmly shut door. A bright smile finally appeared on her face.
“Lady Leticia!”
“Hello, Kailas. I came as well.”
“Kailas, I see you’re still awake. May we come in?”
“Of course.”
Leticia, accompanied by Mano, entered the room under Kailas’s guidance. Watching Mano look around the room, Kailas said,
“Actually, one of my patients brought some chocolate cookies today. It would be nice to have them with some warm tea.”
“Thank you, Kailas.”
Soon, warm tea and cookies were placed on the table. Mano smiled broadly as she ate the cookies. After quickly finishing them, she leaned back on the sofa. Leticia placed a cushion behind Mano. Mano grabbed Leticia’s arm and asked,
“Can I touch your belly, little one?”
“Of course.”
Mano placed her hand gently on the flat belly and was thrilled.
These days, whenever the topic of the baby in her belly came up, Mano smiled as if she had gained the whole world.
Leticia responded warmly and lightly tapped Kailas’s hand.
Kailas snapped to attention.
She realized that now, while Leticia was distracting Mano, was the right time to infuse her with healing power. Kailas carefully took Mano’s wrist and began to channel her power.
“May Madam Mano feel even a little bit better. I will do my utmost.”
She recalled the content she had just organized today. Though it was still rudimentary, it seemed better than when she previously used the healing power.
“Just a little more. Just a little more…”
The healing power, imbued with her will, permeated Mano’s body. Kailas fervently wished for not only Mano’s physical recovery but also for the healing of her wounded heart.
Was it because of her earnest desire?
“Huh?”
Mano, clinging to Leticia, tilted her head. Leticia, observing Mano’s condition carefully, asked,
“Madam Mano? What’s wrong? Is the healing power still uncomfortable?”
“No… It’s not that.”
Mano shook her head.
Unintentionally, she tightly grasped the hem of Leticia’s clothes.
After her son’s death, Mano’s world had been completely turned upside down.
She could no longer maintain her composure.
Thus, she built a sturdy cocoon and retreated into it.
Within that cocoon, Mano was safe.
In there, she could smile.
Though she occasionally ventured outside the cocoon, she would soon retreat back into it.
But now, that cocoon had started to crack slightly.
“Madam Mano?”
Mano leaned weakly against Leticia. It felt as if someone kept talking to her.
It’s safe now.
You can come out of your cocoon.
It’s time to meet the ‘true smile.’
“Is it really alright? Can I really come out of the cocoon?”
“If the little one says it’s okay. Then maybe it is?”
“But who is the little one?”
“Leticia.”
“I know the little one’s name. But is that all?”
“Why has Leticia become precious to me? When did I come to know Leticia? What about Dietrian? What about Julios?”
Her mind spun in circles.
All the memories came swirling up like a vortex. It was confusing, but it wasn’t painful.
It felt as if something that was misaligned was slowly falling into place.
“Mano. My Gilead. My child. It is safe now; you no longer need to hide. You can come out of the cocoon.”
It felt as if someone was saying that.
At the same time, the cocoon began to crack. The world that Mano had been avoiding suddenly became vivid.
Mano closed her eyes slowly.
She tightened her grip on Leticia’s hand. She wanted to say something, but sleep gently overcame her.
* * *
The next morning.
“Mmm…”
Kailas lifted her eyelids from the desk. The bright sunlight pierced her eyes. Reflexively, she squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them.
“Gasp.”
She quickly got up and checked the time. She swallowed in alarm.
“Did I really sleep until now?”
Last night, Mano had fallen asleep during the healing session. It was the first time such a thing had happened, and both Kailas and Leticia were greatly surprised. Fortunately, Mano’s condition was stable. Aside from being deeply asleep, she was in good condition. Leticia had taken the sleeping Mano back to the palace.
After they left, Kailas continued to mull over what had happened to Mano until dawn. She pondered what might have gone wrong with the method she used. Unfortunately, she found no answers. Kailas leaned back and let out a heavy sigh.
“Haa. I was hoping a bit yesterday.”
She thought a new approach might yield different results, but instead, Mano fell asleep before the treatment was complete.
“Well, I need to get up.”
She couldn’t stay downhearted. Fortunately, it was a day off for the hospital. Kailas quickly washed up and began to tackle the chores. While tying up her long, dark blue hair and cleaning, she heard a knock.
“Just a moment.”
Even on her day off, someone knocked on the door early in the morning. Assuming it was an urgent patient, Kailas hurried to open it.
“Lady Kailas.”
“Sir Yulken? What brings you here?”
Kailas was surprised to see Yulken. His eyes were red, and he wiped tears from his sleeve before speaking.
“Please come with us to the palace immediately. Madam Mano is asking for you.”
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