Chapter 322: Return (1)
Upon her return from the Red Tower, Sienna remained in Aroth for three more days. As the Archwizard had broken her long hibernation and returned to Aroth, she faced a flurry of tasks that required her attention.
Within these few days, Sienna briefly delivered lectures on the arcane in both the Red and Green Towers, attended meetings with the Tower Masters, and even visited the Wizard Guild, where she gave a lecture. Just the previous day, she had strolled through the city with the leading figures of the Aroth council, the King, and the Crown Prince and interacted with the citizens. Her public appearances culminated in a casual speech she delivered at Merdein Square, which had been named after her.
To tackle all these tasks in merely three days was quite the undertaking, yet Sienna managed them effortlessly, and these were only a fraction of her supposed duties. Being a legendary Archwizard who had returned after centuries, she was Aroth's living catchphrase. Many coveted an audience with Sienna. The rich and influential desired even just a ten-minute conversation, while every wizard yearned to catch even a glimpse of her robes.
Sienna was firm and stern as she dealt with these matters. Although she felt attached to Aroth, she had no intention of staying longer than necessary.
"What did the royal family and council say?" Eugene asked her.
"They weren't happy, of course. 'Must you leave for the Lionheart family?' they questioned, but why should I care about their opinions?" Sienna responded with a chuckle.
Of course, Aroth was loath to let Sienna leave. Even if she did not attend any events, merely having the Wise Sienna in Aroth brought the kingdom tremendous benefits. In fact, they had seen an increased influx of tourists and wizards from other countries in recent days.
Yet, with the increase, there were also those who left.
"I wish I could just obliterate that bleak tower," Sienna muttered.
She was referring to the Black Tower of Magic. Droves of wizards belonging to the Black Tower had left Aroth after her return. According to Lovellian and Melkith, only about a third of the original number of wizards remained in the Black Tower. Moreover, Balzac Ludbeth, the Black Tower Master, had left the Samar Forest after dealing with Edmund Codreth, but he had yet to return.
"I can really tell how much time has passed when I’m looking at that grim tower. I did hear some whispers about raising a tower for black wizards before my seclusion, but most people in Aroth, including me, strongly opposed the idea,” commented Sienna.
"I heard Helmuth made a large donation for Aroth to build the Black Tower,” said Eugene.
"I felt this when I saw him in Babel, but I still can't understand what that blasted Demon King of Incarceration was thinking," Sienna said after a pause.
While grumbling, Sienna hauled her luggage-filled carrier. She didn't need to pull the carrier herself; everything could have been stored in her cape. But she insisted on the carrier, and the reason was simple. It made her heart flutter. It gave her the sense of leaving her long-time home in Aroth and moving to a new “home.”
“Can you even believe how Helmuth has… uh… developed now? I’ve read books and watched videos about Helmuth, and it's entirely different from what I remember,” said Sienna.
"I can assure you it's more surreal when you actually go there."
Eugene empathized with Sienna's remark. The Helmuth he remembered from three hundred years ago was a ruthless land, a withered place impossible for human habitation. It had been a place where everything was topsy-turvy. Even the weather had been unpredictable. It had been a land that sapped one's mental and physical strength just by dwelling in it.
After a peace agreement concluded the war, the Demon King of Incarceration declared Helmuth as an empire and pronounced himself its emperor. Following this announcement, he unlocked the treasure stores of Babel and compensated the war-affected nations enormously.
Until then, the continent had not acknowledged Helmuth as an empire, though the fear of the Demon King of Incarceration deterred them from openly rebelling. And not a single person had expressed the intent to emigrate to Helmuth until then.
Yet, with a pace that could hardly be described as slow, Helmuth had truly transformed from a Devildom into an Empire. Creatures incapable of complex thoughts were made into something like livestock, and the Demon King of Incarceration himself reshaped the land and changed the sky. Countless demonfolks became workers and laborers under the command of the Demon King.
Sienna's memory of Helmuth stopped at that point.
What about now? In just two hundred years, Helmuth had become the most habitable and developed empire on the continent. It enjoyed such a unique culture that it was truly baffling how it was achieved.
"…And what's this Giabella Park?” Sienna mumbled, glancing at the newspaper on the stand. The front page of the arrayed newspapers featured news about Giabella Park in Helmuth.
<The stunning duke leading the vanguard of entertainment, culture, and fashion — Noir Giabella. Giabella Park — The largest theme park in history, proudly bearing her name.>
"It's Noir Giabella's breeding ground,” answered Eugene.
"It does look like that. That lunatic Night Demon always had a knack for crazy stuff," commented Sienna.
"I fail to understand the mindset of people who visit this park for the sole purpose of recreation. Why on earth would they spend money and even donate life force in such a place?” Anise chimed in as well.
Eugene, Sienna, Anise, and even Kristina shared the same sentiment on this topic.
Listening to the conversation from inside the cloak, Mer and Raimira exchanged glances and sighed heavily.
'I wanted to visit at least once.'
'Before we slay the Queen of Night Demons... or even after, we can still ride the attractions, can't we?'
After sharing their loathing for Noir Giabella, Eugene, Sienna, and Kristina moved to the warp-gate at the Pentagon Floating Station.
Sienna wasn't keen on a noisy farewell, so she had sternly warned the royal family, council, and tower masters not to come for a send-off the day before. She had even threatened that if they came, she would make sure they would regret ever being born.
"Big sister!"
Melkith would have surely heard those words…. Yet, she brazenly ignored Sienna's warning and hid near the warp-gate. Upon seeing Sienna, she ran forth, crying out as if her heart was breaking.
"Take me with you too!"
Sienna's expression twisted at the sight of Melkith. Using a spell, she flung the charging Melkith away and hastily grabbed her carry-on. Ignoring the screaming Melkith, Eugene and Kristina followed Sienna into the warp-gate.
They had pre-arranged the meeting point to be devoid of people. This was a warp-gate located in a quiet area, and their destination was already set. It was to Kiehl's village, Bollanyo, a place rural enough to provide fair competition to Eugene's hometown of Gidol.
It was the current residence of the one who self-claimed to be the only dragon remaining awake, the Red Dragon Ariartel.
***
They had a simple reason for visiting Ariartel before making the trip back to the Lionheart family. It would have been impossible to find Raizakia and rescue Sienna without the help of Ariartel’s Draconic magic. Ariartel, having a deep resentment towards Raizakia, the traitor of their species, was entitled to know about Raizakia's death.
In addition, they also wanted to ask about Raimira.
"I haven't met any other dragon except for the Black Dragon," Raimira peeked out from within the cloak and stated. Her face was taut with tension, visible to all. "You surely don't mean... Benefactor, you want to entrust me to a dragon I've never met before?"
"That would be too cruel, in my opinion," Kristina chimed in, moving closer to Eugene and stroking Raimira's head as she peeked out from inside Eugene’s cloak.
"We can't just leave her clueless like this,” countered Eugene.
"What… what did you just say? Benefactor! Even if you are this Lady’s benefactor, calling this Lady a fool is too harsh, considering that this Lady is a revered member of the great race!"
Whack!
Raimira retracted her head back into the cloak after a good smack on the red jewel.
"A dragon should have some dragon-like qualities. She's just clueless and weak,” said Eugene.
There couldn’t be more than a hundred-year difference between Ariartel and Raimira.
Yet, despite such a small age difference, the disparity between Ariartel and Raimira was far too great. Despite being a magic-controlling dragon, Raimira had no significant magic prowess, her Dragon Fear was mediocre, and her Draconic lacked power.
"That's probably because of the ruby on her forehead," Sienna speculated. She was still fixated on obtaining the red jewel on Raimira’s forehead.
After researching the red jewel for several days, they discovered that the curse and binding of Raizakia still remained in the ruby, despite his death.
Raizakia had not treated his only kin as family. The crimson gemstone lodged within her was a safeguard, an anchor sunk deep into the core of her being. It ensured that she could never defy or resist him. Its oppressive presence was the reason for her lackluster magic, subpar Dragon Fear, and inadequate Draconic. The gem restrained the mighty dragon's powers that should reside within her.
"To meddle with that kind of magic, particularly that of a dragon, would be a burden even for me. And quite the nuisance. That... Ariartel, despite just having surpassed her hatchling phase, should be able to intervene with her Draconic. After all, Raizakia is dead," said Sienna.
If she became more like a dragon, it was possible Raimira could be utilized to their advantage in some capacity.
'But she's still just a fledgling, after all,' Sienna thought, keeping her expectations modest. To the ancient demons that had lived since the age of wars, even a dragon hatchling might be no more intimidating than a large lizard.
"B-benefactor, you can't abandon this Lady. I do not wish to leave the warm embrace of my mother…."
Hopefully, he would no longer have to deal with her usual frivolous antics with Mer and muffled sobbing from inside the cloak once they resolved this issue. Hoping so, Eugene ignored Raimira.
They made their way through the quiet rural streets of Bollanyo to the vicinity of the home where Ariartel had chosen her solitude. Sienna's perception-obscuring magic kept them from the villagers' prying eyes, but the gate to the property was already open. Ariartel could be seen at the window, her fiery red hair twisted around her fingers and a vexed expression on her face.
Sienna and Ariartel's eyes met. Instantaneously, Ariartel's expression transformed. She took several steps back from the window with wide eyes that reflected disbelief.
"It seems she recognized you,” commented Eugene.
"I've never seen that dragon before,” answered Sienna.
"In this day and age, how many wizards with purple hair are wandering about?"
"Do you know how many followed my trend and dyed their hair purple back in the day?"
"There has been a trend among the priests since olden times to revere Lady Anise, and so they grew their blond hair long,” commented Kristina.
"Then why is no one trying to copy me?" Eugene asked in confusion.
"Who would deliberately scar their face to imitate you?"
"And blow off one of their ears, no less."
Eugene pouted at their response as he approached the house. The door opened without any prompt.
"The Wise Sienna?" Ariartel questioned, standing at the entrance.
"Do you not hear any news from Aroth in this rural place?" asked Eugene.
"What are you talking about?" Ariartel asked, confused.
"Apparently, you haven't."
Sienna had returned to Aroth just a few days ago, but the rumor should have already spread across the continent. It seemed the news of Sienna's return had yet to reach Bollanyo, which was located on the outskirts of Kiehl.
'I guess in this sense, Gidol is better off.'
Eugene smiled nostalgically with appreciation for his hometown. Ariartel watched Eugene's smile with a sour expression before rearranging her face and turning back to Sienna.
“This powerful magic…. It is certainly the Wise Sienna herself. And you… you must be Kristina Rogeris, the Saint of our age?" asked Ariartel.
"It is an honor to meet a member of the great race," Kristina replied with a radiant smile, her hands folded in prayer over her chest. Ariartel felt a slight shiver and took a step back.
An Archwizard who could be called a legend, the Saint, who could be called the embodiment of the Light, and the reincarnation of a hero from three hundred years ago — although the three figures standing before her were unmistakably human, Ariartel couldn’t possibly bring herself to regard them as such.
"This way," she said after a brief pause, swallowing nervously and turning.
She had not anticipated visitors, but Ariartel felt no further annoyance towards them. She welcomed her three guests into the drawing room, willingly served tea, and placed a cup before each of them.
"Wise Sienna, I heard about your misfortune from the Stupid Hamel. Your presence before me in the world implies... as the Stupid Hamel foretold, you have slain the Black Dragon Raizakia, the disgrace to dragonkind,” said Ariartel
"Stop saying Stupid Hamel," Eugene was quick to correct her.
Even Jagon, whom he had killed at the Dragon Demon Castle, had addressed him with the magnificent title of Hamel of Annihilation. So why did humans and dragons insist on referring to him as the Stupid Hamel? Eugene found himself unfairly irritated with Sienna and Anise.
"Your name?" Sienna asked.
"Ariartel. The Red Dragon Ariartel."
"Ah, so it’s Ariartel. I've heard that you've been instrumental in my rescue." Sienna showed caution in her demeanor. She was conscious of the fact that she was dealing with a dragon. She gave a gentle bow toward the Red Dragon. "If it hadn't been for your aid, it would have taken me an impossibly long time to return to the world. I, Sienna Merdein, a descendant of the Samar Forest’s elven tribe and the World Tree, could awaken from my long slumber because of your help.”
"Ah… grand wizard, a pearl of magic both human and not. Lift your head. Though I am a dragon, I am but an immature being, certainly not greater than you. Please, do not bow to me."
Ariartel's expression was a mix of perplexity and joy.
Even as a dragon, sitting face-to-face with figures she'd known only from ancient fairy tales was stirring. Hearing such words from the Wise Sienna kindled the remnants of childhood innocence deep within her heart.
'Indeed, heroes from legends… from fairy tales should possess such dignity,'?she thought while stealing a glance at Eugene.
Eugene Lionheart, the reincarnation of the Stupid Hamel... He was boorish, brash, and lacked manners, much like how it was told in the fairy tale. But what about the Wise Sienna? Behold her measured speech and sagacious gaze!
And Kristina Rogeris, the Saint of their time. Each of her actions radiated a sanctity truly befitting her status and name. She seemed capable of embracing all beings in the world with compassion and love.
‘Dragons usually hoard treasures in mountainous piles….’
While keeping her expression steady, Sienna surveyed the room with hawk-like eyes. The dwelling was too dilapidated to be perceived as a dragon's lair, as she had also observed from the outside before entering the house.
'Isn't there a single piece of treasure I can get my hands on?'
In this regard, Sienna and Eugene were quite similar. Sienna pondered how she might coax some treasures out of Ariartel.
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