Volume 9 Chapter 20 Confession
Al returned to his room at the inn and let out a big sigh again.
This time, Al thought that there was only one magician to deal with, so he imagined that they couldn't stay awake all day. He thought maybe he could find a time when they were sleeping and sneak in to gather some evidence of a crime.
However, When Al tried to get closer, the magician quickly used the 'Floating Eye' spell after sensing magic, showing they weren't careless. Even though it had been a week since they escaped the Golden Dragon Inn, they had already noticed the 'Floating Eye' watching the Levy merchant guild. Magic tools were rare, but adventurers like Barbara had them, so it wasn't impossible.
Also, there might be reinforcements for the magician. If that's the case, there probably wouldn't be any openings until those reinforcements arrived. Al had thought the same when they quickly left the Golden Dragon Inn; what a cautious opponent they were.
Al and the others couldn't think of any breakthroughs, so they decided to take a step back for now.
'Ally, what should we do?'
As Al sat on the bed in the room, deep in thought, he heard Glee's voice.
"Well... I don't know what to do anymore. I learned the 'Spasm' spell, so I thought I could defend against attack spells if we were ambushed, but if a bunch of magicians come as reinforcements and all of them attack Patricia, there's no way I could defend against that."
'Would they really do something like that in the middle of the city? If they did, wouldn't those people be trapped too?'
"I think so too, but they might still give orders to their subordinates to wipe out the remaining royalty. That's what the people who took over the kingdom would think, right?"
As Al muttered this, Glee the assistant device fell silent. Al sat on the bed and took out a leather pouch that held the Ring of Pact from a hidden pocket in his clothes.
"Guildmaster Levy hesitated to tell Patricia about this, but he has to do it eventually. Maybe he thinks there's still time before the ambush... I want to meet and talk to Patricia."
While saying this, Al stared at the Ring of Pact that matched the one he gave to Patricia.
The Ring of Pact is a magic tool that allows you to sense the location of your partner and understand their thoughts without words. It's about 2.5km (� 1.55 miles) from here to the lord's mansion. Al put on the ring and lightly waved his palm downwards. It was a motion he practiced with Joanna. The direction of the lord's mansion faintly glowed. Although the light was much weaker than before, it seemed to respond.
'I wonder how Patricia is doing.'
It was late at night. She might already be asleep. The hand movements... right. The 'Telepathy' spell activates with hand movements. Could it be?
Al, still unsure, moved his fingers as Eric had taught him. The hand signs to use the 'Telepathy' spell. First, he spread his palm, moved each finger up and down, then turned his wrist and tightly clenched his fist.
'Huh?' 'What?'
The moment he finished the movements, he felt a connection, like something clicked. Then, a voice echoed in his head. Patricia? All of a sudden? No way?
'Umm... Sir Al?'
Did the 'Telepathy' spell really connect just like that? No way? So easy?
'Patricia...?'
'Ah?'
Al was confused, but it seemed like Patricia was just as confused.
'Sorry, suddenly... I put on the ring of pact and was trying it out, and then it just connected...'
'I-I see. Usually, when I have time, I've been holding onto this... so... Sir Al... to be able to talk again...'
Patricia looked like she was about to cry. Joanna had told Al before that Patricia was deep in thought, and it seemed like she believed she wouldn't see Al again. Now, Al could suddenly talk to her, but he didn't know what to say. If he mentioned the spies from Tempest Kingdom, she wouldn't understand. What should he start with? And how could he express his feelings for Patricia? Confused, Al tried to find the right words.
'Um... Patricia... I'm glad... we can talk again... I heard from Ms. Joanna that things have been quite difficult...'
Tomorrow, Stroud is supposed to arrive. He wonders what Patricia has heard about it.
'Yes, that's right. Tomorrow, Sir Stroud, the second son of Margrave Rain, will arrive. He's going to propose and promise to reclaim my mother's family home, Count Senet. I can't do that on my own. To save the people in Count Senet, I have no choice but to accept his offer...'
'Umm...'
Al didn't know what to say to Patricia. How serious is Margrave Rain about this? Is he really planning to go to war against the Marquis Prentis family, who took over the Tempest Kingdom? There aren't many Viscount families serving Margrave Rain. There haven't been any rumors of war in this border city, Lester, which is still ruled by the Viscount Lester family...
Or could it be that knights from the Sylvester royal family, to whom Margrave Rain has pledged loyalty, will be sent? Or is this just a story made up by Viscount Eugene, who is said to be close to Margrave Rain?
'After all, Sir Tempest brought me and Sir Al together...'
How much should he tell her? She's only 13, two years younger than him... But Al knew he couldn't protect Patricia from everything. She should decide after knowing the truth. Is that too cruel? Al thought for a moment and decided to tell her what he knew. He should respect her thoughts. But where to start? From the beginning? That means he'd have to start with the story of Tempest's tomb.
'Patricia... Please calm down and listen... First of all, there's something I need to apologize to Patricia for'
Al first explained that Tempest's tomb was nearby, where he met her. Then, at that point, Patricia decided that it would be best for her to go to her aunt, Viscountess Tara, as she said, and apologized for not telling her.
'Sir Tempest's tomb... was just as the legend said. As I thought, Sir Tempest made us meet'
'Yes, maybe. At that time, Sir Tempest asked me to use the assistant device he left behind to protect Patricia if her life was ever in danger. I thought that Patricia's life was not yet in danger, so I thought it would be best to go to Viscountess Tara'
'Sir Tempest's assistant device... what is it?'
'Patricia, ypu probably had it too. A magic tool passed down in the Tempest royal family. Right now, I'm the one holding onto it.... Sir Tempest's soul is said to reside in it, giving advice to the king. It's similar to that. It was left at Sir Tempest's grave. That assistant device was with Sir Tempest in his lifetime and was buried with him. It can even talk. Malachi... that's what the assistant device called himself. Ah, I haven't told anyone about this. You can relax.'
'I see... so that's how it is.'
Patricia seemed to think for a moment. Time passed for a while. Al waited quietly for Patricia's reaction.
'I understand. Even if I had heard that, I would probably have chosen to go to Viscountess Tara. I think Sir Malachi, who served Sir Tempest, would want to greet her, but I don't think Sir Al's choice was wrong.'
'Thank you. And I'm sorry. At that time, I thought that if you could be happy with Viscountess Tara, there was no need for Patricia to know about it. I'm just the third son of a knight. I'm just an adventurer. Compared to that, Patricia is a princess of the royal family. I thought there was no way I could protect you...'
Also, in reality, he still haven't properly confirmed if the research tower Malachi mentioned could really be a hiding place for Patricia. Malachi said he should still be active, and Al is just dreaming about exploring ancient ruins.
'So, now that Sir Al is telling me this... does that mean Sir Al's thoughts have changed?'
'Yeah... I guess. But honestly, I don't know. The situation might not have changed yet. There's not much information, and it's hard to decide based on this alone. Everyone who knows is unsure what to do. But I thought Patricia should know. Luckily, I can tell you with this ring, but even without it, I would've found a way to tell you.'
Al began by explaining everything he knew: the political struggle with Naresh and Sanjay's aides, the Tempest Kingdom spies targeting Patricia, and the possible involvement of Viscount Eugene. He also mentioned that the hair ornament Lady Agnes gave Patricia was a magic tool, and Guildmaster Levy suspected it might be a listening device.
'I understand. I'm really happy. But... please let me think for a moment.'
Happy? Was there really anything to be happy about in that story?
'Can I talk to Sir Al from my side?'
'I'm not sure...'
Feeling like something was being dodged, Al showed the hand sign to use the 'Telepathy' spell.
'Thank you. But I might not be able to do it well. If I don't get in touch, could you contact me tomorrow night around the same time? I need to sort out my thoughts on what I should do by then...'
'If you're going to talk to Lady Joanna...'
'Okay. Please take off the hair accessory... right?'
'Yeah.'
'Thank you. Sir Al... I really... like you. Ah, I said it!'
Suddenly, it felt like something connected was cut off. Patricia might have let go of the ring. I like you... That's what Al wanted to say... Huh? Why am I feeling this way? No, maybe this feeling isn't wrong... Al was confused that he felt like he was about to say it too. Does this ring of pact have that kind of effect?
For now, he shared everything he knew. This decision should have been the right one. He should tell Guildmaster Levy about his conversation with Patricia as soon as possible.
"Glee, did you hear Patricia's voice?"
'No, Patricia's voice? Huh? What do you mean?'
The assistant device was supposed to share the 5 senses, but it seemed like it didn't reach 'Telepathy.' Or maybe the effect of this ring of pact is special. Al told Glee what he just talked about with Patricia.
'I see. I think that's good.'
Glee's reaction was calm. What should I do next? Many thoughts raced through Al's mind. He looked out the window at the sky.
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