Unnamed Memory

 1. Shellwork Memory
“Once I’m dead, you’ll know for the first time what I was and what you are.”
“What, Father?” the young man asked, stunned by his father’s sudden declaration at the dinner table. He paused while bringing a spoonful of soup to his mouth. “What’s this all about? Why are you talking about dying?”
“You’ll know soon enough,” his father answered dismissively. “This world has a way of balancing the books to make up for how things were altered. One person’s salvation means another’s downfall, and one country’s glory ensures another’s decline. Ultimately, it will all converge on a future that’s not so different from how it should have been.”
The words seemed like nonsense. The son opened his mouth to inquire further, but the father held up a hand to stop him. “Stay quiet and just listen to me. Anyway, won’t shooting for that convergence mean we wind up with a future that’s totally immutable? This present that we’re in now, the one that was so far in the future for the people of the ancient past, is still being altered. Humans will keep challenging themselves for all eternity—so long as those orbs exist.”
“Orbs?”
“They possess a terrible power and keep sticking pins in the world. With every new prick, the world is dismantled and forced to reconstruct itself based on washed-up memories. It must be profoundly agonizing for the world. And we are the only ones who know of that pain.”
The young man didn’t interrupt his father’s story. He stayed silent, as an odd feeling settled over the room.
“The world cannot tolerate its memory being overwritten forever. But what it will truly become unable to suffer is us. In the end, we are mere mortals. Our minds are fragile. Our lot is to be used as tools and cast aside… No, we are eternal slaves who are never allowed to be thrown away.”
His voice took on a resentful tone. He wasn’t shouting, but his words shook with a deep fury.
The father was swift to rein in that anger before his son. And as he stared at his child, he went on. “The world is waiting for one last straw. That which will undo all the interventions and restore it to its original shape.”
There was an emptiness in his eyes as he whispered the words. Then he dropped his gaze to his knees. “But that won’t happen in my lifetime.”
Heavy despair showed through in that pronouncement. By the time his son finally understood the meaning of his words…
By the next day, his father had hanged himself on a tree in the garden.

Farsas Castle was a massive structure. Inhabitants frequently couldn’t see the ends of the hallways they traveled along. Unlike the castle in Tuldarr, which had been expanded and added onto many times since the nation’s founding, Farsas’s had been designed to be huge from the start.
“Must be because it was built over an underground lake,” said a stunningly beautiful woman with black eyes and hair as she made her way down a hall.
Passing magistrates and ladies-in-waiting turned their heads to look at her, despite knowing it was rude. In her eyes, as dark and mysterious as a moonless night, they found only the pronounced innocence of a girl.
Clad in a white mage’s robe, she sauntered down the long hallway with arms crossed, when a bright feminine voice called out from behind her.
“Princess Tinasha!”
She turned at the sound of nearing footsteps and spied two familiar mages. “Sylvia and Doan,” she greeted them.
The blond woman who had called out grinned and curtsied, while the calm young man next to her gave a bow. Both were mages who served the court of Farsas and were relatively close with Tinasha, even though she was a visitor from a bordering country.
Sylvia glanced down at Tinasha’s feet. “What happened to your shoes?”
“Shoes?” Tinasha asked, following Sylvia’s gaze. Her ivory feet were bare, floating a little above the ground. Her eyes widened in surprise as she raked a hand through her black hair. “I didn’t even notice. I was too deep in thought.”
“Your research?” Sylvia questioned.
The most likely target of a mage’s focused concentration would be their own magic research.
The future queen of Farsas’s neighbor, the Magic Empire of Tuldarr, nodded. “I’m a little stuck on something… but I think I’ll figure it out soon.”
“Ah, I know what that must be,” said Doan, alluding to the most highly classified secret in all of Farsas.
When the young king of Farsas was a young boy, a witch cursed him. Any woman carrying his child would die before the child could be born. The curse was so strong that even the royal chief mage and the king of Tuldarr were incapable of undoing it. Tinasha was presently analyzing the magic herself in an attempt to break it.
There were only three witches in all the land, and there were two reasons why Tinasha was qualified to unravel their spells.
The first was that she herself was a former queen of Tuldarr who bore the title of Witch Killer Queen. The other was that she had personally examined a nullified version of that exact curse when she was younger.
A man from four hundred years in the future had come to rescue Tinasha from danger, and he had possessed the impotent version of the curse.
Though he claimed he would be Tinasha’s husband one day, in the end, he vanished after saving her. In exchange for sacrificing everything, he rewrote history and Tinasha’s fate.
He was also the owner of a royal sword that could nullify magic. His name was Oscar.
In the present age, he was king of Farsas, and now that the past had been altered, he possessed no memory of Tinasha. But she didn’t mind.
Tinasha and Oscar were different from the versions who had married each other. They were totally separate people who had met afresh.
That was precisely why she had to be the one to break his curse.
“I need to undo it, but I’ve hit a snag… I’m looking for one last flash of inspiration,” Tinasha explained.
“Ah, right. That last stretch can be tricky,” Doan said with a wry grimace. Court mages like him held just about the highest position a mage could reach; there were fewer than five hundred throughout every country combined. The best of them spent much of their time sequestered in research, so Doan sympathized with what it was like to hit a mental wall.
Tinasha floated along barefoot, stretching both her arms up overhead. “I’m really struggling with it… but I know there has to be a way within the laws of magic…”
Curses and blessings were constructed from the spell caster’s own unique language, but as long as they utilized magic, they were still bound by its rules and limits. No matter how inspired the idea or technology used for the spell was, it shouldn’t have been beyond understanding and deconstructing.
Thus, the real challenge came from whatever was working against those laws, rather than from the witch’s curse.
The magic orb that had once sent a different Oscar backward in time now lay in the Tuldarr treasure vault, while one of another color was stored in Farsas’s treasure vault.
Once someone used the sphere, history would be erased and rewritten with a new timeline that started from the point in time at which the user arrived. What was the original purpose in creating such a devastating thing that went against all laws of magic?
As Tinasha considered it, doubts flooded her mind until it was all she could think about.
“A new law… no, that’s not it. They don’t contradict one another.”
A primary tenet of the laws of magic was that time could not be rewound. It continued to flow. There was leeway to dam its streaming for a bit, but there was no turning it back. That was the letter of the law and the hard-and-fast way the world operated. Past eras existed in memories.
“Then what about overwriting a law with a different one? Or does the orb contain its own unique rules? But where would a different law come from in the first place? Since going back in time is tantamount to reconstructing the entire world…”
“Princess Tinasha, your thoughts are getting a little worrisome,” Doan remarked with concern as he walked a step behind her. He would have liked to pretend he hadn’t heard anything, and his harsh but honest remark made Tinasha silence her whispering.
Instead, Sylvia piped up in a cheerful voice. Apparently, she hadn’t heard anything. “Oh yes, did you know rumors are flying in the city about today’s garden party?”
“Garden party? Rumors?” Tinasha repeated.
“Hey, Sylvia…,” Doan chided.
Tinasha hadn’t been informed of the event. During the two days following her involvement in a conflict with Yarda, one of Farsas’s neighbors, Tinasha had been shut up in her room, focusing on analyzing the curse.
While Doan’s expression was strained, Sylvia flashed him a grin. “Aww, but it’s the talk of the town. The word on the street is that the garden party today might be a way for His Majesty to choose a bride!”
“…”
A long, unpleasant silence fell over the trio. Doan let out a heavy sigh before pasting a professional smile on his face and bowing. “I seem to have recalled something I need to do. I will be taking my leave.”
“Hold it,” Tinasha called, her voice imbued with power, and Doan was rendered unable to move. The young mage cursed himself for missing his chance to escape earlier.
Tinasha cast him a brilliant grin. “Now that I’ve heard such interesting news, I insist you tell me all about it.”
“The garden party tradition started three generations ago with King Regius. He would invite the city’s merchants and artisans to display their pieces and sell their wares,” Sylvia explained.
“Oh, so it was a way for him to gather everyone he was keeping an eye on,” Tinasha surmised.
“Exactly. It’s a potentially life-changing opportunity for dealers, and they promote themselves with everything they have. Very often, a merchant’s business explodes after becoming an official provider for the crown,” Sylvia went on.
After the trio headed to the lounge to continue their conversation, Sylvia launched into the details of the garden party. Her eyes were dancing, and there wasn’t a shred of ill intention in her as she sipped her tea.
“So then it became a chance for the merchants’ daughters, who came along to assist their parents, to catch the eyes of noblemen. And remember, our last queen was a commoner herself.”
“All of this is just the townsfolk getting themselves all worked up,” added Doan, looking resigned. Ordinarily, he didn’t like to get himself involved in any sticky disagreements, and he could sense that this was going to put Tinasha in a bad mood. Based on her behavior, it was a reasonable fear. Still, Tinasha was about to take the Tuldarr throne and possessed good judgment.
As Tinasha savored the aroma wafting from her teacup, she asked, “The king first fell in love with Oscar’s mother at one of these parties?”
“No, I believe he brought her back to the castle with him one day. He met her after sneaking out for some fun,” Doan replied.
“Sneaking out… Like father, like son…”
“As I recall, her family was opposed to the union, so her origins remained a secret. No one from the late queen’s family attended her funeral,” Sylvia said.
“Hmm…”
Tinasha had a feeling that even Oscar didn’t know the whole story.
His mother had been the one to bring the very orb that took him back in time into Farsas. What’s more, Oscar had enough magic in him to surpass the average mage, although it was sealed away. The previous king didn’t possess a drop of magic, so it was very likely that his mother had been a mage.
Yet while all of that was intriguing, Oscar’s mother was dead, and this was all another nation’s business. Tinasha knew it wasn’t something to concern herself with. It would be a matter for Oscar’s future queen to ponder.
Elbows on her knees, Tinasha rested her chin in her hands. “I wonder who he’ll marry.”
“Princess Tinasha, may I excuse myself? I believe I have a stomachache,” Doan said.
“I’m not going to do anything!” she shot back. It was her own fault that the man didn’t trust her, but she was displeased that he was so obviously wary.
As Tinasha puffed up her cheeks with indignation, Sylvia clapped her hands together. “I know! Why don’t you attend the garden party?”
“What? But I’m a foreign visitor. I think Oscar would get mad if he found me there.”
The young king had often urged her not to sneak out on her own, as she was a precious resource. He would undoubtedly be vexed if she made an appearance during a gathering of merchants and artisans.
Tinasha tried to change the subject, but Sylvia waved a hand dismissively. “You just have to not get caught. Oh, I know! You can use a curse song to disguise yourself!”
“Curse songs aren’t powerful enough for that… and Oscar will be on guard from the moment I sing,” Tinasha objected.
“Then we’ll use some other method! Don’t old spell books have transformation spells?”
“Transformation spells? I did learn some when I was younger,” Tinasha admitted.
The magic altered the physical body itself instead of creating illusions, as curse songs and other techniques did. It was an ancient advanced magic that Tinasha had indeed been instructed in four hundred years ago. However, she only knew the theory behind it, and had never put it into practice.
Tinasha cast back through her memories. “I don’t feel capable of changing myself to anything nonhuman… but I could likely manage something simple like changing my age.”
“Let’s try it, then! I’ll get your costume ready! You should pretend to be a town girl and set your sights on marrying the king!” Sylvia chirped.
“But I’m not after that!” Tinasha protested.
“I believe it’s time for me to be taking my leave… I don’t want to quit my job as court mage just yet,” Doan said faintly. In sharp contrast to his discreet worry, Sylvia was in high spirits and bursting with excitement.
Tinasha folded her arms, gazing at the pair. “Only for a little while. I’ll leave if it looks like I’m about to get scolded.”
“It’ll be fine if you don’t get caught! Leave it to me!” Sylvia reassured her with totally baseless confidence as she tugged Tinasha out of her seat.
Doan watched them depart the lounge and let out a long sigh as he rubbed at his aching stomach.

Later that afternoon, tables and quilts were spread on the grass in the castle courtyard as townspeople who had brought their finest wares bustled about. Rows of crystals glittered on a black cloth next to a stand with a display of elaborately wrought clockwork boxes. All sorts of treasures were on exhibit as the merchants hustled to and fro.
Everyone’s greatest hope was to catch the king’s fancy, but this event still promised to be a significant business opportunity for them, even if they failed at that. One could still be made a royal purveyor if their goods enticed a castle official. And if they managed to forge a connection with a famous merchant, that could be their ticket to international trade. What kind of opportunity awaited them depended on effort and luck.
For those reasons, all attendees had been highly motivated to make the most scrupulous preparations—including the merchants’ daughters, who aspired to something a bit different. Ostensibly, they were there to assist their families. But they also harbored dreams of a fairy-tale ending, despite knowing it was unlikely.
These girls were visibly excited and restless upon sighting the king in the courtyard. While they didn’t squeal or shriek, they shot him looks heavy with longing.
The king’s attendant and childhood friend, Lazar, wore a faint smile. “They were at it last year, too, but it seems like there are even more girls this time.”
“It’ll get out of hand if their numbers continue to increase. I don’t have time to search for a bride,” Oscar replied while inspecting a nearby table of delicate handmade items. Impressed by the artisan’s thorough craftsmanship, he picked up an accessory case. “This is well made. Very interesting. I’ll take it.”
“Th-thank you very much!” answered the merchant, whose prestige would rise after having sold to the king. Joy was writ large on his face as Lazar handled the purchase. Meanwhile, Oscar slipped the shellwork case into his jacket pocket. That done, his eye turned to other goods.
As he made his way around the courtyard, the palpable sense of anticipation in the air reached a fever pitch. Much of it was coming from the young girls, and Oscar made sure to keep his expression free of the cynical smile that threatened to tug at his lips.
When he’d made his way around half of the sellers, a girl came running up to him from the crowd. Her cheeks were flushed with nervous tension as she curtsied before him. “Would you mind terribly if I accompanied you, Your Majesty?”
The young woman’s brazen offer made all the other young women stare at her with shock and envy.
Oscar’s eyes widened for a moment, caught off guard as he was, but then he grinned lightly. “I appreciate that, but I’m all right.”
“Oh, but…,” the girl protested.
“In that case, allow me to accompany you,” offered another young lady.
“No, let me—”
The girls began to close in. While the anxious anticipation in the air dissolved, it was now filled with the din of their entreaties, which clearly made the king’s guards uneasy.
At a complete loss about what to do, Lazar looked up at Oscar. “Your Majesty…”
He seemed to be suggesting that Oscar take his leave for the moment. For a second, Oscar couldn’t decide how to answer him.
Despite the garden party’s humble origins, it was an official affair nowadays. The merchants and artisans who attended submitted samples of their wares to the castle ahead of time. The king and royal experts on each type of craft reviewed the application, so there was very little need for Oscar to attend in person and cause a stir.
The dealers were all aware of that. Many of them pursed their lips at the disturbance and turned disapproving looks on the hopeful young women.
As Oscar scanned the crowd, his gaze suddenly landed on a girl standing some distance away in the shade of a tree. Her red hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she wore a white apron. With her freckled face and slightly scuffed wooden clogs, she was the picture of an ordinary town maiden.
But… there was something different in her eyes.
Blazing as they were with some potent, very fierce emotion, those eyes seemed to carry the power to captivate anyone with a single look. She was entirely unlike her peers.
Oscar’s gaze narrowed as if against the sunlight. Once he recognized how he couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from her, he sighed quietly.
Turning his attention back to everyone else, he proclaimed, “All right, then. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to show someone around the castle. That said, I can’t take everyone.”
He looked around at the crowd thoughtfully. Then he beckoned to the girl under the tree. “Yes, you’ll do. Come along.”
“Um…,” the girl said, her expression seizing up. Her eyes darted about, as though hoping to spot an escape. Upon realizing that everyone was staring her way, she pursed her lips.
She looked down and away as her cheeks turned pink. “Thank… you very much. I accept.”
The girl made her way through the crowd as others lobbed envious looks at her all the while. She followed half a step behind Oscar, and as they departed this section of the garden, the feverish atmosphere vanished like a wave pulling out to sea. Deflated, those remaining returned to their work. The bustle of activity in the courtyard settled back down to more relaxed levels.
Meanwhile, the king and the young lady were silent as they ventured deeper into the castle gardens.
Once they were out of sight of prying eyes, the girl eked out in a small voice, “Um, Your Majesty… why me?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“No… you do not,” she replied, cowering at his retort. Her last bit of hope had vanished, and her pink cheeks turned pale.
Oscar wondered if maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. But he knew what he had glimpsed. Once the two reached an open patch of lawn, he sat down on the grass. The girl hurried to take a seat beside him.
The king glanced at that freckled face and then abruptly reached out to pinch one soft cheek. “What’s going on here? How did you do this?”
“Ow, ow, ow! Stop it! I just transformed myself with magic!” she confessed, ducking her head to get away from his hand and rubbing at her reddened cheek. “How did you know it was me?”
Altered though it was, Tinasha’s face looked as it always did to Oscar. Her innocent eyes were just as spirited. There was no mistaking them.
Oscar met that gaze evenly with a blank look of his own. All sorts of retorts came to mind, but he gave a safe answer in the end. “No amount of magic can hide power as strong as yours. You’re giving off the faintest glow.”
“Oh… I suppose your intuition was always pretty strong,” Tinasha replied, burying her face in her hands. Immediately, her red locks reverted to their original inky black. Her suntanned skin became alabaster, and she dropped her hands. Her face, in all its unparalleled beauty, peered up at Oscar.
The queen who had come from four hundred years ago to save Oscar gave him an abashed, guilty smile. “I’m sorry. I simply wanted a little break.”
“You should’ve just told me, then.”
“I also heard you’d be looking for a wife.”
“Listen… Don’t try to marry me disguised as someone else,” he stated gravely. “It’ll turn into a diplomatic crisis.”
“I wasn’t! I just didn’t want to get in your way!” Tinasha objected, but her actions spoke differently.
Despite her status as the future queen of Tuldarr, she had taken reckless action time and again to break Oscar’s curse while staying in Farsas. She had even used herself as bait in a fight. Naturally, Oscar was always wary of what she might pull next, but he’d assumed she would behave herself with her coronation nearing. Tinasha was the type of person to ultimately prioritize her responsibilities above her own wishes, which was why she would soon be leaving Farsas.
She made a guilty face. “I did get in the way of your work. I’m very sorry.”
“It’s fine. I was just about to leave anyway,” replied Oscar. The garden party was an event his eccentric great-grandfather had started. It held no actual use. Tinasha’s presence actually provided Oscar with a chance to leave early.
From his pocket, Oscar drew out the shellwork object he’d purchased earlier and dropped it in Tinasha’s lap. “Here.”
“What? Is this for me?”
“You’ve never been to the seashore, right?”
Upon her imminent ascension to the throne, Tinasha would lose a lot of her freedom. While Oscar was a king as well, the court of Farsas was far more open. In contrast, Tuldarr would constantly be policing its queen from a shadowy background.
So he wanted her to feel a sense of freedom in her heart, at least when she looked at that shellwork case. She could remember the brief span of days she’d spent in Farsas while imagining the vast ocean.
Tinasha held the box in her palms and looked it over. The finely wrought ornamentation depicted a girl sitting on a rocky shore playing the lyre while fish listened, enraptured. Luminescent stones embedded within the piece cast faintly wavering shadows.
Carefully, she wrapped her hands around it. “Thank you so much. I love it.”
Next to her, Oscar softened his expression as he watched her with the gift.
Amid this tranquil moment, he sprawled out in the grass and stretched his arms above his head. “Now’s a great time for a break. Also, take off those shoes. You can go back barefoot if you teleport to the castle, can’t you?”
“Um, I guess… Are you going to take a nap here?”
“Wake me up when you head back,” Oscar instructed, but before his eyes could fully close, Tinasha nudged him. Moving his arm away from his eyes to look at her, he saw she was patting her lap.
“You can sleep here. I’ve got some things to think over for a while anyway.”
“Wow,” he remarked dryly, giving her a disapproving look for acting so defenseless. They were completely alone, however. He could let it slide.
Oscar moved over and lay his head down in Tinasha’s lap. When he glanced up, he saw that her face was lit with a strange childlike glee. “What’s with that look? Are you going to chop off my head while I’m asleep or something?”
“Of course not. Should that ever be necessary, I’ll come at you from head-on.”
“Big talk. I’m going to sleep,” the king responded, closing his eyes. Tinasha’s ivory hands carded through his hair softly. Oscar knew that the faint floral scent she gave off was her own. He breathed it in comfortably.
When he did pass into slumber, there came a brief, wonderful, and laughable dream in which he married an ordinary girl from town.
Oscar nodded off rather quickly, and his breathing evened.
Tinasha gazed down at him. “He didn’t get too mad at me…”
The most foolish of hopes had blossomed inside her when his eyes had fallen upon her at the party, but it was only because he’d seen through her disguise. It was a shame that her magic gave her away. Sylvia had been so excited to pick out her clothes.
Careful not to wake the man in her lap, Tinasha slipped off her wooden clogs. She’d never worn their likes before, so her toes and heels were red. Oscar must have guessed that, which was why he told her to remove them. Feeling all mixed up inside, she massaged her heels.
When they were feeling better, Tinasha held the seashell case up and examined it. “So pretty…”
Sunlight and the luminescent stones illuminated the engraved decorations that depicted part of a fairy tale. A girl whose love had gone missing in an accident at sea walked the coast during the day, hoping to find him. Come nightfall, she sang to the fish, asking for any news of him.
Despite her efforts, her sweetheart was never found. When she was nearing the last of her hope, he appeared at last, but his memories were gone. The story went that she found joy in getting to know him again, though she mourned the loss of his recollections to the ocean.
“Starting over…”
It reminded Tinasha of her and Oscar. Unlike in the fairy tale, she and the king of Farsas weren’t in love. All that awaited them was a final good-bye.
Because the other Oscar had rescued Tinasha four hundred years ago, they had met again in this era. However, their paths would diverge before long. She could only leave him with the fruits of her labor, the breaking of the curse. It was the materialization of her feelings for him, in a way. Most curses and blessings were laid with an underlying emotion.


Unnamed Memory

“Oh!”
Inspiration abruptly struck Tinasha, and her head snapped up.
Surely this feeling is the final piece to undoing the curse.
The desire to leave something behind. That was what the curse placed on Oscar had desired all along. Inside the spell woven by the Witch of Silence’s own distinct language, there was a further coded portion, the definition name. Even if the curse were broken, that portion would remain. In the curse Tinasha had examined four centuries ago, that bit hadn’t been negated.
The final piece of the spell had to exist to ensure the definition name remained.
“Which means…”
Tinasha looked at Oscar, still asleep with his head in her lap. She wanted to test out her theory right away, but he was resting. If possible, she would prefer to let him relax to make up for his hectic daily schedule.
After thinking for a moment, Tinasha spread her arms wide. A fluffy white blanket appeared between them, and she placed it over the king. Then she closed her eyes and began to contemplate the curse.

How long had he been asleep? Judging by the sun’s position, not even an hour had passed.
Oscar craned his neck to look at the girl whose lap he’d been napping on, only to discover that she had nodded off, too. Tinasha’s head was lolling to one side. He’d anticipated that she’d rouse him, yet the young woman had abandoned her post.
Oscar noticed the white blanket laid over him and huffed. “We’re in the castle, but it’s still dangerous if neither of us keeps watch.”
Anything could’ve happened while they were both unawares. However, one of them would have probably awoken had there been trouble.
Oscar spent some time watching Tinasha’s face as she slept, but he couldn’t do that forever. He sat up, placed the blanket over her, and took the girl in his arms. Even that didn’t wake her. Gently, he hugged her more closely.
“Go on and sleep. You are free as long as you’re in Farsas.”
If Tinasha wished it, she could live like a commoner in town. But Oscar knew she’d never do that.
The pair had both been raised for something more. That was why the rare moments of freedom like this one were so precious.
With Tinasha in his arms, Oscar returned to his day.
He didn’t want to count how many days like this she had left.


Unnamed Memory

 2. Moon Crystals
It revolved slowly in the air with a solid artistic beauty.
Strands and lines were woven together so minutely. It was the height of intricacy, and Tinasha reached a finger toward it.
Two spells intertwined, canceling each other out, just like what I saw back then.
The opposed forces brought together natures that were averse yet strongly attracted to each other.
Both of them were love, and both of them were hate.
That which devoured from the inside even as it protected, and that which supported even as it caused harm.
Within, Tinasha saw powerful emotions, and she sighed. Fear struck her at the thought that she would soon have to manifest one-half of this pair.
“It’s all right.”
She wouldn’t go back on her promise. Tinasha had slept for four hundred years for this. At the very least, she owed it to him to get it done.
She summoned an array of assorted crystal balls into her hands. Then she began the long recitation to create the magic implements she would need.

When Tinasha visited Oscar in his study, he noticed dark circles under her eyes and frowned. Her face had been lined with exhaustion the day before during their practice, too. Censure bled into the king’s voice as he inquired, “Are you getting enough sleep?”
“I don’t think I’ve slept in two days.”
“Go to bed! Now!” he barked, and she gave a wan smile. Lazar glanced over, concerned.
Tinasha leaned against the wall by the door and held up a hand. “I came to tell you that I’ve finished the analysis. I’m going to break the curse tonight. Until then, I’m going to take a little nap… so I won’t be able to make our training today. Sorry about that.”
The news she dropped so casually struck both men dumb. Neither could manage a single word for a moment.
Noticing their reactions, Tinasha grinned and looked away. Neither could be confident if she did so from exhaustion, shyness, or something else entirely. However, it was curiously alluring, and it caught Oscar’s gaze.
After sufficient time, he let out a deep sigh. “I didn’t think you’d make it before the deadline.”
“Of course I did. Anything less would’ve inconvenienced you, after all.”
“You said it would require half a year, but I thought three years for sure.”
“Don’t just add on time based on a groundless assumption!” Tinasha snapped, pushing off from the wall. She looked unsteady on her feet, which made Oscar regret teasing her.
Biting his tongue to keep himself from prodding her further, he steered the conversation back on course. “So, do you need anything to break the curse?”
“No. I’ll do it while you’re sleeping, so go to bed early.”
“Why do I need to be unconscious?” he asked.
“It’s dangerous if you’re awake during the spell,” Tinasha explained while massaging her temples. It looked like she could pass out at any moment.
Noticing that, Oscar nodded. “All right. Just go get some sleep.”
“I’ll come to you tonight,” she said before teleporting away.
Lazar exhaled, amazed. “It feels like time has passed in a flash. It doesn’t seem real yet that Princess Tinasha will be returning to Tuldarr.”
“Those were the terms she came here with,” Oscar reminded him, his inflection free of sentiment. There was less than a week left until Tinasha’s coronation. It was strange for her to still be here so close to the deadline. She had done so to break his curse, but that excuse would be gone after tonight. A profoundly mysterious emotion coursed through Oscar’s body.
Impatience, hope, loneliness, worry—no, none of that.
He was unwilling to acknowledge that unnamed sensation, but he did let his thoughts turn to how hard Tinasha had worked to reach this point.

Tinasha came to Oscar’s chamber an hour after he retired for the night. The color had returned to her face, if only somewhat, likely thanks to her nap during the day. Oscar looked her up and down from his spot next to her on the bed. “Those dark circles aren’t going to go away in time for your crowning. Legis might be upset with me.”
The future queen dismissed the concern with a smile. “I can use magic to conceal them if they don’t.” She poked at Oscar’s forehead and chest. “Take off your shirt and lie down. Once the spell begins, I don’t think you’ll wake up until it’s over. But I want you to fall asleep naturally. If I put you to sleep with magic, there will be too many spells going.”
“It’s not easy to pass out on command,” Oscar complained, but he stripped off his shirt obediently and lay faceup on the bed.
“Should I wait until you’re unconscious and then come back?” Tinasha asked.
“It’d all be the same. I’d be on edge, subconsciously wondering when you would return.”
“That’s true. It would be like knowing someone was going to creep into your room… I should have just done the spell without giving you any warning.”
“That would have been very suspicious, so forget that notion. I’ll do my best to fall asleep.”
“Thanks.”
Both of them closed their eyes, and silence blanketed the room.
Knowing that Tinasha was nearby didn’t make Oscar anxious. For as long as he could remember, he’d always been sensitive to the presence of others. This girl was probably the only person who wouldn’t keep him up. Perhaps it was because she held her own without growing overly close to him.
Tinasha was the type of ruler who kept her head high and never relied on anyone else. That was who she was, yet in Farsas, she was free to act as she pleased. Maybe that was the reason it felt so natural for her to be at Oscar’s side, and why it gave him a sense of relief.
He opened his eyes to see that Tinasha had about twenty small crystal balls spread out in her lap. She picked them up one by one to inspect them carefully.
It looked so much like she was playing a children’s game that Oscar had to speak up. “What are those?”
“Hey! You’re not asleep!”
“Who passes out that quickly?!”
Tinasha twisted around to show him a crystal ball in her palm. “It’s a magic implement. Each one contains a spell. I’m preparing these to draw up the larger spell.”
“You need that many?”
“A witch cursed you. This isn’t your everyday magic,” she replied, lips forming a smile that seemed to be both self-deprecating and relieved.
Her long eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks. The half of her porcelain face bathed in the moonlight from the window glowed pale, transforming her beauty into something ethereal. Before Oscar knew it, he was staring at her.
“It’s already been half a year,” he blurted out.
While he was no Lazar, it really did feel like the time had gone quickly.
She grinned at that. “Right on schedule, just like I said.”
“And you’ve managed to cause no end of trouble in such a short while, too.”
“Because you let me be free.”
That was the truth, and she knew he was no different.
Each day they spent together was nothing like the one before. Tinasha’s utterly carefree demeanor, her immense power she wielded like it was child’s play… It was so novel and new that it left Oscar amazed and filled with a wondrous sense of liberty.
“You do the most unexpected things. Like sleeping underneath a castle for four centuries,” he commented dryly.
“I was the one who built that underground chamber. I was only making good use of it.”
Oscar recalled the sight of that verdant subterranean garden, removed from the flow of time.
The young woman sleeping on the white bed had spoken his name when she arose.
“When I first saw you—I thought you were made for me,” Oscar confessed.
Because he discovered her while seeking a way to break his curse, his first thought was that this must be his bride. The curse that had always mystified him—even that made sense once he met her. He felt like maybe it had all been leading to that moment.
Calmly, she spoke into the silence of the room. “Yes. I did come for you.”
It echoed what he had said, but it was not the same. Still, both encapsulated emotions that were too large to hold.
Whatever sounds there were beyond the room didn’t reach Oscar. The chamber was cut off from the outside world. The flow of time was different, as if this place were submerged. Amid the quiet, everything floated to the surface.
To Oscar, it felt like he might see every corner of the room if he squinted. He closed his eyes again, however.
“Tinasha.”
“What?”
“Nothing…”
He didn’t know what to say, or how. There was a desire to express something, but hesitation as well.
In the end, he asked something that was almost what he wanted to ask, yet not quite. “Can you really break the curse?”
“I’ve come this far. Just trust me,” she responded confidently. There was no trace of uncertainty in her voice. The girl who had cried in front of Oscar was gone. While that was a relief to him, he also felt loneliness in equal measure. Whether or not that was oversentimentality, he couldn’t be sure.
If it was… then maybe, he ought to just say it.
This time he asked what he really wished to. “Are you really going to break it?”
There was a long silence heavy with something that hadn’t been there before.
Tinasha answered in a clear voice. “I am.”
It sounded like she was reading a line prepared ahead of time. Like the young woman had already convinced herself.
Oscar snorted at that resolute beauty.
She’s struggled with it that much, huh? I suppose that only makes sense.
From here, she would go on to become queen. Another thing that made sense.
Oscar had posed a foolish question. He made a face, regretting his inquiry. Now that they were here, he realized for the first time that this was what he had been wavering on all along. He’d been even more shaken up over it than she was.
However, Oscar refused to falter anymore. This would put an end to it all.
“Go ahead,” he urged before sinking deep into slumber. He let it carry him away.
As the king of Farsas fell into a soft dream, he had the faintest sensation of someone taking gentle hold of his hand.

Tinasha paused before the transportation array located deep in Farsas Castle and looked back.
No small number of people had taken breaks from their duties to see her off. She gave them all a bashful grin. Before the expression had faded, she bowed to the man who was approaching her. “I owe you a great deal.”
“And I you. Sorry I never let you take it easy,” he replied.
“I had fun. If there are ever any conflicts in the future, please call on me,” Tinasha said. She carried nothing with her, for her effects had already been cleared from her room.
She lowered her head to the others present. Sylvia bowed in return, looking like she was about to cry. Tinasha smiled to see that, knowing that she would miss her friend, too.
Oscar gazed down at Tinasha. “I’ll see you next at your coronation. It’s fast approaching.”
“Oh, you don’t have to come if it’ll inconvenience you.”
“Just how heartless do you think I am?” he groused, lightly pinching her cheek.
Tinasha fought him off. Punctuating each of her words with a slap against his chest, she retorted, “I thought you hated diplomatic events like that!”
Chastened, Oscar released the young woman. “I’m going anyway. Try not to mess up.”
“I’ve done it all once before!” she snarled, her petite shoulders squared in anger. But soon enough, her expression relaxed. One blink and her eyes glowed with affection. She scanned the assembled group, her gaze not landing on anyone in particular, until she looked up at Oscar. For a moment, her beautiful face appeared more adult, and she beamed lovingly at him.
In her gaze was clear, selfless love. The emotion was profound and boundless. Oscar felt his chest tighten.
It was fleeting, however, melting away to reveal Tinasha’s usual childlike nature. “I’ll be off, then. Thank you so much for everything.”
With that, she turned to walk away from him. Her black locks swayed like silk. Even now, her petite frame exuded nobility and solitude.
She stepped onto the transportation array.
The teleportation magic activated, and the beautiful mage disappeared from Farsas.
Oscar closed his eyes, grinning bitterly.
Her image was burned into the inside of his eyelids, vivid and striking. It would be a long while before he could forget her.


Unnamed Memory

 3. Returning the Promise
Last-minute appeals came rushing in one after another, and by the time Oscar could reach a stopping point, it was late in the afternoon.
He glanced at the clock and frowned. “Damn. Practice with Tinasha—”
Then he stopped, remembering that she had left Farsas. Not missing how his king’s face had screwed up in a scowl, Lazar gave a wan smile. “I’m sure she’s incredibly busy. Her coronation is in two days.”
“She really was here until the absolute last minute…”
While she could travel back instantly via teleportation, a ruler on the cusp of coronation normally wouldn’t remain abroad. She had done so out of a strong sense of duty and the goodness of her heart.
Tinasha had spent merely half a year living at the castle, but lingering traces of her scent popped up everywhere.
Oscar sighed, recalling how she’d smiled at him while clad in a short-sleeved outfit like something a child would wear. “She’s an odd one, all right. Make sure everything she did and said in Farsas is noted down. I want it recorded for posterity.”
“I believe Tuldarr may object to that,” Lazar said, implying that her behavior had been just that bizarre and surely her homeland would prefer that the queen’s eccentricities were kept quiet. In fact, nothing of note had been recorded about the queen who had reigned four centuries ago besides her status as the Witch Killer Queen and other meritorious deeds she had done.
“If she were a princess instead of a future queen, they might find her antics amusing,” Oscar asserted.
“Are you sure? Let’s not forget how many times she’s wound up covered in blood,” Lazar pointed out with a shudder. Ignoring him, Oscar rested his chin in his hands.
It really would have been better if she were just a princess.
If she were born as Prince Legis of Tuldarr’s younger sister and second in line for the throne, she could have led a very different life. Then she might have married into another country. Oscar didn’t know her as a princess, but he did know of her free-spirited nature.
And for that reason, he wished that she had more options, especially after she’d managed to escape from the Dark Age. He wanted her to have other paths she could choose besides a life of solitude spent under tremendous pressure.
Oscar realized he’d sunk deep into contemplation and snapped back to himself with a grimace. “Ugh, ridiculous.”
How long was he going to spend thinking about someone who was gone? There was no shortage of other things to consider. From the corner of his eye, Oscar noticed that Lazar was watching him discreetly. The king waved a hand at his attendant. “I’m fine. Get back to work.”
“Um, about that, Your Majesty. Several Farsas nobles have put in requests for an audience with you, and they would like to bring along their daughters… Er…”
“And they’re hoping I’ll pick one to be queen? That sounds annoying. Schedule them all for the same day.”
“Are you sure?” Lazar asked.
Oscar detected the layered meaning in the question but kept his face blank as he responded. “The curse is broken, so I need to evaluate some prospects for queen soon. It’s good timing, since I want to pick the most harmless one possible.”
Now that the curse was undone, there was no need to seek out the most suitable partner possible. Things would be the same no matter who she was.
Forcing himself to switch gears, Oscar returned to his work.
Three hours later, he remembered that he had never eaten lunch.

Tuldarr had not had a queen in six generations, and no ruler had inherited so much as a single mystical spirit in eleven generations.
On the day of the coronation, guests were led into Tuldarr’s cathedral, where they whispered about their fears regarding the unusual ceremony.
“A mystical spirit inheritance ceremony after Tuldarr’s spells were only just restricted under the treaty? Can you believe it?”
“It’s a part of the coronation tradition. They’re not going to suddenly stop doing it.”
“But no one’s used the spirits in hundreds of years. Could there be some ulterior motive for making a show of them now, after so long?”
Tiered rows of seats ran the circumference of the oval cathedral, with the altar at the center.
Dressed in their finest, the seated guests gossiped freely.
“Is she even capable of receiving the spirits in the first place?”
The mystical spirits that would serve the ruler of Tuldarr upon coronation were actually high-ranking demons.
Such creatures were native to another plane of existence, and consequentially almost never appeared in the human realm. On the rare occasions they did, they were frequently taken for gods, overwhelmingly powerful as they were. Some still had believers among more rural parts of the continent.
Tuldarr was already feared by other nations for being home to so many mages of preeminent magical power. For its ruler to command the mystical spirits after so many had failed to do so would make the country a concerning threat.
“It’s nothing to worry about. Even if she does succeed in the ceremony, I can’t imagine she’ll be able to handle more than one, at most.”
A wry smile came to Oscar’s lips as he listened to a fellow attendee’s optimistic opinion.
Of the twelve spirits, one, which took the form of a girl, was already under the command of the soon-to-be queen. No matter how things played out, she certainly wouldn’t walk away with just one. Oscar’s grin broadened as he envisioned how all of these guests would react once they witnessed that part of the coronation.
Yet at the same time, Oscar also understood that there was merit to the guests’ concerns. Other nations would be wary if Tuldarr suddenly grew stronger. While the Magic Empire had never launched an invasion in its history, Druza had set a precedent several months before by attacking Farsas with a forbidden curse. That immense power wielded by a comparatively small group had easily disrupted an entire country. Those aware of that would harbor doubts about Tuldarr as well.
It was the wish of former king Calste, who had abdicated the previous day, that Tinasha be coronated and inherit the spirits. However, she would be the one to pay the price for it. Tinasha had a tendency to make rash decisions, and Oscar was afraid and curious to see how she would direct her country.
All of a sudden, a hush fell over the audience, and Oscar peered down toward the center of the cathedral hall. A plain altar sat atop a raised platform with ten steps. True to the atheistic beliefs of Tuldarr, there were no adorning statues or idols.
Legis had appeared, standing upon the dais and wearing ceremonial robes. The prince of Tuldarr surveyed the faces of the attendees before bowing to them. “Thank you all very much for taking the time to be here today. On behalf of the queen, I offer my warmest gratitude.”
The simple address called Tinasha to mind.
A gentle smile on his lips, Legis continued. “The mystical spirit ceremony will constitute the coronation today. I am aware that there may be many unconventional elements, but I implore you to accept them as the will of our queen.”
None said a word.
Strictly speaking, the kings and queens of Tuldarr did not inherit a throne.
The previous ruler had abdicated, and the new one was crowned the following day. A new ruler acquired the mystical spirits and nothing more. This long-standing tradition of ascension via magical power made Tuldarr’s ancient ways plain for all to see.
The now former king Calste stood at the base of the steps alongside other mages. Only his son Legis stood at the top of the platform.
Legis bowed once more, then held out his hands. In apparent response, a transportation array appeared before the altar.
The first thing to come through the portal was the small ivory hand of a woman.
That hand, mystery incarnate, came to rest atop Legis’s palm.
Next, the bottom edges of blue robes materialized. The shade, symbolic of the Tuldarr royal family, looked made of dye crafted from ground gemstones. It was a blue deeper than the sky and clearer than the sea, calling to mind the history that had fostered this Magic Empire.
Basking in the silence from the audience, the queen stepped slowly from the magic circle.
Her long hair flowed freely as waves of black, and over it she wore a silver-threaded veil embroidered with lines of pearls.
Her mage’s robe was trimmed in deep blue and pure white; it outlined the slim and elegant curves of her body and flared out into a full ball gown. She lifted her skirt to stride forward, and the hem formed an arc with her movements.
Her eyelids were slightly downcast, but her eyes contained the depths of darkness as she gazed straight ahead. There was gravity to her beauty, lending her a magnificence that tugged at the soul.
“So that’s the queen of Tuldarr.”
Awestruck whispers ran through the crowd. Again, Oscar grinned wryly.
He should have been intimately familiar with her rare and exquisite beauty, as well as with her dignity as a queen. Seeing it on display exceeded all imagination, however. He, too, had been completely enthralled by her from the moment she appeared. This was her other side—the queen who would take the throne through force of magic.
Tinasha stood in front of the altar and drew a deep breath. As she did, Legis took two steps down the stairway and knelt.
The queen’s long sleeves billowed as she spread her arms wide. Bells on her bracelets sang tinkling notes.
“The words of this contract are assembled from the will of the unvoiced.”
Her voice rang out in sonorous incantation.
The atmosphere in the cathedral shifted. Magic began to swirl with Tinasha at the center.
“Hope is born from the depths of despair—the flow of time is irreversible, and all possible meanings give rise to awareness. A concept kept hidden makes the individual so, and it crawls to the cusp of the lineage it is bound to.”
Dense power knit itself into an intricate spell. Like rings on water, it rose up and rippled out but did not disappear, interweaving to form a gigantic structure.
“I call upon the ancient contract, the chains that bind human to inhuman.”
As the array rose higher around the altar, its complexity grew.
The gathered magic condensed toward the center, responding to Tinasha’s own immense power. Her lilting incantation made the magic in the air even denser and thicker.
“Listen to me, o sleeping ones, our unfamiliar neighbors. Long ago was the day of the beginning, but you are eternal.”
The magic converged. It was so thick that the faces of the mages, who were gathered at the base of the steps, had gone white.
Suddenly, a ray of pale light appeared at the center of the altar. The layered spell formed an intricate circle on the stone as if shaped by an invisible hand.
On the edges of the array, a tremendous light erupted from the one o’clock position. Then luminous bursts flared from the two o’clock and three o’clock positions as well. The same happened with each spot in order, except for the five o’clock point. On a shallow exhale, Tinasha spoke.
“Appear!”
Her voice was low, but it reached everyone present. It was as if it were coming from terribly far away but whispered directly in one’s ear at the same time. The power in the word made the audience stiffen.
Tinasha’s dark eyes flashed as she presided over the glowing circle.
“O spirits sleeping in Tuldarr by an ancient contract! My name is Tinasha As Meyer Ur Aeterna Tuldarr!”
Gasps erupted from different onlookers.
This power could forcibly alter the immovable. Her peerless magic could rewrite anything at all.
At last, the queen made her decree.
“I am your regent, and by this proclamation you are defined… Come to me!”
Light burst forth.
A white light blanketed every corner of the cathedral, but it was soon swept away by the wind.
Having shut their eyes against that blinding radiance, the attendees cautiously opened them to glance fearfully at the altar. The sight caused their jaws to drop.
“Those are…”
Where there was nothing only moments before, there were now beings standing in a circle at the center of the platform. These were Tuldarr’s mystical spirits.
All twelve were present.
Each had taken a humanlike shape and was standing with complete indifference.
“Ludicrous. All twelve of them,” guests muttered in utter shock.
In all of Tuldarr’s long and storied history, only two rulers had wielded all twelve of the spirits alone.
One was King Otis, who had first summoned them and tied them to the founding of the nation. The other was the Witch Killer Queen.
Only a select few knew that Tinasha and that queen who had bested a witch four hundred years ago were the same person. Thus, the audience’s astonishment quickly gave way to fear. Tuldarr had just gained immeasurable power. This would undoubtedly be a turning point in history.
Much like the audience, all of the spirits eyed the queen with surprise. Tinasha noticed, and her face broke into a smile for the first time since she’d appeared. In a voice only they could hear, she said, “It’s been a very long time. Just wait a moment, all right?”
Taking that request as an order, all twelve stayed silent.
Tinasha subdued her grin and regarded the guests with a queen’s countenance. “I am Tinasha As Meyer Ur Aeterna Tuldarr, and I have been enthroned as the forty-third ruler of this nation. I offer all of you my deepest gratitude for gathering here with us today.”
None dared to so much as move. Courteous words though they were, they had come from a woman with strength enough to control the lives of everyone in the cathedral. Quite a few in the crowd wore white-faced expressions of terror.
Tinasha smiled, though it was a shallow one this time. Her eyes burned with the fierce glow of a monarch. She looked out over her spirits and said, “I order the spirits of Tuldarr.”
The twelve knelt in response.
With unwavering confidence she said, “As your master, I call an end to our ancient contract. Henceforth, you are released from that which binds you to Tuldarr. You are now set free. You may do as you wish.”
She said it lightly and liltingly.
Her proclamation petrified the entire hall. All were speechless.
The only ones unsurprised were Tinasha herself, Legis, and Renart, who stood with the other mages at the foot of the dais. Even the spirits couldn’t hide their astonishment, save Mila.
The former king Calste, the first to snap from the shock, grew red in the face and cried, “Wh-what do you think you’re doing?!”
He dashed up the steps, and Tinasha met him with a gentle expression.
Heedless of the international audience, Calste yelled, “Are you aware of what you’ve just done?!”
“Yes, of course I am. The Dark Age is long past. We are no longer in an era in which rulers must possess mighty power. As you can see in many of the faces around you, power that exceeds reasonable limits only begets fear. And most importantly, Tuldarr is a capable enough nation without the spirits. You should know that best of all.”
Tinasha glanced at Legis. The prince evidently understood Tinasha’s intention from the look alone and came to stand next to her, ignoring the daggers his father was glaring at him.
Calste’s balled-up fists trembled. “Legis! You knew about this?! How could you allow such a—”
“It only made sense, Father. Even if she inherits the spirits now, a day will certainly come when no king or queen wields them. So instead of relying on fleeting strength, we should prove that the people and technology of Tuldarr are what make this country strong.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Calste said after a pause, but he issued no further protests.
After moving his father to one side, Legis nodded at Tinasha.
She faced the audience with a smile. “I hereby ascend the throne for one year, as the final queen of an era in which the rulers symbolized the power of their nations. After that, Prince Legis will become king and govern the country alongside a newly established parliament. This year will be the last for Tuldarr’s ancient traditions, and you may also think of it as the time we need to prepare for a new departure.”
The guests let out held breaths at her graceful speech. Little by little, the crowd began to buzz.
The Magic Empire, which had ever valued tradition, had proclaimed that it would move on from the ancient ways. Those who had shuddered fearfully only moments before now stared at the queen who had just taken the throne under such unbelievable circumstances.
Tinasha shrugged at the spirits. With a sardonic expression, she told them, “There you have it. We’ve only just been reunited, but I’d like to thank you for your service.”
A spirit in the form of a young man stood up. “Little girl! Can we really do what we want?”
“Of course,” Tinasha replied.
“Then I’m going to stay a spirit until you die. Our contract with Tuldarr may be over, but that doesn’t mean you’re not still my queen.”
“Oh, really? I don’t mind either way,” Tinasha replied.
“Lady Tinasha, I’m going to stay, too!” added a female spirit.
“What? Then I guess I will as well. It’s never boring with our queen, after all,” drawled a male spirit.
“Nil, you get out of here! You’re annoying!”
As the spirits began to bicker and banter, Tinasha massaged her temples with a grimace.
Legis’s eyes widened as he watched. “They’re very fond of you…”
“I think it’s more that they enjoy pestering me…”
Recognizing that things would not calm down so long as the spirits kept chattering, Tinasha shot a beseeching glance at the one situated at the twelve o’clock position.
This was the oldest-looking spirit, sporting white hair. They gave the queen a dignified bow. “I am very grateful that you have ordered the end of our contract. However, as Karr said, our contract with Tuldarr and the fact that you are our master are separate things. Please allow us to accompany you to the end of your short human life span. We do so of our own free will.”
“Well, I did tell you to act as you pleased. All right, then,” she agreed.
“We shall take you at your word,” responded the spirit. With that, the twelve fell silent. They bowed to her, each with different expressions on their faces, and then vanished from the cathedral.
Without the bickering, the spacious chamber fell deathly silent. Tinasha gave a self-possessed smile. Even beneath the weight of every eye in the room, she did not falter. There was no doubting she was the queen.
Just as many had predicted, but not at all in the way they had expected, her coronation heralded a turning point in history. Her utterly unique beauty and power would leave a vivid and eternal mark on the memories of the people.
Foreign and domestic attendees alike remained still as surely as if a binding spell had been placed on them. It was like time had stopped.
In the midst of them all, Oscar gazed at the young, beautiful ruler of Tuldarr in amazement.

“She really did do something unconventional,” Doan said as he and Oscar made their way to the great hall. Doan was attending the coronation as Oscar’s guard. General Als, a few steps ahead of the other two, nodded deeply.
The other attendees had evidently not recovered from the surprising corononation yet, either. All were offering their impressions and thoughts. Some approved of Tuldarr for rejecting such preeminent power and even endorsed this revolutionary system overhaul, but others quietly criticized Tinasha’s eccentricity and abrupt reforms.
Most nations were governed by monarchies. An attempt at utilizing a two-pillar system of a parliament and a royal monarch would certainly attract people’s attention. Four hundred years after instating too many reforms during her first rule, the queen was still trying to blaze a new trail.
Oscar snorted at the circulating opinions. “There’s no telling how her decision will be viewed in the years to come. But so long as the spirits continue to serve her, that will be enough to deter other countries. Tuldarr can establish its new system during that time.”
Tinasha had always held Legis’s aptitude for ruling in high regard. More than likely, she had been planning to enact this revolution for a while now, and approving of his temperament had only emboldened her. She took the throne, even though it would be only for a year, in order to dissolve the contract with the spirits.
“At best, a ruler of Tuldarr inherits one or two spirits. Even if she has a child who claims the throne, there’s no telling if they will be a greater mage than she is. Besides, it’s clear from the state of the royal family that magic wanes over generations. She must have known that this was the last chance to inherit all the spirits and release them,” Oscar remarked.
Doan sighed. “Because Tuldarr originally let power determine succession, it’s always been a very logical country, in a way. A royal family that inherits the crown via its bloodline deviates from the true tradition.”
“Surely that’s a result of external influence from the moment Tuldarr opened itself to diplomatic relations. They must have had outside pressure,” replied Oscar.
“The monarchy being absolute is a holdover from the age of the spirits. Tuldarr was actually founded in the hope that oppressed mages would cooperate with one another, and the members of the royal family were meant only to be the strongest representatives of the people. Queen Tinasha made her decision because things are different now. In a sense, she may have restored Tuldarr to its roots.” Doan’s tone was indifferent, but he asserted his opinion in an uncharacteristically firm way, perhaps because he was a mage himself.
Als listened to the conversation with interest but remained quiet.
When the three from Farsas reached the great hall, Legis was there receiving the guests. Attendees from every nation were clustered around him, pelting the poor man with questions.
The queen was conspicuously absent. Oscar found a mage who served her standing near the entrance and approached him. Upon catching sight of the king of Farsas, Renart bowed.
“Where’s Tinasha?” asked Oscar.
Renart answered calmly, but in a low tone of voice. “She is arguing with King Calste, though I expect it to end soon… She should arrive once she’s changed her clothes.”
Calste had flown into such a rage in front of their audience. He had to be seething.
Oscar nodded, falling into thought. It was growing dark outside. The eastern windows revealed that the night sky was still bright, matching the color of Oscar’s eyes. A faintly glowing crescent moon hung above all else. He gave it a little smile, then turned back to the other two. “I’m heading out for a bit. I’ll be back once I’ve finished what I need to do. Do whatever you want while I’m gone.”
“E-excuse me, Your Majesty?!” Als cried out in shock.
Doan looked like he was holding back a vexed exhale. Normally, he never wanted to get involved in any disputes, but this time he wore a knowing look as he asked the king, “Are you sure about this?”
“I’m not the only one. The other countries will be making their moves soon, too. Best to be quick about it.”
“Your Majesty?” Als said again. He was the only one who didn’t understand. Oscar clapped him on the shoulder, then moved against the flow of guests to leave.
Having escaped the crowded hall, Oscar gazed out a window at the castle’s other buildings. True to a Tuldarr structure, magical protective barriers were positioned here and there around the blue and white edifices; Oscar could sense them. A thin sheen of water cascaded from an azure stone shelf jutting out into midair and splashed down into the moat of the hanging gardens.
Not many soldiers stood guard. Sentinels were patrolling around, but magic formed the crux of the palace’s defense. Oscar glanced down at the sword belted at his waist and grinned. “Glad they didn’t confiscate this.”
The royal sword of Akashia could neutralize any magic, making it the natural enemy of mages and Tuldarr’s greatest nuisance. But as it was a national treasure of Farsas and a part of the king’s formal dress, it could not be confiscated without reason.
And in a nation of spells and enchantments, it was as good as a master key for Oscar. He slipped into a random deserted passageway, opened the window, and went out into the courtyard. As he made his way across the carefully manicured grass, he glanced up at a particularly tall building in the center.
“There it is.”
The spray of water falling from the stone shelf glittered in the setting sun.
The blossoms in the gardens were all varieties not found in Farsas. Azure flowers shaped like round lanterns glowed faintly from the inside, and the way they swayed brought to mind the first page of a picture book.
It was like the palace of a magical kingdom from a fairy tale. And the one who would govern this castle was a woman from four hundred years ago.
A queen for only a single year.
Tinasha must have discussed it with Legis and other advisers on countless occasions. While Tuldarr’s parliamentary system was not without historical precedent, no other nation utilized that system. Establishing one now was sure to be an uphill battle.
Still, she had chosen this fight. This method of governance—monarch and citizens supporting one another, with no room for self-righteousness—was likely an ideal she’d held on to since the Dark Age, when power was crucial to survival.
The gardens that streamed between the buildings sloped upward so gradually that the incline was almost unnoticeable. Oscar came to the base of a spire that adjoined the tall building, and he gazed up at the white stone walls. “All right, let’s go.”
“Where are you headed?” inquired an amused-sounding feminine voice from overhead. Oscar looked up to see a red-haired girl floating down, hugging her knees. It was Mila, one of the spirits who served Tinasha.
Oscar replied, “I need to talk to her. Are the regent’s chambers just above here?”
“Yes, but you’ll see her later in the great hall if you just wait.”
“That’ll be too late, and I don’t want anyone else to overhear us. Can you stop her?”
In all likelihood, Mila had appeared to protect her master. Conscious of Akashia, Oscar met Mila’s gaze and waited to see if she would chase him away.
The redhead grinned. “You can do what you want, but I’m not going to help you.”
“That’s fine, provided that you don’t obstruct me, either,” Oscar answered, placing a hand on the wall.
Mila’s eyes grew wide. “You’re going to climb?”
“The guards will stop me if I go inside.”
“Seriously? Do you have a death wish? Look, I’ll do you a favor and put an illusion on you, so the snipers don’t shoot you and send you plummeting to your demise.”
“That would actually help a ton, thanks,” Oscar said.
Mila shook her head and sighed in disbelief. She disappeared with a snap of her fingers, and Oscar placed his hand on the wall once more. He began to climb up, his eyes on a tiny transom window.
He wouldn’t think about how he wished Tinasha had only told him she planned to be queen for just a year. He knew it was a matter of national politics. She couldn’t reveal her plan to someone from another country. If their positions were reversed, he wouldn’t consider telling her, either.
So it wasn’t too late. Now was the soonest he could do this.
Oscar came out onto a small corridor and grabbed hold of the wall of another adjoining building.
He passed several magical barriers on his climb to the highest floor, but Akashia nullified all of them.
The window of her room was not locked and was protected only by a barrier. Oscar took out the royal sword and looked around the dark room that was occupied by only a few pieces of furniture
“Did we pass right by each other?”
Night had fallen entirely by now. Oscar had climbed via the shortest path, but could Tinasha have already changed clothes and headed for the great hall? Unsure whether he should trespass further after already breaking in, Oscar sank into a chair by the windowsill. Then he remembered his dragon.
“Nark.”
In answer to his summons, a red dragon the size of a hawk appeared and perched on his shoulder. Oscar was about to order it to see if Tinasha was in the great hall when a door in the back of the room opened.
Light spilled into the dark chamber. Heedless of the other occupant, the girl who entered headed for a door opposite the one she’d come through.
Then, out of the blue, her left hand sliced through the air. Instantaneously, orbs of magic launched in Oscar’s direction.
Before he could say a word, he had Akashia up and its blade out against the attack.
The magic orbs struck the sword and were dispelled. The girl turned to look, and her eyes widened with realization. “A-again?!”
“What do you mean ‘again’?”
“Never mind.” Tinasha sighed, deflated. Clad in the same outfit from her coronation, she must have just come from her debate with Calste. It was very like her to attack with magic before checking to see who was there, and Oscar had been expecting it. That was why he had waited with Akashia drawn.
Tinasha stared at him. “How did you get in?”
“The window. I must be growing comfortable with your barriers because I entered pretty easily. You’re so careless.”
“Not many people are capable of breaking my barrier,” Tinasha said, obviously cross. This was the same person who’d been in the cathedral, but her aura was different. Things were the same between them as they had always been—a mood of closeness and openness. It comforted Oscar.
Resting an elbow on the chair and his chin in one hand, he gazed at Tinasha. “You really went for it back there, huh?”
“Well… my mind was made up for a while.”
“Calste looked livid.”
“He was about to pop several blood vessels,” Tinasha admitted with a laugh, heading for the far door again. There was a closet there, and she emerged soon enough wearing a simple version of a queen’s formal dress.
“Anyway, I’d like to get changed…”
“Ah, sorry. I need to talk to you, and it will only take a minute.”
This was why he had come. He was visiting her room to speak to her not as royals, but as individuals.
Still clutching the new outfit to her chest, Tinasha cocked her head. “Talk to me about what?”
“What are you going to do once you abdicate?”
“I—I’m not quite sure… I suppose marrying Legis would be the right thing to do? That should satisfy Calste a little as well,” she replied in a way that almost suggested she wasn’t connected to the matter. Oscar had expected an answer like that. She would exit the center stage, make a marriage of convenience, and ensure that her blood remained in Tuldarr. That was indeed the safest choice. But there had to be other options available.
Oscar had begun to scowl unconsciously. Upon realizing it, he straightened out his face and said lightly, “Why not come with me?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why don’t you marry me?”
This was why he’d climbed the tower.
While it was indeed blunt as proposals went, Tinasha couldn’t immediately comprehend it. She stayed frozen for a bit; something Oscar had anticipated. After deliberating over how to make this easier to swallow, he elected to begin with the part Tinasha was probably most anxious about.
“It’s not a bad idea at all. If you’re going to change the system, an alliance with another country will give greater security, and it will relax other nations more than if you marry Legis. Some people are going to see you as a threat no matter what you do, but no one will want to challenge both Tuldarr and Farsas at once.”
“What? I—I mean, that’s true, but something seems… Um, give me a moment,” Tinasha trailed off, shaking her head at the neatly wrapped facts he had presented her with.
Undoubtedly, other nations were thinking the very same thing.
If Tinasha planned to abdicate, then they could lure them and forge a bond with Tuldarr. Not only that, but Tinasha had demonstrated her own strength at the coronation. She would be an immediate asset to any power on the continent. While a threat in Tuldarr, she could also make a powerful ally.
However, Farsas was the only country that would be able to safeguard Tinasha’s homeland in return.
After Oscar’s declaration, Tinasha’s expression changed from confused to serious and pensive. It was the face of a queen evaluating the political merits of what she had been offered.
She was well within her rights to do so, but it clashed with Oscar’s intentions. He flashed a strained smile at this deeply earnest queen. “Sorry. The way I phrased that was a little unfair. Let me say it again.”
He recalled the day they met.
She had been asleep under the palace for four hundred years, all to meet him.
Oscar had thought of her as childlike. A ridiculous person who couldn’t fit a mold if she tried. In his wildest dreams, he could never have anticipated any of the stunts she pulled.
However, he could envision a future with her.
Walking hand in hand and growing old together—he could see that life with her.
His offer was born of personal feelings.
Oscar gazed right into her dark eyes. “I want you. So I’m asking you to marry me. That’s all it is.”
He had no other reason, and he didn’t care to think of one.
His feelings were so simple; Oscar could almost laugh at himself.
Tinasha’s eyes grew round as saucers. “… Excuse me?”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that response,” he said, a little offended by her shock but also enjoying needling her about it.
Oscar headed for the window to leave the same way he came. Tinasha was still rooted to the ground, and he turned back to look at her. “Well, you have a year, so think it over.”
“H-hold on just a minute. Why are you going out the window…? Wait, that’s not the point!” she cried, burying her face in her hands.
Then she managed to find the words and popped her face back out. “I thought you weren’t interested in me?” She sounded like a little girl who knew nothing at all.
One hand already set to climb down, Oscar paused and replied, “I couldn’t disrupt my country because I had personal feelings for someone. I did my best not to get attached. But if you’re going to abdicate, that changes everything.”
The moment Tinasha had announced she would relinquish the throne in a year, something like shock had run through Oscar.
Once she wasn’t a queen, he could pursue her without issue. Marrying her would be a boon. However, more than any sort of diplomatic calculation, he simply wanted to be close to her.
Tinasha’s childlike happiness and anger, the defenseless way she carried herself, the way she was farsighted, coolheaded, and bold. She was a hard worker, stubborn, and never ashamed of herself. Everything about her was inconsistent and odd. How could Oscar not have felt captivated?
And when he learned of the deep loneliness she carried, he wanted to rid her of it.
Oscar wanted to make a place for her at his side, yet he’d never been able to.
Tinasha was a rare find.
Irreplaceable.
If only he could take her hand in his, if only he didn’t have to let her go…
“I want to be with you. I don’t want to let anyone else have you. If you desire me, I’m yours,” he said fervently, roguishly. Tinasha shivered violently. Evidently, she hadn’t fully processed such a sudden change. Oscar shrugged. “That’s all I came to say. You’re in a hurry, aren’t you? Sorry about that. I’ll go say good-bye to Legis and head home. See you.”
With that, he leaped out the window. As the garden below rushed up to meet him, he called, “Nark!”
In response to its master’s order, the scarlet dragon rapidly grew to the size of a small house and caught its master on its back. Nark made a leisurely turn in the air, and Oscar laughed out loud.
After sheathing the royal sword, he asked the dragon, “How did things turn out in that future you’ve seen? Did she marry me?”
Nark let out a shrill cry and dived for the gardens. In the night sky, the moon shone with an azure glow.

Als and Doan breathed great sighs of relief when their king returned an hour after he’d left.
While Oscar hadn’t done anything too bold lately, this was a king with a natural propensity for recklessness. Both men were filled with trepidation whenever he was left to himself.
When he showed up again, he was in a strangely good mood. They wanted to ask where he had been, but they had a pretty good idea. All Oscar said was, “I’m going to go say good-bye, and then we’ll go,” so they held their tongues and gave up on questioning him.
The reception went on without the queen. Legis, still inundated by guests, caught sight of the king of Farsas heading for him, and his eyes widened slightly. He’d been wondering the entire time where one of Tuldarr’s guests of honor had been.
Legis strode up to Oscar and bowed to him. Formal words of greeting were exchanged.
Once the social niceties were complete, Legis kept his pleasant smile as he made a pointed remark. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen you in the hall for quite some time.”
“Mm-hmm… I had something to discuss with Tinasha. I left to go see her,” Oscar answered.
Legis gasped. Once the surprise faded from his face, he seemed a little bitter.
After Tinasha’s announcement that she would abdicate in a year, he had wondered if something like this might occur. Even if she had remained queen, it might still have happened anyway.
What had they discussed? And how had she answered? Legis could hazard a fair guess. He understood the situation as well as they did—better, perhaps, as an outside observer. For a moment, a flash of loneliness passed through his eyes, and he closed them.
When he looked up at Oscar again, his gaze was direct. “She is the treasure of our Tuldarr. Will you give what she’s worth?”
“Of course, if that’s what she wants.”
Legis’s judgment stemmed from the coolheadedness of someone who would rule over the country. He didn’t allow so much as an ounce of his personal feelings to factor into it. He could already see marriage with Farsas as a way to uphold a peaceful reign.
Oscar respected the other man’s sensibility. He thought of the woman at the center of it all.
All that’s left now is to wait for her answer.
The six months since he’d met her had passed quickly. So, too, would the year to come, surely.
Oscar wasn’t in any hurry.
Compared to four hundred years, this would be but the blink of an eye.