"The Guardian's... no, Sepia's support."
Raon straightened his back as he pushed against the ground with his legs.
"I will cherish this support."
He composed himself and bowed his head to Siyana in return.
-What's gotten into you?
Wrath approached from the side with an exclamation.
-I thought you'd be showing your usual humility for a while longer.
He widened his eyes in amazement at this unexpected behavior.
'Because it's Master's gift.'
The support of Sepia wasn't something he earned himself. He decided to accept it as it was Rimmer's final gift. (E/N: But Raon already earned Sepia's unconditional support around 250 chapters ago.)
"Thank you."
Siyana raised her head with a gentle smile.
"Thanks to you, I was able to share a final goodbye with my older brother."
"Final goodbye?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Siyana.
'Did Lady Siyana also meet Master?'
Siyana and Sterin had entered their awakening in the mental world without encountering Rimmer. Since he thought he was the only one who had seen him, her words were even more unexpected.
"After gaining enlightenment about Spirit Art in the mental world, when I was returning to reality, I met someone formed of pale green wind. The way he playfully waved his hand was exactly like my brother."
Siyana smiled softly as if recalling Rimmer's farewell gesture.
"I heard a voice near my ear saying 'Well done!' Though it might have been my imagination, I believe it was my brother's voice."
She gently touched her pointed ears as if those words were precious.
"I saw him too."
Sterin nodded and stepped forward.
"Before returning to reality, that damned fellow tripped me!"
He frowned, saying he had fallen because of Rimmer.
-Isn't that Pointy Ears truly insane?
Wrath let out an exasperated sigh.
-What kind of lunatic trips his own grandfather! Right after helping him awaken, no less!
He shook his head, unable to comprehend Rimmer's thoughts.
'So he had already said his goodbyes before coming to me as wind?'
Raon clicked his tongue as he looked at Siyana and Sterin.
'That person, really...'
He couldn't help but laugh incredulously at the thought that Rimmer had waved goodbye to Siyana, tripped Sterin, and then came to him for that serious conversation.
"That damned fellow looked down at me after tripping me and said just one thing."
Sterin gripped his bow like a sword, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.
"'Don't leave your granddaughter behind, live until you're old enough to soil yourself.' My gratitude vanished instantly, and I was filled with rage!"
He ground his teeth, saying he would have punched Rimmer in the gut if he had been there.
"That's just like Master."
Raon couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"He really hasn't changed at all."
Even in what could have been his final moments, he showed such composure and wit - it was so like the Rimmer he knew that Raon couldn't help but smile.
-He truly left in his own style.
Wrath nodded in agreement.
"What did he say to you?"
Siyana clasped her hands together, asking him to tell them.
"Well..."
Sterin also looked at him curiously, lowering his bow.
"...He told me I had worked hard."
Unlike Siyana and Sterin, he had heard many words, but what stayed with him most was that simple acknowledgment. Those words, heard in Rimmer's voice, would likely stay with him for life.
"That's surprisingly normal?"
"What's going on?"
Dorian and Martha widened their eyes in surprise.
"What's the point of raising a grandson! He trips me but gives his disciple proper praise!"
Sterin stomped his foot in annoyance. However, a faint smile played at his lips.
"That's just like my brother."
Siyana smiled softly, saying even those words of acknowledgment were typical of Rimmer.
"We'll be able to see my brother again, right? After doing all this, it seems his soul is in the process of returning to the World Tree." (E/N: took some liberty with this line, the raw version was weird)
She clasped her hands together, expressing her desire to see Rimmer again.
"Why would you want to see that fellow again! I'll put a hole in his head the moment he shows up!"
Sterin swung his bow as if daring Rimmer to come.
"We will."
Raon smiled calmly, despite recalling the fading image of Rimmer.
"We'll meet him again someday."
He nodded to them both while keeping the memory of Rimmer's final, hazy appearance to himself.
"I knew it!"
Siyana jumped with joy, as if encouraged by his words.
"But you both seem to have changed so much in such a short time. You both seem like completely different people."
Sterin had rejuvenated to a middle-aged appearance, and Siyana's personality seemed to have changed entirely. Even considering their awakening, the changes seemed remarkably fast.
"Fast? Well, it might be quick, but it still took time."
Sterin waved his bow-holding hand from side to side.
"That's right. You woke up after just a week."
Siyana blinked, suggesting it wasn't such a short time.
"A week?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked around.
-You were frozen like a statue for a week, staring at that damned tree!
Wrath frowned, saying he nearly died of boredom and hunger.
-If you understand, hurry up and ask for food! Anything but Nadine bread!
Even in this situation, he shook his head, expressing his dislike for Nadine bread.
"It does feel like that much time has passed."
Seeing the changes in Sterin and Siyana, and how others had changed clothes, it seemed considerable time had indeed passed.
"However..."
Raon swallowed hard as his eyes darted around.
"Where... where is Evelyn?"
Not seeing Evelyn, who would normally be clinging to his side, made him feel scared and confused.
-Well, that's...
"I'm right here!"
As Raon turned his head, Evelyn jumped out from behind the World Tree's bark.
"Agh!"
-Aaaaaah!
Raon and Wrath fell backward together, screaming in unison.
"As if I would ever leave you and go somewhere else."
Evelyn lightly tapped her nose with her finger, as if wondering why he'd forget such an obvious thing.
"That person... she really didn't leave your side for even a moment during the whole week..."
Dorian shook his head, saying he felt tired just watching.
"Same here, you know?"
Martha snorted, saying she had also been watching over him.
"I... I was also here..."
Siyana timidly raised her hand, saying she too had been guarding Raon.
"Th-thank you. Everyone..."
Raon thanked them while glaring at Wrath.
'Hey! If you knew all this, why didn't you tell me? Why did you act surprised too!'
Wrath must have known Evelyn was hiding behind the World Tree, so Raon couldn't understand why he had fallen back in surprise.
-That, that madwoman...
Wrath shook his head vigorously, as if he couldn't understand either.
-She's scary even when you know she's there! You saw it yourself! Tell her to give you some space!
'What kind of demon king is this?'
***
After taking a brief rest, Raon headed to Sepia's great training ground with Siyana and Sterin.
"My Spirit Energy has grown much stronger."
Siyana raised her hand as she released her Spirit Energy.
"My affinity with spirits has also increased significantly."
The nature spirits followed her hand gestures like baby birds following their mother.
"And also..."
"There's more?"
Raon's eyes widened as he looked at Siyana.
"I've also learned about harmonizing with spirits."
"Harmonizing?"
"Yes. Instead of just letting spirits attack, I can now control their power myself."
Siyana smiled brightly, explaining that she could now finely control the spirits' power.
"That's impressive, isn't it?"
Raon let out an impressed chuckle.
-That High Elf girl's Martial Prowess will increase dramatically if she trains well.
'Indeed.'
Unless one is a Spirit King, spirits are difficult to control perfectly. They often act with their own will and sometimes make mistakes, but if Siyana could control that, she could achieve completely different results than before.
"Watch this."
As Siyana brought her hands together, Highest-grade Spirits were summoned before her. Even without World Tree's support, the spirits emanated far more powerful auras than before. (E/N: the artifact used the power of the world tree to make spirits stronger)
'Have the spirits grown stronger because Siyana has grown stronger?'
Thanks to Siyana's awakening, it seemed the spirits bound to her had grown stronger as well, if only slightly.
"Star of Spirit Light!"
At her command, the Highest-grade Spirits released four streams of elemental power. The four elements' attack wasn't chaotically mixed like before, but instead fire and wind supported each other, while water and earth formed two separate streams before finally merging into one. The power resonated with a deep rumble!
A magnificent spiritual energy, bright as sunlight, swirled before Siyana.
"How is it? Much stronger than before, right?"
Siyana smiled brightly, seeking his opinion.
"Try throwing that at me."
Raon gestured with his hand, offering to receive the spirit energy.
"Are... are you sure? This is quite powerful, you know?"
Siyana's eyes trembled with concern.
"It's fine."
Raon smiled, indicating she could fire at will.
"Ah, alright!"
Siyana shouted a warning before firing the concentrated light of spirit energy.
'Fast. And strong.'
The spirit energy she fired at full power was faster and more powerful than he'd expected. True to its nature, it seemed to be breaking free of control and running wild.
'However...'
It wasn't difficult to cut. Perhaps because his soul had grown stronger. Despite Siyana's improved full power rushing toward him, he felt no tension. The energy whistled through the air!
Without even needing to draw the Heavenly Drive, Raon raised his hand and split Siyana's fierce attack. The spirit energy that flowed past his hand divided into eight pieces before slowly dissipating.
"As expected..."
Siyana nodded as if she had believed in this outcome.
"Then try receiving my arrow as well."
Sterin nocked an arrow to his bowstring.
"Though it will take time for my full power to return, I'd like to face you once."
He jerked his chin questioningly.
"Very well."
Raon smiled as he drew the Heavenly Drive.
"This feels refreshing."
Sterin supported himself with his right foot and extended his left foot excessively. He lowered his center of gravity as if holding up the sky and drew his bowstring. A strange sound like the sky splitting echoed as he drew the string.
Above the arrow nocked on the taut bowstring, a massive aura began to spin and burn.
Though weaker than before, the arrow clearly carried a new enlightenment.
"Be careful."
Sterin released the bowstring with a mischievous smile. With a resounding boom that shook the forest, the arrow transformed into a blue flash as it flew toward Raon's brow.
'Fast and strong, but...'
Raon clicked his tongue as he raised the Heavenly Drive.
'Is that all you have for now?'
Though Sterin had regained his youth, he hadn't been recovering his strength long enough to display his former sharpness. It would take time to restore his original martial prowess. The Heavenly Drive slashed down to cut the incoming arrow.
But the moment the sword fell, the arrow suddenly changed direction, curving toward his shoulder. An unavoidable shot. This was Arrow Control, a technique only Sterin could use.
"You let your guard down!"
Sterin curled his lips as if suggesting Raon was still inexperienced. As if he had been waiting for this moment, a chilling sharpness emanated from the arrow itself.
'Let my guard down...'
He was right. Raon had indeed let his guard down, thinking he could block it easily. But he too had changed from before. Even in this crisis, his heart remained calm, his mind clear and serene. The sword moved with precision.
Raon released his grip on the Heavenly Drive. The blade bent at an angle impossible for a human wrist to achieve, shattering Sterin's arrow as it descended toward his shoulder.
With a thunderous crack, Sterin's arrow, filled with intense power and speed, split in half and embedded itself in the ground and trees.
"Well..."
Sterin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I knew you could use Sword Control, but that speed just now..."
He let out a breath, remarking how the Sword Control had activated without the slightest delay.
"It seems my activation speed has improved a bit. I must have gained something too."
Raon smiled faintly as he sheathed the Heavenly Drive.
-That's not just a bit!
Wrath frowned in disbelief.
-How can Sword Control move faster and more precisely than when you're holding the sword!
He shook his head, saying it made no sense.
'I know. I'm a bit surprised too.'
He'd thought only his Soul Sword would improve when his past life and current life souls merged, but it seemed his overall martial arts level was rising.
"If it gets any faster, it won't be visible at all."
Sterin clicked his tongue in amazement as he lowered his bow.
"Still, I'll be no match for you once you've recovered, Guardian."
Raon shook his head, saying he still had far to go.
"That's not true."
Sterin smiled with calm eyes.
"Because by then, you'll have reached an entirely different level."
He clasped his hands behind his back, saying he could tell even without seeing it.
"Still, it feels good. Being able to shoot arrows again like this."
Sterin smiled genuinely, saying that alone made him happy.
"I'm happy too, being able to be with grandfather."
Siyana nodded with a smile similar to Sterin's.
"I have something to say to both of you."
Raon approached Siyana and Sterin with the broken arrow.
"As you may know, a great war with Derus and Eden will soon begin. Dark shadows will approach even this peaceful forest."
He continued speaking while looking at Sterin's heavy gaze and Siyana's slightly trembling eyes.
"Could Sepia join in this war? No, please join us."
Raon insisted in a way that Siyana and Sterin couldn't refuse. This wasn't just for his sake, but for Sepia as well.
"You're making this sound so formal."
Sterin chuckled.
"Thanks to you and that damned grandson, I have a new lease on life. I can't refuse such a request."
He nodded firmly, promising to fight with his life on the line.
"I'll make sure to get my body back in top condition by then."
"I-I'll help too! With you, I can do anything!"
Siyana also raised her hand energetically.
"I'll tell Elayim and Ifrit to finish their work in the spirit realm quickly!"
She shook both fists, saying she would prepare to fight alongside the Spirit Kings.
"Thank you both."
Raon bowed to Siyana and Sterin.
"No need for thanks."
"That's right. We're the ones who should be grateful."
The two shook their heads, saying such words weren't necessary. Raon closed his eyes then opened them, watching the sun slowly setting behind Siyana and Sterin.
'Now I can leave once that arrives.'
-That?
Wrath frowned, wondering what he meant.
-What have you missed now? Really, you can't do anything without this king around.
He gestured with his hand, urging Raon to speak.
'You're right about that. It's something I can only get when you're here.'
-Huh? What do you...
As Wrath blinked in confusion.
[You have accomplished a great achievement.]
[You have saved the leaders of the Elves.]
[The souls of your past life and present life have achieved harmony.]
[All abilities have...]
[Characteristics...]
The rewards earned in Sepia had arrived.
'See?'
Raon pointed his finger at the messages with Wrath.
'The thing that only comes when you're here.'
He smiled brightly as he expressed his thanks.
-Why does this damned system have such perfect timing!
Is it really watching us or what!