Chapter 6

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

“THE Ten Day Fever is a deadly illness that spread across Aridol 150 years ago. The illness was named as such because whoever caught it died within ten days. Those who miraculously survived were eventually held to the superstition they’ll never again suffer from illness, and their constitution was henceforth called the Witch’s Blessing,” Rifae explained.

“Despite over 150 years’ worth of research, there’s still no effective cure or treatment for it. Further research is near impossible since the destruction of the only research facility in Rvydom, leaving people to forever live in fear of the fever. Not knowing how to treat it also means we have no idea how to prevent catching it,” he finished.

“…I see,” Yuki said dolefully.

“Do you honestly intend to go to Adolunde, dear?”

“Yes.”

“…How stubborn you are.”

“You like to stick your nose into other people’s lives, don’t you?” Yuki laughed.

Rifae was taken aback by her claim. A few seconds passed before a gentle smile replaced his shock. “Well, of course. It’s been five years since I’ve had a guest here who isn’t related to my work.”

“Five years? It’s been that long?”

“Yes. The guest then was a boy tinier than you, Yuki. He called me a pervert, a womanly-man, and all sorts of insults,” Rifae chuckled as he remembered the past. “He’s really grown.”

He’s grown? Meaning it’s someone who’s still around.

Yuki knew of only one person who fit. “Wait, do you mean Est?”

“Indeed. I took him in since he had no relatives, and he ended up settling down here.”

“He settled here? What about your family, Rifae? What did they think of that?” Yuki regretted the words the moment they were out her mouth.

This world has been plagued by war after war for years. It’s probably natural for most people not to have family anymore.

Rifae watched Yuki curiously as she twisted in her seat uncomfortably. “Did you possibly hear something from Est?” he chuckled again.

“Huh? I didn’t.” She shook her head. “I only heard you’re a famous Information Broker.”

“I see… You see, I had a mother.”

Had a mother? If he’s speaking in past tense—

“She died a long time ago, my dear.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Rifae smiled. “No need for you to apologize. Considering Mother’s age, it was inevitable.”

Her age? I wonder if she gave birth to him at an old age.

Yuki’s parents had her when they were fairly young. She wanted to change the topic to avoid digging up old wounds.

“Say, Yuki, do you know about Witches?”

“Hm? Yeah, to a certain degree.”

“You see, dear, I was raised by a Witch.”

“What?”

He was raised by a Witch?

“I’m the son of a Witch.”

“Wait, I heard that when a Witch gives birth to a son she—”

“Yes, it’s customary for her to leave the son behind. But Mother took me with her to this cabin.”

Yuki wasn’t sure if that was a common practice or not. Rifae easily saw through what she was thinking and answered her doubts. “I was an exception to the rule. I’ve never heard of any other sons being raised by their Witch mother. You see, it seems my mother had lived for more than 500 years. She gave birth to two children in all those years. Both her children were born male.”

Rifae’s gaze dropped to his hands. “Mother said when she was pregnant with her third child she thought it was her last chance at a girl. And then she gave birth to another boy.”

He chuckled. “My dear mother said she always wanted to try raising a child. Because all she could do until now was watch them from a distance. And so I ended up living my entire life in this abode with Mother. I was quite the perfect child, you know?”

He must have truly loved his mother. He seems so happy talking about the past with her.

“Did you know that a Witch’s son has the latent talent to be a Mage, Yuki?”

“They do?”

“To the extent it is said that all the renowned Mages recorded throughout history were actually a Witch’s son. At the very least, being a Witch’s child does seem to have an effect on the child’s abilities.”

“Heh,” Yuki hummed in awe.

Rifae happily went on, “I was also strictly raised by Mother to be a skilled Mage. She taught me many things, such as recipes and methods of combining medicines only a Witch would know. She was strict about it, but learning was fun. It truly was fun,” he repeated, reveling in the memory.

“But Mother died from old age when I was ten. I thought Witches were immortal, but she suddenly died in her sleep.”

“…So what did you do after that?”

“Mother previously told me to attend a boarding school for Mages in Rvydom. So I went there.”

Yuki tried imagining what Rifae looked like as a ten-year-old attending school without any support or backing from parents.

“Attending the boarding school was an onslaught of firsts for me. I had no idea I spoke funny, and it was my first time interacting with anyone other than Mother.”

“Were you teased?”

“I wasn’t. I was the top of my class and superior to my classmates thanks to being taught by a Witch. Plus, I may have a pretty face, but I’m physically strong. My master was chosen for me before graduation.”

“Heh.”

“Normally, a Mage graduates then does further training before being assigned to a master,” Rifae said, excitement in his voice.

“Who were you assigned to?”

“Rvydom’s king.” The expression vanished from his face.

Rvydom’s king? Didn’t he go missing?

“Oh dear, why am I spilling my guts to you? You’re a good listener, Yuki.” He forced a clearly self-derisive smile and stood. “It’s already late. I should sleep soon…”

“Rifae…”

“You just got over a fever, so you best get off to sleep as well, dear.” He quickly cleaned off his desk.

You don’t have to blatantly hide it. He must not want to be asked about it. I won’t force him to tell me if he wants to hide it so badly.

Yuki stood to leave when she suddenly remembered the condition Rifae had set for giving her information. “Oh, wait. I haven’t told you anything yet, Rifae.”

“No need for that, dear. It’s not like I told you any big secrets. Half of what I talked about was my own past.”

“But…” Yuki felt as if he were going easy on her.

“If you promise to keep quiet about my past, I’ll help search for a clue on how to find who you’re looking for tomorrow,” Rifae said carefully, contrary to his prior talkativeness.

Yuki’s eyes rounded. Was the person she sought currently in the center of the maelstrom where the Ten Day Fever was at its worst?

Why didn’t I think about that?! I’m such an idiot!

She clenched her firsts. Just asking him made her a nervous wreck. “Rifae! U-Um, you said Adolunde’s third prince caught the Ten Day Fever, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Are the other princes all right?”

“Yes. The first prince seems fine and the second prince is living in a sanctuary to the west, so I suppose he is unaffected. The youngest twins also appear to be safe.”

What about the prince between them?

Rifae bent down to pick something up and stopped moving.

“The fourth prince…well, I guess I haven’t heard any news about him having caught the Ten Day Fever.”

“…That makes it sound like he’s facing some other problem aside from the fever.”

“Yuki, what’s wrong, sweetie? Prince Lucat has nothing to do with you, right? Ah, are you possibly one of his fans?”

“I am not,” she flatly denied and stared at Rifae who was clearly hiding something.

“Information on him is classified so I won’t tell you.”

“Tell me!”

Classified? Did Luca do something?

Yuki walked over to Rifae and cornered him. His eyes widened at her threatening look.

“This information comes at a high price.”

“Does that mean you will tell me if I can give you some sort of equal information in exchange?”

Rifae smiled.

What information do I have? What do I know that no one else does? The fact I have violet eyes? That won’t be convincing with how I currently look under Vivi’s magic. Is there anything? Anything at all?

Yuki frantically racked her brain. Sensing something from how desperate she appeared, Rifae sat back in his chair. The gentle smile vanished from his face to be replaced with the stern, unreadable countenance of an information broker.

I have to remember something on the same level as a classified secret. She unknowingly gripped her right ring finger and rubbed the area the violet ring once adorned.

“A Knight and their Master are connected.” Vivi’s amused expression flashed in the back of Yuki’s mind. She implied she wanted to meet Luca.

“Ah! That’s right! Vivi!”

It suddenly hit her. The Legendary Witch who was supposedly executed was currently living healthily somewhere in this world. Was Rifae aware of that?

It may not be something I should share. Someone else may get this information out of Rifae just like I’m doing right now. But…

Yuki fretted over her decision for a while before looking up at Rifae who still watched her with his stern, calculated expression. She slowly opened her mouth, “About the Legendary Witch who was executed…”

“…Yes? You have information on her?” Yuki nodded. “Not even her name is known to the public. I am also lacking information on her.”

Her name…was really long. Why does everyone in this world have such long and difficult to remember names? Remember! Remember!

“Her name is Vizui Vil Dividum. I don’t know her age. She has dark-gray hair and red-tinged violet eyes. Her appearance is that of a ten-year-old girl…”

Rifae watched Yuki in silence.

I’m sorry, Vivi.

“It wasn’t her who they executed in Maruk. Maybe it’s wrong to say it wasn’t her, but it also wasn’t Rvydom’s princess. At any rate, the Legendary Witch still lives.”

“…What do you mean?”

“They almost executed a normal girl, um…but it seems like the Legendary Witch was unhappy they were going to say it was her they executed so she saved the girl. But that would ruin Maruk’s honor so they announced they did execute the Witch,” Yuki fumbled over her words in an incoherent explanation.

Rifae curled a long hair around his finger as he silently assessed her. After a long pause and dragged out sigh, he said, “…From the moment I saw you, I thought you must have had some sort of unusual reason for being out here, but it never occurred to me that you’re connected to the Legendary Witch and Prince Lucat.”

I fell into his trap again.

By telling Rifae that information, she voluntarily shared her connection to Luca and Vivi. With how smart Rifae was, he likely put two and two together to discover she was the girl saved by the Witch too. Yuki glared at him. He chuckled merrily.

He continued curling his hair around his finger as he said, “Prince Lucat is currently under suspicion for having bonded with a Witch. They say he bonded with a Witch and attempted to overthrow Prince Orga in his position as first in line to succeed the throne.”

He bonded with a Witch? Is that because of the incident in Fol when I pretended to be the Witch? But Luca didn’t seem interested in becoming king…

“The funny thing is that Prince Lucat claims he bonded with Rvydom’s princess as his Master. It sounds like nothing less than a lie to save himself, and Adolunde’s nobles are quibbling amongst themselves about the absurdity of it. Some think the prince has lost his mind; others believe it’s a mere excuse, while some wonder whether he’s telling the truth.

“In the end, they are even considering the fact Rvydom’s princess may have been a Witch. The nobles have to be mindful of their own positions too, so Prince Lucat is being imprisoned for the time being until they come to a deliberation.”

Rvydom’s princess…that’s a story Orga came up with to further his schemes.

“How could they believe such lies?”

Who do those nobles think they are? Do they all have a few screws loose?

“They don’t know anything about anything,” Yuki muttered, clenching her right hand over the invisible burn marks on her chest.

“That’s what it means not to know. Ignorance is not an excuse. They don’t even believe they are ignorant in the first place. Nobles delude themselves into believing they control their country,” Rifae drawled, his expression alluding to a part of him having given up on something long ago.