Chapter 13: Beginning and End

“It’s noisy outside.”

The Northern Misty Forest remained utterly silent. Bel sat before the Tree of Life, spending time there just like he always did. 

He drew water from a nearby spring and began carefully wiping the face, neck, arms, and legs of the woman lying quietly with her eyes closed beneath the tree. This had become a habit for Bel over the past few months.

“Vivian, do you hear the demon beasts crying?”

[It’s much fainter than before.]

“I heard there was a war.”

The woman with luxurious long silver hair and a face white like pear blossoms still lay with her eyes closed, not moving even slightly. But Bel knew she was slowly coming back to life.

When he had sought out Vivian’s grave to clarify his feelings about ‘Bibi.’ Even when the tenth leaf sprouted from the Tree of Life after a hundred years had passed, he hadn’t held much hope. 

But when Bel visited that place the next day, what he discovered was astonishing—the Tree of Life had bloomed overnight with lush green leaves and blue flowers. Bel had tended to the tree alone for a long time since then. Like it was his long-destined fate.

A demon tending the Tree of Life. He chuckled at his own actions. But certainly, even in that moment, the situation was undergoing a dramatic change.

On the day marking one month, when Bel visited the tree just like any other day, he thought the scene before his eyes was an illusion or mistake. 

Unlike the night before, all the flowers had fallen from the tree, leaving it as barren like a winter tree, yet it scattered more sacred light than ever before. And beneath it… a woman lay wrapped gently in fallen petals and leaves. It was his reunion with the beloved Vivian after 100 years.

“……”

Bel, who had been lost in various memories of the past, suddenly raised his head and looked at the woman. She still didn’t move or open her eyes like a dead person, but for the past few days he had been able to converse with her soul. 

The proof was hearing Vivian’s voice like this. She was regaining vitality day by day. A faint smile would sometimes appear on her face that was smooth like glass and showed no expression, and blood began to flow in her pale skin that had been no different from a corpse.

On the other hand, the tree was rapidly withering, which was strange. Bel couldn’t understand why the tree that had radiated life force as fresh as Vivian just days ago was suddenly dying. He had an ominous feeling.

“I’m sorry to tell you this when your resurrection is near, but even the Misty Forest, the demon beasts’ stronghold, won’t be safe.”

[The Misty Forest?]

“Yes. Lifre Forest became demon beast territory hundreds of years ago. Now no one remembers this place by the name ‘Lifre Forest.'”

Even though no answer came, her sadness was fully conveyed to him.

[It’s been forgotten.]

“The race was exterminated.”

A brief silence flowed. Vivian’s soul whispered a few words in sorrowful Elvish that he couldn’t understand. Bel somehow felt like an invisible gaze was staring at him intently, waiting only for an answer. He sensed hesitation from Vivian.

[My child?]

The moment the quiet voice pierced his ears, Bel’s expression froze cold.

[That child is living well, right? Or…]

For some unknown reason, the anxiety that had struck when he realized the tree was dying surged up again from deep in his heart. Vivian couldn’t bring herself to continue and quietly waited for an answer.

“She’s… fine.”

She must be alive. She has to be alive. Suppressing the chilling sensation that washed over him like waves, Bel replied calmly. Vivian remained silent.

[…I want to see that child soon.]

In the eerily peaceful silence, Vivian carefully spoke.

[I want to see my daughter. I’m curious about everything—what kind of child she’s grown into, whether she resembles me a lot, or if she looks like her father…]

“She resembles you.”

After roughly spitting out those words, Bel couldn’t stand it anymore and abruptly stood up. To eliminate the anxiety that was sharpening all his nerves, he needed to find out about ‘Bibi’ right now. 

He could no longer remain silent and pretend ignorance in front of Vivian, who was eagerly counting down the days until reuniting with her daughter with such hopeful voice.

[Are you leaving?]

“I have somewhere to go briefly. It won’t take long.”

[Alright.]

Bel, who was about to leave the forest, suddenly stopped walking and turned toward Vivian, who was faintly fading away.

“Vivian, can you see me?”

[What are you trying to say?]

“I’m asking whether your soul can not only hear sounds but also feel touch and look at objects.”

[No, I can only hear sounds.]

Vivian denied it with a voice steeped in sadness. At this, Bel secretly felt relieved. No matter what heartbreaking situation arose, he could hide the cruel truth from her at least. He already felt pathetic and cowardly for thinking of deceiving Vivian. 

But he couldn’t let his efforts collapse meaninglessly. Thinking this was the only way to prevent Vivian, who was about to be completely resurrected in body, from mentally collapsing, Bel moved his heavy steps toward the forest shrouded in deep darkness.

* * *

The outside world he entered after so long wasn’t as horrific as Bel had expected. Since he had spent quite a long period with Vivian in the Misty Forest, it was hard to gauge how much time had passed in the human realm. 

Reconstruction work was in full swing in villages that had been burned to ash, and residents were waiting in orderly lines with large sacks in front of soldiers distributing daily necessities.

The remnants of war were still clear. However, there weren’t corpses piled in the streets, demon beast roars echoing, or bloody battles unfolding vividly. 

Only the gloomy and desolate atmosphere after the war’s end lingered in the devastated villages. Bel silently surveyed all these scenes, then after much deliberation, stopped a passing pedestrian and asked.

“Please tell me anything you know about the large-scale battle with demon beasts.”

The pedestrian wearing clothes no better than rags looked back at him with a tired expression.

“You don’t seem to be from Eodiphia.”

“…I returned home a few days ago and don’t know the detailed circumstances.”

“You were lucky to avoid the terrible devastation. If those monsters hadn’t retreated, about a quarter of Eodiphia’s territory would have become barren wasteland by now. Especially Ditrian, located near Moon Forest, was extremely dangerous. Because the brilliant Imperial Archmages perfectly misjudged the demon beasts’ movement route, the war nearly escalated into an unprecedented tragedy. Breaking expectations that they would concentrate attacks on Killian Canyon, Travita Plains, and the capital, all the demon beasts converged on Ditrian instead.”

“Are you saying the demon beasts voluntarily retreated in that situation?”

“I don’t know the details either. Since it was such a great disaster, all I know is what I’ve heard through word of mouth.”

Under the silent pressure demanding detailed explanation, the pedestrian scratched the back of his head and continued haltingly.

“It’s become such a famous tale in Ditrian village that everyone knows it. The demon beast presumed to be their leader completely lost its mind and went on a rampage, attacking indiscriminately without distinguishing friend from foe. It was fortunate that the demon beasts, who were overwhelmingly larger than humans, took the full brunt of that fierce attack, because if that leader had retained even a bit of sanity, the damage to the human side would have been unimaginable. Anyway, talking for so long has made my throat dry.”

The pedestrian who had been eagerly telling his story suddenly coughed meaningfully, showing off. At this, Bel slightly furrowed his brow and carelessly tossed him the price of two ales. 

The pedestrian who quickly received the money grinned widely. Seemingly fired up again, he began continuing his story excitedly like recounting a legendary heroic tale.

“I heard the demon beast leader was holding the corpse of a young woman. After the war ended, the investigation team strongly demanded that the body be handed over to determine the woman’s identity, but they couldn’t get it back.”

“…A corpse?”

“That’s right. I can guarantee that much since I saw it myself.”

Bel squeezed his eyes shut. His ears felt muffled.

“…That woman’s remains are now… where.”

After taking a deep breath, Bel finally spoke after the silence. His terribly cracked voice scattered in fragments through his clenched teeth.

“The Emperor of Cabalon took her. You might wonder why a woman who died in our country ended up in the hands of a foreign emperor—I don’t know either. It’s all because Princess Kesera gave her permission. Her Highness dismissed all the strong demands from high-ranking mages who said the woman’s corpse needed to be investigated for possible secret connections with demon beasts. Some circles keep spreading nasty rumors about unseemly deals between Cabalon’s ruler and Princess Kesera. But well, I don’t think so. The source of such lowly rumors must be those rotten high-ranking mages who harbor resentment toward the Princess because things didn’t go their way. Anyway, whoever talks about it, only the parties involved know the truth.”

The pedestrian shrugged and adjusted the sack he was carrying.

“That’s all I know. If you want to dig deeper, why don’t you go ask Princess Kesera directly.”

“Wait, just one more thing.”

Bel urgently stopped the pedestrian who was about to leave without regret after receiving a hefty payment for ale.

“Have all of Cabalon’s forces protecting the woman’s body returned?”

“No, they’re performing some ritual or something. There’s a high probability they’re still remaining in Eodiphia’s Imperial Palace…”

The man couldn’t finish his words and gasped in disbelief. Bel, who had been standing before his eyes just moments ago, had disappeared without a trace.

* * *

Before even hearing the man’s full story, Bel left that place like the wind and arrived at the Imperial Palace. The capital, swept by the storm of war, exuded a gloomy atmosphere instead of its familiar splendor. 

Like an abandoned ghost city. Along the wide avenue leading to the palace’s main gate, servants dressed in drab-colored clothes moved silently. 

Following behind them and observing the situation inside the palace, Bel spotted an elderly servant and asked him about Cabalon’s army.

“If you’re referring to the Imperial elite led by Cabalon’s Emperor… it seems you’ve crossed paths.”

“What do you mean?”

“The party departed for the Misty Forest two days ago. Now that the demon beasts have disappeared, it would be proper to call it Lifre Forest.”

The servant slowly blinked his wrinkled eyes and trailed off.

“I heard they’re performing a very important ceremony there. Access is strictly controlled, so it won’t be easy to enter. The Emperor of Cabalon has thoroughly forbidden even Princess Kesera’s entry.”

* * *

Arcana stopped in the middle of an endlessly deep and dark tunnel. She had walked silently forward, believing that if she went just a little further, she would see light, but all she could see was still darkness. 

Could she escape from this place? 

Overwhelmed by rushing feelings of futility and fear, she crouched down. It seemed like she hadn’t taken many steps, but today it was twice as difficult and she couldn’t move even one step.

‘Phew, I’ve walked plenty! Let’s stop here for today. If I rest, that boy will probably appear again and be sniffling in some corner, right?’

Arcana, who had found breathing much easier at some point, massaged her stiff calves and twisted her body this way and that.

‘Hmm. This is fine now too.’

Certainly, when she first opened her eyes in this cave-like tunnel, she couldn’t move like her limbs had been pierced by harpoons. 

Her right knee down to her shin and ankle were crushed in a terrible state, and her abdomen and back, missing the bones that should protect her organs, were chillingly soft. More than half of her skull had no sensation, whether it was torn or caved in. 

It seemed like sticky fluid was flowing down from her eye sockets and below her nose. Though it was her own body, it was such a bizarre, monster-like appearance that it made her want to vomit. 

But strangely, she felt no pain. Anyway, that’s why Arcana couldn’t move and just lay on the ground like a vegetative patient for a long time. It was relatively recent that her broken and damaged limbs slowly mended and her missing organs were filled one by one.

Oh my, that must hurt a lot.

What appeared before Arcana, who was lying quietly with her eyes closed in the pitch darkness, was Shahan.

The man gently caressed Arcana’s injured body with a pitiful expression she had never seen before.

‘After all that suffering to save you, how can you return so injured? There’s no point in protecting you.’

It was a sorrowful voice that tugged painfully at a corner of her heart. Arcana glanced sideways at Shahan, who was kneeling beside her. The darkly pierced abdomen was the first thing to enter her vision. Inside the large hole, there was neither the white, fine flesh that should have been there, nor anything to fill the inside. It was just empty.

It doesn’t hurt.

Really. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Arcana pouted her lips and muttered in an ant-like voice. Even though her body was so terribly damaged, she felt no sadness, suffering, or pain. Had the wish she had made long ago finally come true?

Shahan smiled softly. It was an unfamiliar smile. A smile that felt incredibly peaceful, not the shield-like solid mask she had seen all her life.

‘I’m sorry for hurting you, I’m sorry. For realizing too late, for always wounding you…’

His voice grew faint. Arcana waved her hand toward Shahan, who was scattering like a phantom. He extended his hand asking her to come with him, but she still wanted to stay here longer. She felt she should stay. Just in case she might find an exit.

It was quite amazing how her body self-repaired as time passed. She had secretly worried about living with disgusting scars for life like Shahan, but fortunately the wounds healed well even without special treatment. 

Arcana walked through the cave day and night, sometimes taking brief rests and forcing herself to sleep like a person. She was so thirsty that she sipped the pitch-black river water that covered the ceiling like a curtain to moisten her throat. Then she encountered a boy crouched in a corner, sobbing out sorrowful tears.

‘I’m sorry.’

Fist-sized tears dripped onto the pure white boy’s curled-up arms. The boy submerged in deep blue darkness didn’t even notice Arcana’s approaching presence and buried his face between his knees, retching out despair.

Arcana was flustered. Should she go comfort him? Or should she quietly step aside and pretend not to notice?

‘Lala, I was wrong…’

Who is Lala again? It’s a familiar name, but she couldn’t remember. After much deliberation, she decided to quietly pass by the boy without making a sound. Who could that child be? Who was he longing for while crying so sorrowfully? 

She envied that unknown person just for having someone shed tears for them. Arcana didn’t have the courage to warmly comfort the boy who was crying bitterly like the whole world had shattered.

‘I’m really sorry… Lala.’

The tears pooled at the boy’s feet like a black river, then dyed even his violently heaving body pitch black. His entire body was like pitch-black rainwater streaming down. 

Passing by the boy who was swallowed by a giant wave and sinking into the deep sea, Arcana continued moving forward.

Arcana.

No, she tried to move forward. Her steps stopped for a moment. The boy’s call echoed in her ears. She eventually went back the way she came and grabbed the arm of the boy being swept away by the black tsunami. She desperately held onto the fading memory.

When she opened her eyes again, she was back at the starting point. The waves that had rushed at her like a monster’s maw, and the sensation of the ice-cold skin she had desperately grasped at the last moment—everything had disappeared, and Arcana was thrown back into the dark cave alone.

She barely managed to get up and move again. The thirst had disappeared long ago. She walked looking only ahead without drinking from the river water that flowed consistently in the same direction along her path.

Recently, she had often heard voices calling her name. At first it was the fierce sobbing of the boy with blue skin, then later other voices mixed in as well.

Who could be calling her so desperately? 

Arcana listened quietly with an inexplicable feeling. Among the various tones of voices swirling chaotically like a broken tape, there was one tone that came through clearly.

Arcana—

A dull ache settled in her chest. The voice calling her name was so tender, yet sounded so heartbreakingly sad that she invariably stopped in her tracks. 

Arcana lowered her head and wiped away tears. She knew the owner of the voice. Knowing she could never meet him again, the tears wetting her cheeks wouldn’t stop.

Afraid she might not hear that beloved voice anymore, she desperately suppressed the sobs trying to burst out. She cried silently and rubbed her eyes until they turned red.

She ran frantically toward the direction from which Narcissus’s voice came, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape from this damned darkness. Just like always.