Metabasis of Ashen Embers · Chapter 4
The Ancient Kingdom
Cristelle
Phew... That was close.
...It's not going to open the gate and come in, is it?
...
Haydee
...Just in case, we should put some distance between us and the gate.
Cristelle
But where is the door leading out?
There's no light at all. I can't even tell which way we're facing.
Haydee
We don't have much choice. We'll have to feel along the walls and figure it out.
...Ngh?!
W-who was that?! Don't touch me...!
Sorry! I can't see anything...
Haydee
Even if you can't see, you can hear my voice! You should at least be able to tell where I am!
Hngh...?! You touched me again!
You're... doing this on purpose, aren't you?! Pervert! Scumbag!
I'm not...! Really...!
Cristelle
...Hmm? Everyone, quiet. I think I've found it.
This should be the hinge... which means the bolt should be here...
Push the bolt...
There. I'll open the door now.
Blinding light poured in through the open doorway.
My eyes had only just adjusted to the darkness, and the sudden brightness stung so badly that I could barely open them.
Haydee
Ngh... What is this light...?
When I finally managed to open my eyes...
An unbelievable sight spread out before me.
Cristelle
...
Haydee
...What is this?
Am I seeing things...?
Cristelle
No. Captain, I can see exactly what you're seeing.
And I know full well that none of it makes any sense.
Haydee
...This can't be real.
Cristelle
...Indeed. There shouldn't be sunlight in ruins buried this deep underground.
And there shouldn't be people here either.
Coachman
Out of the way! What are you doing standing around in the middle of the road?!
Haydee
This is... strange.
We entered ruins buried deep underground and abandoned for an unfathomably long time.
Are you saying we suddenly teleported somewhere...?
Cristelle
...If we stand here exchanging impressions, I suspect we'll accomplish little beyond denying reality.
Let's walk around for now and get a better grasp of the situation.
We blended naturally into the crowd and walked through the streets until we reached a market.
Haydee
No matter how I look at it, this just seems like an ordinary market.
Nothing looks particularly suspicious. And there's no way all these people are putting on an act.
Cristelle
Mm. That is the impression I'm getting as well.
...Hard as that is to believe.
Captain, you seem a little hungry.
I did run pretty hard back there...
Cristelle
Ufufu! Truth be told, I feel the same.
Whatever is going on, why don't we satisfy our hunger first and think afterward?
Fruit Vendor
Welcome! What can I get you?
Cristelle
Mm... Three apples, please.
Fruit Vendor
Three apples. Certainly. That'll be one coin each.
Cristelle
Here you are.
Fruit Vendor
Uh... You need to pay me, madam.
Cristelle
Hmm? I just gave you three coins, didn't I?
Fruit Vendor
What? What are you talking about? You need to give me real money. I've never seen coins like these in all my life.
Cristelle
What do you mean? These coins can be used anywhere in Lavistar—
...Could it be?
Haydee
...I want to ask you something. Do you know how long it takes to get to NOA from here?
Fruit Vendor
NOA...?
NOA... NOA... Can't say I've ever heard of a place by that name.
Are you travelers from somewhere far away?
I thought your clothes looked unusual, and even your currency is different.
He's never heard of NOA...?
Cristelle
...Captain. Would you look over there for a moment?
Cristelle pointed toward a wooden sign sitting on one side of the fruit stand.
What appeared to be a price tag had unfamiliar characters crudely carved into it.
Must be a foreign language. I can't read any of it.
Cristelle
It isn't simply a foreign language.
This script is an ancient writing system used during the era of the ancient kingdom.
Ancient letters?
Cristelle
My apologies, shopkeeper, but might we have some water?
Fruit Vendor
If you need water, there's a well in the square over there.
Haydee
There's no faucet or anything?
Fruit Vendor
A faucet...? What's that?
...Huh?
Cristelle
...I see. Thank you. Could I pay for the apples with this gold ring instead?
And I'd appreciate it if you could give me the remainder in whatever coins are used here.
The bustling street filled with haggling, idle chatter, and hurried footsteps suddenly felt completely unfamiliar.
Haydee
Even on the Eastern Continent, NOA is widely known.
It's impossible for someone to have never even heard the name.
Cristelle
Perhaps these people have lived in complete isolation from the outside world for an absurdly long time.
Or...
Haydee
We're in an era before NOA even existed.
At this point, that's probably the most likely answer.
Traveled back in time, huh...
Roberta
Ahh...! That's refreshing! Anyway, Captain, where was I?
I went outside thinking, "No way," and it turned out Lugh and Naru were telling the truth!
Basically, I ended up going around and around inside Polaris HQ.
Oh, and don't go telling everyone about this, okay?
Anyway, so then...
Claire
...And so, Ms. Carnelia's diary became a connection to a world reflecting Candle Square in the past.
Bell and I then began reenacting events from that past.
...Time or space repeating itself.
I couldn't shake the feeling that the strange events happening around me were somehow similar.
Could it really be nothing more than coincidence?
The thought that suddenly surfaced left my mind in turmoil.
Cristelle
I don't know what "time travel" means... but it seems we've somehow come to the past.
To a time before this nameless ancient kingdom was destroyed.
As for the era... even the most conservative estimate would place us before the Star Savior's arrival.
...That's an unimaginably long time ago.
Haydee
Why... did something like this suddenly happen?
Cristelle
This is still only speculation, but...
For now, those castle walls seem the most suspicious.
Haydee
The castle walls?
Cristelle
Yes. It's extremely faint, but I can sense some kind of power flowing from them.
If you don't believe me, close your eyes and place your hand on the ground.
I did as Cristelle said and focused with my hand against the ground. A tingling sensation ran through my palm.
Cristelle
The power seems to be flowing toward... the center of the castle.
Haydee
You mean it's connected to the royal palace?
Cristelle
It means there's... something in there.
One thing bothers me, though. There seems to be another current flowing beyond the castle walls...
Hmm... We can figure out the details from here—
Haydee
W-what the... If you're going to run into someone, at least apolog—
Soldier
Clear the way!
The Royal Guard is marching through!
Cristelle
A ceremonial march before the knights depart... Every one of them looks highly experienced.
With a force this large, has a war broken out?
Onlooker
Hmm...? Judging by your clothes, you must be outsiders. You don't even know that?
The knights are setting out to find medicine for Her Highness the princess.
Is Her Highness seriously ill?
Onlooker
Huh? You really don't know anything about what's happening here, do you?
Her Highness has been bedridden with a mysterious illness for years now.
Haydee
A mysterious illness?
Onlooker
That's right. Tsk, tsk... It's terrible that the princess came down with such a dreadful disease.
They say she might've died already if not for the sage... We're truly fortunate to have her.
Haydee
...What?
Sage? You just said "sage," didn't you?
Onlooker
Huh? Why are you getting so worked up? Did I say something wrong?
Cristelle
Haydee. Calm yourself.
Haydee
...
Cristelle
Could you explain a little more? We're not very familiar with what's been happening here.
Onlooker
Well... it's common knowledge around here.
They say the sage of the kingdom appeared out of nowhere one day and performed all sorts of treatments on the princess after she fell ill.
Apparently, she even developed a miraculous medicine that could cure her illness.
That's why the knights are being dispatched all across the continent to gather the ingredients.
Does that answer your question?
Haydee
Kgh...
Cristelle
...Haydee, calm yourself. The general public doesn't know her true identity.
Control your emotions before we draw any unwanted attention.
Haydee
...Tch. Is that sage here? Where is she right now?
Onlooker
Why, the sage is at the royal palace. They say she's so busy making the elixir that will save the princess that she doesn't even have time to leave.
But if you know so little about this place, I'm surprised you seem to know about the sage.
Cristelle
Ufufu... The truth is, we'd also like to consult this sage about something.
That's why we've traveled all the way to this distant kingdom.
Thank you for telling us all that. We'll be on our way.
Haydee
Wait, Cristelle. There's still more I want to know—
Cristelle
Cool your head, Haydee.
He's only an ordinary onlooker. We've already learned everything useful we can from him.
Do you remember what I told you about the mindset you need if you're going to achieve your revenge?
Haydee
Hide the fire of vengeance beneath cold reason.
...I know.
Cristelle
I'm glad to hear it. For now, let's move somewhere quieter.
Despite her words, Haydee still seemed too agitated to think clearly and reluctantly let Cristelle lead her away by the hand.
The princess and the sage...
As I unconsciously murmured those two words, my eyes met those of a knight riding near the end of the procession.
Or rather, it felt as though they did. I couldn't be certain since the knight's face was hidden behind a helmet.
Cristelle
Captain. Come along. There are many people here, so take care not to get lost.
Ah, I'm coming.
As I thought back to the knight's appearance, I was struck by the strange feeling that I'd seen that face somewhere before.
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