Volume 13 - CH 7

The three, including Lydia, headed towards the sea. This was because Fergus said that the sun giant clan would be helpless in that area. 

But even if they left the forest, there was still a vast plain before their eyes. Although they considered the sun, that was positioned quite low, as the target to go straight forward, it wasn’t clear whether or not they were headed towards the sea in the end.

They avoided the plains, walking only along the areas where many trees grew.

“Come to think of it, it’s still really strange.”

Just as they walked toward the edge of the forest, Lota spoke and squinted her eyes, because the thin clouds illuminated rays of light between them.

“You see, the height of the sun hasn’t changed since we left the rocky region where the giant was staying. I don’t know whether it’s sunrise or sunset.  If it was sunrise, the position should become higher: if it’s sunset, then it should sink down.”

“You’re right.”

After Lydia confirmed the position of the sun once again, she mumbled.

“Right now, this place is in eternal light, this should be the Trow’s magic.”

“What, then will it always be daytime?”

“Yes, before I was captured by the Trow and wandered around everywhere, the sun was just about that high. This isn’t the Trow’s land, so be on the lookout and make sure the sunset isn’t coming.”

Giants loathe the sunset and the sea. Although this was perhaps their weakness, whether it was human or any fairy clan, they were no match.

“When the sun is swallowed by the sea for the third time”......

The Trow’s immortal body will die.

What does this mean?

If she didn’t solve this riddle, Lydia would probably be unable to return to Edgar’s side.

“Lydia, what’s wrong?”

Lota looked back at her. The reason why Lydia stopped her footsteps was because she felt as if she heard Edgar’s voice.

But there’s no sign of him anywhere, I must have misheard.

Lota pulled Lydia’s hand, and she continued walking once again.

“It’s going to be alright, it’ll be difficult for the giant to find the wooden staff amongst the forest with many grown trees. Nico, Raven and Edgar will definitely think of a way.”

Lota tried to cheer Lydia up, probably feeling that Lydia was very restless.

“Besides, Lydia, even if the giant finds the wooden staff and uses magic, I won’t leave you alone, I’ll stay with you.”

Although Lydia felt happy because Lota was grasping her hand firmly, she thought to herself that it was impossible for her to that. 

If Lota was taken to the giant’s country, her lifespan would be reduced.

“Do you want to take a break? I’m tired.”

Lydia deliberately let go of Lota’s hand and then leaned against a thick tree trunk.

“Say, I also don’t know how long we must walk before we reach the beach. Although you can’t feel hungry or thirsty in the fairy world, you can actually get tired.”

Lota had also stretched, then casually sat beside the tree roots. 

“Hey, Lydia, there is one way that can make you not bound by the engagement ring.”

Fergus stood in front of Lydia; rather than saying that he just thought of these words, it would be better to say that he had been thinking for a long time before he spoke out.

“That is to accept my proposal.”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Although Lota immediately refuted, Fergus held out a single hand toward Lydia who was leaning against the trunk, then continued speaking:

“The reason why the ring that was important to you was snatched away by the giant, is because it’s the engagement ring? As long as the engagement is rescinded, then it’s merely an ordinary ring, and the Trow won’t be able to use magic to kidnap you.”

“......That’s impossible. Besides, feelings can’t be changed like that so easily.”

“However, that Earl wasted the chance for you to return to the human world.”

That hit the mark. Surprised, Lydia looked up at Fergus.

“Think about it, then you’ll understand. I heard that the Kelpie that took you away is a fairy that you’re acquainted with?”

If it was a fairy she knew that would want to return Lydia to the fairy world, it would be quite difficult to accomplish without a ring, so he thought that Lydia would consider using changeling magic.

Worthy of being the McKeel clan head’s eldest son, he seemed to possess relevant knowledge of fairies.

“If it was me, then I would have recognised you. A fiancée who disappeared because of being involved in a fairy incident, and then there’s an unfamiliar woman with him and getting close to him, perhaps he would be suspicious. Then again, that guy claiming to be the Blue Knight Earl obviously knows that Lydia is a fairy doctor, yet he hadn’t thought about the possibility of a changeling, this really is too strange.”

However, this was inevitable. 

Even Lydia didn’t think that Edgar would notice that she used changeling magic. She only expected that Edgar would intuitively know that she was by his side.

“Furthermore, the Trow won’t give up on you. Even if you return to the human world, they will still kidnap you. Even the Earl, who couldn’t make out a changeling, could he find ways to confront the giant? While the giants had once laid an agreement to not kill members of the McKeel clan, they will easily kill other humans. If it’s us then it’s possible to make a deal with the giants.”

Edgar may get killed by the giant.

Lydia noticed this point, and couldn’t help but become afraid.

Despite her hoping that Edgar would come and save her, and her wanting to meet with him, if he came here, it may lead to an uncontrollable situation, because he would sometimes handle matters recklessly. 

“Fergus, that’s enough.”

Lydia couldn’t answer. Lota wanted to stand in front of her, but Fergus pulled Lydia over to him with a jerk, whose heart was uneasy.

His red hair nearly came across Lydia’s cheek.

Lydia was surprised.

The man that would to do this to her would only be Edgar.

Lydia had only touched Edgar’s blond hair, and it was only with Edgar’s ash mauve eyes that were at such a close distance, as she met his eyes when gazing at each other.

The ice-cold eyes with hidden emotions was the last memory of Lydia and him touching. As that recollection swept past her mind, she felt dazed because of Fergus’ passionate gaze.

During her confusion, unable to move, there was something flashing in the sky.

A silver ray of light beamed straight down.

“Whoa!”

In the moment that Fergus yelled as he jumped backward, a special sword pierced into the ground where he originally stood.

It was the treasured Merrow’s sword.

“W-what is this......?”

Fergus wanted to take a closer look at the sword when a voice suddenly appeared from deep in the woods.

“Don’t touch it! I forbid you to touch my things.”

It was Edgar’s voice.

Astonished, Lydia stared fixedly, deep into the forest.

The shadow of someone was slowly approaching.

“Didn’t I tell you to skewer him from the top of the head?”

After Edgar muttered, the sword began to answer:

(I thought you were joking.)

The sword then disappeared, and Edgar stood from a distance slightly away from Lydia.

She saw Raven and Nico running over from behind, together with Patrick.

Patrick overtook Edgar and ran to Fergus, but Edgar was still standing in place, looking at Lydia with a somewhat sad expression.

“Lydia...... you’re safe.”

He indeed called out Lydia’s name. It was truly a reassuring voice, the familiar and gentle voice that made Lydia want to cling to Edgar on impulse regardless of being seen by the others.

But she couldn’t because she was grabbed by Lota, who was beside her.

Did she think that if Edgar noticed Lydia just now doing something with Fergus, he wouldn’t accept her?

She clearly knew that it wouldn’t be the case, but when she was still “Liz”, the feeling of embracing Edgar and being pushed away came again, making her more fearful.

“Come on, hurry and go, Lydia.”

Lota urged her, but Lydia was unable to leave her.

“B-but Lota...... tell me, do I truly look like Lydia right now?”

“What? What are you saying?”

“Is there anything different?”

“There isn’t. Right, Edgar?”

Edgar saw Lydia appearing as if she wanted to run away, so he felt very troubled. Normally, he would definitely try leaning over and hug her regardless of everything, but now he didn’t do such a thing. Lydia increasingly felt that he wasn’t like usual, certainly because there was something different about herself. 

She didn’t know that Edgar found out that Liz was her at that time and didn’t know that he felt heartache for this reason.

“Lydia, we were able to meet again, aren’t you relieved?”

“Hey Edgar, let me first make this clear, the matters just now, Lydia did nothing wrong, it was that guy who insisted on coming near her.”

Lota seemed to think that Lydia was afraid of Edgar’s misunderstanding.

“I know Lydia can’t love a man other than her formal fiancé.”

After Fergus heard this, he suddenly looked back and said:

“What formal fiancé, you didn’t even know about the changeling magic.”

Then he used his passionate gaze from a moment ago to look at Lydia.

“Lydia, think about it carefully. I am not asking you to decide between the Earl and I. Rather, I want you to choose between being forced to be the giant’s bride and returning to the island with me!” 

Edgar walked towards Fergus. He pushed aside Patrick who tried to protect Fergus, then he roughly grabbed onto Fergus’s shirt.

“I will never let her become the giant’s bride, I came to defeat it.”

“What? This is why the English are unbearable...... You simply do not understand fairies, and how impossible it is to defeat the Trow. ”

Fergus snorted contemptuously. 

“Then do you want to bet your head as the stake? If I win, the next eyesore will be you.”

“Fergus, don’t get provoked.”

Patrick spoke out to stop him, but Fergus wasn’t willing to back down.

“Suit yourself, you’ll be killed at any rate.”

“Edgar, stop it.”

Lydia wanted to stop him, thus she left Lota’s side. But she still couldn’t take the initiative to touch Edgar, so she was only able to worriedly look at the two glaring at each other from behind.

Just then, Lydia felt a strange sensation that struck her like having her hair pulled, causing her whole body to get goosebumps.

“It’s the Trow’s magic......!”

Nico yelled.

Instantly, a gust of wind blew. Just as he thought that, the gust swept up the trees, reduced the vortex range that surrounded them and pulled everyone in. 

While the leaves and dust seized their field of vision, the wind’s spiral seemed to have determined a target and caught Lydia.

The giant found the wooden staff, and was using his magic to kidnap Lydia.

Edgar grabbed her in the moment that she was almost carried away by the wind, but her body was already floating in the air.

Edgar was clearly here, yet Lydia felt the ring’s pull. This was because she faced Edgar with hesitation. Although she understood, she didn’t know what to do.

Despite this, Edgar still didn’t let go of her hand, so the both of them were swept in.

If this continued, Edgar would also be brought to the giant’s side, perhaps he will be killed by the giant as Fergus said.

Lydia didn’t want this, at the same time, she extended her other hand towards Edgar.

Not long ago, Lydia’s hand wasn’t able to reach Edgar at the fort’s riverbank, but now, she forcefully held on.

He wrapped his hands around Lydia’s body, hugging her, and as she leaned against his chest, the wind suddenly calmed down.

The two of them were suddenly released from the wind, falling to the ground.

Lydia, bore the pain of her hit knee and raised her head, but apart from grassland, there was nothing all around.

Edgar caught her, so the magic that linked Lydia with the ring lost its effect before she was brought back to the giant’s side.

“Lydia..... if I could, I’d really like to maintain this current state, but now, perhaps it can’t be done.”

Edgar said painfully. Lydia pushed down on him.

“Ah! I-I’m sorry.”

After she hastily moved away, Edgar carefully got up like he was in pain. Once she looked, she found that Edgar’s chest was bleeding, and that the blood had already spread to his vest.

“You’re hurt!”

“That, it’s merely a wound that split open slightly, nothing more.”

“But...... oh no, does it hurt? Is the wound very deep?”

Lydia was flustered, at the same time, it was because she didn’t know what ought to be done and wanted to cry. Edgar saw her like this, and smiled without knowing why.

“Thank goodness...... you’re still willing to be worried for me.”

She felt a pair of hands touch her cheeks and lifted her eyes, but because she saw something dazzling, her heart skipped a beat. She saw the person she wanted to see, and also wanted hold Edgar in her joyous mood, but as expected, she was still a little afraid, so she couldn’t do it.

Compared to this, she felt that Edgar’s hands seemed particularly hot.

“Edgar, do you also have a fever?”

“Yeah, it’s not a big deal.”

He gently pulled back the hand stroking Lydia’s cheek, was it because he didn’t want her to know that he his fever had heightened?

Saying that it wasn’t a big deal, was simply a lie. Lydia was even more worried.

“How did you get hurt?”