Chapter 8 - 1-8
A long, viscous shadow falls across the courtyard of the Palen Cathedral.
In the garden where a lonely wind blows, the Three Sages welcomed their waiting guest. They all looked up at the branches of a garden tree in unison.
A crow sat on the branch of the garden tree. The red sun reflected delicately off the crow's wings, accentuating the luster of its feathers.
The crow cawed noisily.
To the three of them, those cries sounded like words. Before long,
"So, did One-Eyed Zarko make you his servant?" Nezumo asked, lifting his eyelids so high it looked as if his eyeballs might roll out.
"A familiar?" Persa turned to look at Manam, as if accusing him.
"Is there some circumstance?" Manam looked perplexed.
How the Three Sages had crossed the deserts lying across the continent to reach the lands of Siddim.
The three were mages who had mastered ancient secret arts. They were archmages seeking to claim the world. However, when it came to the fact that they could go nowhere without using their feet, they were no different from the general public. They crossed the desert by camel. In the grasslands, they became travelers on horseback. Once they reached a town, they begged. They were not fools. They used that money to board ships as well.
The old men who had set out with donkeys in early spring were already in Siddim by the height of summer a year later. It was a grand adventure that even a vigorous youth would struggle to achieve. The old men did not cease their activities.
In the Kingdom of Siddim, there is a city of learning called Argis.
The story goes that in Argis, records of the observation of Luv-U from three thousand years ago are preserved. It is said to be held by an organization called the Northern Mages Association. However, that Northern Mages Association was extremely closed off. When the three visited the association seeking access,
"Unless you have completed at least fifteen years of training and passed the council's examination, access to ancient documents will not be permitted."
They clashed with such a stubborn attitude.
Just as they were writhing in agony, wondering if there was any way, some favorable information came in. There was a man who had read first-class classified documents at will. It seemed he had been expelled after getting into a dispute with the Mages Association.
One-Eyed Zarko. It was said to be a well-known name in the North.
Perhaps he was reading the observation records of Luv-U. Could they meet him? The three scurried about the city of learning, Argis. It seemed Zarko lived a hermit-like life in the forest. Finally, they discovered a person who could contact Zarko.
He was a young man in his twenties who gave the impression of being a true prodigy.
"I don't think you'll meet him. He is a difficult person."
The young mage, who introduced himself as Laje Jink, stated coldly.
"You should just tell him you have something to discuss regarding Luv-U."
"No, Nezumo. I think this guy is implicitly demanding money."
"Don't be rude," Manam interceded. "Laje-kun. We are merely humble scholars. We have overcome hardships and tribulations to reach this North in search of wisdom. Could you please at least let us speak with him?"
"Well, if it's just talking..."
The arrangement was to wait for contact in Malfa City. The Palen Cathedral would be appropriate. Since that place accepts any kind of traveler. After being made to wait for ten days, what arrived was a single crow.
I shall deliver One-Eyed Zarko's words. Caa-caa!
The crow caws.
There are some reckless fools recently making a fuss about an ominous star appearing in the northern sky. If they were shallow people, I would leave them be, but regrettably, it seems there are some incredibly frivolous types among the practitioners who intend to make a killing by taking advantage of that chaos. It is nothing short of laughable and even hideous. Caa-caa!
Nezumo picked up a stone and threw it at the crow. Since it flew in the wrong direction, the crow was not even surprised.
I advise you gentlemen to leave Siddim; you should be worrying about your graves as befits your age. Caa. If you try to drag Siddim into this chaos, I shall teach you plenty about how the North is the spiritual territory of this One-Eyed Zarko. Caa-caa!
"Now, let's have you deliver our words," Nezumo shouted. "One-Eyed Zarko, you bastard!"
Bastard, bastard!
"Um, who are you talking to?"
When the three turned around, Urgil Necrat was on his way out.
"What are you staring at?"
"Get lost."
Lord Necrat shrugged his shoulders, his mustache twitching thickly. He left the cathedral with a man who appeared to be an attendant holding horse reins.
When they turned their eyes back to the garden tree, the crow had already flown away.
"What shall we do? That man called Zarko—it would be better to eliminate him. He will be an obstacle to our plans," Persa suggested.
"We must do it, resolutely," Nezumo added, his eyes bloodshot.
"No," Manam crossed his arms. "One-Eyed Zarko appears to be quite a capable user. If the three of us challenge him together, it is not impossible to kill him. However, one or two of us would also be taken out. For now, Zarko is one step ahead of us, but well, that man won't be able to move from the North."
Manam licked his lips.
"More importantly, I don't think there was any lie in the words about the North being his spiritual territory. We must be careful. A cricket chirping in the garden, a cat crossing the path—there's no telling which one might be his familiar."
"So we're being watched," Persa said, casting a sharp glance around. "So, what do we do now, Manam?"
"It can't be helped. Let's go to that place. It's going to happen eventually anyway."
"Are we getting on a ship again?" Nezumo lamented. He was the type who was weak to motion sickness. "In the end, we didn't gain anything in the North. Damn it!" He suddenly flared up. "But we will return! To this Siddim! Do you hear me, One-Eyed Zarko!"
He possessed enough vigor to live for another hundred years.