slchan

I mean it though...

So you're telling me you were taking a walk in your backyard, enjoying the snow, and just happened to end up near the lake?

No, I went to mine tearstone from a mountain cave, and it started snowing right as I was about to leave. Since I couldn't get down the cliff near my house, I headed the opposite direction, towards the lake.

Did you not see the dark clouds? You chose now of all times to mine your tearstone?

I’ve heard enough.

No, Mister Arctosz, let me explain—

The second daughter of the Silverash clan has trespassed on Paleroche territory.

I'll have your brother explain the situation once he returns. If his answer satisfies me, I'll let you go.

(He's going to wait for Enciodes?!)

(But Uncle Tarja is sick and can't wait any longer!)

(I need to get this medicine to him right away! Which means my only choice is to—)

(But now that it's come to this, I don't know what Mister Arctosz's demands will be, or if my brother will be humiliated...)

(Damn it, none of this has anything to do with the clans! Just because I'm a Silverash...)

(I'm sorry, Enciodes! If this causes any trouble, I'll make it right, I swear!)

Judging by the look on your face, it seems you have something to say.

I sincerely apologize for trespassing into the lake area, and I'll accept however you choose to handle this matter.

But I went to mine tearstone in order to save someone's life...

Using another's life as an excuse is an awfully tasteless joke, Ensia Silverash.

I'm not lying! Uncle Tarja, who lives in the mountains, is seriously ill and needs a tearstone to save his life. That's why I went up there!

I'll accept whatever punishment you have for me, but I ask only that you send an express train to deliver the tearstone in my backpack to the Tarja household in the mountains. Please, I'm begging you!

If you claim to have mined tearstone, then show it to me.

Hmm... this is certainly tearstone. But isn't it a bit too big?

While I was up there, I made sure to test if it could fit in the palm of my hand.

At least SOME of the Silverashes still remember a few of Kjeragandr's old teachings.

And you want me to deliver this to the Tarja household in the mountains, correct?

Yes!

Hmph.

I suppose I can oblige.

Prepare the swiftest burdenbeast! I'll be heading to the mountains with Ensia Silverash!

(Thank goodness...)

(—Wait, back up, with ME?!)

Mister Arctosz, do you mean to say...

If the situation is as you described, then your trespass was truly unintentional.

Paleroche has no desire to raise a fuss over something like this.

I thought you would—

Would what?

N-nothing, nothing at all!

Thank goodness...

You have my deepest gratitude, Mister Arctosz! If we waited any longer, we might've been too late! Truly, I can't thank you enough!

You harvested the tearstone. It was your life to save. There's nothing to thank me for.

No, you deserve it! Would you like to stop by my house to rest for a bit? Uncle Matterhorn should be back shortly, and maybe I can let him—

Arctosz doesn't utter a word, simply gazing down at the excited Ensia like an immovable crag.

Sorry, I'm getting way ahead of myself.

Don't worry about it.

Mister Arctosz...

Did you need anything else?

I still remember back before Enciodes returned. You were never close to me or my sister, but you didn't keep your distance from us like you do now.

If anyone's responsible for that, it would be your dear old brother, don't you think? While I am willing to believe that you harbor no ill will, I dare not ignore the possibility that you're a part of his plans.

Nor do I dare assume that I can beat him in on the battlefield of political intrigue.

Is my brother... really that odious a person to everyone else?

I can tolerate his scheming, but I cannot turn a blind eye to him trampling all over our traditions.

But not everything from outside is bad! Like, what if there were a better cure for Uncle Tarja's illness in some—

Ensia had only finished half her sentence when she sees the expression on Arctosz's face. She realizes then that a single gesture of aid from the patriarch of the Paleroche clan does not mean she has shortened the distance between them.

I can see that you and your brother are completely different kinds of people.

But both of you are true Silverashes.

Doesn't that also make you a true Paleroche?

Ah, of course.

But you're still helping me.

Do you think I should have sentenced Tarja to death, or continued to detain you?

No, no, that's not what I meant!

I just... don't quite understand.

Then keep mulling it over. You still have a long life ahead of you.

Let's go.

Hold onto your own stuff. You were so excited to leave that you forgot your bag.

Is that you, Lady Ensia?

Weiss? It's me! Over here!

I was worried sick about you—

Promise me you'll never do something that risky ever again!

But I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? The tearstone got delivered in time to boot. Maybe I ran into a snag or two along the way, but all's well that ends well.

Ugh... You're just as stubborn as the Master.

Hehe.

By the way, you may not know this, but part of the reason he left the country this time was to develop tearstone as a resource.

How so?

He'd already asked Victoria's scientists to study it earlier, and it turns out the reason tearstones can cure illnesses is because they contain a special substance.

And taking more or less from the cave at once does not change its efficacy.

If we can make an industry out of mining and refining tearstone, not only would that boost Kjerag's economy, but our medicine could also benefit people in other countries.

You won't have to risk your life to harvest it anymore.

Upon hearing Weiss's words, Ensia couldn't help but think back to what she saw in the cave.

The crystal-clear tearstones embedded in the rock wall, almost pulling her into a trance. As if they really were Kjeragandr's tears.

Twice had she plucked them from that wall for Uncle Tarja's sake, and the traces of her theft were left clearly in those vacant holes.

They mingle with dozens of other such scars, each of indeterminate age.

Ensia suddenly becomes uneasy, as if there were a conflict between her brother's development plans and the pristine beauty of the cave.

In an attempt to dispel some of her unease, she tries to change the topic.

By the way, what are we doing for dinner?

I heard Matterhorn mention that today's entrée will be braised beastmeat. I'm quite looking forward to it.

I didn't even realize I was hungry until now, but my stomach started growling as soon as you said that!

Glad to hear you have a healthy appetite. Anyway, I trust you'll sort out your mountaineering bag as usual, while I go help out in the kitchen?

Okay!

Oh Weiss, you joker...

This afternoon, you—

I was just about to thank you when you vanished without a trace before you could tell me your name!

Yet I arrived here all the same. Here, it's a letter for you.

For me?

From... my sister?!

Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Saintess's head maid, but you can call me Kjarr.

Enya's head maid?!

Could it be that she knew I'd be climbing the mountain today, and sent you to guide me?

As if. I was heading down to do some shopping and bumped into you by chance.

Then, you'd better not tell her that I climbed down the mountain in the snow!

Let's see here... I wonder how she's doing in the Vine-Bead Court...