Leca had heard about his mother while living in Naizman.
Like most children, he once asked why he didn't have a mother.
Behemoth had answered him like this:
"Your mother was a beautiful and kind woman. But she was human, not a spirit. That's why we could no longer live together."
"So I'll never see her again?"
"I'm afraid not."
"What are human mothers like? How are they different from spirits?"
"She loved you so much, she was willing to give up everything for you. That's what matters. Just remember that. And Leca—never tell anyone that your mother was human."
…Love.
What did that even feel like?
Seventeen-year-old Leca lay alone in the depths of a dark forest. It was a place he visited often for combat training against fiends.
Other trainees would rush home after the sessions, complaining of hunger and fatigue. But Leca enjoyed being alone in nature.
His eighteenth birthday was just a month away. He would come of age.
And with that would come the duty to find a master and begin his true life as a spirit.
The Pact of the Spirits.
To serve a master, even at the cost of one's own life.
If a master died or disappeared, the spirit would be free for a year.
But if that master had been the third and final one, then after that year, the spirit would dissolve—returning to elemental form.
Spirits could change masters, but never disobey or betray them.
After forming a pact, they could no longer lie. Breaking that rule meant death.
Leca had never feared death.
But he sometimes wondered—who would his master be? Who would be worth giving his life for?
His father's current master, he'd heard, was a very old fire spirit—one of Behemoth's former mentors.
By now, his memories of childhood with Behemoth had faded. In ten years, Behemoth had sent a few letters. Once or twice a year, he visited.
But that alone wasn't enough to build a bond.
Besides, Behemoth never welcomed contact from Leca.
Men don't cry. Spirits don't get lonely. Don't act weak like a human. Don't be sentimental.
Every time he came, Behemoth drilled those words into Leca like gospel. So, little by little, Leca erased any "fragile thoughts" from his mind.
Coming to Sibareth had widened his world.
Back at Aisha's, he had only met a handful of human children at a local learning room.
But now, he had met nobles, royals, beastfolk, and other spirits—and made friends with them.
King Minophon of Sibareth even showed him special favor.
Leca's coming-of-age ceremony was now just a week away. He wandered into the Fairy Garden for a quiet walk.
Despite the name, no fairies actually lived there—it was just a whimsical, storybook-like corner of the palace grounds.
Of the four royal gardens in Sibareth, the Rose Garden was the most beautiful, but it belonged to Julius. Leca avoided it for that reason.
It was a starry night.
As he walked, breathing in the dewy night air, he heard the soft sound of footsteps behind him.
Turning around, he saw her—A girl with long silver hair and violet eyes.
"I knew you'd be here. This is your favorite place, after all."
"Shaminy… what brings you here?"
In public, Leca addressed her with formality. But in private, he spoke more freely.
Shamanaz had been the first friend he made after coming to Sibareth.
If he had to name someone special—it would be her.
"Your birthday's soon, right? I know what that means. Time to find a master."
"You're well-informed."
Leca gave a faint smile.
"Of course I am. I'm your best friend, remember?"
"…"
Is she? My best friend?
There were others—Lily, some beastfolk. But Shaminy had been the first. The one he saw most often.
So maybe that counted.
Still, he never truly understood what it meant to feel attached to someone. What was that emotion supposed to feel like?
"So… have you found your lovely lady to pledge your soul to?"
She laughed playfully. Leca laughed too.
"Sadly, no such lady exists."
"Well, in that case…"
Her voice dropped.
"Why not make me your master?"
"…What? Why?"
"What do you mean why? We're best friends. If you protect me, I'll feel safe."
Leca chuckled.
"Julius won't like that."
"Who cares what Jules thinks? He's always surrounded by women and doesn't even look at me!"
"That's not the issue. He just doesn't like me."
"So?"
Shaminy pouted.
"He wants nothing to do with me.
Surely you've noticed that much, Shaminy."
"Hmm…Well—aside from the karakal incident—no, not really."
"That was just the most obvious incident. It's always been like that."
Leca could feel it.
Even though they were often together because of Shamanaz, Julius had never once looked at him with kindness. Not even once.
"Then isn't that even better?" Shaminy chirped.
"If I become your master, maybe Jules will get jealous and finally see me as a woman. Hohoho!"
"…I'd rather not play the side character in someone else's love triangle."
With that, Leca turned and began walking away.
Shaminy quickly followed him.
"Sorry. If I upset you, I didn't mean to. I was just making a suggestion.
So who are you going to make your master?"
"I don't know… Was that ever really my choice?"
"Are you ready to tell us what exactly just happened?"
The king's tone was firm, now that Mia seemed to have stabilized. She was still sweating nervously when she managed to answer,
"I think… it was a spontaneous molting."
"Fairy molting isn't exactly a frequent occurrence. And if I'm not mistaken, didn't you already go through one recently?"
"Yes… but I'm not a typical fairy. I might be different."
The king narrowed his eyes and studied her carefully. Then turned to a waiting attendant.
"Has Grand Vizier Jakiel not yet arrived?"
"No, Your Majesty. He said his health has declined and his arrival will be delayed."
"Then summon Court Mage Roland. There is something I must confirm."
Moments later, a tall old man entered the hall. He wore a silver robe embroidered with gold sigils across his chest.
A long white beard brushed the floor. He leaned on a heavy wooden staff. Embedded in his forehead was a brilliant diamond, gleaming like a star.
His presence rivaled that of Grand Vizier Jakiel.
"Forgive me for disturbing your research."
"Not at all, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be summoned."
His voice was gravelly, like scraped metal, as he bowed deeply.
Mia stiffened. What is he here for…?
"If my memory serves, Roland—Aren't those wings from King Thorpel of the fairies?"
Mia's heart sank.
"…Indeed, Your Majesty. Those wings are unique to the bloodline of the Fairy King.
No other fairy can produce them."
Damn it…
Mia bit her lip.
Everything else had been so chaotic lately—Roy, the rite of passage, Julius and his ridiculous proposal—that she had completely forgotten about the wing trade.
How could I mess up this badly?
"Do you recall what I told you before you left for Muria?"
The king's voice brought her back to the present. Mia nodded slowly.
"Good. Then repeat it."
"You said… if I spoke with the Fairy King, I should report what was said to Your Majesty."
"Well remembered. Now, are those wings connected to that conversation?"
The king's gaze was sharp. His ruby pulsed steadily. He looked far more lucid than he had in days.
Mia forced herself to stay calm.
"He told me that… a human who bathes in the water where a fairy has molted may gain incredible powers. So he wondered if I might possess such abilities."
"And?"
"He said he wanted to study me more closely while I was staying in Muria.
That was all.I left the next day."
At this point, lying is second nature.
And hey… I'm not even trembling anymore. Progress?
"Then how do you explain the sudden growth of those wings?"
The king pressed further. Mia held her chin up and replied with growing boldness.
"I don't know. Maybe it's just as he said. Because I was in the water where a fairy has molted—I gained something rare."
"Your Majesty, may I speak?"
Roland's booming voice cut through the room. Mia shuddered.
He really is a second Jakiel…Do all men with forehead diamond act like this?
"Go on," said the king.
"…Historically, wings from the Fairy King are given only to women who have… shared his bed. That is the tradition of Muria."
"…What?"
The king's voice rang out in astonishment. The chamber erupted into murmurs and gasps.
Mia felt her vision go white.
Shared his—what?! That's insane! Nothing happened between us! It was just a blood exchange—nothing more!
Jewels gleamed from every forehead in the room. The king's ruby. The elders' amethysts and sapphires. Roland's diamond.
All of them fixed on Mia like arrows of light.
And for a moment—Mia felt like she might go blind.