WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 212: A Way to Tame the Flames (1)
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During his nearly two-year journey, when had Airen Farreira felt most at ease?
There was no need to think about it. It had been while traveling from Durkali to the center of the continent.
When he had first set out, everything was new, leaving him tense. After Judith and Brett joined him, the journey had been enjoyable, but there had also been plenty of hectic moments.
Even with Kubharu taking care of so many things for them.
On the other hand, when it had been just Airen, Illia, and Lulu, nothing too chaotic had happened. By then, Airen had gained considerable experience as well, so he had not felt uncomfortable.
Why was he thinking about this?
‘Obviously...’
Airen glanced to his side.
Kiril was walking beside him, matching his pace with a faint smile.
Yet that smile alone revealed nothing about what she was feeling or thinking.
‘Why am I so nervous?’
When his eyes met his sister’s, he smiled back.
It was strange. Things had not felt like this when he traveled with Illia.
Back then, he had been far more relaxed and at ease. That was separate from Illia’s own struggles because of Ignet.
Yet although they were simply walking down the road together, being with Kiril made him strangely conscious of her mood.
He felt as though he needed to try harder to please her and be the first to bring up a topic.
“...”
Even Lulu, usually the one who kept the mood lively, was silently following behind them.
Of course, Airen understood. Considering what had happened with the Sorcery barrier, and Kiril’s personality, Lulu was better off being cautious for a while.
But if that was the case, easing the somewhat stiff atmosphere was entirely up to him...
“Brother.”
“Hm?”
“Your necklace changed?”
“M-my necklace? Ah!”
Startled by the sudden question, Airen quickly pulled a necklace from his backpack.
It was the very necklace Kiril had given him before the Demonoid Subjugation Campaign.
Unlike before, though, it was in poor condition. It had shattered when it failed to withstand the Jester Demon’s overwhelming demonic aura.
That was why Airen was now wearing the Five-Spirit Amulet Tarakhan had given him instead.
“Hm. I see.”
“I’m sorry. It was a gift from you, but I treated it so roughly...”
“It’s okay. It was destroyed because of a demon, after all. I’m just glad you’re healthy.”
“Thanks, Kiril.”
“It’s still a little disappointing. I wish you’d told me first.”
“...”
“Actually, I wanted to ask as soon as we arrived in Lavath. But I waited. I think I would’ve liked it better if you had told me first.”
Reading her mood, Airen tried to take off the Five-Spirit Amulet. Somehow, it felt like he should.
Kiril shook her head and stopped him.
“No, it suits you. It’s fine.”
“Huh? Ah...”
“I’m not just saying that. I like its unusual design, and more than anything, I get the feeling it’ll help you.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“I see.”
Airen nodded.
Lulu and his sister had said nearly the same thing. If two Sorcerers agreed on it, there had to be something to it.
The necklace felt even more mysterious now.
He could not dwell on that thought for long, though.
Whoosh!
Kraaaash!
“Kiril?”
“Huh? The Griffin? Why?”
Lulu and Airen stared at Kiril in confusion as she suddenly summoned her Griffin.
It had only been a day since she suggested they travel at a leisurely pace to commemorate their first trip together as siblings.
The city was already in sight, too. There was no reason to call for a mount now.
It would only draw attention.
Kiril’s next words went far beyond what Airen expected.
“Even if we travel slowly, we should enter the city as flamboyantly as possible.”
“Huh? Why?”
“We need to show them what we’re capable of. That way, they won’t be able to mess with us however they please. It’ll also keep us from getting into pointless trouble.”
“...”
“Why? Am I wrong?”
“W-well, Kiril.”
Airen desperately tried to stop his sister.
He told her he would handle things. He was a fairly experienced mercenary and traveler now. He could find them an inn without trouble, and he would find a restaurant with good food and a pleasant atmosphere too.
There was no reason for it to happen, but if someone did pick a fight during that process, he was confident he could deal with it.
“Hm, really?”
Whoosh!
Kiril listened to her brother with a skeptical expression, then dismissed the Griffin.
Saying that she would trust only him, she started walking ahead.
Airen sighed as he watched her back. Lulu patted him on the shoulder.
‘She really is so different from me.’
Still, he did not dislike that about her. If anything, it was a different kind of fun from traveling with his classmates at the fencing hall.
Holding Lulu in his arms, Airen quickly followed after Kiril.
* * *
‘I don’t like this.’
Kiril Farreira, disciple of the Great Sorcerer Skeena Kitten and one of Cesar Duchy’s most promising young talents, was in a foul mood.
The reason was obviously her brother.
It was not as if anything major had happened.
Apparently, Airen had not been bluffing when he said he had become an experienced traveler. He had led their group far more smoothly than she expected.
The problem was the small things that happened along the way.
Someone who had been looking elsewhere bumped shoulders with him, frowned, and Airen apologized first.
Even when a restaurant served the wrong dish because of its own mistake, he let it go without saying a word.
Of course, she knew. That kind nature was one of her brother’s strengths.
But from Kiril’s perspective...
Having watched her brother get pushed around ever since they were children, the current situation could only irritate her.
‘Or am I just that nasty?’
She did not mean he should use his strength and abilities to pressure others.
She only wanted him to show a little of what he was capable of, enough to stop others from behaving unpleasantly toward him.
She had repeatedly reminded him of that when he first set out on his journey, and again before they entered the city.
Yet seeing the eldest son of House Farreira remain unchanged made her feel both reassured by the familiarity and furious enough to boil inside.
‘Put up with it, still.’
Kiril Farreira forced herself to control her expression.
She knew.
She knew it was not easy to change an inborn personality, that her brother was trying hard, and most of all, that he was doing his best to accommodate her feelings.
She could not show her irritation just because she felt a little uncomfortable. Unlike before, she was an adult now.
But then...
“May I join you?”
“...”
The moment some pale-faced good-for-nothing sat at their table without permission, Kiril felt something snap inside her.
“I didn’t tell you to sit down.”
“Ha ha, I apologize. But there weren’t any other seats...”
“We have someone with us. He went to the restroom.”
“Still, surely one seat would be fine?”
“There’s an open table over there.”
“Hm? You’ve gotten a little blunt. Still, that’s charming too. My lady, may I ask your name? Ah, I’m...”
With a pleasant smile, the pale-skinned man introduced himself.
No, he introduced his house.
Kiril stared at him expressionlessly.
‘I should have entered the city on the Griffin after all.’
She recalled her time in Cesar Duchy.
If her brother had been looked down on because of trauma from his past, Kiril had faced hostility everywhere because she was a disciple from a small kingdom with no backing.
Even with such an incredible Master, pressure and mockery had poured down on her without pause. Still, Kiril endured it all and focused solely on Sorcery.
She could not afford to waste her energy on trash like them when she needed to bring her brother out of the barrier.
‘But things are different now.’
Two years ago, her brother escaped the barrier with his own strength.
Not only that, he had become more dependable than anyone else. The swordsmanship he had developed to the point where he could crush Demonoids was an added bonus.
It was bitter to know that she had not helped him at all, but the far greater joy and liberation she felt had awakened Kiril into someone new.
She no longer needed to endure.
She no longer needed to let things slide.
She did not care if she was expelled. She would make them pay back everything she had endured, with interest!
After making that vow, she returned to Cesar Duchy and crushed every promising talent who had insulted her. Skeena Kitten liked her even more for it, protecting her to the very end.
Time passed, and now that she was an adult, there was no one in Cesar Duchy who could act cocky in front of Kiril Farreira.
‘I’ve held back this much, and you still haven’t left?’
Creak!
The edge of the wooden chair broke apart beneath her fingers. Her grip had been strengthened with Sorcery.
The irritation and anger she had suppressed all day made her Heart’s Power grow even stronger. Lulu’s eyes shook as though there had been an earthquake.
“Hey! Run away, now!”
“Huh? A cat can talk...”
Pale-faced, Lulu warned him.
But the man lacked any sense.
Instead, he was intrigued by the talking cat and found the blond woman, who looked angry but was holding herself back, adorable.
She must have heard about his background and found herself unable to act either way. He loved that atmosphere.
The force that only those with power could enjoy!
The thrill that only those above others could enjoy!
Drunk on that feeling, the man raised his hand to order alcohol.
Thud!
“Huh?”
Whoosh!
A blond young man appeared from nowhere and grabbed the man’s hand. Then he swiftly dragged him outside.
It happened as fast as lightning.
“W-wha?”
“That bastard dared drag the young master away?”
The guards standing a short distance away frowned and headed outside. A few people who knew the man’s background clicked their tongues and shook their heads.
Words carrying the sentiment that the young wastrel was causing trouble again spread throughout the restaurant.
A moment later, though, the young master returned with a meek attitude and said something completely different from what the guests expected.
“I’m sorry!”
“...”
“I won’t bother you any further. I’ll be leaving now.”
“I’m sorry!”
“We’re sorry!”
With that, the pale-skinned man and his guards disappeared.
Silence filled the restaurant. Airen, who had returned to the table late, carefully watched Kiril’s expression as he spoke.
“I’m sorry. I could have settled it sooner, but I hesitated for a moment...”
“...”
“But I explained things properly, so they shouldn’t bother us again... Huh? Kiril?”
“...I’m going out for a moment.”
“W-wait...”
“I’m not going after them, so don’t worry. I just need some air.”
After saying that expressionlessly, Kiril Farreira left the restaurant.
Watching her go, Airen asked Lulu.
“Did I do something wrong? Should I have stepped in sooner?”
“I’m not sure...”
The black cat shook her head. Even Lulu, an outstanding Sorcerer, could not read Kiril’s feelings.
Airen sighed.
He knew his sister’s personality well enough.
And because he did not like the man’s behavior either, he had projected a rather intimidating presence, much more strongly than usual.
But that was only what he thought. It might not have been enough for Kiril.
Worried, Airen began to rise from the table.
“I-I’ll go after her first.”
“Will you be okay alone?”
“Yeah. I like Airen, and I like Kiril too. So I don’t want you two to fight. I’ll find out what’s wrong and make Kiril feel better!”
Lulu left the restaurant with a proud stride. Then she quickly headed into the alley where she could sense Kiril’s scent.
Still, her steps inevitably slowed as she approached her destination.
Kiril Farreira was someone Lulu loved very, very much, but also found incredibly frightening.
Before turning the corner into the alley, Lulu placed a front paw on her chest and took a deep breath to steel herself.
All right, let’s go.
That was the moment she made up her mind.
Grab!
Kiril, who had approached without her noticing, suddenly hugged Lulu as if she were clutching a doll.
“Lulu.”
“Huh? Yeah? What?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“T-tell you what?”
“About my brother.”
Kiril took a breath, then burst into the smile she had been holding back.
“Why didn’t you tell me he’d become this cool?”
“...”
“Huh? Really, seriously, why didn’t you tell me, Lulu?”
Lulu stared blankly, her mouth hanging open.
As a cat with facial features entirely different from a human’s, Lulu’s expressions were usually difficult to read. But anyone could have seen how bewildered she was at that moment.
Kiril did not care.
Remembering what her brother had done earlier, she recalled even older memories.
‘I really never thought he would become like this.’
The brother Kiril remembered was gentle and kind.
But more than that, he had been someone lost in deep depression and emptiness, someone she had to protect.
Of course, he had shown changes whenever he returned from the fencing hall and when he escaped the barrier, but this was the first time she had truly felt how much he had changed.
Kiril let out a breath and hugged Lulu even tighter.
“Lulu, Lulu, Lulu! Tell me everything that happened while you were traveling! Tonight!”
“Urk, ack, loosen your grip a little, Kiril...”
“Okay. Better now? You’ll tell me everything tonight, right?”
“D-didn’t I tell you everything before?”
“Tell me again. I think there are so many things I didn’t hear. Don’t leave out a single thing, okay? Understand?”
“O-okay.”
Lulu nodded frantically.
Things had turned out far better than she expected, but she still had the feeling that tonight would be quite exhausting.
* * *
“Whew.”
After dinner and an evening walk with his sister, whose expression looked even stonier than usual, Airen Farreira returned to his room and quietly lost himself in thought.
He was not worried about his sister. Lulu had said she was fine. Lulu did seem to be hiding something, but it did not feel like anything he needed to worry about too deeply.
“Whew.”
Airen breathed out again and closed his eyes.
Then he remembered the advice Joshua Lindsay had given him when they parted.
‘Be careful not to get swept up in Ignet’s flames.’
“That’s true,” Airen murmured quietly as he recalled the rumors surrounding her.
Ignet Crescentia’s presence was said to be like the sun. It made those not on her level lower their heads on their own, while setting ablaze the hearts of those who mistakenly believed themselves her equal.
And when that illusion shattered, they realized the flames had already spread through their entire bodies and were tormenting them.
‘In the end, it means there is no talent on the continent that can compare to Ignet’s.’
He did not agree with that.
He was not speaking only of himself.
Illia, Brett, Judith. Everyone who had traveled with him possessed enough talent to reach her level.
Still, he understood what Joshua had meant.
Had he not already seen it once?
He had seen Illia nearly break down after chasing Ignet’s overwhelming presence and getting consumed by the flames of anxiety and impatience.
‘...Maybe her brother, Carl Lindsay, was the same.’
Airen briefly entertained that bitter thought, then shook his head.
He focused on himself.
‘What about me now?’
His heart burned hotter than before.
The desire to improve, fighting spirit, and conviction that had bloomed within him were setting his heart ablaze.
If someone asked whether that was a bad thing, Airen could only shake his head.
Compared to his days as a prospective trainee, when he swung his sword like a puppet with a heart gone cold, he was much better now.
‘But it’s also true that the flames are growing too strong.’
Airen recalled several people he had crossed paths with.
Charlot, Victor, Grayson.
None of them had likely started out that way. They must have developed through healthy competition and healthy flames.
But at some point, the flames of impatience had probably begun to consume them, while anger and self-loathing destroyed them.
In the end, a moderate flame was not a bad thing.
Just as overly powerful Metal energy was a problem.
Overly powerful Fire energy was a problem too.
This was what truly mattered.
In other words, what he needed to pursue now was...
‘...to tame them.’
Then how could he tame the fire?
How could he control the flames that would destroy him? How could he regain his balance and nurture healthy flames?
He would not have known before, but he knew now.
“Water.”
Airen Farreira murmured softly and followed the teachings of the Five Elements Divine Technique.
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