Volume 4 Chapter 1 Devotion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Sofia spoke gently, “Chieftain. Then, allow me to wipe your body. I will change your position.”
As she said this, Sofia carefully shifted Fedelate’s body, lying him down on the bed, and wiped his back with a warm cloth.
To save Sofia, who had suffered a fatal injury from a lightning strike, Fedelate had merged both body and mind with her. But as a price, he lost most of the energy he had accumulated over thousands of years. His consciousness remained clear, but until his body fully restructured, he could neither move on his own nor communicate telepathically with her. Sofia devotedly tended to his needs.
Among the council of elders, whispers spread behind his back. “It’s foolish to care for a human slave in this time of war,” they muttered.
However, Fedelate harbored no regrets. The memories of that child he glimpsed when merging with Sofia—and the feelings he understood from that child—were enough to heal and warm his heart. Borrowing words from her memories, he understood this must be love.
* * *
Such days continued for about a year. Fedelate’s body was almost fully restructured, capable of walking with assistance. That day, Sofia supported him once again. The council had suggested a stronger tribe member assist him, but he had rejected their offer. He preferred Sofia.
Just having her by his side made him happy.
One night, as Fedelate lay on the bed and Sofia prepared to return to the private chamber, he called out to her, feeling a strong desire for her to stay close.
”Is something the matter, chieftain?” Sofia asked softly.
He silently replied, [No… Sofia, could you stay a little closer?]
”Oh, is there something wrong with your body? Or are you feeling uneasy about something?” she inquired.
Fedelate’s thoughts admitted, […What could it be? I have never felt this way before… I want to be with you more. I want to spend time together…]
Sofia hesitated, then confessed shyly, “…I feel the same way… um, chieftain. I know this is rude, but I must say it. I admire you, chieftain. I love you!!”
He responded silently, [Ah. I realized that when I merged with you. But… I do not know how to respond to your feelings.]
”Then, chieftain. Can I leave it to you?” she whispered, hope shining in her eyes.
Fedelate consented mentally, [Huh? Ah, Sofia. Very well. I will entrust it to you.]
”Thank you. When humans love each other, they do this…” Sofia murmured as she removed her clothes and climbed onto the bed.
Fedelate experienced the male-female union for the first time. Memories of Sofia’s past union with a human male had once caused him slight disgust. Yet now that he participated, he felt no act sweeter or warmer. Perhaps no soul among the spirit clan had known such pleasure.
What he had done for Sofia’s healing—total physical and mental assimilation—was a different technique. But the bliss and exaltation of heart and body truly becoming one overwhelmed him.
Sofia moved fiercely to please him. She was dear to him, and he spent the entire night seeking her warmth.
* * *
The commander approached the head elder respectfully. “Head Elder. Might I have a moment?”
”What is it, commander?” the elder replied.
”It’s not ‘what.’ You elders have long known about the Fedelate-chieftain matter.”
”Ah, that matter…” the elder sighed.
”Yes. He has grown lost in that human slave, often shutting himself in his private chamber. Who knows what he is doing inside… Lately, the Demon Clan’s movements are suspicious, and an invasion might come at any moment. The chieftain must pull himself together.”
”Indeed. I have cautioned him many times, yet he insists affairs of state are handled… minimally, at least.”
”So what shall we do? If you approve, I could dispose of that human slave…”
”No. The chieftain would never consent. If a lightning bolt struck her, that would be another matter…” the elder said gravely.
* * *
Months later, an army of the Demon Clan crossed the eastern river and began occupying spirit clan territory, erecting a stronghold. This was a grave event. Fedelate had no choice but to lead troops to the front. Naturally, he could not take Sofia into the war zone.
After nearly half a year of battles, they finally pushed the Demon Clan back across the river. The force returned to headquarters.
An elder greeted Fedelate. “Chieftain. Welcome back.”
Fedelate nodded tiredly. “Hm. Took more trouble than expected. So… what of Sofia? I do not see her coming to meet me—has she perhaps fallen ill?”
The elder hesitated. “Chieftain… that is…”
”What? What happened?” Fedelate asked, unease rising.
”Lady Sofia has returned to the human world.”
”!? What did you say!? How—how can this be?” Fedelate’s panic was evident.
The elder explained quietly, “About one month ago, a thing called the Gate appeared in the northern woods—the Demon Clan and elves speak of it. Lady Sofia heard of it, declared she could return to her own world, brushed aside our attempts to stop her, and leapt inside.”
”What… leaving without so much as a word to me…?” Fedelate whispered.
”Yes. Since we have been greatly indebted to you, chieftain, I said we ought to pay respects before she left. Yet no one knows how long this Gate will remain. Lady Sofia’s homesickness was beyond endurance—one surmises her act was born of desperation.”
Fedelate sank to his knees, lamenting, “Ah… aah… Sofia. Why are you leaving me behind… did we not love each other so deeply…”
It was true a Gate had formed in the northern woods, but Sofia had not entered of her own volition. She was persuaded—deceived—by the council of elders, a fact Fedelate was never told.
* * *
Karin stirred as Master Sharlin whispered close to her ear, “Karin. Are you all right?”
She blinked awake, taking in the scene. Beside her, Sharlin lay rolled on the ground, bound tightly with rope. She realized she was similarly bound. They were in a small open square, surrounded by several hut-like tents of cloth stretched over wooden frames.
”Master. Where is this place?” she asked softly.
”I do not know. It seems to be a settlement of the spirit clan…” Sharlin answered.
They had been surrounded suddenly by the spirit clan, captured by a barrage of telepathic attacks and made prisoners. No doubt Utari had reported them. Now they were ringed with spears.
[The chieftain will appear shortly. Do not entertain reckless notions.] The telepathic voice resonated directly in Karin’s brain.
But the chieftain… that was the big shot of the spirit clan, right? Karin dreaded to think it—espionage charges—they might be done for.
Yet when the chieftain appeared, he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man. Or rather—human? No, she only perceived him that way.
”Chieftain. These are the human and dark elf we captured this morning. They appeared to be heading into Demon Clan territory; we judge them spies,” a soldier reported.
”…A human, is it?” Fedelate murmured.
For Fedelate, it had been centuries since he last saw a human—not since Sofia. This human—apparently female, though not Sofia—looked far younger. Hearing the report, he could not deny some hope stirred within him, but he hid it.
Addressing Karin mentally, he asked, [Human. What is your name? Did you also come here through the Gate or whatever it is?]
”Ah, yes. My name is Kashiwagi Karin. And… I didn’t come here through the Gate; I was born and raised in this world!” Karin replied.
[What? Am I to understand humans are breeding in this world?]
”That’s a rather livestock-like way to put it… but yes, the Elf kingdom has human settlements, and we do raise children there,” Karin explained.
Fedelate was shocked.
What! Humans creating settlements and begetting children!? Could Sofia be among them? Yet blurting such a thing would expose weakness to the enemy, so he stifled the urge and pressed on.
[So… are you lot spies, then? What’s your objective?]
”Um… we got lost and ended up in Spirit Clan territory, but we’re not Demon Clan spies, honest. The Elf queen herself sent us to search for someone… and there’s word this person might be in Suicelma domain, so we were heading there…” Karin pleaded.
[Suicelma domain… that’s Demon Clan land. And besides, they’ve got the Elf stink all over them. I can’t trust this. Soldiers. Lock these ones in the octopus jar. After we wring out every last scrap about the Demon Clan or the Elves, we dispose of them.]
”Huh, hey, hold on. Chieftain. Can’t we talk this over more? We’re not plotting anything against Spirit Clan, and, well, we’ve actually got a favor or two to ask ourselves!” Karin begged.
But her words went unheeded. Karin and Sharlin were shoved, one by one, into separate pit dwellings dug into the ground.
Notes:
• Sofia – A human slave in the Spirit Clan. She is diligent, humble, and has a soft-spoken manner. Sofia has a background in farming and develops feelings for Fedelate, expressing her affection openly. She is resilient and survives a severe injury thanks to Fedelate’s sacrifice.
• Fedelate – The clan leader of the Spirit Clan. He is kind, gentle, and shows a unique interest in Sofia. Fedelate is powerful, capable of using telekinesis and healing magic. He is intrigued by human emotions and experiences, especially love.
• Utari – A member of the Spirit Clan that being captured by Sharlin and Karin. His appearance varies depending on the observer; Karin sees him as a human boy of similar age, while Master Sharlin perceives him as a bug-like monster. He communicates through physical touch, directly affecting the minds of others.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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