Volume 6 Chapter 19 The Spark of Life
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The sudden arrival of Lady Kororon, the Primal Shaman¹ of the Spirit Clan, sent the Zerlant Kingdom Royal Palace into a tailspin. By the next day, I found myself summoned for a royal scolding by Sir Aaron.
”Karin,” Sir Aaron said with a weary sigh. “I don’t care if you’re a Diplomatic Liaison; you need to remember your place. What would we have done if something happened to Lady Kororon? It would have meant total war between the Elves and the Spirit Clan.”
”I know… it was my own lack of foresight,” I replied. “But she was throwing such a fit. Neither the Chieftain nor I could do a thing to stop her.”
”Well, what’s done is done,” Aaron muttered. “We’re reaching out to the Spirit Clan again to coordinate, but Chieftain Fedelate insists we let her do as she pleases so she can help find Yggdrasil. It’s good to be trusted, I suppose, but we can’t just give her free rein of the kingdom.”
Lady Kororon was currently under guard by Ms. Sharlin in the guest wing. Word was she was already making a scene about wanting to go sightseeing, and I could tell Sharlin was at her wit’s end. I hoped Aaron would wrap this up so I could go help. Honestly, between Yggdrasil and her tourist routine, she clearly cared more about the latter.
”Sir Aaron,” I asked, “are we about finished? I should get back to Lady Kororon.”
”Hold on, Karin. There’s more,” Aaron said, pausing. “The caravan carrying Akari has met up with Yuuta Kashiwagi. They should reach the Kashiwagi Estate within a few days.”
”Oh, right!” I exclaimed. I’d been so panicked over the whole Lady Kororon situation that it slipped my mind… How are my parents doing?”
”Well, it seems Akari recognizes Yuuta on some level, even if she can’t find the words to say it. He says she seems more relaxed than she’s been in years. It might be the start of a real recovery.”
”I hope so,” I whispered. “The rest is up to Dad.”
I had to settle this Yggdrasil business and deal with Lady Kororon quickly so I could get to the Kashiwagi Estate myself. I just wished Shu would hurry back… though knowing him, he was probably taking his sweet time in the other world.
* * *
”Akari, we’re almost home. We’re in the Kashiwagi territory.”
Akari was propped up on the carriage bed, staring blankly out the window. I sat beside her, squeezing her hand. She had grown so frail; the vibrant curves of the woman I loved were gone, replaced by a ghost of her former self. It hurt to see her like this. I think she knew who I was – she would lean into my shoulder or touch my cheek – but she never said my name. I’d give anything just to hear her say “Yuuta” again.
As we rolled through the village, I could see the locals watching us with worried eyes. When we finally reached the manor, I lifted Akari into my arms and carried her straight to the bedroom.
”We’re here, Akari,” I said softly. “Do you remember this place? It’s the old estate Sir Aaron used, but I’ve had it renovated for us.”
Akari glanced around the room, her eyes flickering with interest. She gave me a tiny, faint smile before settling into the pillows. A moment later, her eyes fluttered shut, and she fell into a deep, quiet sleep. The journey had clearly exhausted her. I stepped out to let her rest and found Baron Tethyrkan waiting in the hall.
”Baron Tethyrkan,” I said, surprised. “Thank you for coming all this way.”
”Forget the pleasantries, Yuuta,” the Baron replied. “Is Akari settled?”
”She is… but she’s still not herself. I don’t know how much she really understands. I’m just… I’m scared.”
”On that note,” the Baron said, “I know the palace healers looked her over, but I thought a different perspective might help. I’ve brought an old friend.”
”An old friend?” I asked.
”He’s waiting at the village inn. Ah, here he is now.”
The man who entered the manor was none other than Father Goetec. The priest from the Border Defense Force near Tokura Village had actually come to help.
”Father Goetec? You’re here?” I stammered.
As I stood there in shock, Father Goetec waved off my surprise and took a seat on the sofa. “Hmph. This concerns your mate, after all. I had years of accumulated leave, so I’ve taken a hiatus from the Border Defense Force. I’ll be acting as her primary physician for the time being.”
”Thank you,” I said, feeling a weight lift off my chest. “Thank you so much.”
”Now, Yuuta, let’s see the patient.”
Akari was still out. Father Goetec didn’t touch her; instead, he held his hands just above her, sensing the flow of her mana² and qi³. He had saved Karin’s arm years ago when everyone else had given up. If anyone could help Akari, it was him.
”…Hmm. Yuuta, this is worse than I thought,” Father Goetec muttered after a long silence.
”Father? What is it?” I asked, my heart sinking.
”Physically, she’s recovered. But…”
”But what?”
”Her spark – the vital energy that sustains a human soul – is dangerously thin. Her memories and emotions have likely faded along with it.”
”How is that possible? The doctors in the Capital didn’t say anything!”
”Elves and Demons can supplement their vitality with mana,” Father Goetec explained. “But humans cannot. Unless a healer is specifically trained to look for the soul’s light, they would miss it entirely.”
”Then… is she going to stay like this?” I asked, my voice trembling.
”I cannot say. She might recover, or she might not. She isn’t in immediate danger, but her spirit is fragile now. She will be susceptible to sickness and stress. All you can do, Yuuta, is cherish her.”
”Akari…” I slumped against the bed, clutching her hand.
She stirred slightly, letting out a soft moan as she woke. “Yuuta,” Baron Tethyrkan said, his voice low. “About her spirit being so thin… it likely happened during the Gate accident. The mana surge must have pulled her spark away with it. If you want her back, we have to find out exactly what happened that day.”
* * *
”I see… so it really does come down to Yggdrasil.”
Karin’s voice crackled over the magic communication line. I had told her everything Father Goetec said.
”Yeah,” I replied. “I’m counting on you, Karin. I can’t leave her side right now.”
”Don’t lose hope, Dad,” Karin said firmly. “If you give up, she will too. Leave it to me. This is the key to getting Shu back, too. I’ll find a way – I promise.”
—
Summary:
Karin struggles with diplomatic pressure from Lady Kororon while receiving news about her mother’s arrival. Yuuta reunites with a frail Akari in the Kashiwagi territory, only to learn from Father Goetec that her soul’s essence is dangerously thin. The chapter concludes with a resolve to solve the Yggdrasil mystery to restore Akari’s vitality.
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Trivia:
- Father Goetec saved Karin’s arm in a previous arc.
- The ‘Gate accident’ is the literal cause of Akari’s current mental and spiritual state.
- Lady Kororon is the ‘Original Shaman’, making her life more valuable to diplomacy than common sense.
- The distinction that humans cannot replenish soul energy with mana like Elves or Demons can.
- The Kashiwagi manor was originally Sir Aaron’s residence
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Character Insight:
Yuuta shows a shift from hopeful anticipation to protective desperation. Karin matures into her role as the family’s ‘fixer’, taking the burden of Yggdrasil upon herself to save both her parents and her friend Shu.
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Behind the Scenes:
The concept of ‘Life Force’ vs ‘Mana’ highlights the physiological disadvantages of humans in this fantasy world, a common trope in isekai to increase stakes for human protagonists.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Kororon – The oldest and most powerful Shaman of the Spirit Clan. Despite being over ten thousand years old, she appears as a young girl.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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