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Chapter 13




[Where is the one who woke me up?]
As if it was in accordance with the boy’s emotions, the water disappeared and appeared in an instant.
Even the strongest awakener could not control the water this perfectly.
They couldn’t breathe because of his presence.
It occurred to them that there was a monster, or god, that was far beyond human recognition.
Aynias, who was on the floor, looked up and asked.
“Who are you?”
[You dare ask me first.]
In an instant, the water sharply wrapped Aynias and Danterion and lifted them into the air.
Resistance was also impossible because they couldn’t take control over it. Even if they tried to make new water, it was not possible to do so.
If they fell from here, the two would die.
[The first contractor of Jurien. Rayad’s tenth weapon.]
Danterion raised his head at the name of the First Owner of Elheim.
[In your words, it is correct to call me the Spirit King.]
Water Spirit King. There were occasional records of Water Spirit Kings in the legends of Elheim.
He was a friend of the First Owner Jurien, and was said to have lent him the power of water.
The Duke of Elheim covered up the ancient books, but there was also a record that the powers of the Awakeners came from the Spirit King.
‘The name of the Spirit Stone is surely….’
He didn’t know if the name might have been given because he was the Spirit King.
Aynias thought.
“We are….”
Even Danterion used honorifics.
[You must be a distant descendant of Jurien.]
The Spirit King, who confirmed their ability of water, flicked his finger.
The water that the two could not resist was quickly cleaned up.
The Spirit King’s transparent water-coloured eyes seemed to see through the insides of a person.
[I will ask again. Where is the one who woke me up?]
The two glanced at each other.
The person who woke up Spirit Stone must have been Lianrius.
The First Owner, Jurien, said that one day the true owner who will wake up the spirit stone would revive the family.
However, it was not possible to determine whether the Water Spirit King would have favour or hostility toward Lianrius.
[If you don’t answer, I’ll kill you.]
The Spirit King’s energy crushed the two. Realizing he was really going to kill them, Aynias opened his mouth first.
“The child is outside now.”
His body trembled because of the force.
[Do you know the successor to Jurien?]
For the first time, the water Spirit King showed interest. The cold face, which seemed to turn irritated even at the slightest human intervention, became a little softer.
It was in contrast with how he looked down at the two as if they were ants.
“Do you want me to bring Lianrius?”
Danterion’s voice was full of joy.
[Yes, but not today.]
The Spirit King spoke with his eyes closed.
Fear and awe of the existence of the being who dealt with water continued to prevail.
[After three days, bring the successor.]
It was said in a tone as if he would not allow anyone’s questions.
Eventually, the body of the Spirit King that was floating on the Spirit Stone was wrapped in water.
The force field barrier unfolded in a swirl of water, fully enveloping the Spirit King.
In the barrier, the water blurred the silouhette of the Spirit King in the form of a boy as his presence slowly faded away.
It wasn’t until long before both Aynias and Danterion raised their heads.
The water that formed in the shape of a huge spirit stone did not move any more.
“Are you asleep?”
There was no reply given.
Calming his trembling body, Aynias raised Danterion up.
An unexpected accident occurred.
The Spirit King woke up from the Spirit Stone and gave an order to bring the true owner.
“Come on, Danterion.”
They had to go to the Duke right away.
If the Spirit King wrote in the ancient books that if the true owner shared the power of water, then the revival of the family would surely follow.
The Heir of Jurien, the one spoken of by the Spirit King.
The Real Owner.
It must have been Lianrius.
Foolishly, Aynias held on to this belief strongly.
* * *
As time went by, the morning of the hunting competition arrived.
The Duke of Elheim swallowed his saliva in front of the chamber of the first Owner.
“It won’t open again.”
Aynias, Danterion, Hwi-Amin. The three sons were gathered with the Duke.
When he heard the story of the Water Spirit King , the Duke had hurried to the room of the First Owner, but the door was already firmly closed.
Originally, there was no lock in the room of the First Owner.
He tried opening it with the power of water, wondering if it would be effective, but it didn’t work.
It was impossible to bring new water into the room nor take control over it.
“One of you should have been inside.”
“Yes, father. I don’t know how many times you’ve told us that.”
Danterion gently pulled Hwi-Amin’s collar.
“Do you know what will happen if you are alone with the Spirit King? What if they’re cannibals?”
“Danterion.”
When the Duke of Elheim suddenly became angry, Hwi-Amin got restless and alternately looked at the family’s eyes.
At that time, Aynias stepped out.
“The Spirit King told me to bring the real owner with me in three days. Maybe the door will open soon, Father.”
It was a reasonable explanation.
“Well, he’s as spineless as a worm, so he’s scared.”
Danterion laughed as he pulled the back of Hwi-Amin’s collar for no reason.
“Let me go, brother.”
“Since I’m not the intellectual type, so why not let second brother mess around with you?”
“Both of  you. Stop fooling around.”
Aynias intervened.
“I hope you know that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Princess are visiting during this evening’s banquet. I’m sure they’re on their way. Are you going to be like this even then?”
“I don’t know?”
Danterion jokingly replied. Aynias was on high alert.
“It will be a formal meeting with the Imperial family before the engagement. Please stay still for Lian.”
“Ain’s right.”
The Duke of Elheim deeply frowned at him, as if displeased.
“And Birce’s rat seems to be wandering around in Elheim recently.”
No matter how excellent Birce was, this was the home of Elheim.
Since he didn’t leave any evidence and they couldn’t hold onto it, the Duke had no choice but to gloss over it even though he knew about it.
“The truth about the Spirit King must be hidden. Never do anything that will stand out.”
Neither the heir of Birce nor the royal family should be aware of the existence of the Spirit King.
“First of all, summon the awakeners of the water to the hunting ground.”
He didn’t want to, but he had to hold a nominal welcome.
“What should I do with her? Lian said he called her. Shall I  get rid of her now?” Aynias asked.
The Duke was concerned about Lianrius, who has been recently spending time over at Liarte’s place, but there was no way.
“No, let her come to the hunting ground. We have to respect Lian’s will.”
‘I will go first and bring Liarte. ‘
The Duke closed his eyes, recalling the image of  his youngest son who notified him.
Somehow, Lian’s feelings felt close to obsession, which made him nervous.
* * *
The day was clear.
At Elheim’s old hunting grounds, all the Awakeners of Water gathered.
Unlike before her return, Liarte stood behind Lianrius.
The Duke of Elheim approached Michael, who saw the scene.
“Well, Birce’s successor.”
“The weather is nice. I think it’ll be a fun hunt.”
Now, Michael could see almost perfectly.
The last layer of the curse had already been lifted, as Liarte said, but it would take several days for it to disappear completely.
He couldn’t see an extremely distant place, but the rest seemed vivid.
“It will be a fun day.”
As Michael’s lips, wearing a velvet eye patch, rose smoothly, the Duke of Elheim had to hide his furious expression. “I hope you have a fun time hunting.”
“I will. Don’t you agree, Walter?”
Walther, who was standing next to Michael, received the cold gaze of the Duke of Elheim.
“It seems that the successor’s escort knight likes to take a night walk.”
“No way. Walter is a very gentle knight.”
Michael was having fun with the current situation.
The Duke was constantly wary of whether Michael had noticed something from him.
It was easy to read the Duke of Elheim who crushed the other dukes with the power of water alone.
Soon something caught the eye of the Duke of Elheim.
“It will begin soon.”
The role given to Michael today was to just sightsee.
When someone catches a prey, he would just sit there smiling.
At that moment, Michael’s eyes fell on Liarte.
Her twin, Lianrius Elheim, was holding Liarte.
The conversation between the two did not seem smooth at first sight.
At first glance, the word ‘prey’ could be made out from Lianrius’s mouth when he spoke.
Liarte has yet to tell her own circumstances in detail. Michael was also thinking of waiting.
He had no intention of pressuring her to tell so he could hear what had happened to her until she told him herself.
‘But this is different.’
Lianrius’s hand held firmly onto Liarte’s wrist.
‘Did they say that he was like a saint with a beautiful appearance and who has received the blessing? If he looks at his twin as if he would eat her at any moment, one wouldn’t be able to see such an appearance.’
“Duke.”
Michael laughed at the Duke of Elheim.
“I’m going to go hunting, too.”
If she enters the forest, he will be able to meet Liarte.
After she does, he would ask her something.
* * *
Lianrius became strange.
“Liarte.”
Far beyond the hunting ground were the Duke of Elheim and Michael.
As soon as Hwi-Amin, who was circling around her, talked to her, Lianrius approached them, calling Liarte’s name.
And, as if he didn’t like something, he stared at Hwi-Amin.
Hwi-Amin soon walked  back and disappeared.
“Is there anything you want to have?”
It was a strange question.
‘I went to the library often, so I have some common sense.’
She once read the phrase that men would give a lady the prey he caught in a hunting competition.
“No.”
“If you don’t have one, then think about it. “
It was the interest she had longed for before she returned.
“I’ll bring you something from the hunt.”
But now it was just annoying.
Lian, too, in this situation.