We live on the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Spirit Village.
As we advanced deeper into the Dragon Forest, the temperature dropped. Eventually, it even started to snow.
The cold, dense fog turned into a blizzard, and white crystals leached the warmth from our skin.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
I embraced Ruiseine and performed a spatial jump. With each jump, the cold intensified, and it was only by clinging to Ruiseine’s warmth that I could somehow endure.
“It’s almost there, bear with me.”
Carly, who was ahead of us.
Mistral was also galloping through the forest, keeping pace.
It was supposed to be summer. Just yesterday, the temperature was so high that just standing made us sweat. Yet now, we were freezing.
We operate in various locations, but we’d never experienced such a rapid change in temperature.
Our light summer clothes were absorbing the raging snow and freezing in the frigid wind.
It felt like we were encased in ice.
Ruiseine was also trembling in my arms.
As we headed towards the long-eared tribe’s village, I extended my senses to understand what was happening in the Dragon Forest.
I connected to the dragon vein and scanned the world.
But the world told me nothing.
The animals were trembling just like us, hiding in places where the cold wind couldn’t reach. The trees, the wind, the earth, and the sky were all silent, failing to convey the world’s abnormality.
Or rather, that wasn’t quite right.
Everything I could sense was wrapped in such strangeness that it couldn’t communicate the extraordinary situation any further.
An anomaly that would change the season.
What in the world was happening in the Dragon Forest?
Mistral, galloping beside me, had a somber expression.
I’m sure she’s worried about old Sleigsta, her caretaker. And she must be concerned about the unusual changes in the forest she’s so familiar with.
“Hey, Mistral, are you going to the Moss Garden?”
“…No, I’m going to the long-eared tribe’s village as well. The Elder is fine. He’s an Ancient Dragon Species, after all. He can surely handle this situation.”
“In that case, shouldn’t we get advice from Grandpa?”
“I wonder. The fact that Yuuri-sama summoned us before anything else suggests we should regroup with the long-eared tribe rather than heading to the Elder’s. Yuuri-sama and the Elder can communicate with their hearts, so I believe the Elder also wants us to join the long-eared tribe.”
That’s right. Mistral can also communicate mentally with old Sleigsta if needed. The fact that old Sleigsta didn’t summon Mistral, but Grandma Yuuri did, means exactly that.
Mistral, smiling as if to say “Thank you for your concern,” seemed to be slightly relieved.
Laser-focused on Carly, who was using spatial jumps ahead of us, I accelerated further.
I couldn’t afford to fall behind.
“I’m going to fly,” I told Ruiseine, and performed a full-power spatial jump.
“Good morning, Grandma.”
The long-eared tribe’s village was buried in snow.
The flower fields that should have stretched out in front of the village had transformed into white snowy plains, and the roofs of the houses were also white.
“You know, it’s snow. Want to have a snowball fight?”
“Good morning, Priscilla-chan. I’m sorry. We’ll have a snowball fight another time.”
“It’s cold, nyan.”
“Uwah, it’s so cold!”
“I used Rim’s fire to light the firewood!”
I wanted to talk to Grandma Yuuri, the Grand Elder of the long-eared tribe.
The children, who didn’t understand the situation, rushed to us first and started making a fuss as usual.
Nimia, shivering, immediately burrowed into my embrace.
Wait, aren’t you a dragon with “Snow” in your race name? And with your fluffy fur, you look like you’d be the warmest, so why are you so cold?
Nimia’s attempt was thwarted by Ruiseine, who was still being held by me.
“Everyone, you’re supposed to be studying at the village today, right?”
“Ugh, I want to play!”
“No, you can’t.”
Ruiseine reached into my embrace and plucked Nimia out.
I then gently set Ruiseine down on the ground.
Finally, I was able to face Grandma Yuuri and the long-eared people who had come out to greet me.
“Good morning. Thank you for coming so early.”
Grandma Yuuri watched the interactions between me and the children leisurely before greeting us in her usual calm manner.
“Yuuri-sama, what is all this…?”
But Grandma Yuuri was the only one who seemed unconcerned. Everyone else appeared bewildered by the anomaly.
Mistral, after a brief greeting, immediately got to the point.
“Well now. This is troublesome.”
Grandma Yuuri caught the large snowflakes in her palm.
They melted in her body heat and turned into water.
The long-eared tribe’s village was enveloped in the protection of the spirits, so it wasn’t experiencing a blizzard.
However, it was snowing incessantly like mid-winter in a cold year, and the snowpack was increasing.
Looking outside the village, a white storm was raging.
Grandma Yuuri slowly surveyed us, the villagers, and the scene outside.
Then, with an expression contrary to her calm demeanor, she uttered something remarkably chilling.
“The spirits are in a rampage.”
“Ehhhh?!” we exclaimed, recoiling in surprise.
The long-eared people hung their heads as if to say, “As expected.”
“Uhm, are the spirits angry?”
“Are they angry? We’d have to ask the spirits to know for sure,” Grandma Yuuri replied.
Prompted by Grandma Yuuri, Priscilla-chan touched her long, drooping ears. But since she couldn’t hear the spirits’ voices, she tilted her head and looked up at Grandma Yuuri.
“I went to check. It seems the Spirit Village has been destroyed. We can’t get close to where it is,” a long-eared man announced, jumping into the village via spatial jump at that moment.
“The Spirit Village?”
“Ah, Elnea. That’s right. There’s no doubt that this anomaly is caused by the destruction of the Spirit Village.”
“Thank you for confirming. Well then, shall we go and restore the Spirit Village?”
“Alright, round up the villagers! Order everyone, young and old, who can communicate with rare spirits to participate, so we can respond to as many elements as possible!”
At the command of the elder with the long white beard, the long-eared people gathered, regardless of whether they were warriors, women, children, or elders.
“Priscilla, are you going too?”
“Priscilla, you’ll stay home with Mother. If anything were to happen to you, the whole village would be in trouble.”
I’m sorry. My chest ached as I thought about how I always looked after Priscilla-chan, the next tribal chief and the village’s treasure, so freely.
“Yuuri-sama, what about us then?”
“We’ll have you come along. We’ll keep the spirits in check here, so we’d like you to help with restoring the village.”
“Restoring the village? Can we really do that?”
“We have experience interacting with spirits, but we’ve never been to a village inhabited by spirits. Will we be okay?”
We weren’t the only ones with doubts. The other long-eared people felt the same.
All eyes were on Grandma Yuuri.
But Grandma Yuuri, as always, replied in her leisurely tone, “It would be helpful to have you come,” and offered a gentle smile.
“Alright, let’s depart!”
“Don’t fall behind the Grand Elder!”
“You, have a safe trip…”
“If the worst happens…”
“We’re counting on you.”
Looking at Grandma Yuuri, there was no sense of urgency. However, the destruction of the Spirit Village might indeed be a critical situation.
Those heading to the Spirit Village exchanged firm farewells with those remaining, their faces set with resolve.
When everyone had finished their goodbyes, Grandma Yuuri, who had been watching them kindly, moved.
Leaning on her staff, she took a step forward.
In a single step, she moved from within the village, through the flower fields, and into the Dragon Forest.
She covered a distance comparable to, or even exceeding, the spatial jump Nazaria demonstrated in the forbidden territory.
Following her lead, the accompanying long-eared people simultaneously activated their spatial jumps.
Everyone jumped further than I could, but none could match Grandma Yuuri’s jump distance.
“Well then, let’s go too!”
“Elnea-kun, please.”
“Priscilla, be sure to study properly?”
“Uhm, have a good trip!”
“Be careful, nyaan.”
“Call us anytime!”
“We’re cheering for you!”
I drew Ruiseine close and, with a farewell from the young girls, left the village.
Mistral also followed at full speed.
The long-eared people were ahead of us, having gotten a slight head start. To keep pace, I released the Dragon Jewel and followed suit.
Mistral quickly transformed into her human-dragon form and was flying at high speed through the trees.
What kind of place is this Spirit Village? And who destroyed it?
The spirits are angry because their home was destroyed.
The mercilessly falling snow and the raging wind are the spirits’ doing.
Old Man Sleigsta said something about it.
He said that spirits operate by a different logic than us.
The spirits dwelling in the Dragon Forest, enraged by the destruction of their village, were causing natural disasters that could even overwrite Sleigsta’s magic.
Speaking of spirits, she’s Ares-chan.
The spirits being utilized by the long-eared tribe are cooperative. The surrounding wind has been softened by spirit arts activated by someone, making the cold slightly more bearable.
But what about Ares-chan, who isn’t being utilized by anyone?
“I’m energetic! Energetic!”
“No, no, I know you’re energetic.”
“Companions! Companions!”
“Companions of which side?”
Ares-chan’s voice reached my heart.
However, due to the high-speed travel, she didn’t seem to be manifesting.
Although I couldn’t see her or get a clear answer, the fact that she was reacting in my heart meant she wasn’t an enemy.
I never want to fight Ares-chan again.
I don’t know where we’re going in the forest.
I’m just chasing after the long-eared people with all my might.
The long-eared people are desperately chasing after Grandma Yuuri.
As expected of the Grand Elder.
Come to think of it, she traveled the world with a witch in her youth, didn’t she?
Despite our frantic efforts, Grandma Yuuri moved through the Dragon Forest as if on a leisurely stroll.
She tapped her staff and took slow steps.
With just that, she performed spatial jumps so far ahead that we almost lost sight of her.
Grandma Yuuri would occasionally stop and look back, waiting for us to catch up.
At this rate, it’s hard to tell who’s younger and healthier.
I can’t afford to lose, I thought, and chased after her desperately.
Then, the climate suddenly changed.
“H-Hot!”
The place we arrived at via spatial jump had lost its snowscape.
Suddenly, a heatwave that seemed to warp the scenery washed over us. Fireballs flew between the trees, and clouds of smoke swirled in the sky.
My clothes, wet from the snow, quickly dried, and sweat poured out of me.
The sudden change in temperature gave me a throbbing headache.
Everyone stopped in their tracks due to the abrupt environmental change.
I stood beside Grandma Yuuri, who had arrived earlier. The long-eared people formed a defensive perimeter around us.
“Grand Elder, leave this to us!”
“Please, go ahead.”
Several young men from the long-eared tribe summoned fire spirits.
Spirits in the form of birds, fire lizards, and red goldfish appeared.
As if they had been waiting for our movement, the world dyed in flames began to move.
Ash rained down from the smoke-filled sky. Fireballs flew towards us.
The temperature rose further, and my body lost moisture rapidly.
The summoned spirits leaped at the approaching flames.
Seeing the utilized spirits and wild spirits begin their fiery dance, Grandma Yuuri moved.
“Now, let’s go.”
She said, and performed a spatial jump as if taking a stroll.
“A-Are you alright!?”
“Don’t worry about it! While they’re holding back the fire spirits, we have no choice but to press on!”
“Don’t let their efforts be in vain.”
Unlike us, who hesitated, the long-eared people who hadn’t summoned fire spirits followed Grandma Yuuri and jumped away.
“Now, Elnea-kun, go!”
“We’ll leave the rest to you!”
Pushed by the young men, I hesitated but then followed Grandma Yuuri.
However, the flames weren’t the only thing blocking our path.
The next to attack were wind spirits.
A strong wind that made it impossible to stand raged. The moment we performed a spatial jump, we were blown back to our original location. Mistral also couldn’t fly properly and had to stop.
“We’ll handle this!”
“Please, go on ahead.”
Those who could control wind spirits cleared the way.
We dashed through a narrow gap in the wind.
“Next, flower spirits.”
“Be careful, there are sand spirits lurking!”
“Lightning spirits, troublesome.”
“Snow spirits again. Is there anyone confident they can hold them back?”
After that, spirits of various elements attacked us one after another. Each time, long-eared people detached themselves to hold back the spirits.
But why?
A strong question arose in my mind.
I can understand the spirits being angry because their village was destroyed.
But I don’t understand why we, who didn’t destroy their village, are being attacked.
The spirits of various elements appeared, blocking our path.
Also, the reason the long-eared people gathered people who could handle multiple elements was because they anticipated the movements of these spirits.
Does this mean the long-eared tribe is responsible for the destruction of the Spirit Village?
The faces of the long-eared people, suppressing the rampaging spirits and urging us forward, showed strong resolve.
They would deliver their companions to the Spirit Village even at the cost of their lives.
The exchanges they had with those remaining before leaving the village were because they knew this would happen.
What exactly is the relationship between the Spirit Village and the long-eared tribe?
I wanted to ask, but I was barely keeping up with Grandma Yuuri and didn’t have time to talk to anyone.
After that, spirits continued to attack us one after another.
Each time, the long-eared people held them back.
And one by one, our companions fell away.
Finally, it was just me, Mistral, Ruiseine, and Grandma Yuuri.
When I looked back, I couldn’t see any of the long-eared people.
They must be desperately suppressing the rampaging spirits somewhere in the Dragon Forest.
We too must face this with strong will.
We cannot let everyone’s resolve and sacrifice be in vain.
Grandma Yuuri pulled me by the hand, and after crossing a swamp of light and darkness, we arrived in a forest where the abnormal weather of before was as if it never happened, bathed in clear skies.
Taking a deep breath, the clear air, like that of an ancient tree forest, filled my lungs.
This is our destination.
Although I hadn’t received an explanation, I could feel it.
A dense presence of spirits filled the air.
I could feel the presence of all sorts of spirits: fire, water, wind, earth, light, and darkness. And beyond the forest canopy, I saw a rainbow-colored pillar.
The seven-colored pillar curved gently in the sky, its tip stretching far into the distance.
“It’s the base of the rainbow.”
“I didn’t know there was such a place in the Dragon Forest.”
“Amazing…”
I was captivated by the mystical sight, as if it were from another world.
“Now, the Spirit Village is just ahead.”
Grandma Yuuri looked up at the rainbow pillar like us, but beckoned us forward.
Following Grandma Yuuri, who was at the front, we walked through the forest.
It seemed spatial jumps were no longer necessary.
Keeping pace with Grandma Yuuri, who walked slowly with her staff, we proceeded.
Our destination was, indeed, the base of the rainbow.
After passing through the swamp of light and darkness, the spirit attacks suddenly stopped for some reason, and we reached an ancient tree without any further trouble.
It was there, in the shade of the roots extending from the large trunk.
“Grandma, is this the Spirit Village?”
“Yes. Fufufu, it’s quite different from the villages and towns where people live, isn’t it?”
The ancient tree was enveloped in seven-colored light.
The light stretched high into the sky.
At the base of the roots, flat stones, ranging in size from a palm to a fingertip, were scattered haphazardly.
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