The Seventh Moon

Explanation

With the knowledge of your existence, I can live my life without fear... ~ Florence Joyce

xxxxxx

"You're not hurt, are you?"

Risa shook her head with a smile when Jehan asked that with worry. The mage-in-training learned what happened because of Lady Enlari who was able to sense it using her wind powers. However, he couldn't have gotten back in time to the Master Mage's house because he was dealing with Jehan's father at the time.

It was only through the Master Mage and the Deputy Mage's interference that the matter of not disturbing Jehan anymore even if he still carried the Ellanher clan's name finally came to a close. Of course, when Risa heard that, she couldn't help feeling sorry for her friend. But upon looking at him, he looked... relieved.

"The Master Mage's dragons did their best to protect me. But those creatures tried to keep me from entering the barrier, for some reason. Both Lord Shuren and Lord Elross said that the creatures were after me."

"Wait a minute! Hold it right there! Did you just say... Lord Elross?"

Risa nodded. But she frowned soon after when she saw the shocked expression on Jehan's face.

"Jehan? Are you okay?" She had no idea why her friend would react this way, so she asked that.

He blinked a few times before recovering from the shock and took a deep breath.

"Y-you said that... both Shuren and Lord Elross had concluded that the creatures that attacked here were after you?"

Risa nodded once more, still not removing the frown from her face.

"Is there something wrong?"

She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was about to discover something strange with the way Jehan reacted to her story.

"Why would they come here?"

"Excuse me?"

Jehan soon faced her with a somber expression, this time. Once again, he took a deep breath and faced Risa.

"Those two men who made that conclusion... were both connected to the royal family."

She knew she was about to discover something strange, but not as big as this.

"T-the royal family? You mean the Revian royal family?"

Jehan nodded.

"The man who introduced himself as Lord Elross isn't just a noble man. He belonged to the royal family as he is the Third Prince of this kingdom. While the man Shuren is the bodyguard of the Second Prince Alathil."

What in the world? How did she come face to face with men such as the ones she met earlier? And yet the shock soon dissipated as she thought of something.

"If that is so... why didn't they introduce themselves to me as such? Why do they have to hide it from me?"

"I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that right now. But I don't think they would mention anything to the king at this point."

"What do you mean?"

"They're not the ones who would say any of their discoveries to the king unless they gathered enough proof or evidence. In your case, curiosity must have been the reason why they were here earlier."

The more Risa heard what Jehan had to say about the situation, the more her thoughts became complicated.

"They could still be investigating the events surrounding the attempted assassination on the Crown Prince that day. They must have thought that the Master Mage was here and would like to get answers from him. Only to find me here and the dragons fighting off those creatures."