Judge of Cosmos

CHAPTER 15

Third day and the the sun had yet to rise, but the people were already wide awake and buzzing with energy. Word had spread that the Grand Duchess had identified the cause of the South's troubles and found a solution.

"It's the volcano," Moraine explained, addressing the gathered crowd. "Do you remember the fire-infused magic stones you threw into the volcano's mouth? They emitted a thick smoke that enveloped this area in fog. That fog formed into clouds, which then brought down acidic rain. With the rain falling daily, the soil hardened, plants withered, and the river became tainted, killing the fish. Even when you used river water on the plants, it only made things worse because the water was contaminated. In short, the root of all this misery lies in the magic stones."

Gasps of realization spread through the crowd as the people understood the grave error they had made. Their greed to ward off the harsh winter had backfired, bringing what now felt like a divine punishment.

"H-How did you discover this, Your Grace?" one of them asked, awe in their voice.

"If anyone had truly listened to your experiences, they could have deduced the cause. However, it seems no one took the time to do so. I recognized the signs because I, too, once loved trees and encountered a similar misfortune. It's only natural that I would understand what happened here."

"Oh, heavens above!"

"Thank you so much, Grand Duchess!"

"We owe you everything!"

"A goddess has descended among us!"

Moraine blushed at the outpouring of gratitude. Her knowledge wasn't extraordinary, yet the people's joy and relief were overwhelming. She couldn't blame them for their exuberance—after all, their long nightmare was finally coming to an end.

'Kieran...'

A wistful smile crossed her face as she thought of the man who had shared her love for trees and taught her so much about nature's delicate balance. His wisdom had saved these people, not hers.

'No, he saved them.'

She clutched the necklace at her neck, feeling its warmth against her skin. As she watched the people cry tears of joy, her heart swelled with emotion, and Kieran's image filled her mind.

'Thank you, Kieran.'

The delivery of the charcoal and limestone arrived earlier than expected. Under Moraine's guidance, the people worked diligently. They mixed the charcoal with the tilled soil, and the crushed limestone was spread into the river, following Moraine's careful instructions. The hope in their hearts grew as they labored, knowing they were on the brink of reclaiming their land.
"Well, maybe by next week, you'll be able to start planting again. But for now, I'll help you with the trees first," Moraine said, her voice steady and reassuring.

"Thank you so much, Your Grace! We owe you more than words can express. The people of South Vernize swear upon our lives to dedicate ourselves to you, our benefactor, our savior."

Moraine smiled awkwardly, feeling the weight of their gratitude. Behind her, Laila, Kana, and Roan stood proudly, their faces beaming with satisfaction. The white-haired Duchess pressed her lips together, slightly embarrassed by the adulation.

"Your Grace, Renault has arrived," Kana whispered softly.

A young man with sky-blue hair and striking golden eyes approached. He was Renault, the youngest 8th circle magician from the Magic Tower, and one of Moraine's subordinates.

"Master," Renault greeted her with a broad smile, his gums showing in his enthusiasm. "I, your humble servant, present myself to you."

"Oh, please," Kana snorted, rolling her eyes.

"It's been a while, Renault," Roan greeted him with a smile.

But Renault barely acknowledged them, his sassy eyes rolling as he strode past his colleagues to reach Moraine.

"Master," he repeated, his tone softer now.

Moraine chuckled and reached out to ruffle his hair. Despite being only two years younger than her, Renault was the youngest of her subordinates, and he still had a boyish charm about him.

"I'm very upset," Renault declared, his voice tinged with frustration. "You married an unknown goon! How can I not be angry? That man should be killed!"

"Renault!" Laila scolded, exasperated. "You already know why Master chose to marry him, so shut your trap."

"I do not care, you loser," Renault shot back, his eyes narrowing at Laila.

Moraine felt a pang of sympathy for Roan, who was always caught between Kana and Renault's endless bickering. Their arguments often escalated into chaotic disasters, with sudden explosions or bursts of fire disrupting their surroundings.

"Can you both stop? You're not kids. Remember, we're in Master's presence," Roan warned, his voice firm but calm.

With that, both Kana and Renault reluctantly fell silent.

"Renault, teleport us to the mouth of the volcano," Moraine instructed, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Without hesitation, Renault cast the teleportation spell, and in an instant, the four of them were at the volcano's edge. A thick, acrid smoke greeted them, and as if by instinct, the three immediately moved to shield Moraine. Roan used his aura to disperse the smoke, Kana quickly covered Moraine's nose with a handkerchief, and Renault, ever the show-off, waved the smoke away with a gust of wind magic.

"Wow, that's a massive amount of magic stones," Roan gasped, eyes wide with surprise as he took in the sight before them.

"They aren't known as the center of Vernize's trade for nothing," Kana agreed, nodding as she surveyed the countless stones.

"Can you remove them, Renault?" Moraine asked, her gaze fixed on the fiery maw of the volcano.

"I can't remove them, but I can drain their magic," Renault replied, already preparing for the task.

Moraine nodded, signaling for them to give Renault space to work. The three of them stepped back, allowing Renault to concentrate. A large, intricate magic circle appeared in the air above the volcano, glowing with a powerful energy that captivated Moraine. She couldn't help but be amazed by Renault's capability, her eyes glued to the mesmerizing display of magic.

But as the ritual progressed, a thick surge of mana began to spiral upwards. Moraine's eyes widened in alarm as she felt her necklace grow uncomfortably hot against her skin.

'No, I need to get away,' she thought urgently, sensing that something was dangerously wrong.