Parting with Orleans

Yohane walked at the front, everyone else falling in behind.

The usual sight.

His mind was wandering back through the past as they walked.

When he'd found Orleans in that bandit hideout, he'd wondered how things would turn out. But it had all settled down well, and he was glad.

It was also significant that the whole affair hadn't been pure charity with no return.

Ultimately, he'd come out with more profit than a normal venture would have yielded.

The value of the connection to the duke was debatable, but if Orleans ever ended up working under him, it would amount to a considerable favor owed.

The fact that Orleans had no memory of what the bandits had done to her was a blessing in disguise.

If that had left her with a trauma toward men, she wouldn't have been able to talk properly with either the duke or Yohane.

And the likely outcome would have been Orleans herself ending up worse off.

"Are you heading back to the estate right away? You can go back openly now. No one will say anything. The man at the top has given his approval."

"Sir, thank you for everything. It was fun."

Orleans bowed her head.

The silver necklace he'd given her swayed and clinked.

Azu took Orleans' hand and shook it over and over.

She'd looked after Orleans quite well.

Perhaps it was because this was the first time she'd had someone younger than her to treat like family.

He thought it had been good for her.

Elza and Alexia each gave Orleans a hug to say their goodbyes.

The clan of the fire priestess, one might call them. Orleans' people had their work cut out for them from here on.

Some among them would undoubtedly prefer things as they were, disagreeing with Orleans' vision.

They might say she'd been acting on her own. This was something that would have needed to happen eventually, but it hadn't been decided through discussion.

Still, the changes, starting with education, were mandatory directives from the duke.

In a few years, change would come whether they liked it or not.

They headed to the estate to see her off.

As it happened, it was harvest season, and the entire community was out picking grapes.

The wheat and cotton had apparently been harvested while Orleans was away.

"Sir."

Orleans came and stood before Yohane.

Then she grabbed the Fire Elemental perched on her head.

From the outside, it looked like she was grasping open flame with her bare hands, but it clearly didn't burn her, judging by her unfazed expression.

With her right hand, Orleans pinched off a portion of the Fire Elemental's blaze. A small flame remained in her palm.

"Please take this with you. This little one says it wants stimulation, so it wants part of itself to go with you. It says it'll be very useful."

Yohane slowly brought his hand closer, but the fire's heat hit him immediately, sucking the moisture from his skin and leaving it parched.

"I don't mind taking it, but how…?"

He was at a loss. Then Alexia unclasped her fire brooch and held it near.

The small Fire Elemental was drawn in, as if absorbed into the red gemstone, and vanished.

"As I suspected, the affinity is excellent. Superb, really."

Alexia happily reattached the fire brooch.

When she touched the gemstone, it radiated faint warmth.

Its brilliance had intensified noticeably, and the improvement in its value as a magical tool was obvious.

An already exceptional magical tool now with a spirit dwelling within it. Something money could never buy.

Money existed to obtain things worth more than money.

Money was, at the end of the day, only ever a means.

"How wonderful. Blessings from both water and Fire Elementals are incredibly rare. With this…"

Elza said as much, pulling Azu close by the shoulder and bringing her right eye near the fire brooch.

The fire brooch began to resonate, generating heat.

Azu's iris was starting to shift color as well.

But it subsided almost immediately.

"Oh my, too soon? Maybe she can't handle the strain yet."

"Um…"

Azu, grabbed by the shoulder without warning, looked up at Elza in confusion.

Elza released her.

"Sorry about the sudden grab."

"I don't mind, but what was that about?"

"Secret. It's nothing major."

She deflected the question.

When Elza was like this, she wouldn't talk.

Knowing that well, Azu gave up pressing further.

Elza had a secretive streak, but Azu had never sensed any ill will from her.

Though when the Church of the Sun God was involved, her demeanor could change entirely.

"Then, I'll be going. Thank you, everyone. It was fun."

With those words, Orleans returned to the estate.

Even from a distance, they could see her being embraced by her parents.

Her parents wouldn't attempt another reckless escape.

The situation was changing into one where they wouldn't need to.

And if something did happen, the grown Orleans would stop them.

With the Fire Elemental's favor, the duke would respect Orleans as well.

"Let's head back too. I'm tired."

"Agreed. I'd like to take it easy for a bit. Oh, I don't mean slacking off or anything."

Yohane deliberately ruffled Azu's head with a firm hand.

Her long silver hair got a little mussed, but Azu accepted it with a pleased smile.

"Oh, and we're loading the carriage to the brim with goods, so there's still work to do."

"Okaaay."

"You really are hopeless when it comes to reading the mood."

"Ahaha!"

They left the estate behind, and the mules pulled the carriage into motion.

When Azu turned around, Orleans was waving broadly.

Azu waved back, making sure she could be seen from that distance.

They kept waving at each other until they could no longer make out each other's figures.

Afterward, they loaded up on handicrafts and wheat flour in the great city of Ateil.

They managed to get a small amount of wine too.

"Alright, let's head back. To Kassad."

"Yes!"

Azu answered brightly and took the seat beside Yohane.