IWTQYG CH 6
- Mar 4
- 6 min read
Chapter 6
• ────── ✦ ────── •
The Ritual
“My lady, are you here?”
“Yes, Anne. I'm here.”
Delcia closed the book she was reading, placed it back and left the library.
“What's the matter?”
“A guest has come looking for you, my lady.”
“.....A guest looking for me?”
“Yes. A lady named Vienna Terrium is waiting in the drawing room.”
Delcia looked down at the back of her hand, it was emitting a bright light. Her face flushed as she quickly followed Anne. Vianna arrived earlier than she expected, Delcia thought she would at least come around evening. Steadying her trembling heart, Delcia stepped into the drawing room. Vianna was leisurely sipping tea while sitting on a sofa, she slightly nodded her head upon seeing Delcia arrive.
“Vianna, you really came to see me!”
“I told you I would find my way here.”
“The coffin I mentioned is upstairs.”
Standing next to Delcia, Anne was momentarily surprised. She was taken aback by Delcia's willingness to openly discuss the coffin with someone she had just met. No one outside of Count Ferdo and Duke Adelio knows about the story of Edwin’s death. Thinking about the guest's identity and the young lady’s intentions, Anne tilted her head in confusion but quietly stepped aside at the young lady’s gesture.
“Is the magic still in effect?”
“Yes. The preservation magic is still in place.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. Let’s go check his condition first.”
Delcia guided Vianna to the room where the coffin is. She opened the door, entered first and stood next to the coffin.
“That's quite a solid spell. If it’s this kind of level, the body’s condition should still be in good shape.”
Vianna stood next to Delcia's side, slightly lifted the lid of the coffin to check the condition. As expected of the magic’s solidity, the body was in excellent condition. Vianna completely opened the lid and placed it on the floor, then looked at Delcia.
“Where are you going to lie down?”
“Oh, I'll have a bed brought in later.”
Delcia silently gazed at Edwin’s face. His eyes, as if in deep sleep, would soon open his eyes and smile at her. Imagining that he will give her the same brilliant smile as before made her heart raced wildly.
“Oh, there's one thing I forgot to mention.”
“Yes?”
Vianna had momentarily forgotten about it when she was worrying whether to grant Delcia's wish.
“There may be side effects.”
“Side effects?”
“Yes. If you insist, it’s more like a backlash. You’re taking something back from death, so you lose something.”
“Lo-lose something?”
“Yes. A human who returns from death loses two things.”
Fear crept in, she hadn't considered the side effects. What would happen if she were to lose something related to her life?
A dry swallow went down her throat.
“One is emotion.”
“…Emotion.”
Even if it wasn't directly related to life, losing emotions would still be devastating. Edwin was already timid and worrisome... Delcia's expression darkened slightly.
“The other is memory.”
“…… Memory?”
Losing emotions was traumatic enough, but losing memories—that hit even harder. Delcia was chocked.
“Do, they lose all memories?”
“Not entirely. They’ll only lose some memories. No one knows which memories will be lost.”
“……Oh.”
To lose only some of their memories, reassured her. But if it were memories related to herself, that would be quite upsetting. Still, the thought of Edwin wandering around somewhere between life and death, made her resolve firm up. Even if it meant taking all the side effects.
Yes. If he could just remember my name, if he could just remember that one little thing, I'd feel a little less upset.
Delcia smiled faintly with a sunken face.
• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •
“Then, let's begin.”
Count Ferdo and Arnold tightly squeezed their eyes shut. Their hands trembling. No matter how much they used nails and hair, the worry and anxiety remained. The sight of Delcia lying in bed as if dead also amplified the father and son’s anxiety.
“Father, why is Delcia lying there if she only need is to give her nails and hair?”
“…….”
Count Ferdo frowned.
Now that Arnold mentioned it, something did feel off.
That’s true. Why would Delcy need to lie down when all the witch need was her nails and hair?
Their doubts took a turn they didn’t expect. Arnold stood when he saw Vianna's placed her hand on Delcia's chest. Count Ferdo followed suit.
“P-please wait a moment. Wasn't it just supposed to be nails and hair?”
Vianna's hand froze mid-motion.
“Wh-what?”
Vianna withdrew her hand and looked at Count Ferdo.
“What do you mean just nails and hair?”
“......Was I mistaken?”
“…….”
Vianna rolled her eyes.
It was odd how’d she manages to get her family’s permission. Turns out, she lied to them.
To be honest, she would have liked to cancel the contract. But, even if the permission was obtained through deceit, it was impossible to annul the sacred contract made by defying the taboo. Both parties to the contract would face death. So, Vianna had to go along with Delcia’s scheme.
“You’re not wrong. Nails and hair can be used.”
“But how can nails and hair bring someone back to life?!”
“Why? You don’t believe me?”
When Vianna tilted her head, Arnold clamped his mouth shut. It was true that he had doubts, but since it was the words of a being called a witch, he couldn't question her. Still, there was one thing he could argue with.
“……If you really only needed nails and hair, why were you resting your hand on Delcia's chest?”
“…….”
“And how much nail and hair is needed?”
Vianna sighed.
He has quite a persistent side.
Even if she had to go with the flow having to explain the lies while Delcia lied down, didn’t sit well with her. Vianna looked down at Delcia lying next to her with a gloomy face.
“I just placed my hand on her chest because it’s easier to cast magic from there, no matter what part is needed.”
“Then, how much nails and hair—”
“I just need a little bit of nails and hair. Barely noticeable. Do you have any more questions?”
Arnold slowly nodded and didn't ask any more questions. What more could he ask to Vianna, who speaks as if it were the truth?
“Why? Why are you trying to grant my daughter's wish?”
“......Because she looked more desperate than anyone when she came to me.”
“Is that so? If it's really something that guarantees my daughter's life completely then......I respect my daughter's decision.”
Count Ferdo’s voice softened. Vianna’s relieved by Count Ferdo's surprisingly easy retreat, yet at the same time, her heart ached. Because even she didn’t know if Delcia's life would be fully guaranteed.
Vianna, tried to clear her thoughts and concentrate again.
“The procedure is not a pleasant form, so it might be unpleasant to watch.”
“That doesn't matter at all. We only need to make sure my daughter is safe, so don't worry about us and proceed.”
“Even though fingernails and hair are used, they are still parts of the body. You can't help but feel uneasy while watching.”
Vianna said firmly.
“It's better not to see it, in many ways. It won't take long, so go outside and wait.”
Count Ferdo's eyebrows twitched. He and Arnold, about to say something, were chased out of the room with a single gesture from her. Vianna, had driven them away with her magic and locked the door. Vianna placed her hands on her hips and let out a deep sigh.
I must have done the right thing. There’s no way I could show her family the ritual that will use the heart instead of fingernails and hair. It would be better to tell the truth calmly after the entire ritual was over. Delcia must have thought about that.
Turning around and placing her hand on Delcia's chest, Vianna began the ritual by quietly chanting the spell. As she chanted, a bright yellow light filled the room. The ritual proceeded quickly within the cluster of lights.
Vianna quickly removed Delcia's heart and transferred it to Edwin. Soon after, she created an artificial magic heart and placed it into the empty space in Delcia's body. But the strong magical power flowing through Delcia's body rejected the artificial heart and pushed it away.
Vianna frowned and muttered.
“It's stronger than I thought ...….”
Vianna swallowed a groan as she watched Delcia's magic flowing before her eyes. It wasn’t going to be easy.
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