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"I've heard of you, Setsuna Kamiya."
"What!?"
Leongand Rei-Gandia, the self-proclaimed king of Gandia, addressed Setsuna moments after his quiet vow. Hearing his name known to so few here stunned Setsuna.
Bathed in dawn's light, Leongand stood before the stone mound memorial, his regal features and dignified air creating a near-divine aura, like a saint framed by a halo.
"The unregistered armed summoner who defeated Lankain Byunel."
His smile was warm, almost disarming, as if to ease Setsuna's guard. A saintly expression, but a smile from a stranger especially a king warranted caution.
Setsuna scanned their surroundings. The intersection, Karan's heart, held only them for now. Still, he stayed alert. Leongand might have men nearby. Unlikely, but preparing for the worst was prudent.
Nodding to himself, Setsuna echoed, "Lankain Byunel? Wasn't it Lance something?"
"A false name. Lance Villain was a pseudonym. His true name is Lankain Byunel, tied to Zalwarn's Five Dragon Clans."
"You say that like it's obvious, but I'm lost."
Setsuna's confusion drew a chuckle from Leongand. "Right, you're not from Gandia."
"Yeah, so what?"
Meeting Leongand's jade-like eyes beautiful yet cold as a frozen lake Setsuna felt a chill.
"Bel's report was vague, so I came to see you myself."
"Huh?"
"You took down Zalwarn's demon, Lankain. Letting talent like you slip away would be negligence."
His words baffled Setsuna, each one elusive. He understood the gist, but
"You're the king of Gandia, right?"
"Yes. I've ruled since my father's sudden death six months ago. They call me a fool, though."
"A king scouting?"
Setsuna voiced his honest doubt. Leongand blinked, caught off guard. To Setsuna, it was a natural question.
"No."
As expected. Setsuna nodded, satisfied. A king wouldn't move so freely, especially for an unknown like him. Advisors would stop it.
"Then why?"
Setsuna tilted his head as Leongand began walking. Why was a king, bound by duty, here in Karan? Even for mourning, a monarch would act formally, not slip in discreetly.
"This country" Leongand crossed Setsuna's path, his cool words piercing the air, "Gandia is weak. Feeble soldiers, lazy generals, frail officials, incompetent masses. Without my father's brilliance, our lands would've been ravaged, erased from history."
His voice, heavy with sorrow, flowed under the dawn sky.
"My father used his genius, relentless action, and vast wealth to protect our meager territory. But that was all. Guarding it took everything. One man's desperate work, a few capable aides' blood and sweat there's only so much they could do."
Following Leongand south along the street, Setsuna felt a headache brewing. He needed to act before it worsened his mind was the issue.
"When our great leader fell to illness, Gandia's future dimmed. Maintaining our land became impossible. We survive only due to alliances with Mion and Lusion."
Setsuna half-grasped the words, giving up on full understanding. His groggy mind couldn't parse the king's lengthy speech.
"Yeah, I kinda get it," he said vaguely, stepping in front of Leongand, who looked surprised. "What's the point?"
"I said Bel's report wasn't enough. I needed to meet you. Where are you from? Why come to Gandia? What's your tie to Azmaria Altemax?"
Leongand's eyes now gleamed with sharp intent, like a hunter's. Setsuna froze, realizing this was no mere king. His image of royalty clichéd fantasy tropes was rudely inadequate.
"I lost my memory!" Setsuna shouted, inwardly cringing at the lame excuse. He couldn't say he was summoned from another world. Who'd believe it? He'd be mocked or detained. His vivid imagination always veered to extremes, unbeknownst to him.
"Memory loss? You answered well for that."
"Well, uh…"
He couldn't admit to the king that his answers to Faria's relentless questions had been half-hearted. Initially earnest, he'd grown tired, giving vague, evasive replies. Name, age, gender he answered those accurately, but little else. Questions about origin or nationality he dodged. Saying "Japan" or "Utsugawa City" was impossible.
Lacking knowledge of this world, he couldn't invent answers. When asked who taught him armed summoning, he'd named Azmaria Altemax a grave mistake.
"Fine, we'll sort out your origins later. What interests me most is your connection to Azmaria Altemax."
(As expected…)
Setsuna's shoulders slumped. This was inevitable. A king wouldn't visit someone like him without purpose. Coming to Karan alone, without guards, was unthinkable. Mourning the dead might be the official reason, but his true aim was clear.
"You learned armed summoning from Azmaria, right? Where did you meet her? More importantly, where is she now?"
Azmaria Altemax the one who summoned him. Naming her to Faria had been a regret. Her demeanor shifted instantly, improving her view of him but unleashing a frenzy of questions so intense he still shuddered.
"Uh…"
Setsuna's gaze drifted, searching for answers. The blackened, fire-ravaged town offered none to satisfy the king.
He didn't owe Leongand an answer. He could say he didn't know truthfully. Azmaria's whereabouts were a mystery; she'd vanished without a trace. He had no leads or desire to search.
"Azmaria Altemax founder of the Continental Summoners' Association, Dragon Slayer, Sky Crosser, Crimson Fiend, Demonbane Witch, Calamity Incarnate. A legendary summoner with countless titles. If she's in Gandia, I must meet her. Only she or War Demon Gref could alter a nation's fate."
Leongand sought agreement, but Setsuna could only muster a weak "Uh, yeah," struggling to hide his foolish expression. Turning from the king's eager, boyish gaze, he saw dawn's light creep into the empty street, the sky ablaze, night's darkness swept away.
Faria had drilled Azmaria's titles into him over a hundred, from complex to simple, too many to recall. A figure of such renown.
To Setsuna, she was a calamity, though not one he truly hated. She'd said he answered her summons by his own will blaming her was misplaced. Still, she was the reason he was here, and in that sense, he too wanted to find her.
Staring blankly at clouds drifting across the sky, he thought of Azmaria elusive as those clouds, fleeting and intangible.
A clamor of footsteps snapped him back. Heavy, rapid steps echoed loudly in the silent, ruined town.
(What?)
Looking ahead, he froze.
"Setsuna!"
Faria Belpharia charged toward him, her ferocious expression and breakneck speed raising dust. No one could face her without fear.
Setsuna nearly collapsed from her intensity.
"I told you not to sneak out!"
Faria, closing in, faltered, her face twisting in shock.
The cause?
"Hey, Bel. Good to see you well."
Leongand Rei-Gandia, King of Gandia.