Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 546

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 316.
Beneath the Almond Tree (59)
Joshua smiled faintly, then plucked a blade of grass that swayed gently in the breeze.
“Sometimes similar faces pass down through a family line across generations, even when people aren’t mother and daughter, sisters, or cousins. Like Aurelia and Zenobia, or Zenobia and my sister Ive.”
“So that’s how it happened.”
Riche nodded in agreement, but Joshua spoke up suddenly.
“She’s the one connected to the Periwinkle flower.”
“Huh…? What?”
Riche’s expression went blank for a moment, but then it came back to her. That Periwinkle flower on the table that had caused the sailors to misunderstand so much?
“That girl gave it to you?”
“I told you about going out at dawn. She gave it to me then. Even when I received it, I didn’t understand what it meant.”
“Wait, so that girl understood what it meant?”
Joshua gazed down at the blade of grass in his hand for a moment before answering quietly.
“It seems she did.”
Soon after, Anarose and Aurelia rose to their feet. Just before parting, Anarose kissed Aurelia’s forehead. As Aurelia stepped back, Anarose spoke to Joshua.
“Now let’s call them.”
Joshua nodded and stepped back from the foundation stone, gesturing for Riche to retreat as well. Then he closed his eyes and extended both hands.
Moments later, the wind grew fierce and began to swirl. The grass surrounding Joshua whipped about violently as if it might tear apart. Riche felt a chill run through her, remembering what had happened before Juspian’s House. She recalled the sight of Joshua performing necromancy for the first time, tearing open the earth and shattering bedrock, thousands of stones and boulders spinning through the air in a vortex.
Anarose looked at Riche and spoke.
“You’ll be fine waiting behind the foundation stone.”
“Ah… yes, I will.”
A faint luminescence began to emanate from Joshua’s body. His hair transformed into a brighter light. Yet nothing as catastrophic as what Riche remembered occurred. After a moment, Joshua opened his eyes and looked around.
“Has everyone arrived?”
No answer came. Joshua smiled after a brief pause.
“I see. Anarose, is there no way for you to see their forms?”
Without a word, Anarose withdrew a small pouch from her bosom. Shimmering powder spilled from it and scattered into the air. In the next instant, Anarose stepped back, startled.
Riche, Aurelia, and Hispania could see it too. Hundreds of faint silhouettes gathered before Anarose. All of them knelt with bowed heads, filling the space around them and extending up the hill. Riche murmured.
“I had no idea there were so many…”
An elderly man rose to his feet.
“Tikaram. We abandoned all hope that a day would come when you would forgive us. Even now, I know you do not wish to hear our words for long. Yet this much we must say… we have committed a grave sin against you. We dare to apologize. We dare to give thanks.”
Anarose gave no reply. Joshua spoke.
“Tikaram’s forgiveness shall guide you to the Land of Promise. The foundation stone has regained its power, and your destination shall be determined by your desires. I must tell you this: once you pass through the mirror, you cannot return. Not unless you create another wish mirror or find one in that place. This is why the people of Ganapoli never departed through this mirror.”
All the shadows rose and bowed toward Joshua. Countless voices spoke at once.
“Beneath the Duke’s feet, may all the seas of the world bow in submission.”
“The Duke shall surely become the second Demonic Duke. To us, he already is.”
“Infinite glory and victory to the Blessed Arnim! Long live! Long live!”
Joshua bent at the waist and performed a graceful court bow. Then he straightened and gazed upon them.
“In place of Icabon von Arnim, the Duke who was the first Blessed Arnim, I fulfill my promise to you. People of Promise, the long covenant between you and the Blessed Arnim has ended. Now may you all reach your homeland, and may its form be as you have always desired.”
Something gleaming appeared upon the foundation stone. Moments later, the gleam flowed downward like water. It was a radiant mirror. Yet it was a mirror that continued to shimmer and swirl.
One by one, the spirits ascended onto the foundation stone. As the first spirit gazed upon the mirror and took a step forward, its form vanished without a trace. Some turned back and waved their hands. Others bowed once more before turning away. Some walked with uncertain, fearful steps. Others leaped forward, unable to contain their joy.
From the foundation stone rose a stone anchor, casting a distinct shadow across the Grassland. Beneath it was engraved the epitaph of Icabon von Arnim.
He who saved the great island of Periwinkle that dominates the South Sea
And crowned himself king
The left heart of King Anomarad
Duke of Jade Ring Manor
Icabon von Arnim.
O spirit that protects the sailors, we entrust our sovereign to the Coral Palace beneath the sea
And ask that you guard him until the South Sea becomes white salt fields.
Countless feet crossed that epitaph and vanished. As promised long ago, they had obtained the foundation stone created by Icabon, his body, his coffin.
“They’ve all gone.”
As the Meadow fell silent, Riche murmured while gazing up at the mirror. She wondered where she would go if she entered it, but could only conjure the image of a house on Blue Coral Island. When she turned her gaze away with a sense of futility, she noticed something.
Joshua, eyes closed, was walking toward the mirror. As if he meant to step directly into it. Riche started to call out in alarm, but Joshua stopped before the mirror and opened his eyes.
“Anarose, come here and take my hand.”
The two clasped hands before the mirror. Joshua closed his eyes again, then opened them and spoke.
“Step into the mirror.”
Anarose’s expression grew puzzled.
“What do you mean? I have somewhere I need to return to.”
“I know. But this is a wish mirror, isn’t it? The mirror will know the place you truly must go to… Kelce just told me this from within my heart.”
At the mention of Kelsniti’s name, Anarose’s expression softened.
“Can’t Kelce appear himself? To step into the mirror?”
“He said that if you enter this mirror, you’ll understand everything. He said there’s nothing to worry about.”
Anarose searched Joshua’s eyes, trying to read something in them. And she seemed to find it. Perhaps she could even see traces of Kelsniti there.
As her foot crossed the threshold, Anarose’s form melted away into the mirror and vanished.
At first, she thought she had simply passed through the mirror and emerged into the Grassland on the other side. But it was not so. The grass beneath her feet was not the short winter grass. It was pasture grass, grown long. The sun was still high, and the air was soft. It might have been around three in the afternoon. Somehow, it felt that way.
“Anne.”
At the voice from behind her, Anarose turned, and joy flooded her chest. Kelsniti stood there.
“Kelce!”
As Anarose extended both hands, Kelsniti took them. A moment later, Anarose released them and embraced Kelsniti around the neck. It was a reunion she could scarcely believe. Laughter and tears mingled together.
“We’ve met again. Truly, we could meet again.”
“It’s too soon to rejoice.”
“Too soon?”
Kelsniti released Anarose’s hands and smiled. It was that very smile she had longed to see for so long.
“Follow me. I’ll show you something wonderful.”
The two crossed the Pasture. Anarose soon noticed something strange.
“This is Star Flower Valley, isn’t it? How is it exactly the same as before?”
Then, suddenly grasping something, she stopped walking. Kelsniti, who had been leading, turned back. Anarose spoke with wide eyes.
“Kelce… you’re dead.”
Kelsniti nodded.
“That’s right. This isn’t the real world.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s the world as it was on the day we were happiest.”
“The day we were happiest… ”
How could she forget? Anarose drew a deep breath. She looked down at herself. Familiar wooden clogs, a comfortable linen skirt, wooden beads adorning her ankles. When her hesitant hand touched her hair—smooth ruby-red strands untouched by flame or tangled vines—she lost herself entirely. Tears spilled forth.
Kelsniti gently pulled Anarose by the wrist.
“Come on. Don’t you remember? You were stamping your feet because we were running out of time. If we don’t hurry, today will be just the same.”
As she was led along, she felt as though walking through a dream. Star flowers rose white through the rustling grass. Crossing the valley and climbing toward the cliff, her heart swelled with anticipation of what she would soon see. When it finally appeared, she could not tell whether what she felt was joy or sorrow. Her chest and ears alike were filled with an aching fullness.
Their small villa stood before her, bathed in the slanting light of the declining sun, its weathervane swaying gently in the breeze.
“I’m supposed to appear a little later, right? Then I’ll see you soon.”
Kelsniti disappeared behind the villa. The moment her hand grasped the door handle, her racing heart could not be contained. A wreath of primrose and lavender hung upon the door. Three violet pots lined the window frame. Unlike the last time she had seen them, the purple flowers bloomed demurely.
The door creaked open.
“Anne? Did you bring the flowers?”
He sat on the dining hall floor, a chair turned upside down before him, adjusting its leg length with a pocket knife. Her vision blurred, and for a moment she could see nothing. As she wiped her tears with her left sleeve, his hand approached and accepted the bouquet of star flowers that had been in her right hand.
“Will this work as decoration? It seems so small.”
Fortunately, she remembers. Her lips speak of their own accord.
“It… it will work.”
As the tears cleared, Icabon’s face lay before her eyes. Gray hair, vibrant black eyes, lips curved in a smile. His arms came around her, embracing her once before releasing her. Everything flowed like a dream.
“But why are you suddenly fussing with the chair leg?”
“It keeps tilting. I’ve cut it several times now, and the whole chair has gotten lower.”
“It would work if you sat in it. It would fit you perfectly.”
“Do you wish I were shorter?”
“Yes. I wish you were smaller so you’d nestle perfectly in my arms.”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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