The gymnasium was ten minutes away by carriage, but with On's help, she arrived there almost instantly. The time seemed closer to three minutes. If she departed the Grand Duke's mansion at this speed, she would reach the Imperial Palace in no time.
"Thanks."
Irene carefully got down from On's arms and thanked him, to which he replied gruntingly.
[A spirit should do whatever the contractor wants, no need to be thankful.]
"Thank you nonetheless."
[Huh.]
On hadn't been treated like this in a long time, so he didn't know how to react. He folded his arms and avoided Irene's gaze. Seeing his reaction, Irene smiled and looked around the gymnasium. The training field was big, just like how she remembered it. The traces left by her training with Mulliman the last time she was here were still present.
"e here."
[What]
"How did the former Empress, Rivena, use the power of spirits?"
[What are you talking about all of a sudden?]
"For example, assassination…."
On whipped his head towards her when he heard her statement. Seeing her dark expression, he paused for a moment before answering.
[Rivena contracted us when she was very young. She was a genius, yet she never once used our powers for evil. As she was very considerate of us, but ...]
Upon hearing him pause in mid-speech, Irene shot him a concerned look. On continued, resentful.
[But in the end, she died, and we were left all alone. If I saw it ing, I would have used my power without holding back...]
A subtle tone of grief was clear in On's voice. Irene looked at him wordlessly.
[So you..]
"Me too."
[...?]
"I wouldn't have used spirits to kill people either. They have feelings, too, not just power. Understanding that made me want to treasure them and treat them with respect."
As Irene spoke, she felt her clouded thoughts clearing up a little.
She had many concerns about using her spirits' power and the Grand Duke's condition, but after talking with On, she finally reached a decision.
"Snow, Undi."
When Irene called the remaining two spirits, water droplets and snowflakes came together to form the two spirits. Soon, Undi and Snow flew towards Irene. When he saw this, On was dissatisfied.
[Rene-!]
[Irene ~]
Undi and Snow each grabbed one of Irene's cheeks and rubbed them. Irene smiled slightly at the cold touch and parted her lips.
"I summoned you all here because there is something I want to say."
[Yeah, I like everything Rene says.]
[Irene, what is it?]
Snow and Undi tilted their heads curiously at Irene's words.
Seeing Irene's seriousness, Snow and Undi backed away from Irene's cheeks and crept closer to On's side.
[On, what's wrong with Irene?]
[I'm sure On did something wrong to get on her nerves again.]
[What? It's probably you, not me! Snow!]
[Heh, what are you getting at?]
Irene watched the three spirits arguing again and spoke up.
"There will be an attack on the Imperial Palace soon."
[Imperial Palace?]
[The Imperial Palace..., Rivena's??]
Snow and Undi reacted to Irene's words. But Undi's reaction was remarkably stronger, as he was the one who had acpanied Rivena in her last moments at the palace.
"Yes, against the Emperor."
[Me too! I'll also go!]
[Irene, I'll go too.]
"No."
Undi and Snow expressed their opinion, but Irene shook her head.
"You can't help me like this."
[Irene, how e we can't?]
At Irene's words, Undi asked in shock.
"How can we fight alongside each other when all you do is bicker?"
[If you don't bring out On, there will be no bickering.]
[About that. Snow, I don't want you anywhere near me...!]
[Stop...]
When the fire between On and Snow ignited again, Undi looked at Irene and couldn't help but lower his head.
[Hold on for a second, Undi. I'm going to see this to the end this time.]
[Is that so? I'm not backing off this time either. You're just the Snow that sits on top of trees!]
[What did you just say? You know, you're not the only one that can blow wind! I can do that, too!]
[What? Is that all you have to say?]
[Oh, I'm not done.]
[Everyone, stop it!]
As things started heating up even more, the usually quiet and shy Undi shouted, making Snow and On look at him in surprise.
[Irene is saying she will abandon us if we keep arguing like this. The Imperial Palace is a dangerous place. What would happen if you lost another contractor when you could have easily avoided that? But all you two do is squabble.]
[Ah, about that...]
[...]
Water droplets dripped from Undi's blue eyes when his fierce momentum subsided. Snow and On tried to fort Undi, not knowing what to do.
[Please don't fight. Not this time, we have to protect our contractor. We can't lose another one.]
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