BTCATL 59

BTCATL

Posted by Ali, Released on August 13, 2025

Chapter 59

When I regained consciousness, both the Emperor and the Imperial Palace had already come back to life.

The once-empty, echoing hallways were now bustling with busy administrators and servants, and even the palace knights, who had been reduced to a bare minimum, had returned to their posts.

Amid all this, the Emperor—who should have been the busiest handling the backlog of affairs—was…

“Brother, don’t you like sweets? Here, try some.”

“…Is he out of his mind?”

Under the bright sun in a garden in full bloom, he kept trying to feed Callios something.

From small finger foods like macarons and cookies to sherbets, parfaits, and ice soufflés—delicacies rarely seen in the hot western regions.

The table was piled high with sweet desserts whose intended recipient I couldn’t guess.

When he had been bedridden, he had seemed endlessly cold—but was he really such a soft, indulgent person?

“Your Majesty, the paperwork—”

“Can’t you see I’m entertaining the spirit mages right now? These are the people who saved my life. How could I possibly treat them carelessly? And if they take offense at the Spirit Tower, do you think you can answer for it?”

The attendant—apparently a secretary—stammered and slumped his shoulders before retreating.

It was already the third time I had seen it. Different people came to urge him about the paperwork, and each one left the same way.

The brothers were evidently alike; Callios had a masterful way of passing responsibility while speaking so smoothly.

I inwardly clicked my tongue—he looked just like Callios, only his body didn’t run away.

“This isn’t what I wanted…”

Meanwhile, Callios seemed dissatisfied with something, frowning deeply and muttering words I couldn’t understand.

Apart from the eye color, they looked exactly alike—brothers who clearly cherished one another.

The younger Emperor seemed a bit more clingy.

Yet despite calling his brother a “damned younger brother” repeatedly, it was obvious Callios cared for him too.

They really got along.

“So, Asilla? Is that right?”

“Thank you for understanding, Spirit Mage.”

Apparently, the words I thought silently had slipped out without me noticing.

It was amusing—the older brother jumping up and denying it with all his might, while the younger one blushed. Their differences only made their similarity funnier.

–The previous royal family was somewhat chaotic. There were eighteen royals… and Callios and I had different mothers.

Before coming here, I had worried a little about my half-brother—what if we didn’t get along? But it had been unnecessary.

Even though they were inseparable, their grumbling made me burst out laughing.

Callios, flustered and blushing as his ears turned red, looked unexpectedly cute.

“It’s time to go.”

After much grumbling, Callios finally stood up, stretching, and I blinked.

The Emperor looked reluctant.

“Are you leaving already?”

Callios nodded.

“You’ve been fixed, and Asilla has recovered. Oh, Asilla, is your mana flowing well?”

I glanced at the spirits hovering over my shoulders and nodded at the sudden question.

I noticed the slight concern in Callios’ crimson eyes—and it was justified.

Honestly, when I rewound the Emperor’s time to the very end, my spine had tingled with unease.

It had felt like his life force could drain any second, teetering on the brink of depletion.

But just before the mana completely left his body, the spirits had stopped, seemingly charging him throughout the three days he was unconscious.

Thanks to that, his current condition was nearly optimal.

Callios, watching me nod approvingly, gave a mysterious smile, as if he had something up his sleeve.

“Then…”

“Brother, I’ll have the carriage prepared.”

Callios, who seemed ready to leave immediately, faltered as he tried to summon a shadow.

“…What a nuisance, why?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to take your time with the lady? Leisurely, and to spend some time together as well.”

“No need… no, alright.”

He seemed about to cut me off completely but then looked at the Emperor with something weighing on his mind, mumbling an agreement.

Was it because his younger brother insisted on preparing it himself?

“Spirit Mage, could you accompany me for a moment? I have something I’d like to give you as thanks.”

“…Ah, yes.”

The Emperor fidgeted his fingers as if he wanted to give something, and I followed him.

“Brother, could you wait here? I’ll bring it right away.”

Callios naturally tried to follow, but the Emperor stopped him, smiling softly at me.

“You can come this way.”

I blinked.

I just realized how drastically the Emperor’s tone changed when speaking to Callios versus speaking to me.

It made sense, in a way, but the contrast in expression was striking.

When he looked at Callios, he smiled brightly like a pure-hearted boy. But when addressing me or giving orders to his attendants, he displayed the gravitas of an empire’s ruler.

The Emperor led me into one of the palace buildings, into a room.

The room was heavily guarded; knights stood at attention on both sides, saluting precisely.

The Emperor lightly returned the salutes and guided me politely inside.

The “room” was more like a hall lined with bookshelves, resembling a library.

I followed the Emperor toward the shelves and blinked at a sudden realization.

From a distance, I had assumed they were merely bookshelves—but they were gigantic drawers.

Small numbers were neatly labeled on the drawers, and the Emperor approached one, muttering softly.

[It’s an ancient rune spell.]
[Interesting that it’s still here.]

I looked at the butterflies resting on my shoulders as the whispers reached me.

I understood the runes, but a spell?

[This is magic used long ago by elves.]
[Since elves were much closer to nature than humans, their magic was naturally stronger than anything humans could wield.]
[So the stories of elves exchanging knowledge for the safety of human lands were true.]
[Yes, without the elves’ guidance, such precision would be impossible.]

Light flowed from the Emperor’s hand resting on the drawer, and with a click, it opened.

He took out a small box, closed the drawer, and handed it to me, showing me its contents.

Inside, resting on a velvet cushion, was an unrefined mineral.

It was beautiful.

Transparent, with crystal formations embedded within, and a faint golden sheen.

[…Wow.]
[Oh my, oh my.]
[Is this real?]
[It feels real.]
[And it looks real.]
[But humans always make fakes that look real.]
[Ask quickly!]
[Hurry, Asilla!]

The butterflies, usually calm and unfazed, flapped their wings to urge me forward.

I looked at the Emperor for an explanation, and he smiled gently.

“Of course, as a Spirit Mage, this may not feel as precious to you as it does to us… but this is the finest thing I can give.”

He carefully held the mineral to the light.

The crystals inside shimmered.

The spirits once again buzzed around, urging me on.

“This is a Rundean Stone, left to our royal family by the elves.”

[It’s real.]
[It’s truly Rundean!]
[Asilla, take it quickly!]

I took the mineral with trembling hands, and the butterflies immediately settled on it.

They were usually quiet, but now, like nimble nymphs, they jostled each other to touch it.

Even without knowing exactly what it was, it had to be precious—especially since it was left by elves, a race now considered extinct.

The Emperor, unable to see the butterflies, simply smiled warmly, gazing at the mineral in my hands.

Then, his next action made me widen my eyes as all attention shifted from the mineral to him.

“…Your Majesty?”

The Emperor in front of me bowed deeply, impossibly deep for a ruler of a nation.

“Truly, thank you, Spirit Mage Asilla.”

He slowly lifted his bowed torso, taking my hand with a profound gaze.

“Blind, unable to move, living each day in extreme pain… struggling in agony until I wished for death—you saved me.”

He lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss upon it.

“Spirit Mage Asilla, as long as I am Emperor of Cantana, Cantana will protect you, no matter what. Though I am unsure how much that might mean to a Spirit Mage.”

In his faint smile, there was a weight of seriousness.

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

In his shimmering violet eyes, I somehow glimpsed Callios’ features.

The protection guaranteed by the Emperor was no light matter.

It wasn’t because my human life had been longer than my life as a Spirit Mage; it was an unwavering, profound vow.

“I didn’t ask for this, but thank you. I too will bless Cantana’s future.”

With protection comes blessing.

Having responded, I gave a faint smile to the Emperor, who resembled my close friend.

“Brother, you must visit again.”

“Troublesome because of the barrier… fine.”

Callios, waiting for us at the palace gates, grumbled but then, seeing the Emperor’s expression, muttered that he would come again.

Then he hopped into a carriage stamped with the imperial seal.