IBRIP l CH 145

Chapter 145

Noe Rustin came storming out of the cabin, looking seriously angry.

I quickly glanced over his shoulder to check if Millia had appeared, but it didn’t seem so. Relieved, I waved my hand.

“Uh… hi?”

“Not really in the mood for ‘hi.’”

“Yeah… I can tell.”

I pointed to the blood spattered near his eye.

“Whose blood is that?”

Noe wiped at the spot and raised an eyebrow.

“Not mine.”

“Then whose?”

“None of your business. What I do want to know is—how do you even know where my house is?”

“Easy.”

I confidently pointed to the awkwardly standing Hojen Rustin.

“I came over and your father welcomed me. He even made me soup. It was good, by the way.”

The moment Noe saw Hojen, his face froze like stone. Hojen’s face did the same.

Ignoring the tension, I pulled Noe toward the grave site.

“Father?”

Noe muttered, and I nodded for Hojen.

“Yes, your real father. Not some dream version—your actual father. I used magic so you’d share the same dream. We have a lot to talk about. Oh, and this is Igrio—Grand Duke Winter Orsheus, also known to the world as a dragon.”

Noe’s eyes widened again when he finally noticed Winter, looking around as if completely lost.

“I know this makes no sense to you. Me neither, really. But I’m in a hurry, so sorry—I’m about to intrude on your family matters.”

I brought Noe to Millia’s grave.

Hojen tried to stop me, but I pointed respectfully at the grave.

“The mother you’ve been searching for is here. You’ve been wondering whose dream she was in, right? Turns out, she’s been in your father’s dream all along.”

Hojen’s face twisted with pain, but I couldn’t stop talking. I knew I should explain more gently, but my urgency wouldn’t let me.

I have to move the story forward. Quickly.

“Long story short—your mother’s necklace might be your holy relic. Either way, it’s not ordinary. You should touch it and find out.”

I delivered the whole thing in one breath. Noe looked at me like he’d bitten into a rock while eating soup.

“What are you even talking about…?”

I pointed at the coffin.

“Noe, this is—”

But Hojen tried to block his view. Too late—Noe had already seen Millia’s dried face.

“Also… you didn’t know this, but you were born a twin. Your twin sister was a blonde girl who died soon after birth. We think her soul is in that bell.”

“You!”

Hojen’s face turned red as he grabbed my shoulders. Winter caught his arm immediately.

“In dreams, time flows as we will. You can give them more time.”

I shook my head.

“Sometimes even a hundred years wouldn’t be enough. At those times, you just have to push forward.”

I looked Hojen straight in the eyes.

“You’re yelling at me right now instead of comforting your son.”

“Please… just be quiet for a moment. I need to think…”

I brushed his hands off.

“You keep thinking so much you miss your chance to say important things. Or maybe you’re avoiding saying them?”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Because everything is urgent.”

Without looking at Winter, I added:

“He’s waited too long already. And he’s never once demanded answers. I’m not as patient as he is.”

I walked past Hojen.

While we argued, Noe had knelt at the grave. I sat quietly beside him.

Unexpectedly, his expression was calmer than his father’s.

“You don’t believe this, do you?”

“No. I do.”

Noe touched Millia’s hand carefully.

“This is my real mother. In my own dream, I can tell what’s real. She’s real.”

His tone stayed flat, which oddly calmed me down too.

“…If you need time to talk to your father, I can wait.”

“Noe… want to talk to me for a bit?” Hojen asked carefully.

But Noe shook his head firmly.

“No need. Probably.”

Hojen froze in place at the rejection.

Ignoring him, Noe looked at me, eyes just a little wet.

“I like your style. Fast and to the point. Your summary earlier? Perfect.”

“…Uh, thanks?”

“Father always trailed off, dodged questions. I hated it. He’d just turn away from me with that sad look.”

Behind him, Hojen seemed to shrink smaller and smaller.

“He never yelled at me even when he was clearly upset. Just made me breakfast at dawn, taught me archery and poisonous herbs.”

Noe wiped at his eyes.

“So yeah—I like your fast pace. Keep doing that. I’ll understand it all eventually.”

“Really? Promise?”

I thought for a moment, then offered my hand.

“I’m Materia. The one people think is Materia is mistaken—I’m the real one.”

Noe narrowed his eyes, so I shook my hand to signal him to take it.

“We’ve got a lot to do together. For now, I’ll tell you only what you need to know immediately. The rest comes later.”

He shook my hand lightly.

“Alright. I like it.”

Then he looked back at Millia.

“I’m not going to cry over my mom in front of everyone. Tell me about the bell. You said it could be my relic?”

I nodded.

“Yeah. You were probably supposed to be born alone, but because you were a twin, half your power went to your sister. She died soon after birth, and her soul likely attached to this bell.”

Hojen finally spoke quietly.

“Rose.”

“…?”

“Your sister’s name was Rose, Noe.”

His eyes were full of tension and hope. I watched them silently.

Noe stared at the bell.

“So Rose is here. But for how long? I’ve seen this bell around my mom’s neck every day and never felt anything unusual.”

He ignored his father’s reaction and I stepped in.

“Try removing the necklace. We couldn’t.”

Noe reached for the clasp.

Tick. Tick.

Just like us—failure. He frowned.

“It won’t open.”

I started to feel disappointed—

Ding—

A clear bell sound rang from the necklace in Noe’s hands.