Siblings Reincarnate as Enemies

Chapter 90 — In which they meet (4)

Phlox surveyed the ceremony hall.

For an ordinary person it was an enormous space, but for her, who walked the corridors of the Universe Temple everyday, it wasn’t anything impressive.

What grabbed her attention was the fountain in the center.

A top of the fountain, like an idol decorating the fountainhead was a tree.

With its roots enveloping the nozzle and descending to the reservoir, the tree covered the fountain to its very edges.

The parts which weren’t covered by roots were instead covered by shadows of its lush crown.

It was such a beautiful and healthy tree, Phlox felt a bit bad for what was to happen to it.

Because according to Rubrun’s customs it would be burned down to ash very soon.

The Rubrun’s coming of age ceremony was simple.

The child, who was to become an adult, had to burn down the tree that was planted on their birth and cared by the child until that day.

But simple didn’t mean safe.

Phlox heard many stories about entire households going down in flames during the coming of age ceremonies.

Besides the dangers of the ceremony itself, the family reputation was also at stake.

If for example the tree burned down or died before the child became an adult, they wouldn't be able to officially become an adult, effectively becoming an outcast.

If something like that happened in the Archmage’s family, the already shaky position of Crimo would become even more fragile.

They seemed to be well aware of it as the magic circles around the tree made even Phlox, who didn’t know magic very well, dizzy.

‘It’s understandable why everyone is so tense.’

Looking around the people from Rubrun, Phlox felt as if they were all walking on a tightrope.

It reminded her of the atmosphere when the Saint Amara had his coming of age ceremony.

Entire Purplus was holding their breath.

‘There were even similar security concerns…’

Purplus’ coming of age ceremony was quite similar, but slightly different involving much more ‘mysticism’.

A fish born on the same day as the child would be fed a bit of the child’s blood.

This would continue until the child spoke or wrote their first word.

From this moment onward the fish would be fed not the child’s blood, but leeches fed on the child’s blood.

On the day when the child reaches adulthood, the fish would be killed and cooked for the child to eat.

Therefore, closing the cycle.

As she compared the two rituals in her head, Phlox also recalled Flavun’s coming of age ceremony.

Perhaps because Flavun was in an almost constant state of war for the last two hundred years, the ceremony became much simpler, losing its ancient roots compared to the other two.

In Flavun, a child that was about to become an adult would choose a short-lived animal or plant, like a mouse or phlox flowers which live for about a year, and share all their food or drinks with it, until their lifetime expires.

In this case, even if the animal or plant died before the child became of age it didn’t matter.

‘… If you think about it, all of them…’

“Priest Phlox.”

Phlox didn’t finish her thoughts.

Alexandrit, who stood beside her, softly called out to her without opening his mouth and motioned with his eyes.

As she followed his gaze, she quickly understood.

‘Seems like a problem showed up… Or rather, just left.’

Her gaze was on the Purplus’ envoys, which suddenly lacked a few people.

*-*-*

“My Lady, please try those… simmered beans. They should suit your taste.”

“Yes, they’re sweet, but with a bit of salt just like Our Lady likes.”

“Those fried nuts are also with a bit of salt… Do people of Rubrun enjoy salted dishes?”

“I only heard they like hot beverages and candied fruits… nothing about salt.”

“Perhaps Lord Archmage just likes it?”

Saffra’s three ladies in waiting discussed as they chose some snacks, tasted them for flavor and poison and then brought them before their lady.

Saffra didn’t pay much attention to the conversation.

She happily chewed on a dry plum brought by Craya before, relaxed on a recliner and enjoyed the sight behind the window.

No one would suspect her of being in a terrible state due to the ‘teleportation sickness’ just a moment ago if they saw her now.

She looked just like a young lady enjoying an outing.

“Young Lady.”

Citrie, who was gone for a moment, suddenly appeared by her side.

The two bodyguards left by Mimosa gave the knight suspicious glances, but didn’t stop him from approaching, as Saffra waved her hand to let him pass.

“I saw something suspicious.”

“Your own reflection?”

“No. A sick lady enjoying a trip.”

“Really? Tell her she is doing great.”

“You’re doing great, Young Lady.”

“Thank you, anything beside that?”

“Some of Lord Orche’s subordinates just passed by. It seems they were checking on how great you’re doing, Young Lady.”

“Is that so? Fascinating.”

As she said that, Saffra reached for the string of jewels decorating her skirt around her waist.

There she toyed with a particular jewel.

[Anyone left?]

[No.]

[Okay. I’m going to follow ‘no-leavers’ now.]

Finishing a quick exchange, Saffra let go of the communication stone connected with Mimosa, and stood up, while handing Citrie a skewer of fried rice cakes sprinkled with red sauce.

“I should reassure that poor ‘brother’ of mine if he is so worried. Let’s go to meet them.”

Citrie couldn’t answer because he was too overwhelmed by a sudden skewer attack.

Apric and Tangeri just smiled prettily and Craya nodded.

Their predictions seemed to be correct.

*-*-*

In the ‘security room’, where multiple screens showed the entire ceremonial site available for the guests, Rambeta frowned.

“I heard that people from Flavun are all similar, but I didn’t think it was this serious.”

“What do you mean?”

Cuprit, who was following the movements of the Purplus’ envoys, who suddenly split up, turned to her.

His sister’s frown deepened.

“I can’t shake the feeling that I’m looking at the same people.”

“No. You might be right.”

Durio, who was checking the guest list also frowned as she pointed at the page listing the names of people from Flavun.

“There are too many people from Flavun. Did you see where that group came from? They certainly weren’t there when Flavun’s envoys teleported.”

“Are you sure they weren’t? You two were so busy squeaking you might have… ouch!”

Cuprit shut his mouth when Rambeta lightly struck the back of his head.

Rambeta herself paid no more attention to him and instead turned to Durio.

“What should we do? It seems that our guests suddenly multiplied.”

“Well… As good stewards it’s our duty to make sure ‘invited’ guests are comfortable. So we should go check on them, right?”

That question wasn’t directed at Rambeta, but at the magic circle above them, whose owner was watching everything which was happening in the room.

A second later the answer came from the communication stone left with them:

[D. R. Go]

Durio and Rambeta smiled as they stood up and stretched.

Time for a short walk.

*-*-*

In one of the empty rooms, far away from the main ceremonial hall, Vern, who fixed his messy hair, was intently watching the image projected by a small flame in his hand.

In the image painted by the light of the flame, three siblings sat in a room filled with similar projections.

The whispers of their conversation reached Vern’s ears, but Vern had his full attention on one screen in particular among dozens of projections there.

In that screen, a young woman handed a man she was talking to a skewer of rice cakes with a mischievous grin.

The young woman’s face was unfamiliar and yet her each movement and expression was overlapping with someone he knew better than himself.

And as for the man she was talking to… Well.

In the dark room Vern quietly laughed to himself like a lunatic.

*~*~*