Chapter 4: "The Silence of the Shadow Sorcerer"
In the basement of the Crimson Lotus Kingdom Tactical Bureau‚ there was a space of silence where no sounds from the outside world could reach.
It was the training ground for the shadow sorcerers.
A place where light did not reach‚ sound was absorbed‚ and even time sank into silence.
Yug Sarion was there.
He had closed his book of poems‚ sealed his narration‚ and simply immersed himself in the silence.
Spirits had gathered around him‚ but they did not utter a sound.
In the place of silence‚ narration was not yet permitted.
"...Is sealing the narration something you're bad at?"
A voice came.
But it was not something that vibrated the air; it was a resonance that reached directly to the heart.
Lumina Valtia.
The black-clad shadow sorcerer.
She was one who used silence as a weapon.
"Rather than being bad at it‚ it's unsettling.
Without narration‚ my thoughts scatter.
The spirits also seem a little uneasy."
Yug gently stroked the wind spirit that had touched his shoulder.
The spirit could not get used to the place of silence and was trembling faintly.
"Spirits are drawn to narration.
Silence rejects narration.
That's why I thought spirits and shadow sorcery had poor compatibility."
Lumina quietly shook her head.
"That is a misunderstanding.
Silence is the blank space of narration.
Spirits can also reside in the intervals between words."
Yug narrowed his eyes.
"...Blank space‚ huh.
If the fire of narration burns too fiercely‚ it scorches life itself.
With silence‚ the fire might turn into a flicker."
Lumina stood beside Yug.
Her presence was faint‚ like a shadow.
Yet that silence contained a clear will.
"Your narration is strong.
That is exactly why silence is needed.
If the narration reaches too far‚ both enemies and allies will be burned."
Yug smiled wryly.
"...Is that praising me? Or being sarcastic?"
"Neither. It's simply an observation."
Yug couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"That's trending lately‚ that way of speaking.
Selina was using it too.
Next the spirits might start saying it."
Lumina slightly relaxed the corners of her mouth.
That was her maximum smile.
"Spirits react to narration.
But they also listen to silence.
If I add my silence to your narration—
The tactics might reach even deeper."
Yug remained silent for a while.
Then he quietly nodded.
"Let's try it.
The coordination of narration and silence.
I want to see how the spirits react."
Lumina extended her hand.
Yug took it.
Shadow sorcerer and narrator.
Silence and fire.
A spirit softly descended and danced within their joined hands.
At that moment‚ Selina peeked her face from beyond the door.
"...Oh my‚ what a rare combination.
Narration and silence holding hands.
The spirits are confused‚ you know."
Yug shrugged his shoulders.
"Tactically‚ it's the worst configuration.
But story-wise... it might be the best."
Selina laughed.
"You said that before too.
The echo of narration‚ right?"
Yug opened his book of poems.
Narration returned to the place of silence.
However‚ this narration was gentler than before.
With silence added‚ the fire had turned into a flicker.
｜The Silence of the Shadow Sorcerer.
｜By giving blank space to the fire of narration‚ it broadens the dwelling place of the spirits.
｜No one knows yet.
｜That the day will come when this silence accompanies the fire that chooses ruin.
Chapter 5: "The Spirit Sorcerer Opens the Field of Scent"
On the eastern side of the Crimson Lotus Kingdom's frontline base‚ a ritual ground had been set up.
That space‚ where stone‚ grass‚ and wind intersected‚ was so quiet and filled with a soft fragrance that it was hard to believe it was a battlefield.
Selina Noctia‚ holding a scent ring‚ was preparing for the ritual.
"...Scent is the language shared with spirits.
If narration is fire‚ then scent is its prelude.
I'll prepare the field so that your narration can reach."
Yug Sarion was opening his book of poems a little distance away.
Spirits had gathered around him‚ waiting for his words.
But today‚ before the narration‚ scent would create the field.
"The spirits seem a little tense.
Maybe they're not used to the scent."
Selina smiled.
"That's because your spirits are 'narration-specialized.'
My spirits dwell in scents.
But narration and scent will surely get along well."
She placed the scent ring on the ground and slowly held her hand over it.
The scents of wisteria and yuzu mixed‚ and the air trembled softly.
The wind spirits danced‚ the light spirits swayed‚ and the scent spirits enveloped the field.
"The spirits are trying to accept the field of narration.
The scent is filling the blank spaces of the narration."
Yug closed his book of poems.
"...The fire of narration turns into a flicker with the scent.
Then it might become easier to reach life."
While continuing the ritual‚ Selina spoke quietly.
"Scent calls forth memories.
It brings up memories of hometown or family in the enemy soldiers' hearts.
That dulls their will to fight.
Before the narration reaches‚ the scent opens their hearts."
Yug nodded.
"If narration is fire‚ scent is the tinder.
The spirits nurture that fire.
...As a tactic‚ it might work."
At that moment‚ Lumina Valtia appeared at the ritual ground.
The black-clad shadow sorcerer was observing the field in silence.
"...The spirit field is stable.
Spatial interference via scent has succeeded.
The fire of narration is becoming easier to reach."
Yug opened his book of poems.
The preparation for narration was complete.
"Now‚ let's try it.
To see how the narration resonates in the field of scent."
He began to narrate quietly.
"Life is not something to be protected with a sword.
Life is something connected by memories.
For whom do you wield your sword?
What do you want to protect with your heart?"
The scent wavered‚ spirits danced‚ and the narration shook the air.
The field was established as one "space of narration."
In the distance‚ an imperial soldier loosened his grip on his sword.
The scent called forth memories‚ and the narration reached his heart.
"...It's the smell of my mother's field.
Why‚ on the battlefield...?"
"This voice... something reached my heart..."
Selina murmured while gazing at the scent ring.
"The scent carried the narration.
The spirits wrapped your words for you."
Yug finished his narration.
The spirits gathered on his shoulder.
The lingering scent softly enveloped the fire of the narration.
Lumina quietly announced.
"Tactical success. Enemy soldiers' will to fight reduced.
Zero casualties. Fusion of narration and scent‚ confirmed."
Yug looked at Selina.
"...Thank you.
Your scent allowed the narration to reach."
Selina smiled.
"Your narration called the spirits.
I only prepared the field."
Yug slightly lowered his gaze.
"...You sometimes have more destructive power than a bombardment."
"Is that a compliment? Or sarcasm?"
"Neither. Just an observation."
Lumina slightly relaxed the corners of her mouth.
"That phrasing is trending again‚ isn't it?"
The three left the ritual ground.
Narration‚ scent‚ and silence.
The spirits quietly watched over the place.
｜The Spirit Sorcerer Opens the Field of Scent.
｜The fire of narration takes shelter in the blank space of the scent and prepares to reach life.
｜No one knows yet.
｜That the day will come when this fire chooses ruin.
Chapter 6: "The Empire Sharpens the Fangs of Its Swift Assault"
Imperial Army Headquarters‚ the Black Steel Fortress.
The tactical conference room at its core was composed of cold stone and iron.
There were no decorations‚ no windows.
Only the tactical map‚ order documents‚ and voices that broke the silence.
"...Stopped soldiers with narration? Spirits shook the battlefield?
That's not tactics. It's fantasy."
Leonis Valhardt slammed his fist on the desk.
The young general. The one bearing the Empire's swift assault tactics.
His eyes were sharp‚ showing clear rejection toward the concept of narration.
"The soldiers were frightened by fantasy and discarded their swords.
That's the weakness of the soldiers. Not the strength of the narration."
Adjutant Schvil Kainess quietly presented the documents.
"However‚ General. Frontline reports confirm a reduction in fighting spirit due to the narration.
There is also a possibility that the spirits' interference is affecting the space."
Leonis glanced at the documents and snorted.
"Spirits? A fluctuation in the air?
Something like that can be blown away with the speed of a sword."
Staff Officer Milfi Elna opened her mouth‚ choosing her words carefully.
"The tactician named Yug Sarion stimulates the soldiers' memories with narration and weakens their will to fight.
By combining scent and spirits‚ it seems he is turning the space itself into a 'field of narration.'"
Leonis stood up.
His back was straight‚ and his voice was cold.
"Then strike before the narration reaches.
If narration is fire‚ speed is water.
We just need to wash it away before the fire ignites."
He pointed to the tactical map hanging on the wall.
"Reconstruct the swift assault tactics—'Fangs of Rupture.'
Begin emotional blocking training for the soldiers.
Raise soldiers who do not react to narration."
Schvil frowned.
"Emotional blocking puts a burden on the soldiers' minds.
It is unsuitable for prolonged battles."
"Prolonged battles are unnecessary.
We just need to win before the narration reaches.
Narration is slow. It cannot match speed."
Milfi murmured while closing the documents.
"...However‚ narration has echoes.
After it reaches‚ it burns the soldiers' hearts.
Speed alone may not prevent the echoes."
Leonis looked at her.
His eyes were calm.
"Then crush the narrator before the echoes reach.
Yug Sarion.
Silence him before his narration arrives."
The conference room fell silent.
No one objected.
That was the Empire's way of fighting.
That night‚ Leonis walked alone in the training ground.
The soldiers had begun emotional blocking training.
They sealed memories of family‚ suppressed emotions‚ and followed orders only.
"Soldiers who waver at narration are weak.
Hearts that can be reached by narration are unnecessary on the battlefield."
He looked up at the sky.
Stars were not visible.
Unlike the sky of the Crimson Lotus Kingdom‚ the Empire's sky was always overcast.
"To defeat fantasy‚ we can only confront it with reality.
Narration is fire.
Then we will crush it with iron."
At that moment‚ a wind blew.
A faint scent drifted.
Wisteria and yuzu.
It was the scent used by the Crimson Lotus Kingdom's spirit sorcerer.
Leonis frowned.
"...Has the scent reached this far too?
Does the echo of the narration ride the wind?"
He drew his sword.
He slashed the air.
The scent disappeared.
However‚ a faint flicker remained deep in his heart.
"...Nonsense.
It's fantasy.
I win with speed."
He sheathed his sword and left the training ground.
Raising soldiers who could not be reached by narration.
That was the Empire's answer.
｜The Empire Sharpens the Fangs of Its Swift Assault.
｜To counter the fire of narration‚ it seals emotions and uses speed as a weapon.
｜No one knows yet.
｜That the day will come when this speed is burned by the echo of the narration.
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