Chapter 23: Quartz’s Wish
A few days had passed since Quartz kidnapped Ruri—a few unfortunate days. There was no sign that anyone was coming to her aid. Perhaps Kotaro couldn’t locate her, as the Spirit of Light had said. The Spirit of Light wasn’t going to do Ruri any favors by letting her go either. Instead, she had told Ruri to negotiate with Quartz. Ruri did resign herself to that and had spoken to Quartz, but their talks had gone nowhere.
“Hey, Quartz-sama, let’s go back to the castle!” Ruri said, tugging on Quartz’s arm. But Quartz remained seated in his chair, book in hand, and merely smiled at her pleading. “Jade-sama is worried about you too. I’ll join you in apologizing for passing on magic to Nadasha and the Church of God’s light, so let’s go back, okay?”
“Have you regained your memories?” Quartz asked.
“Ughhh, for the last time, I am not Seraphie-san, so there are no memories to regain! Now, let’s go back! There’s no point in staying here forever!”
“Hmm, I’ll think about it after you regain your memories.”
“Argh, your head is harder than I ever imagined!”
That was pretty much how their talks played out; he wouldn’t listen to reason. Even so, Quartz was as kind to Ruri as he always was, and he showed no signs of wanting to harm her. Because of this, Ruri didn’t feel threatened despite being held against her will, and the mood remained rather nonchalant. If it weren’t for the situation being as ugly as it was, Ruri might have felt like she was on an excursion of sorts. But considering Kotaro and the others were worried sick about her back at the castle, she couldn’t afford to stay complacent. Jade was most likely back from Yadacain by now and was surely concerned for her. He would definitely be worried about Quartz as well.
“Aaaah! What the heck do I dooo?!” Ruri exclaimed, clutching her head. She was getting impatient and feeling like she needed to get back to the kingdom fast. But now that her magic was disabled, she couldn’t destroy the Spirit of Light’s barrier. No, even if she could use her magic, she probably didn’t stand a chance against supreme-level power.
Above all else, Ruri didn’t want to go back just by herself. If she was going, it would be with Quartz. She didn’t want to leave him alone. There were far too many people worried about him—Jade and Agate, for starters. The only thing on his mind was Seraphie, Seraphie, and Seraphie, but she really wanted him to realize that there were other people who cared for him.
Quartz spoke like nothing else but Seraphie existed, and that didn’t sit well with Ruri in the slightest. Jade’s face would light up around Quartz like Ewan’s did around Finn. Agate, Finn, and Claus also looked at him with admiration. And all of the soldiers delighted in training with him. Every single one of them were likely worried about Quartz.
It was true that Quartz’s actions were harmful. He had inadvertently incited wars and assassination attempts. Still, he’d only given Nadasha and the Church of God’s Light information; he wasn’t involved in any of those matters himself. He was entirely dedicated to getting Seraphie back, and he’d placed his hopes on magic research that seemed likely to work. It was honestly a mystery as to why he’d chosen Nadasha and the Church of God’s Light, but perhaps no one else would willingly involve themselves with Spirit Slayer magic.
And Quartz didn’t share this information without due consideration either. He’d said that when he asked the Church of God’s Light why they wanted the magic, they had tearfully replied that it was to help those who’d lost their loved ones. Then again, had he done some proper research, he would have figured out that it was a blatant lie. But considering he’d also lost someone dear to him, he’d ended up sincerely empathizing with their cause.
By Quartz’s account, he’d taught Nadasha the summoning magic, but he’d never imagined it would lead to war. However, Nadasha’s head priest was more well versed in arcane magic than he let on, so Quartz had figured that the head priest might be able to produce some form of results.
Quartz had never expected any of these outcomes at all. Nevertheless, even if teaching Spirit Slayer magic wasn’t a crime, he would probably need to be punished accordingly. If the fear of being reprimanded was the reason why Quartz was so reluctant to return to the kingdom, Ruri could apologize right alongside him.
After Ruri had spent a few days together with Quartz, she started to suspect something. Quartz had said that she was the reincarnation of Seraphie and that he wanted her to recall those memories, but Ruri got the feeling that he didn’t want it all that much. She didn’t feel any sense of urgency behind his pleas for her to hurry and remember. For someone who desired to see his beloved again so much that he willingly gave up his throne and his kingdom, Quartz didn’t seem all that anxious for results—despite pleading with her to quickly recall her memories. It was as if he didn’t really care if she did remember.
Ruri doubted whether Quartz really thought that she was Seraphie in the first place. But in that case, why had he kidnapped her?
Ruri sighed. “What do I do?” she muttered to herself as she walked around outside. She was looking for any tears in the barrier, but there were no such conveniences. She was completely trapped inside this space, cut off from the outside world. She kicked at the barrier in frustration, but her foot didn’t make so much as a dent. It only made her foot sore.
“Grr! If I could at least use my pocket space, I could go to Lydia’s and ask her to communicate with Kotaro and the others. I suppose I’ll have to convince Quartz after all...”
Ruri was reluctant to try this. Anything she said only garnered a smile from him, and despite seeming kind, his mind was as hard as steel. He wasn’t likely to change his mind. Still, she couldn’t afford to let things go on like this.
With heavy steps, Ruri walked back to the house and went to Quartz’s room. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. Wondering if he was in, she slowly cracked the door and entered to find Quartz lying on the sofa, asleep.
Ruri saw his face and halted in her tracks. His eyes were closed, but a trail of water dripped from them. Quartz was crying in his sleep. Perhaps he was having some sort of sad dream.
Ruri felt that she’d seen something she wasn’t supposed to see and carefully tried to leave the room, but Quartz’s eyes started to slowly open.
“Ruri?” he asked.
“Um, I’m sorry. You didn’t answer, so I just came in.”
“No, it’s fine. What did you want?”
Quartz still hadn’t realized that he’d been crying, but once he sat up and felt the wet trail leading down his cheek, it was clear. He wiped his eyes and turned his face away in embarrassment.
“Seems you’ve caught me at my worst.”
“Oh, no. Were you having a sad dream?”
He hesitated for a second but replied, “I was having a dream about Seraphie.”
Any time Quartz talked about Seraphie, his voice always sounded sad and happy at the same time.
“You really love Seraphie, don’t you, Quartz-sama?”
“Yes. Seraphie is my everything. I can’t live without her. And yet...I have to wonder why Seraphie insisted I not follow her in death.”
“Quartz-sama...”
“You see, I regret it. I put up a front and complied with her wish, but I should have turned it down. I never thought that every day without her would be such torture. I should have never been born a dragonkin. Our life spans are long, and we are so very dependent on our mates.”
Quartz was looking down, so Ruri couldn’t see his expression, but she was sure he was on the verge of tears. She stroked his head. She felt compelled to do so; Quartz almost looked like a lost child to her. Quartz allowed her to do as she wished, never trying to shake off her hand.
“I can no longer bear to be in a world without Seraphie...”
Ruri’s heart tightened. Dragonkin truly were devoted to love.
If she were to die first, would Jade end up like Quartz? Would he try to follow in turn? If he did, would she tell him not to die, just as Seraphie had? On the other hand, that wish was the reason behind Quartz’s great sadness and anguish. If this was how it would turn out, then perhaps it was for your partner’s own good to take them along with you.
Ruri wouldn’t want any partner of hers to do that, though. Jade had so many other people who also cared for him. They would inevitably be saddened if Jade were to die. Ruri also had no desire for him to follow after her in the afterlife, so she was certain that she would follow Seraphie’s example and tell him not to die.
After giving it some thought, Ruri could understand why Seraphie had wished for Quartz to live. It was too painful to know someone you loved had followed you into death.
Ruri had an irresistible urge to see Jade right now. Jade needed her as much as Quartz needed Seraphie. Plus, Jade had given her his dragonheart. That made her want to cry with joy. She missed him so much. She had been fretting and giving all sorts of excuses up until now, but she just wanted to be by Jade’s side—the man who needed her. That was the most important thing.
Ruri was confident she could honestly tell Jade how she felt about him now. She needed to see him.
“Ruri, I—”
Just as Quartz started to speak, they both heard a noise like glass shattering.
“What was that?” Ruri asked, looking around the room.
Quartz lifted his head and stood up, seemingly unsurprised.
“Guess they’re finally here.”
“Huh?” Ruri gasped, bewildered.
Quartz took her wrist and started walking. They walked out of the room, down the stairs, and outside the house. The Spirit of Light was there waiting for them.
Once Ruri saw who else was outside, her eyes widened. Standing there was Jade, Kotaro, Rin, and an unfamiliar man. She had no idea how all of them had gotten through the Spirit of Light’s barrier.
Ruri was puzzled, but she was glad to see that Jade had returned from Yadacain in one piece. Yet a scowl adorned Jade’s face, making it clear that he was very upset. That anger didn’t seem to be directed at her, but it made her want to do an about-face nonetheless.
The Spirit of Light looked at the other man with a content expression. “So you’ve brought Darkness with you.”
“Darkness? He’s the Spirit of Darkness?” Ruri asked.
“Yeah, my brethren, the Spirit of Darkness. For light, there is darkness. For darkness, there is light. The only one who can find and break my barrier is the Spirit of Darkness. They must’ve brought him along from Yadacain.”
Ruri realized that the sound from a moment ago must have been the barrier shattering.
“Master Quartz,” Jade said. He was staring arrows into Quartz.
“That’s quite the scary look, Jade,” Quartz responded.
“Please, return Ruri. I also have many questions for you.”
“Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I can’t return her. She will continue to live here.”
“But why?! Why did you take Ruri?!”
“Because I thought that she might be Seraphie.”
Jade was extremely shocked by that, but he quickly regained his composure and stated, “Ruri is Ruri. My mate and my one and only. Even if what you say were true, Seraphie isn’t her anymore. She’s Ruri. I cannot hand her over to you.”
“Do you know how badly I desire Seraphie?” Quartz asked.
“Yes. I know all too well. Still, Ruri is Ruri and not your mate. You’ve spent enough time together now that you should know this. I can’t just let you have her.”
“Care to reclaim her, then?”
Quartz pulled a sword from his pocket space. It seemed pocket spaces were usable now that the Spirit of Light’s barrier had been destroyed.
“If you want her back,” Quartz continued, “you’d best come at me with sights to kill. Otherwise, I’ll seek Seraphie for as long as I draw breath.”
The look in Quartz’s eyes—he wasn’t joking. He was dead serious.
Jade gritted his teeth and bitterly stared at Quartz, but he took a deep breath to regain his calm and pulled out his sword.
“Wait a minute, both of you!” Ruri screamed, but before she could stop them, their swords clashed.
Their fight reminded her of a match back at the tournament, violently crossing weapons over and over. She needed to stop this, but she was too stunned to do anything about it. That was when Kotaro and Rin ran up to her.
“Ruri, are you okay?!” Kotaro asked.
“Kotaro, Rin! Yeah, I’m fine, but we have to stop those two.”
“What are you talking about?! You were kidnapped!” Rin exclaimed.
“But he never did anything to me. This is all a misunderstanding. If you talk to Quartz-sama, I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Kotaro and Rin only saw Quartz as an enemy since he’d kidnapped Ruri, but Ruri saw it differently. Quartz hadn’t done anything to her; he’d just taken her a little farther away. Then again, it might be hard to argue that he wasn’t confining her, but Ruri hadn’t experienced anything bad here. Quartz had been as much of a gentleman as he always was; he hadn’t done anything that she didn’t like. He just wanted to see Seraphie, albeit a little bit too passionately. But that was honestly all there was to it.
Everyone could get on the same page if they just talked it out—or so Ruri thought. However, the battle between Jade and Quartz was growing fiercer, and neither were likely to listen to her pleas even if she voiced them. Jade seemed so enraged that he wouldn’t listen to what anyone had to say.
Ruri glanced at the Spirit of Light standing next to her. She was staring at the ensuing battle, clutching her skirt and looking extremely sad.
“Why do you look so sad?” Ruri asked, unable to help herself.
The Spirit of Light, her eyes still fixed on the battle, said, “Dragonkin are devoted to love, especially with their mates. It’s not uncommon for them to follow after their mate in death. Quartz only chose to live because Seraphie had wished for him to. But that was the beginning of his personal hell. He persisted in a world without Seraphie. He’s reached his limit. He wishes for death.”
Ruri gasped.
“He can’t die by his own hand due to his promise with Seraphie. That’s why he chose someone of equal strength, someone capable of killing him. He returned to the Nation of the Dragon King for that very purpose—to get someone he loved like a little brother to kill him.”
“Kill... Do you mean he wants Jade-sama to kill him? Don’t tell me that is why he kidnapped me. So that Jade-sama would get angry? So that he would challenge him to battle?”
The Spirit of Light nodded. “That’s right. I’ve doubted whether you were Seraphie, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I gave up. I just wanted to end it.”
“What do you mean?!” Ruri asked, unable to hide her frustration.
It was clear from listening to Quartz that Seraphie was the most important thing in the world to him. It was also clear that he’d fallen into despair and had anguished over multiple dead ends. None of his attempts to find or regain Seraphie had worked. That anguish—that sadness—was probably far beyond Ruri’s imagination. Even now, no one would have blamed Quartz if he’d succumbed to it.
That had nothing to do with this, though. Jade looked up to and cared for Quartz. How could Quartz ever force Jade to kill him?
Ruri was exploding with anger. Meanwhile, Jade and Quartz were still fighting. Little by little, Jade was starting to overwhelm Quartz.
A faint smile formed on Quartz’s lips. He purposely left a gap in his defense, at which Jade unwittingly took a swing. Quartz then left himself to the mercy of Jade’s incoming blade.
Jade sensed something was amiss. And then Ruri slipped between them, her arms spread out. All three held their breaths in shock. Jade tried to stop his sword, but the momentum proved too much for him to pull back the reins.
Just when Jade was convinced that he would hit Ruri, Quartz lunged forward and covered her from behind, letting the blade fall upon him instead. The whole event seemed to take place in slow motion. Unable to fully stop his sword, Jade felt it cutting into flesh.
“Ruri! Master Quartz!” shouted Jade. He dropped his weapon and ran over to them.
Red blood steadily dripped onto the ground.
Ruri stood up. Jade breathed a sigh of relief, glad to see that she wasn’t injured anywhere, but then he looked at Quartz. Blood was coursing from his arm. He was wounded for sure, but since Jade had changed the direction of his strike at the last moment, it wasn’t fatal. It was just a scratch to a dragonkin, which put Jade’s mind at ease.
Jade then glared at Ruri for pulling such a stunt. “Ruri, do you know how dangerous that was?! How could you do such a thing?! One wrong move and a serious injury would have been the least of your problems!”
Though Jade was yelling at her, Ruri didn’t even look his way. She instead grabbed Quartz by the lapels and rammed her head straight into his face with a blunt and nasty-sounding thud.
“Grk!” Quartz yelped.
“Urgh~” bellowed Ruri.
Ruri’s headbutt had caught Quartz off guard, and he accidentally bit his tongue a little. Quartz rubbed his jaw, and Ruri rubbed her head. Jade looked down at both of them in exasperation.
“What are you doing, Ruri?” asked Quartz.
Ruri didn’t answer him. Instead, once she’d recovered, she slapped Quartz across the cheek. It was loud and sharp, and Quartz blinked in surprise.
“You idiot!” Ruri yelled, bringing down the thunder. She grabbed his collar, visibly angry. “What were you trying to get Jade-sama to do?! You should know better than anyone else in the world just how much Jade admires and adores you, right?! Yet here you are, trying to make him kill you?! Enough of this nonsense! Did it never occur to you how Jade would blame himself and suffer as a result of that?!”
Quartz winced. Ruri was indignant. If he was going to make a face like that, then why did he do this in the first place?
“I had no other choice...” Quartz replied. “I can’t die by my own hand because of my promise to Seraphie. So, I’m telling you that—”
“And I’m telling you, don’t make Jade-sama do that!”
Quartz hung his head in guilt, but that wasn’t enough to quell Ruri’s rage. If he felt so bad about it, he shouldn’t have done it to start with! Quartz knew what he was doing was wrong. This form of betrayal was beyond cruel.
“Why can’t you get a grip?! Always going on about Seraphie this and Seraphie that like you’ve hit rock bottom! You’re utterly insufferable!”
“I-Insufferable...” Quartz repeated in shock, his face tensing.
“Aah, Ruri, that might be going a little too far...” Jade rebuked.
Ruri didn’t pause and instead continued her tirade as she said, “Seraphie-san isn’t everything!”
“What do you know? How would a human like you know how much a dragonkin values their mate?”
“I know that you value Seraphie-san. I may not understand how it makes you want to follow her into the grave, but I do know that’s just how much you love her, right? But, please, consider the people who would mourn your death. And I don’t mean just Seraphie-san. You have so many other people besides her who care, don’t you?!”
“I’m not sure if I can live in a world without Seraphie, though.”
Ruri, her brow tense, slapped Quartz across the cheek again. “Quit behaving like a petulant child. Open your eyes and take a good look around you! It’s true there’s no replacement for Seraphie, but you have plenty of people in your life, don’t you? Jade, Agate, Claus, and Finn—they’re all worried about you. There are so many people who would shed tears if you died. So please, think. Why did Seraphie-san tell you to keep living? She said that because she knew you better than anyone else in the world, right?”
“I don’t have a clue,” replied Quartz.
“Neither do I, but if I were going to die soon, I think I would tell Jade-sama to keep living too. I’d want him to live. I’m not the only person Jade-sama has. So many people care for him. I just couldn’t ask him to die with me if it meant making those people sad.”
“B-But I...” Quartz stammered, still irresolute.
“For crying out loud, are you going to be wishy-washy forever?! I’m going back to the castle! Everyone will be waiting for you there. Did you feel nothing while you were in the kingdom? Were you just suffering the entire time? You had fun there too, right? You forgot about Seraphie-san and laughed, if only for a few seconds. You don’t just have Seraphie-san; you have everyone in the castle.”
“That’s...” Quartz started, seemingly coming to that realization. He offered no rebuttal.
“And you have Seraphie-san’s promise to keep! You would lose your honor as a man if you just gave up on it. You need to see it through to the end!”
While it might have been a cruel thing to ask of someone who was so exhausted from searching for the love of his life, Quartz still had Seraphie as emotional support.
“What kind of dragonkin male would you be if you couldn’t grant your mate’s dying wish? If living without Seraphie-san is too much to bear, then you can come back to the castle. If you get lonely, I’ll sit down with you for a cup of tea. I’ll listen to you reminisce about Seraphie-san, even if it does get insufferable. We all love you. So please, live your life. Everyone will be waiting for you.”
Ruri finally finished her rant, panting hard. She had worked herself up so much that her face was flushed, but she had said all that she’d needed to say.
Quartz bit his lip. Just then, Jade extended his hand to him.
“Let’s make our return, Master Quartz. If there’s anything I can do, you have my help.”
Quartz looked on the verge of tears, but he took Jade’s hand and said, “Yes, sounds good. Let’s go back.”
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