How was it? Only then did Yuder realize that Kishiar's order to bring the box hadn't been given thoughtlessly.
'Come to think of it...'
He recalled thinking that he somewhat grown accustomed to the energy radiating from the Red Stone compared to the day before. He hadn't even spoken to Gakane about it.
But was it really just a matter of getting used to it?
"…I thought I had grown more accustomed to the energy it's emitting than I was yesterday."
"You haven't grown used to it. The Red Stone has weakened."
Kishiar's response was blunt.
"The energy it's emitting has lessened. Didn't you notice?"
Yuder instinctively turned his head toward the box he'd left behind the pillar. He couldn't see the Red Stone within, but the energy it was giving off still filled the air. It was a strange, heavy force that made the surroundings feel as if they were submerged deep underwater.
If, as Kishiar said, the energy had lessened since the day before, there had to be a reason. Was there an explanation?
'...Could it be?'
"Is it because of the explosions that happened yesterday? Did some of the energy escape from the Red Stone?"
His voice wavered with uncertainty as he asked.
"That's the most likely cause. There's no other explanation."
A satisfied smile appeared on Kishiar's face, as if pleased with Yuder's understanding.
"Yuder, you're clever enough to know what that implies, aren't you?"
"…The energy inside the stone isn't infinite."
'Bingo.' Kishiar didn't need to say it for Yuder to grasp what he meant. He struggled to keep his surprise in check.
Never, in the eleven years since encountering the Red Stone, had he heard such information. The World Sphere had been almost depleted of power, a mere shell compared to the Red Stone. Its lost energy had never been recovered.
But if, as Kishiar hinted and his own suspicions suggested, the Red Stone's immense power was finite, like water in a jar, then...
'Could the purification work done in the Pearl Tower years ago have been an attempt to drain the stone's power?'
Back then, Yuder had assumed that the mages, lost in their obsessive research, were merely breaking down the stone, scattering its inherent power.
But what if that had been intentional? What if someone had deliberately tried to siphon its energy, just as Yuder himself, in the past, had longed to seize the stone's power…?
'…It's too early to jump to conclusions.'
Pushing aside the turbulent thoughts, Yuder focused on Kishiar's next words.
"The energy inside that stone is unlike any mana we've ever known. Its influence is so profound that it can affect people just by being near it. We must be especially vigilant to prevent any of it from leaking during transport. Do you understand?"
"...I'll inform the others when we return."
The Awakeners, unable to directly handle the stone, would be tasked with guarding it on the journey back to the capital. Though it sounded straightforward, Yuder vividly recalled a certain 'incident' that had occurred during this very mission in the past.
An incident that had served as the spark for Kishiar to unsheathe the divine sword and declare himself its rightful master before the world.
Baseless rumors had spread, and the Imperial family had released only downsized official statements. Over time, the people involved in the event became nearly impossible to track down, and the details Yuder had managed to collect about it were sparse. After all, no one remained who could recount what had truly taken place.
But one thing was certain: during that period, Kishiar and his group had engaged in a battle of such magnitude that he was forced to draw his divine sword against formidable foes.
When exactly did that battle occur? Yuder surmised it had likely happened after they had left this place, which was currently under the protection of numerous soldiers.
'It's a precarious situation. The stone will slow us down, and the Peletta Knights will be following at a distance. If we're attacked while the group is separated…'
Yuder frowned, realizing the potential danger.
"Do you think we might face an ambush on our way back, Commander?"
Indeed, Kishiar had every intention of returning to the capital swiftly now that the Red Stone was in his possession. He had even decided to forgo a farewell to General Gino, a long-time acquaintance, and had ordered the Southern Army, which had been guarding this location, to remain on high alert.
'Kishiar's decision to move only after news of his return spreads suggests we need even stricter security than when we came.'
If the same event that had occurred in the future was to unfold this time, Yuder needed to grasp Kishiar's plan ahead of time and ensure heightened vigilance.
"Nathan didn't brief you before we left? Always expect the unexpected. Everyone in the world knows the stone is here."
"...Yes."
"The reason no one sought the stone before, despite knowing of its existence, is because no one had figured out how to approach it. But now, things have changed."
Fortunately, Kishiar was just as cautious as Yuder had hoped.
"We must reach the capital as fast as possible. I'm counting on your exceptional skills if anything happens."
"...Understood."
Good. This responsibility to protect the Red Stone, which Kishiar had directly entrusted to him, was exactly what Yuder had wanted. He couldn't be more satisfied.
'Even if attackers appear as they did before, as long as I'm here, Kishiar won't need to intervene.'
Yuder intended to minimize the need for Kishiar to step in, no matter what.
Upon their return, he planned to gather the remaining Cavalry members and devise a strategy for handling potential threats.
There was no time to waste.
"I enjoyed the tea. I'll head back first."
Yuder downed the remaining tea in one swift motion and stood. Kishiar frowned, slightly displeased.
"You shouldn't gulp tea like that…."
Crash!
Suddenly, something flew past Yuder's head, shattering against the magic stone heater with a deafening crash. Dense smoke filled the room, accompanied by a sharp, murderous aura directed straight at him.
'An intruder!'
Reacting instantly, Yuder cast a wide water barrier, shielding both himself and Kishiar from the attack.
With a soft 'puff,' something collided with Yuder's barrier before bouncing off. Another object followed, but it too was repelled.
"What the hell is this!"
A deep, bewildered voice echoed through the darkness.
'They're new to this. Clearly not professionals.'
Many underestimated Yuder's water barriers, considering them weak. But what Yuder had crafted was different. He could instantly freeze the water to be as solid as steel and then melt it again at will. It was this versatility that made water his go-to choice for defense.
'Several intruders… but it's too dark to see them. First, let's deal with the darkness.'
If Yuder wanted, he could summon dozens of flames to banish the darkness entirely. But that would expose more of his powers than he wished to reveal. Instead, he decided to lower the front of the barrier.
'If any of them has a sword, I'll take it and use it.'
The shattered magic stone heater had filled the room with thick, suffocating smoke, leaving everything pitch-black. Yet, to Yuder, the positions of the intruders were as clear as day.
"Commander, please remain still for now."
Fearing that Kishiar might reach for the divine sword, Yuder warned him, then lightly waved his hand. If there was any steel in the room, it would respond to his power, breaking free from its owner's grip and flying toward him.
"Huh! What... what is this?!"
One of the enemies let out a startled cry as a sword tore through the darkness, landing in Yuder's hand. He immediately infused it with his power.
With a soft roar, flames ignited along the blade, casting a warm light that cut through the smoke, revealing the scene before him.
The room was in disarray, the magic stone heater shattered. Several masked figures stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Behind Yuder, Kishiar remained inside the barrier, his expression as calm as ever.
'Good. The box with the Red Stone…'
Yuder glanced at the box, still hidden behind the pillar, unnoticed by anyone. It was a relief.
"Who the hell are you?"
Yuder spoke, his voice now calm and composed.
'The Red Stone makes it impossible for ordinary people to approach. If they managed to get in here, they must be Awakeners. But who sent them?'
"Where's the Red Stone?" a man at the front growled.
"Hand it over quietly if you value your lives."
"Are all of you Awakeners? Who sent you?"
"We ask the questions, not you," the man snapped.
The energy from the Red Stone was heavy in the air, thickening the atmosphere inside the mansion. If the intruders had known how the energy intensified near the stone, they wouldn't have needed to ask its location. But it seemed they were clueless.
'They know the stone is here but don't understand its properties… That means there's no traitor among those involved in its recovery.'
Though Yuder had illuminated the room with his flame-wrapped sword, the light only extended so far. Fortunately, he had hidden the box containing the Red Stone behind a discreet pillar.
'I need to find out who's behind this, so killing them isn't an option. And I can't let Kishiar draw his divine sword either.'
The Red Stone's energy wasn't good for either Yuder or Kishiar, but it would be just as harmful to their enemies. And no matter how much Yuder had regressed to his former self from eleven years ago, he wasn't weak enough to fall to this lot.
Having made his decision, Yuder glanced back at Kishiar and spoke.