"Tiel, when did your powers start to weaken like this?"
As soon as everyone left the room, Ian Dross got straight to the point. Tiel flinched, trembling slightly.
'He knows my powers are weak...'
Tiel realized then that she had been foolish to think otherwise.
Tiel's ability, Light Ability, was one of the most visibly prominent abilities among all. So, anyone who knew how brightly her fish normally glowed would immediately notice how faint the light had become now.
'Then... did Father and Grandfather also notice?'
Had they realized her powers were weakening, and that was why they were so worried about her?
Tiel clenched her fist and placed it on her chest. For some reason, it felt like her chest was tightening.
Ian Dross patiently waited for her to respond without pressing her.
After taking a deep breath, Tiel slowly answered.
"I've been feeling it weakening little by little for some time. It hasn't been long—about half a year, I guess..."
"Half a year is quite a while."
"Anyway... that's not the important part right now."
Tiel shifted the topic. Ian Dross let her steer the conversation, understanding that she wanted to avoid this subject.
"Up until now, it was just a feeling that my powers were weakening... I didn't really notice a significant change until today."
"..."
"But then, today... suddenly..."
Before Tiel could finish her sentence, Ian Dross turned his head, deep in thought.
Tiel felt uneasy, as if she were holding him up with her own problems when he clearly had much to attend to.
"...But it'll probably come back soon, right? So don't worry too much! I'll rest for a bit, and it'll come back."
"It might not."
Ian Dross's words made Tiel silent. She wasn't oblivious to that possibility either.
It was rare, but some Beastkin had lost their powers entirely. Tiel might end up like one of them.
The Light Ability that had filled the people of the Crassion Empire with hope might vanish from history, with only Tiel left, alone...
"If your powers are gone, you won't be able to use your protective magic either."
Tiel snapped back to reality at Ian's voice. She hesitated for a moment before responding.
"Do you want to test it? I've never been attacked, so I don't know if I can use protection abilities."
"Are you crazy? I probably wouldn't be able to."
Ian Dross stated firmly without attacking her. Tiel nodded, agreeing with his reasoning.
Since she couldn't use her powers right now, it was obvious she couldn't use protection abilities.
"Having this happen while Jay is still not fully caught... Tell your father and grandfather to put protection magic on you."
Tiel nodded, recalling the protective power from the Asterian estate's underground prison. She hesitated before speaking.
"And about going to Nestian..."
"Is that really something you need to be worrying about right now...?"
"I know! I know it's inappropriate to be worrying about that with my powers gone! But..."
Tiel suddenly jumped up from the bed. She wobbled slightly, but Ian Dross quickly caught her before she could fall.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Tiel smiled at him in thanks, then opened the drawer and pulled out the glass orb.𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Inside, a small shard of light shimmered weakly...
"It's small and faint, but it contains my power. I don't want you and the others to go there until I recover my abilities, but if you must, please take this with you."
Ian Dross stared at the glass orb for a while before speaking.
"You said this contains your power."
"Yes!"
"Then Tiel, if you absorb the power in this orb, can you use it again?"
"Eh? Yes... of course? It's my power, after all."
"Then take it and use it. As for going to Nestian, I'll handle it separately with Ferdie..."
At that moment, Ian Dross's expression shifted as though he had just remembered something.
"You said you could use it after absorbing it?"
"Yes... Why do you ask?"
Ian Dross recalled the fish Tiel had created inside his void space.
The fish had pulled him out of the twisted void and then disappeared.
But if the fish hadn't disappeared, and was still inside...?
What if the fish disappeared for a moment, then reappeared when Ian called for it...?
"I need to check something."
Ian Dross waved his hand in a circular motion. A large entrance to the void appeared in the middle of Tiel's room, as large and wide as Ian's own height.
Tiel nodded and immediately grabbed his hand without hesitation.
"Check it!"
"...Aren't you going to ask what I want to check?"
"I don't mind! Just check it! Do I go in there?"
"Yes."
Ian Dross firmly held Tiel's hand. But in that instant, a small fear stirred in his heart.
Was it really safe to take Tiel into the void?
What if it twisted again, like the last time? What if Tiel's fish didn't appear?
What if his assumptions were wrong?
But then, as Tiel's long, slender fingers intertwined with his, the thoughts swirling in his mind were cleared away.
Tiel had clasped her fingers around his.
Ian Dross looked at her. Tiel smiled brightly, and despite the loss of her powers, she hadn't forgotten how to smile.
"Let's go! Don't be too scared. Even if something bad happens, I'll be right here with you..."
Even though Tiel's presence made him anxious, it was because she was with him that Ian felt the uncertainty.
Though Ian thought Tiel's reassurance sounded a little foolish, it was incredibly effective. His anxious thoughts melted away as he took her hand and stepped into the void.
What greeted them wasn't what he expected but a large pink cushion.
When Ian had first seen it, it had been small enough that it could be completely filled by a baby snow leopard. Now, it seemed large enough for a fully grown snow leopard.
As Tiel looked around, Ian Dross, feeling slightly embarrassed, quickly covered her eyes with his hand and said, "Use your powers here."
"Here?"
Tiel obediently followed Ian's request.
When she joined her hands together and used her abilities, faint shards of light gathered in her palms like a small pool.
Before long, several faint fish appeared, swimming around her, just like the ones in her room before.
"These must just be a manifestation of our mental connection, right?"
But as Ian recalled, the fish he had encountered in the void were dim, but still brighter than the ones Tiel had summoned now.
Just as Ian began to think his assumption was wrong, ready to step out of the void...
"Huh?"
Tiel widened her eyes at something, and Ian Dross turned his head to follow her gaze.
"That..."
Tiel squinted in surprise.
For a moment, a smile flickered on Ian Dross's face. At the end of Tiel's gaze, there was a fish made from Light Ability.
It was a little brighter than the ones Tiel had just created, swimming gracefully toward them.
***
"Tiel's abilities have weakened."
At Alpheus's words, Karsus nodded. Ferdie and Ludian lowered their heads with somber expressions.
"Why is this happening all of a sudden? Is it because of the bond?"
Ludian spoke, but Ferdie shook his head.
"It was fine until now. We can't just assume it's the bond."
"But the bond must be having some effect. The mark between them isn't mutual; it's a one-sided bond from Tiel."
"Ten years ago, the one who targeted Tiel still hasn't been caught, and now this happens... This isn't good."
"Plus, we already sent our answer to the temple about joining the festival. If we don't show up now, it will raise even more suspicion."
Ferdie said.
And he was right.
Having agreed to participate in the festival for Lyset's god, if they now back out, everyone would suspect Tiel.