【Beginning】
With clues from Mark, Hertz stepped into the territory of Elves again. The revitalized Humans had conquered every inch of the land, while Demons and Elves only wandered on the periphery. The so-called dominion of elves had disappeared without a trace.
Hertz could only return to the Lost Relic, not realizing a little elf followed him. It confined the power of Astralists with a peculiar artifact and teleported with Hertz to the Relic. Inside the Relic, the elf was like a fish in water. Hertz could only seize the little elf only with the Astralists’ help. He was surprised by its skill, that it could create artifacts with ancient relics.
Hertz questioned the elf but it refused to answer. The child-figured elf sat on the floor with folded legs. Its milky face suggested the elf was still new to the world.
Red Boy: Why should I answer?
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: You like studying these relics, right?
Red Boy: So what?
Tiredness always filled Hertz’s heart. Looking at the obstinate child, he surprisingly softened.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: What if I told you I can teach you?
【Before Battles】
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: ‘If I have one more chance to try again...’
Villager: You mute piece of crap! Trying to steal from me?
Hertz the Woodlands Walker: No! Let go of her!
【End】
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: Why do you want to learn these techniques?
Red Boy: You answer my question first. Why did you become a mechanic?
The Court of Sagittarius could not figure out why he was not able to be strict with him.
Red Boy followed and learnt from Hertz. He always tried to sneak into the Relic only to be caught by Hertz. Though Red Boy was naughty, he had the most profound insights towards mechanisms. Hence Hertz brought him everywhere, searching for relics and passing on to him his knowledge about machines.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: When I was small, I wanted to become a musician, but I gave up.
Red Boy: Why?
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: As to why...
Hertz threw firewood into the campfire. He never thought the question through. Red Boy stared at Hertz from his side. The boy’s focused expression directed him to dig out a figure of a girl in his memory and the unforgettable incident.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: ‘So all was interweaved.’
Hertz never forgot. It was the last time he played the flute —
When Hertz was small, he would always go to the realm of Human with his father and help them fight. One time, they lived in a village of Humans. He met a girl who was called ‘Little Crow’ by fellow villagers.
Young Hertz: She has white hair. Why is she called a ‘crow’?
Hertz did not understand at the time. He was still immature and acted egoistically since he had blood of Gods after all.
On a day, Hertz witnessed a group of boys bullying Little Crow. She was about to cry when Hertz exploited his identity as a God and drove the bullies away. He even fought with the boys. The conflict attracted villagers who came and separated them. They scolded the boys and apologized to Hertz.
The next day, Hertz was strolling around and whistling when he noticed Little Crow peeking at him from behind the wall. Pompously, he motioned her to approach. Little Crow walked towards Hertz shyly and stood nervously in front of him. Seeing her silence, Hertz walked away, but Little Crow followed him. Hertz was happy to have a sidekick and left her be.
In those days, Little Crow had never spoken a word. She listened to Hertz and messed around with him. Every time listening to his casual whistles, Little Crow would be on cloud nine...As time passed by, Hertz started to like this little “bird” but she never talked and not even laughed when she was happy. He was unsophisticated at the time, and therefore, thought that Little Crow was simply too shy to talk.
On the day before Hertz left, he took out the flute he treasured. He planned to play a song for Little Crow and leave the perfect impression as a God. In the morning that day, he asked Little Crow to sit on the grass and clumsily played the flute. She focused her mind to listen Hertz’s music, switching her funny smiles to a serious face. This made the boy nervous and played even worse.
Hertz ended the performance hastily and grouched for the music fell short of expectation. But Little Crow stared at him dumb-founded and closed in to his chest, touching his lips with her fingers. Hertz pushed her away and lay on a rock in a sulk, but he accidentally fell asleep.
When Hertz woke, he opened his eyes and saw Little Crow imitating his moves on the flute and playing a discordant tone. At the time, Hertz thought Little Crow had stolen the flute from his chest. However, thinking back now, he may have dropped the flute when he was sleeping; only then did Little Crow nervously pick it up. But back then, anger had risen within Hertz. He took back the flute and accused her as being a thief. Villagers happened to be passing by. One of the men who heard Hertz came and grabbed Little Crow, lifting her up into the air.
Villager: You dumb piece of crap! How dare you steal from Mister!
Shocked, Hertz had stood there without intervening, as the villagers berated and hit the girl. She wailed in pain, sounds of “nghh” escaped from her damaged larynx, which went into Hertz ears with the admonishment of the villagers. The inharmonious scene disgusted him—
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: ...then I ran back to my father’s side.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: And the next day, I returned to the realm of Gods.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: Since, I have lost the mood for music, turning to studying ruins and machinery.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: I never realized these events were related in such a way.
Red Boy: You deserve this.
The day had done dark. Hertz thought Red Boy was already asleep and surprised to find that he was still listening only with his eyes closed.
Red Boy: You’ve never really grown.
Red Boy: Just because one touches anything in the Relic, you take them as enemies.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: What? You’re still moaning and groaning about that?
Red Boy: This time, I am the one trying to teach you something! Don’t stray!
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: I admit that I was too stubborn back then.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: But the intruders didn’t know what they’ve encountered.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: What’s inside the Relic isn’t just treasure.
Red Boy: I have my own ways of dealing with them!
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: Yeah, but you couldn’t deal with me.
Red Boy: Hmph! Let’s wait and see. One day...
Hertz just let the boy grouch, but in his heart, he had decided to pass on his power to this baby-like “boy” in the future.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: Go to sleep. I’ll bring you to the bottom of the Relic tomorrow.
Red Boy: Just now...
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: Mm?
Red Boy: You asked why I want to learn these techniques...
Red Boy: It is because I lack strength.
Red Boy: I need their power to find my father and bring him back.
Hertz zipped the sleeping bag for Red Boy, not noticing his blushed face under the light of the campfire.
Court of Sagittarius - Hertz: You will find him.