The sound of a harp

After discussing it, the three decided to give it a try.

"Kay, do you have a saddle and bridle-a headstall, bit, and reins?"

"Ugh... I give up. I have a spare set for Joanie. Will that do?"

"Sure, we'll make do. If this works, we can have a set made for her when we get to the city."

"All right, I'll get it..."

Kay pulled a set of tack from the luggage and handed it to Sovell.

Once Sovell had fitted the tack, he cast a Calming Spell on the Kelpie, dispelling the stun from his Dragon Roar.

"Rrrh~"

The Kelpie opened her azure eyes again and warily surveyed her surroundings. The instant she saw Sovell, a trace of fear entered her gaze.

The two horns on her head pointed straight forward at Sovell as she slowly backed toward the water behind her.

But Sovell had no intention of letting her return to the water.

Sovell's aura burned hot, and wind burst beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, the boy was on the Kelpie's back.

The Kelpie immediately turned and charged toward the sea.

The boy on her back gripped the reins tightly and pulled in the opposite direction.

"Don't... move!"

He no longer concealed the White Dragon's aura, and terrifying Dragon Might radiated outward.

Already prepared, Kay had steadied Artoria by the shoulders. Artoria drew on the Red Dragon's magical energy to raise a Magical Barrier, keeping the White Dragon's Dragon Might outside.

The Kelpie beneath Sovell was not so fortunate. The powerful Dragon Might stiffened her muscles beyond her control, freezing the fairy on the spot.

Sovell slowly reduced the intensity of his Dragon Might, testing the reins with every slight decrease. Only once the Kelpie could move but could not resist did he withdraw it.

"Giddyup."

Sovell guided the Kelpie into the sea.

The moment she touched the water, the Kelpie's horse tail turned back into a crescent-shaped fish tail, and her pale coat became light blue again.

Every slap of the Kelpie's tail against the sea sounded like thunder.

Sovell stroked her mane, soothing her.

"Don't worry. Stick with me, and I'll treat you well."

At that, the fear and wariness in the Kelpie's eyes eased. As though she understood the boy's words, she nodded.

"That's more like it. How many people can you lure in here in a year? Come onto the battlefield with me, and won't you have far more souls to feed on?

"If nothing else, I can have my teacher make you some Soul Feed later. Merlin knows alchemy, after all."

By the time Sovell and the Kelpie returned to shore, Kay and Artoria had already pitched the tents.

"Oh~ My dear brother-in-law is back. Any later, and my little sister would've found someone else."

"Brother Kay!!!"

Blushing at her brother's teasing, the girl shoved his head into the ground.

"All right, all right, Lia. Let Kay go. You'll have to get used to that mouth of his."

Sovell soothed Artoria, then blew a long gust away from the three of them, stoking the campfire.

"Come here, Kelpie. This is Lia, our liege."

Sovell called to the Kelpie standing by the water and introduced the other members of their little group.

Through what Sovell shared with her, the Kelpie understood what a liege was and the proper etiquette for treating a sovereign.

She bent her front legs and knelt, lowering her head to show submission and trust.

"This is Kay, Lia's older brother-the one you were hunting just now. If you get a chance, you two can see who swims faster."

Kay had just pulled his head out of the dirt when he found an enormous horse's head staring at him.

"Give me a break, Sovell. If we go into the water together, only one of us will come back out."

The Kelpie sensed Kay's distaste, so she showed him no warmth either, turning her head away from him.

"Never mind... Come here, Barghest."

Clap, clap.

Sovell clapped twice, and Barghest immediately emerged from behind Artoria.

The black ball of fur darted into Sovell's hands in an instant. He scooped her up, patted her head, and held her up before the Kelpie.

"This is my silly girl, Barghest.

"She's a female fairy, just like you. I wonder if you two will have anything in common."

"Whine~ Woof!"

"Neigh~"

"See? Stick with me, and you won't lose out."

The blonde girl finished preparing dinner and called to the two who were slacking off and chatting.

"Stop chatting and come eat."

During the meal, Sovell finally asked the Kelpie the question on his mind.

"We found Barghest in Wales. I can understand her being a Phantom Beast, since the Age of Gods is still relatively stable there.

"But this is the coast of England. Even magical beasts struggle to survive here, let alone Phantom Beasts. Why did you choose to live here, Kelpie?"

"Neigh~ Neigh..."

"Sovell, what's she saying?"

"Uh... I think she means the ecological niches in the coastal waters of Wales are all filled. Competition is too fierce, and staying alive is exhausting. England's coast has fewer people-no, beasts-than Wales."

"Humans aren't the only ones who have it rough these days."

The next day, Sovell and Artoria both sat on the Kelpie's back. With the strength of ten fine horses, she could easily carry two children in their teens, while Kay rode Joanie.

The three reached the end of the beach and entered the forest.

"From here... if we head due south a little farther, we should be able to see Cornwall City."

Sovell pointed at the map as he discussed the next leg of their journey with the other two.

As they talked, the lilting notes of a harp drifted toward them, putting all three on guard.

A light breeze swept past, carrying withered yellow leaves from the treetops down to the ground.

The next instant, an invisible Wind Arrow skimmed past Sovell's ear, but the half that touched his outer ear turned straight back into formless air.

"We're under attack!"

Although Sovell had suffered no injury, he still sensed the sharp edge lingering in the wind beside his ear.

At Sovell's warning, the other two immediately dismounted and readied themselves. Kay raised his shield, and Artoria drew the Golden Sword of Certain Victory.

Sovell dismounted as well. The three stood back-to-back in a triangular formation, ready for the next attack.

A strange humming sound approached.

The girl beside Sovell seemed to sense something and slashed at the air directly ahead of her.

Clang~

The sound of metal striking metal rang out from empty air.

There was nothing to be seen.

Following through with her momentum, the girl swung a second time, but struck nothing.

Sovell realized they could not let this continue. The enemy was hidden while the three of them were exposed, leaving them at a severe disadvantage. They had to strike back!

"Wind, answer me."

Sovell called to the wind around him, and it answered the boy, scattering in every direction.

Withered leaves flew from the branches on the wind.

At that moment, every disturbance within a ten-mile radius lay before Sovell's "eyes."

East.

One-third of the way toward south.

One, two... five, six currents of wind were compressed.

They were fired.

No, not fired... that strange vibration... the air was plucked and sent flying.

Extremely fast.

About... two hundred meters per second.

Here they come!