The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 51

“Undaine!”

[Yes, Master!]

“Carry me, Undaine! We need to find the green-haired mermaid and Undine!”

I climbed onto Undaine’s back hurriedly. Without wasting any time, I pulled Ash up as well, seating him behind me.

As we ascended, Ash muttered nervously, “G-Genie, this isn’t Undine, is it?”

“No, it’s Undaine! A mid-level water spirit. I’ll explain everything later, Ash.”

Undaine swiftly rose above the cliffs. Below, the sea stretched endlessly, and the lord’s castle came into view.

“Where is she?” I muttered, scanning the horizon.

From this height, I couldn’t make out details, but Undaine’s senses were far sharper than mine.

[Over there, Master. At the cliff. I can see Undine, and a green-haired person—it might be the mermaid.]

“Really? Head there now, Undaine! Quickly!”

“Ahh!”

Ash clung tightly to my waist as Undaine soared towards the cliff.

Below us, I spotted Annaroi, her green hair whipping in the fierce wind. She was standing at the edge of the cliff, shrouded by a faint blue barrier. It had to be Undine’s magic, shielding her from the rain.

“Take us down! Ash, stay with Undaine and find the lord!”

“Got it!”

As Undaine descended, I jumped off and ran toward Annaroi.

“Annaroi!” I shouted, sprinting toward her.

She was still in her human form, standing precariously close to the cliff’s edge. Thankfully, Undine’s barrier was shielding her from the rain, but she was dangerously close to the churning sea below.

Undine rushed into my arms, sobbing.

[Master! Annaroi is trying to die! What do we do?]

“Annaroi! Stop! You said touching the sea would kill you!”

“Let me go,” she wept. “I must return to the sea. Mother is calling me!”

Her face was streaked with tears, and yet she looked resolute. It was a stark contrast to the lively woman I had seen just the day before.

“Why are you doing this? Didn’t you say you loved the lord? If you die, how will he survive the pain?”

“Because I love him… that’s why I must go. If I don’t, Mother will consume his castle!”

“What are you saying? No, Annaroi! Don’t go!”

I held onto her with all my strength, but the frail mermaid was shockingly strong. Inch by inch, she edged closer to the cliff.

“Mother, I’m sorry!” she cried. “It’s all my fault! Everything is my fault!”

“Annaroi, if you go, the lord will be heartbroken! He loves you!”

At the mention of the lord, Annaroi faltered. Her body slumped as she sank to the ground, her gaze fixed on the sea.

Rainwater pooled around her, bubbling ominously.

“Annaroi, stand up! Get out of the water!” I shouted.

Her voice was soft but filled with despair. “If I dissolve into this water, Mother will calm down. If I disappear and accept my punishment, she won’t be angry anymore.”

“No! You’ve endured this long for the lord’s sake! This storm will pass. Please, Annaroi, hold on!”

“It’s too late,” she whispered. “Mother is furious because I sought comfort through a water spirit. She’s screaming at me to follow the rules, to vanish…”

I yanked her out of the puddle just as it began to froth. Her legs were shockingly thin and discolored, already beginning to dissolve into foam.

“Annaroi! Your legs!”

“It’s fine, Geenie,” she said weakly. “I love Albert, but if I stay, his suffering will only worsen. Mother will drag his entire castle into the sea if I don’t return to her. It’s better this way.”

Grasping my shoulder for balance, she began to rise. I could see the determination in her eyes, the will to sacrifice herself for the man she loved.

“No, Annaroi!” I pleaded, pulling her back.

Even with Undine’s help, I struggled against her strength. She dragged me closer to the edge, the sea roaring below.

“Rai! Where are you, Rai?” I screamed desperately.

But Rai was back at the inn. I had left him behind, never imagining this would happen.

As we reached the cliff’s edge, Annaroi looked back at me and smiled faintly.

“Geenie… I know why you’re trying so hard to stop me. You care about water because it loves you so deeply. But please… let me go. This is the law of water, the way of nature…”

“Annaroi!”

“Geenie!”

I heard the lord and Ash’s voices in the distance. Looking back, I saw them riding Undaine, approaching rapidly.

If anyone could stop her, it was the lord. Relief flooded through me—until sharp pain flared on the back of my hand.

“Ah!”

I nearly lost my grip on her, but I held firm. Annaroi had bitten me, determined to free herself.

“Let me go,” she begged. “If I stay, we’ll all die. I can’t let him suffer because of me.”

“No! I’ll find a way to help! Annaroi, don’t—!”

She tore away from me, casting off her dress. Before I could react, she stood at the very edge of the cliff.

“Thank you, Geenie,” she said softly. “I’ll repay your kindness one day.”

With those words, she leaped into the sea.

“Undine!” I shouted. “Protect her! Keep the seawater from touching her—please!”

“Annaroi!”

The lord screamed as he arrived, falling to his knees at the cliff’s edge. He stared helplessly at the churning waves below.

I stood frozen, whispering to myself. “Undine will protect her. She has to…”

“Undine… Undine…”

“Geenie! Snap out of it!”

Ash shook me out of my daze, gripping my shoulders as I staggered toward the edge of the cliff.

The lord, collapsed and sobbing, was too far gone for me to comfort. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Undine emerge from the sea.

She was alone.

“Undine! Why are you alone? Where’s Annaroi?”

[I-I’m sorry. I tried to cast a spell, but the moment she entered the sea, it vanished! I couldn’t stop her! I’m so sorry, Master! Wahhh.]

My heart sank.

Of course, I had hoped. Of course, I had thought… But the punishment of the Water’s Mother must have nullified Undine’s magic effortlessly.

I had no words to offer the lord. Instead, a hollow guilt pressed into my chest. I had failed to protect her.

The lord’s empty gaze slowly lifted as he rose to his feet.

“Annaroi… wait for me. Don’t leave me behind.”

The shift in his voice felt wrong, and by the time I realized what was happening, he had already followed Annaroi’s path into the water.

“No! You can’t go too! She’ll only grieve more if you die! Stop!”

“Undine! Save the lord! I won’t let him drown too!”

[Yes, Master! Right away!]

Annaroi, why did you have to go like that?

Why?

Now it’s too heartbreaking.

Tears blurred my vision as they spilled freely down my cheeks.

It had been so long since I’d cried.

“Annaroi… the lord grieved your loss far more than he would have mourned the fall of his castle. He jumped into the sea after you… isn’t that proof enough?”

There was no response.

One tear slipped down my face, falling with a quiet *plop* into the ocean below.

Moments later, Undine returned, carrying the limp form of the lord.

He had swallowed some water but seemed to be unharmed otherwise.

Ash quickly moved to help Undine, hoisting the lord onto his back.

“Let’s go, Geenie,” Ash said gently.

Still drained of energy, I leaned on him as we walked away. Then, out of nowhere, Undine held something out to me.

It was a small gem, a water-drop-shaped jewel identical to the ones on my earrings.

Had I dropped one?

I reached up to touch my ears, but both earrings were still there.

“What is this?” I asked.

[Master, um… Annaroi left this for you before she became sea foam. She said she was sorry for not fulfilling her promise and asked me to give it to you as thanks. She also said you were a wonderful master. Sniffle…]

“This… If she had the strength to create this, she could have lived a little longer! Why bother leaving something like this? This… This isn’t necessary!”

I snatched the gem from Undine’s hands and hurled it into the sea.

Annaroi, what did I do to deserve this?

I failed you. I let you go.

This should have been the end.

Meeting Annaroi, receiving her earrings, losing her, watching the lord’s attempt to follow her…

It had all unfolded in the span of a single day.

Ash volunteered to take the lord back to the castle, leaving me to trudge alone to the inn.

[Master, are you upset because I came late?]

“No.”

[It was so far, and the rain made it hard to find the way. Please don’t be mad, Master.]

“I said it wasn’t that.”

How much time passed, I didn’t know.

I tried to empty my mind and sit in silence, but the heavy mood wouldn’t lift.

Rainy days would never be the same again.

Burying my face in my pillow, I shut my eyes, hoping for sleep. But soon, someone knocked on my door.

*Knock, knock.*

[It’s Ash, Master.]

I stayed silent, pretending I hadn’t heard him, and pulled another pillow over my head.

When I didn’t answer, Ash opened the door and peeked inside.

“Geenie…?”

“Get out before I get angry.”

“Can I just—”

“Get out, Ash! Do you want to see me really lose it?”

Frustrated, I grabbed a pillow and flung it at the door. It hit Ash square in the chest. He could have dodged but didn’t, letting it bounce off him.

“Sorry… I know you’re upset, but—”

“Please… just leave me alone.”

“Alright.”

He left without another word, and the room felt even emptier.

I curled up in bed again, trying to force myself to forget. Forget all the bad things.

But… were they truly bad?

That night, I dreamt of an emerald-haired mermaid. She laughed joyfully in front of me, her laughter resonating until she popped into foam.

Over and over, the cycle repeated.

Sometimes, though, she didn’t laugh. Instead, she stared at me with tearful eyes, silently watching before disappearing.

It felt as though she was scolding me for discarding the “Mermaid’s Tear.”

The next day passed in a haze.

And the day after that.

Ash mentioned something about visiting a temple and asked if I wanted to join. I declined, and he didn’t return for a while.

What kind of friend abandons someone in mourning like this?

Hmph.

I considered heading back to the cliff to search for the gem I had thrown.

But guilt stopped me.

I didn’t deserve it.

Annaroi had given it to me as thanks, even though I had done nothing to deserve her gratitude.

If it was truly meant for me, I reasoned, it would find its way back.

Later, Ash returned to my room, holding a small wooden box.

“What is it?”

“Um… it’s for you, Geenie.”

“For me?”

Curious, I opened the box to find a silver ring set with a familiar blue gem.

The very gem I had discarded.

“You threw it away before, but… it felt important, so I had it made into an accessory.”

“…Why a ring?”

“Well, you already have earrings and a necklace, and rings are easy to make! There’s no deeper meaning, I swear!”

The ring was simple but polished beautifully.

I tried it on my pinky finger, but it was too loose. It was snug on my middle finger but didn’t feel right.

Finally, I slid it onto my ring finger, where it fit perfectly.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Haha. Thanks, Ash. You’re the best.”

“N-no big deal…”

Admiring the ring on my hand, I showed it to Rai.

Rai tilted his head and squinted.

[What is it? Do I eat it?]

[Try and I’ll end you.]

[Noted.]

The ring was pretty, and I appreciated Ash’s thoughtfulness more than I could express.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind: maybe it wouldn’t hurt to tell Ash the truth about me.

It felt unfair that I knew his secret, yet he didn’t know mine.

“Ash, did you know?”

“Know what?”

“My real name is Geenie Crowell.”

Ash didn’t look as surprised as I’d expected.

Huh. No reaction?

“I… kind of suspected. Oh, but the others don’t know! I only realized recently, after seeing you summon Undain.”

“Ugh! Fine, then how about this—do you remember Annie?”

“Wait, what? Oh, sure, but why?”

“She’s my daughter. Her dad’s a dragon.”

Ash was a lot like Hansen—naive and gullible. He believed whatever he was told without question.

As expected, he took my joke at face value, and his expression contorted into one of the most dramatic reactions I’d ever seen from him.

“Wha—?!”

I couldn’t help but flash a triumphant grin.

“Heh heh.”

—

**Silent Steps**

After arriving in the port city of Baykis, we spent nearly a month traveling to the capital of Heidrike, *Mizellan*. True to its self-proclaimed title as the “Land of Harmony,” Mizellan was breathtakingly beautiful, with a picturesque view worthy of its reputation.

The first thing that stood out was the vibrant greenery harmoniously paired with white buildings.

Every structure, whether a majestic hall or a tiny corner bakery, had the same pristine white walls and blue roofs, making the city look like a collection of adorable toy houses.

Even something as unassuming as a bakery’s exterior screamed “tourism capital,” evoking gasps of admiration.

“This is amazing. Worth every copper of the entry fee.”

“Wow, now this is why I travel!”

This uniformity, while artificially designed as a tourist draw, was undeniably effective. However, entering Mizellan came with a cost—foreigners were required to pay a 10-copper admission fee at the city gates.

A ticket booth at the city entrance? It felt absurd, as if we were entering an amusement park.

Still, once inside, it was hard to complain.

While Ash and I marveled at the city’s charm, other members of our group, like Enk and Chad, were less enthused.

“I don’t like it. I’m pretty sure this is the only city in the world that charges an entry fee.”

“Not ‘pretty sure’—I’m absolutely sure.”

“My hard-earned money…”

“Being a foreigner isn’t a crime! Ugh!”

I, however, was quite pleased.

Ten coppers, roughly equivalent to a thousand won, was a small price to pay for a view like this.

Unfortunately, the two grumbling men weren’t as easily satisfied. Their complaints prompted Lox to step in.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Mizellan is often called a must-visit destination before you die. Ten coppers is a bargain for such a famous tourist spot.”

“I agree. This city is worth the cost. Especially that palace.”

I joined in, pointing to Heidrike’s royal palace, which had been visible since we entered the city.

If Dimitri’s palace, my home, was the epitome of masculine, rigid elegance, Heidrike’s palace was its opposite—graceful curves and feminine beauty. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale.

“Hmph! A proper palace should be sharp and imposing, like Dimitri’s. That overly delicate thing isn’t fit for a lord, let alone a king!”

“Give me a break. Nothing beats the imperial grandeur of Elan’s palace. You’d need to see its endless scale to understand what a true palace is!”

Chad, being from Dimitri, clearly didn’t appreciate the feminine aesthetic of Heidrike’s palace. Meanwhile, Gale, hailing from Elan, wasn’t impressed by Heidrike’s comparatively modest royal residence.

Oh, please. Comparing a kingdom’s palace to an empire’s palace? That’s just unfair.

“A palace is a palace. What’s the big deal?”

Of course, Enk had to escalate things further.

Enk was from Koran, a place without anything resembling a royal palace. Though it technically had a king, the position was purely ceremonial, rotating every five years among the leaders of Koran’s six largest tribes. It was more a republic than a kingdom.

“That’s not true. Each palace reflects its nation’s character. The same goes for the cities themselves. And for the record, Dimitri’s palace is the best. Right, Gale?”

“Uh, well… Oh, yeah! Among kingdoms, Dimitri’s is definitely the best.”

“Among kingdoms?”

*Smirk.*

I twisted my face into a mock scowl, daring him to continue.

“…Fine. It’s the best on the entire continent.”

Satisfied with his answer, I grinned.

While Gale was fiercely proud of his imperial heritage, my patriotism and stubbornness always managed to outmatch his pride.

“Good! That’s what I thought.”

“Geenie, why do you always try to change people’s opinions?”

Ash, standing beside me, asked with a hint of exasperation. He seemed particularly annoyed because our conversation had veered into Elan’s territory, and he knew I’d failed to sway his beliefs in the past.

“Because I feel like it.”

“Do you even realize you’re only nineteen? Shouldn’t you act more mature—”

“Oh, that reminds me! My birthday’s next month. I’d like a gift—something rare and metallic, okay?”

“Will you listen to me for once?!”

Ash snapped, but I brushed him off.

Why should I act my age?

Besides, I didn’t really feel nineteen.

In my head, I was perpetually seventeen—the age my past life memories had stopped. Ever since regaining those memories at age three, I’d lived as though I was still seventeen.

Even now, I thought of myself as seventeen. Well… seventeen plus nineteen if we’re counting.

Nope, I refuse to go there.

Don’t bring up my age, okay? It’s a sensitive topic.

I’ll just stay seventeen forever. Seventeen plus one—still in my prime!

—

After securing rooms, unpacking, and eating, we settled into the familiar routine of our travels—except for one detail.

“Are you skipping the temple again, Geenie?”

“Of course.”

“Today, we’re visiting the Temple of Anais, the Goddess of Sacrifice. Still no?”

“Of course not.”

“Don’t you want to pray to Anais?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Ash, the only one in our group who knew my true identity, seemed to recall that I was supposedly Anais’s “chosen emissary.” But I had zero interest in the so-called Goddess of Sacrifice—or any goddess, for that matter.

Up until a few months ago, when I learned from the Magi’s Mother, Adelaide, that I was under divine restrictions, I’d been a devout atheist.

“Fine, fine. We’ll go without you.”

“Naturally. Have fun. I’ll explore the city and maybe pick up some books.”

Ash had a particular fondness for temples and magic towers, stopping at almost every one we passed. The others thought he was simply pious, but Loxa and I knew the truth—these stops were part of Ash’s “Path of Trials.”

“See you later, Geenie!”

“Bye, Geenie. I’ll bring you a gift!”

“I’d love some good book recommendations later, Geenie.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered! Have a good trip.”