(EP-177.2) Sand #2
177 – Wind and Sand #2
The Tureuki Kingdom was rumored to have a trinity of abundance.
Firstly, sand.
Tureuki’s vast highland deserts were extensive but filled with much useless land. With plenty of sand and rocks under the scorching sun, the world appeared entirely golden.
Although the people of Tureuki loved the beautiful desert landscape, the fact remained that it was a barren and desolate place.
Secondly, Tureuki had lavish gemstones.
Beneath the barren desert were numerous rocky caves.
They had mana ores that the Tureuki people could refine and sell to foreign countries.
So much so that the neighboring Angmar Kingdom had once waged a war to seize these resources.
And lastly, Tureuki had no shortage of beauties.
From barefoot dancers with jingling jewelry adorning their slim waists and ankles to mysterious emerald-eyed beauties covered by colorful silk cloths—.
Many women draped their bodies in beautiful veils, creating an air of mystery.
Hence, men needed a vivid imagination to envision what was hidden behind those thin cloths.
The unveiling of faces was strictly prohibited by law, and it was only allowed in front of high-ranking royalty, or if they were married to their husbands.
Marriage based on seeing the face was strictly forbidden.
In that sense, the Prince of Sand, Kasim, had a keen eye.
He had a knack for discovering ores in the sand, finding gems within those ores, and identifying beauties among the veiled women—an essential skill for the Kingdom’s ruler.
Though he didn’t boast about it, Kasim could arguably claim to be superior to his sister, Serazade.
When he arrived at Angmar’s banquet hall, he was frankly surprised.
Perhaps it was because of the Kingdom’s vastness, but the territory had plenty of talents, some unpolished gems.
On one hand, there was envy, as Tureuki and Angmar’s positions might have been reversed.
‘If Ismail had inherited everything, this kingdom would have originally belonged to us.’
Of course, what caught his eye was undoubtedly the Evil Flower of the Kingdom, the Queen.
━Hear ye, hear ye! Her Majesty, Queen Aira Von Tarantera, approaches-! Lower your heads in respect…!
She was truly a beauty, as rumored.
A flawlessly crafted black diamond unlike a raw gemstone. She sat refined on the golden throne.
A woman with exotic beauty.
Further, it was said that her magic was exceptional.
Kasim already had numerous lovers, but Queen Aira was more than qualified to become his wife.
But that was it. She was but an ephemeral flower, treading the path of ruin.
Kasim could clearly see the most terrifying of all spirits and demons nestled in her head, the demon of doubt.
‘Is this the end of the long history of Angmar? If so, how Tureuki will deal with the division of Angmar will be important…’
Kasim, a Mage and politician, quietly pondered the fate of the neighboring country.
What surprised Kasim the most in the kingdom was when he discovered a man trailing behind Queen Aira.
━Everyone, lower yourselves…!
A very peculiar man who didn’t fit in Angmar’s court. Rather than a man, he was a precarious existence somewhere between a boy and a young man.
A mix-blood fairy?
A Half-Fairy, to actually see such a being in person—it was an intriguing first time for the Sand Prince.
‘A fascinating gemstone…’
If Queen Aira was already a perfectly crafted jewel, then this was an unpolished gem. That fact piqued Kasim’s interest.
Even if he wasn’t a Mage, it was certain that he would one day become an important figure in the palace.
The experienced Kasim, driven by personal interest and with a political perspective, decided to show favor to the Half-Fairy in advance.
━Do you like elephants?
━Elephants…?
It was for that reason that he gave the white elephant he loved as a gift.
‘No one dislikes elephants.’
When he met the man again here at Gracia’s Ark, in a distant foreign country. Kasim was pleasantly surprised to see the Half-Fairy having been shaped and tempered.
Could a person change this much in such a short time?
Compared to the past, he seemed more relaxed, and the magic in his body had improved. His body that looked frail and skinny before, now had a healthy complexion.
‘Excellent!’
A tempting talent… No, now that he had lost in the competition for the throne, collecting talents around him might not be necessary.
However, Kasim was a Mage before a crown prince.
And perhaps, he began to think that the key to breaking through his recent stagnation in the 5th Rank might lie in this hidden gem.
“I would like to know. How did you grow so fast? It’s magical. From the looks of it, you’re slowly entering Rank 4, no, Rank 5.”
“Oh.”
At Kasim’s words, the Half-Fairy slightly shuddered as if startled.
“You are very keen…”
“I take pride in my intuition! So, what methods did you use? Did you receive teachings from Queen Aira?”
“No, I was taught by Hynax of the Sage Council.”
The Sage Council. Kasim had also met the white-bearded Hynax before.
Had this old, wise Mage taught this man? However, that alone wouldn’t explain such rapid progress.
“I also explored dungeons near Ark.”
“Indeed.”
Kasim understood then. He had heard that there were many dungeons near Ark for various reasons.
Warriors who dared venture to such dungeons could rapidly improve their skills, like trees nourished by supplements.
“Indeed, it was thanks to Solomon’s legacy…”
Dungeons were the legacy of the Archmage Solomon.
People couldn’t understand why Solomon created so many dungeons, but Kasim could somewhat guess.
Perhaps it was to refine gems like the Half-Fairy in front of him. But even Kasim didn’t understand why there was a need to do so.
Soon, Kasim rose from his seat.
“My friend, Theo-kun. Have you ever sparred with a Mage? There’s no better way to understand each other than this.”
Edited by: faker
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