“Enough thinking,” said Fremy. “It’s time for action. If anything occurs to anyone, they can bring it up then.”
Adlet agreed. “Yeah. First, search everything underground, and while you’re at it, kill every nearby fiend and rip open its stomach. I leave that to you.”
“Yes, I’ll handle that part. One hour is enough to cover this area.” Fremy summoned bombs into her hands again and lobbed them at the rock hill before them. With a roar, the hill crumbled, clouds of dust rising in the air. Steam spurted out, enveloping the area in hot air.
“Rolonia,” said Fremy, “use your whip to probe the earth. If you find anything, tell me right away.”
“O-okay!”
With the two of them on the job, things should go fine. If Nashetania was hidden underground, they’d surely be able to find her. Adlet decided to look into the hieroform that Goldof might possess.
There was only a little over two hours until Chamo would die. They had to hurry.
The lava zone suddenly erupted with booms. Adlet arrived at the pit, incessant explosive roars accompanying him.
Twenty-odd fiends lurked around in groups of about five. They didn’t fight or run; they just watched what was happening with Chamo and the others. Hans was in the pit, fighting some of them. Mora’s arms were wrapped around Chamo, protecting her from attacks. Adlet joined Hans, and together they drove away the onslaught. When the fiends had scattered like so many baby spiders, Adlet gave a simple explanation of the current situation.
“You’re saying…Tgurneu would be our ally?”
“Against Dozzu, he says. This is gettin’ meowr and meowr confusin’. But is all that true?”
Mora’s head dropped into her hands as Hans puzzled it over.
“More importantly, about that hieroform. Do you know anything about it, Mora?” asked Adlet.
“The power to conceal someone could be none other than the power of illusion. But…” Mora shook her head, her expression somber. “When a hieroform is created, we are required to keep records of it at All Heavens Temple, and we always do. Hieroforms have been given to the King of Piena in the past, but none with the power to conceal. One that could hide anyone might be used for a plethora of evil deeds—assassinations or espionage.”
“So was Tgurneu lying, after all?” asked Adlet.
“Neow. Not necessarily,” said Hans. “Holy Saints are humans, too. They can be lured by coin or bend to political authority. Meowbe even love could be a motivation. I wouldn’t be surprised if somethin’ like that was kept secret from All Heavens Temple.” Mora didn’t deny it.
This again? thought Adlet. All the information they had accumulated suggested potential answers, but there was no hard evidence. “So if Nashetania or Goldof has a hieroform, is there a way to break through the spell?”
“…There is.” Mora was holding Chamo against her chest, stroking her back. She lay the girl on the ground and stood before Adlet. “When a hieroform is used, the dregs of its power remain. It is possible to sense these. This technique has been passed down through successive generations of temple elders. I can grant the ability to you, though only for a short time.” Mora glanced at Chamo. “It will take time. Chamo, hold on until it’s done.”
Curled up on her side, the young Saint lifted her head just slightly and nodded. I’m okay.
Mora closed her eyes and began intoning the sacred tongue. After about ten minutes, she put her hands on Adlet’s face, still chanting. When she touched her thumbs to his eyes, it felt like something hot was pouring into him.
“…Did it work?”
Mora staggered, but then immediately returned to Chamo and held her again, putting a hand to her back to send energy into her.
“So meow?” Hans asked.
Adlet could now see things he hadn’t been able to before. He could see a light in Chamo’s stomach—that had to be the power of the blade hieroform that Nashetania had put there. He saw the same thing on the back of his hand and on Mora’s back where her Crest of the Six Flowers was. That was the power of the Saint of the Single Flower.
“In places where you see a shining light, there is a hieroform being used. If you see a faint haze, that means one was activated there not long ago. The effect only lasts for about three hours, though…” Halfway through Mora’s explanation, she grimaced, putting a hand to her forehead. She was wearing herself out. “…And it’s merely a borrowed power. You won’t be able to detect everything perfectly. Most likely, you won’t be able to see any remnants of weaker power.”
“That’s not encouragin’, meow,” Hans remarked.
“However,” she continued, “you are sure to see any hieroform powerful enough to make someone disappear. Go, Adlet. We have no time.”
“Hold on. You never looked at Goldof with that meower of yours?”
“I have, but I couldn’t see anything. Ultimately, this power is only effective when a hieroform is in use.”
Hans drooped.
“I’m gonna go back to searching for Nashetania,” said Adlet. “You guys handle things here. If you see any fiends, be sure to kill them and rip open their stomachs. She might be hiding inside.”
“Understood. Now go, Adlet. Hurry,” Mora urged.
But before Adlet left, he went to Chamo. Complexion pale, she was curled up against Mora’s chest. Her entire demeanor had turned utterly haggard in only a few hours. It was heartbreaking. “I’ll catch Nashetania,” he said. “Don’t you worry.”
“Eh-he-he… That’s…right…yeah…Chamo is just fine.”
“…”
“Why’re you…looking so…worried? Chamo’s strong. So…it’ll be fine.”
Adlet silently stroked her head and then rushed out of the pit.
Adlet kept on running through the lava zone. The rock beneath him was trembling
