Epilogue
The Lightning Clan had retreated.
When the news reached Iárnviðr from Gimlé by carrier pigeon, the people of Iárnviðr broke out into cheers.
After the Wolf Clan’s defeat at Élivágar River, it had only seemed like a matter of time until Gimlé fell as well, and yet everything turned on its head within a day of Yuuto’s return.
“As expected of our patriarch!” The people shouted this to each other, and embraced one another. They celebrated with all their hearts the removal of the existential threat to their lives.
Jörgen, the Wolf Clan second-in-command, was forced to scold them about this. “Hey, hey, now, don’t forget that out west, the Panther Clan is still surrounding the city of Fólkvangr. It’s too early to get too comfortable.”
But even as he said that, he couldn’t hide his own smile.
“Kristina must have sent a report back to the Claw Clan,” he added. “We’ve just received a message from their patriarch Botvid that he will be willing to send us soldiers. With luck, the other clans who were sitting on the fence should come back firmly to our side as well before long. This is all thanks to you, Mother.” Jörgen bowed his head to Mitsuki, who looked a bit surprised.
“Uweh? Um, it wasn’t really me; it was mostly Lady Rífa who should take credit. And Felicia, too.”
Mitsuki was in the inner palace garden, lying in the sun with her arms wrapped around the garmr puppy, Hildólfr.
Hildólfr was really quite well-behaved. According to Yuuto, he had been strictly trained by Sigrún to be obedient to humans. Even now, he was lazily yawning in the sun next to Mitsuki.
That said, it didn’t change the fact that he was a great wolf, a garmr. And though still practically a puppy, Hildólfr was over half a year old now. He was already as big as a fully grown normal wolf.
And yet when Mitsuki had first laid eyes on him, she had reacted not with fear, but by shouting, “Wow! So fluffy!” and leaping to hug him. This was one of the many tales told about Mitsuki in Iárnviðr now.
Mitsuki still wasn’t aware of how her behavior had garnered her such an incredible reputation among the populace of the Wolf Clan.
“Then it was also thanks to the fact that you share a special bond with Lady Rífa, Mother,” Jörgen went on. “Please tell Lady Rífa for us that the whole of the Wolf Clan is grateful to her, from the bottom of our hearts.”
“Ah, right. I will.” Mitsuki nodded, but she looked somewhat troubled.
In truth, right after Yuuto’s summoning had succeeded, Mitsuki had tried to thank Rífa.
However, perhaps the effects of Mistilteinn had worn off completely by then — the image of Rífa had completely disappeared.
Afterward, Mitsuki had gone to bed hoping to thank Rífa in her dreams, but she hadn’t been able to join Rífa’s dream.
This was the first time that had happened.
At that point, it had started to bother Mitsuki that during the summoning, Rífa’s right arm had seemed to dissipate. Perhaps some serious problem had happened with her real body, too.
“I hope I can see her tonight,” Mitsuki whispered to herself.
But that did not come to pass that night, nor the next night, nor the night after that. Mitsuki was unable to meet Rífa in her dreams.
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