Sailor Mercury's Arc

Chapter 4 of 6

The gold light had not yet faded from Weldon's hands when he turned to Mercury, his eyes wet. "I have to thank her properly," he said. "I have to tell her everything." Mercury's pulse went cold. Gratitude was loud. Gratitude confessed. She walked him from the garden before he could turn back. "Not yet," she said. "Show her first. Power answered her gift. Words come after." Weldon's jaw worked. He nodded once. Mercury kept her face still, but her hand closed around a small iron key at her throat — his initial filed into the handle. A reminder. A leash she had made for herself. She led him to an open courtyard beyond the palace wall. "Call it," she said. "Out loud. Let the stones hear what she gave you." It was a dare wrapped as devotion. If he spoke the phrase here, the power would seat itself in him. It would also bind to the place, not the Queen's chamber. Away from her ear. Weldon raised both hands. He drew a breath that shook. "Silver Millennium Witch — Transform!" The words tore out of him clean. Light cracked up from the flagstones. A blue and silver crest blazed across his chest, scrollwork curling like vines of frost. The courtyard stone split and rose into a tall mirrored pillar, catching the burst, scattering it. When the light fell, Weldon stood transformed — the first witch made senshi — and a polished obelisk marked the spot, a bronze plate already fused at its base. He dropped to one knee, breathing hard. "I owe her my kingdom," he whispered. "I have to tell her how I came to her. I have to." Mercury knelt beside him and put a steady hand on his shoulder. "You will," she said softly. "After you save them. A confession before the work is just noise. Bring her a saved people, then bring her the truth." He searched her face. The earnestness in him wanted a rule to follow. She gave him one. Weldon swallowed and nodded. "After," he agreed. He rose, the new emblem glowing faintly at his chest, and walked toward the gate to gather what was his. Mercury stayed at the obelisk a long moment. Her fingers found the iron key again. He had not confessed. He would not, yet. But the bargain had grown teeth she could not file down. She closed her hand and went to find Luna Starcrest. The next piece would not wait.