Merlin came up, leading his prisoner, who had the glazed,

unfocused gaze of someone under a spell of compulsion. Kira and

Yohaku came rushing up at the same time.

“I know who was responsible for this, ” Merlin told them. “A rival

gangster by the name of Nishikawa… ” his voice trailed off as he

spotted Wyrdrune kneeling on the ground. “Wyrdrune! What

happened? Are you all right?”

Wyrdrune nodded.

“Modred’s dead!” said Kira, tears streaming down her face. “I felt

it. My God, I felt him die! He’s gone!”

“No, ” said Wyrdrune, looking up at her. “No, he’s not.”

“But I know—”

“The dragon!” Akiro said, coming out of the bushes with a wild

expression on his face. “I saw it! I saw the dragon! It was Kanno! I

found his body in the bushes. He’s dead. But I saw the dragon! It

flew off—”

“Quiet!” said Wyrdrune.

The runestone in his forehead was glowing brightly. His gaze met

Kira’s. The sapphire in her palm was giving off a blinding light.

There was a far-off rumbling in the distance.

“Leila!” Wyrdrune said.

“She knew about this!” said Merlin, perceiving the situation

instantly. “She used it as a diversion!”

“But… where is she?” asked Akiro. “How will you find her?”

Wyrdrune looked off into the distance. “There, ” he said.

They followed his gaze.

“Mt. Fuji?” asked Akiro.

“We’ve got to stop her, ” Wyrdrune said.

“But howl” Kira asked with anguish. “Modred’s dead! We can’t

form the Living Triangle!”

“Oh, yes, we can, ” said Wyrdrune. He opened his cassock and

tore open his shirt. The ruby runestone blazed in the center of his

chest.