Chapter 15.5: A Maiden's Worries

Celes POV

After Reimuz had left their little tiny room, Celes, who was so bothered by the fact that she couldn’t even sleep a wink, finally decided to ride a carriage. However, when Celes went to the stables to rent a one way trip to the mines, her request was swiftly denied.

“Pardon us little missy, but no sane man would travel the roads at this time of the day,” the business owner said. “Besides there’s that recent rumors about a monster indiscriminately killing travelers and adventurers on the road too.”

“But…”

“I apologize, but we can’t grant such a selfish request.”

It was expected that no one would grant her ridiculous request, but Celes did not mind. She camped and waited in front of the city’s stables, with nothing but her hooded cloak on top of her regular clothes, until sunrise. She was scared, not because of the darkness nor the coolness of the night, but because of the sudden bad premonition in her heart that she could not properly describe herself.

In the short time that they were together, she had always felt that Reimuz did everything she had desired to make her happy. He put her in front of everything else. He treated her like a monarch, spoiled her, which stroke her ego in so many ways.

Now that he’s finally had the confidence to do what he wanted, Celes wanted to support his decision, even though she knew he would be going to a place she deemed dangerous.

But alas, after thinking it over in her head for more than a hundred times, she realized the grave error she just made. Just so that she wouldn’t feel lonely, Reimuz left the last thing that could assure his safety. His contracted spirit.

By the time the doors of the stables opened once more, the owner was shocked to see Celes standing in front of their door. The old man did not know her reasons for staying, but he remembered her silly request from last night.

The old man immediately signaled one of his workers to tend to her, and Celes, without hesitation, hastily jumped on the carriage the old man offered. It was a rather large open roof carriage used for transporting goods from the local mine.

Since their destination were the same, Celes only paid a single fee for herself.

And just like that, Celes luckily found her way to the Berkut mines.

The sun was about to set when the carriage that Celes rode on reached its destination. Her journey felt forever and dull, with no companion except for the carriage driver that rarely spoke and the two spirits who were too afraid to voice their opinions.

She had tried to rest, even for just a single moment, but thinking about Reimuz’s well being kept her awake through the ride.

“Hmm, this is quite weird,” the driver spoke, concern mixed in with his voice.

“What is?” Celes inquired, her eyes darting around the mine’s vicinity.

She hopped off the carriage and looked around. There was nobody present but them. Greeted by this eerie silence just intensified the dreaded feeling that was brewing in her chest.

The driver gazed forward and spoke, “As far as I know, this is a pretty lively place, missy,” he joked around, but Celes did not break a smile.

Celes continued walking towards the mine’s entrance while glancing left and right on the abandoned tents. On the second to the last tent before the tunnel, she stopped. Her jaw clenched, as if she was afraid to speak, and backed away.

Blood trailed inside the tent. Not even half a minute that she stood frozen, the portable shelter shook, and a figure came out from inside.

Celes recognized the figure right away. It was Erumina Ramburg. They had a small talk before Reimuz came here, explaining about the weird activity in the mines yesterday.

“Celes? For what reason…”

“Reimuz, where’s Reimuz?” Celes stopped her words.

Her eyes traveled back to the ground. She wanted Erumina to explain the blood stains as quickly as possible. She could not contain her heart anymore. She was ready to burst inside the tent for too many reasons.

“We found Elseria,” Erumina said, displaying a sad and tormented face. “Reimuz… went further inside to check on things,” her voice was whimpering, like she wanted to bawl.

Yet, even though she displayed such a pained expression, that did not stop Celes from whipping her face with a slap.

“If something were happen to Reimuz… I won’t forgive you…” But above all, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

Erumina winced while massaging the searing pain on her left cheek. “I… I…”

“Shut it,” Celes stopped her dry words. “I don’t want to hear your excuses,” before Erumina could even react, she stepped away to stand in front of the mine’s entrance. “Cliona!”

The burning spirit responded, and the image of a girl with flaming red hair materialized on her left.

“Hai, hai… No need to shout,” Cliona yawned and stretched her limbs, as if she just awoke from an eternal slumber. “But… for our priestess to be this enraged just because of a single human boy, our little priestess here had really grown up. What do you think, Sylphie?”

A gust of wind blew, and a busty figure boasting a hairstyle that flowed like the silent breeze appeared on her right with her arms crossed.

“I agree,” Sylphie said while shaking her head. “She’s soft as butter now when it comes to Reimuz. Ah, the time that lady Celes matures into a woman might not be too far away~ But… this is not the time for such nonsense,” Sylphie turned and looked at Celes, as if she’s waiting for her to answer. “Lady Celes… the distortion of spirits in this place is too high. We’d best hurry if we want to see Reimuz alive.”

Just what her spirit had mentioned, the entrance of the mines was leaking an unimaginable tainted darkness. Something suffocating. Something dangerous. That in her eyes, suggested a much bigger threat than what they had bargained for.

Celes swallowed, finding her throat instantly dry. She could not believe what she just saw, but it happened, and she must do something to stop it.

“Cliona…” She muttered the spirit’s name in such low tone that her voice was barely whisper.

Upon hearing this request, Cliona tumbled backwards and floated on the air. She entered the mines with a speed too fast for her eyes to follow.

Celes looked back at her spirit. “Let’s go.”

Sylphie nodded her head in agreement. “Aye, but be careful.”

The two of them entered the mines, running over the rocks and gravel.

“Reimuz… please be safe.”

Meanwhile, the idiot who caused all of this stress on a young maiden’s heart was busy being reckless…