Why?

Why come here now?

Why at this time?

Is this some sort of twisted joke pulled by fate?

Why come here instead of someone else, why couldn’t it be the other maids or guards, then I could have just brushed them off.

But it just has to be you, huh.

You, my mother who couldn't care for my well-being, came here to check on me from the constant shouts coming from my room instead of ordering your knights and maids to do it for you like what you usually do.

Why of all time came here yourself.

As my mind goes into panic a soft whisper calmed my nerves down from the confusion drowning my judgment.

“Eri....what are we supposed to do?”

Looking back at Ori who seemed to be awaiting an order, I gave a quick deep breath as quietly dragged her into the closet.

“I suppose you know the way out, so make haste. I can handle myself here.”

With a trembling quiet voice, I pushed the Ori into the open closet.

“Are you sure you can handle this? You don’t seem fine.”

“Do trust me on this one, I’m quite good at lying if I do say so myself.”

“You and your jokes, ghhk—! Fine, just be careful, okay. I will come back later at midnight.”

“Yes, Yes, Now get going.”

Giving one last reassuring smile, Ori responded with a nod as I closed the closet door synonymous with the bursting of the front door.

Inside Eris ' closet, my surroundings slowly got engulfed in darkness as Eris closed the closet door, and the sound of the front door bursting forth echoed.

Taken aback by the sudden noise, I covered my mouth from screaming from being scared out of my wits.

“Mother, may I ask what brings you here?”

Between the footsteps and the sudden bursting of the door, the first one that initiated a conversation is Eris.

I was tasked by her to leave immediately but my gut feeling is telling me to stay.

I don’t know why my gut is telling me that but I decided to follow it for now. Though I didn’t try to make any sort of move or sound, I kept both my ears wide open to listen in to the conversation.

“What? Are the constant screaming and loud bangs from your room, not enough of a reason to check on you?”

“E-eh....m—my apologies it seems that I have caused you some inconvenience again.”

Trembling and timid is the voice that came out from the other side.

A voice I’m not used to hearing, for the first time I have heard it is just mere minutes ago.

Her voice of genuine fear and frustration is starting to rub me off the wrong way.

Why does she sound like that?

Does she and her mother have a sour relationship?

Is she the reason for the pain that has brewed inside Eris?

No, I doubt that’s all there is. There must be something more, I have to know it, I have to keep listening.

Continuing my eavesdropping on the conversation a slow tapping approached the closet, No, to be exact the red-haired girl.

Her mother must have approached her.

“Your hand, It’s bleeding my dear.”

“Oh!....I—I'm sorry I just scraped it by accident, I will be careful next time.”

I can hear a sudden shuffling just beside the closet door, her hand that has been grazed with the punch she did now seen by her mother.

“I’m fine I just fell off my bed, that’s all.”

The atmosphere despite not being out there can be felt behind these wooden boards, Awkwardness so thick it’s barely even breathable like I was back in the coal mine due to how thick that atmospheric fog is.

My breathing is slowly becoming audible only softened and covered by my hand and clothes.

“Is that really all the reason for your screaming?”

“Yes, It hurt quite a bit so I might have overreacted.”

A foreboding silence soon followed after that small exchange, like a calm before the storm.

Everything went dead silent with the birds chirping and clocks ticking only making a sound the entire atmosphere of the room is making even me fear for something is about to happen.

And something did happen.

SLAP!

A loud smack echoed throughout the quiet room and soon followed by a loud thud.

“You dare lie to your own mother?”

“Khhk—No! I'm not lying, Mother! I'm telling the honest tru—.”

SLAP!

Before the small girl on the other side could even finish, another smack echoed.

“Do you think I would believe such an obvious lie?”

“Mother, I’m telling the truth—!”

SLAP!

“You’re really sticking with this lie of yours, is this what I’ve been teaching you?”

“N-no it’s not like that…”

Whimpering to her knees, my mouth agape as the words that came out from that woman's mouth replayed in my mind along with her actions.

What is happening? Did she really just slap her own daughter like that? Without even an ounce of sympathy?

Is a mother supposed to be like that? Is that how a mother is supposed to treat her daughter?

No, No, No, No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No.

NO! No this is wrong! This is just wrong!

A mother shouldn’t treat her daughter like that even if she is actually lying.

A mother is supposed to be caring and compassionate, always thinking for the best of her daughters and son.

A mother is supposed to be there for their sons and daughter, grabbing them by the head, putting them in a warm and delicate embrace.

A mother isn’t supposed to act like this!

That woman….…. Is no MOTHER!

Gritting my teeth through the anger that is boiling in my core, I struggled as I continued to stop myself from breaking out of the closet.

If I cut in now I would definitely be making things worse.

I don’t want to waste the trust that she gave me now.

So please just leave already!

Along with impatiemment and frustration, my judgement of the matter is slowly clouded.

Attempts to calm my mind down came nowhere as her screams rang out once again this time there were clanks of metal and multiple footsteps entered and exited the room.

“I didn’t want to do this but I’ll have to double your lashes this time.”

“No! Please Mother! I’m begging you! I don’t want to!”

Huh?

Lashes?

What is she talking about?

Is she lashing her?

No, it can’t be, right? I must have misheard it.

There is no way she is doing all this.

But suddenly remembering how weak and fragile her arms and legs are, my mind finally accepted what she had just said, the way she struggles to move when we play, and the way her arms and legs tremble from a slight touch.

Is this what she was living through in this castle?

Is this the reason her eyes look dead and defeated?

Is she really being subjected to this kind of cruelty?

No this can’t be…….

At that moment my mind went blank as I burst out of the closet.

“What the—?!”

“Who is that!?.”

As I came out of the closet my anger just rose up more as I lay my eyes on the scene.

Eris with blood-red cheeks and tears dripping down her face is being dragged away by 2 maids as her mother watches.

“W-why....?”

She uttered meekly, so uncharacteristically and so far from the face she should have on ehr face.

“Get the hell away from her, You fucking shitbags!”

Shouting at the top of my lungs I lunged forward and delivered a knee to the face to the first maid following up with a punch in the gut to the second.

“Guhh!”

“Guhkk!”

Both maids quickly fall on their back from the amount of force behind my kick and punches.

I was on the verge of giving her mother a solid kick in the face but seeing Eris be freed I grabbed her away out of instinct.

Now holding her in my arms I gave a glare at her so-called ‘mother’ before booking it out of the room.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave, what are you still doing here?!”

“Good question, I honestly don’t know but what I do know is I’m damn glad that I stayed!”

Hearing my response, tears began to well up in her eyes again and like a lost child that had found its way back home, she clung to my chest burying her face deep.

I hate it. I hate that her face is crying right now, I don’t know why but seeing her like this pains my chest so much.

“Stop crying, I’ll get you out of here.”

[I’m sorry you’ll have to see me like this.]

“Huh?”

Mumbling into my clothes I couldn’t catch what she had just said but even though that’s the case I still felt sorry and angry for some reason.

The feeling of frustration is brewing in my inside, stirring up a nauseous feeling.

‘I should have met her sooner.’

Is the phrase that is echoing through my mind, bouncing back and forth in the walls of my thick skull.

Why didn’t I meet her sooner? Why couldn't I have known this much sooner?

Hastening my pace the courtyard slowly came to view, relief washed over my body as I thought we could finally escape this place.

But that relief turned to dust as we got surrounded in an instant the moment we reached the courtyard by the guards.

Surrounded in all directions we have nowhere to go. I can probably run off on my own but not while carrying someone with me.

Shit, Is this our dead end? Can’t I really save her from those people she calls parents and away from this damn castle?

As our hopes of escape slowly dwindled away, the matter at hand just suddenly took a turn for the worse, as the crowd gracefully broke off to make a pathway for 3 figures.

One is an old dude that probably is the head guard judging from the armor on his body, the second one is Eris' damned Mother, and finally in the middle is someone I’m well aware of; Triton Scotus the Emperor of the Odola Empire.

I’ve never really been that type of person to tune into gossip about the politics of the empire but every time I do there is only one man I would always hear about and that is the emperor.

From what I’ve heard he was a man without mercy born in a land of barbarians he doesn’t know the word spare, he cut and gutted those who defied him and those that lacked the resolve with his own hands.

He believes only the strong shall survive while the weak shall perish, a dog eats dog world policy.

I hated it, such mentality and policy are too bloody and unfair for those who are below.

It’s catered to the strong while disparaging the weak. Seeing them as nothing worms that is not even worth the nickel of time.

While isn’t the point of being strong was to protect those who are weak in the first place?

“Care to tell what is happening here?”

“Your Majesty, this gutter rat right here barged in the castle in an attempt to kidnap our daughter.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, it really pains me that my dearest daughter is being held captive by that creature.”

‘That woman!’

I couldn’t help but growl at the sheer audacity of the woman in front of me.

Lying through her teeth that she cares for her daughter and acting like in pain for the situation she found her in.

Disgusting!

“Shut up! Stop acting as you care for her! You don’t deserve to be a fucking mother!”

I shouted as I made a run for it on a small opening between them.

With my speed I could make it, I could definitely.

I thought I could make it but suddenly my whole vision blacked out and my body flew back a few yards.

Hitting the solid ground my face felt hot and stinging, my mouth tasted like rusted metal, my vision was blurry along with my hearing.

I could hear a distant cry from Eris trying to plead that they let her go. I don’t know why but hearing her cry like that makes my blood boil.

And just like that, I regained my consciousness once again.

But now I was being tied in my hands by the guards, the grassy courtyard turning bright red from my bloody face.

It seems that I might have been punched.

Gazing up above, I could see the Emperor’s right hand tainted with blood.

It seems that it was him that knocked the shit out of me.

That punch really packed some major power, even if he’s somehow holding back.

Looking around more Eris seems to be struggling out of her Mother’s restraint as she tries to run towards me.

I guess this is it, it’s finally the end of the line.

I wish I could at least save you, take you away from here.

I thought absentmindedly while I was finally restrained that I couldn't move any of my arms.

I don’t know why but the moment I met her, I knew I wanted to save her from something, to give her something, to protect her from something.

I don’t know what that something is, but I still want to do it nevertheless.

But alas my courage and conviction don’t mean anything if I am on my way to death's door.

“Such transgression from a filthy commoner requires an adequate punishment.”

The stone-cold emperor declared with a stern intimidating tone as he pulled out one of the knight's swords and pointed it at my face.

“No! Father stop!”

Shouting at the top of her lungs, Eris pleaded and begged for her father to spare me and put the blade away...but none of her pleas was heard as his eyes were dead set on cutting my head off.

‘Ah...I’m sorry that you’ll see this.’

I turned to her with a smile, I wish I could have taken you away here somehow like a knight in those fairytales saving the princess every time.

Yes, like those knights……

Those knights….

Knights...

Huh...I might have found our saving grace.

And with a newfound resolve, I dug my head in the solid ground drawing blood on my forehead, startling everyone present.

I’m not sure if this would work but it’s worth the shot.

For something been bothering me for a while since Eris told me she was an heir and that is where her knight is.

I read it in one of Eris’s books that they should have their own personal knight at the age of 10 but Eris is already 14 soon turning 15 and still, I haven’t caught a glimpse of her knight.

I realized it far too late, No I’m just an idiot who didn’t give it a thought!

Eris doesn't have a knight because she was waiting for someone, that someone to save her like those knights in her books. That is why she still doesn’t have one because she thinks that a knight will come for her.

Tch, honestly her fantasy is really damn bothersome, but I guess that’s one of her charms as well.

“What—”

Before any could ask anything I cut everyone off with a loud and proud declaration.

I’ve read it in one of her books before so I think I got this right, but to think I would actually use it.

Talk about such a strange turn in life.

Taking one deep breath I declared.

“I...stand here in front of the greatest knights and the gallants of kings…!”

Weak yet resolute words in my mind stumble out of my mouth as the blood and pain made my whole face numb.

“Hmmm…?”

Noticing the first few words I spoke the Emperor retracted his sword and with mouth agape, he took a glance at Eris and back to me.

“Father?...”

“Your Majesty, is something wrong?”

Approached by the head guard in confusion for the sudden haltation, he ushered them to stand back as he slowly walked closer towards me before lifting my head.

Face to face with him now, I can see genuine happiness between his eyes that flickered away in an instant.

“Didn’t you come here to save her?... Then do it more gallantly...no shame but pure valor, weak but exudes pure strength, pathetic but honorable.”

He whispered to me in a soft tone unheard by anyone but me, my face contorted to one of disbelief before my head was let go to drop down onto the solid ground again.

“Ori!”

Still struggling towards me is Eris, hearing her voice again has made my resolution and resolve harden.

Pathetic, didn’t I just say that I wanted to save her yet a small pain like this is making me back then what a load of bullcrap!

Move you, idiot!

Move your damn body! Move your mouth, your lungs, everything! Didn’t you want to save her then damn move!

This is your last chance to take on another path so grasp it and never let go!

Using every last bit of strength in my body, I briskly stood up before the king who was clearly amused by my actions.

My body tensed up as I tried to overpower the restraint of two knights pushing me down.

“I..I...I stand here!”

I shouted with a voice not belonging to a child for the sheer conviction and proudness rivals those of kings.

Gaining the attention of everyone including the one only person I wanted this to hear.

“In Front of the greatest of knights and gallant of men!”

Insanity and confusion wrote all across the onlooker’s faces.

“Under the one fiery sun and the most elegant moon!”

Despite the cold stone emperor in front, my heart didn’t feel fear.

Those glares and distraught faces fueled my resolve to continue even more.

I will not back down, I don’t care how much hardship and pain this decision will cause me.

If this decision, in the end, will save her from pain then so be it!

“I swear it in front of those who are present and those who are not, that here at this moment, at this time, at this place, that I—…!”

Eris...I haven’t looked at her face till I have started this charade out of nowhere, I wonder what she looks like right now?

Annoyed? Concerned? Distressed? Afraid? Or maybe all of them?

I mean why wouldn’t she….I’m a commoner, after all, taking the oath of the knight without proper training or even anyone to back me up is pure slander towards the knight of the empire.

I would surely get beheaded or torched in a stick if I failed.

But you’re not that kind of person....as much as you try to be selfless for others’ sake you too want something gifted to you in your life, right?

You wanted to be selfish for once too, isn’t that right Eris?

Then if that’s the case—I would gladly give them to you.

I will protect you.

I will grant your every wish.

Put my whole body and mind to complete all your requests.

Everything I will do will be solely to further you towards your goal and the life you want.

Turning my head towards her, I smiled as my intuition was right.

There on the ground is Eris crying….not tears of sadness and wrath but pure joy and bliss, her eyes glistening and flickering in anticipation for my next words.

“That I...Oriana Nouvel, swear my loyalty, my pride, my body, and mind.”

“Towards the woman that has captivated both my loyalty and pride...Eris Scotus, Third princess of the Odola Empire...

—Would you take this small frail commoner as your one and only knight?”

…..

Ah, that smile.

That smile is the one thing I want to protect.

Waiting for her answer I closed my eyes as weariness and relief caught up to me, only to be tackled by something on my chest.

“You idiot!”

Crying on my chest, freed from all of her restraint, Eris bawled like a child in front of everyone, not a shed of elegance nor nobleness can be found but just pure catharsis.

Seeing the Third Princess’s reaction everyone surrounding us consecutively backed away.

I guess they don’t want to mess with the knight belonging to a princess, talk about a bunch of pussies.

Cracking a smile I turned my head towards the man who is most my best bet instigated this situation from happening.

“I’m not letting you touch her ever again...got that.”

Glaring with seething rage, I couldn't care who heard what I said towards the emperor but all I wanted was for my message to get across.

“Such fiery resolve, I look forward to seeing it in action.”

Letting out a chuckle?

He left without much fuss and called every knight and maids nearby to leave along with him.

“Finally that’s done…”

Feeling a wash of relief my consciousness flickered in and out as exhaustion has now invaded my mind.

Ah, this is bad. I still haven’t properly talked to her, not yet.

“—Hey, Ori!? Don’t sleep, wake up!”

I could hear Eris' panicked cry as she saw my closing eyes.

Damn, stop panicking. I'm not dying or anything.

“Ori! Ori...ori!”

Brimming with tears and distress, Eris drew her face closer as she tried to wake me up.

Pfffft!, Even though she looks like a snot of mess right now she still looks so cute, I guess that’s another charm she has.

With that last passing thought, my mind went dark as my consciousness was swept away.

Damn that geezer punch sure packs a lot.

Washing my body carefully my eyes winced in pain as the soft towel passed through my still-fresh wounds.

A few hours have already passed since that whole uproar at the courtyard and rumors have now begun to spread that the Third Princess has a commoner for her knight.

My popularity among the nobles has probably plummeted by a hundred by now.

My mother is red—hot furious about my decision but can’t make a move due to the emperor's order to give us some time alone.

I don’t know what he is scheming this time around but I guess he is just glad that I have a knight and will not be removed from the race.

Take about a bunch of egotistical creatures, this is why I hate the nobles.

They take everything and anything from a narrowed and skewed point of view.

Too high up their horses that they fail to see the wrongs and right.

That is why I wanted to win this race and become an Empress, I wanted to change this volatile system and the world I’m living in.

Not for me but for everyone that is on it.

Before I was merely going with the flow but now I have reformed my resolve. I have someone on my back now. I can't be afraid, I have to start moving.

If I don’t, then all of the trust she has put in me would all fall in vain.

Forming a frown on my face I took a bucket and poured all of its content on my head.

“...I need to win.”

Finally finishing washing my body I turned around to grab my towel carefully drying my body up before leaving for my room.

Entering my room bathed with the serene gaze of the moon, the blanket of stars paints beautiful scenery outside.

And sitting on the side of my bed wearing a blue nightgown with a face covered with bandages is my knight—Oriana Nouvel.

“Umm…..Eri...I-is it really fine for us to sleep together?”

“There you go again with your nonsense, you really ponder on so many weird things.”

I nonchalantly replied as I flipped my hair and casually approached the bed.

I really couldn’t understand this girl sometimes, she gets embarrassed with the weirdest of things yet does things that are the most embarrassing.

Fufu...she is really troublesome…

“Besides we are both girls so I fail to see the problem, now scoot to the left I’m taking the right side.”

“Y-yes!”

Entering the bed’s blanket from the right, I narrowed my eyes towards her upon hearing her response.

What is she so tense up for?

Comfortably lying side by side, I stared at the blue ceiling as I couldn’t find anywhere to face my head.

On my right, the moon is too bright and I don’t really want to give her the idea that I’m mad because I turned my back to her.

While on the other hand, I couldn’t turn to the left for the reason that Ori’s face is facing towards my direction which is a bit awkward to look at.

I was never really an awkward person to be with but Ori seems to think the opposite, for she has been quite tense around me ever since she woke up an hour after that whole fiasco resulting in me tensing up as well with the idea that I might have done something wrong.

“Is there something in the ceiling….you’re really staring at it quite intensely.”

“I just don’t like having someone's face plastered in front of me before my sleep.”

I said as I turned my head on my left where our eyes met.

“But…..I guess it’s fine if it is just you..”

“Heh! Wh—what are you sayin—mmp?!”

Pushing my hand to cover her mouth I managed to stop her loud voice from leaking out and waking everybody up.

“Ori....ever since you wake up, you’ve been treating me quite differently...why is that?”

I asked weakly as my gaze gravitated downwards.

“I...know the position you’re in is hard and I might have vehemently pushed all of this unto you but still...if you have a problem with all of this then please tell me and don’t push me away like this.”

Slowly removing my hand from her mouth, a sudden embrace is what she gave.

“No, it’s not like that!... I’m not unhappy with my decision so please don’t think that you might have pushed all of this on me, this decision is something I wanted to do myself.”

“Then why...are you acting so differently? If there is something wrong then tell me….I might not be able to do something but I will still try and help.”

“It’s just...I can’t explain it well...in words and thought...my whole mind is jumbled and confused right now...but I will figure it out soon...so please don’t think you did something wrong. I will try and give you the answer you need after figuring things out for a while, for now, please believe in me.”

I didn’t understand the meaning behind those words at that moment...but I know that she is confused and lost about our situation as well.

Time is what we need, that's all, time to sort our feelings and how we can move forward.

We just have to take it one step at a time. It might take a long while but with both of us, we will eventually succeed.

It might be too optimistic of a mindset but everyone could at least hope for a shred of hope in their life despite the impossibility...because that’s one of the qualities that make us human more than anything.

“Fine....but please do be quick...I’m known to be quite impatient.”

“Yeah...I know…”

Slowly coiling to one another my arms went to embrace her slim shoulders, a smell of lavender hung quite thickly upon the air.

Lavender is her favorite smell so I guess it’s expected that she will try to smell like it as well.

Succumbing to each other's embrace we spent the whole night just recounting and telling each other stories about our experience, from her experience of traveling alone and my lonesome in the castle walls.

In the end, we didn’t even get a wink of sleep from the night and ended up sleeping through the entire day.

It was the most tiring day we both have experienced and one that we will remember and cherish for a long, long time.

“Ahhh….”

Slowly opening my eyes I was greeted by the red ceiling I have been acquainted with for the past few years.

On my sides are empty spaces occupied by no one, my frigid cold body shivering as I left my window wide open last night.

[What a cruel….....dream…]

I muttered as a single trail of tears flowed in my eye.

“A dream I would trade for this reality…”

Leaving my bed with a frown I passed by a mirror placed outside my bathroom.

Reflected on it was a girl with small horns and a growing pair of wings, a girl named Lorelain Crestfallen.

Sitting at the edge of the forest nearby I watched as one of the eggs I had stolen 6 days ago boils in a pot.

Based on my observation they seemed to be like any other egg, the insides are the same—complete with all the functions an egg should have, I know that as a fact for I dumped an entire day just inspecting two eggs both from the inside and outside.

Now for the reason that I have taken the time and effort to steal these is quite simple, first I’m curious to see if they’re edible because if they are then that's another source of food we can use, and second being I wanted to see if they are trainable and can be domesticated.

I’m well aware that they are and will always be wild animals but it’s better to try it than not trying at all.

But the main problem lies with that wolf....Raiden Grades it seems that his senses are heightened to the extreme due to being a veteran warrior and also from being a wolf in general.

He nearly—No he definitely knows I sneaked out and brought something here back, but probably decided to withhold his hand for now.

With the current state of affairs of the domain, I doubt he or anyone for that matter would want to give unnecessary worries to my….mother.

My lips quivered as I remembered the sudden visit of Chronos a few days back.

Instinctively my hand coiled around my body as a phantom pain erupted in my chest and body.

My body hasn’t forgotten those sleepless nights and days, despite escaping from everything from killing my real father to having my mother executed, the wounds are still there, they haven’t faded at all.

“I...feel sick.”

I wanted to vomit yet I haven’t eaten anything for the past days since that visit, so all that left my mouth was nothing but bitter acid.

My eyes had started to procure small black circles under it as I haven’t gotten a good rest, every time I would close my eyes I would be dragged into that world of memories.

Replaying everything over and over again till I woke up in cold sweat.

I tried hiding my weariness and fatigue by wearing makeup and just actively avoiding interaction but still, I can feel it slowly take a toll on this body.

My old one could probably take about a month or so but I don’t think this fragile new one would last more than a week.

But still, despite the tardiness, I’m feeling I couldn’t sleep, I’m afraid to go back to that place and be dragged back here so I would rather not go back in general.

I’m tired and weary to the point that I feel like doing nothing at all, my body hasn’t eaten anything yet I don’t feel hungry at all.

My eyes want to shut off but my fear is keeping them wide open…..my fear that is, to be back to that sea of memory that is now lost and forgotten only existing in my own mind.

“Ori...please where are you…”

I muttered out of a desperate plea for that someone to come here despite the apparent fact that it was impossible to happen.

“Ori?”

Eeek—!”

Suddenly hearing a whisper in my ear I jumped forward sliding away from where the sound was from.

“Ooh, such fast reflexes.”

“You…”

Turning my gaze towards the perpetrator of the noise my tense body loosened up, as I retracted my hand away from my back where my knife was hidden.

“It’s just you....please refrain from sneaking up to me like that, Raiden.”

Regaining my composure I shot a glare towards the head butler of the house now standing before me.

After that whole incident with my mother Raiden has now been taking orders under me, he reasons that he serves all of the Crestfallen, not just one.

[What a contradicting statement.]

“Well...I’m merely checking where this smoke is coming from for safety reasons.”

Smoke?

Following his line of sight that is directed on the ground, my eyes widen as I see that the egg that I’m cooking is bursting into flames.

“Ahhhh—! My egg!”

“ ‘My?!’ “

Suddenly rushing towards it in a panic I grabbed a bucket that I had filled with water quickly dosing it.

Steam and smoke erupted as my mind hadn't registered the consequences for my action.

Coughing my lungs out as I exited the sea of smoke, a sudden gust of wind erupted beside me blowing everything away.

“| Surging Wind |”

“Guhhh....Just now that was magic, right?”

I queried as my vision was freed from the smoke, approaching Raiden who had cast a wind spell to blow the smoke away.

“Heh...so you’re reading about magic as well.”

“Got a problem with that?”

I replied in an annoyed tone, caughting Raiden off guard.

“What? Need anything, if not then please leave.”

Brushing his stare of bafflement off, I quickly went to check on the egg that I was cooking, and just as I thought it was burned to a crisp.

“Tsk!”

Clicking my tongue for my huge failure, I kicked the pan where I was cooking the monster egg out of annoyance.

“Lady Lore!”

“—What..?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me here, you’re the one that is supposed to be questioned here, not the other way around!”

Now on a full rant about my safety and such, I watched as Raiden went off on his usual tangent.

[Ah...I want to just be left alone for once.]

“So...please will you explain what you are doing out here?”

“Cooking.”

“Yes, I can see that what I mean is what you are cooking.”

“Batrol Egg.”

“Batrol!?....Lady Lore I don’t need to ask this but h-how did you get a hold of t-that?”

“How..? Isn't it quite obvious? I stole it from their nest, of course.”

“So you actually did it...I thought my nose was smelling something wrong but I guess I am right.”

Cocking my head out of curiosity of his reaction, he just stared at me in complete bafflement as he covered his face with his hand, calming his nerves probably.

“Thought you would try to hide it a bit more.”

“Why would I hide something that’s already been found out?”

“…..Fair point but still.”

Seeing his apprehension I let out a sigh while I went off and packed my things, finishing returning everything into my small backpack. I walked past Raiden who seemed to still want to give me a piece of his mind but decided to withhold it in the end.

“My lady....”

Peeking atop a tree a few meters away from the little lady’s balcony, a frown etched into my face watching her silently.

The daughter of the Crestfallen health has been quite in a downright spiral, all of the maids who tend to her have been noticing it as well.

Her mannerism has changed quite drastically, the authoritarian aura she always gave off has dwindled out of existence, her eyes have sunken and she hasn't eaten a full meal for a while as well.

The maids haven’t notified the duchess about Lady Lore’s bizarre change for the reason that they thought it’s best to hold it off until things cool down first but that reasoning is non-viable now as Lady Lore is getting more and more worn out as time goes on.

Every time I sneak a peek at her, she’s always awake doing something, be it studying or maybe doing something bizarre. There is not a time when I catch a glimpse of her laying on her bed for more than 3 hours.

Looking at her now in this state, I can see no difference between her and her mother, always working themselves through fatigue and not even considering taking a rest.

They’re too much alike and too dangerous to be left alone of their own accord.

I was busy with the hunting of Gardols in the past few days resulting in my absence by her side but still, that doesn’t warrant the failure on my part to see a looming problem on the lady’s head.

Now I have to pay for the slothfulness on my duty…..No, it’s Lady Lore that is paying for it not me.

Clenching my fist in disappointment for my actions I let out a heavy sigh.

“Clouded minds will not do judgment any favor.”

Calming my thoughts and emotions down, I started implementing what I should do to help.

Now first I must set things up for conversation to flow easily...if it’s quite forceful then it might do some more damage instead of helping.

Hmmm….what can I do...

—Now, I think her mother is planning to dine today......That’s it!

I’ll notify her mother right now and call all the maids out so they could have a talk alone...yes that’s it, that’s it.

The Duchess seems to be still quite tense but overall in a good mood...I’m sure this talk will provide both of them insight into each other's well-being.

Though I hope it doesn’t backfire….considering my luck it probably would.

—No! That’s no good...have to stay positive you idiot!

Slapping my face with both hands, I stood up from the tree line I had sat on to make haste towards the duchess office.

“Bartol eggs seem to be inedible despite every effort I made. It seems that they still taste crude no matter what.”

Or maybe I’m just a bad cook?

Now that I think about it, Ori does struggle to finish the food when I’m cooking.

Spinning my pen, my eyes wavered and flickered as I found it hard to stay focused on the notes written on my table.

Headaches, Dizziness, and Fatigue all pile up on this 3-year-old body.

I want to take a rest but my body won’t fall asleep and I’ll probably wake up an hour later producing a severe set of nausea in the process.

I should probably call in some sort of doctor an—

Knock, Knock.

Cutting off my thoughts with a sudden knock on the door, Raiden's voice soon followed.

“My lady, dinner has been served and your mother will be joining you as well.”

Dinner?

Caught off by the sudden announcement I took a look at the analog clock in my room to see the time being 6:30 at night already.

“I...didn’t notice.”

Well, that’s to be expected, I was too focused on my research and studies that I didn’t really bother to look at the time.

Guess I’ll go even though having no appetite for it would be disrespectful considering Mother would be there as well.

“I’ll be ther—”

Standing from my seat a sudden rush of pain throbbing in my head erupted as everything in my field of vision spun like a whirlpool.

Nearly losing my balance I tightly grabbed my desk and chair so as to not fall down.

“Ghhk—……!”

I feel like my head is about to burst.…

Hissing from the extreme nauseousness and headaches, I unsteadily walked towards the door entrance where Raiden is waiting.

Opening it, another hit of painful headaches came rushing in as everything finally went dark.

Raiden's distant voice and the multiple footsteps from the hallway was the last thing I heard before my mind succumbed into darkness.

Cold..…

……………

Slowly opening both my groggy eyes, a painful twisting feeling began to spread inside my entirety.

A nauseating, disorienting feeling I can’t fully comprehend….as if my entire body is about to burst into a million pieces at this very moment.

My whole body felt heavy and tired, I couldn’t move. My throat is dry along with my lips.

I opened my mouth to say something yet nothing came out.

My ears work but it's in the same state as my eyes too blurry and disoriented to comprehend anything.

My body is hot and cold at the same time, I need something...something to drink.

Just something to soothe this feeling, I groaned and whispered as I tried to get the words out of my mouth yet nothing, nothing came out.

[Is this body that weak?]

Extending my head upwards something is suddenly pressed against my already dry lips.

[What is this?]

Entering my mouth and into my body is a warm liquid that smells similar to honey and ginger.

Water?

A herbal tea?

The feeling of glass being carefully pressed into my mouth as I slowly drank its content brought discomfort and confusion as I couldn’t see who was holding the glass.

Finishing off what I think is a whole glass of medicine the painful constricting feeling in the body slowly lifts.

My dry throat now parched and disoriented vision has bit by bit gone back to normal.

“Huh….Wh..who…?

I utter in confusion as I slowly open my eyes now with a clearer view of my surroundings.

Holding the glass is a woman with long disheveled white hair, black horns, and her deep ocean eyes reflecting clear worries and sadness.

“...Mother..?”

Seeing my half-awake response, tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched both my hands.

“....Y-yes...Lore Mommy is here..”

Ah....those words...those eyes and that affection and care....it’s warm.

It's the same, that warmth she has given to me and the warmth that I have lost as well.

I guess that’s what I’m afraid of.....finding someone giving that same warmth to me….and losing that warmth again just like the first one.

I just didn't want to feel that same emptiness I felt when I lost her so I tried pushing my mother away to safeguard my fragile heart.

In the end, I’m just scared to be hurt again....but I guess my whole being is confused as well.

My old mother who has given me nothing but pain and suffering is now replaced with a new one more caring and more loving, nothing alike in the slightest.

How do you even think I am supposed to act in that situation.…. I guess that nonsensical rant I gave to her in her office was just my way of venting my frustration out to her despite the reality that she is not the mother from the old world.

Immature and Childish, Stupid and Arrogant, Selfish and Disgusting.

Those are all my qualities and I could probably go on but isn’t that just wallowing and running away?

But what am I supposed to do…?

Am I supposed to change?

Will that make my sins and failures more forgivable?

Am I even changeable in the first place?

Retracting my hand from hers, I turned my back and closed my eyes.

“...Nothing, I just want to rest.”

“Hmmm...Yes sleep well, I will be here if you need anything.”

Can I actually continue on here and start over?

Laying upright on my bed, I silently watched as the moon behind my window shone brightly on the night sky.

“Hmmm...Lore...”

Mumbling in her sleep is my mother that seems to have fallen asleep at my bedside.

[What is she even dreaming of….]

Unnerved by my name being utter in her sleep I let out a weary sigh.

It’s been a week since my collapse and things seem to have settled down in the domain, not the best but still better than before.

My involvement in the matter is kept under wraps by Raiden, which is something I’m glad he did for if not then I would have found myself in one sticky and annoying situation.

After a few days of collapsing, I have been moved into my mothers’ room so she could monitor my health at all times, though she tries to talk to me once in a while all of it just ends with an awkward silence and me requesting to sleep and be left alone.

As much as she tries to reconcile, my stupid self just makes everything harder than anything. It’s not that I don’t want to but is it really fine this way?

Do I really deserve everything in this life after all the failures and sins I have done and caused, is it really fine?

“Is it really fine for me to be happy like this?”

『It’s fine you know, I think the only person against it was you.』

Turning my head towards the corner of the room a silhouette of a man slowly emerged.

“Oh...it’s you.”

『What is with that lack of reaction, have you finally broken?』

“Broken…? Maybe I am, for everything I have done.....though is it bad to be broken?”

『..............』

Turning away from the god in front I focused my sight on the scenery outside, a painting of stars twinkling and sparkling.

They say every human being is like those stars in the night sky, having their own light and sometimes needing the light of others to finally shine brightly.

I guess it’s sort of ironic in a sense, considering comparing stars that are said to serve no purpose other than to shine and give light, to humans who have been justifying everything they’ve done to a single purpose that doesn’t serve anyone other than themselves.

One is selfish while the other is not but in the end both will die leaving nothing behind.

I guess that’s just what life means. Struggles as you want, do as you will for in the end, all will return to nothingness.

“Hey, Chronos, why did you reincarnate me here?”

『..............』

“You say it was a favor...but from who? I don’t remember making a deal with anyone in my life.”

『..............』

“Giving me the silent treatment, huh.”

Silence soon followed, I don’t know what to say to him next, or more like I have nothing to say.

My annoyance for him doesn’t seem to surface despite him being there, but I supposed it’s just me projecting my pent-up frustration onto him as well, taking all my misfortune out on him as a child.

『If you want to know then go search for the answer you seek yourself.』

“What? Is this some sort of challenge?”

I queried in thought.

He seems to be talking in a rather stiffer and calm tone this time around, a contrast to how condescending he always sounds like.

『More like your purpose, The reason for your whole existence if you want to know it all then live.』

『Live for those who you have killed, Live for those who have died for you, Live to actually find the meaning of all the things that have happened to you.』

『And Live to finally find your end.』

Furrowing my eyebrows, I pursed my lips out of shame.

“It’s not like I want to die—”

『There is no difference between a dead person and someone who has lost the will to continue on.』

“..........”

I kept my silence.

That is right, at this point, there is no difference between a dead man and myself, I have no will to continue so what is even the meaning behind my existence besides existing.

Suddenly feeling sick, I held my head from the returning vertigo.

『Here...Medicine.』

“Huh....”

Suddenly Chronos who was a few feet away from my bed now standing on my right with a glass of what seemed to be herbal medicine.

Hesitant at first I grabbed the drink he offered and drank it slowly.

『Any better?』

“Yeah…..thanks.”

Sheepishly scratching my cheeks, I turned away out of embarrassment.

『Heh, Didn’t think you had it in you to thank a god.』

“Shut up, I don’t even see you as a god in the first place.”

Embarrassed and ashamed of the words that came out my mouth I threw the glass I was holding on him out of reflex.

『Have you calmed down a bit?』

Suddenly in an instant, the glass that is about to fly on his head now sits back at the tray on my mothers’ table.

“No, that just made my brain ache more.”

Still holding my head I decided to lay off on my bed to take more rest.

“So...what did you come here for?”

『Well just here to say goodbye for about 10 years or so.』

“What you got caught or something?”

『Please, don’t jinx it like that.』

『Anyways I suppose you do remember that they might find you if I keep on visiting frequently so as you can guess it’s time for me to take a leave for a while but don’t worry I’ll be back so until then please behave yourself.』

“Stop making it sound like you're my babysitter.”

Oh yeah, he did mention that.

I guess I’ll be left alone for years to come, considering if this domain could survive for another more years or so.

I want to be optimistic but I guess with my fever and headaches my whole mind is a jumbled mess making me more pessimistic than normal.

“Then take care…”

I muttered out of my mind, I didn’t mean to say nor do I realize what I had just said.

Chronos upon hearing my reply slowly started to break like a stone statue with a fond smile across his face.

[What’s with that smile…]

『You too take care....and just one more thing.』

“Huh? What is it?”

『You should start forgiving yourself if you can’t then at least learn to open up to others.』

Those were his last words before dissipating into a thin cloud of fragmented pieces that the wind come forth carried unto the sky outside.

Stunned in both ears I let out a dry chuckle.

He doesn’t mince what he wants to say nor does he say it in any other way.

But I guess I just needed that reminder of the things I’m trying to run away from.

Letting out a deep sigh I reached my hand towards the hand of my mother.

It’s warm and brittle, frail yet strong.

Can I actually start over and be happy for once?

Clutching her hand between mine I closed my eyes ready to return to that castle of memories.

[I’ll......try]