Chapter 16

Fay

I couldn’t breathe. I kept gasping for air, yet it still felt like I was drowning in the darkness. Then I heard his voice. He was right in front of me, yet the voice sound distant.

「 Thou art safe, little lass... 」

Slowly, his voice changed and warped, becoming into another voice... a voice unlike his own. A voice that would haunt me in my sleep from then on.

「 Safe, now... 」

N‒No...

“You’re safe now, with us...”

I could see his face looking down at me, laughing at me. Even as I covered my ears, I could still hear it.

Stop it!

「 ‘Tis in the past, little lass. ‘Tis but a dream haunting thee... 」

There was another voice, but the laughing easily drowned it out. I reached out into the darkness for anything I could find. I grab hold to it, hugging tightly and not letting go. I was so scared, so afraid of being alone in that darkness. I didn’t know what it was, only that it felt soft and warm... and fuzzy.

When I woke up, I’d realized what I just did.

I’m... I’m sorry.

「 ...‘Tis fine. 」

I was holding on to him the whole time, wetting his face with snot and tears and then falling asleep just like that. I let go of my hands slowly and let my back fall to the wall behind me. The wolf just stayed silent, watching me with his eyes that seemed to glow in the dark haze.

「 We’ve tarried enough... 」

As he said that, he lowered his back to me. Following his lead, I grabbed the fur on his back and tried to pull myself up.

Ugh...

「 ...Can’t be helped... 」

Huh? Wha?!

Suddenly, he put his snout between my legs and hoisted me up, flinging me up onto his back.

Oof!

「 There. 」

...Do you have no decency...

「 What’s that, little lass? 」

...It’s nothing.

I just had to put up with it until I can walk on my own.

After that, we walked and walked, and all I could do was watch the surroundings from his back. I didn’t know where we were going, or the reason why he’s even helping me.

Eretz...

「 Yes? 」

Where are we going?

「 For now, I shall find the bird. 」

Why are you helping me?

「 ....Wherefore did the bird avail you? 」

He thought it’d be fun.

At least, that’s what he said.

「 ...Doth it matter? 」

I didn’t know why, but what he said irked me. When that person did what he did to me, all I could think of was I wanted it to stop. I didn’t care how, I even thought of my own death just to make it all stop. I had given up. Then Eretz came and saved me for... no apparent reason?

Just passing by, is that it?

「 Thou mayst think such as sooth. 」

Liar.

Yes, I know I should’ve been grateful for him saving me, but there was just no stopping. The words just flowed out like water rupturing through a dam.

「 ...Why wouldst thou thinkest I would gull thee? 」

I don’t know. Maybe because you didn’t want to save me at all.

「 ...What? 」

Maybe... maybe you were watching the whole time.

Before I realized, he already stopped walking and was looking back at me from over his shoulder. At this point, I realized I had gotten too far. Even as I told myself to stop, I couldn’t. Not when there’s a storm inside of me, blurring the lines between facts and delusions.

Maybe you were enjoying it. You enjoyed watching me and my friends suffer. You wanted it to continue.

「 Whereof dost thou speak? 」

You probably just stood there, doing nothing but watch because you got a kick out of it. Then one of them spotted you and attacked you, so you had no choice to kill them. But in truth, you didn’t want it to stop, did you?

「 ........ 」

In fact, you want to do the same to me, right? Is that where we’re going? To your very own lair, where no one can hear my screams as you eat my limbs piece by piece. You fucking sicko. You’re just the same as them, aren’t you?!

All of a sudden, the wolf twisted his body and I fell down to the ground. I writhed in pain from the shock as the wounds from before acted up.

「 ...Fine. 」

I looked up to see the wolf looming on me. I don’t know how, I could tell that he was angry. His mere glare pierced through all the accusations I was about to say. Fear crept up my back, and I immediately cursed myself.

「 Thou rather I didn’t save thee, so be it. 」

Then he turned away from and me and started walking away.

I was relieved he didn’t hurt me, but as he walked further and further, uneasiness wells up in me.

Wait, Eretz...

I was screaming inside, not wanting to be left alone. I was so afraid of the darkness that returns when I’m all alone, eating away at the mind, twisting it slowly until I become like him. I was scared because that person was there, laughing in the dark, his laugh drowning out my own voiceless scream.

Wait...

Before I knew it, the tears that I’d thought I spent welled up as I was overwhelmed by the fear of being left alone.

please, Eretz! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!

Streams trickled down uncontrollably as I shouted out to him. The thought of being alone clouded my mind and all I could think of was to run up to the wolf and never let him go. Even so, I fell down as soon as I tried to stand up.

Please, don’t leave me alone....

I clawed the dirt as I tried to stand up, but there was no use. I couldn’t feel any power in any of my limbs. I just cowered there, staring at the ground with watery eyes as I curse my own foolishness.

When I’d lost all hope, I felt a presence in front of me. I slowly looked up to see the wolf there staring down at me.

I’m sorry...

He said nothing. He just stood there for awhile as if deciding whether to take me or not. Then he lowered his back at me, still saying nothing.

.....

..........

We traversed the maze in quietly, with only the soft sound of his footsteps to fill the silence. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. He must’ve been.

Eretz...

I don’t know how long we spent in the uncomfortable silence, but it wasn’t until some time later before I said what I actually wanted to say.

...Thank you.

At that time, it never occurred to me that there was truth to some of the wildness I accused him of. Thinking back… with me in that condition, it was probably or the better...

=== === ===

=== === ===

I watch the swirling in my cup as I stir it in thought. This morning too, I felt like I dreamt about the past. How long will that place haunt my dreams?

Even though everything is going well, I can’t help but have this feeling like something big’s going to happen. I guess that’s a given, huh... since there’s no other reason why Thalvos would need to make the deal.

Anyway, what should I do now? I barely have a plan, but now some things came up that would probably drag me down. First is my inability to read, and second is the thing with the church. Oh, I should probably count the spiders as well. With so much thing in the way, I’ll probably need someone to help and protect me, at least until I know the extent of my own power.

Luise seems like a good choice. He’s quick-witted and respected as a prodigy among the drifters. There also seems to be a solidarity among them, so the other drifters would probably help me as well if I was in some kind of trouble. However, if I were to marry him, it might become a shackle once I need to search for that person. Hmm... what to do...

*sigh*

No point in worrying, I guess. I’ll just have to go with whatever I have at hand. First step is to know more about myself. The Nexy won’t identify me, so hopefully I’ll get something out of this status card.

After some time waiting, the door clicks open and someone comes out.

“Come in. Are you the last one?”

I nod at him; A lean young man with blonde hair tied in a short ponytail, dressed in a lab coat with a face mask covering most of his face.

...Wait, lab coat? What exactly will be done to me?

I walk inside the room and the first thing I notice is the suspicious examination bed. I say suspicious because there’s shackling mechanisms on where the wrists, ankles, and the neck would be if I were to lie down.

“Let’s see... any condition I should know of, miss...?”

Umm... *shakes head*.

“Oh, are you the mute faean? ‘Photosensitivity in the eyes and skin’, then. Guess that explains the hood.”

Right.

“Now, please lie down on the bed for the test. Oh, sorry, but your clothing will be in the way.”

Ah, is that so...

Then I start taking my clothes off starting from the coat. As I’m about to take off the rest, the man grabs my hand to stop me.

“I don’t mean all of it. Just the coat is enough.”

...Oh.

I hesitate before laying down on the bed. I mean, why the restraints? I look at the man to somehow convey my doubts, but he only stares at me back with blank eyes. I wave my hand in front of him to get him out of his daze.

“Oh, sorry... I was just looking,”

he muttered under his breath.

Looking?

“I’ve never seen a faean before, and there’s so many myths around them. Maybe... if I could get a sample... *mumble, mumble* “

What?

He awkwardly coughs before continuing,

“The restraints are just there for euphosys patients, so don’t worry about it. Please lie on your side, facing away from me.”

I do as he told, but still feel uneasy about it. I hear some clattering noise, so I peek behind me, and...

Umm... that’s a big needle.

He notices what I’m looking at as he looks at me in the eye and says,

“...Don’t worry about it.”

There’s no way I won’t worry about it! I also see another, smaller needle on his other hand. Why the hell would you need two?!

“Okay, now please bend your body so that your chin and knees are close to the chest.”

Ugh... I don’t like this.

After I assume the fetal position, he pulls my shirt up so that my waist is exposed.

“Excuse me,”

he said as he palpated the area on my lower back and wet it with some kind of cloth. I’m guessing some form of antiseptic from the smell.

“I need you to stay still, okay?”

Dude, you’re making me nerv‒OW! What the... is that the big one he just used?! No, wait... it’s the small one?

I look behind at him and see him still holding the big one. Looking closely, it really seems long and would probably penetrate deep. W‒Will he really put that inside me?

“For this one, need you to stay very, very stilI.”

Oh god... I have a feeling I won’t like this very much.

.....

..........

“How was it, whitey?”

Latasha asked me with a grin on her face. Judging from her reaction, she seemed to know what the process was.

“The little wuss cried, you know. I guess it’s just as expected.”

“I didn’t cry!”

“Liar. Your eyes were red!”

“It’s okay, miss Farica. It was really so scary for me too,”

Kaelyn interjected in a poor attempt to comfort her.

By the way, Aira is here as well. Excluding sharpie, the ones here were examined to have our status cards printed. As for the other girls, most of them were already sent home this morning.

After some time waiting, the door clicks open and a man comes out with my and Farica’s cards.

“The cards need some time to display your status. Just keep it close with you and it’ll pop right on,”

the man said as he hands us our cards. I look at it and... it’s just blank.

“Mine just says my name on it...” (Farica)

“Oh, mine too when I first got it. It shouldn’t be long.” (Kaelyn)

“Whitey’s totally blank, though,”

Latasha said as she peeks at the card from behind me.

“By the way, I know about wuss and wolfie, but what about you, ruddy? What’s your story?”

“Eh... me? I’m just...”

“It’s okay, Kaelyn. You can tell us,”

Farica said to her.

“How did you get kidnapped? Was your home raided as well?”

“No, I... I wasn’t kidnapped... ah, your card is showing something, miss Farica.”

“Hmm? Ah, you’re right!”

Farica exclaimed as she holds the card before her. Mine’s still blank, so I quickly went to see what’s written on hers.

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│11│ │87%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│8│/26

Name

Farica Weyhlmir

Species

Human

Gender

Female

Age

14 years old

Titles

Mana Affinity

Mana Pool

“Wow, how does it do that? I never told them my age. Is it magic?”

“Sort of, I suppose. I’m not sure myself, but I read that there’s a whole network that archives everything. The only people with access to it are the holy saint and the king-emperor. At least, that’s what that book said.”

As they talked about that, something appears in my card. Letters are forming as if from nothing, and weird as it may, I can read it. Well... not exactly. I meant that I can understand the readable words, but... I can’t read the rest, and it’s got nothing to do with my illiteracy. Just... what the heck?

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│7│ │64%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│78│/

Name

□τη□ρ□, ΝΞΙΔ IndolantFay

Species

Γ□ Human

Gender

Female

Age

17 months old

Titles

□ρβ□τ□ρ

□νδ□λ□ντ Φ□ψ

Ωη□τ□ ς□λκ□ρ□□

Γ□ϖ□ρ □φ Ω□σδ□μ

Μ□ρτ□ρ□δ Γ□δδ□σ

Master of Sins

Indelible Survivor

Champion of the Dark God

She Who Deals With Demons

Mana Affinity

Mana Pool

....I don’t know where to start.

It seems that the data displayed here is similar to the subnex, but... what’s with this? I can’t read my own name, and then there’s those titles. Also, my age is apparently seventeen months old. If I know correctly, there’s five months in a year, so... three and a half years? Is that how long I was in Purgatory?

And then there’s that. “Champion of the Dark God?” What the heck? All I did was make a deal! In any case, I refuse to be his champion!

“Hey, what about yours, whitey?”

Oh, crap. If anyone sees this...

“Hey, let me see!”

Shite! I gotta do something!

I hold my breath as Latasha snatches the card from my hand. I wait to see her reaction, but she’s saying nothing. She mentioned something about a holy saint... is she acquainted? Don’t tell me... is she going to report me to the church?!

“ ‘Fay’, huh...”

Eh...?

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│7│ │64%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│78│/

Name

Fay

Species

Human

Gender

Female

Age

17 years old

Titles

Indelible Survivor

Mana Affinity

Mana Pool

It... It worked! Thank you, Nexy! You’re as helpful as always!

Heh, as reserved as always, aren’t you.

“Latasha, I want to see, too...”

“Ah, here.”

As Farica looks at my card, a warm smile forms on her face.

“So it’s Fay....”

Ah, well...

It was the only name I could think of, to be honest.

“What’s with that? It suits you so much!”

Latasha said that cheerfully, but it feels like she’s forcing it. Somehow, she seems a little sad? I wonder if there’s still something wrong with my status.

“Eh..? Why is her mana blank too?” (Farica)

“That’s because you have to get tested for it. It’s really expensive, though, so most commoners wouldn’t probably take the test if it’s not worth it.” (Latasha)

“Oh, she has a title! Both me and miss Farica only has the four above it.” (Kaelyn)

“Ah, yeah... it’s only name, species, gender, and age.” (Farica)

Hmm? That’s weird. The vim and pull rate... ah, they’re not from the subnex. Could it be that they can’t see it, then?

“Excuse me, lassies,”

a growl said from the doorway.

“Oh, bruin, You need something?”

“Someone came for you, said his name’s Yacob. Is he the one you’re waiting for?”

“Ah, yeah, that’s him.”

“And also, miss Kaelyn. A couple came for you. They’re claiming to be your parents.”

In reaction, instead of looking happy, Kaelyn seems terrified instead.

“M‒My parents...?”

“Yes. Someone from the force contacted them and told them that you’re here. You don’t have to meet them, though.”

I can see her being flustered over this. Could it be what I’m thinking?

“Eh? Why wouldn’t she meet them?” (Farica)

“You said you weren’t kidnapped... ruddy, you...” (Latasha)

“I... I wasn’t,”

Kaelyn answered, stammering on her words.

“I wasn’t kidnapped, I... I was...”

“...Sold?”

“...Yes...”

Ah, so it really was that.

“...Why aren’t her parents arrested, bruin?”

Latasha asked with a cold voice.

“They claimed that she was kidnapped and denied any involvement with the slavers. The investigation is ongoing, but now they’re pushing their right of custody to get their daughter back.”

“But... she doesn’t have to?”

“That’s right,”

the chief replied as he points at the card in Kaelyn’s hand.

“Your status card means you have the right to choose your own future. Of course, it all depends on whether she wants to go back or not.”

The room goes silent as we all looked at Kaelyn. I can clearly see that the girl in question is troubled with the decision. Who wouldn’t?

I don’t even know what’s worse. To have your loved ones killed and then kidnapped to become a slave, or to be sold as a slave by them? And then, for the same people to come pick her up after she was rescued is just... well, weird.

“We can have them leave if you want, or you can leave with them,”

“I... I want to stay,”

she replied as she looked up at the chief.

“I want to be drifter.”

“...Are you sure? To fight beasts and protect people, it’s a harsh job even for men...”

“I... I’m sure!”

Kaelyn said adamantly, her eyes burning with determination.

“...I see. I was told it might come to this based on your interview... Very well then. You’ll start at F-rank and do small jobs while Hork trains you. Is that okay?”

“Y‒Yes! Thank you!”

“As for the others... miss Farica, you said you want to be a healer?”

“Ah, yes...”

Farica replied.

“Rips said he’s willing to take you as his apprentice.”

“Really? I... I’d love to!”

“Oh, he’s the guy who examined you, by the way.”

“EH?!”

The chief laughs at her reaction.

“Don’t be like that, little one. I know he’s a bit off, but he kind of grows on you over time. Take it from me, but he’s a damn good healer too. I’m sure you’re in good hands with him as your trainer.”

“That doesn’t sound convincing when you guys call him ‘Rips’,”

Latasha remarked, inciting another laugh from the chief.

“Don’t worry about it,”

he replied, mimicking the creepy physician.

“Oh, god....” (Farica)

“Now, for miss Aira...”

“Y‒Yes?”

The luphaen voiced out in a small voice. She’d been silent this whole time, sticking to her own corner.

“The commissioner himself offered you a position in our administration. There’ll be people to train you in management and human relations. It’ll be hard at first, but you can go at your own pace.”

“Yes... thank you...”

She answered in a barely audible voice.

Finally, the chief turns towards me and I know it’s my turn to know my fate here.

“Now then, as for you, little magus...”

“Fay!”

Farica interjected him.

“Pardon?”

“Her name is Fay.”

“I see... well, miss Fay, there’s talk about getting you a mentor in magic. Of course, magi always sell their services high, so we had a discussion last night.”

“And...?” (Latasha)

“Well, in the middle of it, Sallis came in and elected himself. He said he wants to start tomorrow.”

“Eh? creepo did?”

“Aye. That creepo is a primage graduate of the Vikorian Institute and is a well-respected member of the Zef. Normally, his price is sky-high, but he said he even got an arrangement from his society to train her, free of charge.”

“But why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, lassie. But one thing I know is that magi never do things for charity, not really. They always have something going on in their little heads and in this case, I suspect they intend to have the little miss join their society.”

After explaining that, the chief turns towards me.

“That said, it’s your choice. Sallis said that he’ll be assessing you for further mentoring. If you pass, you’ll be trained to be a certified magus.”

Ah... isn’t this it? If I become a magus, I will able to defend myself without relying on anyone else. Besides, I’ll also be able to learn a few things about my objective... well, there’s one problem, though.

“Latasha, is it okay? I mean, with how she can’t read...” (Farica)

“What’s that? She can’t read?” (Chief)

Whoa, he heard that? Avlarks and their hearings...

“If that’s true, then it’s certainly a proble‒”

“It won’t be a problem!”

Latasha said, her voice bordering on shouting before continuing on,

“true, she can’t read, she can’t write, and heck, she can’t even speak. Yet she’s still capable of what she did, didn’t she?”

“I... suppose that’s true... but if she can’t speak and write, then it would make all the more tricky. I’m not sure Sallis would want to‒”

“Oh, come on. You said he’s a primage graduate. He should figure it out.”

In reaction, the chief only stared at her wide-eyed in silence before suddenly bursting out in a big laughter.

“Hahahah! Well said, lass! Let him figure it out, and if he won’t take you in, it’s his loss!”

Putting his hand on my shoulder, I can see a new vigor in his eyes as he says to us,

“You go, lass. Go and prove yourselves and make anyone who wronged you regret their decisions. Go, and don’t let the world’s sufferings bog you down. I remember, the commander once said‒”

“Yeah, we got it, chief. Anyway, I have to go and meet the guy now,”

Latasha said, cutting the chief off in the middle of his pep talk.

“Are you going to leave..?” (Farica)

“Eh?! Already?” (Kaelyn)

“Well, maybe. Maybe not right away. I’ve got to get home before... err.. before my parents start worrying for me.”

“Oh...”

We left the infirmary after that, leaving the chief behind. I wonder if he still had something to say...

The foyer is busy like it was yesterday. Some people greets us with hearty smiles, but most don’t even notice the five girls walking through the busy hall.

“Mistre‒I mean, Latasha!”

Some guy shouted at her. It was a man in a suit sitting on one of the table sets, now running over to us.

“Yacob. You got here faster than I thought.”

“I was in the area when I got word from your uncle. Oh my, greetings, miladies,”

He said after noticing the rest of us as he does a small gentlemanly bow.

“Who is he, her boyfriend...?”

Kaelyn whispered to us.

“How soon can we depart?”

“The carriage is ready at your word.”

“Oh... I see...”

Latasha looks slightly disappointed for some reason. She may have wanted to spend more time with us.

“Kaely..? Is that you?”

A woman’s voice came from the entrance. I look there and see a red-haired woman with a man who’s probably her husband.

“Oh my, it is you! We’ve been searching for you. Come now, sweetheart. Let’s go home.”

The woman has a soothing voice and like her daughter, she’s really nice to look at. Even so, her words don’t reach the eyes. In reaction, Kaelyn quickly hides behind me.

“Kaely, dear...? Why are you hiding behind that suspicious person?”

“She... She’s not suspicious!”

Umm... I kinda am, with the hood and all.

“Kaely, come on... your brothers are waiting for you...”

“No!”

Just as the woman is about to reach for her, Latasha steps in her way. I can see the woman’s brows furrowing as she glares at her.

“Who are you? Why are you getting in my way?”

“Who are you? What makes you think she’d do as you tell her?”

“I’m her mother!”

“A mother doesn’t sell her children to slavers.”

“That’s... That’s not true!”

As they argue, I look behind me at the girl in question. The trembling, unconscious grasping, and dilated pupils... I’ve had my share of terrifying experiences and from that, I know that what’s happening to her right now can’t be faked. She’s afraid of her own mother.

“That’s enough! She’s my daughter! I have every right!”

“Mistress!”

I see Yacob rushing in as the woman raises her hand, but at the last moment, Latasha stops him and takes the hit as the sound of the slap reverberates through the hall. Judging from the sound of it, it was a perfectly placed slap on the face.

“Latasha!” (Farica)

“It’s your own fault, brat. You simply don’t get between a mother and her daughter, your hear me? For now, I’ll let you off, but yo‒”

The woman stops when Latasha shows her something in her hand. A... status card?

“This is who I am.”

“What....”

“Now if you don’t want to be erased, never go near your daughter again, ever. If you understand, don’t say a word. Just leave. Now.”

The woman fidgets in place, her eyes darting around as her mind tries to process it all. In the end, she turns her back and darts out the entrance, dragging her husband with her.

“....Eh?”

Kaelyn blurted out from behind me, probably confused on why her mother just left in fear.

“...I thought you lost it,”

Farica said to her.

“I did. I got it made this morning, you see.”

She turns at us with a smile on her face, disregarding the red mark on her cheek.

“Latasha... your cheek...”

“It’s nothing, wuss,”

She replied, strangely glancing at me as she did so.

“Why... why did she leave? What did you show her?” (Kaelyn)

“Oh... just this.”

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│19│ │76%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│14│/72

Name

Latasha Ardent

Species

Human

Gender

Female

Age

18 years old

Titles

House Ardent Heir Apparent

Mana Affinity

Medium – Water

Mana Pool

14

“That’s... you’re...

“Sorry for hiding it. I didn’t want for you guys to start treating me differently. Oh, these two already know, though.”

We stand there in silence for awhile. I look to the side and notice that the commotion has attracted some attention, and now some people are walking towards us.

“Oh, crap. They’ll be asking questions... err, so, I need to go now. You all be good, okay?”

Then, just as Latasha is about to leave, Kaelyn runs up to her and hugs her from behind.

“Hey, what...”

“Miss Latasha...”

I can’t see her face, but there’s some audible sobbings.

“Thank you for everything...”

“Ah, yeah, but please let me go. Oi, wuss, help me out!”

Farica walks up to them, but instead of separating them, she just hugs her from the front.

“Wha... you too?! Whitey, can you just...”

Uh-huh.

I look behind me and see Aira just standing there awkwardly. I smile at her as I offer my hand to the luphaen.

“Umm... miss Fay?”

Come on.

Grabbing her hand, I take her and we both join the group hug.

“Whitey, you numbcod...!”

All of a sudden, I hear people clapping their hands around us. Oh, right. We were in the middle of the busy hall...

Huh? Wha... there’s another person joining in. No... it’s a bear?

“BRUIN, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!”

“Oh, hey! Let me join in!”

“Me too!”

Then, more and more guys rushed in, all of them the drifters that rescued us. In the end, we’re trapped in the middle of a giant group hug, made up of a dozen sweaty, burly men and one big bear.

“This is harassment!”

I hear Latasha shouting, but her voice is easily drowned in the excitement. This is touching and all... but, chief... please... I can’t breathe....

.....

..........

We stand in front of the guild building as we watch her go inside the carriage. Even now, Kaelyn is still sobbing beside me. Makes me wonder how much tears a human has. I know for a fact that they run out at some point.

“Latasha...”

“Yeah, wuss?”

“Umm... take care.”

Latasha just smiles at us, not the sarcastic smile she usually does, but a genuine, warm smile. It’s only there for a second though, like a mirage.

“Hey, wuss. You’re going to be dealing with blood and stuff, you know. Stop being a wuss, got that, wuss?”

“I know that!”

“And ruddy. You’re even more of a wuss than wuss herself. You think you can take on a beast like that?”

“I‒I’m sorry!”

“And you, wolfie. I can barely hear your voice. How can you take care of other people when you can’t even sound your voice out like an adult?”

“I... understand....”

I think her voice is slightly better this time, but now that we’re outside, it’s even less detectable than before. Now looking at me, I expect Latasha to say something to me like she did to the others. She opens her mouth, about to say something, but stops herself in the end.

“...Take care, you all.”

With a wave of her hand, the coach whips his rope and the fancy-looking carriage starts moving away.

“There she goes...”

A rumbling growl came behind us and I see a looming mountain of fur blocking the sun for us.

“Did you also know, chief?”

Kaelyn asked him.

“Aye. We said nothing because her safety was paramount at the time. Even now, it’s best if we keep silent about this, else someone who wants her hurt might hear about it.”

“I get it... I just wished that she’d told the rest of us. Don’t you think so, Ai?”

“E..h? Oh, umm...”

“Hahah, but it sure was a storm! The cardinals only abide by the sovereign’s words, you know. It’s hard to imagine that someone like her just spent a night in our little guild.”

“Little, you say,”

Farica remarked.

I look towards the road again, but the carriage is now gone in the midst of the busy road.

Latasha Ardent...

Until the very end, she had that mask on with us. It’s a bit sad, somehow. I feel like she’d been forcing herself from the start with the noble act, and that’s probably why I couldn’t see her like that. She was good, really, as if she trained herself from a young age. If I didn’t have experience in reading lies, I wouldn’t have even noticed.

Wherever she’s going, I just hope she’ll find someone to whom she can be open to.

Now then, I still have my own problems to deal with. First off is... find a way to communicate. Yeah, that’s the most important thing, I suppose.

=== === ===

--- --- ---

=== === ===

“Mistress...?”

“What is it?”

I answered the servant who’s sitting opposite of me. I can tell from his face that he’s worried, but that’s what got me annoyed instead.

“Shall I find a healer for you?”

“I’m fine, Yacob.”

“Were you hurt anywhere? During the time you were captured, did they do anything to yo‒”

“I said I’m fine.”

I dismissed him rather heartlessly. Sorry, but I’m not really in the mood right now. I just want to get home quickly.

The “trip” this time has been unbelieveable. I mean, to think I almost got enslaved by a bunch of low-lives... And now, I finally get to go home. Even so, the thought of having to continue with my daily life is just plain depressing. Maybe I can get a couple of days off? A week, maybe...

A week of just laying there in my bed, reading my books. No, not all those science and history books. They’re just a bunch of boring facts bind together. I meant real books, like this one I’m holding, the one those two used to learn reading. Tales of heroic journeys, tales of heartwarming love, stuff like that. I especially like the ones that provokes your imagination, like that one about a hero blessed with the blood of dragon and then using his powers to defeat the evil dragon who wanted to eat the world. Yeah, that one was good...

Of course, all those things are considered improper for the heir of House Ardent. I know it’s selfish of me, but sometimes I think I’m unlucky to have been born in this household. Because, well... the truth is, I’m not good with people, and I’ve never been. It scares me what they think of me, and what my actions will do to change how they see me. I’m also sentimental, you see. I cry quite easily, and it’s a wonder no one saw me cry the whole time. I made sure to wipe off the marks so that no one knew, but... It’s kind of sad, really.

All I ever wanted is to cave myself in my bedroom and read all year long, but the fact is... I’m the heir. I have a responsibility to my family, and the people who work for the honor of my house. I also have an image to maintain in order for people not to look down on us. And that was how this version of Latasha was born.

The girl who looks down on others, who does what she wants and doesn’t even bother looking at commoners. This face that I made was probably inspired by uncle, and it had been working quite well... until now.

I, who’s always been scared of people, actually stepped up in order to protect someone else. Even now, I still can’t believe what I did. The events of these past month changed something in me. I don’t know if it’s for the better or not, but... yeah, something definitely changed.

“...What is it, Yacob?”

I said to him because he was staring at me weirdly for a while now.

“Ah, it’s nothing... it’s just that.. you’ve changed.”

I know that.

“Nonsense.”

“It’s true, though. To think that you would ever stand up for the people you once called “plebies”...”

“Shut up, Yacob.”

Certainly, the people I’ve met, the hardships I’ve seen... they all made me realize the reality of the world, and all of a sudden, I feel like I’m not that that scared of people anymore. For the first time, I felt the need to protect someone. Farica, Kaelyn, Aira, and also... her.

She was unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She never said a word, but... I don’t know how to explain it. Like when she looks at you, her eyes just seem to reel you in and all of a sudden, you’d find yourself unable to look away. And then you’d feel like she spoke to you, directly to your soul... or something like that.

And then when I saw her body, I... I was seriously about to tear up then and there. The terrible things she’d gone through, the things she was probably forced to do, I... I can’t imagine it. I don’t want to imagine it...

Fay....

I hope we’ll meet again, someday... maybe she’ll be a magus, and I’ll be the head of the house. Maybe I can hire her to be my court magus. Yeah, that’ll be good...

“...Hmm?”

Wait, where are we going?

“Oy, Yacob. This isn’t the road home. The district is to the southwest.”

“I’m terribly sorry, mistress... your uncle said for me to take you to the Azure Palace. You see, he told this kingdom’s king that you’re here and now they want to greet you while you’re in the country. There will be a fancy banquet and all to welcome you.”

“I’ll pass on that. Send word and some fancy gifts. Say I’m not well or something, I don’t care.”

“Ah, well... that’s what Lord Tevan thought you would say. He also said that there’ll be someone there at the palace. The reason you came here, was what he said.”

“......Ah.”

So uncle knew, huh... well, what did I expect? He knows everything, especially if it concerns me. I had given up on meeting that person long ago, but looks like I’ll be meeting him, after all...

“Redrik Vane...”

I blurted out absentmindedly as I stare at the evening sky, layered with a shade of crimson as the sky descends behind the mountain ranges.

“I guess I’ll go meet the king for a bit. What’s his name again?”

“Qwarius the Third, King of Lephander and Arch-treasurer of the Forholds. I think it’s best if you remember him, mistress...”

“Whatever. He’s just one of Redrik’s puppets, anyway.”

“Mistress!”

At least that’s what uncle said.

“Oh, and Yacob. About all this... if they knew...”

“I know. ‘Field trip’, right?”

“Yes... thanks, Yacob.”

Well then, it seems that my journey isn’t over yet.

.........

“Yacob, if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll have to retract what I just said.”

“Eh? No, please don’t!”

Indeed, I can’t recall any time I’ve ever thanked him and I feel kind of bad now, considering all the trouble he’s gone through just to get me back safely. So yeah, I thanked him. Just this once.

“That smile, though....”

...Aagh! This guy... I may have raised the corners of my mouth a little when I said thanks to him, but why is he giggling happily like a girl now!

“Here, have a foot, courtesy of a cardinal lady, you fucking codtard.”

“Aah, I miss this mistress as well...”

Ugh...

Now I remember why I never thanked him...

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Chapter RSS About the author 3 Fictions 38 Posts 3 Threads Derthian Follow Author Wednesday, December 7, 2016 6:16:19 PM Duck Penguin

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