Chapter 129 - Sharing Our Stories 2_2

"..."

Dishonesty closed her eyes and fell silent after once again, she heard the fact that I was a woman while we were living in the previous world.

I don't know why she ask this story to be repeated.

We didn't speak and the only voice that was heard between us was the sound effects when Kimi eating the snacks. And oh! Sometimes, I hear the sound of the wind that blowing gently.

The atmosphere became more and more awkward every time a second passed. 

Since she didn't show any expression, I don't know what she was thinking. Thanks to that, I hesitated to say anything.

When Dishonesty doesn't move, she's like a beautiful doll. She was an extraordinary piece of art.

She was so different from someone I knew.

We didn't open our mouths for the next few minutes. This silence started to suffocate me.

I can't stand all the silence anymore. Hence, "... Are you still making manga?" I started.

"Manga? That word brings nostalgia." She opened her eyes to look at me. "Unfortunately, this world doesn't have good paper. I can't make manga but I write short stories and make it into a book"

"I'm curious and want to read it."

"You'll get a chance. Now, if I remembered, you got an Item that would give you a Unique Skill. Can you tell me the Unique Skill you got?"

"... I don't mind, but why would you want to know?"

"I'm just curious," Dishonesty replied. 

The Bell of Truth doesn't sound. So, she's honest. Our eyes met shortly after I saw the golden bell. And it makes me feel uncomfortable.

I didn't want to show my mistrust but it seemed, I couldn't hide that feeling well.

My face heated up after I heard her say, "I'll also tell you and show you my Unique Skill."

"All right." I nodded. "The Unique Skill I got from Gaia Tears is called the Heart of Monsters. That Unique Skill allowed me to obtain some Stat Points and a randomly selected Skill from a monster by eating their meat and Magic Stones. The Unique Skill will also raise my Basic Statistics if I activate it."

Dishonesty narrowed her eyes. "Can you use the skills obtained from monsters?"

"Yes, look at this." I showed her my left hand before I finally said, "[Sharp Claws]"

A claw made of red light was created at each end of my fingers as I used the Skill.

"That was amazing," said Dishonesty, who then pinched one of my claws of light.

Yes, I tried to pull my hand away because I didn't want her to get hurt but... She can still catch the claw.

A moment later, Dishonesty put a Magic Stones - which she took out of nowhere - to the table.

And wow! The Magic Stone was as big as a human heart. And not only that, these rugby ball-shaped Magic Stones are like a starry night sky packed in a glass container.

This Magic Stone is so beautiful and I wonder, what kind of monster has a Magic Stone like this.

"Eat those Magic Stones and tell me the Skill you got."

"When was this Magic Stone taken from its owner?"

"Hmm... Maybe two hundred years ago."

"That's been too long and I won't get any skills from this Magic Stone?"

"Why is that?"

"Since to get a Skill, the Magic Stones I ate should still be fresh, no more than four hours after the monster that possessed them was killed."

"That's such a binding drawback."

Again, she closed her eyes and leaned back into her chair. Once again, silence engulfed us.

"Try this snack, big sis. They are so delicious." 

Kimi gave me a cookie. And I, who don't know what to do, eat those cookies. Now, I choose to wait for her to start a new conversation.

A few minutes passed...

"What do you want to do in this world?" asked Dishonesty suddenly.

"I want to find all of you, my family in the Estoque Familia."

"After that?"

After that... I'm not too sure, "maybe staying with you guys or going on adventures together, as we used to when we were in Ark Fantasy Online."

"Hmm... That's pretty hard to do."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because- forget it." Dishonesty shook her head. Then, she opened her eyes. "Let me show you my Unique Skill, [Abyss]"

Shortly after she said that word, thousands of black balls of various sizes appeared and floated around us. Every second, they keep changing their shape.

"Wow it's amazing," said Kimi, who then tried to touch a black ball nearby.

"A, a, a, little girl." 

Along with Dishonesty's voice, the black ball that Kimi was about to touch drifted away.

"Your hands will melt if you touch that black ball. So don't approach them, okay?"

"Eep!" The little girl made a strange noise. At the same time, she pulled her hand which wanted to touch another black ball.

A moment later, all the black balls disappeared.

"Abyss makes me able to control the dark element at will. This skill isn't like Dark Magic because I don't need any Spell to use it. For the record, Abyss is much stronger than Dark Magic."

"It was amazing and scary," I said.

Kimi who was beside me made some strong nods.

"Then I'll be more careful in using it and... Get ready, a commotion is coming."

"What do you mean by commotion?"

I wondered and Dishonesty didn't say anything. A moment later...

"Dear mother...!" A scream was heard.

I turned to the source of the voice to see a young Flugel flying close to us at high speed. 

And in a few seconds...

Thump!

She arrived at our place. 

The girl then hugged Dishonesty and rubbed her cheeks on the expressionless woman's cheeks.

"Dear mother, when did you wake up? Why didn't you see me, dear mother? I felt the flow of violent Mana just now. Is dear mother okay?"

The young Flugel - who looks eighteen - is beautiful. Her eyes were emerald just like dishonesty. While her wavy hair is black. At first glance, the girl looks like Dishonesty when the woman is in Ark Fantasy Online.

And more important to all of that... 

"Mother?" I asked Dishonesty.

Dishonesty nodded. "This little girl is named Yuldra. She is my noisy daughter."

"I'm not noisy," Yuldra protested.

And yes, it's quite shocking. I didn't think Dishonesty was married. If she had indeed lived in this world for a thousand years, marriage was not strange.

"Everything has changed, right?" I asked with a smile.

"Yes that's right," Said Dishonesty. A piece of sadness color her voice.

"Dear mother, who is she?" Yuldra saw me. Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

"She is Eclaite, she is my friend."

"Dear mother's friend!?" Yuldra's voice rose. 

She was so shocked and she looked at Dishonesty with eyes filled with disbelief.

"Why did you give me such an expression?"

"Dear mother's always cold and- anyway." Yuldra moved her head to look at me. "Nice to meet you, Miss Eclaite."

"Same as me, Yuldra."

"Oh! I just remembered! Dear mother, there's an Airship docked at the dock. We have visitors from the surface!"

"Yuldra, they are not from the surface. They are from the Flying Continent and they are Eclaite friends."

"My friends? Are they chasing us?"

"No, but I told some Flugels to guide them here."

"Can I see them?"

"Of course," said Dishonesty who then saw Yuldra. "Can you take Eclaite?"

"... I want to spend time with my dear mother."

"We can spend some time tonight. For now, please welcome our guests and guide them to a place where they can spend the night. I can't do it myself because I have a few things to do. So, can you do that?"

"...fine. But we'll sleep together later tonight."

"Alright, we'll sleep together later tonight."

"Great!" said Yuldra full of happiness.

"Rest and enjoy your time in my house, Eclaite. We'll talk again later," Dishonesty told me.

A moment later, just like Honesty, she disappeared.

"Now, Miss Eclaite, please follow me." 

Yuldra walked away and I along with Kimi followed her. We're using teleportation crystals again. And after walking for some time, I met with Ruciel and the others.

From the large number of people gathered under the watchful eye of a dozen armed Flugels, I can conclude that everyone aboard Zet was here.

And I'll say, they're like prisoners of war. They are restless, confused, and frightened. Some of them only breathed a sigh of relief after they see me and Kimi.

Kimi come closer to Alan and Chloe, the little girl hugged Chloe tightly.

"Knights, thank you for your hard work. From now on, I'll take care of them. Please, go back to your daily duties."

The knights saluted Yuldra before dispersing.

"Miss Eclaite's friends, follow me please."

Once again, I followed Yuldra. This time, I was with the others.

"Eclaite, what happened?" Ruciel asked. Ronove, Teria, and Lostria accompanied her.

"Hmm... You could say, we are currently visiting my friend's house."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Of course, and why would you ask such a question?"

"Because right now we are captured by the Flugels!" Ruciel's voice was quiet but I knew she was shouting at me.

"Well... There may have been a misunderstanding at the beginning. But I assure you, we'll be fine. Dishonesty and Honesty will never have bad intentions to us."

I tried to calm their hearts but for some reason, their faces turned so pale.