CH 163

Could it be? All the components needed were right here. Wasn’t this as if the book’s author was practically saying, “I’m counting on you guys to help Estian starting right now?” Her eyes continued down the page as she read through what appeared to be step-by-step real-time instructions. Her eyes lingered when she came to the last sentence.

We failed, but Cecile, I wish you success. – 999,999,999th Cecile.

It was addressed as Cecile, just like the protagonist’s name in the book appearing during the incident with Girgantia was also Cecile. “…They’re all Cecile,” she muttered blankly.

“Come on, we have to get out of here!”

“As quickly as possible!”

The other four had recovered and were yelling at Cecile to hurry so they could make their escape. However, she knew what they had to do. Turning to the four of them, Cecile addressed them in a serious tone, “Everyone, listen carefully to me from now on.” The gravity in her voice made all of them pause from their panicked states and stare at her.

* * *

“This is madness!” Girgantia cried, as he flew into the sky moments later.

‘I know it’s crazy too,’ Cecile thought. She was gripping the scepter with a determined look on her face, as she rode atop the howling dragon. She had no intention of denying that what they were attempting was crazy, but they were following the instructions that the book had dictated, so she had to follow through. ‘The way to restore Estian’ could’ve as easily been titled ‘the quickest way to die.’

Girgantia flew, or more accurately, dived towards the city, as requested by Cecile. Aled was hanging onto the dragon’s left wing, while Richard hung on the right. Both were surrounded by a mysterious light and complex glowing letters; they seemed to be casting some sort of spell. Meanwhile, Tania was seated in the middle, thrashing at the black tendrils attacking them from all sides with her fists. The impact of her fists connecting against the black mass caused explosions all around Girgantia as they continued to pick up speed.

Cecile stared straight into the black mass, that seemed to be an endless darkening abyss covering the ground. Her hair whipped madly around her from the speed of their descent, but she was thankful as it kept her vision clear. Her eyes stung from the painful cold, but she could endure this much.

Lifting the scepter above her head with all her strength, she fixed her gaze downwards. The book had written that her role was to find the ‘two red eyes struggling in the deepest depths’ and strike it. Yet, even as they drew closer, she couldn’t find what the book told her to seek.

“There’s no way it’s there! We have to turn back!”

“Shut up, Richard!”

“Let’s go back I say!”

“Aled, you too!”

Tania smartly kept her mouth zipped, even as the others cried out in doubt. Still, Girgantia was fast approaching the ground, and at this rate they would soon crash. ‘No, it has to be there,’ Cecile thought. She had to have faith in the book, since it was the only way to save Estian.

It was then—Cecile saw something gleam from below. It was red, and there were two of them! She fixed her gaze on the red shining lights that seemed to be looking right back at her. Even though there was no resemblance whatsoever to what she remembered, Cecile called out his name as she swung down the scepter.

“Estiaaan!”

In that instant, a golden light enveloped the world, and Cecile’s memories faded to black.

* * *

“Mmm…” Cecile hummed. A delicious smell tickled her nose, and it felt like she was wrapped in something soft. She buried her face into the softness and murmured happily. There was a bouncy sensation that was pleasant and familiar. This place must be… “The Empress’s palace?” Cecile mumbled, as she peeked open her eyes. The dazzling sunlight made her squint and close her eyes again. Was it morning?

“Awake?” A familiar scent wafted accompanied the familiar voice.

“Your Majesty?” Cecile’s eyes snapped open at the sound of Estian’s voice. She found him gazing at her with upturned eyes, while lying beside her. Seeing his usual appearance, she smiled bashfully and murmured, “I had a strange dream.”

“A strange dream?”

“Well… Your Majesty went to war, but you turned into something weird… and I fell into a gate. And then, I swung the scepter to save you…” she trailed off. Honestly, what kind of nonsensical dream had that been? Cecile felt like a long roster of people had made appearances in it—Girgantia, Tania, Richard, and even Aled! What a truly hectic dream. Aside from that, she also vaguely remembered something strange… like a huge pile of books perhaps? “Anyway, it was such a senseless and odd dream. It was exhausting.”

Estian smiled and neatly combed back Cecile’s hair, thread by thread. “I know,” he replied.

Cecile returned his smile. It was enough that he knew. With that thought in mind, she tried to raise her body, but Estian swiftly grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up. She winced and let out a groan. But why? She hadn’t noticed when she was lying down, but why did her body ache all over?

“Cecile, did you think it was all a dream?”

Estian’s question prompted Cecile to revisit what she’d thought was a dream. ‘Hang on… aren’t these memories too clear?’ She seemed to recall the events with too much clarity, and the pain she’d experienced felt too vivid.

With a chuckle, Estian reached out to pull open the curtains surrounding the bed. Cecile found herself staring at Aled and Richard, with their foreheads stuck to the ground, hands behind their back and bottoms in the air, while Girgantia and Tania knelt next to them with their arms held straight up in the air.

‘What’s going on?’ Cecile wondered with wide eyes.

Estian leaned close and whispered tenderly to his bewildered wife, “It wasn’t a dream.”