Chapter 328 Thank you, for everything?

328 Thank you, for everything?

Winter Break Arc

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(POV: Akashic Records)

Lumiere and Ravenna sauntered out of the quaint store.

Their eyes searched back and forth, possibly searching for something fun to indulge in, in the snow filled street.

Lumiere, deep in thought, gently placed a finger on his chin before turning to Ravenna. "You mentioned wanting to see a play next, didn't you?" he asked.

Ravenna let out a short, delicate cough, her voice slightly strained. "Actually, not really," she responded, partly disappointed that she couldn't.

Lumiere's eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at her concerningly. "Is it the cold...? Is it getting to you?" he inquired.

After all, even with her thick winter attire, being out in the cold for too long would be a bad idea.

A subtle shake of her head accompanied Ravenna's response, her eyes meeting Lumiere's. "No, it's not that," she assured him calmly. A smile crept across Lumiere's lips as he responded, "Well, that's good to hear."

Suddenly, Ravenna spoke up partly hesitant.

"Uhh... Lumiere...?"

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Actually, there's one more request I have," she uttered softly.

"They don't seem to end do they," Lumiere let out a sigh, his eyes meeting hers intently. "Go ahead, name it," he responded.

Ravennaʼs boots subtly played with the snow as she asked, "Could you take me to, uh, Tula Village?"

A spark of remembrance flashed across his eyes. "Tula Village... Isn't that..." Lumiere trailed off, a momentary pause enveloping the conversation. Breaking the silence, Lumiere put on a brave face and nodded. "Sure, I can take us there," he affirmed.

"Really?!" Ravenna was excited.

"Yeah," Lumiere folded his arms and nodded. Then, he looked around and then told her, "But we should probably get out of public eyes first..."

They moved towards an inconspicuous alley, where Lumiere spread his arms wide.

"Hm?" Confusion was written on Ravenna's eyes as she tilted her head curiously.

"Hop on," Lumiere told her. "I don't have teleportation, so I'll have to fly us there you know..."

"Oh, okay," Ravenna conceded, allowing Lumiere to hold her in a bridal position.

Right after, Lumiere summoned a radiant mana canopy to shield them. Moments later, black bat-like wings unfurled from his back, and together they ascended into the snow carpeted skies, soaring over the sprawling cities and picturesque landscapes.

Tula Village lay nestled in a remote region, north of the Elvindor Duchy.

...

They continued their flight through the upper atmosphere.

And although the fierce snowstorm threatened to make travel difficult, it'd be impossible thanks to Lumiere's mana canopy. It shielded them from the onslaught of thick snowflakes, dissolving them instantaneously.

Despite the bitter cold, their journey remained calm.

Hours passed, and Ravenna's voice pierced through the stillness.

"I'm not entirely certain, but I believe the village should be somewhere around here," she said.

Lumiere glanced at her with his purple eyes. "And you're sure..."

He asked because the snow had painted everywhere white, so locating landmarks would be impossible.

Ravenna hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I can feel it," she affirmed. Lumiere, trusting her instincts, gently descended to the ground, carefully sinking his legs into the thick snow. As he set Ravenna down, she surveyed her surroundings. Her eyes searched the area for confirmation. "Yes... this is definitely it," she murmured, a touch of sadness glazing her words.

The village lay before them, a ghostly shadow of its former self. Some buildings had crumbled under the weight of time, succumbing to decay and neglect. Others were swallowed by the relentless snow, their foundation buried in a sea of white. The desolation weighed heavily on both Lumiere and Ravenna, their hearts mourning for the forgotten lives that once thrived here.

It was a complete ghost town.

"I want us to go somewhere," Ravenna expressed.

Lumiere nodded in agreement. "Where would you like to go?" he asked, his tone gentle.

"Just follow me," Ravenna responded, her voice subdued.

Lumiere fell into step behind her, his hands slipping into the warm pockets of his coat. As they walked, an unfortunate accident sent Lumiere's foot colliding with a skull buried beneath the snow.

His expression momentarily downturned, mirroring Ravenna's own melancholy.

This place reeked of lifelessness and despair.

Minutes passed, and finally, they arrived at a solitary, towering tree that stood like a guardian amidst the desolate village. Lumiere observed it in silence, he didn't see the need to speak until Ravenna spoke.

It was a majestic tree, one that had withstood the test of time.

The Silver Persimmon Tree.

Ravenna broke the silence. "This tree..." she whispered then paused.

"Hm?" Lumiere mistakenly uttered.

He didn't want to talk, he didn't want to do anything unless Ravenna wanted him to.

He knew what this place truly was because he already properly researched the "Period of Blank Death" that took place 300 years ago. The cause of the death was unknown, but by general knowledge, however, Ravenna was the cause. By accident, she killed every inhabitant of Tula Village, her hometown.

It was the place she made her happiest memories.

Ravenna's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes fixed on the ancient tree standing proudly in the center of the village.

"This is the heart of my village," she took a deep swallow and resumed. "We always used this tree as a reference point. It predates the village itself, surviving the brutal war of the three continents. So, instead of cutting it down, our ancestors decided to build the village around it, as a mark of respect."

Lumiere gazed up at the towering tree, its branches reaching out towards the heavens.

"Yeah. It's a really beautiful tree."

Ravenna nodded, her features still worn out with sorrow. "Yes, it is," she replied, with a grief-stricken voice.

Lumiere took a step closer, wanting to offer some comfort.

But he hesitated, unsure of the right words to say.

Seeing his hesitation, Ravenna turned to face him, her eyes glistening with tears. "I'll never forget the names of all the four hundred and sixty-seven people I killed that day," she confessed with a quivering voice.

Lumiere's eyes widened with shock.

"Ravenna... it wasn't your fault," he said firmly, stepping forward to stand beside her.

Ravenna turned back to the tree, her tears flowing freely now. "I've tried to tell myself that for over two centuries," she choked a bit. "But in the end, I know it's still my fault."

Lumiere placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, wanting to offer some comfort. "What happened is in the past," he reassured her. "There's no need to carry that burden any longer. What matters now is how you can change the world with the second chance you've been given."

Those were the same words he told Skarz and Bluestella...

If your life is in shambles, pick up what's left, and live it properly...

Ravenna sniffled, wiping away her tears. "Second chance?" she muttered. "What second chance?" she asked further.

"Look... I won't say I know how it feels, but I can tell you that I'll be with you every step of the way, you can pull through it if you decide to forgive yourself first... Don't worry about your sins or how big they are, just worry about how to atone for them..." said Lumiere. nove/lb-1n

"I appreciate that," Ravenna replied. "But you don't understand." She gently shook her head.

"W... What're you...?" Lumiere didn't know what to say.

Almost like she wasn't about to mentally break down before, she told Lumiere, "Oh, could you do one more thing for me?"

"..."