Chapter Ninety-Eight: Uneasy Prelude

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Uneasy Prelude

A couple of days had passed since Mila departed for Aetos Village. I didn’t expect Seraphina and Lord Enele to show up that soon, and I thought I’d be a nervous wreck. Mila’s past... Well, it was unique. She wasn’t a true Vredi, so I feared blurting something out and ruining everything.

But no.

That didn’t happen. Something...odd just welled up in my stomach, and I chatted with her like an old friend. She cared a lot for Mila. To Seraphina, my sisterly chimera was someone she had thought was dead since she told me very few Vredis were alive.

It hurt my heart, though. Dad, Mom, and Erin knew we were deceiving Seraphina, but Mila had been displaying more elf-like qualities. She once told me that Susize’s memories flashed through her mind, so maybe it wouldn't be a lie if this continued? Could it turn into the truth? Mila confided and said she felt a sistership forming between them. Mila needed that. Life had been hard on her. She needed a lot of breaks. The truth didn’t need to get out, right? If it meant the world would flow better—that feelings wouldn’t be hurt and hearts wouldn’t shatter, then I believed a few lies were good.

Lord Enele got along great with Dad. Those two loved to discuss nearly anything, from the weather to religion, food, philosophy, abstract ideals...

Lord Enele was also the perfect gentleman even though he was almost bigger than Dad, if not a little more muscular. He apologized for the lacking justice system when he discovered why Grandma and Grandpa had cut ties with us. He offered his help in clarifying the truth since he held a spell to detect lies.

It would hurt...bringing up the memories, I mean. Dad would have to recant his abuse at Karen’s hands and her obsession with him. Erin would be reminded of her birth’s circumstances. She realized that. But I was her big sister!

Mila might’ve been older than me on a technicality that didn’t count, but I had about 76 years on Erin!

I had to protect her, so I occupied her mind by helping her clean her horns at night, and Sera used illusion magic to make them sparkle like shiny, colorful lights.

However, she didn’t just spend time with us. She saw how stiff Chax and Ginnie were since they were interacting with a mystical High Elf from an extinct forest, but Sera asked to be treated like they treated Mila, and it became easier for them after that.

Our caravan had already traveled a lot of Parthina and bypassed four city-states. The horses Sera summoned with [Recollection Projection] needed her mana, and she had a tremendous amount. Sustaining them was child’s play when compared to Susize and her spouses. She wanted them to meet us, even though they were static beings.

The knowledge they acquired wasn’t saved. Sera had said she had a list a mile long of everything she told them every time she wanted to meet them again.

Only a few days had passed, but we were no closer to finding Grandma and Grandpa. The villages we stopped at didn’t have much info, but Lord Enele and Sera said they wouldn’t leave until we were reunited. It was a promise they made to Mila, after all.



We had set up camp for the evening, and Dad was roasting veggies over a campfire that Sera had collected. Lord Enele happily chatted with Erin as he cooked her a delicious steak, and Chax and Ginnie were training.

Kengu and Longtooth were sleeping by the fire, but Mom’s and Dad’s lions rarely left their bracelets.

“Do you want the pepper sauce?” asked Lord Enele, his deep voice as comforting as a precious childhood toy.

“Yes, please!” Erin’s tail wagged so adorably. She stared at the thick cut of meat. Her eyes sparkled as the fat dripped, sizzling on the open flame.

“What do you think Mila is doing?” I asked.

“Can you not ask her through the lions?”

“We can,” I answered Sera. “Kengu did that earlier. Mila was busy fighting a monster. I don’t know if she’s still doing it, or if she’s done. Maybe she’s asleep.”

“Ah, you’re referring to Sathtshas?” inquired Lord Enele.

“That’s the first monster Lord Aetos created when the world accepted his forest as a dungeon. A plant snake’s natural weakness is fire, but he made it nearly immune to flames weaker than a Holy or Dark Lord,” answered Sera.

If I knew Mila...

She would use flames against it because Sekh would’ve done it. She'd probably treat it as a test or something.

Sera asked about Sekh a little more as the dinner preparation continued. After she stored the dirty plates in some magic spell, she retrieved a bag of sweet nuts as a desert and passed them around before continuing a story about Vredi Forest.

But then her ears twitched. Sera readied her staff. Powerful mana swirled around her body, extinguishing the campfire. She pointed to the skies, and we saw four meteorites of flames that...looked so familiar...

“It’s her... It’s Sekh!!” I cried. Our lions roared in unison, and Lord Enele convinced Sera to lower her guard. The incoming flames slammed into our lions and encased them in tall pillars.

When they faded...our lions...were Lionfolk.

“Longtooth... Is that...you?” Erin asked, approaching a teenage girl.

“It is, Erin...” Longtooth’s long hair and tail were made of fire. Her voice was sweet and kind. A necklace of a piece of frozen flame shaped like a lion’s fang rested on her neck, and her blouse and skirt were suddenly replaced by armor befitting her speedy, agile fighting style.

“Our lady has been healed. She has blessed us with an evolution,” added Kengu. She was taller than Longtooth but shorter than Mom’s and Dad’s lions, who returned to their lion form and rested inside the bracelets almost immediately.

Kengu’s hair was like mine, but she was also muscular. A pair of crystal blue ice gauntlets clasped around her forearms. She hugged me, saying that she had always wished to do this.

“Then the transplant was a success?” Sera asked, reigniting the campfire.

“Yes, it has. Although...” Longtooth stopped speaking. “Communication has ceased... They are currently not responding.”

“That’s...fine, right?” I looked at Dad.

“Mila’s been away from Sekh for a while. I’m sure the reunion is just emotional.”

“Yeah. You’re right. Everything’s fine.”

It must be... I know...



It was probably an hour later, and I couldn’t focus. I was too worried about Mila because there was still no word. I had crawled into my sleeping bag to take a small nap. Kengu joined me, assuring me non-stop that Sekh was stronger than ever. The lions’ evolutions were proof of that.

We also talked about the challenge I had set for myself. Tris had helped me with the plans because I didn’t understand the mechanics behind that item, but they were done.

I studied them all the time. I even passed the test Tris had prepared, so that guaranteed I had the technical knowledge!

It would probably take a good while to craft it. I didn’t know where to find the materials, furnace, or equipment to forge it.

Would it be wrong to ask Lord Enele for help? He's a nice guy, so he'd say yes, right?

“Oh? Irisa, I’m getting a message from Surtr. Let us go for a walk.”

I notified Dad., who told me to be careful.

Should I wake up Erin? No... I should let her sleep. She trained with Longtooth, so she’s exhausted.

We were near a forest, so I walked into it until Kengu connected my mind with Mila’s voice via Surtr.

It’s about time! You’ve kept me waiting all night!

I expected a witty reply, but...

The situation has changed, Irisa.

I couldn’t believe it when she said the village was attacked. Or that the girl who argued for her survival when Mila was Shuuta had shown up with her team. Fôll0w current novÊls o/n n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(c/o/m)

She didn’t hate them anymore after discovering the truth in their diaries. Meruria was even more of an awful woman than I had thought.

The attackers ripped Tilde’s wings, but they’re being healed. Niva lost her prosthetics, but I have someone fixing them.

My heart shattered. Mila said the enemies were from a secret organization called Hymn. It was under Holy Lord Gloria’s control. That same group had once kidnapped Niva and registered her blood within a tracking compass. She eventually fell into Noelia’s hands and suffered abuse.

No one knew how many had been forcibly registered and bided on like cattle by sick bastards who wanted to hunt them.

I will kill them, Irisa. Gloria needs to pay. Hymn will be destroyed. I will ravage them to the ground.

Just...come back, Mila! Please! Why can’t you leave this to Sera or Lord Enele?!

I need Sera’s help with this. She’s stronger than me, but I am a Vredi, Irisa. Aetos Village is under my protection. I love this place. I feel more like a genuine High Elf with every passing day, but I know I’m just a mere copy. Yet my emotions...are so real to me. Please, don’t hate me.

I don’t hate you, Mila. But I’m worried. I'm scared.

The quicker Sera arrives, the sooner I can return. She holds more authority than I do and can make things right. I must be with her, though. When that’s done... I want to return to my family since that’s where I belong. Sekh misses her family.

We miss her too... Okay. I’ll tell Sera. You better be excited to meet your Grandma and Grandpa!

I am. I’ve been dreaming about it. I’ll talk to you later, okay?

Okay.

We love you.

We love you too, Mila...

Kengu canceled the connection. She held me close while I cried and rubbed my back.

“I know how you must feel,” said Kengu. “But that woman is a 5-Star Soul Warrior. Her prowess as a mage is remarkable. Tilde and Niva will be okay.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, Irisa. I promise.” She hugged me until I wasn’t crying, then we left the forest and returned to camp. I still felt uncomfortable butterflies in my stomach. Mila was unimaginably strong. Sekh was stronger. Sera? Even more so. Mila planned to disguise Sekh, but the three could handle this. Especially when they had Tris with them to come up with a plan.



Sekh removed the armor and gave us a hug.

“I love you two.”

“We love you, too,” Tris and I replied. We each grabbed Sekh’s hand and left the Spiritual Grove... It was time to confront reality.

Aello was waiting for us with the wooden puppets I had made. They helped gather the dead, dug the graves, and tended to the crying children. I followed her to the graveyard’s opposite side. The odd device Aello had wrapped around her neck held the core of every spirit that relied on the Eagle Yew.

The village’s non-spirit population had fallen by more than half, and they were...trying to endure. But it was hard... So terribly hard...

It wasn’t right. I shouldn’t have been looking at the dozens of graves... The Mandragorafolk... The centaurs... The Snailfolks...

They didn’t deserve to be lying lifelessly in those graves.

And I cried...for the ones who perished.

It wasn’t fair.

“Sera is on her way,” I told her, wiping her tears. “Can we delay the funeral until then?”

“Of course,” said the harpy, her tone low and heavy. She heard me sniffling and touched my head with a wing. Then Aello did the same for Sekh, who had shed tears for the losses. The Dark Lord of Tyranny, as feared by the world, didn’t exist anymore. I knew Sekh wished she could’ve done more to save them. We all did.

Sera knew Aetos Village had suffered losses. She would probably be hard on herself and blame everything on her cowardice and inability to confront Aetos about her reliance on the past.

I hoped...the two could overcome it.

I really, really did.



“Umm...” Elly twitched in her chair after Lord Springfield returned with Surtr and Sekh. She had gone to her room to check on Tilde and Niva, who hadn’t woken up. Tris, Keeth, and Mary were still in the infirmary.

“Yes? Anything to say?” asked Sekh. She wasn’t in her flaming armor, but her presence was just as intimidating. Those silver eyes were like piercing daggers. She just gave off this oppressive atmosphere. That ruby necklace only added to her powerful image.

I suppose that’s normal when you’re strong like her.

“You were really hurt, right?”

Sekh nodded. “Does that matter?”

“It doesn’t, I guess, but I’m glad you’re better.”

“Why? I don’t know you. We’re strangers.”

“Because Lord Springfield talked a lot about you,” I added, telling her about the stories we had heard. “She always had a smile when your name came up.”

“...” Sekh didn’t reply. Her ears twitched, and she turned to the kitchen. Greggie had finished preparing a meal. Ami was helping him bring it out.

He said he heard Lionfolk loved steak, so the savory aroma of the grilled dish wafted through the air. “You probably haven’t had anything to eat, so you must be hungry. I hope you enjoy this. It’s filled with mana to increase your physical abilities. Those are collard greens sautéed in butter and bacon fat.” He explained what a crème brûlée was after pointing to a bowl. “Sugar’s good for energy after a fight.”

Sekh wordlessly stared at the plates. She...almost seemed to fight against an urge to incinerate the food.

Until her stomach rumbled. She finally grabbed her silverware and dug in. It was faint, but her ears just slightly twitched. That tail had been so dead, but it wagged for a moment. Greggie asked how it was, but Sekh kept eating. She ignored him like he didn’t exist.

That was the highest compliment a chef could get. Ami patted him on the back and smiled.

“... Forgive me, but I wish to check on the village.” Melusine briskly walked away. Mary apologized before chasing after her.

Melusine had been acting skittish since I told her about Sekh. The Dark Lord of Tyranny was said to be a Lionfolk, but this wasn’t her. Even if the ice was familiar, it was just a coincidence.

But was she really a Lionfolk? Tilde didn’t think so. She had slyly brought it up a few times when she told stories of the past and said she was another type of beastfolk. One she couldn’t remember, but the Lionfolk who gave that crystal to Melusine when she was queen was someone else entirely.

“I have good news to share,” said Lord Springfield when she returned a few minutes later. “Keeth’s making the final adjustments on Niva’s new prosthetics. It should be done before dawn. The surgery will come later.”

“Greggie. The meal...was delicious. Thank you,” Sekh said, altering the subject.

Is it just me, or were those words stiff? I’m getting this...odd feeling... But what is it?

She held Lord Springfield’s hand when she sat. The two gazed at each other longingly—like separated lovers who had been apart far too long. Although that was the truth, I suppose.

“Aww... You two look so adorable!” said Elly. “I’m so glad I got to see you two reunite!”

“Really? Adorable?” Lord Springfield turned to Sekh and smiled. “I’m...happy that you all were here to see this. I wish it had been under better circumstances. Greggie, I’m afraid the celebration will be delayed. I’m unsure of when or if it’ll be held.”

“Of course, Lord Springfield. It’s understandable. Especially given the... situation. A good meal can heal the heart, but some wounds require time.”

“What are your plans going forward, Lord Springfield?” I asked. My tone was shaky. I couldn’t help but think she thought the worst of me because I had failed. A woman of her power should’ve spared the niceties.

The shame trembled in my bones and joints.

“Seraphina Vredi should arrive in approximately two-to-three hours,” answered Tris, speaking for her lord. She held a perfect posture—as always. “Discussion on how to best proceed should be postponed until after the funeral. However, that begs the question of what your team will do. Involving yourself in a quarrel against Holy Lord Gloria will be seen as an act of aggression if she discovers your presence. Can your Holy Lord support another war so soon after the clash with Uquenia? Many of her Soul Warriors perished in the initial blast that ravaged Junsa. I cannot deny the chances that someone affiliated with my lord’s enemy is on their way here at this very moment.”

“I understand that. But Remy isn’t here. Until she shows up, I must make the decisions. Our orders were to arrange a meeting between Lord Meruria and Lord Springfield.” I bit my lips and looked at my teammates.

“I see,” Tris said. Her expression suggested she didn’t want me to commit to anything I might regret. She was right. Doing this... Helping Lord Springfield would mean war if we were caught or identified.

I didn’t have a way to communicate with Meruria. Remy did, but that bitch was AWOL. Where the hell was she when something like this was going down?! It seemed like Lord Springfield wanted to say something else. She briefly looked at Tris, who subtly shook her head.

“Umm... Niva and Tilde. Are they okay?” Ami asked, breaking the growing silence.

“Their vitals are steady, so they aren’t in danger of dying. I’m afraid Niva’s progress will be set back. Tilde may need therapy to fly again. Quella.”

“Y—Yes?!” I didn’t know it until she said my name, but my eyes were teary.

I was wondering why everything seemed foggy.

Lord Springfield’s expression glistened in the salty, watery haze. She asked me to follow her and Sekh. I walked with them to the backyard—a once vibrant flower field surrounded by death and decay. Life would return—especially since the Eagle Yew was thriving again— but I didn’t know when that would happen.

This area must’ve been pretty in its prime. Especially on nights like tonight when the full moon was out.

“You must think me to be upset or disappointed,” she said, never letting go of Sekh’s hand.

“I...” I nervously rubbed my arm. “I wasn’t ready. The enemies knew my strengths and had counters to everything. I was overconfident because I’m from another world. Your allies nearly fatally suffered for my mistakes. Forgive me for being blunt, but I don’t know why...”

“Why you’re alive?”

“Huh—” I was taken aback --- how did she know that. My surprise froze my lips as Lord Springfield continued.

“You did your best. Yes, you’re a 5-Star Soul Warrior, but you’re not a goddess. You can bleed, Quella. Just like everyone else. I won’t lie. I expected more, and I was upset. But my friends are still alive to see tomorrow. They aren’t joining the cycle of reincarnation any time soon.”

“Learn from this failure. Take it to heart and never forget what you’re feeling,” added Sekh.

“Sera’s a much more capable mage than myself. I’m certain she won’t mind tutoring you once the circumstances have changed. You did, after all, shed blood to defend Aetos Village. That makes you a hero in our eyes. You and your team risked your lives for a place I love. I cannot thank you enough. The Eagle Yew, Quella, thank you.” She raised her arm towards that inspiring tree.

“Ah...” I was crying. I could’ve hidden it before, but the tears rushed down my cheeks as I dropped to my knees. Lord Springfield kneeled and handed me a handkerchief.

“My words cannot ease your ailing heart—only you can do that—only you can find forgiveness within yourself.”

Lord Springfield's acceptance...her words... This...generosity...

God, it was too much for me. She held a hand to my shoulder while I sobbed, spilling my emotions like an overturned water tank.

I’m so glad she doesn’t hate me... Why... Why couldn’t she have been our summoner? Why did it have to be Meruria? Why her?! Why?! Whywhywhywhywhywhy?!?!?!?! It’s not fair!

It took a few minutes to calm down—longer to stop crying. Lord Springfield asked if I felt better, and I nodded. “Failure isn’t something I handle well,” I admitted. “Disappointment falls under that broad category. Thank you for speaking with me.”

“I should say the same. Our prior conversation still echoes in my mind. I...hope that whatever happens, Quella, we can remain friends. If I’m being honest? I’ve enjoyed our time together. Niva’s appreciative of it, too. Keeth’s handiwork is incredible. You might even call it a genuine miracle. Tilde’s been showing me the dances she’s learning from Elly. You should see her smile. It’s gorgeous. I never want to see her face without it.”

The more Lord Springfield talked...

The more my heart cried. Because she was too good for a rotten bitch like Meruria. I didn’t want them to meet. I didn’t want her to ruin Lord Springfield’s life like she did ours!

But what could I do?

Really...

What...could I do?

I returned with those two as a knock echoed at the door.

Why did my heart feel uneasy?