Chapter 226: Abandoned History

Chapter 226: Abandoned History

Early Evening - Early Winter : Western Sirathan Space Rune

*Vwoop* *Splash-crash* We were met with the nostalgic sounds of waves crashing on the beach as we finally popped out of the space rune in the mountains of Siratha.

It had only been a few hours since I initially spoke with Grandmother, but things had quickly escalated to get us here. "So, basically, what you're telling me is that Leif thinks you are Nott's reincarnation and is now your subordinate?" She continued our conversation normally, as if the half-hour of silence I experienced in the void never happened.

But my mind was elsewhere. -I probably shouldn't mention that I killed two of the other apostles...- "Y-yeah, that sounds about right." -But is she really on a first-name-basis with Leif?- I idly thought to myself as I glanced around to check the sky's condition before eventually turning back to Grandmother. "Anyway, go ahead and change to your humanoid form, it'll be quicker if I fly."

She paused to look at me for a moment before finally complying. "I remember your father saying you were quite fast. Do you think you're faster than me?"

"Absolutely."

She was slightly taken aback by my immediate response. "A..alright, then." Finally climbing into my paw, she used some of her aura to hold herself in place, but I was a bit worried it wasn't enough.

-She's an elder... She can probably handle a few Gs, right?- But after some thought, I decided not to risk it and used my aura as well. "My aura should hold you, but you might want to brace yourself."

She quickly looked up at me with a naïve smile. "I will be alright, sweetie."

-Alright...- "Suit yourself." Finally spreading and flapping my wings, I hurled us into the sky, not hesitating to blast my thruster magic in the process. *psh-FWOOOSH*

Grandmother went wide-eyed and gripped one of my claws with white knuckles like a child on a roller coaster.

It was quite a funny sight, but she quickly eased back up once she got used to the acceleration. -I wonder why that felt so good...- With a satisfied smile, I turned back to the horizon and continued accelerating.

But it was only a few minutes after that that the fog-covered canopy of the Tree of Prayer could finally be seen cresting the horizon.

I didn't think much of it at first, but eventually, I noticed a massive, bony tail sticking out of the top of its canopy, with a few dragons hovering around it.

-Right.. I almost forgot about that...- Slowing down slightly, I thinned the vacuum barrier around us and gave us a bit of still air to talk in. "Grandmother, I have a quick question."

"What is it, sweetie?" Her voice was filled with awe as she looked toward the horizon.

-So he was already dead...-

She continued with a slightly resentful tone. "Many actually couldn't come to terms with his death... For a long time, people chose to believe that he found the key to achieving godhood within the tree and entered a dragon sleep.. but, over time.. that tail remained cold and unmoving... And eventually, reality became undeniable..." She described the event as if it were a bad memory. "To this day, there are a few noble families who still remember him, but they resent him for not assisting Bahamut before his disappearance." She paused as her voice grew quieter. "But I.. think the way things turned out was fate..."

Giving her a curious look, I wanted to ask what she meant by that but ended up keeping my mouth shut.

The next several minutes were wrapped in silence as we flew over countless treants and worked our way toward a larger treant not far from the Tree of Prayer. -This should be it...-

Finally cloaking us, I flew down to the top of the canopy and changed to my humanoid form. "Stay close to me so I can keep you hidden, and don't talk since I'm not masking much more than our footsteps."

She immediately nodded as we landed and started sliding down several huge leaves until eventually landing on a fairly big branch hanging over Leif's colossal estate. -Things seem to have calmed down a bit... I wonder how things are going...-

Immediately thinking of how to get in, I looked around and noticed a carriage led by a perky-eared panther-like creature being let through the gate. -What perfect timing...- Quickly running through my few other options, I quickly settled on what to do. "We'll go through the main entrance when it opens for the people in that carriage, remember to stick close to me." After waiting for her nod, I finally stood up and ran to the trunk of the tree, where I carefully climbed down the tree and the estate, eventually making it to the main entrance.

We actually got there just as the carriage was opening.

*Click* The first to exit was a knightly elf, who immediately turned around and held up his hand. "Please be careful, my lady."

I expected a beautiful noblewoman to exit, but instead, a ghastly pale hand reached out, quickly revealing a disheveled and insane-looking young woman.

-She looks terrible...- It was the fearful apostle that ran away after my fight with Magni, but she was barely familiar.

Her body and skin condition were simply perfect, but she was so pale she barely looked alive, and her expression looked as if she was worried she would be killed at any moment.

-She must be coming to meet with Leif...-

A few moments passed as she stood in front of the door with her knight until a familiar young maid came out. "Welcome, Miss Alva Aetla. Please follow me; I will lead you to the Missus' office."

With the apostle's lethargic nod, they finally turned to the door and made their way inside, with Ilios, Grandmother, and I quickly slipping in behind them.

But as we made our way through the halls, I slowly started questioning if I should change plans slightly. -I wonder what they'll talk about...-