CH 104

And so Aeris took Maki and Chiharu towards the airship. On the way, they saw many birdfolk in the castle garden. They were carrying the children up into the sky as concerned adults watched. They could see Kilian as well.

“Ah, wait a minute!”

Maki said suddenly. Then she ran to the closest bird person.

“Ahh. Now that she’s getting involved with them, our trip shall be delayed.”

Aeris muttered a little bitterly.

Just as expected, Maki was quickly surrounded by the birdfolk. After a while, some of them took off into the sky and then returned a few minutes later. They were holding something that was small and folded. Maki took a few merfolk scales out of her pouch and handed it to them. It looked like she was trading.

“Oh, they are actually being reserved. I’ve never seen a reserved bird person before. They took the scales when Maki showed them in the light. Those scales really are pretty, you know? I knew birdfolk would like shiny things!”

Chiharu sounded quite impressed. While crows liked sparkly things, not all birds did. Edwy chuckled as he listened to her. While Chiharu didn’t seem to realize it, she was being rather rude. But then again, Sauro and Saikania would not have been bothered at all if they heard her.

“Ah, she’s coming back.”

Maki jogged back on light feet.

“Okay, let’s go.”

As it was past midday and they were a small group, they were able to reach the airport without attracting much attention.

Chiharu stared at the square ship. It was hard to believe that it had only been a few days ago that she was surprised by how strange it looked, before stepping inside.

However, it is all finished. Now they were beginning a journey that would take them to the elf lands.

“We must catch up with the advance team so we can go to the dungeon. I’m sure Kaider is happy to swing his sword, but Grudo is not very active, and I’m sure Nyran is having a difficult time.”

Edwy muttered as he too looked at the ship.

“Ye-yes. Kaiser and Nyan. Hmm.”

Chiharu frantically looked towards Maki. Maki looked a little tired. She must have forgotten. When she looked up, Aaron was looking at her with an exasperated expression. They couldn’t help it. These past few days had been very hard.

“Well, it’s over now. We have to switch gears and keep moving.”

This was said by Maki. Huh? How did she sound so cool?

“I think that’s what Kaider would say. Now, Chiharu. We decided to rest, so let’s rest tomorrow. And then we can work hard after that.”

“Maki-chan…”

She was just copying Kaider. Yes, those guys were never depressed, and they wouldn’t blame them for acting. If they did say anything, it would likely be about how they drank in secret or how they snuck out or how she dropped the orange. And so she just needed to keep that information from them. Chiharu looked up.

“Okay, let’s go!”

“That’s the spirit!”

“What are you doing? We’re leaving.”

Aeris called. And so the four of them got onto the airship.

They would travel by airship on the same route that they had traveled by ship previously. Chiharu looked at the town of Bakka, which was growing farther away.

“I think it was this area where the birdfolk carried us.”

She said.

“Let me see. Yes, it was around here. Ah.”

Just as Aaron moved next to Chiharu and looked out of the window, the airship began to shake. And their vision was filled with white and brown feathers.

“Damn it. I can’t see anything. They really are troublesome.”

It seemed like some of the birdfolk from the castle had come to see them off. Whenever their eyes met through the glass, they would wave. But after a while, they got bored and flew back to the castle.

For the next three hours, Aeris and Edwy took turns piloting the airship.

“Look up ahead. We’ll be able to see the elf lands soon.”

Aeris said from the pilot’s seat. When they looked, they could indeed see the shadow of the land.

“Now look down.”

And when they did, they saw that there was a small island with a forest in the center. The side that was owned by humans was just sharp cliffs, but the elf side was a white beach.

“An island!”

“An island!”

“This is where we will stay tonight. It’s very close to the elf lands, so we can leave tomorrow in the afternoon. You can rest until then.”

Aeris looked at Maki and Chiharu with a worried expression.

“This is an uninhabited island. So you will have to sleep in the airship and we won’t be able to eat anything fancy.”

“An uninhabited island! Amazing!”

Maki was overjoyed and Chiharu was grinning. If he was being honest, Aeris was afraid that they wouldn’t want to stay at an island like this. And was prepared to fly to a health resort that was by the shore of the elf lands. But seeing their reaction now, he was quite happy he had brought them here.

He then carefully landed the airship on the beach. As there was no port, he had to search for a place that was flat. Maki and Chiharu were so excited that they nearly flew out, but Edwy stopped them. Aaron was to go out first and make sure that it was really safe.

“Hmm. It’s fine.”

“Is there something dangerous here?”

Aaron put his hand behind his head and looked a little troubled.

“Nothing dangerous. But you are still Saintesses. That means you’re important.”

“Important…”

Wasn’t a prince more important? Oh, well. They now had permission to go outside. And when they did, they saw a vast white beach.

“Wow…”

As they ran along the water’s edge, the waves splashed at their feet and then drew back. The evening sea reflected the light and sparkled. Behind them, Edwy and Aaron were likely standing watch. Aeris was probably tying the airship down. However, there was no one in front of them. It was as if Maki and Chiharu were the only people in this world.

They could see the elf lands in the distance. The waves crashed at their feet. The wind was just slightly warm, signaling the end of summer as it blew through their hair.

“It’s sad.”

“Chiharu?”

Chiharu muttered as she looked at the sea. Maki turned to her in surprise. Chiharu’s eyes were just a little red.

“I felt so stifled and held back. But now I feel sad that there is no one around.”

“Yes.”

Maki silently offered her hand.

Chiharu looked puzzled.

“Yes. Give me your hand.”

Chiharu did, and Maki squeezed it.

“You’re not alone.”

“Yes.”

And so they held hands as the waves silently came and pulled away.

“Ah, why don’t they call for us?”

Edwy asked as they watched from afar.

“I could hold their hands if they wanted. I could even embrace them.”

“Can you?”

Aaron sounded exasperated.

“Well, if it is what they wanted, yes.”

Edwy turned a little red. This prince was still too inexperienced, and could not hold Maki and Chiharu’s hands by himself. It was then that Aeris completely ignored them and caught up with Maki and Chiharu.

And with his big body, he wrapped his arms around both of them as they held hands.

“Ahh, I am so jealous!”

“Edwy. You need to be bolder in order to go against the White Philosopher.”

“Bold? I see. But I…”

Just when Edwy made his decision and took a step towards Maki and Chiharu, the two of them laughed and slipped away from Aeris. Then they ran towards Edwy and Aaron. Maki grabbed Edwy’s hand.

“Edwy. Let’s go and gather some firewood!”

“Huh? Uh. Okay.”

Edwy looked a little embarrassed. At the same time, Chiharu called to Aaron.

“What about you?”

“I will wait with the Philosopher.”

“Really?”

Chiharu looked a little puzzled, and then she grabbed Edwy’s other hand.

“Chiharu?”

“Now, let’s go get the firewood!”

They pulled Edwy away towards the forest.

“Ahh. He is probably very red right about now.”

“While they treat him like a little brother, that’s not bad either.”

“Not bad?”

Aaron looked at Aeris with an exasperated expression. Aeris just grinned back.

“Use what you can. Isn’t that the key to getting what you want?”

“I wish all of the elves in the castle could see you now, Philosopher.”

“They will see more than enough of me tomorrow.”

“So you’re not going to deny it.”

Well, at least he was aware.

“We have magic tools for making a fire, so we don’t need firewood. But I suppose it has its charms.”

“Yes.”

That night, they had a simple meal around the campfire. And perhaps it was a more memorable event for Edwy than it was for even Maki and Chiharu. It was just a little chilly for a summer night. But the fire was hot. Chiharu’s cheeks looked soft on the other side of the flames. Her dark eyes seemed to dance when they caught the light. And the friendly banter seemed to continue on forever.

Of course, they had no idea that the light of the fire showed their position in the darkness of the night. From the sea and sky.