In the more recent chapters in the lost arc, I'd have to say that I have a really bad habit of switching POVs wayyy too quickly, and I have to apologize for that.
People complain about my story being crap, and I get it.
But I hope you realize that I literally don't write it for you.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SOOOO ENTITLED.
OMG
PLS
STOP IT.
YOU'RE STRESSING ME OUT AND I'M USUALLY A CHILL GAL.
ALSO, DYLON(AS ALICE) HAS A HAREM (OF FEMALES).
THE HANDSOME DUDES ARE JUST FANSERVICE FOR GIRLS.
DON'T YOU GET IT?
MC IS SUCH A QT THAT EVEN DUDES FAWN OVER THAT SHIT.
WHY? BECAUSE THERE IS NO FEMALE PROTAGONIST. ERIS IS LUKE'S HEROINE.
EAT IT.
I AM SO MAD. I AM SO TIRED.
I'M HUNGRY.
HERE, HAVE THIS CHAPTER.
Now I know what you're thinking,
"Sigh. Female authors."
WELL TELL YOU WHAT M8 FITE ME 1v1
Pant... pant...
ok ok I'm done.
Part 1 -Aya's point of View
"Hold my hand so you don't get lost, okay Aya?"
"Okaaay~"
Oooh. Nide's hand is big~ ... and hard.
Not like mama's. Mama's hands are soft and Aya likes to touch them.
But Nide's are okay too!
Aya's been thinking...
"Heyy, hey heyy~ Naii-te~"
"Yes, Aya?"
Nide did not stop walking as Aya spoke,
"Is Nide Aya's papa?"
""Gehh?!""
Suddenly, Nide let out a funny sound.
Uhyahahahe~
That's weird. How did Nide make that extra sound? It was different from his usual voice~
"N-Nia?! What are you doing here?" Nide called out to a girl who appeared out of a corner somewhere.
"I-I just saw Nide walking off and I thought I'd follow-- er... greet you! I uhm... didn't think you'd be with... your daughter. I didn't even know you had one, for that matter... uhm... okay. S-Seeyoulater!"
"W-Wait! Nia, I--"
After saying things too fast for Aya to understand, the girl then left.
She didn't even let Nide finish. What a rude lady.
"Naii-te~ isn't she that woman mama doesn't like? Was she following you?"
Is she one of those that mama warned Aya about? Is she a stalker?
For some reason, Nide didn't respond. It was as if he didn't hear Aya.
He was just looking at where the girl had run off to with a really white face.
Oh no, is he cold?
Aya held his hand tighter.
"C'mooon~ let's go alweady~"
Aya wants to see mama!
"Oh... R-Right!" it was only then that Nide woke up.
"Uwaaah~ Ukyahaha~ So high! So high!" Nide then lifted me up and carried me as he walked.
Yayy~
Part 2
Lyra and I walked side-by-side. I had all of the things we bought delivered to our lodging as I headed for the adventurer's guild.
I've had a lot of fun! Maybe even too much fun.
I wonder how Mira is doing? I hope she's not too worried...
What of Handsome?
I giggled while thinking that maybe he already crossed over to the other side of the continent, looking for me.
I'm sure father is worried... wait, he's not my dad. Well, he is Alice's dad. But wait, I'm Alice... Oh no! It's happening again!
I continued to have such weird thoughts as we continued on our way to the guild.
I had heard from a certain kidnapper that I am able to tell of my current location to my family through mailing a letter.
I also began worrying. It takes at least two months to get to there, considering all the traffic. But I heard that the couriers had secret routes used by merchants, so it will hopefully get there in a few weeks time.
I had become especially wary of bandits because of the events that transpired a week ago and decided to send two letters carrying the same content.
You never know what happens out there, it's better to be safe.
Because I was lost in thought, I had bumped into a middle-aged woman.
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed as she dropped the paper bag she was holding, containing what looked like groceries.
"I-I'm terribly sorry!" I apologized in a hurry, helping the lady pick up what she dropped, packing it into the paper bag in an orderly manner.
Needless to say, Lyra didn't just stand there and also helped us pick up the groceries.
"My, thank you." the lady thanked us, but this only made me frown.
"No, I'm sorry for not looking where I was going." I apologized as gracefully as I possibly could.
"Oh no, no. I'm sorry for getting in your way." the lady apologized again.
Nooo! T-That's not how it works~ It was my fault!
Is this Canada?! Oh whatever.
We seemed to be heading towards the same direction, as the lady walked with us.
As I was thinking this, the lady suddenly spoke, "Why don't you two stop by my house sometime? You two young ladies are very polite-- and beautiful, to boot! This old lady is jealous, hehe~"
Lyra was a bit flustered while I, on the other hand only showed a composed and charming smile. "Thank you. Perhaps we will stop by your house some time. Where does my dear madam live?"
I gasped after saying that. I forgot to introduce myself. How rude.
"Ah! I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Alice of the Icelance family. This is my sister, Lyra Icelance. I apologize in advance, but my sister is sick today and can not utter a word. I hope it does not come off as discourtesy."
The lady was walking a little bit ahead of us, so she didn't see Lyra's reaction to my blatant lies.
I had to, as some people don't take well to slaves-- especially Rines.
Though the red hair was a feature of the Rines, it isn't uncommon for rovietals as well.
Even if the lady noticed it already, she didn't say anything about it and continued to amicably chat with us. Well, mostly me.
"Ah, I see~ sisters, is it? Ah, I am Agnestasia Avare. I am an apothecary."
Avare? I've never heard of that name before.
As it turns out, Miss Agnestasia, Agnes for short, lives deep in the mountains, east from this city.
A hermit? Erm... Better not say that out loud.
She has a garden near her house and she grows all the ingredients she needs for both food and her potions.
If that was the case, why did she travel all the way to this city?
At my words, she showed a lonely smile.
"I wanted to send a letter."
Part 3
"L-Luke..."
"Yeeeeeeeeees?"
"P-Please put me down already...!"
Eris complained while blushing.
Luke strongly resisted the urge to kiss her on the spot as he held her in his arms.
On the ground were several wolves. They had attacked the two of them as soon as they got deeper into the forest.
Luke furrowed his brows at her words, "Weren't you the one who jumped on me for help? Besides, I'm bringing you across the continent's largest shortcut for free. Ungrateful goddess..."
Eris couldn't refute his words, but there are simply some things a gentleman shouldn't do.
"If you weren't groping my buttocks, I would have really fallen for you...!"
At Eris's uncharacteristic flushed anger, Luke only winked once, making his red eyes glint, before--
"Heh. As if you haven't already..." he drew closer to her face. Because Eris was in his arms and the fact that she was physically weaker, she couldn't put up any meaningful resistance.
"L-Let go already! Pervert! Lecher! Molester! Bedroom invader!"
Wow, educated rich girls sure know a lot of words. Luke thought to himself.
Their faces were now close enough to feel each other's breaths.
"P-Please let me go... I'll do anything you want..." her previous vigor had disappeared and turned into a wispy, submissive voice, fanning the flames of Luke's desire to tease her.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Eris's face grew increasingly red as Luke moved his lips closer to the side of her head. He then--
"Fuuuu~" blew into her ear.
"Haaah..."
The sun was suddenly covered by clouds.
"What the...? Hey. Hey, Eris. Wake up. Ah. Looks like I went too far with my prank again." Luke showed an unrepentant, carefree grin as he carried the unbelievably beautiful and incredibly useless goddess of the sun in his arms.
Luckily for Eris, the fact that she soiled herself was something Luke kept quiet about.
Part 4
We parted with Agnes after handing the letter to a short man. I hope the letter will get there safely.
Tomorrow, I will return here to send the second letter.
As Lyra and I stayed in the guild for a while, looking at quests in the bulletin board, I heard some hushed voices.
"
Hey, isn't that silver-haired girl the flame princess? Is she a Nehorune?"
"Fool, Nehorunes have red eyes. More than that, her ears would be on top of her head instead of the side if she was one..."
"Perhaps she is a halfbreed...?"
"Hush up, you two...! Your voices are too loud!"
I can hear all of you, though.
Flame princess, eh? I wonder what she looks like... but silver hair, that's just like me.
That's good...! I was starting to think I was weird...
Calmly, I looked around. ...? But I'm the only one with silver...--?
??
Are they talking about me?!
I turned to look at Lyra. She didn't notice anything at all.
I took her by the hand and left the adventurer's guild.
Don't stare at me...! I'll cuuut youuu~!
Lyra didn't seem to understand why I was rushing us, but she didn't seem to mind.
As we walked around a little bit faster than leisurely, Lyra suddenly stopped me and tugged at my arm.
"Hmm?" I look at her with a wondering expression.
I see that she was pointing at something.
I turn my head to look at what she was pointing at.
Oh? Is that a circus tent? I love the circus~ oh... Wait. That's not what we're here to do. Lyra, c'mon~ we already had fun shopping. We have to look for children now.
That's what I thought I'd say, but when I saw Lyra's begging expression, I felt it was strange.
Well... It's the first time Lyra is being selfish, so I guess I will have to spoil her.
We entered the circus tent.
"Ah, what's this... Welcome, honored gue-- oho, is this the flame princess everyone's been talking about?" We-- I was greeted by a strange man. He had a hunched back with a really long nose.
Hello, Igor.
Are you here to grant me the power to do the thing? Y'know. The thing.
P*rsona!
That kind of thing.
I joked in my head as I looked around.
I immediately felt tense and my gaze sharpened.
"Ah. My, that was rude of me. First time here? I am Rowkie. What kind of hand do you want, miss?"
I had met a slave-trader.
Part 5
My eyes were narrowed and I stared a bit sharply at the man before me.
The front of the tent looked like a normal office for this era. Chairs all around and all that.
There was, however a way for me to realize something was amiss.
"Oh my~ this place reeks of death. Why is it so, mister?"
I looked directly at the path behind long-nose, leading deeper inside the tent.
My words must've come out as provocative, seeing as the two burly men standing on each side of the entrance prepared to apprehend me.
I proceeded to ignore them, casting each of them only a sidelong glance before turning my eyes back to Rowkie.
Lyra was tense from the beginning as she stood behind me, gripping the back portion of my dress.
"Stand down. She is a customer." Rowkie signalled towards the bouncers.
Ah, good. I don't really want to fight right now. My ankle still hurts a bit and I don't really want to bother using magic.
Explaining to the guards why I burned someone to ashes is a hassle.
"I trust you already know what kind of... establishment this is, hmm?" Long-nose rubbed his hands as he spoke.
"Worry not, my lady. This business is approved by the kingdom. The only slaves I hold are foreign invaders of the realm." Supplementing with that, long-nose spoke in a well-practiced manner, trying to convince me to purchase his merchandise.
"Mm. I suppose I am looking for something you're selling." As much as it annoys me, this is an easier way than finding children.
"My name is Alice of the Icelance. Let me see what you have." I hope Aya's alright.
"Kukukuku... What kind of slave are you looking for, milady?" Long-nose asked as he laughed sinisterly.
"...Children. I'm looking for children." I answered with firm composure and delicate grace. At least I tried to.
Long nose nodded, "Children, eh? Come. Follow me."
Lyra and I were led deeper inside of the tent.
There were cages all around, each containing a different kind of monster.
Some contained wolves, some contained giant insects while the rest contained demihumans from the demon tribes.
Lyra was afraid of the low growls surrounding her, so I asked her to simply embrace my arm.
Lyra and I walked side by side while long nose walked in front.
I didn't even flinch as I walked the path elegantly. I need to let him know just who I am. Otherwise, he'll hold back from offering me the best, thinking I'm some low-grade commoner.
After a couple of minutes, we reached what seemed to be the deepest part of the tent.
"Here's the first one, milady." Long-nose unlocked a cage and forcefully pulled a girl out through the chains in her collar.
She gasped for breath as she grasped the collar around her neck, her other hand on the floor to keep her balance.
I frowned at this and I eyed long nose quietly, causing him to visibly sweat.
...Let's see...
What the... That's a rabbit!
I thought as I saw the little girl's floppy ears. She had a head full of extremely long white hair and she looked about seven years old.
...I didn't say that out loud, did I? The bunny thing...
T-Too old, I think... I guess I'll have to move on to the next...
The girl then looked at me. For some reason, it felt almost like she wasn't even seeing me.
She looked at me with empty eyes, as if she's given up hope.
I approached her. Long-nose took a step back as I lifted the girl's chin and raised her face.
"Child. Would you like to be mine?" I asked with a caring smile, doing my best to seem motherly.
The girl's lips quivered and her voice was weak so I didn't hear her clearly.
Because of this, long nose planned on whipping her, instructing her to speak louder.
"Enough!" I shouted at long nose.
Even Lyra took a step back.
I released a long sigh before turning to the girl again. "What is it, child? Speak clearly."
I smiled at her once again. "Yes? ...Or no?"
The girl then opened her mouth again, uttering the same words. Louder this time.
"P-Please... Please... Save..."
I didn't need to hear another word.
"Save me from these darkened skies--
All heroes, please apply."