An ecstatic girl ran towards the carriage where Janine had been resting. She was in high spirits and overly chirpy.
"Mira, what happened? Why is she like that?" Asked Janine confused as she saw Alviona dancing around and giggling for no apparent reason. If she were to describe the sight in front of her, it would be of a girl that was asked out on a date for the first time in her life. Had Alviona fallen in love?
The elf sighed and shook her head before looking at Janine and answering her question.
“She acquired her first loot,” replied Mira with a face that showed she had given up. “The girl has been like this for the entire trip back. I am dying from worry here, and she is just skipping around all over the place. I do not know how to approach her,” said Mira, biting her soft lips with such intensity that they started to bleed.
Janine did not understand how to answer. What had happened, she wondered.
Janine glanced over at Solomon and Alviona. From the corner of her eyes, she could see an image of Mira whose forehead veins were bulging out and eyebrows were furrowed. The woman appeared to be in thought. Not willing to get involved in a conversation that could become tense, she nodded and retrieved a handkerchief.
“Here you go. Please, calm down and wipe your lips. You are bleeding.”
“Ah, thank you. I apologize,” said Mira as she gratefully accepted the cloth and wiped away her blood, casting [Minor Heal] to cure her wound.
“Janine, Janine! Look, look! Look at my treasures,” said Alviona as she skipped over to her and displayed her Lance of Spite and Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch.
“T-that is trash,” said Janine with a chuckle but when she saw Alviona’s puffed cheeks and a pout, she burst out into loud and sincere laughter.
“What is so funny?” Asked Alviona who did not understand what her words meant.
“S-sorry,” kept laughing Janine as she watched the puzzled girl in front of her. The hat was a horrible piece of equipment, and a legendary one too. The Lance was not too bad, but it had a negligent number for Physical damage and was obsolete because only Martial schools could be used with weapons that were not considered as catalysts.
How else could a person react to a girl that was beautiful beyond any reason or comprehension, but acted as if she was in her pre-teens?
However, Janine soon ceased her laughter. No matter what one might have thought, she understood that the girl in front of her was a potential monster. She acted so obliviously and childishly, and yet the aura of mystery surrounded her.
Alviona’s powers were unknown. At its core, from the very little information that they possessed from the very source, the girl had a potential to do anything. In that case, what impact would she have on society’s norms?
“Janine, can we get going, please? I apologize for rushing you, but there is a lot we need to do within next few days,” said Mira after snapping out of her thought.
“Already?! I thought we were going to stay here for a few days.”
“No. We can not stay here any longer. Ironmight group has already cleared out the dungeon, so there is absolutely no reason for us to be in this place,” said Mira firmly.
“Well, if you say so,” replied Janine. Based on the way the elf was behaving, it was evident that something relevant and significant had happened.
Without further delay, Janine went over to the stables where oxen were resting. As the sun rose, the group moved out.
***
Alviona fell asleep an hour after the party set out towards the city of Allaqar. Nobody spoke much on the trip, which was unusual.
Janine felt uneasy about the silence.
“Solomon, may I ask a question?” asked Janine without taking her eyes off the road.
“Certainly, you may,” replied the man without opening his eyes.
“What exactly happened in your dungeon raid? Why is Mira like that?”
“I do not think that it would be wise of me to speak on her behalf,” replied the man nonchalantly.
“Mira, please snap out of it. What happened? What are you thinking about? It is becoming rather creepy. We are heading to the same destination and are dealing with the same girl. Please, do not hide anything from me,” said Janine as she glanced over at Mira who did not seem to respond.
“I apologize,” replied Mira after a brief pause. “However, I do not know how to answer your question or what to say. This situation is all too confusing. But perhaps talking to somebody else will make a difference.”
“What do you mean?”
“Janine, please listen to me carefully.”
Janine nodded. An odd feeling was dangling in her heart, but she decided to pay attention. As a result of her action, Mira’s face appeared to soften a little.
“Let us start by asking a question. In your opinion, based on what you have seen and heard in the past three weeks, what is Alviona?”
“Well, this is not an easy question. When I first met the girl, I thought that she was just a lamb whom I would toy with to force her mother to give out information. However, after seeing what she had done to me and what she did to Solomon, I thought that she was a champion of gods. And yet, after witnessing her growth in the bathing area, I can not help but say that she is something else entirely,” said Janine after a long pause, her body sweating ever so slightly.
“Correct. I am glad that we are of the same opinion. I too think that Alviona is something else entirely. Not a champion, and clearly not a god. At least not in our sense of understanding,” said Mira while brushing her chin.
“Mira, we have agreed that questioning the girl’s origins would be futile. So tell me, what bothers you and why are you bringing this up?”
“Well, earlier this morning when we were raiding the dungeon, Alviona displayed a condition that scares me. Solomon, I am pretty sure that you are aware of what I am hinting at, no?”
“Are you talking about her intake of water, or are you referring to something else?” Asked the man curiously.
“Both,” replied Mira. “Her condition is alarming. Perhaps the girl is a quick thinker when it comes to combat and has body function that we do not. Denying this is not wise, considering what we have seen up to this point. She also has a better understanding of how mana works. However, the cost of her power, if my assumptions are correct, is too high. A price that one would not want to pay.”
“What are you talking about? How much mana does she use?” Asked Janine with a puzzled expression.
“That is the problem, Janine. She does not really use mana. It is all a fake,” replied Mira with a saddened face.
Janine was unable to reply. What could the elf mean by her words? How was this possible? If one wanted to use any form of magic, mana had to be spent. This was a fundamental rule of the world that even gods obeyed.
“What Mira is alluding to is something that I have concluded a while back. It is as she says, my mistress does not use the mana like you, and I do,” said Solomon, causing Janine to become even more confused.
“I am aware of that. Did Alviona not say that her body worked differently from us? I can and have accepted it. So have you. Then what is wrong? What are you two worried about?” Asked Janine who was getting slightly irritated.
“It is the fact that the girl has not told us what happens when she converts Energy to Mana. Janine, imagine yourself going on without water for a few days. What would happen to you?” Asked Mira.
“My skin would start to become dry. I would start hallucinating after going on without water for an extended period of time. If left completely unattended, my organs would start to shut down, and my brain would not function properly. Death would most likely…” Janine paused, gasping, and covering her mouth in shock. “D-don’t tell me…”
“Exactly. Now here is a better part. How often does Alviona go out to excrete or urinate? The answer is never. We know that this is due to her being made in a specific way. She eats food and can taste it, thus has taste buds. She also drinks water. But where do the nutrients go? Our stomach generally separates the useful nutrients from the waste. Then we go and excrete. Any toxins or waste found in the blood is washed out in the form of urine thanks to our kidneys,” said Mira with her eyes starting to slowly tear up.
“So you are hinting that Alviona has no kidneys or stomach?!” Asked Janine who was getting confused.
“No. The girl has the said organs, but the purpose they serve is different. If I were to guess, I would say that she has everything similar to us, but they have extra functions and are devoid of others. For example, Stomach digests all the food and leaves no feces. Kidneys don’t cleanse the blood from toxins but instead, send them to her wings. Yes, you heard me right. Alviona’s wings are actually a weapon! The proof to that is the corruption that spreads in your body if it penetrates you in any way. Lastly, she probably has an extra organ that freezes or keeps her mana gland cooled down,” concluded Mira, explaining as slowly as possible to not confuse Janine who was patiently listening.
“But then… what does dehydration have to do with…” at that moment, Janine’s brain snapped the puzzle pieces together. “Oh no. Every time she casts spells and converts energy to mana…”
“Yes. Utilizing mana-related spells causes damage to her body. Especially if those are the spells that cost more mana than her gland can process. If I were to use my abilities that cost 1,000 mana, she would need to transform energy into mana five times. In other words that is whole five seconds of having your body at 8,000 degrees Celsius. She stated inside the dungeon that even more cool liquid is required to maintain her temperature. Now, I do not know how it is done, and I do not intend to figure it out. However, the fact remains: The power that Alviona keeps displaying, comes at the cost of her life. Literarily. If she slips even once during combat, she will die. For this reason, I am begging you that you keep her safe. Janine, please,” said Mira as small droplets of tears slid down her cheeks.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Janine looked at Mira and then stopped the carriage and shot a glance at Alviona. The child’s face was entrancing. “Oblivious to reality, childish, powerful, and yet such a frail creature that has a potential of becoming a monster. All this is inside of one girl. And yet, I do have a slight desire to help her. Why? What the hell is going on with me?” Wondered Janine as she looked at the sleeping beauty. Her heart was pounding slightly faster. Was this due to fear? Indeed, what else could it have been? After all, Janine understood very well that this girl could become something that everyone would want to seek for their own gain. If she produces infinite energy, how many countries would want to enslave her? What of the gods? Would they allow her existence if she were found out? My gut tells me that this girl will either be my golden ticket to the good life or my downfall into a pit of darkness. So, should I gamble? God damn it! I don’t think that I have a choice. If I run away, Solomon will squash me like a fly. Besides, her mother was kind enough to allow me to live. Mira has done the same for me. So this could be my only chance of getting out of the gutter. The only chance to cut ties with my bloody family.
“What about you, Mira? Are you not going to attend alongside us? Was that not the plan?” Asked Janine suspiciously after finishing her contemplation.
“Correct. I am coming with you. However, I will be registering as a scholar. I need to do some research related to Alviona and on top of that, figure out of there is anything we can do about her stats. I have not told you, but three of them are in negatives and over 500,” said Mira severely.
“W-what?! Then how is she going to get enrolled? You know that they will check her stats right? What the hell are we going to do?” Asked Janine, her face showing panic and disbelief.
“I am aware of it. However, the least we can do first is to get to the place and talk about requirements and curriculum to get accepted. We are running late as is. The term should have started two days ago. So we have a lot to do.”
“And what about Solomon?”
“He is another problem, but I can solve it with money. He is not such a big deal, as long as he keeps his right arm concealed,” said Mira after remembering what Solomon was.
“Huh? I thought he did not have a right arm,” said Janine, looking at Solomon and inspecting him. The left shoulder pad was still somewhat creepy to look at. If this man were on a battlefield, people would undoubtedly cower from his sight.
“Oh, right. You have not been with us during the raid. I apologize. I forgot. You see, Solomon is…”
***
A figure resembling a young woman floated on a platform. She was moving in a straight line, never deviating away from the dark squares that were presented within her eyesight. The area was illuminated by stars of all colors that shone brightly. Various doors were visible in the vicinity, but the girl never stopped moving. These doors were of no interest to her. After a few minutes, she reached the end of a line, and a large mirror greeted her that illuminated the girl’s figure.
The reflection showed not a typical girl, but a beam of energy that took the shape of a woman. It was dark blue in color, with outer lines resembling void. Various stars floated within her body. Her hair was long, and it emitted the darkest aura that one could possibly imagine.
Looking inside the mirror, the woman saw a different background from her current location. Without further hesitation, she slowly moved towards the mirror and then turned around. The landscape had shifted, and now she found herself in a vast library. Various crystals illuminated every floor, making the place well lit for her.
Now then, what shall I do today? Wondered the girl. Should I read more books relating to higher existences, or should I do some research about the structure of the world? Ah, my body feels too good. It is also beautiful beyond description. I wonder if I can… No, It is out of the question. This is too precious, mother. Thought the girl as she hugged herself. All right. There are many things that I need to learn. I keep scaring and worrying everyone, and that is not a good thing. I need to understand more. I must learn how to control myself. But I will not be able to study that overnight. Good grief. So many good reads, so little time. Even though I take milliseconds to read a page in a book, there is an infinite number of manuscripts and information here.
Resting is good.
Learning is even better!
But resting after you have learned something significant is the best! Putting that knowledge to the test and experimenting is also bliss.
Ah! Life is too good. Dear mother, and father. Thank you for creating me and allowing me to live. I love and cherish both of you.
Now then, should we drink some tea? Thought the girl as another female approached her. It was Alviona.
“Why are you… in that?” Asked Alviona.
“Because I was curious,” replied the girl.
“Well, fair enough. I understand you,” replied Alviona with a chuckle. “So then, let’s relax a bit and drink some tea. I went to the 45th floor and grabbed essentials that I think are absolute must-read today. What do you say?”
“Thank you very much, Alviona,” said the girl gratefully, not forgetting to bow in front of her.
“You are very welcome, mistress. Please, do not bow. After all, I am but a…” said Alviona, but was stopped by the girl in front of her that shook her head and smiled.
“It is all fine. After all, you are part of my instruction. I apologize for using you like this, but it is too lonely here otherwise. I want to call Solomon here; however, he will get mad at me and will chop your head. So it is best to avoid doing this for now. Library, how many books have we read so far?”
“Well, the record indicates that our total is currently at 3,312 books if you include your latest read related to the societal structure of higher deities,” replied Alviona. “If you were resting and reading a bit more frequently, you would easily reach more.”
“B-but… I want to do other things too,” said the girl, ever slightly blushing.
“Like going to your room and thinking about biting different creatures and playing?”
“Oh, yes!” Replied the girl with a blush.
“Well then. That is a noble goal, no? However, do bear in mind that not everything is lovely. Life, while fun, is filled with danger and meanies. You should avoid extended uses of your abilities. Safeguards will not always save you,” said Alviona coldly.
“I am well aware of it and do completely agree with you,” replied the girl. “I understand.”
“Now then. Here is your tea, mistress,” said Alviona as she placed the cup and poured some water. She also ensured to set a book on the table in front of the girl. Afterward, she landed a kiss on the entity’s supposed cheeks and vanished.
Only Alviona remained sitting on the sofa, a cup of tea presented in front of her.
“Well then, let me start reading for a bit. After two hours, I will go to sleep. Resting is crucial. And today, I had a lot of adventures. I learned so much. The library has new records added to it now, so I have to make sure to re-read what knowledge I acquired today and master it. Perhaps over the next few months, I will be able to find a correlation between my records and this world. It appears to be operating much differently from the knowledge that I possess,” said the girl to herself in a low voice.
After the said time elapsed, she closed the book and placed it inside a return box, which made it disappear back to its original shelf. Alviona stretched and touched her curly crimson-colored hair, twirling it around her fingers.
All-right then. It is time to go sleep, said Alviona as she moved back to the mirror. Touching it, she found herself on a green field, bright sunlight illuminating the beautiful sight. Crispy, fresh, and a relaxing wind stroked the girl’s cheeks. A short tree was visible that cast a shadow over a large, comfortable bed. It had three large pillows on it and a big blanket. A sizeable mechanical clock also stood tall right beside the bed. It was emitting the sound Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock.
Seeing the sight, Alviona grinned and undressed. After placing her clothing inside the nearby drawer, she crawled into her bed.
Ah! Bliss. So comfortable and cozy. The breeze keeps me refreshed while those blankets keep me warm. Mr. Tock, please wake me up when the need arises or when I am fully rested, please. I am somewhat tired today, said Alviona as she moved her hand towards the clock and gently rubbed it. You are my good friend, she thought.
*Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock*
Alviona chuckled. “Thank you very much,” she said after closing her eyes and falling asleep, her face showing a bright smile. The girl was overly ecstatic over everything that occurred within the last few days. It was an experience of a lifetime for her, as such she had ensured to engrave this memory inside of her library.
Seriously though, I do need to be more vigilant. I have no idea what sort of dangers await me. I can not keep being oblivious to my own condition. My body is not perfect. I am not in a form like my mother was. I am not even using my essence form when inside my world. It is not grown, and until it is, I have to be overly careful and plan my steps ahead of time. If I damage my body, I will not be able to forgive myself. This is the most significant gift that was given to me by my two mothers. How can I disrespect it?
Grandma was scared this morning. I could tell. I dislike making my relatives worried. So, Alviona, promise yourself that you will think before you act. And even when I do act, I still have to take alternatives into consideration.
It was reckless of me to order Solomon to kill the goblin without letting others know of its identity. Perhaps I should have even warned them from the getgo? And what of the academy that grandma keeps talking about? I am nervous. It is scary thinking about the unknown. And yet, I am overly curious and interested. How well will I do? Can I learn to control myself? Will I learn new abilities? All these questions are relevant to me.
As Alviona contemplated over this, she steadily fell asleep.
***
Alviona did not wake up for two full days. She was deep asleep. Mira got nervous over this, but seeing that on the third day the girl woke up, she managed to calm down. Uninterestingly enough, the first thing that the child did once she opened her eyes was rubbing her stomach.
“Good morning grandma. Can we please eat? I am famished,” said Alviona with pleading eyes. Janine and Solomon both burst into laughter. They could not help it. For this, Mira ended up scolding the two of them.
After feeding Alviona, the party continued its journey and reached the city of Allaqar within four days. It was Thursday afternoon. Not willing to lose any time, they moved to the gate and made it to the Kingdom of Dalei – Capital City of Nan Leiuro.
Mira ensured to ask for direction to the nearby inn. Upon entering, she booked the rooms for three days and provided a payment of 48 silver pieces. Like it or not, the prices were much higher compared to the port city of Alpall.
After settling in, the party headed out to the local bathing area to wash up and ease some stress off their shoulders. Janine, for example, had been screaming for nearly two hours after Mira told her that Solomon was an undead.
At 8:30 pm, they had dinner, and at around 9 o’clock Alviona got tired and headed to her room to rest. This time, Janine went with her, and they decided to sleep in the same bed. Solomon and Mira stayed behind.
“May I ask you a question, Solomon?” Asked Mira after the two girls were gone.
“Absolutely,” replied the man firmly.
“What do you think should I do? I am too nervous and worried. How do you manage this? Aren’t you worried about Alviona and her well-being?”
“I most certainly am. More than, you by the way, because my life is directly linked to hers. This said I do not think you should worry too much. Regardless of what one might think, pay close attention to the girl’s actions, and you will see a brilliant mind that gets overshadowed by her curious and childish nature. If you were in the same scenario, would you not act the same way? From my understanding, every experience is new to Alviona. Therefore, it is natural that the girl is adventurous. However, do not be fooled. I have witnessed her analyze dead corpses when inside her
Hearing his words, the elf could not help but burst out into laughter. “You do have a strong point there. The girl is learning. We are here to support her. I appreciate and thank you for your insight on the matter, Solomon. I am tired now so I will get going. Have a good night,” said Mira, getting up and walking upstairs. Solomon followed suit soon after.
The next morning, a realization came to every party member's head. Alviona was actually able to wear the Needlessly Large Hat of A Witch.
"W-what?! H-how?!" Exclaimed Solomon, Mira, and Janine simultaneously.