Mina leaned against the side of the chair and sniffled one last time. She hadn't wanted to weep, but she'd been unable to prevent herself from it. I should have attempted to do something. Anything! Surely I could have saved at least one…

Images of all the long-ears—elves she'd seen in the castle through the years passed through her mind once more, and she fought back the urge to vomit again.

I allowed it to happen. I felt no particular urge to question it deeply, nor to challenge anyone on the matter. When Mister Godfry was executed, I was too terrified to think more intently.

She hugged her knees more tightly. I've been complicit.

Were it anyone else, she'd likely have questioned the simple statements that had unraveled everything she'd known.

But this was Volcatia Scipio.

The Volcatia Scipio.

The same one she'd idolized after hearing stories from her Stadalite tutors as a young girl of a real, living woman who never accepted defeat—who never showed fear.

A true hero.

It was difficult to reconcile the stories with the genuine article, however. The Volcatia Scipio she'd heard of was heroic, fearless, and awe-inspiring.

Vol was…

She's surly, sarcastic, foul-mouthed, and generally apathetic to all manner of things as though she hasn't a care in the world. Perhaps that's precisely the case. Perhaps all her victories have gone to her head and she's no longer capable of having interest in other matters. The Stadalites are all Sateus-worshipers.

Mina shook her head. I've spent too long considering matters beyond my understanding. It's past time I've returned to the tasks which truly require my attention. She struggled to her feet, having to steady herself on the back of the chair due to the tingling in her legs from the duration she'd spent with them curled beneath herself. Where's it gone…

She started rummaging around in the crates next to the wall. I'm certain it'd have landed somewhere here. But where… Aha! She reached between a pair of crates and pinched the small cube between her fingers, bringing it up slowly so as to not lose her hold. I can only hope I've not been too selfish. She said to crush it, I believe. She squeezed it in her hand, but it remained unyielding.

Mina frowned. How irritating. She dropped it on the ground and walked over to retrieve her boots, sliding them on before returning to her previous position. If this doesn't suffice, I'll be quite cross next time I see her. Or perhaps simply more cross with myself. She hopped up into the air and landed with one foot on the cube. There was a moment where she balanced precariously atop it, but then it lost its form, and she sank to the floor.

She looked around.

Perhaps its effect isn't immediate? Ah, but if she's with the machine, then she'll need to gain some distance before she's capable of using complex magic once more. Yes, that's most certainly it.

She took a few steps over to the chair and returned to sorting through the piles of clothing she'd been gifted. As generous as it was of her to provide me with so many options, perhaps she could have spent at least a modicum of time ensuring there were garments I'd be capable of wearing. Much of this is clearly from the wardrobe of a well-provisioned elf. She pulled out another pair of trousers, feeling some hope as she raised them up, but that was again dashed when she turned them over and discovered a conspicuous hole crafted into the rear. How useful.

She grabbed a shirt. Ooh, I do believe… She flipped it over. Yes, this is actually quite wearable! No matter the buttons which proceed down the front so long as I'm able to locate a different shirt to wear beneath. She folded it over the back of the chair on top of the waistcoat she'd previously discovered and returned to her search.

Oh my. She examined her newest find. This is…some manner of harness for breasts, I assume? She pursed her lips. While I can't possibly see a practical use for it given its lack of covering, the base principle could potentially be reused to create a more portable version of the seatbelt I devised for my steamcar. Something less inhibiting of my breath. Yes, perhaps…

She knelt down and grabbed her pencil and a paper at random, flipping it over. As I consider it further, I wonder why it's not been created previously. I've never possessed the freedom to deliberate on such matters in the past, but surely there must be a woman who's wished to run or jump—Vol must wear some manner of… But then surely those women in the shop of that seamstress would have proposed it when I was making my purchases rather than the lighter waistcoat I chose. It can't be that they all wear those horrible cloth bands I've seen some of the gladiators wearing?

Once she'd finished her latest sketch and annotated it properly, she stood back up and tossed the garment into the pile with the rest of the trash. This should do nicely to be worn beneath the waistcoat where it won't be seen. She set the sleeveless shirt with the too-low, plunging neckline over the chair. I'd best change at least some of my clothing, lest Jungrathol remark upon my human scent once more.

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A short while later she was clad in two shirts with the hastily-tied waistcoat between them. How fortunate they've all come in black. Though given the choices, it seems the only other option would be red or white. How lascivious the nobles were, to clothe the elves that they might tear the garments off.

She sighed as she finished adjusting her hair back into its tie. Now then, if only I could find a sensible, whole pair of trousers, or even a long skirt which didn't attempt to showcase the sides of my legs to the point of discomfort…

Mina returned to her rummaging.

"Greetings, Mina."

Mina jumped and let out a squeak. She narrowly suppressed her urge to cower behind her chair and instead turned around.

A purple-edged portal lay before her, leading to a dimly-lit field of snow with a faintly green-glowing blue, helmet-wearing dragon staring at her.

"Hello," Mina said, shivering as a frigid wind blew through. She reached over to her side and grabbed her scarf, winding it gently around her neck. It seemed to afford her a comfort beyond just warmth, and she smiled as she imagined it being another hug from Carl. "If you've a use for me, I'd like to again provide whatever assistance I may," she said as she turned back to face the dragon.

"I would welcome your aid," Ir'alith said. "Come. Much has happened since last we met."

Mina grabbed another object from nearby before she stepped through the portal, finding the cold immediately lessened as it had on the previous occasion, following which she endured again the discomfort of becoming weightless while she floated onto a broad, scaled back, using the time to roll up the object and stick it into her pocket. "I'm so sorry, Ir'alith," she said once she'd been set down. "I… I've no excuse for the manner in which I've behaved." She struggled, managing to barely avoid lapsing into self-loathing. No, I'll not let that overtake me again. Only Isemeine Charus would behave like such a spoiled, disgusting princess.

I've become more now. Better. Freer.

Ir'alith leapt into the air, and they began to wing their way across the frozen night. "Do not worry, Mina," she said, her silky voice remaining audible despite the speed with which they flew. "This was never your problem to solve. That you choose to lend your assistance again is more than I had hoped."

"She remains unharmed?" If Carl's wife has had harm befall her due to my selfishness…

"So it seems," Ir'alith said. "There was a change two days ago. I can no longer communicate with my father. I can sense his emotions, but no more than that. He has remained calm, so she must remain well. It is troubling."

How strange. "What might cause this effect on your shared bond?"

"I have no memory of such a thing happening previously," Ir'alith replied after a few seconds.

A short while passed as they soared above the night-darkened sea.

"Ir'alith, would you tell me of the elves?" Mina asked.

"What would you know?"

"Anything, so long as it's the truth."

"Lies exist for the weak," Ir'alith said, her tone amused. "The elves…" She paused. "When my ancestors came to this world, they found—"

"You arrived here?" Mina interrupted as her eyes widened.

"We lived on a different world that we called Demon. It was smaller and had a single sun. Our sun began to die, and the world grew too cold to survive. The strongest of us searched the planes for other worlds. Many were lost over the years. Some were pulled into the void between planes. Others were attacked by the creatures that reside there. Eventually we encountered the dragons, and they helped us create a gate powerful enough to flee to your world, distant though it was."

Mina pressed her hands to the sides of her head and sank down to sit as she considered the words she was hearing.

"When we arrived, we found many new races," Ir'alith continued. "The dragons were proud and powerful. Most refused to speak with us. They had aided us from pity. We settled among the forests in the lands across this world, growing them to provide shelter to all who wished for it. The elves were among those to whom we taught our ways. They were the ones who remained with us the longest, while humans were among the shortest. Your kind left soon after you learned the basics of magic, accusing us of keeping the secrets of greater magics from you."

Can it be… Were the humans of ancient times as vile as those I've been raised among?

"Humans do not possess innate talent for magic. When we tried to teach you even magics that our children were capable of wielding, you died horribly. Your minds could not handle even such a slight strain. Those humans refused to believe the truth. They left us, and the seeds of distrust were sown.

"The elves were the last to leave our forests in search of a home they might call their own. Our peoples were too different. Where we felt at peace in our solitude, they craved kinship and community. Where we were content to live in our forests, they craved cities like those of the humans. We bid them farewell, and they created their cities in the forests.

"In time the humans turned their festering anger on the elves. They had grown discontent with their lot, and they feared the beauty and magic of the elves, who had chosen to live nearer to humans in order to trade. Your goddesses had descended and drove the humans to madness even as they drove the dragons out of the world to remain uncontested. The elves were unprepared for such attacks, and so they died."

A moment passed as Mina's mind swirled.

"I sense you are overcome," Ir'alith said. "I will tell you more at another time, if you wish it."

Mina nodded absently. It's just as Mister Godfry said. Everything I've been taught is lies, lies, and more lies. It's so much more logical that things occurred as she's described. Surely the elves could not have been scheming some abstract "downfall of humanity" for so many hundreds or thousands of years with so little success? Onyxfell is much larger than Charus City, yet its citizens show no signs of fear towards anything outside their walls. Yes, were anyone truly attempting to eradicate all humans, they would surely not focus their efforts on a single city or kingdom when so many human nations prosper.