CHAPTER 16: ELEA’S PROBLEMS, P1
~16.1~
*****
We spent a few hours after Alethea and the others showed up discussing the geopolitical landscape of the planet we were on in Realm 7 - by the way, it’s called Elea - with Luma and Carys. Their attendants actually had to whip up more refreshments, not at all because Aisha ate every single blood cookie. I’m kidding, she actually did eat them all, but with so many more attendees... snacks and drinks for four did not go very far between nine adults and two children. Lily and Ally volunteered to assist their attendants but were firmly denied, being considered guests themselves. It was amusing seeing them hesitantly sit next to me and take part, rather than stand behind me waiting to serve more refreshments or what-have-you.
They’re my attendants, but they’re also my family, basically like sisters. And well... they’re royals, of course. We grew up so tight-knit. And it turned out that they are immortals, too!
My mind keeps going back to what Joey said. That I’d lose something important. But what could it be? Why do I have to ask Alfia specifically?
What about being a god? I always deny it. But I literally created Elysium, which houses millions of worlds. I am the daughter of the Primordial Goddess. Realistically, I am a god. Should I stop denying it? Should I accept it?
I need to recover my memories.
She stood up, suddenly, her white and silver power bursting to life. Everyone’s eyes were on her in an instant. She unsheathed Hikarimaru and telepathically instructed her to take human form, which startled Carys, Luma, and Aisha. “Astraia, Joey, I want to enter my soul with both of you. Carys, will you authorize a permanent living situation for me here at the cathedral?”
“Yes.”
“Once that room is ready,” she turned back to her weapon partners, “we’ll enter my soul.”
Joey nodded and Astraia said, “As you wish.”
She glanced around at the group not from Realm 7. “All of you, handle things back home. I will remain here for now. There are problems I must resolve here. I will continue teaching remotely, so my students will not be neglected, and Alethea can handle the things I can’t do remotely. My duties as a royal can be mitigated with remote work. Public appearances are another story, but...” She paused for a moment, recalling what Allison said in their brief meeting. “Allison will take care of everything, I just need to keep up my instructor duties in the afternoon. I almost put everything on myself again.”
“You’re good at that,” Luma commented between sips of tea. Alethea, Adele, and Michelle looked at her, silently putting pressure on her to continue. “Oh. Commander Catherine Lancet was a busybody. That life was pretty crazy. Though, from what I’ve heard, the lives of Shiori Sakaguchi and Elise Arbell were pretty up there, too.” She eyed Alethea.
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“Yeah... a bit.”
Kye smiled apologetically. “I won’t work myself to death, I promise. I’ll take my time.”
Luma smiled and nodded. “Moderation, Commander.”
Kye looked at Aliana. “I suppose you will be here outside of school hours?”
“Yes, Princess.”
Kye glanced over at the door that Aliana and the others entered through. “You can cross the boundary... or rather, you can bypass it through the Void. And it requires Radiance to enter... That means only a handful of us can even enter it.” She walked over and opened the door. Her eyes widened as she realized something she had all but disregarded on her sixteenth birthday. “Purple... not unlike the background from that doorway Shiro walked through.”
“I thought you might make that connection,” Alethea said. “If it’s true, Shiro has Radiance, but I have a theory to test that might deter that thought.”
“Probably the same thing I’m thinking.”
They nodded at each other. ““Radiance or white mana.””
“So then, anyone with either can enter the void?” Michelle said. “Intriguing. Kye, I have a suggestion for you to try. Wrap somebody in white mana and see if you can lead them through.”
Kye stepped into the void, completely unbothered by the shift in gravity. “First, a test. Luma does not have white mana, but does have Radiance.”
“Correct.” Luma stood up and stepped through the door, also unbothered by the shift in gravity. “Jeez... this place is densely packed with mana.”
“This shows us that someone from a realm isolated by the boundary can enter.” Kye turned around and went back through the door. She grabbed Aisha’s hand, wrapped her white mana around the vampire, and pulled her through the door. “Looks like white mana works, too, and not even necessarily possessing it.”
“I... don’t... uh...” Aisha was unsure what to say, but didn’t have much trouble adapting to the increase in gravity.
Kye was beaming. The others didn’t know, but Alethea understood why and lept through the door after Kye. “Yes!”
Kye took a breath. “Okay, okay. Calm down, Kye. One thing at a time.” She eyed the mansion. “First, we need to get this place fixed up to live in.” She gestured for Aliana to join her. “For now, this door will work, but I want to set up a room inside this mansion you’ve created to serve as a... basically a miniature gateway, like in Atlantis. Move the existing doors inside that room. Where’s the exit go with the other door?”
“It’s in the middle of the palace courtyard.”
“Move it to our residence in the palace. Not my private chamber.” Aliana nodded and went inside to get started. Kye stepped back into the meeting room and sat down. “Luma, Carys, what is the standard for arranging a living situation in the cathedral?”
“Most people have individual rooms used solely for sleeping,” Luma said, understanding what Kye was asking. “There are shared utilities and workspaces. Some higher ups have complete private facilities. I have a space with a common room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. So do Carys, the High Priest, and the Cardinal. Everyone else has only single rooms with no private utilities.”
“There are a handful of guest facilities that are more or less identical to ours,” Carys said. “I was thinking of setting you up in one of those long-term.”
“That works.”
*****
Revision: 2024-5-20