CHAPTER 32: 100 YEARS P1
~32.1~
*****
“We’ll be here for one hundred years,” Kye said. Soon after arriving at Athas, the group of five settled into Elysia’s Palace at the center of the city, specifically in Elysia’s private residence. Liliana was preparing a meal after she and Aliana thoroughly cleaned the kitchen. Aliana was cleaning the dining room.
“Princess, your private residence is very convenient,” Liliana said while chopping a carrot. “These ingredients are still fresh after all this time.”
“That’s the Inventory skill.” She opened a cabinet and inside laid a variety of vegetables. “All of this food was placed here long before the invasion. The space inside the cabinet is not the actual space where the food is stored.” Kye snapped her fingers, and the inside of the cabinet changed to show a black space with a silver grid around the edges in the same shape as the cabinet. “The cabinet is connected to my private inventory, like every other in this kitchen.”
“Perhaps this would be a good thing to introduce in Atlantis.”
Athanasia’s ear perked up upon hearing ‘Atlantis’. “You lot are from Atlantis?”
Before Kye could answer, Alethea took the opportunity. “Why don’t we talk a bit about that?”
“Sure. If Atlantis survived that catastrophe, I’d love to hear how my people are faring in the future.”
“Our people.”
“Our people?”
Kye patted both on the shoulder. “Go on, you two. Talk to your hearts’ content. You have a lot in common. Aliana will bring you tea shortly. There’s a tearoom next to the dining room on the left as you enter from here.”
She telepathically gave Aliana instructions as the young Atlantis sisters went to the tearoom together.
After taking their seats, Alethea broke the ice. “Athanasia Atlantis. You are Empress Atalante’s firstborn. Mom has told me much about you.”
Athanasia smiled, looking Alethea in the eyes.
“Something tells me you already know.”
“You just gave me the final piece only a few minutes ago,” she said. “You already know who I am, yet you are not using any titles with me. In the middle of an emergency, such as when we first met in the sky earlier, one can understand disregarding titles. But you still do not use them with me. You look at me as an equal, not as a superior. I have a pretty good guess about who you are.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Might you humor me with your guess?”
“You said our people. You spoke of mother as Empress. And you say your mother has told you a lot about me.” The blonde princess smiled. “The only possibility is that mother is still alive in your time, and you are her daughter... my sister.”
Alethea nodded. “Twenty-three years ago in my time, I was born on Terra in an orphanage in London. Nearby, mom was meeting with two elder royals, who won’t be born in this time for roughly six thousand years. I’ll give you the full story later, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about things. I was kidnapped from the orphanage, and she was close enough to sense the surge of mana from the attempt. She rescued me and found out immediately about this.” Alethea paused and formed a ball of white mana in her hand.
“White mana?”
“Yes. I will also explain that in detail later as well. She rescued me and then adopted me.” Athanasia’s eyes teared up as Alethea stood up and curtsied. “I am Alethea Atlantis, daughter of Empress Atalante Atlantis. I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.”
“I...” Athanasia stood up and slowly stepped toward Alethea. “I was right.”
Alethea nodded and held her hand out, but Athanasia pulled Alethea into a warm hug instead. “This is nice.”
“A little sister... who is already an adult!”
“Heh, you don’t know the half of it.” Alethea pulled away. “Listen, I don’t want to give you information overload, but there is an enormous amount of information I have that you need to know for when we return to my time. Kye’s job was to pluck you and our brothers out of history, and that was a success. Since we’re stuck here, I want to teach you as much as possible before we return.”
Athanasia nodded. “Okay. I can sense your incredible mana. You are like Elysia.”
“Yes. In fact, we’re married.” Alethea smiled. “Where do you want to start?”
*****
While Liliana was cooking and Aliana was tending to the sisters, Kye and Sanae were chatting in the kitchen where they could smell the cooking. Rei, Sora, Joey, and Kaede were in the dining room chatting at the table.
“Sanae, what do you think the chances are that your past self will come here?”
“Pretty high,” she answered with a gloomy expression. “I actually have memories of-”
As she spoke, an immensely powerful source of mana materialized in front of them. The initially hostile expression quickly changed to confusion. “What is...?”
Sensing the mana, everyone else ran into the kitchen.
“Familiar mana all around, I see,” she said. “What are the states of your memories? Explain to me how you are here.” She narrowed her eyes. “You have your body, but your body is also in the nexus right now.”
Kye said, “Hi, Fia. I have all of my memories, including our shared memories of the Alpha World Line and Alexandria.”
Alfia smiled, “I see. What sort of adventure are you on this time?” She eyed Sanae, her eyes glowing as she peered into her own soul within Sanae’s body. “You lot are from a different time. Clearly. You look to be about ten million years older.”
Sanae nodded. “Yes.”
Alfia sighed. “Okay. Tell me everything you heard from my perspective when this happened to you.”
Everyone moved to the dining room, except Liliana who continued cooking, and Aliana who prepared tea for everyone. After a short talk, Alfia looked at Athanasia with a smile, “You have a lot ahead of you. But you’ll be fine.” She turned back to Kye. “Eli, I’ll make sure our Inventory is plenty stocked. You’ll be here one hundred years? That’s not much to manage.”
“Thanks, Fia. What are your plans in this era?”
*****
Revision: 2024-10-11