Chapter 28 - Dam

A heavy sigh sounded as Lilly sat down on the feathers scattered on the ground. The tears were still streaming, dripping from her chin, but her expression only had the emotion of weariness.

‘... Why like this?’

She asked, but knew no answer would be coming. The amulet was still in the city, lying in the embers of her home.

Myndia had, with no regard for the consequences, taken matters into her own hands. But what consequences did she have to fear? Did she even care what might happen to Lilly or her loved ones? Was she really that selfish?

Lilly felt like laughing at herself for having trusted her, but she lacked the strength. Instead, she silently swore to never speak to her again and to seal that amulet in the depths of the earth.

She ended up lying down on her back, looking at the sky. It was somehow still early in the day. Thoughts were swirling in her head, all avoiding the hurt and grief.

‘I hope Elly or Selene comes here with some clothes… Selene really deserves the title of Greatest Archer in Eldoria; that was incredible… Wonder if I can transform into a half-bird at will… Can I conjure the staff from here?’

She briefly wondered about destroying the staff but decided to keep using it for now. It was an amazing tool still.

Her view of the sky was suddenly blocked by a large blanket falling toward her. She let it fall, knowing who had arrived.

“Thanks, Elly.”

“Don’t mention it. Are you hurt?” Eolande’s voice was low and steady, but there was a clear hint of worry.

“Just a small cut. And I’m a bit tired…”

“Would you like me to carry you back?”

“... Back where?” Lilly tried, but couldn’t quite keep the bitterness from her voice, feeling her face contort in sadness. Her home was gone, and it would never return.

“… There’s a nice and warm bed in my house, still at your disposition.” Eolande’s voice was filled with tender worry now.

Lilly felt something inside her wanting to reject, but she knew it was just misplaced anger. “That would be nice… Are you okay with seeing him like this?”

“Absolutely. The man I knew was only another mask. Because that man would never…” Her voice cracked, telling Lilly everything she needed to know.

Unlike the man lying on the ground, the man Eolande knew never existed in the first place.

“He said the spatial storage ring was for you. And you can probably take the teleport thingy he used as well; it’s somewhere in that direction.” Lilly moved her arm out from under the blanket and pointed, still sensing the drain.

She moved the blanket from her face after pointing, tired of talking to a voice. She looked at Eolande, who was looking at Eolanathel, and noticed a severe burn on her arm.

“Your arm! Is that from me?” Lilly sat up suddenly, feeling a terrible guilt. She recalled being dragged from her home and flung up in the air. Now it was clear how it happened.

“Don’t worry, it didn’t burn very deep. I’ll grab the ring and go pick up the plate, just give me a moment.”

“But… Could the staff help?”

Eolande was leaning over Eolanathel now, removing his ring without ceremony. “Maybe, but there’s no hurry. I can still carry you.” She looked back at Lilly with a worried expression.

Before Lilly could react, she was hugged from behind, feeling the warmth of Eolande embracing her. “Really, Lilly. I’m totally fine. You’re the one needing attention right now.”

Lilly felt her emotions threatening to take over, but she managed to hold them back. “Hold on, I’m not ready to break down just yet. Let’s get to your bed first. Mia is fine, right?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“She would be running here right now if I didn’t promise to come back right away. She’s really worried about you.” Eolande released the hug, getting up to track down the disk Eolanathel had thrown. “Be right back.”

And she was gone. ‘How is she able to move like that without tripping? Does she perceive time faster than me, or is it just practice?’ Lilly wondered, annoyed by her own lack of speed.

She laid back down and put the blanket around herself, getting ready for Eolande to get back.

Lilly didn’t feel like thinking of the future right now, and the past was even worse. ‘Wonder how I should enchant the cuirass Mia forged… Some protection, obviously, but is that all I should focus on? I’ll have to see Gallus again for some high-grade materials. Guess I’ll figure out the enchantments then.’

It didn’t take Eolande long to get back. Locating the disc should have been easy once she got close enough.

“You ready to head back now, Lilly?” Her voice was still gentle like she was afraid of disturbing her.

“Sure, let’s go.”

Eolande put her hands under Lilly’s back and feet, carrying her sideways in her arms. She avoided using her right hand too much, leaving it hanging in the air while resting Lilly’s feet on her forearm. Lilly still felt bad about that.

“Did Selene tell you where to find me?” Lilly asked, trying to understand the events in the city after she left. Selene had somehow gotten the flying restaurant to take her up in the air in a hurry, probably after hearing the phoenix shriek again, Lilly figured.

“Yeah, she said she jumped down from the Skyview after you beat him. I didn’t quite get everything she said, but she told me you needed some clothes and maybe some help getting back.”

“She deserves a lot of thanks, I wouldn’t have beaten him if it wasn’t for her.”

“I saw the arrow flying, but I didn’t see the fight. You can tell me all about it later, though.”

“Yeah…”

“Do you want me to speed up? I can try to keep you steady.”

“Sure.”

Lilly knew Eolande was steering clear of the subject and felt grateful. She had somehow halted her emotions around it for now, keeping a tight lid on it until she was ready.

The increased speed let Lilly feel the wind in her face again. It felt refreshing, but the city was approaching fast.

“Could you avoid the people? I’d prefer it if they didn’t see me like this.”

“Sure, I’ll go over the wall somewhere. You did win a tough battle, though; I don’t think they’ll look down on you at all.”

“... It feels like a hollow victory. I would much rather just have him leave…”

Eolande jumped to get to the top of the city wall before jumping between rooftops to get to her home. Eventually, she landed on her own rooftop, where she climbed through a window to get inside.

Lilly could sense the charred smell of burned wood when they arrived, knowing well where it came from. ‘Just a bit more now,’ she thought to herself, yearning for the bed and a warm embrace.

Eolande carried Lilly down a set of stairs before opening the door to her bedroom, where she gently laid her down on the bed.

“Mia should be–” Eolande started to say, but she was interrupted by the sound of someone running up the stairs to get to the second floor.

Lilly could see her approaching through the door, with red eyes and tears streaming down her face. Mia entered the room and nearly flew into the bed to hug Lilly while crying.

She held Lilly’s face in her arms. “Lilly! Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” she sobbed, looking as sad as Lilly felt. Mia had known Gramps nearly as long as Lilly, so it was no wonder she was feeling grief.

Lilly mentally ripped the bandaid off, knocking the first stone of the dam loose, and felt the emotions finally start overwhelming her.

It started silently, as a quiet cry, gradually increasing in tone. Then the first sob came, followed by a sharp, tremoring inhale. Then the dam broke, bringing down all inhibitions and hesitations with it.

She was sobbing loudly, twisting her face in grief, holding Mia’s waist closely, and crying into her side. Mia held her arms around her, sobbing along with her. If not for her own grief, then for the grief she knew Lilly was feeling right now.

Mia had been there when Lilly lost her parents and wanted nothing more than to protect her from feeling that way again. She hated the world that hurt Lilly like this. Such a kind and wonderful person should have nothing but good in her life.

Eolande sat down in the bed as well, quietly shedding tears. Her hand was stroking Lilly’s back, showing her full support.

She remembered how Lilly had cried just from her fear of leaving Gramps alone way back in the forest. That alone made her understand the deep loving bond between the two.

She also remembered how Lilly had looked, standing in front of her parents' grave, like a girl who had stood there hundreds of times before, now tired of shedding tears.

Lilly continued to cry, and when she felt tired, another memory would cause her to start again.

‘I’ll never see him again… I’ll never wake up to him baking again. I’ll never hear his kind, worried voice. I’ll never feel his strong arms around me… I’ll never come home to find him sitting in his chair again, warmly welcoming me home and wondering how my day has been…’

Mia had lain down on her side, now holding Lilly into her chest, and Eolande had lain down on the other side, gently stroking Lilly’s hair.

While the grief was intense, Lilly felt grateful to have two people in her life she could rely on in times like this. Going through this alone would have been so much worse.