Near a small, calm river there was a small and calm chapel. Well, normally it was calm; however, it was currently packed full of people that came all the way from nearby villages and even some people of further villages and towns. It was amazing how fast rumors spread to have led to this.
The reason for this explosion of attendance was simple: the Saintess had come for a visit.
“You all know: they gave us life and they gave us light. More importantly, they gave us belief and miracles,” echoed a clear voice.
The only spot in the chapel that had any space in it was the stage at the center, where a woman in her late thirties was standing imposingly—mostly due to the object she was holding. She herself was also built tall and muscular, but both her toned body and her blue eyes paled in front of the power and color of the metallic shield she held in front of her body.
Engraved with the symbol of a human silhouette emitting a halo—a motif extremely common in all of Sacrona—it was the legendary relic, the shield that she had never named but was known throughout the land as the Omnibreaker.
“I have accepted their wills and their voices,” the woman continued her sermon. Everyone there listened to her with bated breaths. “Remember: you, too, can accept them. As long as you do not abandon your inner light and your love, you will all be blessed as well. —For the light!”
As she raised her mighty shield aloft as easily as if it was made of paper, a perfectly harmonious chorus rose from the crowd as well, rocking the entire chapel: “For the light!”
Then there was silence. Although there were so many people inside the chapel, although they made such powerful noise a moment before, it went eerily silent all at once. That, however, only indicated their admiration and fervor for the person they were all focusing on, the great Saint Vianna.
Some of the children gathered inside ran ahead, huddling around Vianna and her shield. There were a few hushed whispers of admonition coming from their parents, but the woman wore a warm, motherly smile.
“You may touch it if you wish to,” she said, fully knowing their intentions.
The kids all excitedly started putting their hands on the shield, feelings its masterfully-crafted grooves. What they couldn’t see from their position were the complex geometrical patterns etched on its other side, which Vianna lazily glanced toward.
The children all squealed when the shield began emitting soft, multicolored light, dyeing the engraved figure with a rainbow. “Rejoice: hold these lights in your heart,” Vianna told them with a gentle yet firm smile.
After the children had enough, she could finally step outside. It wasn’t like she disliked those moments; she loved guiding the people and how they relied on her. However, there was no denying that it was also very tiring. She carried not only her mighty shield, but the people’s hopes and dreams as well.
“…Stop wasting so much time,” grumbled a uniformed man waiting for her near the chapel. He still looked rather displeased at the fact that she hadn’t allowed him to accompany her into the chapel. But how could she? It was a place of light, not of war.
Now that she finally finished her business there, the pair began walking away. Even now she could hear the stream of people still coming out of the chapel, whispering and talking excitedly. This short hour was probably the highlight of their month, if not year.
“I couldn’t come by the sea without spreading the light,” Vianna explained calmly.
“Santa Vianna,” the man said, “matters of the military come before religion, no matter what Archbishop Raowey may think. If nothing else, then for the sake of protecting those people.” He pointed his chin behind them.
She simply ignored his assertion and glanced back at the chapel. Yes, many people were still standing there, watching her with great wonder in their eyes. However, the soldier’s words made her think. Those expectant eyes of theirs… did they really view her, or only what she represented? The shield in her hands started feeling heavier, all of a sudden.
Vianna turned her eyes back to the road. “How are things?” she finally asked curtly.
“No change. They are waiting for your arrival, just in case, before we start moving,” the soldier explained. “There are also seemingly no responses from Rumdon yet, but they have certainly noticed our movements already.”
Rumdon, their enemy situated across the sea. The land of the blasphemous deicides. And, of course, it was also the country of Vianna’s greatest rival—Stard Molton. She gazed at the horizon mostly hidden by trees as if she would be able to see him flying there even now.
“Let us hurry there,” she said softly. “Before the Behemoths are unleashed yet again.”
“I can’t believe you actually came here too,” mumbled Gen, greeting the new expedition.
After two days of a journey with a relatively small company, Niu managed to arrive at Somalir without any issues. It felt good being in the fresh air and trekking through the forest, although she found herself unused to this. Her muscles ached and she was very weary, but anxious to find some answers.
“I have to agree, Queen. To me it seems a foolish move,” Aisbroom joined. She smiled at his response; she wasn’t quite sure how he felt about her, in comparison to Acrus, but at least he seemed honest in his reactions.
Time will tell, she said to them into their minds. She had decided to not take NiU for the trip, just in case anything happened. Which was rather ironic, considering she risked herself on this. Now, take me to her. While being accompanied by the scowling Gen and the scrutinizing Aisbroom, Niu recalled the circumstances that had brought her there a couple of days prior.
“Go to talk to the—“ Roah had spat in pure astonishment, his eye widening. “Have you lost your mind, Queen? That is much too dangerous.”
We have already discussed this, she had responded. The risks currently seem low, and we need this information.
“True, but going there yourself is a bit…”
I will go there, Roah. I was not seeking advice. I merely stated my intentions to you.
She’d thought he would continue to challenge her, but to her great surprise, all traces of doubt and anxiety had immediately vanished from his face and he’d worn a satisfied smile. “If that is what you say, Queen, I have no choice but to accept it. We have sent quite a few forces with Gen, though… who will be accompanying us?”
There are still people enough. And we can spare some laborers as well. By the way, this is not “us”, but “me”. You will not be joining.
“Why not?” Roah had asked, narrowing his eye.
I need someone to take care of business here during my absence.
“…Will you really be fine going by yourself?”
I will not be by myself. And I can handle myself perfectly well even without you, thank you very much.
Roah had then smiled. “How about we put Shaya in charge, then?” She had had the distinct feeling that the change in her expression was exactly what he had been hoping for.
Things were still strained between the two girls. It really was surprising, seeing how close they were during their school days, when they found their comfort in each other. The fact that their entire dynamic here in Fairland went an upheaval probably contributed to that as well; Niu became the one and only Queen, while Shaya was the admired Angel. Similar yet dissimilar roles.
Niu also still had very complex emotions about the fact that her friend had concealed her channeling abilities from them all this time.
Enough with the jokes, Niu had finally said. And start the preparations.
“Yes, my Queen,” he had said, bowed with a flourish and turned to leave.
Resolving herself to that decision, Niu had left that very night.
Now she arrived safely in Somalir, and was taken to the crater in the midst of the forest. Despite having already heard the reports, she too was fascinated by the unmistakable human appearance of the so-called Goddess.
Now, what should I try saying to her? she wondered just as something went wrong. Her head was assaulted by a splitting headache and the figure in front of her was rising—the Goddess was rising to her legs.
No, it wasn’t the Goddess. Standing inside that crater was a woman with a tired expression and hair the color of rusty bronze.
She was Naria, Niu’s mother.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” - “How could I have given birth to a defect?” - “Just… go outside. I might not be able to hear you, but I don’t want to see you either.” - “Why do we have to send you to that stupid school?” - “What have you done to that merchants’ son!?” - “What if they exile us, stupid girl?”
Niu saw scenes that actually existed and scenes that did not. She heard a whirlpool of shouts—mostly those from her mother; saw a storm of colors—mostly those from Gen's wound; felt a deluge of emotions—mostly those of pain and suffering…
No no no no no STOP!
“I have been waiting for the DANGER/Your DANGER is calling to me/I will have the DANGER do the unthinkable.”
STOP!
The world around her shook and Niu found herself back in reality, feeling unstable. She somehow resisted the impulse to vomit and stared at her mother—no, at the Goddess. She was not standing at all. She was just lying there as if asleep. Niu breathed in relief.
“Niu!” called Gen, a hint of panic in his voice. “Have you… have you seen something?”
Rather than seeing visions, it felt more as if the visions were violently jammed into her mind. It was a surreal experience, and one she didn’t want to repeat again, but she also couldn’t give up so easily.
Yes, but I’m fine, she told Gen while breathing heavily and waving him off, then focused on the Goddess again, gritting her teeth. Who are you? Why are you here? What is it that you wanted to tell me, to tell us? Answer!
The reply came instantly. Niu’s head ached again, but this time she still kept her grasp on reality.
“Danger/danger?/danger,/danger;/danger./danger…/danger!/danger!!!”
Niu grimaced. Danger? What sort of danger? The beasts? The Stroba? There were too many dangerous things around her. If the Goddess came here just to say that, it was a waste of everyone’s time. Or perhaps she had asked her too many questions at once.
Answer me! Niu called. Who are you?
Hair knife scream push snow dress hands blood gore pain—short flashes came flooding into her mind again.
W-w-who are you?! Niu insisted, fighting against the current.
“Al/Al/Al/Al/Alllllllllllllllllll/Sa/sa/sa/sa/saaaaaaaa/Al/sa/Al/sa/Al/sa…”
Alsa? It sounded a bit fragmentary, but could that be a name? Not that it told Niu too much. At the very least it sounded like a series of sounds that lacked any meaning. Never mind that. The Goddess’s name had no bearing on the situation. She asked further.
Why are you here?
There was another cacophony of images in her head that made her step back. If that wasn’t enough, Alsa (Niu decided she might as well use it as a name for now) started rampaging inside her crater, pounding her hairs against the ground and destroying it even further.
“Enough,” said Aisbroom, pulling Niu backwards. “You don’t seem to be getting anywhere.”
Niu thought she had made a little bit of progress, but it was also true that she still couldn’t understand anything. Her head still ached and her heart was beating loudly, so it was as good a time as any to take a break.
Fine, she told them. We will retreat for now.
During the Queen’s absence, Roah fulfilled most of her duties—and was pleasantly surprised to find out just how much she had been doing. Of course, she hadn’t really been making any major political or governmental decisions on her own, as she and Roah mostly made suggestions and inquiries to the other, more competent and experienced people running the city state, but he could actually feel that a certain something was missing when she wasn’t there.
When had she found the time to approve the construction of a new hospital when she’d spent so much of her time holed up in her art room? Roah hadn’t even heard about it, but now he was receiving reports about the beginning stages of that project.
They were young and inexperienced, yes, but this didn’t mean they were completely useless. Roah couldn’t help but smile at that. It was all going so well. So well, indeed, that he drew a blank on what they could even do better. He knew it was an arrogant and stupid thought, but he still felt like that.
Well, there was the whole thing about connecting the worlds, for one. Or trying to do something about the Stroba. But he knew that solving such complex issues wasn’t easily achievable, and he was fully confident that they were advancing toward some solutions with each passing day.
Queen Niu Kalden. Since he was the one who helped put her on the throne, he knew that she could change the world.
When that evening’s reports were finally over and Roah was about to finally leave the small meeting room and finally eat some supper, someone unexpected appeared at the door after almost everyone had left.
“Good evening,” said Shaya, her voice a bit dry.
Roah narrowed his eye and rose from his seat while carrying his papers. The remaining fairies present merely walked away, though some eyed her on the way to the door. The older ones were less inclined to admire her, but many still respected her.
“Hello, Shaya. Do you need anything?” he asked.
He and Shaya weren’t interacting much these days. After she had revealed her secret, it pretty much ended their involvement with one another. He could no longer use her—and to be honest, didn’t have any further interest in her, either. Her abilities were useful, but that was it.
In fact, now Shaya was the one mostly left out. Niu was the Queen, Roah her advisor, and Gen was a respectable soldier. Where had that left Shaya? Yes, she was the so-called “Angel”, a possessor of great power, sure, but she didn’t actually do anything. She was basically living the good life, mooching off of the others’ hard work.
Which was why her reason for appearing there surprised him. “I wanted to talk to you,” she told him, glancing about as the room emptied out.
Roah had a certain guess. “You didn’t want Niu to be around when you did this, right?”
She seemed surprised, but nodded, confirming his suspicions. “I… would be glad for some advice on that, too.” She momentarily averted her eyes. “That’s not why I’m here, though.”
“Walk with me,” he told her as he went toward the door, and both exited into the corridor. “Well, what is it that you need?”
“I want to do something.”
“…How terribly specific. What sort of thing?”
“That’s the problem,” she said, knitting her brows, “I don’t know. Gen doesn’t want to let me fight… and I-I’m not smart like you or Niu, so I can’t really help with what you’re doing. But I’ve had enough of sitting back and letting others do everything.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
They arrived at the corridor leading to their chambers—now, each of them had a new room much better than their previous ones in the guest floor below.
“I can’t help you with that,” Roah said after thinking for a while.
“What? Why not?” She sounded devastated.
“Because it’s something that you have to find out for yourself. If you want to do something, then you have to just do it. And if you don’t know what to do, you need to find it. I know it sounds incredibly vague, but that’s how it is. I can perhaps help you once you’ve figured out what it is that you’re after.”
Although she had vastly improved from how she was in the past, he still couldn’t see any interesting future for her. She said that Gen didn’t want to let her fight, but did she want to? And why did she let Gen decide that for her, anyway? She was probably hoping for some magic answer, but Roah had none to give her.
“T-that’s not fair,” Shaya complained, pouting. “You’ve helped Niu a lot… do you really hate me so much?”
“I have no ill feelings toward you at all,” he replied coldly, his mouth a thin line.
“Then is it because you’re in love with her?”
That caused Roah to stop his legs. But after he stopped in place, he started laughing. He immediately turned around, paced toward Shaya in such a way that made her flinch, and widened his dark eye.
“Do you really think I’m capable of feeling something as cute as that?” he whispered in a low voice that made her take another step back.
Shaya looked scared. Or was she actually hurt? Her expression crumbled, and then became that of anger. “Right. I guess I have overestimated you… in a lot of different ways.” Without waiting for his response, she turned around and left in a fast pace, fuming. He thought he might have heard her sob, but that might have been his imagination.
Roah’s smile vanished and he gazed at her back growing distant until she was finally gone from his sight. Only then he started to regain his calm and realized he was holding his breath for some reason.
The once-weak girl now sought to do something with her newly found strength—how utterly ridiculous. She was even afraid of Niu, so how could she accomplish anything at all? She lacked the power to crawl from out of the abyss by herself, so what could that stupid girl even do?
Roah was mad. He was also mad at himself for feeling so mad about this nonsense. He should just forget about Shaya. After all, she would never become as great as Niu.
Back in Somalir, Niu was growing increasingly frustrated. It seemed like they were making some breakthrough, with how much Alsa had been responding to her, but none of it amounted to anything substantial. Despite trying a few times after that, she received nothing more than a sense of “danger” and headaches while the Goddess kept on rampaging.
Of course, she had no idea about any concrete dangers. The skies were clear of monsters and the Stroba still seemed to be lying low. No matter how much she asked Alsa, she wouldn’t say anything new—or at least nothing that Niu could actually understand.
It was probably about time to give up. Even during all this time, the Goddess hadn’t moved at all from her current position. They could simply watch over her for now.
She was so sure that she’d find the solution. She was so sure that Alsa was like her… and perhaps she was, but her mind was far too alien for Niu to understand even so. She had to have patience. She couldn’t stay away from Kalden any longer.
Resolved, she stepped toward the clearing in the middle of the forest for one final attempt.
“Is there any need to try this again? Not like anything would change this time,” Gen said to her.
You never know, she replied. I just want another go. Not like we would lose anything.
“It’s dangerous,” was all that Gen mumbled, but didn’t try to stop her as she peeked between the trees. She was willing to take the risk. She had to, as the new Queen.
The sleeping Goddess did not have especially beautiful features, but there was still something striking and sublime about her motionless figure with her closed eyes, mouth almost slacked into a grin and hands clutched as if in prayer.
She was attempting to communicate. Niu was sure of it, she could feel it. Most of the interactions with her, Alsa seemed to have drawn from Niu’s experiences and memories, fears and imagination—but for what purpose? Was she trying to frighten her, or was that her way of finding a common language?
The sparse words she would receive also felt like some sort of puzzle. At times they would even resemble poems, but Niu couldn’t make head or tails of them.
Why are you here? Niu asked for the thousandth time. What is your purpose?
“A thousand questions with a single answer/Millions of answers to a single inquiry/Only emptiness remains after the chaos,” Alsa broadcasted.
Niu grunted with the sudden headache. Yes, no real progress there. She attempted a few more directed questions, but received only more of the same. Perhaps we should have someone write down all this, she thought to herself in boredom. They needed to figure out how to study this Goddess.
“Had enough?” asked her Gen.
She nodded and turned back, intending to go to Somalir and start the preparations for heading back to Kalden, when there was a sudden crunching sound nearby. For a moment she thought the Goddess started another one of her incomprehensible rampages, but by the following shouts she realized it was something different.
“The Stroba!”
“What?!”
There was a flurry of activity around her, Gen grew tense and a few laborers came to surround Niu—she could barely see a few figures within the foliage. Did the Stroba use this very moment to attack? Were they here because of Niu? More surprising than that, however, was the next shout.
“W-wait! We are only here to talk to the Queen!”
Niu turned around in astonishment. There were already the sounds of flying arrows, but all attacks seemed to have come from their side, and not from the Stroba.
“Please! We need to talk about something important!”
And then: “Queen, tell them to stop!”
The last one had been said in Niu’s native tongue.
“Stop!” Aisbroom reacted even before her, their face stern. All sounds of battle immediately vanished and there was a tense silence.
What is the meaning of this? Niu sent her voice towards the one she thought had been speaking. It was exactly the kind of situation that called for the usage of NiU, so maybe she should have taken it after all.
The fairy seemed surprised hearing her voice in their head. “W-we have some important news for the Queen!” they called, raising their arms in the air. Interestingly, they were both unarmed and shaking. Were they not a combatant?
Niu raised her hand to signal to everyone that she was taking care of it.
What news are you talking about?
“We wish to conduct a certain negotiation…”
Niu’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Negotiation? You’re not in the state to ask for anything, but… speak up. Negotiation, meaning you have something to offer?
The startled fairy glanced at their few companions uncertainly, and then spoke again. “We… we cannot do this here. We need to go back to Kalden.”
“…Do you still think you are in a position to make demands?” asked Aisbroom, their voice as cold as ice.
The fairy licked their lips in nervousness and nodded. “We are not combatants. You may as well take us as hostages… but we beg you. We can’t speak here...”
This whole situation was simply too strange. Was this some sort of trap? But none of them even held any weapons. Perhaps these were sent as bait? Niu saw Aisbroom send a few soldiers to look around.
But what if—what if there really was something important that they wanted to discuss and that it was their way of showing it?
We will take them, Niu finally said to Aisbroom and Gen, much to their visible surprise. Of course, keep them secured, and if you can, get the information out of them on the way, but I want to get back already, so we have no time to waste. They seem harmless enough.
“Are you sure about this?” Gen asked her, glancing at the fairies who still kept their hands raised.
That is an order.
“Keep scanning the surroundings,” Aisbroom instructed Captain Alsore next to him. “Make sure we’re not being watched or ambushed by other Stroba before we tie them up.”
Thinking for a while, Niu had the feeling that she understood something about this situation. And if she was right, then it could prove very interesting indeed. Only time would tell, so she couldn’t wait to get back already.
“You are an idiot,” said Acrus, shaking their head theatrically.
Roah was ready for this kind of response, so he didn’t let it bother him. Acrus criticized most of his decisions, anyhow, even when their basis came from Acrus themselves. But this time he knew in advance that Acrus was going to reprimand him for that.
“I simply can’t believe you let that girl leave to face the Demon. Why haven’t you consulted me about it before making this stupid decision?”
Within the relative darkness separating the two, Roah just shrugged. “There wasn’t time.”
“…And so you come to me not only after they’d already left, but even after they’d concluded their business there,” mumbled Acrus indignantly. “And with some Stroba hostages in tow as well. I’m not sure which of you is the bigger idiot.”
“Is it really that bad?” wondered Roah.
Acrus’s hands grasped the bars and gave them a rattle. “Of course it is! The Ruler cannot leave their domain for such silly reasons, dangerous and uncertain. And I am not even going to talk about the obvious Stroban trap, whatever it’s going to be. Do you think this is the first time we’ve tried talking to the Stroba? Why haven’t you stopped her?”
Roah smiled at this. Each and every one of Acrus’s arguments was already one he thought of himself. It was useless to him; he only sought advice from Acrus to hear what he couldn’t reach alone.
“You are making a mistake here, Acrus,” he said, his voice calm. “You keep referring to it to my stupid decision and saying I should’ve stopped her, but… it’s not for me to decide. I will not interfere with what Niu is doing. I will help her, and I will give her advice, even one that goes against what she wants, but I will never stop her.” He sent a one-eyed glare. Even Acrus looked somewhat disturbed.
“I am aware that I am somewhat abnormal, relatively speaking, but you’re a real piece of work, are you not?” Acrus spat after a momentary pause. “What do you find in that childish Ruler anyway?”
Roah tensed. Was the former Ruler about to throw the same accusation at him as Shaya had, the other day? If so, it would really piss him off. To the extent he might just storm out of the dungeon right away.
“Why are you so dependent on them?” they continued.
Roah let out his anticipated anger in the form of a small laugh instead. “Is that what you think?”
“Remember that it was you who bested me, and not them,” replied Acrus, a dangerous glint in their eyes. “You were the one who was supposed to become Ruler. Note, however, that this is not meant as a compliment, so drop that infuriating smile of yours. Anyway, yes, you are Ruler material. Aisbroom, for example, as devious as they are, would never make a good Ruler, as proved by their lineage.” Acrus snickered, then stiffened again. “You need to stop trusting that child.”
Love, dependency, trust… why did all of them get it all so wrong? Was it really not obvious? Was he the only one who could understand it? Well, he probably was, but still. Roah merely shook his head without replying. Instead, he moved to a different topic.
“Never mind all that. I will bring you Orin soon,” he said.
Acrus’s expression instantly lightened up, seemingly forgetting all their grievances from moments ago. “Ah. Splendid! That is some great news to hear. If I had to imagine, you plan on asking the Ruler once they return from their idiotic expedition?”
“…Almost as if you are reading my mind,” mumbled Roah. He could have done it during her absence, but, if possible, he didn’t want to hide it from her. He had the feeling that Niu wouldn’t want anything to do with Acrus, so she might permit it in a hurry if prodded during her current, more important business.
Yes. Like he said, he would never stop Niu’s will, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t manipulate it a little.
“Until next time,” said Roah and turned to leave.
The trip back to Kalden went smoothly. Whether or not the Stroba were planning anything, Niu felt safer than safe since she was accompanied by so many soldiers and laborers, including Gen and Aisbroom. Regardless, nothing like an attack ever came.
Coming back, of course there were plenty of business she had to take care of—even after a mere few days—but she decided to prioritize the Stroba. She was just getting seated in the throne room after a short rest and about to call their “hostages” in when someone unexpected entered.
“Niu, please, you can’t do it!” they pleaded.
What are you talking about? Niu asked the newcomer—who was Seele.
“T-the Stroba,” they explained, clear worry and agitation on their face. “I heard you’d brought them here to talk… you c-can’t agree to any of their deals.”
Niu was surprised. Seele was always the very definition of mild-mannered and gentle. There were times when they were flustered or sad, as any person would, but Niu had never heard them so desperate. And she could also tell there was something else hiding within that.
“Seele, what is this about?” asked Roah, standing by Niu’s side as always. A few moments before he’d asked her for a strange favor which she promptly authorized, but it wasn’t the time to be thinking about that now.
“You… you’re not going to make peace with them or anything, right…?” Rather than sadness or confusion, there was another emotion lying in their words—disgust. Since Niu hadn’t ever expected it from Seele, it took her a bit of time to recognize it.
Even Roah sounded somewhat disturbed by that. He too had probably never seen Seele make that expression and that tone. What was going on with them?
“Seele, what is that silly question?” Roah asked, brow raised.
“…Huh? U-um, well…”
We merely took them as hostages and in order to listen to what they want to tell us. That doesn’t mean we’re considering any such deals, Niu added.
To be honest, there were times when she did consider it. However, Kalden and the Stroba had a long and bloody history. Niu definitely wished to stop this senseless bloodshed, if she could, but she also wasn’t stupid enough to think she could so easily find a solution for such a longstanding conflict. If it was so simple then perhaps even Rumdon and Sacrona would have also been at peace long ago.
Niu wasn’t yet strong enough to pursue such idealistic dreams. First, she had to ensure their survival and, if possible, their connection back to Plainland. She had decided this when she first became the Queen.
Seele’s face slackened with relief. “Thank you, Niu. I was just worried you’d do something silly, is all.” They lowered their head but then it jerked up as they hurriedly said, “n-not that I’m complaining or suggesting that you’re—“
Roah raised an arm. “It’s fine, Seele. Now, can you come with me for a second?”
Seele became their usual innocent-seeming self. “Hmm? What is it?”
“I just want to check something,” he explained, then turned to Niu, “will you be fine here on your own?”
Niu raised a brow but said, I guess.
“TriX, you come as well,” ordered Roah as he started walking, grabbed the very confused Seele’s arm, and dragged them outside the throne room.
What’s this all about? Niu briefly thought, but her mind soon went to other, more pressing issues.
“Seele, you have been very unprofessional,” Roah turned toward the fairy and scolded them the moment he closed the door to his bedroom.
“Wha—“ They sounded shocked. “Did you drag me away just for that?”
“Of course not,” said Roah, giving a small shake of his head, “I just wanted to start with this. Please remember that you are our ambassador, Seele. Luckily the throne room was rather empty during that scene you’ve caused.”
Despite being scolded, Seele smiled abashedly, their tension eased. “Of course, oh great general! I will refrain from doing so in the future, you can count upon it,” they called in an exaggerated manner, raising their hand in salute.
Even Roah couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I just want to understand you.”
“Understand me?” they parroted.
Roah sighed. He wasn’t sure how to be delicate about this, so he decided that he wouldn’t be. “I’ll just get straight to business, if you don’t mind. What have the Stroba done to you?”
The somewhat lightened atmosphere sank down yet again along with Seele’s expression. “…I see, so that’s what you realized,” they mumbled in a voice that was almost a whisper.
“TriX, will you tell me?” Roah asked, turning to the large laborer, but Seele interjected before it could reply.
“Why do you want to know about it that much?” they asked.
How could he answer something so complicated? There was the fact that he’d never seen Seele react like that to anything, not even during previous interactions with the Stroba. He didn’t have even an inkling of what they felt.
Perhaps he had taken them for granted.
Good old Seele, who was always kind and optimistic and willing to assist—also had such a side to them. They were the first to help Roah and the others in this bizarre and alien world. They were always at their side, providing support, even if what they could do was extremely limited. Seele knew a lot about them, but how much did they actually know about Seele?
“Because we care about you, of course,” he finally replied.
Seele wore a grin. “That’s very sweet of you. I suppose that…” their smile vanished, “it is fair for you to know. Even if I don’t like speaking about it. You see, I had a child.”
Roah slightly narrowed his eye. Even with that single sentence, it didn’t take much to guess where that story led, now that all the pieces were gathered.
“That was about… do you remember how long it was?” Seele asked TriX without turning to it.
“252 years ago,” the laborer replied almost instantly. “15 years after we had first, started working together.”
While he calculated the exact period of time in his mind, Roah kept listening to their story.
“Yes, while we were working on the project, the Stroba launched a large-scale offensive. Thinking back, perhaps it was exactly due to Ruler Ashwok Kalden starting this project in the first place. Well, anyway, one of the most horrible attacks was on Jenlab.”
Roah cringed just imagining it. It was one thing to attack enemy soldiers, perhaps even normal civilians to conquer them, but another thing entirely to attack a facility like that. Having gone there a few times already, he started imagining the many fairy children running all over the place. And how fragile they were.
“…And… my little Suan was also there at the time,” Seele concluded in a choked voice, a lone tear escaping their eye.
Roah nodded gravely. “So that’s why you hate them. I’m so sorry.”
He couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain of losing your own child like that. Seele’s hostility towards the Stroba was now completely understandable. Not to mention that in the fairies’ case, a child was much more than a simple child—it was more like a reproduced part of themselves.
All sorts of things now clicked into place, up to and including Seele’s attitude toward Orin.
“It’s alright,” they said, wiping their eyes. “After what happened, I couldn’t bear to have another child… and so time passed, and now I’m too old for it. But in a way I have taken care of some other children lately.” They looked at Roah, wearing a slightly mischievous grin.
Roah thought for a moment they were talking about Acrus’s child, because his thoughts were still on that, but he soon realized Seele’s real meaning. “You mean us?” he asked, surprised.
“Yup!” they said, giggling. “And you’ve all grown up splendidly, so I think you have me to thank for.”
Roah snorted and smiled. Was Seele just being nice, or did they really think so? Whatever the case was, he wasn’t about to give any retort. However, it seemed like Seele hadn’t expected him to, either.
“When we first met, I just felt that all of you were like…” Seele started, but then paused and shook their head. “Sorry, I don’t mean to belittle you. But you know what I mean. I try to look at things positively.”
Seele always felt somewhat… motherly, for a lack of a better word, so had they seen Roah and the others as their children all this time? It was hopelessly silly, yet it was also heartwarming. He felt a small pang of guilt in his heart. As well as another emotion that surprised even him.
“…Maybe I was wrong,” he mumbled to himself.
“Hmm? Wrong about what?” said Seele, wiping their slightly puffy eyes.
“Never mind that, just talking to myself,” Roah said. “I should go back already. Sorry for asking you about this, and thanks for everything, Seele. And I do mean everything.”
Seele’s only response was a faint smile and a nod.
The four Stroba hostages were brought in front of the throne, their limbs still restrained. After waiting a while for Roah to return, the only ones that remained there were him, Niu, Gen and Aisbroom, as well as two laborers.
“Is this company enough for you?” said NiU’s voice. Now that she was back at the familiar spot on her throne, NiU also came back to her lap. It seemed to be happy at her return.
“Y-yes,” said the hostage that appeared to be sort of the small group’s leader, since they were the one who spoke the most. Apparently, their name was Sorch. “I thank you for agreeing to our selfish request…”
“—You did it because, you were acting, independently, right?”
The Strobans weren’t the only one surprised; Aisbroom and the two boys were the same.
It only took Niu a bit of thinking. Why would they want to be taken to Kalden as hostages? To stay safe. After all, it would be way easier for the Stroba to attack Somalir rather than Kalden. That was the reason for the secretiveness and haste. They first wanted to make sure they were in a safe place.
“Yes,” Sorch finally admitted, “to be honest, we’re probably dead if we return… so we’d rather be your hostages.”
It wasn’t like Kalden had been very kind to its hostages, either, so were the Stroba even worse against traitors and deserters? Had they counted on Kalden being nice to them if they delivered something good? That seemed overly foolish.
Regardless, this meant that it really had to be some major news. She would be disappointed if they were some average informers.
“We will decide your, destiny,” Niu finally informed them through the small laborer. “Now, what exactly is it, that you wish to, convey to us? It had better be, important.”
Body slightly shaking, Sorch took a deep breath and then directed pleading eyes at Niu. She thought they were going to beg her, but the meaning of their expression was something that none of them could have expected.
“Queen of Kalden… no, of all faeries, we beg you, you have to save them!” Sorch passed their gaze around the room—from Niu to Gen and to Roah. “We have been keeping them imprisoned for many years now. Another faerie, just like you!”
Her eyes were a powerful blue, like a whirlpool of destruction. It was the kind of color one could possibly find at the deepest abyss.
The more she stared, the more you were sucked in—and the more the world around her grew distorted, twisted and ugly.
At times her eyes seemed like the sky, vast and free, but she was always seeing the time of dusk. Yes, especially since that day. That awful, awful day when the sky was not blue.
Her tears ravaged the earth and the heavens.