During the trip to Evermore…

MAXIMILIAN

It’s been a day since I left Yuria. After defeating Thalgar—the three-headed dragon—I was officially bestowed the title of “Yurian Knight.” I resumed my journey when I figured my mission in the empire was done.

During my stay in Aetheris, Yuria’s capital city, I met many great people whom I considered friends. They helped me get stronger, shared their stories with me, and taught me how to navigate Erith—this world I could not remember.

I am aware of my forgotten memories, and even though the people of Yuria gave me answers to the things they know, I’ve been searching further for the truth. The reason why I started this journey in the first place was to find out who I truly am.

Why was I different from the people around me?

Who are the Triplicity Rulerships?

What is the Invictus Order?

Why can’t I remember this world?

“Erith to Maxi?” I was dismissed from my thoughts when a hand waved before my eyes. I looked up to see Runathea. Me and Charmy met her in a town back in Yuria when we were looking for boats sailing to Evermore.

She’s a travelling spiritualist, adventurous but a little reckless. She likes growing flowers as part of her ability. We only met yesterday morning but I had to look out for her like a babysitter. She almost fell off the boat multiple times now. I don’t know how she managed to travel alone for years as she stated. I can only hope that she never runs into any danger by the time we part ways.

“Do you need anything?” I asked, shutting the book I was reading.

She sat beside me on the bench. Her hair was still a little messy from a nap. She once mentioned that she had Elven blood, which explains her silver hair and ears, which were a bit more pointy than those of a pure-blooded human. “I just want to talk with you. What are you reading?” she asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just a novel I got from a friend in Yuria.” Keisuke handed it to me, a Monmo-born novelist based in Aetheris.

According to my friends in Evermore, elves are rare in the modern world. They mostly live near nature and have longer lifespans. They had a long history of intermixing with human shamans, making Runathea one of their descendants.

“What will you do when we get there?” She asked again.

I looked at the distance. No single land in sight. One more day to go. “I will find answers about myself.”

“Why? Are you lost?” Her face was full of innocence.

“My memories are missing… I don’t know anything about me… ever since I woke up that day…”

Freya—the young empress of Yuria—suggested I go to Evermore in my search for answers. After Thalgar showed me a vision of the Albion Empire’s downfall 500 years ago, I tried to look more into it by flipping through the pages of ancient textbooks in the local library but the information was limited. There must’ve been a reason why the dragon showed me images of an empire that only existed in history books. The knight commander—Lysander—concluded that I was probably a descendant of the Albionian peoples, which he claimed was impossible as they were all wiped out by the army of Invictus Order. In the end, all I understood was that the Albion Empire fell at the hands of demons because the Triplicity Rulerships abandoned them.

“Evermore might have the answers you’re looking for. Astaroth—one of the original demon gods of the Invictus Order—was sealed by the church of St. Adrian 300 years ago. I will write a letter to King Leonardt in advance, regarding your arrival.” Empress Freya assured me the night before my departure.

“Hmm… I hope you find yourself. I know you will. Here, your bookmark, you dropped it.” Runathea opened my book and slipped a tiny photo between the pages.

“Oh, s-sorry!” I quickly put the book away inside my bag.

She let out a chuckle and leaned closer, taking an interest in her discovery outside of her flowers. “It’s okay. She’s beautiful. Is she your girlfriend?”

It was a tiny portrait of a lady called Lilivienne, attached to an invitation letter she sent me a few months ago. I kept her letter and photo with me. I’m hoping to find her in Evermore so I can make it up to her for not making it to her party. I wanted to know how she knew about my existence beyond the sea. At the time she sent me the letter, no one knew who I was other than a few people of Aetheris.

I avoided Runathea’s silly face. The girl has no concept of personal space. She likes doing this as an act of teasing. “U-Uh, no. She’s just… someone I know from Evermore. But I’m not going there for her, if that’s what you're thinking!”

Since I received her invitation letter, I’ve been curious about Lilivienne’s identity. I’ve never met her in my life. I only know her name and what she looks like from this tiny portrait. She could be a spoiled lady from a noble family or there’s a chance she might hate someone like me once she sees me, so why? Why did she write me a letter? How did she know about me? I wanted to write to her more but I thought it’d be better to just ask her in person when I get there.

Runathea waved her hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t judge! Travelling miles to see someone is true devotion. Once you meet her, I hope she can help you find what you’re looking for.”

When we landed at the docks of Regalopolis, we were welcomed by the heavy atmosphere much terrifying than the aura emitted by Thalgar. From where we were standing, we could see the demonic titan terrorizing the heart of the capital city.

I instinctively unsheated the Oathkeeper—the claymore Freya rewarded me. “What’s happening? Max, let’s find out!” Charmy encouraged.

We passed by the citizens running in the opposite direction away from the plaza grounds with knights escorting them to safety.

“What’s going on?” I asked one.

“A giant monster and the Forsaken Order have attacked the city!”

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The three of us looked at each other before proceeding. “Hey! It’s not safe!” The knight yelled.

When we reached the street heading in the direction of the plaza, Runathea suddenly grabbed me by the wrist. There was unexplainable fear in her eyes.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Y-Yeah. But I think I’ll just stay here.” She crossed her arms to her body. “I’ll wait for you. Come back, okay?”

I still wanted to ask her why but we didn’t have enough time. “Yeah, but if it gets bad, get to safety immediately. Don’t wait for us.”

“I will.” She sent us off with a reassuring smile.

Present…

“I know where to find what you’re looking for. Come with me.”

Runathea was right. Meeting Lilivienne this early on after defeating a demon god was utterly unexpected. She was more beautiful in person with her small face and frame, like a doll that the local dollmaker in Aetheris would display in her storefront window.

“Do you know who that was? The demon I defeated.” I tried to ask. We were riding bubotabbies to pass the forest. I already had a hunch about the demon, but I still wanted to make sure. We were heading towards the village where it had fled in crow form.

“Astaroth.” She answered. “That’s the name. It was killed and sealed centuries ago. But it was awakened by the person we’re after.”

So that was really Astaroth…

“Back at the plaza, the Forsaken Order would refer to it as Diabolos Apocalypsis or something along that name…” She added. Forsaken Order, I heard it again. It must be those guys in dark cloaks throwing dark spells.

“I knew I could trust you. You looked familiar…” I told her.

“How do you say so?” She turned around, intrigued.

“The invitation you sent me. How could you forget?” I smirked, chest pounding. “I still have it with me, you know?”

We went to Goulcrest Village and entered a Domain of Seclusion to chase the person behind Diabolos Apocalypsis, Astaroth’s vessel. It was later revealed that it was a nobleman and Lilivienne’s godfather. Not long after we left the domain, an order of paladins arrived at the village looking for us. It was expected of me to be under suspicion as a travelling foreigner in the kingdom, but it was nice to watch Lilivienne defend my innocence. She already has put her trust in me although we only met about three hours ago.

As a declared hero of Yuria, it makes me happy to know how a lot of people put their trust and belief in me. It is exhausting and yet knowing that I can help and save those in need inspires me to do more. I may not be as powerful as those knights and paladins, but like what I told Lilivienne back at the domain, as long as I’m winning my battles and I believe in myself like how people believe in me, I’m capable of the impossible.

“Tough-looking guy. That’s him, isn’t he? The guy you were dancing with.” A man in a different military uniform was about to take Lilivienne away. She already told the paladins about my innocence but this one appeared to be keeping his guard up by the way he was handling his sword.

“Right. He’s Prince Zathrian of Valencourt.”

“A prince, huh?”

He didn’t give off the aura of a typical fairy tale prince from the books I used to read the children in the streets of Aetheris—but a cold-blooded warrior. He didn’t seem the type to smile a lot either. Back at the memories we explored in the Domain of Seclusion, he looked different. He was smiling at Lilivienne and yet his eyes were telling the opposite, as though he was showing her a facade and hiding what he truly desires.

But at the moment when he acted desperately as she collapsed in his arms, I guess a lot of things have changed since then. I still didn’t see him smile, but he wasn’t hiding on a facade in front of her anymore.

“I heard him call your name when we were fighting off the ghouls. Do you know him?” I put the diary I found at the church in my bag.

Runathea smiled gently as she watched them leave the village. “Zath and I… we used to be close. The small town I grew up in was part of a large territory governed by his father, the Grand Duke. He spent most of his childhood at their vacation house with his brother and mother. I never met his mom, but he said she was a local.” She continued, “I met him when I got lost in their estate, and he was about to sneak out. He always roamed around town. I introduced him to the local kids, and from that day on, he played with us whenever he could. He couldn’t when his father was around, but the Grand Duke mostly stayed at the main mansion, so Zath was free.”

Charmy and I exchanged surprised glances. Such a small world.

“Why didn’t you approach him then? Did something happen?”

She sighed. “I think it’s for the best... for now. It was my fault the moment I left the town.” Runathea walked in the grass she created. “When we were young, Zath told me I was his dream. I think that was wrong. As a prince, he should dream bigger. Rather than dream of being with me, who has nothing to offer.” She picked an Eternalis. “I left to become a highly-skilled spiritualist that the remaining elves of my community could rely on. I’ll only accept his feelings when I’m strong enough to stand by his side. But I hope it’s not too late yet.” She blew the flower into the air. “When I abandoned him three years ago, I thought leading him on while unsure of my future would be unfair. I feared seeing his reaction would urge me to settle down and become his bride. That’s why I left without saying goodbye.”

“Runa…”

Back at the boat, Runathea mentioned that she was originally from a small elven community before her family moved to a human village after it got burned down by cultists when she was around six. There was a chance that it might’ve been the Forsaken Order. That must be why she decided to stay behind during the attack on the capital.

There was sadness in her eyes. “Would you think I’m selfish if I say I didn’t regret my decision? I’m happy to be where I am in life right now. But every night, as I hear the call of nature spirits, I still feel the guilt of fulfilling my own dream while I know I broke his heart.”

These girls… and how they think they are selfish for putting themselves first as if it was a bad thing.

“You shouldn’t punish yourself over a decision you thought was better for both of you. He managed to make new friends and memories even after you left. But what will you do if he completely forgets you?”

She sighed. “I thought Zath would always be there while the wind takes me to places I’ve only seen in dreams. But seeing him with someone else in one of those places for the first time in three years scared me that… that indeed might happen.” She smiled firmly. “But I can’t blame him for that. I was the one who left, and I should own its consequences. Still, I don’t regret anything. I’m happy he’s doing well and happy to be doing my own thing.” She clasped her hands. “Now, why don’t we stop this conversation? Let’s head back to the capital like the rest and get you to treat me to dinner, hmm?”

“Me too! Treat me too, Max!” Charmy pleaded. I rolled my eyes while Runathea burst into laughter. Behind her bubbly personality were guilt and insecurities she had been struggling with all this time. I’d prefer it if she could always laugh like this.

“Charmy, since when didn’t I treat you?”

Lilivienne could’ve come with us for some food. But in her current state, I only hope she’s okay.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

We reached the capital by night riding the bubotabbies and went to the Ye Olde Tavern, where I treated Charmy and Runathea to some hot Stewed Salmon Radish soup and beef skewers. With September approaching, students had to return to the academies. I wondered if Kaiser—an aspiring squire from Aetheris—had been accepted.

“Are you Maximilian, the hero who beat the demon god?” A middle-aged man approached our table.

“That’s me. Why?”

“The royal knights are looking for you outside.”

Charmy and Runathea exchanged glances. “I’ll go. You two stay here,” I said.

“No. We’re coming with you,” Charmy replied.

Outside, the royal knights awaited with a carriage. “King Leonardt wishes to see you,” the lead knight said.

Charmy beamed. “Didn’t Empress Freya send him a letter about your arrival? He’ll probably give you a proper welcome—maybe even a reward!”

I looked at Runathea, who nodded. “Alright, I’ll go.” They opened the carriage, and just before I entered, Runathea grabbed my wrist.

“When you return, I’ll probably be gone. I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to someone before, so here’s my farewell gift.” She handed me a bluish-glass orb. “It’ll preserve all the memories you had from the moment you met me until my departure.”

I held it in my palms. Empress Freya had given me something similar. “Thank you, I’ll treasure it.”

Runathea smiled softly. “No, thank you, Max, for being my friend. You too, Charmy.”

Charmy popped out, sobbing. “We’ll miss you!”

“Don’t worry. We’ll meet again. If you can’t wait to see me, I’ll be in the Ceterra territory next,” Runathea tiptoed, kissing my cheek. “Take care, hero.”