Chapter 29 : Calm Before The Storm

The arena is buzzing with excitement, filled with cheers and applause. I'm not entirely sure what's happening, but from the atmosphere, it's clear that Elvie has won. She stands in the center, proud and upright, while Valentin lies unconscious against one of the walls.

"What an incredible fight! The next battle will be between Mercuria, Princess of Voltruite, and Aley of Novus Obris! A duel that the spectators of Aqualida have been eagerly awaiting!" The referee is barely able to contain her excitement. She's from Aqualida too, so I understand her enthusiasm.

Suddenly, amidst all the frenzy, Elvaria turns towards me. Despite the deafening cheers of the crowd, her voice rings clearly in my mind, like an echo.

"Aley, did you see me!"

No, I didn't see her; And, the guilt of hiding stuff from here is too much. I need to tell her the truth. I knew this moment would come. I'll have to tell her who I really am, and who she really is, now or never.

"Elvie, well done! But... we need to talk when we get back!" I shout back, my voice almost lost in the uproar of the crowd, still impressed by her performance.

She gives me a big smile and raises her thumb in the air, her usual gesture. A faint smile forms on my lips. It's crazy to think how different she is from the ruthless Elvaristria...

But suddenly, a red streak shoots towards me at incredible speed.

What the…?!

"Aley!" I recognize the voice and let out a sigh of relief. It's Elvaria, of course. After the training with Elvaristria, I guess I'm still on edge...

"Are you okay, Aley?" she asks, concerned when she sees my pale complexion.

"Yeah, I'm fine. So, did you enjoy your fight?" I ask with a teasing smile.

"Eh... it was kind of lame," she admits, looking away. Apparently, Valentin wasn't a very impressive opponent.

But her face suddenly lights up with a familiar spark.

"I can't wait to fight you, Aley!" she exclaims, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I can't help but smile back.

"It's true we've never fought each other... It could be interesting!" The idea of a duel between us excites me just as much. Maybe it's because of our shared past, of which we know almost nothing, but there's always this strange connection between us. And a certain love for combat, too...

As we leave the arena to head to the guild for a new quest, a thought crosses my mind.

"I should remember to ask Alfira where that famous dungeon is... The one with the field of blue flowers."

Elvie immediately responds, enthusiastic.

"Yes! We need to go!" she says with her radiant smile.

We're almost at the exit when a muffled voice calls out behind us.

"Wait…!"

I turn around to see Alfira running towards us at full speed, out of breath. Her father, trailing behind her, looks completely lost and too scared to intervene. My first instinct is to slip away, but Elvie grabs my arm.

"Wait, Aley. She might have something important to say," she says seriously.

I sigh.

"I also have something important to tell you..." I murmur, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Alfira, panting, finally reaches us.

"I have... I have something urgent to tell you!" she announces, breathless.

I roll my eyes, OF COURSE, she has something urgent to tell us right as I was about to leave, but she continues with renewed energy.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"My eye detected divine waves coming from the capital. The god could be summoned as early as tomorrow morning!"

The news hits me like a punch. This is a serious problem. Elvaristria had warned me that I'm not ready to face such an entity. But before I can say anything, Elvaria steps in.

"We'll handle it," she declares confidently, not even giving me time to think. She has no idea what she's getting into… But I can't really blame her. After all, she has no concept of the monster's power. On the other hand, we're not alone. There are several S-rank adventurers in the capital. With some luck, not all of them are in the camp of those who want me dead...

I turn to Alfira, still in shock from her own revelation.

"Novus Obris will protect the capital. But in exchange, after the tournament, we want the freedom to travel wherever we please," I say calmly.

Alfira nods, grateful, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Thank you, Aley... Thank you, Elvaria..." she murmurs. I understand her attachment to the capital. It's her kingdom, after all.

But before I can relax, she adds a phrase that feels like a punch to the gut.

"Our wedding will be scheduled right after the tournament—"

I immediately feel the tension in the air. Elvaria stares at Alfira with a blank, almost dead expression, before turning towards me.

"I'm not going to accept this—" I try to explain to Elvie, but she doesn't give me the chance. She suddenly pulls me into her arms and whispers, ice-cold:

"Flash Step."

Before I know what's happening, we're already in the air, slicing through the sky at incredible speed, heading towards the guild for our usual quest. Behind us, Alfira's voice faintly echoes from the arena.

"Wait...!"

But in a few seconds, the arena is nothing but a memory, and we land in front of the guild, ready for the mission before heading back to rest. The adventuer's guild is clearly not the best place to do it, but, this place brings a lot of memory back, so, it's probably here that I should tell her the truth about me.

"Elvaria, uh, how can I put this... I hid something from you..." My voice is timid, uncertain.

"You're from another world, right, Aley?" she responds immediately, without beating around the bush.

"How do you know...?" I say, startled.

"Sometimes there's a voice in my head. It says it's me, and it talks a lot about you. I know everything you did in your previous life, your brother and sister, but especially your parents. I'll have to ask their permission to marry their son when we visit your world." Her tone is nonchalant, as if she's talking about the weather.

"Wait, wait, wait! You knew all along?!" My heart skips a beat, surprised by her revelation.

"Not everything, but I know we have a shared past. All the information you have, I have too." Her smile softens. She moves closer to me, gently pressing against my body, her warmth enveloping me. A mischievous smile lights up her face.

"No matter what happens, I will always love you, Aley." Her voice is tender but playful, as if she's teasing me a little.

"I love you too, Elvie," I respond awkwardly, my heart racing.

From that moment on, everything falls into place naturally. We go on an S-rank mission to exterminate a major dragon. But, as always, our bond makes the difference. When it's all over, we return to the inn for a well-deserved night's rest.

Elvaria falls asleep next to me, her breathing calm, her face peaceful. I've lost count of how many nights I've had the pleasure of watching her like this, but every time, I find her even more beautiful. A slight smile stretches across my lips. My eyelids grow heavy, and little by little, I feel sleep pulling me under.

"Finally awake, Aleystria?" a soft voice murmurs in my ear, abruptly pulling me from my sleep.

"Uwaa!" I exclaim, startled, nearly falling out of bed. I look around and realize I'm once again in that strange dream world. Elvaristria has summoned me here again, as always.

"Ahahaha, I scared you. My spouse is not what he used to be," she mocks, a playful smile on her lips.

"I'm tired... I just want to sleep..." I say, exhausted.

"Do not fear, Aleystria. Your body rests peacefully. Only your mind is present here. And believe me, I will work you until you're utterly exhausted... even if you can't die here." Her smile this time is chilling.

Suddenly, a red flash heads straight towards me. A punch lands violently against my chest, sending me flying through this empty dimension, like a desolate battlefield. The infernal training begins without warning...

The next day:

"Dear audience, welcome to the third day of the tournament! Today, a highly anticipated duel will pit the Apostle of Death, Mercuria of Voltruite, against Aley Vrodwil of Novus Obris!" shouts the referee, her voice resonating throughout the arena, full of excitement.

I feel light, despite the fatigue. Last night, in Elvaristria's dimension, I went through hell, but this morning, everything seems easier. A hug from Elvaria and a sweet kiss on my cheek were enough to dispel the accumulated exhaustion. After a quick meal at the guild, we headed to the arena without delay.

Elvaria is sitting in the stands, next to Alfira. I know these two don't get along very well. Yet, despite the tension between them, I focus on what's ahead. I'm already in the arena, ready to fight. The dueling platform stands before me, and I patiently await the arrival of my opponent.

"There she is! The Princess of Voltruite!" exclaims the referee, filled with admiration. A young girl appears, her long brown hair gracefully flowing behind her. Her bright yellow eyes are piercing, and her long gothic dress, a vibrant yellow, makes her look like a living sun. She's undeniably beautiful, but... why am I analyzing her so much?

Suddenly, a cold sweat runs down my neck. I glance toward the stands and meet Elvaria's gaze. She watches me, arms crossed, with an enigmatic smile on her lips.

I gulp.

Mercuria approaches the platform with natural grace. I do the same. Our eyes meet, and the referee is about to give the signal.

"Aley, a pleasure. Although greeting you is pointless," Mercuria says coldly but with determination.

"Pleasure..." I reply mechanically, though her tone annoys me.

The referee takes a deep breath. "3... 2... 1... Begin!"