Chapter 53: Courses 6

Elania strolled down the unfamiliar street, her eyes widening at the lush greenery surrounding them. Vibrant flowers bloomed in every corner, their petals swaying gently in the breeze.

She glanced at Yolani, who seemed equally enchanted by the greenery.

“It’s like a garden,” Elania mused, her gaze sweeping across the colorful flora. “I knew it was colorful from flying by, but a glance didn’t do it justice.”

Yolani nodded. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Elysia really has done a nice job.”

Elania’s eyes narrowed. She had mixed feelings about Elysia, but she couldn’t deny the beauty of her [Domain].

As they walked further, a particular bed of flowers caught Yolani’s attention. She tugged on Elania’s sleeve, pointing excitedly. “Look at those! They smell amazing.”

They moved closer to inspect them, and Elania inhaled deeply, the sweet fragrance filling her nose. Without thinking, she reached out to pluck one.

Yolani’s hand shot out, grasping Elania’s wrist before she could touch the flower. “Don’t! Do you want to end up in another trial?”

Elania blinked, realization dawning on her. “Oh, right.” She offered a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t thinking. I thought it would look nice in your hair.”

Yolani’s eyes softened, and she squeezed Elania’s hand. “It’s okay. Thanks for the thought, though.”

They continued their stroll, the incident with the flower quickly forgotten. Elania’s mind wandered back to the Green Tower, and she couldn’t help but voice her concerns.

“I’m not sure what to make of Elysia,” she admitted, her brows knitting together. “She’s been on our case since we arrived in Contia.”

Yolani tilted her head. “We can’t ignore her request to meet with us, though. It could be important.”

“She’s the one who stopped me from chopping those Lightbringers. It’s like she’s always watching us, waiting for us to slip up.” It was impossible to hide the tone of frustration in her voice.

Yolani’s expression turned thoughtful. “To be fair, she seems to enforce the law fairly. She’s not singling us out.”

Elania paused, mulling over Yolani’s point. “I guess you’re right,” Elania conceded. “But she’s so rigid. It’s like she has no sense of justice beyond the letter of the law.”

Yolani nodded. They fell into a comfortable silence as they navigated the winding paths of Elysia’s district.

When they finally came to a stop outside the Green Tower itself, it was impossible not to be impressed.

The western district of Contia had transformed into a lush paradise, with flowers blooming in every corner and trees bursting with life.

“These aren’t even high-altitude plants like the ones in our estate’s gardens,” Elania remarked, her gaze sweeping across the exotic flora.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Yolani nodded. “It must be the influence of the demi-divine’s [Domain].”

A flicker of unease crossed Elania’s face. “Maybe we should reschedule the meeting somewhere more neutral.”

Yolani froze. “It might be too late for that.”

As if on cue, a figure dropped out of a nearby tree, laughter ringing through the air. Elysia landed gracefully, her presence causing the flowers to bloom even more vibrantly as she walked past them.

“Welcome,” Elysia greeted. She pulled out a flower and presented it to Elania.

Elania’s eyes narrowed. “Nature and law seem like a weird mix for a [Domain].”

Elysia’s smile widened, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “On the contrary, nothing is more natural than the law of nature, which mankind’s laws eventually descend from.”

Elania accepted the flower, realizing it was the same as the one she’d been about to pick—a warning that they were being watched? A threat? Elania’s mind whirled, but the only thing she could think to do was turn toward Yolani.

The other girl raised an eyebrow, but understanding filled her face, and she tilted her head.

The flower tucked behind an ear looked every bit as pretty as she hoped. “It’s perfect,” Elania said.

Yolani blushed slightly and murmured a reply.

Elania turned to Elysia and nodded. “Thank you.”

Being direct was probably for the best so she cut straight to the point. “What exactly did you call us here for?”

Elysia’s expression shifted, a hint of seriousness creeping into her features. “As the Keeper of Law in Contia, I have some questions for you.”

Elania’s jaw tightened, a sense of unease settling in the pit of her stomach. She glanced at Yolani, who returned the look.

“But we can go inside and have some refreshments while we talk,” Elysia added, turning and leading them to the main entry point of the tower. Vines climbed and wrapped around the stonework, and it looked like there was an entire thicket of thorned bushes at the base of the construction.

That would suck to have to repair or work with.

They stepped into a lush, tropical paradise that felt completely out of place. The first floor of the tower was huge, with multiple sets of trees growing up to the ceiling. Vibrant flowers bloomed in every corner, and a fruity fragrance permeated the warm air.

A servant clad in a toga approached them, carrying a tray of refreshments. Elysia led them to a seating area, gesturing for them to make themselves comfortable.

“While I’ve received numerous testimonies about the fall of Neftasu,” Elysia began, her gaze fixed on Elania, “there are still some gaps in the information. I’d like to hear directly from you and Yolani.”

“Why is it important now?” Elania asked.

Elysia’s expression grew serious. “The Lightbringers have made some concerning statements and accusations. I believe they’re preparing to take action.”

Elania tensed, her muscles coiling like a spring ready to snap. Yolani’s gentle touch on her hand brought a wave of calm, and she took a deep breath.

“I would appreciate hearing the entire story from the beginning,” Elysia said.

Elania glanced at Yolani who nodded slightly.

After a moment of contemplation, Elania made her decision. Honesty seemed like the best course of action.

She began at the beginning, with her accidental summoning by the Black Candle Bishop, Relain. The memory of her initial encounter with the Lightbringer Arch Paladin, Anton. His attempted murder of her with Eziel.

“That’s the blessed sword the Lightbringers were clamoring about. Something about reclaiming it, and that Neftasu destroyed it,” Elysia murmured. Her eyes when to the hilt on Elania’s back. “Pretty much the same as your magic sword. I’m surprised you didn’t include that in your [Regalia].”

Elania rubbed her bracer. Was it even worth trying to explain Eziel, when it was obvious he was doing some kind of trick to stay hidden?

She sighed and continued with her trip through the depths below Neftasu and harrowing journey to the city-state. Yolani’s touch anchored her as she pushed through all the trials they faced and the resolution with the Magistery.

Elysia leaned back on the sofa, took one of the offered glasses of wine, and sipped. “Surviving a fall into the Celestial Engine… remarkable. It explains how a lesser demon became a demi-divine, though. I honestly don’t know of anything like it happening before.”

“They kidnapped Yolani…”

Elysia listened intently, her expression firm but sympathetic.

Even if she had kept nothing hidden from Yolani, it felt like a weight was being lifted from her shoulders in the telling of… everything.

All her hopes, fears, and worries…

Reduced down to an hour’s recollection.