CHAPTER 11 - VELTHOENNE VON STRAUER
When we arrived at grandpa's manor, I was astonished.
It was quite big. Twice as big as the one that we had at Lireo.
The servants greeted us with big smiles on their faces and carried our luggage to our corresponded rooms.
I was thinking of exploring the entire manor but I felt tired from our travel so I decided to get some rest.
As for Sleeping Beauty, mom had to carry her since she felt asleep as we entered Alvatere's territory. Mom then carried her to the guestroom.
It looks like that mom and dad had been here before from the way how they were so familiar about the place.
As for me, I quickly went inside my room, thanks to the maid who showed me the way.
I was a bit surprised, when I entered the room.
The room was, how should I say it, somewhat... spacious.
The bed is also quite big and large for a person like me. Maybe this is a queen size? Anyway I like it.
Unable to resist, I hurriedly undress myself leaving only my shorts and jumped on the bed.
From there, I closed my eyes.
------
A land full of bountiful natures and thriving community.
A land that symbolize harmony between races. The scene was serene and uplifting.
The sun shone brightly as it nurture the evergreens and the wind blew smoothly as if breathing life across the land.
Suddenly, dark clouds covered the yellow sun and the fertile land was transformed into a wasteland. Water reservoirs became a bog of toxic and the earth crack opened.
Unknown beings emerged from the ravines, ravaging each community and killing all living beings. Men, women, children and even the elderly, they never showed any regret.
In their hollowed eyes was only madness.
The fourteen communities united all their forces and counter-attacked.
The entire scene was filled with blood and gore. Pain and grief. Despair and suffering.
As the war continued for months, the infertile land became the land of the cursed. Snow began to fall heavily and great ice emerged.
The people were shouting for help, kneeling and praying to the heavens for their salvation.
"Gods helped us!"
"Save us!"
"Allow me to endure this pain and grief but I beg you oh gods from the heavens, please spare my children from this tragic fate! I beg you!"
But their prayers became a malignant sleet as they were frozen solid.
Everlasting coldness trapped each and everyone souls in a never-ending stasis.
The malevolent beings then crossed the land's surrounding cold waters, their eyes aiming for the fertile lands across the vast sea and oceans.
As soon as they left, no life was spared.
The land that was known for bounties and harmony ceased to exist.
From the freezing and barren land with heavy blizzards, a girl with silver hair stood still.
Shivering and quivering, she embraced herself as she feel to her knees.
Ice and snow began to encroach her entire body as her flowing tears turned into a droplets of crystal.
From her freezing lips, she tried to spoke with her last strength--
"R-Ragna, save me..."
------
I woke up drenching myself in cold sweat.
What was that weird dream?
A chill was sent from my spine making me hugged myself. Such an eerie feeling!
That aside, was it only dream?
It felt real to me. Why?
And who was that silver haired girl? And why does she knows me?
As I try to remember the last scene, it felt somehow she was talking to me as if I was there.
Do I know her?
I wiped my face with the palm of my right hand, there was blood on it.
As instinct, I wiped my nose and saw a drip of blood.
Looks like I'm suffering from a nosebleed. I quickly searched for a clean cloth and wipe my nose and nostrils for good.
My eyes then shifted from the cloth to the window. Outside the light from the sun become more dimmer and dimmer.
It was almost night time.
But really, what's with that dream?
------
After I dressed myself up, I went downstairs.
"Good evening, Young Master."
"Good evening to you too!"
Everytime the maid servants in this manor saw me they would give a warm greeting. Honestly, I'm not comfortable with this treatment.
Maybe because from the my previous world, I never had such this kind of conduct from my house.
Though I had robots who do the chores, their greetings felt somewhat monotonous.
Like how most call center agents talk to you on the phone.
Anyways, I walked myself to the living room and saw dad and grandpa talking.
Their faces were stoic and serious as they stared intently at the map spread widely on the table.
I pulled out a chair and climbed on top of it, standing, and looked at it with curiosity.
The map showed two great landmasses that looks like a continent.
The one located at the west had a name 'Ufora' written over it with various names that denotes every nation. On the other hand, the landmass located at the east had a name 'Darklands' written and color of the landmass was black.
The two continents are somewhat linked to one another like how Africa is linked to Eurasia or Asia.
What separates these two was a single line that is somewhat arc to the left with the name 'Great Wall' printed on it.
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The Great Wall huh?
The line that separates the realm of the living between the realm of the dead.
Looking at the map, grandpa let out a sigh.
"The enemies' forces are getting stronger and stronger every minute while our manpower is dwindling significantly. Only time could tell how long we can hold the line."
"Father, I together with the Order of Red Lions, will be going to Zelmya next week. Though it's a bit sudden, I would be there for an entire month."
Dad then looked at me as he stroke my unruly brown hair.
"You don't have to worry. They will be safe here. That aside, let's talk about this one..."
I listened carefully as the two adults devise some plans on how to bolster the Alliance forces. Currently the population of men is surprisingly decreasing in a rapid state.
It is not surprising though, men were mostly the ones who were sent to the front lines. Although they were some women involved, their numbers can only be counted with fingers.
As the three of us were busy, me listening carefully, mom entered the living room. Behind her was Sleeping Beauty, still hiding.
The three of us looked both at them.
"Okay, honey introduce yourself to everyone. Don't be shy they're good people."
After hearing mom's reassuring words, Sleeping Beauty shyly walks in front as she perform a curtsy.
"G-Good evening, my name is Velthoenne Von Strauer. Nice meeting you all!"
As she finished her introduction, she hurriedly hid herself behind mom.
Seeing her like that, I couldn't help myself but smile. Really this girl is cute and lovely at the same time.
Surprisingly her voice is very angelic.
For grandpa and dad's reaction, they were dead silent. Their eyes were gazing at this little girl with golden eyes.
Mom just nodded at them while mildly scratching her left cheek with her left forefinger.
There was something from their reaction.
Before I can probed them, a maid called out telling us that dinner is already served.
------
That night, I found out Sleeping Beauty, I mean, Velthoenne's identity.
Unexpectedly, she's a royalty.
The daughter of Duke Nelke of Strauer Kingdom from his deceased wife.
Currently, the country is engulfed in a succession war. The deceased king named Duke Nelke as his successor but the elder son did not approve of this.
So when the King died, a war between brothers erupted.
And poor Velthoenne was caught in the crossfire.
The adults unanimously deduced that the elder brother sought help from the Dark Guild to capture Duke Nelke's daughter.
What a joke.
Really, the elder brother should die a painful death.
After dinner, mom came to me and spoke to me on the ear,
"Ragna, mom wants you to be friends with the princess so that she doesn't feel alone. Can you do that for me?"
As she finished that, a sound echoed inside my head.
*Diring*
MOM'S REQUESTDESCRIPTION:YOUR MOTHER IS WORRIED ABOUT VELTHOENNE. SHE ASKS YOU TO BEFRIEND THE PRINCESS.DIFFICULTY:EREWARDS:UNKNOWN
DO YOU ACCEPT THIS QUEST?
YESNO
I stared at the window at me. So this is a quest and unexpectedly a low rank one, huh.
I pondered for a while. After putting much thought about it, I decided to accept it.
Though the rewards being labeled as unknown is somewhat fishy to me, there's no harm in taking this right?
YOU ACCEPTED THE QUEST
This will benefit me after all. The princess is an integral part of my extravagant plan. If this will succeed, it will also help her in the near future.
I quickly went to my bed and began planning my approach. Before I can create a concrete plan, I fell asleep.