----------------------------------------
684. Conversation
“Very well, then let’s do this.”
Rachel watched as the discussion came to an end. Every time she opined, her suggestions were shot down. So she didn’t bother to speak up again. It annoyed her a little bit. But more than that, she wanted to speak with Edithe.
This is the first time the young girl had seen the redhead in a while. The last time they had spoken was before Edithe had left Viechester years ago. Back then, Rachel had been upset. Even if she had been entrusted to William, a [Priest] who had also been Edithe’s caretaker in the past. That didn’t matter back then.
Rachel had been angry. She felt alone. Like she wasn’t even wanted. Abandoned again and again. First by her mother, then sent to be killed by [Cultists] by her father. And finally, left alone by Salvos, Daniel, Edithe, followed by Sophia and Cless.
But Rachel had only been a little girl back then. So she hadn’t fully understood the reason why they had done what they did. It was because they had duties— responsibilities to other people whose lives were at line.
And now that Rachel was older, she was more emotionally mature. She understood that they couldn’t prioritize her when the lives of so many other people were at stake. Especially when her own life would be in danger if she joined them.
But now, she was stronger. She had gotten into Mavos Academy. She was the Child Monster. And she wanted to tell all of this to Edithe.
There was so much the two of them had to catch up on. There was so much Rachel wanted to show off. But as Rachel stepped forward, Edithe, Willy, Faith, Clayton, Centina, and the rest of the adults began to exit the room.
“Hey, wait—”
Rachel piped up, trying to follow them. But it was Centina who spoke up and stopped the young girl.
“I’m sorry, Rachel. You can’t come with us. It’s too dangerous.”
Willy and Edithe glanced back for a brief moment, hearing that. However, they didn’t speak up. They just watched as Centina ushered Rachel back to the baby Wyverns and Kron.
“It’s safest to remain here.”
Centina said reassuringly at the four children, before turning to Kron.
“Look after them, alright?”
Kron, who had been cowering in the corner of the room, barely even looked up at that. Rachel opened her mouth to protest.
“That’s—”
But the adults left, descending down the elevator. And Rachel just stood there, utterly speechless. There was so much she had wanted to talk about with Edithe.
And yet…
Rachel bit her lower lip, feeling a sense of annoyance wash over her, immediately followed by a child-like tantrum building up inside of her. But she stopped herself from crying out in annoyance or throwing a fit. Even if her breathing quickened as she stood there with clenched fists.
Oriur placed a hand on her shoulder. He must have sensed that she was upset.
“Rachel…”
She wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes, before shaking her head.
“It’s fine, Oriur. I just—”
Rachel started. But then she paused. Her eyes went wide as she saw a glowing figure approaching from behind Oriur. Novis and Bellum perked up, seeing the approaching figure too. Oriur was the last one to pick up on what was going on.
He craned his neck back as he narrowed his eyes.
“What is… this warmth? No—”
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
His eyes went wide. Rachel herself couldn’t help but stare in shock.
“Salvos…?”
She whispered. And in response, the flaming figure came to a halt and beamed.
“Hi! That’s me!”
It was an apparition of Salvos. So familiar, yet so different at the same time. The voice was the same, even if it came out in an ethereal and strange way. The expression she wore on her face was as cheerful as the smile Salvos always wore.
There were some differences. Other than the fact that Salvos wasn’t made out of gold and silver fire. But many of the differences came from the fact that Rachel had never seen Salvos in this form before.
When Rachel knew Salvos, she was either a Human or a Demon with a monstrous form. Right now, the Salvos apparition looked mostly like a Human, except she had horns and claws that no Human would have. Her hair was also long and flowing— which was expected, because they were flaming. But Rachel was used to seeing Salvos with her hair tied into a ponytail.
Rachel tried to work her jaw. But the Salvos apparition turned to the Wyverns first.
“Hello, my children! How are you three holding up?”
“Salvos!”
The Wyverns exclaimed and crowded around her. Rachel blinked, watching from the side as a conversation played out without her.
“Where have you been?”
“How are you?”
“When is your real self going to return from the Netherworld?”
“I’m good. Been busy helping Edithe with boring stuff. And also, I’m just as real as my other self, you know?”
The Salvos apparition answered their questions with a smile. Then she placed a hand on her chin.
“Novis and Bellum can speak now? Did you teach them, Oriur?”
“Yes, actually—”
And Rachel lowered her head, feeling more alone than ever at this moment. She felt her heart ache as she closed her eyes. Once again, she felt like a child, almost unable to control her emotions.
But then she felt a warmth wash over her, before looking up as she heard a soft voice.
“Hello, Rachel.”
Rachel blinked as she stared at the Salvos apparition standing before her. Oriur, Novis, and Bellum stood behind the flaming figure as they nodded at the young girl.
The Salvos apparition continued.
“It’s been a while, huh?”
“Salvos…”
Rachel whispered, feeling the annoyed feeling rising up within her vanish.
“We have a lot to catch up on, don’t we?”
The Salvos apparition, getting down on one knee so they were at eye level. And Rachel smiled.
“We do.”
----------------------------------------
“Faith.”
Edithe turned to the Fallen Queen of Elutra as they entered into the Tower of Truth. Clayton was leading the way, walking alongside Willy. Marie had been sent out to inform the other members of the staff about the current plan, so that the school's barrier would be lowered to allow teleportation spells to pass through.
“What exactly is your ‘solution’ for us to cross into the Spirit Plane?”
Edithe asked, peering at her companion curiously. Faith shook her head as she answered.
“Well, Rowyn has an artifact that… can be useful. I think. Don’t get your hopes up too much. I’ll need to speak with him first.”
“I see.”
Edithe pursed her lips. That didn’t answer anything. But Faith changed the topic.
“Where did the Salvos clone go, anyway? Isn’t she going to be the one to teleport us back out of here?”
“Unfortunately, she can’t just teleport where she wants. She needs to really know the place if she wants to teleport there over such a long distance. And since she’s only been to your city once before… she can’t help us here. Instead, Clayton will be the one teleporting you back there with a ritual.”
Edithe explained as the group reached a large room. There, a large spell circle lay on the ground. Clayton Skyshredder went to one side of the spell circle, pressing his hand against a tablet inscribed with various symbols.
Stepping back, Edithe watched as Clayton ushered Faith towards the center of the spell circle.
“Queen Faith El of the Elutra Kingdom, I want you to focus on your destination. Think of nothing else except for where you wish to be.”
Edithe stood next to Willy who was also just waiting for what came next. The spell circle began to shine, glowing brighter and brighter. Not only that, it almost seemed to rise from the ground, engulfing the Fallen Queen of Elutra in its magic.
“In exactly one hour—”
Clayton spoke as he met Faith’s gaze.
“We will teleport you back here. I hope that is enough time for you to do what you need to do.”
Faith nodded resolutely.
“Yes.”
“Good. Now—”
Clayton started, before the spell circle flashed. And Faith vanished, along with the spell circle.
The Headmaster of Mavos Academy drew back as he turned to Edithe and Willy.
“Now, we wait.”
Edithe sighed when she heard that.
“Right.”
And Willy nodded.
“We wait.”