Under the light of the moon, Xania finds Siola by the gate grinning to herself.

“It seems that you have well rested. What might have brought you such… satisfaction?”

“Ah, Xania. What are you doing out here?”

“The kind lady who called herself Vanya has told me that you are about to venture in expedition of vanquishing undead abomination. As your aid, it is my duty to assist you.”

“Heheh, a duty I shall not hinder.”

Xania smiles.

“Right, I’ve been curious about something, Xania. If you wouldn’t mind.”

“Pray tell, my lady.”

“Before you come to this realm. Do you not have attachment from… home?”

“Home, my lady? Such a queer concept.”

“Everywhere I set my foots on, under the guidance of the Lady of Light, it is my home.”

“What about friends? Family? Lovers?”

Xania thinks about it for a bit only to smile as she shook her head.

“Ever since I came to be, I have always been on our lady’s watchful gaze. Serving under the order and I have never been dissatisfied. Not even once.”

“…”

“The world of the surface was… quite different than what I had imagined. Chaos brewed everywhere. Demons, darkness.”

“Love.”

Approaching Siola’s close, “I have received graces of our lady. I can feel her love.”

“Yet, when human speaks of love. Why does it feel so different?”

“Why have I never received it?” her eyes narrowed down, “Properly.”

“…”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Siola grabbed her hand and enclose it to her palms. Xania tilts her head up to see Siola who is shorter than her. Those hands, caressing hers.

She simply smiles, and Xania feels like something washes over her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Lyra approaches them as she tidies up her armor, “That annoying woman is coming too, huh.”

“Elf, you will address me as Madame Krilla, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Heh, yeah right.”

Xania’s eyes glare fiercely, as if she’s ready to strike any moment.

“Huh?!” Veins pops on Lyra’s forehead, “What’re you looking at?! You wanna go?!”

Siola thoughts, ‘Wish I could’ve gotten a more graceful elf.’

“Go? Well, I might just—.” Siola grabbed her muscular arm.

“Let’s set out. The faster we get there, the better.”

She looks at Siola and sigh, “As you say, my lady.”

Lyra, “We’re going on foot?”

“Well, there’s one carriage left but I figured Elara is going to need it.”

“Hmph,” Xania scoffs, “Too lazy to walk a distance? Heh, as expected of you dark elves.”

“Huh?! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Aren’t your kind love to live under a rock? Or was a it a boulder?”

Siola puffs her cheek as she thought, ‘Xania is not what I think she is, right?’

After adjusting her formal attire, she walked out of the gate amidst their heated argument and they soon follow after realizing she has gone.

The path towards Clearwater Creek is clear in visibility, but not without danger. Shadowy creatures roam around, they take variety forms and sizes such as canine, reptiles, husk of turbulent wind, and many more scattered through the forests.

“Night Terrors.” Said Lyra.

Xania lowers her gaze to one near, “Lost souls created by the miasma of the demon kin.”

“Despite their king have been long gone, they still roam the surface.”

“Pity. They need to be put down, so they can rest eternal.”

“Heh, at least we can agree on that.”

Lyra walks onward, “Dark Vision,” her blue eyes glows brightly, “Invisibility,” her body disappears entirely, “Art of the Mad Dead.”

“Crucible Black.”

It took a moment, but then.

*BOOOOM*

Clashes of trees falling and destroyed. The Night Terrors were slashed and crushed at the same time, more than a hundred disappears within less than 5 seconds.

“Impressive.”

“I’m glad to know that you have made a formidable ally, my lady.”

“Mm.”

“…”

“Is something bothering you, my lady?”

“It’s just the name of those creatures. Reminds me of my dream.”

She glances at her before walking onwards.

“I asked you before if you had any Lasting Connections prior to your previous world. I do.”

“It kept haunting me. Passing time. The more I spent it by walking, the higher the chances of me losing all those memories.”

“My lady. I believe you shall not worry about such things. Naturally precious memories such as ones that you have will not be easily forgotten. I’m sure of it.”

“Is that right?”

Nodding as she smiles.

“Speaking of precious memories, you have yet to tell me why you were in such a joyful mood earlier.”

“Heheh.”

Siola and Xania soon catches up to Lyra, but she’s there standing still.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“That.”

“What… is that?”

In the distance lies a mist. Stillness as it covers a small area.

Siola takes a step closer, her eyes narrowed until it is widened. Within the mist lies a humanoid shadow, but then, she heard an oddly familiar faint sound.