Ellen woke up to the sounds of cicada singing. Her eyes felt heavy and her body sluggish.

‘I wondered how long I have been asleep…’ Ellen thought to herself. Then, as if she remembered something important, she gasped and quickly got up from her laying position on a somewhat soft bedding which she later realized after some time.

‘This place is…’ Ellen surveyed her surroundings as she realized that she was no longer in her own manor. Memories of what happened that night gradually returned and when she finally remembered what happened, tears began to form at the bed of her eyes.

“Grandfather…,” Ellen murmured in sadness. That’s right. The manor was raided by demons and the emperor was killed. She also began to remember the later sequence of events that night as well as to what lead to her captivity.

“Have you finally awaken, princess?” a voice could be heard resounding throughout the somewhat exquisite looking chamber. Ellen only responded with silence. She knew who it was as it was the same voice spoken from the person that had taken her from her manor and killed her grandfather.

“…Yes, I have. This place is?” Ellen asked calmly. It was no point in getting anxious or panicked in her current situation as she is powerless to do anything or even escape. The great-spirit that gradually emerged to show himself is very powerful and had taken the liberty to take over the throne, as the new Spirit Lord of the Spirit Realm. The spirit that appeared before her was very divine in appearance. He had two dark black eyes with the sharpest gaze Ellen had ever seen. His long hair is slick, also black in color that reached to his knees with two horns protruding from his head between his ears and temples. He wore a white kimono with white silk robe in contrast to his black hair and eyes. He emitted a kind of overwhelming aura that seemed hard to oppose. His eyes stared directly into Ellen’s eyes as he gradually approached to Ellen’s side of the bedding and sat down in a lotus position.

“This is my humble abode. Fear not princess for I shall not let any harm come to you. You are after all, a very rare treasure that could hardly come by even in a millennium,” said the great-spirit. Ellen sat in silence unable to retort on anything. Her life was no longer in her control. She could be killed anytime despite the spirits’ claims for her safety. How could she trust the one who killed her grandfather? Ellen knew that any resistance at the moment would be futile. Thus, she silently prayed for her life and the hope that Shiroki would come for her. Shiroki had promised that he would come to free her. Surely, Shiroki would find out about what happened to her with the state of her broken manor and sought out to find her.

“Pfft, what an interesting princess you are, lady Ellen. To look at me with such a serious expression. Could it be that, you think you would be able to leave this place?” said the great-spirit seemingly playing the role of a villain. Ellen shook her head and bit her lips. She would never let any emotions of hers give way for the spirit before her to manipulate her.  

“It will only be foolish of me to do so, Lord…,” paused Ellen as she did not know what to call the great-spirit before her.

“Vier…is my name, Lady Ellen,” he said giving an honest smile. Ellen was slightly surprised but quickly composed herself. After all, she still remembered the dreadful face that he had the other night when he killed her great grandfather.

“Then, Lord Vier, what do you plan to do with me?” asked Ellen solemnly.

“For now, I just want you to stay beside me, where you will be the safest. The other spirits here are not exactly, well, courteous, if I may. If I were to leave you alone, then you might become a “victim” at the slight opportunity they get, I hope you understand?” said Vier leaning closer. Ellen could only nod as her face turned dark in understanding. There’s a high chance that she would be eaten by the hostile spirits.

“Well then, since we have reached an agreement, I want you to come with me,” Vier beckoned holding out a hand. Ellen hesitated for a bit before she took it and had Vier lead the way.

They passed through the hallways of the mansion and Ellen could see several spirits minding their own business, spirit guards and patrols scattered about dutifully. Ellen was actually mesmerized by the mansion’s beauty and gardens. To Ellen, it was unexpectedly peaceful and comforting, except for several suspicious glances from some spirits in the vicinity exuding dangerous auras. Ellen could feel her sweat running down her back as she forced her trembling legs to move alongside Vier. If Vier had not supported her, she would have collapsed a long time ago by the pressure.

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“Where are we headed?” asked Ellen feeling slightly better now that they have reached a place further from the hostile spirits.

“…” Vier was silent for a moment.

“Lord Vier, where are we…” Ellen tried to ask again but was suddenly interrupted.

“Lady Ellen, you don’t have much sense of wariness, do you?” asked Vier.

“What?” asked Ellen rather confused.

“For all you know, I may be leading you to your death, yet you followed me this far,” said Vier. Ellen stopped in her tracks and stared at him wide-eyed. Vier stared back with a wry smile.

“…I was joking,” Vier finally said.

“Eh? Ah…,” muttered Ellen as she became flustered. They continued down the path until they reached a very old Sakura tree. It has large barks reaching for the heavens. There was not even a single leaves much less flowers on it as it seemed to have stopped blooming for a long time. Its wood black looking unhealthy.

Ellen felt sad just looking at it.

“This tree had accompanied my family for generations. It had been like this for over hundred thousand cycles now,” said Vier with a tinge of sadness.

“I see…,” said Ellen with empathy. Then, her eyes flashed in an instant as she had come to a conclusion.

“Then, you brought me here to exchange my life for this tree?” asked Ellen looking at Vier in the eyes.

“…No, I won’t ask to that extent,” said Vier shaking his head.

“But I hope that you could share a bit of your tremendous life force with this old friend of mine, just enough life force, only so I could see it bloom one last time,” said Vier with tenderness in his eyes. There was silence between them where only the sound of nature lulls in the area.

Ellen felt conflicted. She did not know Vier’s real motive. But at the same time, she could feel his sincerity. She truly felt that the great-spirit before her truly wants to see the tree to bloom one last time. There was something about Vier that kept tugging in her heart. Vier was the spirit that took her away, and killed her great grandfather. However, how could such a spirit who killed her only family to have such tenderness in his eyes.

And Ellen felt strange how she could feel so much comfort from Vier and peacefulness in the mansion, the den of her enemies. Ellen felt conflicted.

‘Perhaps there is something more than meets the eye behind the attack on her palace, and against her great grandfather’ Ellen thought. It could be something more than just simple struggle for power. If Vier had wanted to, he could have had her killed on the spot. Then, he brought her here not to exhaust her life, but simply to provide enough for the tree to gleam with life one last time. Ellen felt the need to find out more about Vier. Who he really was. Ellen felt the need to as to clear the fog in her heart. After a long silence, Ellen finally said.

“I understand, I will grant you this wish, Lord Vier.” As soon as Vier heard this, he smiled honestly with a mix of emotions of happiness as well as sadness.