"Hey, Zwei. Where are we going to?"
[.......]
"Zwweeei? Can you hear me? Where are we going?"
[............]
"Oy, Zwei!"
[QUIT YAPPING OR DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU!?]
Uwah! Scary! Even the whole pavement and crystals trembled! What kind of bass-like treble is this!?
"Well, if you can talk then let's talk. Ignoring people is rude you know?" I said out my reason.
[All you did was pestering me! The path is going to end soon so shut your trap until then!!] Zwei retorted in a harsh manner.
But it can't be helped right? I'm bored and the scenery's the same from the beginning until now. I don't even know if we went up or down into the tunnel...
No. Scratch that. This kind of place looks like a dungeon rather than abandoned quarry.
"Zwei... why are you all here? Is this place your home?" Ignoring his exclamation, I inquired to satiate my curiosity. Also to kill some time.
I heard a deep sigh let out by the black sphere before me. Somehow, I imagined a middle aged man face palming but I didn't know where the image came from.
[Part of it. We spirits migrated all over the world every year. This abandoned ruin is a perfect base for us to recover fatigues as well as preparing for the next journey.] Zwei finally answered and fed it directly into my head.
The communication between our souls even came with visualization of endless spheres soaring through ocean, islands and continents! On earth, people would freak out at the ridiculous CG-like spectacle!!
"Whoa, are you migratory birds or something? But why were you in Raumia?" I pointed out the odd thing.
[Because Neun pestered me to find our mother.] Zwei answered with a flat as heck tone. [For the 725th time in the past century.]
Ouch. You really don't mince words. Not even hiding the speck of disgust at humans... I can even feel the glare drilling at my conscience. Although I'm not entirely sure if spirits have optical sense.
Hmm... I've been having the feeling that these spirits are more than what they seemed. Besides...
"Do you have some lead?"
[And what will you do if we do have one?]
"I can help you find your mother."
...silence reigned in. Geh, how could the temperature dropped? If I have a cup filled with sake, it would've been frozen solid due to the bad joke of a poor crossdressing comedian.
Did I say something wrong...?
[You... are you stupid? Why would you do that?] Zwei retorted sharply.
"I died without saying goodbye to my former family you know? Even if I'm all the way past that, I have lingering thoughts sometimes." I replied with a serious glare, making the spirit to be in deep thought.
As a reincarnated person, I didn't have sad story like a tragic heroine would and I could say I lived my life to the fullest. But of all things, I was pulled away from my well-deserved afterlife.
In fact, the option to simply pass on actually existed. Had I refused Freyja-sama's invitation, I'd have rested easy. But I didn't choose that. And I don't regret it as I can live for a second time, also falling in love though I now have some secrets behind my existence.
Huh. Could it be that I can't pass on because I'm not a wholesome existence? Is that why I reincarnated in Magnis, in my 'homeworld'?
[...you're too much to handle. Is that your true nature or is it the influence for having lived a life surrounded by humans?] Zwei replied, sounding appalled for the rest of his statement.
Still, he asked an interesting thing.
"While I don't remember who I was, I think I lived like this until now. And I don't regret it." I answered, further complementing what I had shared with Zwei in the mean time.
Since I doubt I could keep it quiet with Fei, Zwei and the other spirits might understand my predicament. Like the Soul Fragment and reicarnation. Not to mention only people like me can communicate with them so my secret is perfectly safe. For now.
Of course, being sent to another world and returned back here was not mentioned. I can't just say everything out in the blues.
What I'm surprised about would be the fact that Zwei could understand, saying my trouble had been one of the common occurrences in the world.
[...Hmph. Then be glad that you don't remember. Spirits like us have never been allowed to be seen by humans, much less living with them.] Zwei answered, no longer surprised or shocked by what I have under my sleeves.
Oh? How so? I waited and the moment a source of light stole my attention, I gazed ahead and found a speck of light at the end of the dark path.
"Ooh! Is that the exit?!" I almost yelled in relief and joy.
[What else can it be?] Zwei retorted with a sigh of resignation.
"Then what are we waiting for?! Does it lead to the surface? Tell me it does!"
Again, he sighed. But this time, I sensed something changed judging from the glow and radiance of the spirit.
[Foolish girl,] he said. [This place is not what you think it is. If you so wish to escape, all you should have done is to wait for that Weapon of yours to fetch you back.]
...what...? What does he mean? I don't get it if you're being cryptic like that.
[Be that as it may, this is a good chance. Both of you wish to seek for 'it', no?] Zwei asked, taking my curiosity away and changed it to suspicion.
Although... it's way too easy to know what's in his mind. I'm not so clueless like what everyone thought.
"...you know something about That which is sleeping in this place?"
A chuckle was heard, nasty as it sounded similar to a fox's snicker.
[As a matter of fact, you're a part of 'That'. After all, you have chosen to return to this land once more, heiress of Augmund.] Zwei replied as it hovered forward.
Despite its jet-black radiance, the spirit in the shape of glowing sphere was outlined clearly in front of the speck of light. Like an eclipse, he floated forward as if devouring the dot of light in an absurd speed, forcing me to hasten my pace.
And once I stood before the glimmering light, I winced and blinked, letting my eyes readjusting themselves with the light intensity.
"Wh-What is this place...?"
My shoes landed on damp ground filled with grasses. There were vines and flowers could be seen while ethereal spheres of light danced in the air, shining the hemispheric room like stars in a planetarium.
I looked ahead and I saw Zwei intermingling with the rest of the glowing spheres. The other spirits lowered their ascent and 'bowed' to him in reverence while he headed to...
A tree. A giant, lush tree with pale blue leaves. It was a tree so gigantic it seemed to almost reach the dark ceiling above and the proportion was practically beyond any I've ever seen.
What the heck? How could a tree live so long and prosper in this kind of place? Isn't this a light less abandoned mine, not artificial garden?
More like... Why do I feel like I know this place?
"Child of human. What are you spacing for?" A voice echoed near me and I found a dimly glowing gray sphere.
This voice...
"Neun...?" I asked, half in doubt.
The spirit chuckled, her soothing voice reminded me of our previous meeting. She paced towards me, ascended and descended as if giving a curtsy.
"Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you once again, child of human." Neun said. "It seems fate dictates us to meet albeit in a... less desirable manner."
Ugh. She's too formal. In fact, I pictured her as a wise woman of late thirties with a handful of experiences. I didn't dislike her company but I felt... shy.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just being tense in front of an adult? It feels like she's seeing something I can't see, similar to the times where I asked my parents about their life before marriage.
"You seem troubled. Are you hurt somewhere?" Neun asked with a slightly worried tone.
"N-no. No such thing! It's just... ugh. Forget it." I shook my head to dispel my confusion. Also the frightfully nostalgic impression by being around here.
However, I heard another chuckle coming from Neun. Somehow making me embarrassed and ashamed in acting this way.
But. But... why am I feeling that way?
"Do not be led astray," Neun stated. "You are who you are. Regardless of your origin, you are here now. And you possess a goal to achieve to go all the way here. no?"
...that's...
"...yeah... you're right." I sighed and scratched the back of my head. "I guess I'm overthinking things."
"Indeed, you do not seem to be the brightest for being a child. I thought children are supposed to learn through mistakes or is it merely my assumption?"
"No, you're not wrong. I'm just a freaking mismatched entity without complete soul and I can only remember my previous life..."
Which happened to be a male one. Even so, I still retained my feminine traits in that life despite my incurable impulsive nature.
"Setting my matter aside, Neun. Is it true you've been searching for your mother all this time?" I reaffirmed.
Neun shivered a little as if abashed, "Indeed. I believe you heard of it from Zwei?"
I nodded, earning her a troubled sigh.
"Then I assume he has not even mentioned anything. My apology for our elder's erroneous behavior."
Eh, I think it's fine. Zwei sounds like Leon when we first met and I'm already getting used to the varying sides of people. Although people like that Spaghetti are out of questions, much less forgiven if caught red-handed.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
At any rate, I'd like to achieve the objective, which was what Fei sought so badly he risked his life.
"Do you know what the thing is, Neun?" I asked.
"Hm... In a way, I know but I'm not sure if you're allowed to take it out so easily." Neun answered in a way as if tapping her cheek with a finger.
Ugh. Since Fei warned me beforehand, I didn't have much confidence in besting my opponents. Even those golems were durable so if some were speedy enough then it'd spell my demise.
"I believe you'd rather choose to hear it by those directly related to it, so come with me."
Eh? Ah, is that fine? Well, if that's how it is I guess it won't hurt... right?
As Neun floated and guided me, I followed several steps behind her while marveling the scenery. Flowers, trees, grasses and vines with odd colors were everywhere. Around them were flocks of spirits conversing and playing.
They're like children.
"I guess you are not incorrect. Most of us certainly lived as pure and innocent race." Neun interjected, reading my mind again or did I just leak my thoughts out?
No matter. Her words piqued my attention.
"But you and Zwei seem different... How so?"
A laughter was heard. As she breathed out...
"Because they remembered their previous lives as well. Just like you."
Huh?
I looked up at the source of the voice. Coincidentally, it came from the direction we were heading to, and also the place where the biggest tree in this underground garden existed.
And from that very direction, a presence unlike others in the area emerged. At first I was surprised but the surprise turned into shock, and turned into dread in a matter of seconds.
what is this overwhelming pressure?! It felt as if the whole air cracked and the sky fell upon me! I couldn't describe it well but my legs shivered and it took all of my might to stand upright!
At the same time, the presence became even stronger and a glowing golden light emerged in front of us. It was so bright the I winced and once it died down...
"So it is you. I have heard of you from my descendants." The voice said casually, but the effect was less than undesirable.
The one who said all that was... a person. A glowing person with 'hazes' and flakes of light sparkling like miniature stars around him, creating an orbit similar to asteroid belt.
He was wearing white toga made of silk, a golden bracelet adorned with jewels. The foots peeking peeking out from under his toga were bare and yet the grasses did not touch them.
More like the person was floating right above them but...
It's downright fearful. And I recalled the moments Fei went berserk for some unknown reasons. His image soon overlapped and...
"......ah... eh...?" I uttered, gasping in shock.
Not even coherent words could come out from my mouth. Reflected in my eyes... the broad-shouldered person smiled. He smiled with his eyes closed, even though the fearful impression did not leave at all.
But something's wrong. His hair was gold as wheat, and...
"H-how...? Why. Why are you... here...?"
His face... resembled too much with a certain someone I know. Even with the gentle expression on, even with the mature facial as if he had aged for around three decades...
Why. Is. His. Face. Bearing. Striking. Resemblance. With. Fei!?
-
-
-
-
"I see. Do I really look like him? That... beloved someone of yours?"
"Ugh!"
I grunted as the cup of tea I held shook so hard it almost slipped off my grasp.
Looking away from his unsuspecting gaze (even though his eyes were closed), I nodded slowly. Really slowly. Seriously, it's so slow I almost wanted to cry for my neck.
Although I better explain things or confusion will remain.
After the shocking encounter with the... copycat Ancient Spirit (Neun introduced him to me), he invited me for a tea party. Honestly, it'd have been less outrageous had he not made the table, chairs, trays and tea sets from thin air.
But if I looked at them closely, they were made from woods without paints or polishing. And the tea sets too were made from... woods.
How the heck did the water not be absorbed by the cup? This is a mystery the clueless me let out unintentionally and received a proper answer.
"The Demarikan are known to be the driest, water-resistant trees in this continent." The humanoid spirit - Ancestor said.
"Huh... then how can they live?" I retorted.
"By feeding on mana and moisture in the air." He answered.
I... see... what, could it be some cactus? I guess that sort of tag isn't wrong but... why does it feel I guessed it incorrectly?
Ugh. I don't get it. I've been having a lot of de ja'vu moments now.
Besides... aren't we out of the topic now? In front of this guy, even running away doesn't seem a good choice so I had to sit tight and talk if prompted to. His leaked aura was so thick it almost blew my mind off had I not mentioned it.
And even with that fixed, the intimidating air around him was unbeatable! What's this? A Demon King? No, I get the feeling he's different but his face...
"On that note, are you knowledgeable of our circumstance, child?"
Gah! I don't get it! And the talk strayed again!
"Hm... it seems you are truly uninformed. I guess that shows how long you have lived as a human." He nodded, pushing the conversation to one side.
Rather... what's he saying? From my birth, I have been living as a human you know?
Noticing me tilting my head, the mature, elegant, refined and god-forbid-handsome spirit snickered, his expression nearly drove me mad.
No! Bad me! He's just similar to Fei! You can't fall! Hey, stop it, heart! Don't beat so fast, dammit!! He's not him even if he has a damn-I'd-drool-over-dat-face-on-bed feature! It's not like Fei wouldn't grow like him so don't be distracted!! Ah, but... so-so charming,,,
Ugh?! Aaah mou! Why do I always got the short straw!?
"Hoh... magnificent. So love certainly cause one to behave outside of their comfort zone." Ancestor commented but I couldn't help be angered!
"Uuu...! I didn't come here to listen to some nonsense!!"
"Indeed. You've come to take back what is rightfully yours."
"Yes! Wait, what?"
Rightfully yours? The spirit sipped his tea, breathed out with a sat is fixed sigh as he craned his head upward. I followed his gaze and stared at the giant tree canopy above us.
"Long ago," Ancestor started. "This garden was our land. Our home, where spirits live, gather, sing and die. With the abundant vibrance of life, this place could invoke memories as easily as opening the eyes of the heart."
Uh... what are you saying? And opening the eyes of the heart? Isn't that just sixth sense? I don't think that can be unlocked with the word 'easy' at the difficulty level.
"Even as spirits, we live like people. We eat, drink, sleep and feeling bored as we live out our infinite days. In such way, you - and everyone else, are the same."
Ah... eh. I see. Thus your form? Are you suggesting I should treat Zwei and Neun as humans too? But I think I've been doing that for a while...
"Indeed, but not many. For those who knew the ancient pact has no longer lived at some point, and those ignorant of it pursued only the false truth left behind by the Lord of Chaos."
...he seriously didn't hesitate in reading my mind. So there's a pact that told everyone to treat other races as equal?
Ancestor nodded with a bright smile, then resumed his tale.
"Among the spirits, there were known to be two kinds that would lead the race in our long journey. Those who lived long enough became like me." He pointed at himself.
"And those who died, only to remember their previous life despite having underwent the process of rebirth." Neun interjected, hovering near me as she held the kettle and poured tea for my empty cup.
...oh... Then there are three types of spirits huh... Doesn't that mean all of you are immortal?
"But not deathless, much less indestructible." Ancestor complemented. "Child, may we know of your name once again?"
Uh...? I thought you'd know that from the start. I glanced at Neun and she hovered up and down ever so slightly.
"...excuse me then. My name is Charlotte Augmund." I introduced myself for the second time.
At this, however. The smile on the spirit's face widened. And I couldn't help but shivering at that.
"Yes. Yes, so have I heard. Charlotte Augmund... the lost descendant." He said as if absorbing every single character into his heart. "You have done well surviving despite the mysterious fall of your house. You, who's supposed to be born in Raumia... has certainly grown like a blooming flower."
Splendid, he ended. With so much affections in his words. Like a grandparent seeing the achievement of his distant descendant with his own eyes.
"Hence the reason why you have all the right to know. Don't you want to know? What is hidden from you, what this kingdom founded by and your future..."
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A/N: My apology. I got preoccupied since I don't have any inspiration. Unlike most people, my head is only productive when I'm working, causing me to distract myself by writing or drawing. The funny thing is, this works best whenever I'm in classes.