Vol. 2 Chapter 7: Aranea of the Wind Elves

***Somewhere in Manila***

"You said that you will help me search for Yukie, but you haven't given me any leads so far."

Grandpa Greg stared at Kukichiyo, who was eating at the breakfast table in the hotel room she rented. The old man kept his word so far; he never led her mother to capture her, but at the same time, the old man took time to give her clues on Yuuki's whereabouts.

"I ask that you remain patient, princess," he replied to her, looking around as if he was searching for something. "You know your mother; she has put people and resources spying on place you might appear. It's getting problematic for me to get past the 'invisible cordon of eyes.' Even getting to you here is difficult."

"So, by the way you talk," the elf princess brought down her spoon and focused on him. "You're telling me you already know where Yukie is?"

"Yes, though I'm just figuring out how to get past the agents watching every corner of where he is."

The elf princess clicked her tongue. "My mother...she is at it again, blocking my way to Yukie! Is he under surveillance? Does he know what happened to me?"

Grandpa Greg paused for a bit, looked outside the window through a small opening in the curtains before answering, "Yukie has no idea."

"Then give me his whereabouts!" Kukichiyo slammed her hand on the table. "I'm running out of time; let me run the gauntlet to get to him!"

"The time isn't right yet, princess."

"What are you talking about?"

"You rush to decisions; all your efforts will be wasted, escaping and causing trouble for everyone, should you just let your impulsiveness influence your decisions? Yes, you get Yukie, but your mother then gets you. What's the use of everything you did?"

Silence. The elf princess couldn't counter the old man's reasons; he made his point. However...

"I'd like you to desist from peeking into my thoughts, Your Highness," Grandpa Greg chuckled. "I'm still a higher existence than you, so your efforts will only be in vain."

"Come on!" she blurted out, throwing her hands in the air. "Yukie is already close, yet still so far! Don't hide that information from me!"

The old man, nevertheless, remained silent. Instead, he gestured for her not to speak.

"W-What?" Kukichiyo was bewildered by his sudden reaction.

"Someone's spying on us!"

The elf princess inadvertently put her hands over her mouth. Grandpa Greg signaled for her to move away from the window, though she did it slowly. "We got two drones with thermal sights hovering outside," he revealed to her. "At the hallway, two squads of elvish yeomen and human SWAT teams approaching from two different directions."

"W-What should I do, grandpa?" She spoke in whispers, panicking, "They will capture me."

"I can distract them. Can you fly?"

"I'm a wind elf; it's easy as breathing to me."

"Good. Watch out for the drones; think you can take care of those."

"Easy."

"No time to waste then, young lady!" he pushed her towards the window. "On the count of three, I'll teleport you outside. Yukie is at the Adventurers' Agency main office in Ermita district. But I suggest you avoid that place for now; the building's crawling with her spies."

The elf princess nodded.

Grandpa Greg tapped her shoulder. "Alright...3, 2, 1—go!!!"

Kukichiyo's vision immediately shifted from the comfortable confines of her hotel room to the windy space right outside her window. As she fell, she cast wind magic on her feet, allowing her to fly.

-----

Meanwhile, back in the hotel room, the old man faced to breaching team of the Manila police SWAT.

"Freeze! Hands up!" the officers shouted as they moved in and secure the room. They had anti-magic charms with them; though Grandpa Greg wasn't affected by those, he still complied and even offered his wrists to be handcuffed.

An elf yeoman came to him as he was forced to sit by the dining table. "Where's the princess?"

"Oh, you missed her! She just left a few minutes ago!"

"Don't play games with us, Sir! You are fighting against the Kingdom of the Wind Elves by coddling a fugitive!"

"Haven't I told your queen I will help in finding her? Why is she sending her elves after me?"

"You never tell us that you already found the princess."

"It's not in our agreement; I said I will help, not to capture and bring her daughter back. But I protected Her Highness, so where's my biscuit?"

A voice came from the elf's radio, which was on his shoulder, "The princess is escaping by flying towards the city of Makati! We need additional drones now!"

"Aren't you going to help your friends? Your princess can be a handful, you know?"

There was a moment of pause, as the elf yeoman weighed his options. Taking a deep breath, he radioed back his response before putting down a charm beside him. "We'll see about that, old man!" the elf gestured to the human officers to drag the grandpa outside. "Take this fellow; set your anti-magic charms to the highest setting and be careful with him!"

"Oh...are you suspecting me of illegal activities, hence you're arresting me? Where are my rights?" Grandpa Greg chuckled. "Well, I guess it won't be respected since I was a human. But don't you think it's foolish of you to fight me with that cheap contraption you call 'anti-magic charm?'"

"!!!" In the blink of an eye, the old man escaped the policemen's grasps, and removed his handcuffs like someone taking off a ring from his finger. Of course, the officers and the yeoman tried to stop him with their guns, but the grandpa turned their bullets into candies.

After that, he caused their feet to stick to the floor, "Again, tell Her Majesty, I am not her enemy. She knows I can see into the future, and I will not be bound by anyone's short-sighted reasons. Her daughter is safe, but it may take a while before Princess Kukichiyo returns to Alfheim."

-----

The moment Kukichiyo arrested her fall was the time for the drones spying on her to immediately gave chase. These automated flyers were armed with dragnets, designed to capture flying creatures or running criminals. The elf princess had to dodge a few salvoes of the dragnets as the police operators tried to restrain her; then she shot back a few of her spells that scattered the drones.

As she flew across the skies of Manila, Kukichiyo saw a bunch of high-rise buildings quite a distance away from her spot. Realizing it was her chance to shake off her pursuers, the elf princess dashed towards the place.

"Miss Kukichiyo, this is the Philippine National Police! We are not going to harm you; please stop running away!" a voice from the drones' speakers tried to convince her.

But she was determined to escape, flashing her middle finger in defiance and shouting, "Heh, you wish!" The elf princess sent another answer with her wind magic, disrupting the air around the flyers, causing those to briefly lose control. But, as these systems were built to withstand expected magic attacks, soon the chase resumed. Kukichiyo led them near a building with the letters 'RZBC' at its topmost floor, using its size to keep herself from being flanked.

"!!!" With her speed and sharp turns, the elf princess engaged the drones from behind, shooting another wind spell that destroyed the rotors of one flyer. The debris fell on the crowd below, though she blew it away to save the people from being hit. In the process, the other drones almost got her with the dragnet; her sudden dive saved her at the last minute by pulling upwards into the skies.

Just as Kukichiyo recovered, however, two more drones joined the pursuit, descending from the cloud cover to surround her. Another evasive maneuver dodged the pair of dragnets from these flyers, and she countered with her wind spell, this time in the shape of a spear. With three drones to escape from, the elf princess led them again on a chase within the forest of high-rises, using sharp turns and zig-zagging movements to confuse the operators.

But her pursuers were also skilled in controlling drones, even shooting dragnets at her at the slightest opportunity. The back-and-forth answers between Kukichiyo and the police drones became a mesmerizing sight for those employees walking their way to work.

"Look! What's happening up there? Are you seeing this?"

"Looks like a mage trying to destroy the police drones. Must be a criminal."

"Yeah, kill her! She must be a drug addict!"

Knowing that her mana reserves was halfway spent, Kukichiyo took the initiative. As two of the drones flanked her and the third attacked from the front, she pulled up with a sharp maneuver, climbing to a height higher than the tallest building in the area. The flyers followed her using the same formation; the elf princess had to get behind the third drone to destroy it. With the wind at her elevation picking up pace, Kukichiyo charged downwards as the drone prepared to fire its dragnet.

"!!!"

Just as the dragnet was launched towards her, the elf princess evaded with another sudden turn, successfully placing herself between the drone and the ground. With a quick wind spell, she blasted the police drone to pieces and blew it away so it won't hit anyone.

Only two drones remaining!

The surviving flyers circled and changed their approach. Kikuchiyo was still at the lower elevation, so one of the drones began firing all its dragnets to distract her. But she already saw through the trick; she captured the third drone that sneaked behind her and destroyed it with a point-blank shot of her spell. Then, hurling one of the debris towards it, she caused the fourth and final drone to lose control, catching the flyer and talking to the operator behind the camera...

"Hello there, officer!" she smiled and waved. "You can't make me return! Please tell my mother that I will get Yukie, just like what she did to my father!"

-----

**Yuuki**

Okay, this was what I hate about adventuring.

"Oh, hello Mister Yuuki! I saw your video on Fesbook and I fell in-love with your sty—I mean, you! Please, will you consider joining our team if ever you leave Miss Henrietta's party?"

"Are you still single? Isn't your fighting style called 'Dance of Death?' I tell you what, join us, and I'll prove to you how deadly is my dance on your...lap."

"I find it hard to believe you're a green adventurer! Are you sure you're not using forged documents?"

Of course, not counting the doubts on my 'green band,' I try to disregard the adventurers trying to 'pirate' me to their party. The unsolicited proposals just kept on coming; the adventurers today had no concept of 'space' and 'respect' for their fellows, just to recruit the 'strongest' members. Hell, and I am just an ordinaria...

In hindsight, I shouldn't have asked for that duel to be recorded or streamed. My original intention was to have as many witnesses as possible, because I was sure back then that Tenda and Steve would claim that I cheated should I beat their asses. Turned out I was correct, but this measure had unintended consequences.

"..."

"You should just get used to it," was Eodvig's advice to me. "After all, what you did is unprecedented; your decisive smack down of Tenda and Steve made many 'mage'-only parties consider their life choices."

Well, someone as popular as Eodvig wouldn't understand my struggles. I mean, I just wanted to take it easy; relaxed, happy adventuring dives with my teammates. But, now? Nah. Every time adventurers see me walking in the lobby, they would pester me with recruitment, my fighting style, and of course, the usual doubters.

Like, dude, I pay for my expenses, and I'm living my life. I don't need to prove anything to you.

Any case, I've been meeting Eodvig quite recently after the duel. Not only did he apologize for his friends' treatment of Alice, the guy actually tried to make up for the offense by sending us gifts and other expensive stuff, like tickets to some big concerts. Temaire wanted to refuse, though for the sake of reconciliation, she allowed him around. Now, we're talking to each other while sharing a lunch table at the agency cafeteria.

"Look, Yaw-yan isn't just a 'flashy' martial art. Similar to the masters of magic, it requires dedication, discipline, and constant practice from its practitioner, so you won't get dull. So, really, I don't get the hype; it's literally the 'magic' for ordinaria, like me. And many of our fellow adventurers think it's a 'cool skill move set.'"

"Still useful, you know?" he pointed out. "If that can destroy two mages—which are 'thinking' enemies, how much more will it fare against non-sentient foes who attack based on their instincts? For short, you gave the role 'porter' a new perspective and possibility!"

Man...is our practice inside Oyasumi really that ground-breaking?

"Any case, Tenda has already returned to the U.K., but before he left, he wants to send his heartfelt apologies to you and Miss Klubnika."

"Eh, I don't keep grudges. Once the duel is done, I also left my vendetta inside the simulation room. Tell him it's already good with me; I just can't speak for my friend. And, what about the other?"

"Steve? He's still here, but the guy's embarrassed to show himself. Nevertheless, he's also regretting his actions."

"No worries. I want him to forget about it already."

"Thank you!" Eodvig stood up and suddenly bowed before me, which—of course—shocked the hell out of me. I quickly asked the guy to stop, but he insisted, declaring, "I really admire your fighting prowess and chivalry, Sir Yuuki."

"Eh? What? Sir, me?"

"I am serious," he bowed another time. "A knight among knights. A model of virtue. The holiest of paladins."

You're making a big deal out of my desire to live rent-free. "I-I think you're overthinking this."

"My bad. Just that, I'm really fascinated with knights and chivalry since I was young."

"Right...it's obvious, anyway." As I looked around, I saw other adventurers staring at us, some of them whispering to their friends. Perhaps they must be thinking I'm bullying this bishounen...

Meanwhile, from the corner of my eye, two policemen entered the cafeteria. One looked at his phone, scanned the place, and focused in our direction. His buddy also did the same; this one, however, pointed to us.

Err...as far as I know, the issues about the duel are already settled. I guess these guys are looking for someone else?

"Good afternoon, adventurers!" the officers greeted us, then turned to me. "Are you Mister Yuuki?"

There was an awkward pause as Eodvig's eyes widened in surprise. I raised my hand and admitted, "That'd be me, sir. Is there any problem?"

"Will you come with us?"

"What for?" I felt my heart was about to burst. "Did I commit a crime or something?"

The officers smiled and shook their heads, which brought relief to me. "We apologize for giving the wrong impression, Mister Yuuki. But no, you are fine. It's just that someone needs to talk to you."

"Talk to me? Who?"

"Please come with us so we can explain the details. This place isn't private, see?"

-----

"Hello! You must be...Yukie? That famous Yukie?"

For a moment, I forgot how to speak and could only stare at the person sitting in front of me. Her long silver hair, golden eyes, as well as the regal attire screamed that she was someone important. But more than that, the elf was so...breathtakingly beautiful!

"Hoh...well, I'm not going to be flattered, Yukie. I know I am beautiful, and many men and elves have tried to flatter me, but they failed. So, please, admire me as you wish!"

At that moment, my senses returned. "Err, who are you?" I looked to the officers who brought me here for any clues, but they just gave their respects to her and left the room. It was only then that I noticed the presence of armed elves inside with her.

"Ah, don't be afraid; these are the yeomen of the royal family. They are here to guard me, so let me first introduce myself. As you may have noticed, I looked like an elf, but I'm not an elf."

Yep, I didn't notice.

"A-Ahem, if humans would give a word that describes my existence, I think 'spirit' will be the close fit."

"Oookaaay...?"

"So, let me ask you again, just to be sure, are you Yukie? From OyasumiSe7en?"

I weighed my options if I should reveal my past. But since she already read my thoughts, it was useless to keep anything from her. So, I admitted, "That is my old adventurer's name, yes."

"I see...hmm..." The elf looked at me from head to toe, then muttered, "And that girl said she's with an all-girls adventuring party."

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yukie!"

"Ma'am?"

"My name is Aranea, though they put 'lady' before it. I am the queen of the Wind Elves, and your former teammate's, Kuki—woops, Kikyo's—mother."

When I learned that I was in the presence of such a powerful person, I quickly kneeled to show my respects. However, the queen requested that I be at ease.

"This isn't a formal diplomatic function, so I ask that you treat me as anyone else."

"My apologies for my rude and sarcastic remarks, Your Majesty!"

"No need. I'm okay with you thinking honestly; it helps in our negotiation, see?"

Well, at least she was cool with me being 'honest.' In an effort to diffuse the sudden tension, I asked, "How's your daughter? It's been long since we last saw her; our team leader is forming our old party again, but I trust that Kikyo is doing well back in her old country?"

"Yes, this is why we meet, Mister Yukie, or should I call you Yuuki? I saw your files when we requested them from the Adventurers' Agency; also says your surname is Lerin."

I didn't like my background being scrutinized before me. Those were personal information; I hope the agency had a big reason for divulging her those.

"Ah, don't be offended at my actions, Mister Yukie. You see, this is an emergency, hence the informal meeting between us. My daughter has run away, and you know how it goes to a mother like me. Kikyo is an elf princess, and if the criminals and other 'no-good' people got their hands on her..."

"Run away, Your Majesty?" I was surprised; I couldn't imagine the thought of an elf crossing the strict border controls easily. I mean, with the current diplomatic situation, many had observed that the immigration controls between Earth and Alfheim was only a couple of notches down the borders of North Korea. How did she manage to cross it?

"Let's say my daughter takes after me..." she chuckled. "A beautiful girl with a bit of an attitude sprinkled with determination."

Yeah, 'a bit of an attitude,' huh? Honestly, I didn't remember Kikyo as such; when we were in Oyasumi, she was the 'voice of reason' between Temaire and Alice, and often helps me sort out stuff. Any case, I put up my question again, "Is there any way I can help you, Lady Aranea?"

"Yes, actually, I came here to protect you."

"Ah, sure! So, what should I—wait, 'protect me,' Your Majesty?"

"Yes, you heard me right," the queen of the wind elves puffed her chest, and declared, "You humans often mistake my efforts to rein in my child as 'protecting her,' but no! As I have said, she takes after me, and I am one of the most powerful spirits in existence! Rather than her, I'm protecting you! She can fend for herself!"

Oh great...another Temaire.