To Understand Unity

The ground shook violently as the magic circle underneath began to glow brighter and brighter, I pointed my staff towards the avalancheーface-to-face with the jaws of death.

Few of the bystanders around me couldn’t process what was happening at the moment, noticing

the blue light illuminating beneath their feet, they looked down. ““W… what is this magic…? Is this Lady Lotea’s….??!””

Then, as it may seem the Avalanche was ready to swallow the capital, the floor suddenly calmed down… The gigantic landslide twice the size of the capital, had frozen in place.

“”What happened…? Is this Lady Lotea’s…?”” The people around me questioned, then they began pointing upwards. “”Look up!! Is that…? A magic circle…?!! That’s a different type of magic…?!!”

As they slowly began to calm down, the powdered cloud began shiftingーturning into petals and flew into the air as it rained flowers.

They couldn’t believe their eyes, just a moment ago they were witnessing a terrifying phenomenon and fearing for their livesーturned into a gentle rain of flowers the next minute… The scene was breathtaking, something they’d experience once in their lives… Especially in a cold city, high above the clouds…

In contrast to the people around me holding their hands, children danced as petals dropped… I stood frozen staring at the ground, my pupils devoid of color, and my mind blanked.

Without wasting time, I returned my seal and removed everything, recalled my staff and turned around. Running from the scene and passing through the crowds on the streets, my ears picked up voices left and right.

““That spell… W… was that Lady Eilise from the Kingdom of Ryven…?”” The people muttered. “”E… Ehh…?!!! But why would another Pointed hat be here?!! A… are they here to declare war??!!”

I clenched my fist, before sharply turning to a corner, hiding myself in an alley.

Panting, I held my heart, my whole body shaking as I began to breathe heavily.

“I… I should’ve seen this coming…..” I stuttered, muttering to myself.

The weight on my chest was heavy. I couldn’t stop myself. In my mind, I knew there wasn’t a choice. It’s either I don’t do anything, and have the capitalーeveryone being killed…

….But now, everyone knows where I am. If a word of this reaches Ryven… They’d think I abandoned the safety of my own kingdom. Roaming without a care in the worldーSaying the same words that I’m sick of hearing…

I clenched my teeth as tears began to fall out of my eyes… My back slid down the wall, crouching down and holding my knees tightly.

It was there that… I couldn’t take it anymore, the weight of everything on my shoulders began to double. I began doubting myself again.

Burying my face to my knees, I clenched my teeth.

I don’t want to repeat the same mistake I’ve made. Making a mistake hurts… It hurts… I don’t want to make mistakes. I cried harder and harder, frustrated at myself.

But it’s useless… I can’t do anything… It’s impossible…

My brows furrowed as my eyes turned red.

Then a kid cried out from outside the alley, I jolted, straightening my posture before turning to my side. Though blurry, I could see his hand over his eyes, he probably had lost his parents amidst the stampede…

No one seemed to be paying attention to the kid as he tried calling out his parents…

Seeing this, It took a while for me to forcefully stop myself from crying. Staring at my knees as I hiccup, I didn’t do anything for a minute before finally wiping my eyes, stood up and stepped out of the alley.

I approached the kid, kneeling to meet eyes with him, tilting my head as he continued to sob. “Are you lost, child…?” My voice raspy.

Sobbing, he nodded, sniffling. Looking around, the people were still in their own worlds… So with no choice, I comforted him.

“It’s alright, child… I’ll help you get your parents back.” Patting his head. I opened my palm, and he held my hand firmly. I stood up and looked around the crowds to find anyone who closely resembles him.

“Don’t be sad, okay? We’re definitely gonna find your family! You can trust me.” I assured him, letting him know that everything was gonna be fine.

“O… okay.” He nodded, finally calmed down. I raised my voice to inform everyone around me.

“Excuse me!! Who is the parent of this child…? Anyone…?!!”

It took thirty minutes before two people came running to me, waving their hands. Then they stopped short, panting. “Y… YES!! THAT’S US! T… Thank you miss for finding our child!!! Thank you so much!!!” Her voice was anxious, shaking.

I freed my grasp from the kid’s hand, and he immediately sprinted to his motherーhugging her legs and crying as she held his back, crying. She lifted him up in the air and carried the child in her arms before bowing to me.

“I can’t thank you enough, miss!!! We were so worried when we lost sight of him… Thank Lady Lotea for saving us… We’re grateful!!!”

Exhaling, I smiled regardless. “Next time, please hold his hand tightly… Take care okay?”

Turning around and walking away, leaving them standing there.

I couldn't hide my expression… I was agitated… And to make it worse, I couldn’t shut off the voices that were reaching my ears.

“”I didn’t see Lady Lotea anywhere…?!! And that Magic… It’s different…”” A few whispered loudly as the word continued to spread. “”ーThen… was it really Mistress Eilise who saved us…??!!””

….I couldn’t see anything in my surroundings, my mind was empty. It felt like an arrow had hit my head, imaginary blood dripping down my face..

Then, UnawareーI felt a thud hit my shoulder. I snapped back to reality, turning my head and quickly apologized to whoever I bumped into.

“...Sorry, I wasn’t looking.” Bowing my head.

The person in the hood didn't utter a word before she clasped both of my hands and opened her mouth, her tone was sincere and filled with regret. “...I’m sorry Eilise, I arrived the moment you finished warding off the danger… I wholeheartedly take blame for what happened…”

My face shot up, recognizing that tone of voice. I took a closer look at the person’s face underneath the hood; And there I couldn’t believe my eyes… Pink braided hair, gold eyes and a face to rival Nixie. It was none other than Lotea Irminhilde…

I was stunned… As much as I am glad to meet her again, this was not the time for a sweet and happy reunion.

Irritated, I angrily faced her. “Lotea. Where were you when that happened…?” I sharpened my tone.

Shaking, biting her lip, she tried explaining. “I… I’m really sorry!!! I just… I couldn’tー”

“ーHAVE YOU NOT THE SLIGHTEST IDEA, IF I HAD ARRIVED A DAY LATE, OR NEVER… EVERYONE COULD’VE DIED!!??? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THEY NEEDED YOU??!!!!! YOU CAN’T JUST RISK EVERYONE'S LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS MISTAKE!!!” I raised my voice.

Lotea jerked, crying in tears as her hands clasping mine began shaking violently. “I… IMJ SORRY EIOILISE!! PLESAUE DIONT GHETY MSAD AT MDHE!!!!”

She cried, drawing attention to the crowds.

Pausing for a minute, my eyes widened. I immediately realized what I’ve done… I quickly comforted her, sympathizing. “I’m… I’m sorry Lotea… I didn’t mean to lash out on you, I…” Pausing, stuttering. “Happen to see my reflection… And I couldn’t help but yell at myself.”

Sniffing, she cried out loudly. “ITSH WAS MYH FAULUTL ENIRIETLY….!!! IMS SO SOHRURRY!”

Taken back from her reaction… I began patting her head, assuring everything was fine… I didn’t want to give Lotea a heavy burden and let her suffer the same fate as I did.

I knew better than that…

“ーLook Lotea… I’m sorry again, It’s not your fault… You were probably busy with something important, right…?”

Gently letting go of her grasp, I wiped the tears falling from her eyes underneath the hood. “....See? Now we’re even, It’s okay Lotea. I can understand. Do you wanna talk somewhere else…?”

She squinted her eyes trying to calm herself, hiccuping. “Yes… I’m so sorry…”

“Let's sit down somewhere, I’ll buy some food from the market stalls.”

From the looks of it, she wasn’t calming down.

…However, I understood her situation, I know how she feelsーthis was a very serious slip-up, and covering this with a simple apology wouldn't cut it as many lives were at stake.

I held her hand. “Look… I’ll tell you a secret later. So calm down okay…?”

She nodded sluggishly, squinting her eyes.