The roots of it all

“.....You’re really going now, huh?” Annaliese narrowed her eyes. “....When are you gonna come back to Brynheint?”

Astrid in front of her replied, being skeptical. “I don’t know when actually… You’ll see me when you see me. But I’m sure you’ll be busy training with Mister Ewald anyways, so I’ll come back in no time. Probably.”

“ーIt’s fine, Astrid. No need to be concerned. We’re happy to have you be a member of the party, despite only spending three months with us.” Yawning, I gave her assurance. “Stay safe okay…? And about the coat, I’ll be wearing it for Brynheint along the journey again…”

She chuckled before nodding and walked towards me to reach a hand. I straightened my arm and shook it.

“I’m happy to know you’re gonna be using it again! Even without me being a member of the party anymore.” Astrid scuffed.

Freeing her grip, she stepped back. Astrid tried to hide her melancholic expression under a facade. “It’s been fun you guys….! I hope we’ll be able to do the same as this in the future…!! Take care! Marieka, Annaliese, and Mistress Eilise.”

Pausing, she turned to me. “Thank you Mistressーor should I call you Lady Eilise now? Ehehe… Thank you for taking your time to teach me how to use pocket magic efficiently. And I’m so happy to have met someone that I’ve always admired.”

Bowing, she waved before turning around and walked the other side of the grass path.

“Travel safe Astrid!!!” Marieka yelled.

Along the way, as her front was turned away from us, Astrid summoned the ornament that I gave from her pocket and clipped it to her hair, smiling, as we began seeing her body disappearing in the distance.

We waved, until she had fully left…

At that moment, the feeling I got was complicatedーI'm both saddened, and at the same time, glad in a way that she went along this Journey.

….Three weeks flew by so fast, and we’re already in Vanhaert… Regardless, I kept my word to her. And she learned quickly is all that matters. I hope the ornament will have a special place in her heart. I scoffed.

“She’s really gone now…” Marieka frowned.

I exhaled in response. “Yeah, It’s a shame but… We’ll be missing her.”

We stayed silent for a moment, taking our time to process Astrid’s departureーletting the wind speak for ourselves. Then finally, Annaliese turned around and stepped forward.

“Let's get going now, we still have two months till we get to the capital… And two months heading to Brynheint…”

Turning to Annaliese, I had to explain something to her. “For the record… I won’t be entering the capital of Brynheint, and I can assure you that it’s not out of a grudge or anything…”

Annaliese's expression shifted, saddened.

“R… really? Then… That’s really a shame Mistress Eilise…”

“I’m sorry Annaliese, but you guys can roam around without me, I’ll wait outside when we get there…” I yawned again. “And please, keep my identity out of reach for Ewald.”

Coughing and covering my mouth with my fist, I lazily trailed Annalieseーwalking past her. “So… From where I’m getting. There's a village around here… We’ll buy a map of the kingdom if they happen to sell.”

“ーFrom around this area?” Annaliese asked.

“Yeah from here… I do have a feeling that the terrain will get a lot harder as we go…”

I remember that guy saying that if I ever wanted to visit his region, it's better to teleport or fly around like Nixie, so maybe I thought that the terrain here was harsh or something…

My brows furrowed.

Though It’s not like I planned to visit or anything. Again, the people here wouldn’t appreciate me being in their own soil like the usual… Especially being from Ryven.

I clenched my fist. I consider myself lucky in Friedenswald, and still I know I’m not safe… Behind those laughs and smiles, are probablyー, Wait… Stop, Stop… I should stop thinking about it… Remember, it’s not my concern now…

“Yes! Just let it go! It’s not my concern!! And now that Astrid has departed, we have to keep moving…!! To fulfill Marieka’s dream….!” My hands trembled, clenching them to my chest as I muttered to myself. “But….. I was really scared there…”

No. Please forget it, okay Eilise…? Please… It’s okay now…

I assured myself, trying to myself. Clutching my robe underneath my cloak as my heart continued to thump…

“ーWhere should we go now, Eilise? Astrid’s already left this area by now… So we should get going too.” Marieka called me.

It took a minute before I replied back, my voice devoid of energy and tone. “....We just march ahead, it’s as simple as that… We’ll probably encounter a few monsters here like the usual… Who knows.”

“Mmm… I don’t think the monsters would be as bad as the ones in the Imperial Vascht nor Ryven right? I’m sure it isn’t worse.” She tilted her head.

⇔ ⇔ ⇔ ⇔

“OKAY I WAS WRONG!! I WAS WRONG!!! AHHHH HELP ME EILISE!!!!” Marieka screamed running from a small boar monster that was chasing her.

As she ran from her dear life. Annaliese on the other hand, was busy fighting a giant demon wielding a sword from afarーSmiling as she fought, fully enjoying the thrill of sparring with an equal opponent.

Meanwhile I was in the air, sleeping while hugging my pillow, engulfed in a camoufler shieldーInvisible to others aside from the two.

Yawning, my body had already reached its limit.

“They can handle this right…? I can’t be bothered at the moment…” I mumbled, rubbing my face against my pillow.

Aside from the strain that was still lingering… Recently, these past weeks, It’s been so nice to relax as the days go by. Free from all the weight on my shoulders… And because of that, I’ve been slacking off more than I was before this journey.

Which might be a bad thing... I guess for them, then yeah it is…

“ーBut I’m not the heir of the family now… And I’m no longer showing in public as Ryven’s pointed hat… It’s okay to act like yourself, Eilise.” I rambled quietly to myself.

I tried to take a nap, only to recoil from the noise of a person screaming at the top of their lungs underneath me…

With no other choice, I eventually assured Marieka who was getting chased by a food source. “Marieka… Vuelies Araglia… Unlike the demon that Annaliese is fending off, that boar has no mana… But do use a different variant for your level…”

I lazily gave her the signal.

“WHAT?!! VUELIES ARAGLIA??!! BUT I’M NOT SURE IF…”

Amidst of her sprinting, she remained hesitant to attempt it, before finally, she clenched her teeth and turned around sharply facing the boarーMarieka summoned her staff and pointed in front, holding it firmly with two hands.

Then mana began surrounding her as the boar got closer and closer, her brows furrowed and began a long chant.

“THE GREAT OF THE ECLIPSE, WHERE NO BLOOD WILL SHED, THE PATH WHERE IT SEES NO END, THE LIGHT WHERE WE SEE, TO THE GREAT VALLEY OF THEE!!! C… COME FORTH!!!! VUELIES ARAGLIA!!!!!” She yelled.

A magic circle was cast in front, and a giant fireball appeared from itーroughly the size of her body. The boar jolted, its eyes opened realizing what was in front and tried to stop itself, sliding forward carried by its own momentum as it attempted to turn around before everything exploded.

The smoke covered the place until it began fading away a moment later, slowly revealing a massive crater underneath Marieka, who was drenched in dust. And In front of her, the boar was instantly decimated, roasted, ready to eat.

Afterwards I began applauding her from above.

“See…? I told you… Congratulations…! You did it…!!” I clapped lazily.

“ーEILISE!!!!! WHAT IF THE SPELL DIDN’T WORK??!! WHAT IF I CHANGED THE CHANT BY ACCIDENT??!! YOU CAN’T HEAL ME IF I GET HURT!!!!!” She raised her voice, looking up at me.

All things aside, It was quite impressive that she managed to use that variant… Hearing that exact same chant took me back roughly three years ago…

Wait a minute… She was able to use it…?!

“Wait, Isn’t that the first time you’ve used offensive magic against something, correct…? And it’s a variant that Royal Mages uses…? ”

“Well… Yeah!! And I wasn’t even sure if it was gonna work…”

“You could’ve used a simpler one… Regardless… It’s good progress… Maybe I should rest like this more often for you to improve…”

“ーThat’s not gonna help!!!!” She yelled, pouting.

Marieka crossed her arms, frustrated before Annaliese came back from the fightーand upon arriving, we noticed her cloak was smudged with dirt and covered with small scratches.

“Sorry… I had a little fun fighting someone at that level.” She fixed her ruffled hair, turning towards Marieka. “So uhm, what happened here…?”

Annaliese stared at the scene… Puzzled, before looking up to me. “Uhm… Mistress Eilise, did she use Vuelies Araglia?”

I yawned. “That’s right… It’s the first time she’s ever used it against something… Her first fight using Offensive magic. And not only that, using a variant that Royal Mages use…”

Annaliese Expression shot up. “Ehh??? Really!!? Wow! This calls for a celebration, Marieka!”
“Seriously!!!!!! YOU TWOー, ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!” She screamed.