Chapter 20: A Spring Beginning

It had been two weeks since we had buried the hero. Everyone had gone their separate ways. Yato had made the insurance spell for us in the event we needed to escape. It was a return spell that teleported us back to Albus. Marty was there to greet us, she was in utter shock when she saw my father. She assumed he was dead after his disappearance that night.

Luke suggested we were to return to Albus first. He and Bee were to gain an audience with the Erebon Royal Family while they were in Invidia.

Nia had nowhere else to go, so she went with Lilia and I back to Albus. Her identity as a former demon lord was hidden from the townspeople to prevent any chaos.

The seven brands were tethered to her, she swore she would not give them to Michael or the Testament. She was apparently the only heiress to the old royal family that was wiped out two years ago. After she had become a demon lord, she thought to abandon the bloodline completely.

My father was one of her attendants, he had explained he disappeared that night because he came across her. She took control of him and had wandered the realm with her the last half a year.

Nia would not stop apologizing for making such a heartless action. I simply laughed, I had already forgiven her.

Belle had returned to the life of a Hermit. Apparently, Bee left her with a huge package of sweets and meat buns at Yato’s late request. Her library was full of them.

Lilia decided she would stay with me in Albus, my father was happy to accept her without a second thought. We had thought of returning to Aether Citadel, but due to my infamous name, Gabriel had advised we stay away for a while until things settled down. Uriel would do her utmost to change the minds of the people that the death of late Arthur was not my fault.

We had built a new house next to Marty with Alfred’s help. Albert had stopped by to lend a hand. The blacksmiths would often fight but they would make up by drinking in the evening.

It was lovely to see that Marty and I would be neighbors.

As for the serpent, Levi was kept by the church to study. After a few days, it was released to Lilia and I as it was no longer dangerous. The little thing was cute, it would often hang around Nia. I think it might have taken a liking to her.

Eventually, I would receive a letter from the church. It was a summon. Due to the nature of the last ceremony being interrupted and my life was put in perilous means. It was decided the Accession Ceremony would take place outside of Eristella. The event would be sponsored by the Erebon Royal Family.

I had heard from Luke that Michael wanted the ceremony to be Selestia. Disagreement went on for weeks before he let up and agreed it was to be hosted in Invidia.

Bee was performing across the realm, he said he was performing with his brothers and sisters. He goes around and adopts any children who were either orphans or left on the streets. I admired him for having such a big heart giving home to children.

I set the letter down, and feel the breeze flow through my silver hair. The smell of edelweiss brushed my nose. I thought back on the last words Yato had said to me. My name in his language meant spring. As I welcomed the harvest season coming into Albus, a voice called out to me.

“Hainé! We’re going on a picnic with Miss Marty,” Lilia called to me.

“Coming!” I replied.

I walked out to the front door, I found Nia standing next to Marty. She looked beautiful in the sun, she wore a laced white dress. I had always thought she looked regal, as expected of a former heiress.

We found a spot in the shade of a nearby tree. We set up fabric over the ground and set down baskets of food father and Marty had made.

“Would you like some fruits, milady?”

“I told you to stop referring to me as that,” Nia complained.

My father was still treating her as if he was still her servant. She reprimanded him but he kept brushing it off as an old habit.

I giggled at the exchange, Lilia was playing with Levi in the field. The white serpent happily kept her company.

“So what are the other heroes doing,” Marty asked, as she handed me a cut of the sandwich she made for the picnic.

“Luke said he was busy in Invidia, something about setting up the meeting with the Erebon Royal Family before the new Accession Ceremony.”

I was still not recognized by the public as the Armiger. Rather, my infamous title spread around the realm after Arthur passed away. This new ceremony was to fight against the baseless rumors and set my status right. I had told Gabriel I don’t mind putting it off until things completely settled down. But the Testament and Erebon have other plans.

“It’s peaceful. So this is the world he wanted me to see.”

Nia gazed at the meadow, she looked pitiful, she was still reminiscing the days with the hero even after everything.

“What will you do now?” I asked.

“I haven’t thought about it, maybe travel the realms. I want to find out what the light Yato left us with means.”

Luke found no leads to what Yato's last gift was supposed to be. Belle had used her record keeper power to find anything pertaining to the hero across the realms, but there wasn’t a hint to what the essence could be.

“Maybe it will mean something once the time is right, he would be laughing if we kept mulling our head over this little puzzle.” Nia laughed to herself.

I stood up and walked next to the tree, feeling the barks as I brushed my hand against it. I thought of all the memories I had made, the bad memories and the good ones.

“Hainé?”

Nia out to me, I turned and smiled at her. I took out the letter in my dress pocket the Testament had sent me, and let it drift in the wind.

“For now, I like to enjoy this peace a bit longer.”

As I watched the letter fly in the wind, I made a wish in my heart in hopes that one day we would all meet again and go on an adventure together.