Chapter 57: Her Answer

What am I supposed to do now...?

An ascertained lie is an arborescent utterance, a scattering and mutable seedling. A white lie, a half-truth—it doesn’t matter as the malefic seeds have already been sown. Rooting through the soils of the unknowing mind—the nescient victim—solidifying its burrow upon growth. A lie that is to be moistened—to be fed—by the accompanying, disquieting probes. An appetizer for every root, selected and studied until the victim quenches the peculiar root’s thirst—yet only furthering the questions.

Magister Elemnin... I wanted to meet him again so I could find answers, and yet... Now I am back at square one, with nowhere to go... Why? Why did he lie about wanting to help me...? About wanting to save me from...this... This agonizing mark...

A lie impinges on the victim’s weathered sod, attempting to affix itself on every available space it can influence. The nutrients—the attention—all to be claimed by the now blighted sapling. A lie’s growth is proportionate to one’s ability to question, question, and question—a never-ending cycle—until finally being released by a lamentable truth.

But he never had any intention of saving me. That’s right, he was planning on using me. Using me for what exactly...?

“Khahaha! Of savage wit—one in whom was hellbent on prolonging his own life. To reach the same status as that lineage.”

A blight can reproduce and spread through the soil, smothering and infecting every other stray root—every parallel thought. A single, blighted sapling can now become many, even while of withered leaves and of hollowed trunks. A flourishing and concentrated destruction—of fell ends—begins, and now stems from one.

That’s what I heard, right...? He wanted to prolong his life in exchange for my own...? I never mattered to him beyond that. And what if...that’s how everyone views me...? I... I was to be his ‘cattle’ and—

Her mind shut itself down as she could feel a strange warmth come over her. It submerged her entirety and was accompanied by murmurs from an unknown voice. A woman’s voice, of words that she could barely even discern.

“This human... How are you even... No, I can’t let her go any further. I need to...”

As if she were floating deep inside of a warm bath yet could still breathe; she suddenly felt at peace. Devoid of any other feelings besides a tranquil mind and indifference. And then came a sudden exhaustion, a wave of fatigue wrapped over her that then further nestled her into a nodding rest.

“I see, you’re a thorn branch... One that he’ll end up regretting ever grabbing a hold of. After all, this is...”

A blighted lie is at the whim of the victim, as is the victim to the blighted lie. Interwoven, the two become inseparable as a set of truths can only begin to cut but a section of a growing infestation. A once obscured field is now rendered susceptible as a felled, coarse snag is disregarded in a thicket of lies and kin.

And it understood that far earlier than even she did.

❖

The tea was a bit bitter yet soothing as I took short sips in between Lukos’ explanation and questions. Apparently, Maela had paid a visit, only to then leave shortly after hearing that I was asleep. I was curious about where she had run off to earlier, but also surprised she decided to drop by to begin with.

She did suddenly disappear when we visited here earlier, didn’t she? But that’s a pity, I guess I’ll have to wait until the next time we meet again to talk to her.

“You can’t remember anything that happened after the Hound of Ospus arrived then, huh?”
“Y-yes, it’s all a blur for me...”

I could barely remember anything that had happened after her arrival, but Lukos had assured me that everyone was okay. And that was proven true as everyone was present aside from Hilm, who was resting upstairs as Ms. Alisa now tended to him. The last scene I could recall before everything fading into black, was Astrid dancing across the church, and yet.

“...”

As my gaze met her person, for some reason she wouldn’t allow our eyes to meet. She wasn’t even looking in our general direction either. It made me feel nauseous, like a swelling of unease was blooming inside of my chest and stomach. And I couldn’t understand why, and I hated that.

“B-but everyone is safe, right? That means thankfully there wasn’t any issues—”
“Like hell there weren’t! You...”

Astrid’s voice rang loudly across the house, yet she stopped herself, clenching her hands at her sides as her eyes looked toward the door. It was unsettling. I could feel my body break out in cold sweat. My head dropped, eyes now meeting my blurred, unstable reflection in my cup of tea.

Did...something happen after all...? What...?

A terrifying thought. One that attached itself to Astrid’s lone, unfinished implication—’you’. Having a gap in my memory only served to further petrify me. The once sluggish stream of thoughts now kicked into gear, trying to sort through every detail I could bring forth. And it was all in vain.

N-nothing...

Not even the memory of a dream would unveil itself. There was nothing there but blank silence, and that was a familiar feeling. Deep down, I knew what that implied.

“Eru. I’ll explain...”
“!!!”

My body stiffened at Lukos’ voice. My heart raced against my own futile effort toward settling myself down. I feared what he would say next, about what had potentially happened. I didn’t want to hear any of it as I bit my lip and closed my eyes.

“One moment, human. Hoy—”
“Eh?!”

A sudden flick to my head caused me to jump slightly. I panicked as my eyes opened and settled on a young, blue-haired girl standing in front of me. I had noticed her earlier but was too focused on our conversation. And at that moment, I realized I had seen her somewhere else before.

“Y-you’re from the ruins...? Your name was...Haifalaura...?”
“Oh, so you do remember me? Good—”
“Eh?! Why...?!”

Another flick. Her small finger didn’t lack strength as my brain was shaking with each strike. And just as I was about to caress the injury, her hand suddenly pushed my lowered head backward, forcing me to meet her gaze.

“You need to settle down and listen. Running from it won’t do you—or anyone—any good. No one here is going to blame you for what happened back there either. Isn’t that right, Preserver?”

She turned slightly toward Astrid with a raised eyebrow. Hesitant, Astrid took a deep breath and responded. Her voice was far meeker than before.

“Yes, sorry... I just...”

She crossed her arms, eyes wandering, as she attempted to find the correct words to use. Her current mannerisms were far different than any that I could recall of hers prior. She now seemed visibly on edge with each repeated step of her foot in place as she leaned against the wall.

“I... We want to understand what happened to you, Ery, back at the church... And the reason why it happened...”
“If anything, alongside Lady Haifalaura, you actually saved us.”
“Huh...?”

Lukos chimed in as Haifalaura removed her hand from my head. I didn’t understand at all. There wasn’t a single chance that someone as weak as me could save anyone. Yet I could see Lukos giving a bittersweet smile as his gaze met his hands that sat on his lap.

“The Hound of Ospus, Ursa, is practically an enigma of savagery and strength. I’ve told you the story before, on how she held her own against both Astrid and Essylt. Even when working together, with luck in their favor, they escaped without defeating her. You see, in the north, the Hound of Opsus is considered one of the strongest—only second to the one she serves.”
“...And you, or whatever that was, fought against her and won... No, I wouldn’t even call that a fight.”
“...?”

Whatever that was...? What is she even talking about...?

I didn’t feel as if I was on the same page as any of them. If Ursa was as strong as they were saying she was, then there wasn’t any way for me to ‘defeat’ her. Were they even talking about me to begin with? I couldn’t help but think that as someone responded, seemingly reading my mind.

“It was that there, human.”

Haifalaura prodded at my chest, right on the mark that I held ever since I was young.

“You haven’t realized it yourself yet, but that thing there is a mark of a Crown. A name taken from both the mark’s appearance and from which it’s obtained from. A seven-point crown that protects a jeweled heart-like egg. Hm?”

She then rested her chin on her hand as she studied my chest further, cocking her head sideways in a questioning gaze. That silence lasted for several seconds before she shook her head and returned to her seat on the couch cushion near me. She didn’t even bother explaining anything further.

“Human, let her know about everything that happened at the church.”

Shooting an order at Lukos, she then became lost in thought. He couldn’t do anything but abide as I finally learned about what happened. It was gut-wrenching to hear Lukos describe an event that I couldn’t even imagine. It went well beyond any previous fear I initially held. An unknown being came from my unconscious actions, sending Ursa into a rift and putting everyone further in harm's way.

What...? I summoned something...?

“But according to Lady Haifalaura, whatever that was, it has to do with that mark then. This is the first time I’ve heard about something like that too. A Crown’s Mark... Eru, can you remember when and where you received that mark?”

I was still too stunned to speak as I mustered enough energy to shake my head. It was a mark I had ever since I was a child—and that was the earliest memory I held about it. That, and the connection between the title, mark and the incidents.

“B-but...”

I felt a bit hesitant still as I clenched at my chest. There weren’t many that knew about my titles after all. Thought by thought, my courage and desire to tell them was steadily being hindered. Could I trust them as I do Albel? Would they look at me with disgust if I told them about that title? Would they use it against me for a nefarious purpose? Would they simply be just another Magister Elemnin? Question after question, my mind was a torrential stream.

Maybe I shouldn’t tell them about that title... Just in case...

“They already know about your mark and what came from it, human. If something like that were to push them away, they already would have done so. You’re creating an enemy of yourself, by yourself, and allowing it to create enemies out of others.”

Haifalaura’s back was resting against the couch arm as she pushed at my side with her foot. There was no aggression in her eyes nor her action. It was a simple nudge, breaking me out of my own thoughts.

“You trusted my liege, your companion, did you not? And I was sent by him to help you. Don’t let a decrepit, fragile bond from long ago affect the stronger bonds you have shaped today.”

She was right. And hearing that she was sent by Albel in my time of need—it resonated with me—it made me feel even warmer inside. Trusting another can be akin to allowing someone to be your guiding light in a dark corridor. Will they lead you down a dangerous path, or maybe even a dead end? Will their light even go the distance, never fading, as yours would for them? It’s a hefty expectation of one’s trust, yet I couldn’t help but feel as if that’s what a strong bond was all about.

“E-everyone, the thing is....”

I decided to tell them about my two titles, the incidents, and about my connection with the previous Magister Elemnin. About my dream of finding those that were just like me, and about everything that led up to the ‘unusual’ incident at the church.

“...And that’s the only explanation I can give about what happened... I truly don’t understand what...that...was, since that was the first time...”
“I see...”

My chin was practically resting on my chest as my eyes were glued to my quivering hands. The momentary silence after Lukos’ reply caused me to be tense once more, until an unexpected voice spoke up.

“Thank you for telling us, Ery...”

My eyes widened as I swiftly lifted my head in her direction. Astrid was smiling softly, finally looking toward me—at me. It was as if she understood where I was coming from. It wasn’t eyes of pity, or a smothered ire now attempting to loosely sympathize. Her eyes, her smile, were all telling—of one bound by what they couldn’t control. I could feel my eyes water.

“The weight of one’s burden varies from person to person. I think it’s pretty difficult putting yourself in another’s shoes and expecting to feel that same weight easily—just as they do. People hold different values after all, and an experience isn’t same for everyone.”

Astrid moved away from the wall, approaching me as she continued.

“A part of me was scared too, not only for you, but for myself. On what might happen after learning more about you and everything you shoulder after what happened inside the church. And I see now that you aren’t beholden by your burden as I am.”

She stopped in front of me, keeping her tender gaze on me.

“What you shoulder shouldn’t be yours to begin with, it isn’t something you need to carry all alone.”

There was a shift in the air that surrounded Astrid. A newfound resolve and confidence radiated in her emerald-like eyes now. She then turned toward Haifalaura.

“Yo, Haifa.”
“Astrid! At least show some respect...!”

Lukos was quick to lift from his seat in panic as Astrid rudely called toward Haifalaura. The blue-haired girl wasn’t bothered even slightly as she grinned.

“Oh? You’re suddenly looking lively, Preserver. Have you finally stepped outside of your feelings?”
“You knew about her mark, so what more can you tell us about it? Is there any way to rid Ery of her mark? And I want you to explain what a Crown is.”

Astrid demanded without reserve or care for who Haifalaura was as Lukos sighed heavily, giving up on any and every attempt toward stopping her. It seemed as if he knew nothing he said now would sway her.

“Would telling you of all people change anything? You’re not implying that you’ve considered my offer from earlier, are you?”
“It’s exactly that, what of it?”
“Huh!?”

In the process of sitting back down, Lukos leapt from his seat once more in response to Astrid’s sudden declaration.

“Astrid, are you...?”
“Hm? We’re not tied to any specific crew within the Old Palisade, so it’s not like we’re obligated to follow any of their roaming rules. And if anything, Ery could be become an Adventurer too.”
“I think you’re missing the point...”

I was baffled by her dramatic shift, but I didn’t understand what offer they were referring to either. I never really entertained the idea of becoming an Adventurer, since I’d run away any time Palvo’s long-winded chatter about Adventurers would come up.

Becoming an Adventurer? Someone like me? That’s...

“Good. A solution that even he wouldn’t outright disagree with.”

Haifalaura hopped down from the coach and made her way toward Astrid who was still standing in front of me. She then squinted above, toward Astrid, as her expression became more serious.

“Now, I’ll ask you, Preserver; are you certain about heading down this path? You’ve seen it with your own eyes, haven’t you? That’s not something you can handle even with the strength of two Effigies.”
“Quit your prattling. I’ve made my decision already. We'll both accompany her from here on out.”
"I figured as much..."

Lukos slumped into the seat behind him as he then began scratching the back of his head.

"Well, I don't mind if she doesn't. We became Adventurers for the sake of helping others—"
"And for the coin."
"—after all..."

Lukos scowled in Astrid's direction as she adverted her eyes. He then sighed and continued.

"I'm interested in learning more about the marks myself too. So, how about it, Eru?"
"U-um...? I still don't understand what exactly is going on here..."

It was the truth. They were seemingly all on the same page once more, leaving me out of the loop. Offer? Path? Decision? I was still wondering why Haifalaura was calling Astrid by the name 'Preserver' as well.

"We want to join you on your journey, Ery. And help you find those who are bearing a Deadly Sin."