Farewell, Rationality

Man, what a weird dream, last night. 

Urgh, my head hurt. 

Wait, what? This isn’t my room. Where in the world is this?!!

“Ah, you’re finally awake. How are you feeling?” The stern-looks aged lady asked me.

“Where am I……..”

“You’re now in the D’oscurita Castle. The sanctuary for the victims of the illumination, for those who lost every to them. Poor souls. But under our ladyship’s wisdom, no threat will come towards us.”

“And you are….”

“Ravenia Maven, Her ladyship’s secretary and a head doctor of this sanctuary…..”

“Oh, great, You awake! You’ve got me so worried back there, Honey-boy. You know that.”

The pale skin red eyes boy (Look just like a vampire, to be honest)  and the lady in dress with an elegant posture walked in. 

“Good, another new member to our family. Pray tell, Boy, what’s your name and what in the world happened to you in the Arthurian?” Asked, the lady.

“Gelynas….Laukaitis...” 

“Interesting name. And in the Arthurian?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember anything but that weird dream. Something about a divine task to destroy Illuminations, yada yada yada.”

“The divine? Which is it, boy? There’s plethora.”

“I don’t know. The one wearing a plum blossom crown, Pinkish dress…” I pondered back to the last night dream but couldn’t think of anything else. Well, what’s a matter, anyway. I need to go back home, fast or Vilnis will go banana at me again. “Yeah, ring any bells?”

“Lady Sakuya, the lady of nature. I suppose there is a shrine not far from here. Perhaps the priestess can assist you with your mission.”

Why does this sound vaguely familiar. Kinda like one of those video games thingy Vilnis plays. Doing quests, slaying monsters then defeat the final boss. 

“Pay me a visit when you’re ready. I shall be in the study. Koyanagi, please tend to him, my dear nephew.”

And there she goes. Well, for now, let’s just find a way home.

“Excuse me, Koyanagi, isn’t it? I need to get back to Trakai. Could you point me to the nearest train station?”

“Sorry, what’s a train station? Ravenia?”

“Don’t ask me.” Ravenia paused a little. “Why don’t you take him to the atlas and look up the places.”

“Will do.”

Koyanagi brought me to a room that has a colossal map in the middle of the room. God, this place is so filthy. Spiders are all over the place. Urgh, This ancient ruin.

“Where did you said you’re from again, Honey-boy?”

“Trakai, Lithuania.”

“Which area? Empire of Tawarawadee, Archduchy of Meness Darzs or Jarldom of Havsgard.”

“Heh? Move! Move! Lemme see.”

Where is it! Where is it! Oh,no. 

This is not my world-Definitely not my world. 12 continents, are you pulling my leg? 

*Loudly exhaled* 

“I should go to the shrine, shouldn’t I ?” I asked for an advice from the boy in a room corner. 

Koyanagi smirked back at me; said “That would be best, Honey-boy.”

“Right, let’s go see your Aunt. I don’t wanna waste any time any longer.”

While walking passing the hallway, Koyanagi told me more about this place. His Aunt, Philomina D’oscurita, was the lady of the castle and a leader of this sanctuary against the Illumination which is some kind of a evil cult yada yada. And Tawarawadee is the puppet. Turning from a little town into an empire in a very short time. 

Ahh~~~ I can’t think rational anymore. At least I didn’t lose my sanity though.

“So you came. Are you prepared, boy? “

“I am, yes.”

“Good, take this” 

*1x Dusty Dagger and 100x Gold received.

“Koyanagi will accompany you there. I have your ride prepared outside.”

*Koyanagi has joined the party.

It is always a thrill to have a walk in the forest and enjoying the view of flourishing flowers especially in my country. Dainava, Labanoras, yada yada. But this? I can’t say that I’m not thrilled but my thought is all mixed-up right now. 

“Is there anything I should be aware of around here, Koyanagi? Any dangerous monsters, creeps or crooks?”

“Well, there’s a slime. Cute little thing. They’re almost extinct thanks to those illumination buffoons so if you see one, please don’t kill them.”

“Well, an animal lover, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, you could say that. Not every non-humanoid creature is wild and ferocious, you know. People always think of them as levelling-up tools. But they’re more than that.”

“Ah~, the forest is stupendous. Cherry, peach and plum are blossoming everywhere.”

“And he’s not listening.”

“I’m listening, Mr animal lover. Oh, isn’t there one over there?”

“Really? Where?”

“Over there! By the flower pyramid. Can we get close to it?”

“Sure! Just hold tight!” Konayagi make haste to that thing.

“Woohoo!“ 

Aww! This is cute. So, extremely adorable. 

“Why are you so pink, huh? Huh?  Aww~~, you adorable little thing.” I cuddled him. Like it can be help anyway.

“This reminds me. This is the place I found you, Honey-boy. I remember this cherry blossom’s pile.”

“Cherry blossom? These are like three flowers combined. Cherry, plum and peach.”

“How can you tell? Looking all the same to me.”

“Here, look!” I let the cute little slim go so that I could gather some flowers up.” Pay attention to the petals. cherry-there’s a mark. See? On the tips. Peach’s petal is oval while plum’s is rounder. Easy peachy!”

“If you say so.” He sighed then that little pinky slime approached me with something on its head.

“Aww, is this for me?” It seemed like a yes so I took it. “Thank you.”

“Seems like he likes you.”

“You think so. Ah~~~ what should I name him? Jonas, Herkas, Emilis…. Oh, I know! From now on, you are Vilnis the second! Come on, boy! Let’s go.”

*Vilnis the second has joined the party.*

As us three turned our back, there’s a sound, I heard, from the woods. Sounds like a branch cracked of sort.

“I’ve finally found you.”

“Huh? Have you said something?” I asked.

“No! I thought it was you.” 

The bushes is moving faster and faster towards us. And then it jumped out.

“For the sake of the empire, you must die beast. Yaaaaaahhhh!!”

It’s a knight in a rather shiny set of armour trying to attack Vilnis the second but fortunately  enough, Koyanagi parry his sword’s attack.

“Why you?!?!”

“Go, honey-boy. Take him somewhere safe. I’ll buy you some time.”

“Huuuuuuh? Do you think that I’m some kind of a fragile flower? I’m a belladonna, don’t you know.” I unsheathed my dagger. “I’ll stay.”

You know what, I think I did lose my mind after all. 

“Oh, a vampire and a nymph wanna challenge me?!!!”

“You’re a nymph?!!!” 

“Yeah, an aurae, in fact. Why? What’s so shocking? Never seen one like me before.”

“Nymph is a peace-lover race. I’ve never seen one that’s as hot and as fierce as you.”

“Ha! Just watch me. Taste my power!” I unleashed my power to that shiny little knight. But oh, well………

“AHAH AHAH HAHA!!!!!! HEY!! THAT’S HAHA!! TICKLED!!! HAHAHA AHAHA!!!!!!” 

“Really? This is your thing?”

“I’m a breeze nymph, what were you expecting?”

“I don’t know? Maybe something more destructive? To blow this bloke away out of sight and out of mind?”

“Oh, why thank you, my dear gallant knight. You’ve been the most helpful.”

“You humbled me, milady. How could let a delicate dragon rose like yourself wandering off in the woods alone and unguarded? It would’ve been so ungallant of me.”

“Roses have thorns, you know. So perhaps I don’t even need your gallantry. I can handle myself just fine.”

“Hey? Did you forget something?”

“What!!” This is getting on my nerves. Damn vampire. “Oh, no!! Vilnis!!”

That knight got him.

“This is for the better good.”

“You get away from him!” At that moment, my body was faster than my mind. My foot slapped the face of that knight. Swift as a wind and lethal as a nightshade.

*The knight is defeated.*

“Wowvy!”

“You’re alright, Vilnis?”

Yeah, he’s fine.

“Well then, shall we go on? My gallant knight.”

Fortunately, the shrine was very far from our location so it was incredibly swift. The shrine is, well, old and stoney-kinda like Mayan but with Greek architecture. Don’t if it’s just me that think of it that ways.

“Welcome, child, to our sacred home.”

“Did you hear that?”

“No? What’s wrong?”

“Come inside and answers you seeks shall be unravelled.”

“Hey, stay here and look out for me. I’m going inside. Oh, and take Vilnis with you.” I passed Vilnis, who’s been jiggling in my arms, to Koyanagi. “Be careful, alright.”

“Same to you.”

Alone I went inside of this shrine. Despite the outside looks, the inside is unexpectedly beautiful. Walls are pink and floors are all white. Decorated with some floral potted plants in the corners. And, of course, the most crucial part, the giant lady statue wielding a branch of cherry blossom. This must be the goddess. 

“So care to explain why am I needed here, goddess?” 

“You were born a theurgist, my child. The one who could hear our voice. The one who can bear our power. Power of the divine. The one who is destined to be the saviour of earth and heaven.”

“Hold on! I bear a divine power? Ludicrous! The only power that I possess is the aurae’s power. You must’ve got a wrong man.”

“Approach my altar, my child. I shall now grant you my power.”

“Yeah, sure. Let’s see if there’s a truth in your story.”

I just need to stand here, right? Well, what to…………

All of the sudden, I feel a touch on my head.

“Behold, my child. This is the power of the lady of all flowers.”

Urgh, my head’s killing me. This is way worse than hangover. Oh, god. What the heck was that?

“Now, my child. Try using your power on one of the plants.”

I was as the goddess told me to and it’s…… it’s growing. No, it’s blooming. Ah~~ it’s a hellebore. How beautiful! 

And this one… A red spider lily! Hope this won’t bring me bad luck. These are considered as a death symbol in Japan and Korea, right? Ahaha, what gives? I’m Lithuanian. It wouldn’t effect me.

“Ok, goddess. So what is it you want me to do?”

“We need you to put an end to the illumination. They’ve been plaguing our land for long enough. You shall use our power to cleanse this land from such fallacy.”

“Can’t you be a little more specific? Just what, where and how.”

“Defeat their leader, Daharuma, who resides somewhere within Tawarawadee empire. And your wish shall be granted, my child.”

“I wanna see my little brother again. That’s doable?”

“Your wish shall be true when your task is done.”

“Right! Right! Any ideas where to start?”

“find the Gogen, my child. They are the eyes of Daharuma as believed by their follower. Nikugen, Tengen, Egen, Hougen and Butsugen.”

“Okay……”

“Off to the town of Margaritka in Meness Darzs. Talk to Aloysius Tordenschild, the priest of Ragana. He is now investigating on the matter.”

“Understood. Let’s get to it then. Ciao!”

“Hold on, child. Take that notebook on my altar with you.”

“Sure, thanks.”

I snatched the book then quickly left the shrine.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome, back. So, get whatever you’re looking for?”

“Yeah, about that…….”

I explained everything to Koyanagi as we were riding our horse back.

“Margaritka? Ahh, god forbid this.”

“What’s wrong?”

“We can’t go there it’s too dangerous.”

“Yeah, figured you would put it that way.”

“Huh? Really? Never mind. Just know that this woods is a part of the Empire. No one couldn’t get out unless you’re some kinda suicidal maniac who wanna be headless. Everyone in the castle has a bounty on their head, except for you and Vilnis2.”

“What about…….”

“And don’t even think about taking Vilnis2. He’ll probably get killed before any of us. As I said, slimes are hunted for XP. And for that reason, you can’t bring him into the civilisation unless, of course, Jarldom of Havsgard. And don’t even think about wandering off alone, Princess. No way, I’m not going to let you go alone. You’re too precious, too innocent.”

His face is all heated up. He’s really worried about me, huh? Looks like he’s about to cry or something. He’s so adorable.

“Hey, I promise that I won’t go alone. Ok? For now, let’s just get back to the castle and see if your aunt could come up with something.” 

“Right.” He’s finally calmed down. “By the way, what’s with that book?”

“Zero idea. Somebody’s diary, I guess. The goddess told me to take it with me. Must’ve meant something. Could you take a look once we get back?”

“Absolutely, Princess. Absolutely.”