Chapter 53: Feelings
The Island of Matori.
...
"Geez! When's the next ship heading to Al-Mar?"
"It'll take the next ten minutes until arrival."
"Good, we've spent a day here on this island after that damn black goat sends us to the wrong location."
Francisca sighed. A day after Kuroferuru sent them to Court Alf, their transportation should've been heading to Al-Mar. Unfortunately, their destination was less than their expectations. Mimil fumed while sending curses indirectly to the Black Goat.
"If I ever see Kuro-chan again, I will slap her!" The young witch seethes with frustration. "She should've checked her tracking! Not sending us here on a random island without caution!"
"To think of it, we still have a couple of days left until Wilmarina arrives at Court Alf," Primera said in worry while tucking her bow behind her back. "I hope Ash Cyrus and their allies are still in Al-Mar so we can reach our warning."
"But that begs the question... what is the Silver-Blue Knight doing here?" Mimil questioned. "We used to believe that he's hostile to mamono... yet the more we knew about that guy. He doesn't seem that bad after all."
"We may talk about it later," Francisca spoke up once she spots a massive ship docking at the harbour. "Right now, our ship had just arrived. So we still have hope."
Primera sighed in relief while massaging her temples. "Ugh, finally. It's about time to leave this place."
"It's fortunate we still have money." Mimil smiled with pride. "If I hadn't lost my purse in Lescatie. Else, we would've been screwed at the beginning."
...
Royal Makai.
...
He couldn't believe his wife would go this far. After Lilith went to the general meeting with the Lords of the Demon Realms across the world. He fell into a state of anxiety. Not just the Demon Lord advocates for the Monsters to resort to violence in their daily lives, but to instigate a war against the Federation, which his thirteenth daughter had established decades ago and had done nothing to do with it.
"What has she become...?" The former Hero nervously breathe out as he rested his face on the palm of his right hand. "This... this isn't what the world has promised us... I thought she knew what the future beholds...?"
The hero stared down at the headline of the newsletter reading"The Demon Lord's Madness." and other stories related to their latest meeting at the Conference Hall. Their talks resulted in a disastrous divide between the monster realms and the lords of the Royal Makai. Most of the delegates within the conference voted into disagreements and were not in the favour of Lilith's decision to wage a new conflict.
Unfortunately, the wrath of the Demon Lord herself would subject these monsters to avoid committing their "rebellious" acts.
"Lilith... what were you thinking...?" The Hero felt he was crying as his own hand clenched against his temples. "This is not how we wished to change the world from the old cycle! Look around us! Our daughters left us because of your last meeting in the Conference Hall!"
"... Dear... I'm sorry that I have come up with a decision." The Hero stopped and spun around to see his wife appear from the shadows. Lilith cast her gazes down in shame. "... I too... didn't want this to happen."
The Demon Lord clenched her wrist in regret as her husband stood up from his chair and stomped toward Lilith. He casts an angry look while overshadowing the succubus overlord.
"Lilith... Explain!" The Hero demanded with cold fury in his voice as he held Lilith firmly by her left arm, making the Demon Lord flinch away. "Why...? Why would you do this? You can't be this stupid!"
"I-... I never had a choice...!" Lilith hisses, holding back her tears. "Fate no longer holds their strings and the world itself turned the tables against us!"
"... After all these years, I've looked upon you and expected to see that peace will be ensured." The Hero then frowned while gritting his teeth. "Until now... you openly declared the old cycle will be returned?! Did you not forget how many of our comrades have died to ensure the peace between humanity and monsters!?"
"THEN WHAT ELSE SHOULD I CHOOSE!? IS THERE ANYTHING FOR ME LEFT TO PREVENT THESE LUNACIES!?" Lilith screamed out as her heel stomped onto the floor, causing him to let her go. Her anger caused an earthquake across the entire royal palace while the maids and guards outside scrambled in terror. "If it weren't for that wretched knight who mocked me in my dreams... and that Oracle of Sindria who spouted out that "joke" she called a prophecy. I SHOULD'VE TAKEN ALL THOSE "MINOR" EVENTS INTO DUST!"
The Hero reeled back, shocked that his wife broke down into tears and her knees collapsed to the floor.
"Please... h-help me... I can't take the weight of this responsibility! This isn't what the world should end up with!" Lilith sobbed, covering her face in regret while emotions swirled wildly in their room and the Hero felt a wave of grief, anger and sorrow from her. Which he hadn't felt from her for a long time prior to her reign. "This century... we were betrayed by our daughter... and fate failed us... this entire time! If it weren't for those outsiders who came into our world... they... they ruined our future!"
Her husband stood bewildered and remained silent for a while as Lilith continued to sob. The old hero then sees himself as if he was back in his younger days when he first encountered Lilith. A vulnerable and helpless monster who wants to make a better world where humans and monsters can coexist peacefully. Now it was coming back to him into the current crisis.
The couple had gone a long way at least one thousand years ago. Fighting monsters, making love with a wife he once knew as an enemy, and defeating the Chief God resulted in giving the new Demon Lord some godlike powers. They made a promise to all monster-kind to create a paradise where they can live peacefully with their husbands.
Or so... as if time itself pulls them off from their dreams and places them back to the grim reality they had once escaped. Even after a millennium, the old nightmares that they thought to be subsided from their lives unveil themselves to them once more.
"Lilith..." The Hero knelt and embraced his wife with comfort. "Do you... really have to do this?... This decision, are you truly bringing it back to ensure harmony once more?"
"... All I ever wanted is my dream to come true... Whoever they are, they will not go unpunished for these crimes they've committed." Lilith uttered while giving her husband a tight hug, clenching her nails behind his back as if she will never leave him behind. "We made a promise to ensure peace across the world... promise me that!"
"... I will. Whatever fate holds our future, we will not let the old cycle return." Her husband declared with a smile. "We will restore the world, and I will never let our goals go astray."
...
Desert Region of Arum Sedis.
...
"... I can't believe she would go this far..." Ilassa facepalmed while giving out a frustrating sigh and slammed the office table with her fist. "I thought she would understand... but why? Why will she go out like this?"
On the left side of her office table, Mari was sitting on a couch, sipping calmly her milk tea. Once she finishes, she gently placed the empty teacup on a small table while glancing up at her younger sister.
"Who knows...? We all felt the same after mother declared it in her meeting." Mari said while wiping off the stain from her lips. "Our sisters were afraid and we moved out of our home as soon as possible. Things aren't the same as usual anymore."
"That hypocrite... does she knows what consequences will be if she forced our kind into this!?" Ilassa raised up her voice as she stood up from the table. "People will die because she wants to ensure her sickening dream is achieved! Can't you see it!?"
"I-I know! B-But... we're afraid to confront her." Mari slumped down in sadness while pressing her fingers together. "We're her daughters and we won't hit our own mother... even if we have the courage, she has the powers to imprison us for inciting rebellion and I don't want to get into trouble!"
Ilassa stared out emotionless for a few moments until she turns around, facing the window and slapped off some notebooks from her desk in a fit of rage.
"FUCK!"
The lilim cursed out loud, causing Mari to flinch. Ilassa then leaned towards the glass window and places her arm over it. She takes a good look at the outside world and sees the city beyond her mansion was filled with bustling activities of humans of the five factions and the mamono from different regions interacting with one another and trading items.
"... Why can't mother see all of this...? Is her desire to shackle the world under her rule truly matter to her the most? A world only filled with senseless hedonism and monsters? A place where the existence of humans and the freedom of true love aren't needed?... I guess... you have truly become what the Chief Gods were in the past."
Mari saw Ilassa emitting an aura of despair and sadness. The travelling lilim herself felt more anxious than before. As if the world around her was tearing itself apart. Even though her family is splitting apart since they left home, and the palace of the Royal Makai is mostly vacated with the absence of the lilims. Now it was their mother and father were left alone, along with the guards and servants still working there.
'Reflecting my past... Now I regret to turn the kingdoms into monster realms,' Mari's thoughts said while sighing in regret. 'And I thought my little sister here was joking around with her Truth. Guess it turns out to be true.'
Mari filled her teacup with milk tea one last time and gently sipped it. "I thought we monsters cannot make mistakes... I didn't know how wrong we can get."
...
Asuramis Sea.
...
Elt was sitting down beside the wooden rails of the ship, sailing quietly and heading eastwards to Mira. The young knight fiddled with his pyromancy flame out of curiosity and awe as the flames joyfully danced on his palms. It illuminates the darkness as the night and its twinkling stars slowly took over the skies while the sun sets over the horizon.
Then he raised his index finger and the pyromancy lit on the top of it. He couldn't help but chuckle. The young soldier felt something as if the flames itself was alive. An entity with a soul.
"So... was that the gift Ash has given you?" Elt almost jumped and spun around to see Luciana and Olivier came around to see him. "Then... how does it feels like to have magic?"
"I-... well, not that much of an issue." Elt smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head. "Sir Cyrus wanted me to achieve something greater, something that I make myself proud of."
"High in spirits, ey? That's what we want to hear." Olivier smiled. "While you desire to free Wilmarina. I'd give my hopes to you and make sure your ass shouldn't be beaten into a bloody pulp."
Luciana felt a nervous sweat drop flowing down her cheeks. "U-Uhh... Ollie. Please talk some gentle words. I and Vermut were aware it's been a few weeks that you're being out of character, hence you're of noble blood!"
"I don't give a crap, especially a noble such as I should mingle with simple commoners," Olivier responded with a smug. "It's important to communicate with people outside of the circle to get in touch to have better understandings rather than the nobilities of other families."
"I-I see,... well. I can't argue with that." Luciana said while breathing out in relief. "I-I thought of myself being insignificant."
"You're not! Why would I think of you being inferior?" Olivier said, casting a curious look. "Lucie... Look, I know what the nobility was, and I've seen them by myself... They were not the brightest bunch, not even my father."
Then Olivier looked down with a depressing look. "But... I've... fallen in love with someone else. Once."
Elt and Luciana perked up in surprise. Both didn't expect to hear more of Olivier's background that she's affectionate with someone else, not even Luciana knew. The young knight then questioned. "You were... in love with someone?"
"... Yes. A similar situation happened between you and Wilmarina." Olivier gave out a sigh. "I had a childhood friend who was a servant in my family... I fell in love with him at the first sight and he did as well... we exchanged our vows and promise to live with him. Because the responsibilities which my family held were beyond me and I didn't want to be a hero... until one day. My father sent him out with a large sum of money and never returned."
Olivier then leaned over the railings, staring at the sun set on the horizon as the sea winds brushed over her face. Elt noticed the pain in her expression, as if she was on the verge of tears.
"From that day... since he disappeared from my life... I was heartbroken ever since."
"My goodness... I didn't know how much pain you'd been through." Luciana felt down as she expressed her sadness. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"... Don't be. It's all in the past and I couldn't change it because now, we are here..." Olivier then turn her gaze to Elt and he noticed a single tear running down her cheek. "Elt... be sure that doesn't happen to you. I want you to give everything you got to reach her imprisoned heart... you got me?"
Elt felt surprised as he felt his responsibility from the promise he declared to everyone to free his childhood friend was weighing down on him. The words of Olivier wanted him to make sure that shouldn't happen the last time she felt the pain of being separated from her dearly beloved. The young knight knew well that the true nature of monsterization was the perverted manifestations of desires to take over their human vessels, while what was left of humanity was forever locked in a dream.
Therefore, even though Wilmarina turned into a monster, it doesn't count as being "reunited" as if she was someone else who took over her body, twisting her values and spirit.
Elt nods in determination while raising his fist. "Don't worry, I swear on my promise."
Olivier smiled and wiped off her tears. "That's good to hear..."
Behind the ship's mast, Druella overhears their conversation, and the Lilim was confused. When they were turned into monsters after her conquest over Lescatie, they had already voiced their sadness about their past human lives and the monsterized knights of the Dark Ice Flower had all felt their sorrows and went on with their new ways into the lifestyles of monsters while expanding the Demon Realm and turning humans who lacked the sense of love and lived depressing lives.
When Olivier re-expressed her past, the emotions she emitted were painful and that feeling alone, which Druella was very well aware of. Yet, one thing that crossed her mind is that they don't actually know what happened after their monsterization and all of their words speak the truth.
"Why can't they remember a single thing? All I knew was what they desire and accepted their new lives as monsters." Druella muttered in question. "All of their memories should've been merged and tied with their original human souls, yet they were separated. Their words don't even lie, either."
"That is because the manifestation of their desires twisted their values and the personality, the embodiment of a person." Druella heard a voice behind her and spun around to see Junyad, who appeared to be leaning beside her. "Human values and such... For monsters, they were not needed. It cast them into imprisonment, deep into their souls so they will do whatever depraving acts they want that go against the will of their former human selves."
"... Tch... are you still here to lecture me?" Druella growled while casting a glare toward the Carthus Swordsman. "Why are you following me?"
"... Teaching you... And I admit, I am lecturing you." Junayd made a cocky smile under his bandana. "You asked no one if they are truly themselves or someone else completely. Monsterization is not a change, but to let someone doing acts depravity against their wishes."
Druella pouts in irritation. "Hmph... and how can you tell?"
"The answer is simple... by reading your reactions alone and I can tell the difference." Druella was caught off by his words and blushed madly, to think that he was observing her very act. "The way you react to Olivier's expressed her sadness and not knowing what she did as a monster. Proved that you have questions and the lack of answers for it."
"And what is the proof of your point?" Druella raised her brow.
"It proves that you've never been aware of how they really felt... you never asked if it's actually themselves or not." Junyad answered while closing his eyes. "You still haven't proven yourself to correct their wrongdoings until you see and hear their truth... it left you with questions."
"What questions...?"
"Your question is... is giving them their desires not worth gaining?" Druella felt her chest fall still and then slowly turn her gaze away from him while casting a nervous look. "As expected... you never admit."
"... All I ever knew is love and my desire is to express it all over the world." The lilim muttered while shyly rubbing her arm until she pouted to him once more. "I do not want to cause suffering... but... Hmph...! Fine, you win."
Junyad was pleased to hear her honest words. "Well, then... your answer wasn't that hard. Keep in mind, despite you still believe there are no negative outcomes... one must be sure to be aware of reality."
Druella rolled her eyes, feeling annoyed. "Yeah, yeah. Sure."
...
"Hah! Bingo!" Elen raised up her voice in victory once she placed the yellow card on the stacks. "Woo~! I get the win this time!"
"Aw~! Not fair!" Alameria cried out in defeat. "I should've used that reverse card and called it my win!"
"It takes luck here, Allie~!" Elaine patted Alameria on her back for comfort. "So why don't we take another round, eh?"
"A game of luck isn't to be trifled with... it would've been risky if we gamble with real money and lose our bets," Vermut spoke in a serious tone while meshing the cards together and stacking them back in an orderly fashion. "It's a good thing I've bought Wild Draw Four Home Edition to ease my boredom while playing together with the rest of the Ice Flower... before the Fall of Lescatie happened."
"I can't believe you had those cards all the time, even when you were a monster." Alameria then raised her brow in question. "I thought you said they were useless and nothing of value, but you still keep them as a part of your memo."
"Wait... did I say that!? No way!" Vermut fumed with a comical look while waving her clenching fists in a fit of frustration. "My former monster self can go to hell! Wild Draw Four has always been my favourite game and I will never be tired of it!"
"Huh, do monsters in Lescatie had no sort of exciting games other than sex-related entertainments before it went to hell?" Elaine asked until Alameria shakes her head in response. "Wait, really!? You guys in that place always think about having sex?"
"Times were radical for Lescatie since Druella took over the nation. Since they introduced exotic monster food and other stuff for the Demon Realm, sex-related items were mostly sought." Alameria explained while putting down her cards. "Almost every store I knew was turned into vendors that sell sex toys. Noscrim Boulevard is a bustling marketplace where people buy them a lot."
"Aren't they concerned about the children?" Elen then asked a question. Alameria responded as she tilts her head sideways. "What!? They don't mind kids when they do that out in the open?!"
"Things are different in Lescatie. Yet, according to foreign monsters, that's common in other conquered nations. Even children were monsterized." Alameria spoke truthfully, and her words made Vermut, Elaine, and Elen reel back in bewilderment. "The adults never had to worry about them and let them find their own partners and get married. Even girls as young as nine could... uhh... marry a man who's forty years old... or something like that."
The Dhampir of the Ice Flower felt guilty for explaining the details regarding the current society of the new demon realm. Judging from the expression of her friends, Alameria knew Vermut wasn't happy to hear it. Elaine and Elen also showed their disgust.
"By the Flames. They were too young." Elaine sighed as she cast down her gaze while expressing slight concerns. "I get that kids need love and comfort. But they shouldn't get that too far."
"Y-Yeah... It turns out the people were turned into creeps rather than responsible adults." Elen cringed in revulsion before regaining composure. "Luckily, those times for them are over."
"Indeed. They were too confident because of the depravity and the radical lies that had seeped into their minds. Forgetting what dangers will come for them." Vermut nodded, agreeing with Elen. "Now with the monsters are concerned with their current situation and their volatile nature unveiled. I'll give Wilmarina a credit for losing her sanity in order to reveal it."
"Y-Yeah, right? If it weren't for her, the demon realms would still be unaware of their own dangers." Alameria said with a nervous smug. "At least we're still alive and safe... I hope Ash did his best to train that boy."
"Elt? I'm unsure if he could reach Wilmarina's calibre and their training was short." Vermut doubted. "But nevertheless. That knave was her childhood friend which Wilmarina loved the most."
"You knew?" Elaine raised her brow.
"Yes. I was her guard in the Ice Flower because the Noscrims chose me to become a sword dedicated to Wilmarina. Despite the wishes of my family who were against this." Vermut replied and then closed her eyes, reminiscing from her memories. "Whenever I see Wilmarina go. She was kind-hearted and a talented hero who interacted with people to give hope. However, she wants to spend her time alone and often mentions her childhood friend, who used to be a young servant in her manor."
"Now I can tell their time wasn't bright. From what I heard from you guys, Lescatie forbade the acts of love between commoners and the nobility, right?" Elen asked, Vermut responded with a nod. "Jeez. Then what's up with your guys in the higher-ups? Do they know negative feelings can attract monster girls and your nation was the main target because of it, right?"
"We didn't know. We knew little about monsters because the Church told us not to learn about them." Vermut sighed in regret. "If we only knew how to fight back efficiently, but dealing with stronger and smarter monsters were way beyond our leagues and that will be the end of us."
"Yeah, they will just roll us down in a matter of days or weeks." Alameria agreed. "I wished Lescatie, or the entire Order states, would've relied on the Federation folks like you guys."
"I get what you're saying. But don't get high hopes for your ideas. We're not that submissive to Order faith, even toward Heroes." Elaine said while waving her hand to dismiss. "Unfortunately, folks of the Order who visited us for the first time don't dare to step near a monster girl or they will just go out to threaten them. So that's why the five factions were there, to begin with by diffusing troubles of both sides and go on as if nothing happens."
"True. Adelmar often says they were a pain in the ass to deal with," Elen said and then let out a small chuckle. "Heh. I remember Lucrezia used to tell me her story about her second mission, that she has to deal with an unruly monster and didn't hesitate to kick a three-hundred-year-old Baphomet right into the curb to shut the monster's whining."
At this moment, Vermut and Alameria boggled their eyes out in disbelief.
"She did... what!?"
"That Demon kicked a Baphomet!?"
"Well, the Knights of Mirrah were that effective in dealing with monsters because of the blood of their ancestors who came into these lands," Elaine explained while grabbing a stack of cards and then sharing it with other girls. "Like our great-grandfather. He subjugated a dragon soon-to-be his wife with a miracle."
"A miracle?" Vermut raised her brow.
"My grandfather told me it was a non-lethal version of a Lightning Spear that crippled her from fighting," Elaine said. "He said more about his tales that Monsters weren't threatening in his adventures with Catherine across Gaul until they gave birth to a boy".
"So how come you guys earned the power of your... erm, miracles?" Alameria questioned, piqued with interest. "I want to learn more about it! Did you get it from your Patron God?"
"No, we manifested our powers from relying on the Faith of the Lords alone and there were two of them," Elaine explained with a smile while placing her hand above her chest, over the crest of the Sunlight. "We draw the power of the Lords from our souls and our ancestors before Solaire. There used to be a time where the Gods taught the humans the art of miracles, the power to overcome the Everlasting Dragons, which brought them into near extinction..."
"Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight. Discovered the weakness of the Dragons by Seath the Scaleless. He was told lightning can shatter their impenetrable scales." The Orc of the Sunlight continued. "As if it wasn't enough. He manifested his own lightning with the power of the Lords. His miracle strengthened it than a mere element, and with it. Soon, He and his knights hurled their bolts into the skies and shattered them into pieces."
"We've heard a similar story when we ventured into Anor Londo. But we didn't expect they would forge a weapon like that to defeat dragons." Vermut commented. "The dragons over here have more magical resistance to lightning, but despite their strengths. Ornstein has brought their entire kingdom to their knees... I would say the miracles which your ancestor brought here were out of the ordinary. Another question remains... who was the second lord?"
"The second lord was the Firstborn of Gwyn. His name was erased from history and dubbed the Nameless King. He was the most successful Dragonslayer who developed the arts of Dragonslaying Miracles and his power was equal to his father." Elaine explained the second half of the tale. "It was said in their history that The Nameless King hunts colossal Archdragons for sport and he's the teacher of Dragonslayer Ornstein. That one big-ass golden guy we met in Dragonia."
Vermut and Alameria gulped when they heard the feats of the nameless god. Vermut remembers her time in Dragonia. She did not forget the flying colossus that tore half of Dragonia's capital in one fell swoop until the descendant of Dragonslayer Ornstein brought it down and left a gaping hole in its skull.
"By the Chief God, I wouldn't like to incite their wrath. Especially the Dragonslayers." Vermut shuddered, reminding her about Ornstein and his son, Artor. "But why was his name erased from history?"
"That... remains a mystery. We don't know what happened to the Deity of Dragonslayers." Elaine scratched the back of his head. "Sadly, even our Great-Grandfather didn't know or mention the mysterious past before he passed down his faith unto us."
"Sometimes history leaves out some sketchy things that remain hidden," Elen said, and Alameria agreed with her statement. "Who knows what happened and with the secret unveiled, the books can be rewritten... or written with a new one."
"Say... Elen, what's with your brother and his girlfriend doing right now?" Alameria asked.
"Well... they're outside. Probably having their love talks." Elen shrugged. "Alrighty then, enough talks... let's have another round!"
...
"Regi~?... Do you have any plans after this adventure?" Reginald spun his glance around to Daniella and the dhampir gently held his right arm tight. "I was thinking of something... You definitely think about having a family, aren't you?"
"Hmm... I think so. While a lot of strange things were happening right now. Many see these as new opportunities." Reginald said while resting his hand above hers. "I get some feeling that we might settle down after we help Ash and Sasha in their ways to restore Lescatie."
"Eh?... That takes a bit too long..." Daniella muttered while looking down until a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. "So anyway... have you come up with some names?"
Reginald scrunches his brow in question. "... Names?"
"If we were married... and have children," Daniella spoke softly, dreaming about a life with her lover. "I really love to see them... no matter who they are. Be it a boy, a human girl... or a mamono, like me."
Upon hearing Daniella's wishes. Reginald stood stupefied and then let out a small chuckle while lightly hugging his girlfriend.
"Heh... you're thinking too much." He smiled and raised her chin. Letting Daniella face him. "Let's do it after this wacky adventure. My mother had been dying to see me having kids."
Daniela felt her heartbeat jump. She smiled in joy when Reginald declared his promise to settle down a family. The Dhampir of the Andrei Family wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his side, feeling cosy and warm.
"Ehehe~! Regi~! I'm so thrilled~!... to be with you because of the promise we made. From a time where we were kids back then." Daniella said, watching the sunset from the horizon. "Do you think... our lives will be better after this is over? Will the world be peaceful where we can live on our own? Without fear, and inspire others to be strong and brave?"
"... Yeah, I'm sure it will be better, for all of us and our friends," Reginald stated with a nod. "About bravery... I guess I'm going to pass this trait to my kids."
Daniella then expressed her sly smile. "Fufufu~! They aren't here yet~!"
...
Meanwhile, Dracolinde watches over the couple with a smile. Their conversation warms her heart to hear them planning for their marriage and settling down as a family after this crisis against the Demon Lord. The Princess of Dragonia then thinks, what will she plan for her future once this is over? Will Ash accepts her to be his lover or will she return to Dragonia to help her sister?
"... I'm sure he'll love me..." Dracolinde muttered while looking down, feeling the pain which soon ached in her heart if it comes to her realisation of being rejected. "But... was my expression to love Ash... was too much for him to handle?"
Dracolinde then turns around to see Ash walking along the wooden rails of the ship with Sasha on his side, taking their moment.
"Ash... who do you love the most...?" Dracolinde muttered, thinking about her love comparing her and the priestess of the Order. "Was it me... or Sasha?"
...
"Ash?... I have some questions to ask." The Knight heard Sasha and turn his glance to her. "What will you do after this is over?"
"Hmm... Well, it's hard to tell." Ash breathed out under his helmet. "If it's over... then that means it will be an end of a journey and be separated in our own ways."
"... Does that mean that we should go back to our ordinary lives?" Sasha felt the emotions in her chest tremble while looking down. "I see. If that's what you want... well, we went so much on an adventure of our own. We met fantastic people and even made friends!... But I was thinking about you... If you were to settle down one day and have a family of your own..."
"That might be the case... but we still have a long road to deal with. That's far as I can tell ye'." Ash then leans against the wooden rails. "I can find a place to settle where I want... unless if days were getting more peaceful. Then I could live a quiet life."
Sasha smiled. "That's great... I hope that you'd end up with someone you loved."
"... I see what you mean. Perhaps I would end up with someone I knew." Ash spoke with a soft tone, leading Sasha into questioning by confusion until his gaze spots Dracolinde who was hiding around the wooden mast. "I sure hoped that you and Linde can love one another."
"Linde...?" Sasha raised her brow once she sees Ash smile at someone else. The Priestess turned her face where he was seeing and caught Dracolinde in surprise. "Huh!? Linde, were you stalking us!?"
"Eh!? Eh-Uhh! N-No! I wasn't!" Dracolinde stuttered out in denial while expressing her nervous smile. "I-I w-was having my moment here!"
"HUUUH~? Don't just lie to me, love thief!" Sasha furrowed her brows comically while placing her hands on her hips. "I'm the one who's going to get him!"
"... Oh? Are you challenging me?" Dracolinde furrowed while feeling her nerve form a tick as she expressed a devilish smile and then she cracked her knuckles. "Alright, Priestess... let's see who'll get it first."
While Sasha and Dracolinde exchanged their glares, Ash couldn't help but sigh. Nevertheless, he smiled and chuckled slightly while tilting his head. The knight of Astora was now used to it and seeing their quarrel entertained him more rather than a mere nuisance since Dracolinde joined their group. But the question remains in his head about Sasha's concern for their lives after their potential conflict against the Demon Lord.
The Knight knew he will settle down to have a quiet life, but his hunch speaks out that one day, he'll end up with someone... and there were two of them which he was very fond of. Yet unsure where his emotions lay. Was it the Priestess of the Order or the Princess of Dragonia?
"Ah, I see you have issues with two women." Ash then remembers Deren, who spoke about his experience of loving a woman. "Don't worry lad, you remind me back in my days... stuck in the same situation as this."
"... Huh... Perhaps I need to speak with him for advice." Ash muttered while leaving the two women behind him who were still arguing.
"Getting yourself in a sticky situation ey, young lad?" Ash then turns his glance to see Deren walking up to him with Anri and Ifrit behind his back. The Lion Knight of Majula then noticed Sasha and Dracolinde press their foreheads against each other to compete themselves. "Heh. Looks like those two still compete themselves."
"They'll sort their issues out sooner," Anri claimed with a chuckle.
"Oh, I'm sure Dracolinde and Sasha won't stop fighting anymore~!" Ifrit smiled as she clasped her hands together. "I bet they'll just settle down and share love, wouldn't that be great~?"
"Well, that takes guts and will. For a man like me, only time will tell," Deren answered before turning back to Ash. "As for you Knight... erm, I think you need something from me, isn't it?"
While the two women were busy arguing. Ash nods in response to his question and Deren chuckled once more. "Haha! Well then, a knight such as you... should comfort them both rather than letting them harm themselves. That will make them understand more about you rather than themselves."
"... How do I comfort them?" Ash questioned with a dumbfounded look. "Should I... em, tell them with words?"
"Yes, that sort of way. You might tell them to stop their quarrel and get along, but be sure not too strict." Deren tells his advice. "There were other methods like this, for example... hug them both to ease their frustration. Their emotions will grow fond of you while telling them about hurting each other is a bad thing to do."
"That's... an inconvenient way." Ash raise his brow in concern. "Will that work?"
"Sure, if you insist on my advice." Deren laughed while Anri and Ifrit sighed at his mischievous antics. "It's from my experience alone, young lad."
Ash then turns around to Sasha and Dracolinde, who were still exchanging glares while pressing against their foreheads. The knight then decides to take action while stepping in... and grabbing them both into a hug, causing the two to fluster in surprise. Anri and Ifrit dropped their jaws while Deren slapped the forehead of his helmet and let out a laugh.
"Wh-Wha~!? Ash!?"
"Ash! Wh-What are you doing!?"
"You two... stop fighting." He spoke calmly while looking down at them. "If you keep going like this, then what's the point of sharing love?"
Dracolinde and Sasha stopped as he said these words and felt their faces flush while looking down in embarrassment and shame before releasing them.
"We made a promise that we shouldn't fight." He said while raising a finger, lecturing the two. "Now I've seen that you two were still the same."
"Mmmhh..." Dracolinde grumbled as she narrowed her gaze at Sasha.
"... Hmph!" Sasha pouts while looking away from Dracolinde.
"Is that so...?" Both of them then questioned in unison, while exchanging their angry looks. "Then... Who do you love the most!?"
Ash blinked twice in silence for a while. Until he opens his mouth, expressing his smile. "What on earth is that question?... Of course, I loved you both."
At that moment, the two women reeled back as their faces were even redder than before. Dracolinde felt his feelings coming out from his voice, being honest and truthful, while Sasha's heart was pounding at a faster rate while staring at his eyes didn't show any deceit.
"Seriously, you two wanted to know how I feel about you." Ash gave out a hearty chuckle. "After all, since you two aren't bad people. To my guess... you both don't want to be alone without me."
"... Ash..."
"... Darling..."
"Uhm... nevertheless, we're still friends, but..."
The red dragon and the priestess paid no heed as they felt tears swelling in their eyelids and smiled. They rushed forth and hugged the knight together in joy as the Astoran almost fell to the floor and kept his feet in balance. While Deren was witnessing the conversation between the knight and his maidens, he was quite surprised that it had gone well for them. When the winds brushed against the sails, one sailor above the mast spotted an island through his telescope and saw an island over the horizon.
"Land ahoy!"
"Huh... Well, I guess we reached our destination early on than expected." Anri said while looking up at the island of Mira, where he could see a few houses setting up lamp posts and some parts of the forest trees in Mira glow in various colours. "The island looks beautiful at night."
"Mira is an ancient island where spirits and elementals roam in that place," Ifrit said while pointing out. "Those trees glowing weren't natural, but it shows where the spirits live because of the radiance of their mana and their deep connection with nature."
Anri stroked his chin in wonder. "Huh... That would make a neat island to visit."
...
"Alright, pal. This is it." The captain of the ship salutes toward Deren as the sailors brought down the bridge, connecting to the land. "Good luck out there. May the blessings of Al-Mar be with you."
"You as well." Deren nods as he slings his sack over his shoulder.
As the companionship stepped down from the ship, they were met by bustling activities of people around the sole port town of the island. People traded goods and exotic items. Elt and the Knights of the Ice Flower were in awe to witness the beautiful scenery around them as the trees flows faintly in radiance, filled with a variety of colours and bubbles floating around.
"Welcome to Paradise, my friends," Deren said while walking down the path, leading towards a guild hall. "They sure are waiting for us there."
Once they entered the town hall, the Lion Knight met a familiar face, who was standing beside a Kraken and a man wearing his pure white military uniform.
"Oh! Fulafel, it's nice to meet you again." Deren greeted her with a wave of his hand. "And Asura Mythra is here as well... I heard what happened to Queen Diana. I'm very sorry to hear that."
"... Hmph. I'm not very keen to see you again, Deren." Asura Mythra narrowed her eyes while crossing her arms and looking away from Deren. "It's unfortunate that I'm forced to be stuck in a position like this."
"Uh, hey. No hard feelings, but you know that what we're dealing with would cause a lot of trouble." Anri spoke up while raising his hand. "Well... you need help from us, I guess."
"Hah... Well then, hostilities aside..." Deren then turns his glance towards the incubus. "I would also like to know your name, sir?"
"I am Eizen Wiltex, Admiral of Queen Diana." Eizen greeted the lion knight with a polite bow. "I've heard the news about your feats in Al-Mar that made you their hero. It was quite astonishing that a human from the Federation could set up an effective fighting force."
"I appreciate your statements, good sir." Deren nods. "Now we just have to deal with the monsters of the deep. I feel that this will be far more than my average paycheck."
"S-So... um..." Fulafel then spoke up, gaining their attention. "Let's have some rest. Everyone, you guys must've been tired while on a voyage."
"Aww~! Isn't she sweet~?" Luciana smiled at the Flow Kelp with glee. "She must've been the cutest monster that we've ever met~!"
"Huh... as long as she doesn't do something with us," Vermut whispered in concern. "We musn't take our guard down."
"Oh no~! You sillies~! We aren't here to turn you into monsters~!" Fulafel answered with a smile, causing the two to yelp in caution.
"Uh, you better be honest here," Arcturus spoke up while raising his thumb towards Luciana, and Vermut. "They wouldn't take those words lightly when you talked like that."
"O-Oh? Really?... mmmh." Fulafel then pressed her fingers together with an embarrassed pout on her cheeks. "I-I see... then I should be careful about what I'm saying. I'm really used to conversing with monsters. But not humans. S-Sorry!"
"So these must be your companions, huh... hmm? A Priestess of the Order and a Red Dragon? That's an unusual sight to look at." Asura Mythra stroked her chin in question until she caught sight of Druella. "Wait... what is a Lilim tagging along with people like you!?"
"It's a long story," Junayd answered while raising his hand. "She joined us to help with our quest because of her sister."
Druella rolled her eyes in slight irritation while the Kraken stood by surprise. "I-I see... but... isn't she Druella? The Leader of the Radical Faction?"
"... Yes, indeed, I am... But my faction is no longer operational." Druella then closed her eyes with a deep sigh. "I've been stuck under some complicated matters before I joined them."
"No longer operational? Strange, then what will happen to Lescatie?" Asura Mythra asked, but Druella remained silent. "From what I've heard, Lescatie was a radical demon realm under your rule... or did I skip some important news from the past two weeks?"
"Let's stay relevant to the topic. We're not here to talk about the nation Lescatie when our mission involves the abyssal creatures." Reginald then spoke up. Dismissing the conversation. "We should make some plans before we could dive into whatever hell that stood before us."
Asura Mythra went silent for a while until she stepped back. "Pardon me. I was sheltered on this island for over three weeks. Not knowing what's going out there."
"I guess they'll faint when we talked about what happened to that kingdom," Elen whispered and Druella nods.
...
Asuramis Seas, 15.000 Feet.
...
Ornstein was sitting on top of the airship's figurehead while watching the starry skies until he heard footsteps behind him. The old Dragonslayer turn his glance around and saw Artor leaning over the railings while his wife, Alto-Eris, was busy talking with her colleagues and no longer having a bulge on her belly.
"Artor... are you feeling alright?" Artor felt startled and looked up at his father.
"I-... I'm fine." Artor responded with a calm smile. "It's nothing worse. Just sailing across the skies and watching the stars above us... it's calm, really."
"I see. Are you not worried about the eggs back home?" Artor raised his brow in question until he understood. "You'd better call Elizabeth in case your unborn children were alright."
"I've talked to her using a magic mirror. They're fine. Mom and Ciara were there to help her out to make sure they were warm and cosy." Artor smiled while looking back at Alto-Eris . "My wife is trying to come up with names... especially some male names. The doctor said that we're having a son and daughter."
"That's good to hear." Ornstein nods in relief.
"Say, father..."
"... Yes?"
"Aren't you going to be... proud as a grandfather?"
"... What on earth is that question?" Ornstein raised a question behind his helmet. "Of course I'm proud! What is a father who isn't proud of his son's achievements?"
Artor and Ornstein shared their laughs together until the young dragonslayer wipes off his tears from constant laughing.
"Ahh~!... Hahaha... Heh, times truly flies by." Artor chuckled before he noticed something beyond the horizon. "Hmm? That's... a lot of ships."
"... Ships?" Ornstein raised his brow in concern while standing up and noticed a fleet cruising through the clouds. "Quite a sizeable fleet. Over fifty of them... But who are they affiliated with?"
...
... Meanwhile...
...
"Lord Noscrim, we've spotted a single airship!"
Wilmarina looks around at the helmsman and raised a finger. "Hmm? Who are they? Get the spotter to inspect it."
With a snip of a finger, mana bursts out from the table and forms a hologram of an unidentified airship.
"It's... just a transport ship, bearing the crest of Dragonia," Eva said and then turns around to Wilmarina. "There seems to be nothing special about it..."
"Ugh!... You guys wasted your breaths over this." Wilmarina groaned as she massaged her temples and then addressing to the crew of an entire bridge. "If it's nothing of importance, then don't act like we're in trouble! You get me!?"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" The crew responded.
'... Why do I get a bad feeling over this?' Standing beside Wilmarina, Admiral Owen felt sweat running down his cheeks. 'There's nothing else that we should be worried about. So why do I still get worried?'
"So... how long until we reach Court Alf?" Wilmarina asked the Incubi Helmsman.
"Within twenty-four hours." The helmsman responded. "It'll take a day away until we reached the first island."
"Perfect~! It's been weeks since we've departed from Lescatie." Wilmarina then casts her dark smile. "Even if they aren't there... we can subjugate the entire Court Alf... begins... Now!"
...
Chapter 53: Ends
Author's Note: Since I began drawing Fanart. I opened my Deviant Art Account and it's called Newtype346. Go check it out.