Disclaimer: It is obvious I do not have Tales of Xillia, because it was properties of Bandai Namco.
Okay this is the next chapter and the last chapter for this story. Yeah, I intend this story to be a two-shot although the amount of words is kind of… well, long -_-" but apparently I failed. Anyway, I don't want to bore you into detail here and the more important part is… if you want to please review~
#: As always, this story is told from 3rd Person POV in case you forgot and except I tell you directly that I'm talking about Milla Maxwell, the rest of Milla here is Milla Kresnik :D. And I wrote about how much I hate Chronos here, so be warned that I made him the big bad guy. The war is something I made up anyway so don't bother looking for the info
Milla sat on the stone facing the river that was a hidden spot for her to think alone. Her legs moved back and forth, as she looked far away to the blue sky. Beside her was the Lord of Spirit who had a contract with her so whenever she called he would come.
Milla had done singing for the Lord of Spirit and so it was the time for Maxwell to hear her selfishness. This kind of routine had gone on for 3 months for almost every day. Today Milla wanted someone to listen on her rambling since tomorrow Leah, her only girl friend, will move to Elympios.
"You really like Leah Sanctrum right?" Maxwell said as he listened to Milla's story about Leah's moving to Elympios.
"It can't be helped… ever since I'm little, my family, the Kresnik family, is a respected family since we founded Nia Khera and the religion. People never see me as equal and only Leah played with me. That's why it felt so painful I want to cry when I knew she would move away. But I knew that I shouldn't do that since it will worry her. More importantly, she moved away to make her dream comes true… I shouldn't hold her back," Milla explained with a sad tone with her eyes gazing to the river and her face put up a sad smile.
"It's not like you will never see her again," Maxwell said with a weird calmness in it as he looked at the Songstress. He did felt the pain inside his chest when he saw how Milla looked like she was at the brink of tears, though couldn't pinpoint why.
"It's not about that… I know that I will see her when she comes back but… Elympios… it felt so far away from Nia Khera… and Leah won't be there for me anymore everyday… it was so lonely here with people treating me differently especially after I summoned you," Milla said with a shaky voice and looked away from Maxwell as she held back her tears.
Maxwell turned quiet on this comment. Indeed Elympios is far away from Nia Khera. They need at least two days to reach that continent by sea not to count the travel from Nia Khera to the nearest Port. Moreover, he did know that Milla was always alone whenever he took a glance at Nia Khera from the Spirit World except when she was talking with Leah. Nevertheless, he didn't understand what the loneliness she felt was. He at least understood one thing and that was about treating the Songstress differently after people saw her summon him.
"So you regret it summoning me? You hate it when Leah Sanctrum trying to realize her dream?" Maxwell asked as he followed Milla's eyes direction.
"No, I don't regret summoning you Maxwell. In fact I am glad that at least you will be there for me when Leah is gone. And I don't hate it when Leah tries to do her best on her dream. It's just that, without her around, something is lacking," Milla explained with strained face as she shook her head denying the Lord of Spirit's accusation.
"You humans really are complicated," Maxwell summed up his thought when he heard Milla's reasoning. After all Milla said that he made the people's way of seeing her change and she hated it but she also said that she never regretted summoning him and that contradicted each other.
Milla laughed before saying, "Yeah, we are… but Spirit are lucky huh… they will never die, and will exist as long as time exist."
Maxwell pondered at that before saying, "Sometimes, eternity isn't that beautiful…, and since you human have limited time in this world before entering the cycle of life, you live your life to the fullest… it's something quite admirable…"
"Sounds weird hearing it from the Lord of Spirit…" Milla commented as she looked at Maxwell who had floated in front of her. She knew that his time here was up for now.
Maxwell flashed a thin smile before saying, "You made me realize that Milla… have a faith in yourself," he said as he looked at Milla who just sat there, looking at him going to go back to the Spirit World. His body slowly turned see-through as the Mana dispersed along with his materialized body.
Milla only watched the process like usual and as soon as Maxwell was gone from her sight and sense, Milla laughed while saying, "Rather than faith I would love to have more courage to confess my feeling to you, Maxwell…" with her eyes landed on the surface of the river.
Milla walked to the entrance of the village with clenched fist. She had promised Leah that she would see her off. As expected of Leah, no one was there to see her off except for her. Leah only smiled when she saw Milla approaching. Milla stopped when the distance between them was just a few feet away.
"You are still going?" Milla asked with a low tone. She was scared of not having the only friend she had around her.
Leah only smiled and she patted Milla's head softly. She placed the few luggage she brought along on the ground, hugged Milla tightly, and said, "I'm not going to back down now. I have waited this chance for years. Don't worry for too much. I will be okay and so will you."
Milla felt her eyes tearing up and said, "B-but…"
Leah placed her index finger on Milla's lips and said, "Don't you know this saying Milla? A sad face will bring misfortune to the traveler… do you want me to get in trouble?" Leah cut Milla's complain before she drew back her finger away from Milla's lips.
"No…" Milla replied weakly with her head hung low.
"Then smile for me… I'm sure your smile will bring me tons of luck. You shouldn't be sad either after this parting. I will come back sooner than you could think. If you have time, make sure to visit me in Elympios okay?" Leah said before smiling to Milla as she took back her luggage of the ground.
"Y-yeah, make sure that you will write to me when you reach Elympios, okay? It's a promise right?" Milla said as she outstretched her pinkie to Leah.
Leah took the promise by linking her own pinkie to Milla as she said, "I promise. Now it's time for me to get a move on. Promise me to not cry okay, Milla?" before approaching the wagon that would take her to the Aladhi Sea haven for her ship to Elympios.
Milla nodded frantically before smiling as best as she could to Leah. She pushed herself to wave her hands to the departing wagon with Leah inside it. Leah who looked at her from the back of the wagon waved back until the wagon disappeared from Nia Khera.
Milla finally retreated her hands after she was sure that Leah was out from her vision. She bit her lips to hold her tears from forming and turned around to see the village still as peaceful as it was. The only one who would miss Leah was her. She just realized how it would be lonely for Leah this whole time, keeping up with her selfishness, always there by her side.
For Leah's part, Milla vowed to herself to get stronger so she could face Leah one day proudly.
Days slowly passed for Milla since nothing worthy to take a note happened in her usual daily life. Apart from her constant meeting with Maxwell almost every day and her parting with Leah who had gone to pursue some Military career over the country, her life flowed normally.
Now Milla sensed that she was even more isolated from people than before. Whenever she went down to Nia Khera, never once did people dared to see her in the eyes. They were always bowing down deeply at the point of kneeling in front of her that now the only company she could manage was from the Lord of Spirit himself. It's not that she didn't foresee it coming. And even more, she was used to be 'out of place'. So that loneliness wasn't that hard to bear.
The thing that saved her from crying was the constant letters she got from Leah, telling stuffs about the outside world. Milla really appreciated how Leah never acted different to her even after the incident with Maxwell. The said girl even dared to threaten the Lord of Spirit if he dared to hurt Milla in the slightest. Milla sometimes wondered why Leah became so levelheaded in the first place.
Milla putted her quill back to its place as she smiled, seeing her response to Leah's letter, which told her about how strict Elympios military was and a peculiar town called Dyle that she said resembled Xian Du a little bit. She then paced to the shrine to take her harp that she stored there since she intended to call Maxwell out for a little chat.
Remembering the Lord of Spirit, Milla's face reddened a little. It took her some adaptation to the presence of the Spirit but now she had managed to, at least, hide how her feeling grows steadily over the course of time. It might just be a simple matter for Maxwell and Milla knew it perfectly, but for her it was still a big improvement. She actually found that she was no longer as brash and impulsive as she was before to get to know more about the object of her affection. Maybe Maxwell tranquility affected her even just for a bit.
'I hope… one day, yeah, one day there will be day where I can finally tell him…' Milla thought as she secured her weapon and harp before departing to the river, which was hidden quite well in the Nia Khera Spirit way. After all, she was banned from going to Hallowmont after she started living in the Shrine. Weird enough, since the entrance to the Hallowmont is just behind the Shrine. Milla thought maybe the elder was getting senile.
Milla looked around her surrounding; double-checking that she was completely alone. She sighed before concentrating her Mana, as Magic circles appeared around her body from up to toe, circling around her as she repeated the incantation she knew all too well.
"In my name as the one who bind the contract I call you, Maxwell!" Milla shouted as the magical circle stopped and then glowed brightly. Milla was used by the light by now so she didn't bother closing her eyes to defend them from the bright light.
When the light died down, Maxwell was in front of her once more. He frowned a little bit but it was visible that he didn't hate it when Milla called him for practically no reason. Milla put up a smile as she sat on the big rock near the river and asked, "Should I play for you Maxwell?"
Maxwell floated before sat right beside Milla then said, "I'm tired of repeating my answer," as he closed his eyes, waiting for Milla to start singing.
Milla giggled before plucking some strings of her harp. She looked up to the sky and played her harp before accompanying it with her voice. Milla always reflected her love for Maxwell this way, either the spirit understood it or not.
Maxwell closed his eyes in contentment as he listened on Milla's voice that was carried out by the wind spirit. Whenever he heard Milla's singing, he always felt her warmth inside him. Milla's warmth settled inside him and slowly spread out to his Mana flow and made him warm slowly but surely. How she gave her Mana willingly to him even if it would kill her if she couldn't handle it made him felt strange. What he wanted to know is the human heart Milla had, but now he couldn't be so sure what he wanted from the Songstress of his.
Milla felt her heart beat quicken as she confessed her feeling through song. She loved Maxwell, she loved him dearly. She didn't care even if the person didn't understand it, but she still loved him. There was no way she could erase her feeling for him so easily. She had gone too far to turn back.
After she finished her song, she turned silent for a few moments, waiting for Maxwell to speak first. She breathed heavily and placed a hand on her pounding chest, seeking some way to make her relax and gaining her composure.
"Your voice is beautiful as always, Milla…" Maxwell softly said as he opened his eyes and taking a glance to Milla who was still flushed.
Milla blushed hearing the praise. She then looked to Maxwell and said, "Thank you… after all I sing it for you…"
Maxwell smiled slightly, not understanding the implied meaning of the sentence. He then gazed to Milla seriously before asking, "What do you wish to know?"
Milla only looked away. Their conversation always started by this one simple question. She couldn't deny that she wanted to know many things, not just what she knew. Milla then thought of it for a little before saying, "Hey, Maxwell, yesterday you spoke to me about the Three Original Spirits and who they are. What did they do actually? Of course, you are included."
"We do what we do. I who govern the land and the spirits, my job is to protect the spirits and whatever it is in the land so humans are included. Chronos, the Lord of Time, moves the time of the world and ends the time of all living beings. And then Origin, who governs Nothingness and is the King of the Spirits. He gives life and protects the cycle of life and death in this world. If he wants to, he could mess with one's destiny," Maxwell explained with little bit thinking.
"That's so boring!" Milla commented lightly as she giggled. She didn't mean to insult the very Lord of Spirit beside him but she found that kind of lifestyle is boring.
"I don't really know what you meant with 'boring' but… I did feel some suspicious movement from Chronos's side…" Maxwell retorted with a deep thinking face. He had a suspicion about Chronos since the Lord of Time really hated humans, in contrast to his belief that humans must be protected.
"You always said you are on odds with him right? It's not weird for you to suspect he did something bad… but you also said that you can't confront each other directly…why is that?" Milla said as she quoted lightly on what she had heard from the Lord of Spirit before.
"Yes, it is true we are not on a good terms simply because our idea clashed. We cannot confront each other, yes, but he could do something to those who are associated with me. The Four Great Spirit for example, I remember they are always being glared at by the Spirit from Chronos line," Maxwell explained with grim tone. After all he cared a lot about those around him.
"Ah, I see… and which spirit come from Chronos line?" Milla said with a curious tone. All she ever knew is that all spirit is under Maxwell's name, not the other Original Spirit.
"Aska, Shadow, Volt, and Celsius I guess? Generally they are friendly with human, Celsius especially since she had been summoned once or twice by a human. Aska had a good relationship with me… well, Shadow… he never showed that he hated human and me directly so he is quite friendly. Volt is complicated since he can barely talk," Maxwell explained with a hint of fondness in his tone. It was obvious that even if the Spirit came from the line of Original Spirit who was on odds with him, Maxwell still cared about them greatly.
Milla smiled seeing how Maxwell had a gentle expression whenever he mentioned the name of the Spirit. She could feel it that Maxwell was a very kind man despite his eternally attached frown. Milla then was reminded of one thing and immediately asked, "You just mentioned that Chronos had his own line of Spirit. Does it mean that Origin also has one?"
Maxwell looked at Milla briefly and then pondered about it. It's not that he didn't know, but he just found it hard to explain knowing the nature of Spirit from Origin's line. After few minutes of pondering how to explain it to Milla, he said, "Yes he has one, no, two. They are Pluto, the Spirit of Underworld, and Record Spirit… as the latter name suggested, their job is to record, and they have no other purpose other than that. Honestly speaking, I never met one directly."
Milla's eyes widened hearing it. Even Maxwell never met this Record Spirit before. As she registered Maxwell's answer in her mind, she asked again, "What? How come? Even when you are the Lord of Spirits?"
Maxwell looked at Milla and then thought of it a little. He then said, "That is their nature as a Spirit. Only the one they record will ever meet them… and it was only if the owner had enough power to materialize the said Spirit. The Record life is very fragile as well… they will die when their owner die. If they managed to materialize before the owner die, the memory of their existence will be wiped out from the universe. Their sheer amount is amazing though."
Milla mouth opened wide hearing it. She then commented, "That's… sad… but what do you mean with their sheer amount? And what is the Record Spirit record?" before asking for more explanation from Maxwell.
Maxwell sighed, knowing Milla's nature really well on how she wanted to learn many things. He smiled weakly before saying, "Due to the fact they record the 'life' of all beings by tapping on the Mana flow and each person has their own Record Spirit, their amount from the beginning of time until now is countless. Milla, you also have one following you."
"Eh, really? Can I meet them and have them to talk to me whenever I can? Oh wait, then I need to materialize them first…" Milla asked repeatedly before lowering her tone in the end. She is also reminded about few facts about the Record Spirit nature as well.
"You can… maybe. But I must say that their materialized form have few limit as well. Most likely they won't interfere with your life so something like talking isn't in their range of business. It is still possible for them to develop a kind of attachment for you to talk. It is possible that they will summon themselves when the time is right," Maxwell explained again with a kinder tone although his face is harsh.
Milla nodded for a few moments before asking, "I understand… and back to the Chronos matter… you said he is most likely to mess with those associated with you. So, he might mess with my life to make you mad, right? I'm not as strong as the Four and there is no way I could resist his power…"
Maxwell turned himself to face Milla who didn't look well and looked like she was scared. He then gently placed his hands on Milla's head before stroking Milla's hair slowly and gently. Milla looked up to Maxwell who had a thin smile on when he stroke Milla's hair, as he then said, "Do not worry… I will protect you."
Milla found her face getting hotter when she heard Maxwell's reassuring words. She then looked down to hide her red face as she felt the gentle touch on her head. She felt very happy about how Maxwell cared about her to protect her from his arch nemesis. And more importantly she felt safe…
Jude and Milla felt that they were being pulled away from the scenery in front of them. The scenery became further and further until they finally landed in a place with nothing but white around.
"Where are we?" Jude asked to no one in particular as he looked around. He knew that they were supposed to be inside Milla Kresnik memory but at the same time, he felt that they were not there.
"I don't know either. But Jude, did you understand anything from what we had seen?" Milla replied before questioning Jude with her hands folded in front of her chest.
Jude looked back to Milla who was now in a line with his eyes before saying, "What I know is that Milla Kresnik cared dearly about Maxwell that there is no way she would betray him. I don't understand what Maxwell from the Alternate World meant by Milla Kresnik leaving from his grasp…"
Milla took a thinking stance when from out of nowhere Rise appeared in front of them saying, "It was because they misunderstood each other."
"Rise, why you are here?!" Jude exclaimed since he was surprised about Rise sudden appearance despite the fact Rise was barely standing in front of them just now.
Rise smiled sweetly before saying, "I'm always here…, but I'm not Rise. I just borrowed Rise's body to appear before you two, Jude-san, Maxwell-sama."
Milla's eyes narrowed before saying, "So I believe you are Milla Kresnik Record Spirit… Nia."
Rise, or rather, Nia, looked at Milla with a sweet smile on before saying, "Yes, I am used to be called as Nia in the past. I physically materialized like how Rise did on you two. I never appeared in front of my master anyway, so I guess except for the fact I am her Recorder, I had no other connection whatsoever to Milla-sama."
"So you are the one who asked Rise to show us Milla Kresnik's lifetime Record, right?" Jude asked with more composure than before, knowing that Rise isn't the one in front of him but just another spirit borrowing Rise's body.
"Yes, but I stopped the flow for a little bit to show you another thing," Nia replied with a serious face all of sudden, different to Rise's usual cheerful expression.
When Nia said that, a monitor of some sort appeared in front of Milla and Jude. At first it was blank, but soon images started appearing on it, though not even one is familiar with either Jude or Milla. Feeling curious Milla asked, "What is that?"
Nia then stopped the movement before saying, "This is my own personal recording. Not in the view of my master's knowledge. After what you saw before, a war broke out between Rashugal and Auj Oule, marking their first engagement, although history didn't record it."
Jude who was adept in history added Nia words by saying, "Yeah, in fact there is no real record of what happened before 2000 years ago in our calendar. Now that I think about it, no record about if Elympios even existed despite the fact we were in contact with it more than 2000 years ago,"
Nia smiled slightly before saying, "That was my master… Milla Kresnik-sama doing. She erased the fact that Rieze Maxia and Elympios were supposed to be from one world before the Schism was up, thus why no recorded history managed to mention about the existence of Elympios before… well, the Elympios people invasion, which you called it as… Exodus, right? If I'm not mistaken this Exodus plan was Otherworld something Plan right?"
"Yes, and it wax Otherworld Reactor Plan. Anyway, just what kind of power did she have to erase history itself? Save for the simple rumor of her in Nia Khera, it's like she never existed in the first place," Milla asked with pure curiosity. After all, they are talking about a normal girl who falls in love with the Lord of Spirit here, not a Greater Spirit or an Original Spirit.
"That is for you to see later about how and what she has done in the past. Back to the topic at hand, that war happened between the two Kings of two nations in Rieze Maxia. And I was the only one Recorder who actually remember and know why the war happened and who had initiated it in the back so he could made my master suffer," Nia said once more before turning to the monitor who now showing a face that both Milla and Jude knew very well.
The monitor showed Chronos destroying a part of Rashugal and then a part of Auj Oule in almost the same time. Nia with hatred deep in her tone said, "He did it."
In the throne room of Auj Oule, the King tried to contain his anger inside when a report came to him that Rashugal attacked Auj Oule area. He slammed the side of his throne to unleash his anger even just for a little bit.
"Damn it, that Rashugal brat. How dare they break our treaty on peace!" the King of Auj Oule said in pure anger.
The messenger who had reported the damage of the attack then said, "My Lord, from the damage we suffered, Rashugal has increased their power in military. What if we asked for the neutral area to join our cause? We are in all right to ask for their help."
The King glared at the messenger. He felt that he never met the messenger even just once before. But he then remembered that the old one was just too old and he had replaced it. He never knew that the new messenger had white hair and yellow eyes though, not that it was odd.
The messenger smirked inwardly before saying, "The Elder of Nia Khera said that they will join those who were being stepped on from the peace treaty. My Lord, because we fulfilled that condition we shall ask the assistance of the Lord of Spirit Songstress… Lady Milla Kresnik to help us crush those bastards from Rashugal using the power of the Lord of Spirit."
The same condition happened at Rashugal side as well. A mysterious attack was launched against one of their territory that happened to be near Auj Oule area. The King of Rashugal barely contains his anger by slamming on the things in the throne room.
"What is that bastard from Auj Oule is thinking! Do they want to initiate a war?!" he shouted as he listened on the soldier who was barely escaped death of the attack.
His advisor who wore a grim expression then kneeled in front of the King of Auj Oule before saying, "Milord… I have a suggestion regarding this matter at hand."
The King of Auj Oule looked at his advisor with pressed anger and demanded, "What do you suggest? We are ready to crush that bastard Rashugal and own their land for our gain."
The advisor whose eyes gleamed into golden then said, "We better use the promised treaty that the neutral gave to us. By the neutral we talked about the Priestess of Nia Khera shrine, Lady Milla Kresnik. I'm sure Rashugal would try to coax her for their gain for the Priestess has the power of Lord of Spirit, Maxwell at her side."
The face of King of Auj Oule turned grim at the mention of Lord of Spirit name. If they managed to ask for specific help from the Village of Spirit, they might hold the power of one of the Original Spirits, one of the strongest Spirit ever known. If they managed to win it, their military would become supreme. But thinking that Rashugal could get its hand on it, their lost would be predetermined as Spirits were eternal beings.
The King of Auj Oule nodded and said, "You are right. Send our messenger to Nia Khera and win the help of their priestess. Don't let Rashugal win the Priestess!"
Nia stopped the regular record right at the instance the two kingdoms decided to try to win Milla Kresnik's favor. She then turned to Jude and Milla who was dumbfounded by what they just learned. They knew that Chronos loved to mess with human so they won't be able to have a peaceful life, but they didn't think it came from way back then.
Milla regained her composure fast and then looked at Nia who used Rise's body to converse before asking, "And what is your intention by showing us that? I think you know it already, but Chronos and I are fellow Original Spirit, like it or not, we couldn't harm each other to some extent."
Nia stifled a laugh at Milla's words before smiling sweetly, something that made Jude cringe at the sight. Nia's smile looked like it has a lot of hidden meaning that he couldn't but be wary. Nia tilted her head slightly before saying, "Of course I couldn't ask for Maxwell-sama to give Chronos my heartfelt greeting so I didn't have that intention in the first place. After all I am just the ghost of past who want nothing but truth to be known. I know that my master won't be pleased by it as well. What I wished for is for you to understand… and one more thing I would tell you in the end."
Jude looked at Nia who bowed slightly in apologetic tone for showing them her emotion. He felt that something was bothering the already dead Recorder. Jude then, in worried tone, asked, "What's wrong? It seems that you are in hurry about something…"
Nia was startled by the question and clearly took the question by surprise that her mouth was left opened for a good minute. Nia then quickly closed her mouth and with a composed tone said, "Yes, I'm in hurry because it took everything of me to use this body. I have lost a lot of power compared to the time when I was first born… I don't know how long it was compared to the present. In short, I am dying."
Milla was clearly interested by the prospect of death in Recorder eyes. After all, if what she knew was true, a Record will die once their job completed and Milla Kresnik had died long before their meeting right now. She pursued the matter further by asking, "Then why do you still manage to exist right now? Your master died thousands of years ago."
Nia smiled weakly and looked down. She looked at Jude from the corner of her eyes before gazing back to Milla who was waiting for answer. Taking a deep breath she said, "Depending on the master, a Record can live longer than it was supposed to be. And even if it was not complete, Milla-sama's remaining soul, sleeps inside of Maxwell-sama body, thus allowing me to regain my consciousness and called Rise for help."
"But that's not the point of our first and last meeting isn't it? Shall I continue?" Nia said shortly after she explained about one of the natures of her kin.
"Y-yeah… I guess we should…" Jude replied hesitantly as he cringed at the mention of last meeting. After all, Nia said it so calmly that it was as if it wasn't a big problem.
Nia turned around before disappearing from Milla and Jude vision. As she did that, the space around them distorted and they found the white space to the scenery of Nia Khera. It didn't take long for their surroundings to change again into one of Milla's shrine interior.
Milla was astounded by how the representative of two nations of Auj Oule and Rashugal appeared in front of her. The Elders and the Village Chief also stood by their side leaving her sitting alone in front of them.
"Excuse me, can you repeat it once more? I think my ear is playing trick with me…" Milla requested as she looked at both representative in disbelief.
The representative from Rashugal opened his mouth first by saying, "Like what we just said Lady Kresnik, we requested your help to protect ourselves from the attack of Auj Oule and we swear on the name of the Lord of Spirit that we speak nothing but the truth."
The representative from Auj Oule scowled before opening his mouth as well by saying, "Lady Kresnik, we from Auj Oule were attacked first hand by the army of Rashugal. We are the most deserving to gain your help on protecting ourselves from the attack of Rashugal. We swear on the name of the Lord of Spirit that we speak nothing but the truth."
Milla looked at the two representatives who glared at each other before tiredly said, "Even if you said that… the attack on both countries happened at the same time there was no way for us to determine which one of you attacked first. If I used the perceptive of either Rashugal or Auj Oule, it's obvious that neither of you fulfill the condition…"
Both of the representatives fell silent hearing Milla sound opinion as she continued, "And it is wrong to use the power of the Lord of Spirit in a war between countries. Isn't it better if the war is closed by negotiations rather than brute force? War brought nothing but sadness, misfortune, and blood is spilled without meaning."
The Village Chief then moved in front of the two countries representative before saying, "Our priestess had said enough about the matter at hands, and we, as the neutral party refused to give our assistance at either country. Please send our greeting to the Kings."
After the representatives quietly retreat, the Elder and the Village Chief faced Milla with a serious look on their face. Milla looked away in discomfort before they leave her in the comfort of the empty shrine. She knew that the situation somehow had grown dire and what she said won't affect the declaration of war between the two countries.
'What should I do? In the end, I don't like war…' Milla thought as she tried to find a way to prevent the war before it started.
She sighed after she found none of good solution appeared in her head. She couldn't help but feel not safe after she refused to join either side. The whole Rieze Maxia knew her as the Songstress Priestess, the closest human to Maxwell that she could channel his power directly, a very useful tool of war now in the eyes of both Kings.
Milla decided to go to Hallowmont summit and meet Maxwell, to ask for his opinion. She couldn't shove the feeling that she was used as a pawn in an unknown game and that scared her the most. Just what kind of future lied ahead of her?
After an hour of walk from the shrine, Milla reached the summit of Nia Khera Hallowmont. She breathed in and breathed out softly, trying to calm down her racing heartbeat. She still felt the fear of the unknown and how people around her acted as if it was her own business.
When she felt she was ready, Milla quickly called Maxwell's name, having no need to repeat the chant anymore. Maxwell quickly appeared before her and he was surprised at how Milla's face was so pale like life had been sucked dry from the Songstress.
"What had happened Milla?" Maxwell asked out of concern since the area around his chest started to sting, painfully to add.
Milla quickly raced to the Lord of Spirit embrace and pressed her face on his chest while saying, "It's… it's…"
Milla told Maxwell in detail about what she was told by the representative of Auj Oule and Rashugal and how they asked for her assistance in the war, which she refused. She added her own personal feeling in the end of her story and how she was scared of what will happen when the war breaks out.
Maxwell listened intently, not even thinking of asking the scared Milla to sing for him right now. He pondered about few oddities of the reason of the war. He knew that Rashugal and Auj Oule had been on odds since millennia ago but they hold the peace treaty close in their head. There is also the matter about how both countries insist that they are the one in victim. He had few suspicions already but had no way to prove it.
"What should I do Maxwell? I'm scared… I don't want to take a part in the war…" Milla ended her story as she clutched Maxwell's tunic strongly. She was completely lost at what to do.
"Milla…" Maxwell softly called as he tried to calm Milla. He could see that Milla mind wa in turmoil, that it made her Mana wave became wild. Maybe Milla couldn't see it by herself but Maxwell could see that Milla's instability made the Spirit around her worry for her well-being that it made him frown at the sight. This Priestess of him really was loved by all of Spirit.
When Milla finally managed to calm down, she noticed how she had hugged Maxwell so tightly. She quickly let go, much to Maxwell dismay, and stutteringly said, "A-a-a… I-I-I'm… I'm sorry… I-I-I didn't m-mean to…"
Maxwell only let out a sigh seeing how Milla become frantic from, literally, out of nowhere. Just where did the Milla who trembled and was at the brink of tears because of fear just a few minutes before go? Maxwell swore this Priestess of his had some trouble before saying, "It's okay don't worry about it too much. So in regard to your story, very soon Rashugal and Auj Oule will go into war right?"
Milla nodded slightly, giving a positive reply to it despite the direness of the news itself. Maxwell looked at Milla before saying, "And since they knew that you won't cooperate despite being a useful tool of war, you are scared that something might happen to those around you, right?"
Milla nodded once more hearing Maxwell's question. Maxwell then closed his eyes for a while and thinking of something, regarding how absurd the reason of the war itself. He then remembered that they had been holding back their fangs that wished for a war, if there is a reason for the war to break out, he knew that the King of both countries would gladly took it. Getting Milla and the neutral party cooperation is purely optional.
"You should wait… and see how they took your refusal," Maxwell finally said after a few moments of pondering about the best course of action in the mean time.
"Eh?" Milla was baffled at how the answer is simpler than what she had thought before.
Maxwell floated closer to Milla close enough to touch both of her shoulders. With a straight and serious gaze he looked at Milla's eyes when he said, "If you had no wish to help any side then there is a possibility that you will be forgotten. But, there is also the chance that they will try to make you choose side by force or…" he closed his eyes in the middle of his sentences. Just the thought of it made him shiver and somehow he couldn't stand losing Milla. He could bring back the Four if something do happened to them, but Milla was a human, when she dies then it would be the end for her life as the part of living.
Milla wondered why Maxwell stopped in the middle of his sentences and innocently prompted as she tilted her head to the side slightly, "Or?"
"… or they would assassinate you for not cooperating and since they couldn't get you on their side, they should think that it is better that you ceased to exist altogether," Maxwell continued his half-done sentences with grim tone. He might be a spirit but he knew that losing a human life meant that they won't remember it in their afterlife.
Milla's face went pale to the possibilities that the near future holds for her. Her fist clenched tightly on her side until it turned white when she said, "Then… what should I do then… if… if the worst possibility happen? I-I don't want to… to die just because I summon you…"
"We will think of the way when the time come. Rest assured Milla, the Four, all the Spirit here, and me as well, won't let you die because of a ridiculous war," Maxwell reassured Milla with serious tone as he tried to hold true to his words. Well, he realized that there could be some connection of this incident with the insider of the Spirit World itself and proving it would take some time.
Milla was surprised that every spirit is concerned with her well-being that even Maxwell promised that he would protect her from death. She felt herself feeling grateful to him as she then murmured, "… thank you…"
Maxwell smiled slightly seeing how Milla's Mana wave gradually become calm and the lesser Spirits around sighed in relief. He then took a mental note that the Spirits really do love Milla and, without noticing, he groaned at the thought.
Milla tilted her head, feeling a lot better than before she talked to Maxwell about her problem. It really helped that she had someone who willingly listen to her problem and gave her a solution of it. She wished she could repay Maxwell for his kindness when she was reminded about what she was supposed to do whenever she summoned Maxwell that she clasped her hands loudly, startling Maxwell.
"Why you suddenly clapped?" Maxwell asked in annoyance, his frowns still sticking close to his face like the opposite side of a magnet.
"Ah, oh no, I mean… I forgot to bring an instrument today so I can't sing to you with my harp but… how about I dance for once?" Milla said with a bright smile on her face devoid of fear and worry.
Maxwell swore the girl had some issue with her emotional swing. Just a few seconds ago, the girl was trembling in fear and now she was smiling as if she had no care about the world. He just wondered why the girl managed to recover this fast that he asked, "Why you are laughing? And you actually dance?"
Milla giggled, not noticing the weird tone that Maxwell used to ask her. She spread her hands, revealing the longer part of the clothes around her hands as she twirled around, revealing the layered detail of the lower part of her shrine costume. As her eyes met with Maxwell's golden eyes she said, "Well, those clothes are perfect for the dancing that came into my mind and I promised you to sing whenever I call right? I didn't bring instrument so it's not so strange of me to dance instead, I will sing the melody anyway… and why you said…" and when she reached the part where she would answer Maxwell's question about why she is laughing, she stopped, pondering about it for a little bit.
Maxwell looked at Milla's face that had changed into one of a deep thinking and matured expression until he could hear something thumping inside his ears when he saw that. Maxwell just noticed how Milla's long wavy hair completely complements the shape of her body. Her magenta eyes had a deep light that could entrance anyone who saw trough its deep. Her lips are slightly pink like peach and her skin is pure white that when sunray hit it, it made the skin looked like it was as if her skin is transparent.
Milla who didn't realize the Lord of Spirit watchful gaze quickly looked at him once more. She put both of her hands on her back, linking her pinkies as she then said, "Maxwell… you said that you and all of Spirit will protect me from harm… it made me feel… safe. So, I have nothing to worry on anymore and that's why I could sing… maybe in this case, dance, for you and the Spirit. Thanks to your consolation I could smile again… that's why I wanted to tell you all my gratitude…" before closing her eyes with a smile on her face.
Maxwell just couldn't understand human way of thinking, but he could sense how Milla honestly felt grateful to him. He didn't think he did anything at all for his Priestess, but he just couldn't shake the beauty of Milla's smile that was radiating a warm light, when she said that she was grateful to the Spirits.
"I'm so glad that I have summoned you Maxwell… if, let's just say, right now I was all alone, I will surely cry… and Leah wouldn't like it… because aside from Leah, I have no one in this place… that's why I'm glad that we met… that's why…" Milla added before stretching her hands to her side before slowly sway it to her front as she gathered a slight amount of Mana on the tips of her fingers.
Milla took a deep breath before singing the melody for the dance as she sway her hands in slow motion with the Mana creating a glittering light in its trail. Her feet quickly joined the dance when she spun around, scattering the glittering Mana around her, creating a sparkling mist of Mana around her. Milla herself looked like she didn't mind the lost of her Mana, already accustomed of losing a big amount of Mana to summon Maxwell at her will, and continued to dance.
Maxwell found himself mesmerized by the beauty of a human he knew as Milla Kresnik. He often heard her complain on how annoying it is to be a Priestess but he actually saw that Milla is doing her job seriously. Her dancing figure couldn't be described by any other word beside gorgeous. Her voice was clear and was so nicely tuned that he wondered who made her voice when she was created.
He looked around and saw that the lesser Spirits started watching Milla's dancing with sparkles in their eyes. He could tolerate it since Milla is, practically speaking, spilling her Mana around for the Spirit to take although she didn't wish to cast a Spirit Arte, in other words wasting her Mana. He also realized that the Milla right now had an omnipotent Mana supply and the human saying that she is a useful war tool is actually underestimating her strength, with more polishing Milla could wipe out an army of men without breaking a sweat.
He gazed at the Priestess once more as he indulged on the sight of his innocent and pure Priestess dancing only for him. It was a part of their contract, but Maxwell didn't dismiss the fact that right now Milla is dancing for him and him alone, and this beauty in front of him is his. Knowing that made his chest become warm with a foreign feeling.
Milla took a step forward, swing her right hand to the side, before spinning her body once more. She didn't notice her footing at all that when she tried to regain her standing she tripped on the rocky surface and her concentration dissipated in instant.
She was surprised when she felt her body being pulled by the gravitation force. She closed her eyes bracing for the impact just to find out that the pain didn't reach her nerves after ten seconds passed. She dared to open her eyes to find Maxwell's worried face as the first vision she received.
"You are so reckless…" Maxwell commented calmly under his cold face. He held Milla close to his chest when he saw that the Priestess was doing an error in her dancing, resulting to her fall and their position right now with Maxwell practically embracing Milla.
Milla felt the heat creped upon her face when she felt Maxwell's tight grips on her shoulders. She wanted to say something and break the awkwardness that she felt but found nothing at all. She had her gaze locked with Maxwell's mesmerizing golden eyes that looked like it would absorb her as a whole. She couldn't avert her eyes as well due to its mysterious beauty and found herself seeing her reflection on his eyes.
Maxwell also remained quiet and only gazed at Milla's magenta eyes. He knew that the girl was surprised to find him saving her and he didn't know why he did that in the first place. He knew that a small fall like that wouldn't kill the Priestess. But, he didn't want the girl to get hurt at all. But, he wondered, for what reason? He didn't know the answer for that question.
They both were pulled into reality when they both heard the sound that signaling someone is coming to this place. Maxwell soundlessly helped Milla to stand up properly as Milla remained quiet without saying anything back to the Lord of Spirit as he bid his farewell. She placed both of her hands on the top of her chest as she listened to her heartbeat.
'It was so loud…' Milla thought as she inhaled the clean air of the mountain. Her face felt so hot and she still remembered the feeling of Maxwell's protective grips on her body. Milla knew the nature of the Lord of Spirit by now and that he care about human but only in general, he didn't worry about some of them in specific manner. Milla sighed as she reminded of it.
'Then why he is saving me? Stupid… stupid Maxwell… Don't cast more magic in my heart…' Milla thought as she clutched on her chest tightly. She couldn't register what happened in between her walk down to the Nia Khera when a messenger of the Village Chief called her to go back, her face burning as she walked back.
Aaaaaand that's it for the 2nd chapter of this story! Seriously the amount of text is long! But, if I broke it into pieces, it would become too long... maybe at the length of Lost Treasure since I tend to have random ideas popping out like buglar or thief! I had lost a lot of brave notebook that dared to become my posession. Well, I won't bore you with monologue now, so please drop a review below and see you later in the next chapter!