Chapter 4: The Spirit Within

A while later, Yukina, Clarith, and Riliane went out for a picnic. Although everyone felt bad about leaving Mikina behind, Keel promised to look after her. It was Yukina's suggestion that they take a trip to Eldoh's Forest. Yukina happily skipped alongside Clarith while Riliane followed slowly behind. Visiting Elphegort brought bad memories to the three girls. The "Green Hunting" could never be forgotten and many of its scars continued to blot the ground. But even so, the forest itself had begun to heal as if hope is never lost. Finding a suitable area, Clarith laid down the picnic blanket. Yukina sat down while Clarith opened up her basket.

"Uwaa…It's so big!" Yukina admired the homemade brioche in front of her.

"I know. I made your favorite!" Clarith chuckled.

"Even after many years, the food you make is delicious!" and with that, Yukina started to scarf down one roll.

"Oh Yukina! Where are your manners?"

"Mut Marith, mit mastes mo mood!" Yukina garbled with a mouthful of brioche.

Riliane merely looked at the sky as birds flew through the air. She didn't want to be here. If Riliane learned correctly, this is the place where someone important to Clarith died all because of her. The girl in green. Riliane only knew her by name through others. That is all. Because of a grave misunderstanding, many had died including that girl.

"Rin? Are you okay?"

Riliane broke from her trance. She saw Clarith, who is looking at her with a worried face.

"Oh. It's nothing. It's just that…there are so many memories."

"Rilia…err, Rin? Aren't you going to have any?" Yukina offered some brioche for her. Yukina silently reminded herself that she should be careful not to use Riliane's true name in case anybody is watching.

"Oh, uh yes," Riliane sat down and lowered her picnic basket.

"Eh? Rin, you baked brioche as well?" Yukina looked inside Riliane's basket.

"Huh? Oh I don't think I'm as skilled as Clarith…"

"I want some of yours! Can I? Can I? Please?"

Riliane sighed and let Yukina dig in.

"Rin! I like it!" Yukina squealed in delight, "You are a good cook!"

"R, Really? T, Thank you," Riliane gave off a big smile.

"Oh look Clarith! Rin is smiling! I made her smile!"

Clarith was surprised, "Oh my. I never seen Rin smile that openly before!"

Riliane glanced at Yukina, "I believe I owe it to her."

Yukina continued to chat with Clarith. Riliane just sat there silently all by herself. But every now and then, Yukina would try to get Riliane to join the conversation. Despite some minor setbacks, they had a wonderful time together.

Suddenly, something caught Yukina's eye behind the trees: long flowing green hair. Somehow, that green hair looked familiar.

"Uh, I need to go somewhere. Wait here!"

"Eh? Yukina! Where are you going?" Clarith called as Yukina darted towards the forest.

"Yukina! Don't go off on your own!" Riliane cried out, but it's too late.

Yukina ran. There must be some mistake. She recognized that green hair. Even though Elphegort had a significant number of people with green hair, Yukina had a hunch that the long flowing green hair she just saw belonged to only one person. That person should not exist anymore. But even so, why? Yukina ran and ran. Sure enough, Yukina found herself at an opening.

This is it. This is the place where it happened, the place where Kyle Marlon had attacked Germaine and Gumillia in his "beast form". Luckily, Kyle is freed from his mad enslavement thanks to Gumillia and…a voice. Yukina recognized that voice. That voice belonged to someone dear to her and Clarith. That person. What is her name? Her name is…

"Hello, Yukina."

Yukina jumped and turned around. There is someone there. Yukina couldn't believe her eyes. There, before her, is a transparent figure of…of…

"M, M, Michaela?"

"My, my. Look at how much you've grown!" the figure known as Michaela approached.

"B, B, B, but…I thought you were dead!" Yukina continued to shiver in fear. But still, Michaela kept her usual smile.

"I suppose that would be the case…if I were a human."

"W, W, what do you mean? Y, you're not h, human…?"

"No. I am a forest spirit."

Yukina was startled. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to think.

"Oh dear! Am I really that troubling to you?" Michaela looked worried.

"I, I sorry…" Yukina stammered, "I'm just so…amazed…!"

"I know how you feel."

Why should Yukina be so surprised? She had seen a lot of crazy things happen before, but having Clarith's best friend revealed to be a forest spirit is just unspeakable.

"Michaela, I…I missed you."

"Oh Yukina. I missed you too."

Yukina felt happy, yet she also felt like crying. Michaela worked for her family alongside Clarith. But Yukina never really had many memories with Michaela. Yukina wished that she had. If she could go back in time, maybe she could play with Michaela as well.

"Michaela, I'm confused. If you are a forest spirit, how did you become…human?"

"Elluka Clockworker," Michaela replied, "She made me a human body to inhabit so that I can interact with the human world."

"But…But why? Why do you want to do that?"

Michaela then gave off a sad look, "It's because…I want to know why Clarith is crying."

"Crying?"

"When I was a spirit, Clarith would always come here and pray for at least one friend in her life. Even if I disobeyed Eldoh, I wanted to grant her wish because I felt so bad for her. Thus, I came into the human world thanks to Elluka."

Yukina and Michaela sat down on an oversized tree root, even though Michaela didn't need to.

"Originally, I was chosen to help Elluka find the Seven Deadly Sins. You…do know what I'm talking about, do you?"

"Unfortunately, I do know. Gumillia told me."

"I see. Gumillia…I wonder if she is alright. Anyway, although I am supposed to be focused on my mission, I couldn't help but try to befriend Clarith. It didn't matter if the whole world is against her. If I could be her friend, then that is fine with me. In fact, I wanted to remain a human forever just for her…"

Yukina looked down, "…But your life ended."

"Indeed," Michaela continued, "I should've suspected that it was Ney Marlon under that hood but I was too trusting. But at least I was able to see Clarith again. What will you do now, Yukina? Are you going to tell people who I truly am?"

Yukina went silent. Michaela is a forest spirit. Who is going to believe that fact?

"…I doubt that. I am pretty sure that many won't believe me."

"I suppose you're right. But sooner or later, the truth will be accepted, right?"

"I guess…Can I ask you another question?"

"Of course you may."

"That voice. That singing voice that I heard a while ago…Was that yours?"

"…Yes. I sung that night, that night when Kyle turned into a beast."

So that explains it. During the time when Kyle was under control of the "Demon of Vanity", Michaela sang a song for him. Because of her, Kyle is incapacitated. Michaela…saved everyone that night.

"Yukina? Will you do me a favor?"

"…Michaela? What is it?"

Michaela looked at Yukina with earnest eyes, "…If you can, please tell your mother, 'It's okay. Though if you must know, I forgive you.'"

Yukina paused. Even when the two of them did warm up after first meetings, Mikina did betray Michaela in the end. For that, Mikina is consumed with guilt. But Michaela liked Mikina. Michaela liked working for her and her family. Michaela had already forgiven her. Mikina just doesn't know it yet.

"I'll tell her. I promise."

Michaela smiled, "Thank you, Yukina. You are such a good friend."

Yukina grinned back at her, "Same to you."

Yukina and Michaela continued to talk for a while about Clarith, Yukina's adventure, Michaela's duty as the Successor of Eldoh, and other many things when suddenly…

"Yukina!" "Yukina, where did you go?"

Yukina flinched. Clarith and Riliane are searching for her.

"Oh! I, I need to get going!"

"Yes. You better not keep them waiting!"

"Yeah!" Yukina darted towards the voices. There was Clarith and Riliane.

"Yukina! Where have you been?" Clarith asked.

"I, I was…talking to someone…"

Riliane was confused, "Who? I don't see anyone else here."

Yukina looked back towards the tree. Michaela is nowhere to be seen. Only a tree sapling stood at that spot.

"Eh? Oh uh…I…guess it's nothing."

"Uh huh…Well, I think we should go back to the monastery," Riliane went back to pack everything up.

Clarith looked over at the tree sapling, "You were…talking with her?"

"…Eh? What do you mean?" Yukina decided to play dumb.

"Oh it's just that…she is very precious to me…Well, let's go."

Clarith took Yukina's hand and followed Riliane. Yukina took one more look at the tree sapling.

"…Thank you…Michaela…"

"You're welcome…Yukina."