Chapter 12: Some sunny day...
Luka has never hold someone while flying before, so he was understandably worried when he takes off with El in his hand, holding her in a bridal carry as she doesn't have legs that he could grab on to. It's an odd sensation, the way her scale looks smooth and pretty, yet he could feel the powerful muscle underneath.
"This is so much fun!" She yells out, evidently enjoying her first time flying.
"Careful, don't move too much." He softly reminds her.
"You said that already! I'm not that forgetful you know?" Now looking at him with a pout, the young mermaid huffed and turns away.
"...Sorry."
"Hmph!"
The forest dweller is starting to believe he would never be able to understand girls. Sometimes they would do something weird and get mad at him for asking, sometimes he would mind his own business and they would still get mad at him.
He thinks that's one of the reasons he prefers just talking to Sylph. She's as blunt as a hammer, there are no ulterior motives,if she has something she wanted to do she would just do it and ask if he wanted to join. Despite him being a completely hopeless case back then, she never once gives up on him.
One of his reasons for going on this journey in the first place is to make her proud. To show her that all those years of believing in him isn't for nothing.
Looking at El, she's back to marveling at how pretty the views are. At first, he wanted to go to Grand Noah to continue on their journey. But after realizing he never spent time with her like he said he would, Luka decided to take a detour to a beautiful spring nearby.
The young mermaid was excited to hear this and Sylph also said she wanted to visit an old friend of hers there, so he figures it would be a good idea.
===0===
After a bit, the purplette saw it, Undine's Spring. Despite being called a spring, it stretches for kilometers and It's one of the few unpolluted areas inthis world. Free from human settlement, nature could be seen thriving inthe area, he even finds some plants that humans haven't discovered yet with his memories of encyclopedias in the Underground library.
Due to these factors, slimes congregate here as low-grade slime monsters can only live in unpolluted places with a pure water source. The forest dweller wonders if they could see one in the area. Slimes sound fascinating to him, maybe he could even be friends with them.
Well, if they didn't try to force themself on him, of course.
Landing near a big lake right in the middle of the spring, he made sure the ground was solid enough to handle his weight. There's this mystical energy in the air, like the one he's familiar with in the Forest of Spirits. The only difference is that instead of playfulness and gentle chimes, it exudes an aura of tranquility and peace.
"Hey, Luka. Are you okay?" Ask the young mermaid as she pauses from exploring the area to check on him.
"It's fine. Just feels different." He gave her a vague answer, thinking she should just enjoy herself and let him deal with it.
"Oh! You mean like, the way magic here is weird?"
He blinked, not expecting her to feel it too.
'Guess she got a talent for it. Either that, or her mother is very good with arcane arts, and she inherited it.' He thought to himself.
They talk a bit after that, he explains how the place is making him feel weirdly calm and said she wanted to take some stuff for memorials. Luka is somewhat concerned by the lack of monsters in the area but since nothing bad has happened, he just plays around with El for a while.
Swimming was fun, especially when your friend is a mermaid. She would pull him along and manipulate the current to clear a space where they wouldn't disturb any wildlife living there. At first, he thought she wanted to show him something but after sometimes figures she just wanted to hold his hand while they played.
Luka think that It's precious, even if he couldn't help but get embarrassed about it.
It's too bad the pages don't like water; he would have loved to have them here too. El started pouting again after he told her that, so he cheered her up by giving her a beautiful crescent moon hair pin he got by doing a quest.
Sylph calls him a playboy. He doesn't know what that means, but it made him self-conscious.
...
...
...
By the time the sun was going down, the twohad already found everything interesting in the area, from flowers he hadnever seen before, to unique species of fishes that people thought had gone instinct. With their fear for people forgotten, they curiously surround the forest dweller and El, some even trying to eat his long hair.
The memoryof the young mermaid blissfully laughing at him having to get fishes out of his hair is forever secure in his mind, never to be forgotten.
Luka remembered that Sylph said her friend was somewhere around the area and asked her about it.
'Hey Sylph...'
'Hmm~' She chimes
'You said you missed your friend and wanted to meet them again. Where are they?' Even after looking around, he still couldn't find them.
'Of course you can't find them, Deeny would always hide in her cave after all!' Said the Wind Spirit.
'A cave?'
'Yeah! But It's a secret cave!' She said, as if that explained anything.
'Right...'
Let's see here, by what his friend said, this friend of hers should be somewhere around here... It was hard to pinpoint exactly where that is, but it must be close to where they are as the magic in the air is thicker than anywhere else.
"Hey..." The forest dweller turns to his mermaid friend happily eating the salted fish he brought.
"What is it, Luka~?" She replies, full of cheers.
"Sylph said her friend is somewhere here, but she's in a secret place."
"Like, a high tier concealment spell? Or is someone using an elaborated magic tool to put a mirage overthe place?" She guesses, tilting her head.
That throws him for a loop. The fact that El can randomly say something so eloquently.
"R-right, something like that. Do you know where it is?"
"Hmm..." She hums, moving around in searching before pointing behind him.
Turning around, he sees something hidden under a bush, there's a patch of grass that's been suspiciously flattened. Knowing either of them has done that, Luka theorized it might have been the slimes.
"The entrance is probably there! It feels the weirdest!" El explained her reasoning, now back in her simple speech pattern.
"Thank you, El. I owe you for this." Walking over to the bush, Luka moves it aside and sees that the water is slightly glowing there.
"...I'll remember that..."
"Hmm?" He turns back to El after hearing her say something under her breath. He's not connected to the wind deeply right now, so he misses what she might have said.
"N-Nothing! El didn't say anything!" She insisted.
Not wanting to get nosey, the forest dweller leaves her to it. Inspecting the water again for anything he could find.
A foreign voice speaks to him then, gently, yet firmly.
'Do not come here, human. Leave this place.'
The purplette was surprised for a moment, before replying.
'Are you Undine, Sylph's friend?'
He receives no answer for a bit, until the voice speaks again.
'I must admit, this is the first time I've been reduced to being mentioned as only her friend.' They said, a bit of light humor in their tone. 'Usually, they would try and flatter me with appealing names in hope it would liken me to them. You did not try to do so, is this a sign of rudeness or ignorance?'
His eyes widen. 'Of course not! I would never be rude to someone Sylph cherished so much.' Lowering his head, he continues. 'I... didn't know my words might have come off as insensitive, so I apologize, Madam Undine.'
'...'
Luka started sweating in worry when she didn't respond, thinking he might have messed it up.
'Honestly,' They finally said, 'when I sense you coming here, acontract with her spanning years, I never would have thought that you would be so polite. Considering Its Sylph, I'm surprise.'
'Um... thank you?'
'You can tell her I'm here now. Since she wanted to see me so much, I might as well say hello too.'They end their words with a sigh.
Luka was about to ask her if something was wrong, but a louder, happier voice drowns it out.
'DEENY~! It's been so long! How are you?' Chimes his friend. Greeting the voice with her usual boundless energy.
'...I'm fine, Sylph. Hello to you too.'
The two old friends went off from there, talking about how they are and what they're doing now. Sylph talks about the journey they're going through right now and what they've seen so far, Undine gave out a comment here and there, seemingly impressed by the story but he could never tell due to them having a subdued nature and monotone-like voice.
All the while, the forest dweller would sit down and let them catch up. He would add his thoughts sometimes, mostly when his friend wanted him to explain something for her and then went back to letting the two chats. Undine sounded very curious about Luka, but his friend would chime in and answer her questions for him whenever it came up.
Things went on like this for a couple hours and by the time they finished talking with each other his mermaid friend had already fallen asleep, her head resting in his lap while the purplette tried not to stare too much, not wanting to look like a creep.
'Tell me, Luka. Despite saying that you are very shy and would prefer to live a quiet life inside the Forest of Spirits, you still set off on an is it you wish to achieve in this journey of yours?'
He had a feeling that questions were going to be asked a lot in the future, so with that in mind, Luka took a moment to think of a proper answer. It couldn't be vague or else some people might misunderstand him; it can't be overly descriptive too.
'To be honest... I don't really have a clear goal I wanted to achieve. So as of now I can't give your question a concrete answer.' He decided to tell her the truth.
'Truly? From what I've heard you have done quite a few things many could never achived. And yet you still lack ambitions?' The voice questions.
The forest dweller sheepishly rubs the back of his head. 'Well, I wanted a lot of things to happen. Like how I wish to be able to hold a conversation with anyone without problems, or how I wanted to help good people I met along the way. How I wanted to forge bonds with more people in the future and make memories with them.'
He then sighs, looking at the beautiful night sky above. 'I also wanted to be stronger seeing as there are people like Alma Elma and Chrome who would selfishly enforce themself and their ideals on everyone around them... and it bothers me when I see that.'
'How do you mean?' They encourage him to continue.
'I mean like... when I see someone who's using the power they have to oppress other people... it made me feels suffocated, uncomfortable.' His brow furrowed as he tried to put his thoughts to words.
'And why is that?'
Soft blue eyes fall on the young mermaid peacefully sleeping below him, he imagines her, and his other friends being manipulated and controlled by people with malicious intent. That thought disturbs him in ways he never knew he could be.
'Because every living being in this world deserves freedom. As long as they're not hurting anyone, they should live their life however they wanted. At least, that's how I see it.' He finishes his words, feeling better after letting out his thoughts.
'...I see.' They respond, a bit absentminded.
'Luka, I have a requestfor you. If you don't mind.'
The sudden request surprised him, but he nodded to them.
'What is it, Madam Undine?' He had a few ideas in his head, but what would a powerful being like her want from him?
'Just my name is fine. And as for my request, I would like to meet you in person.'
'Oh, you mean I'm allow inside the hidden area?'
'Yes, please don't bother my fellow slimes. Other than that, make your ways in the deepest part of the cave and I will wait for you there.'
The forest dweller gently held the young mermaid in his hand as he got up. He doesn't feel like leaving her here for a bit is dangerous seeing as the area is empty, but just to be careful he asked.
'Do you mind if I bring my friend with me?'
'Of course, as long as she didn't cause any trouble.'
It took a bit to wake her up, but he did manage to inform the sleepy mermaid about what they were about to do. Holding on to his right hand, she follows him into the secret cave Undine is in.
The second he set foot in the water; he was transported into a damp subterranean cave system which is where the slime population live. It was dark, other than some glowing moss he could see no other source of light, so with that in mind, he made sure to deepen his connection to the wind. He wanted to be ready, just in case.
Pulling his friend along, they started exploring the area. Not many slimes show up, and even if they saw one, they would mostly run away or quietly hide in the corner. It reminds him of what he was like back then, but unlike him they don't have a choice but to hide in here.
A profound sense of sadness fills him as he realizes most of them probably had never gone out and journey across the world like he is. And all of that is because humans have been polluting the place they used to live in.
Luka wonders if there's anything he could do to help when he remembers he could cure the air of toxin with the wind like he did back with the rampaging Dryad. So, if he could do that, can he also help them by curing the environment outside?
He's not a hundred percent sure, but he should still try.
Eventually, they walk into a spacious part of the cave and saw them. The one who had asked the purplette to come to her. Undine, the Spirit of Water, and one of the four original spirits that have existed since the beginning of the world.
Her appearance is like a combination of a slime and a mermaid, with her body being resembling a woman with light blue skin, a pair of green eyes full of wisdom and her lower body looks like a tail of a mermaid that split into four. She gazes upon them as they enter, her expression calm and collected, as if she had decided on something after a long consideration.
"Welcome and thank you for coming." She spoke, her voice was calm and steady unlike the energetic and playful Spirit of Wind.
Luka nodded to her, motioning for El to greet the spirit as well. The young mermaid is only half awake, so she just groggily waves back. That's good enough he supposed.
Undine doesn't seem to mind and continues with her words.
"Tell me, Luka. What do you think about the relationship between monsters and humans?"
Like before, he took a moment to think about it before answering.
"Unfortunate. It would have been much easier if both could come to understand each other."
She nodded back at him before asking her second question.
"Do you think It's possible for both monsters and humans to coexist eventually?"
"I hope so. I believe everyone would be happier in a world where that could happen." This time, Luka didn't need time to think. He answers her immediately.
The Spirit of Water smile at this, "Very well, now let me ask you one last question."
The forest dweller readies himself for anything she could ask. His face set in a concentrated look contrasted by the sleepy mermaid next to him.
"Would you mind if I join you on this journey?" She simply said.
"..."
"..."
"ZzZzZzZzzzz..."
His mind went blank for a second, not expecting this. When he came to, It's by the sound of his fairy friend.
'Deeny wanted to join us? YAYYY~!'
At this, both Luka and Undine sigh in exasperation.
"I understand my words may have come as a shock. But know that I never plan on being a useless tagalong. If you except my proposal, I would lend you my power as the Spirit of Water." Undine explains to him.
Luka shook his head at this, "No! It's not that I don't want you to come with us. I just wasn't expecting that is all..."
"So, does that mean you'll agree? I could use some new sceneries, It's been so long..."
The forest dweller looks conflicted, Undine wasn't a bad person, he actually found her pleasant to talk to. But he was used to having Sylph in his head, having another spirit in his mind is probably going to take a while to get used to.
Not to mention, Sylph has been with him since forever. He would say stuff to her that he would never say to anyone else, and to have the Spirit of Water there... honestly, he's hesitant to have that safe space breached by another person.
'Luka?'His friend chimes. There's worry in her voice.
"Are you alright?" Undine said next, also noticing his hesitance.
He held out hishand in a placating manner. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Ah, it looks like none of them believes him. That's bad.
'You don't have to say yesif you don't want to.'
"I agree. Please don't be pressure into excepting my request."
...
The forest dweller took in a deep breath, clearing head in the process. Thinking back on the reasons he started on this journey to begin with.
One step at a time... little bit by little bit...
"...Undine." He finally said after a while.
She calmly faces him, staring into his eyes. He could see no hidden motives or malicious intent in hers. The wind also has no qualms with the spirit.
He held out his hand for her, "I would be happy to have you on this journey."
Smiling at that, she took his hand. "Thank you, I'll be in your care from now on."
As their hands met, he could feel it, a foreign sensation in his head. If his mind is like a house, Undine is patiently waiting outside the door. He imagines opening that door, letting her in. And with that, their contract is sealed, another spirit inside his mind.
Luka heard the two old friends in his head greeted each other.
'Welcome aboard Deeny! I'm the captain in here!'
'Firstly, this is not a ship. Secondly, why are there dead leaf all over the floor?'
'Of course there is! It came from the tree, silly!'
'...Why would you put a tree in the living room? Also, that milk is expired, you probably shouldn't drink it.'
'It is!? No wonder it smells funny...'
The forest dweller let them speak in the background as he started sensing the area around him. The power of Undine is said to give the user an unparallel spatial awareness. At first, he didn't feel anything different from normal but then he felt it, the changes in the 'Flow of the World'.
From the way a droplet of water falls to the floor, to El's soft breathing as she slumbers away, all the way to each and every slime inside the cave going about their daily lives. It was a too much information, overstimulation kicking in and Luka had to turn the connection off and regain his bearings.
"Woah..." He breath out softly. The purplette knew that having the power of a spirit is describe as 'basically cheating' in the book due to how powerful thy are. But this is the first time it truly feels that way. With both Sylph and Undine, by the time Luka mastered their abilities...
Luka was never a bragger, but realistically speaking, he thinks now one should be able to touch him at that point unless they can manipulate space itself.
Once he's ready, the forest dweller taps into Undine's power and witnesses the world around him changing through the flow. This time, he kept it near him. Then as he started getting familiar, he slowly expanded the range of his senses.
'It's so peaceful, Icould almost fall asleep like this.' He thought to himself.
'Yeah! Deeny's power is pretty cool, huh?' Sylph added.
'What do you mean? He just got my power, there's no way he's-!?' The water spirit pauses mid-sentence as she saw him using the state of flow to observe the entire cave.
'How? That's impossible!' The calm in her voice disappears as she is exposed to the abnormality of Luka, the one she had made a contract with.
'Yeah! My friend is really cool, huh?' Sylph added again.
'This... has never happened before. Even - took a year to do this...' The Spirit of Water said under her breath.
Suddenly, something weird happens. In his flow state, the purplette senses a slime girl leaving in the back of the cave. He thought that they avoid doing that due to the outside being too polluted for them.
It's probably nothing, but he asks Undine just to make sure. When she heard about this, she was similarly confused and told him to check on what the slime was doing. After making sure not to wake the young mermaid, he lifted her up and went after them.
Upon finding a secret exit behind a wall in the cave, the Spirit of Water grew concerned, he walked through it to be met with the outside. It's a bit farther than the spring, and he could smell something horrible in the air.
'This is...' Undine is sounding more and more worry.
Still holding on to El, Luka pulls out Iris from her sheath and focuses on his connection to the winds. It's hard to have the flow activated with his other connection on the way, so for now he turns it off and uses the familiar power. Raising his partner in the air, all the vile pollution in the area was lifted and gathered in a single point before him.
Swiping his sword, the mass of weird substances is then cured and harmlessly falls to the ground, no longer damaging the water. With the air now clearer, he also let the wind shield around them disappear.
"That should do it." He exhales softly, feeling a bit drained after that. The pollution around the area must've been a strong one. But for now, the slimes should be able to play around outside like he and El did.
Undine was shocked by this, but soon enough she regained her bearings. They try to look for the slime that had left through the exit, but she seems to have disappeared entirely.
Despite the anticlimactic ending, he saw some slimes coming out to inspect the clean unpolluted area and wave at them. They look unsure, but some of them wave back, and that's enough for him.
After Undine explain to them about her departure, she assigned her most loyal followers as the temporary leader until she got back. And with that, Luka takes into the air once more.
===0===
Saying goodbye is never easy, this fact stays true as a crying El holds on to him, burying her face in his shirt like last time. They were back in Port Natalia, and he waited until she woke up to tell her he was going away.
As expected, she started throwing a tantrum and shouted at him to stay and that she would cry if he left.
One of his hands rested on her shoulder, while the other on her back, softly patting the sadden mermaid. "Don't be like that... we had so much fun today, remember?"
"No." She hiccupped, "Y-you can't..."
"Think about your mother, she'll be worried if you just disappear won't she...?" He tries to reason.
"Then...! El wait until mommy gets here and told her!" She desperately bargained.
"We don't know how long that'll take; I would have been gone by then..."
"I won't let you." The statement would have been ominous, if not for her looking at him with a face full of hot tears and snot while saying so.
He wipes her face with his new cloak and reminds her of the times they had spent together, how those memories would still be there with her even after he's gone.
"We'll meet again... I don't know when or how... but I know we'll meet again some sunny day." Luka tried his best to keep his voice steady as he said that.
"Promise...?"
He linked his pinky finger with hers. "Promise."
...
...
...
Soaring through the air, his eyes wander over the new necklace he now wears around his neck. It's a white rock that's been carved to look like a star and polish by hands. Very amateurish, there's visible mistakes all over it.
'Are you alright, Luka?' The Spirit of Water said to him.
He wipes the tears from his eyes, focusing ahead.
"Yeah... just thinking about something."
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when It's a true friend.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's note: Goodbye Port Natalia, It's been a fun ride.
Next up, the colosseum. Oh boy...
By the way, if you understand the reference I put in the goodbye part, you earn a pat on the back.
