Fair warning: This chapter have parts in it that's a lot more depressing than usual.
I'm putting this here to make sure no one reading this got caught off guard.
Chapter 20: Running away
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When she came to, Gnome is in what seems to be an ordinarily small and quiet village. Looking around, she didn't see many people outside of their home.
"..."
Maybe they were shy like her?
Moving along, the spirit started searching for her contractor. If this is his memory, then the past version of him should be here too...
Not many humans have violet color hair like him, so it should be easy enough.
...
...
...
After a couple of minutes of looking around, she is beginning to think he was somewhere outside the village when a sudden noise startles her.
CRASH!
"I said get the hell out!"
"Ah!"
The door to one of the shops next to her burst opened as a young boy about 7 years old were harshly thrown out.
"...!?"
Is that... her contractor?
Observing the scene, the purplette seems to be begging the shop owner for a medicine of some kind. Gnome is disheartened to see him getting horribly denied by the man.
"P-Please! My mother, she needed it! You have to-"
"Oh, your mother, huh?"
The man's face darkened.
"R-Right! My mother is very sick right now and she needs those medicine!"
"Your mother... that woman..."
"...Sir...?"
As the man seems to mull over something in his head, the spirit is starting to feel very uncomfortable.
...What kind of memory is she watching...?
The shop owner jerked his head to the direction of Luka's home.
"I got it... that witch is the one who brought this decease inside our village!"
"Wh-What!?"
"We should have never let her and her husband came here! It was a mistake!"
The shop owner then went to the houses behind him, loudly knocking on the doors.
"Williams! Darious! Mayson! Margaret! I think we finally found what has been bringing this decease on our beautiful village!"
The door to the house, and many others nearby opened to see what was causing the disturbance.
One of the villagers approach the shop owner. "Darnell, what the hell are you talking about?"
"It's those fucking outsiders! These misfortunes came from them!"
"NO! What are you saying!?" The child tries to stop the man but was bashed aside.
"Ghk!"
"Think about it!" He continues, his anger driving him to madness. "Back before they came here. We never have anything like this happening!"
"It's because we allow them to live here that out Goddess Ilias has punished us for our sin!"
As more and more people come to see what is happening, the man's words started working on them, convincing the man who has lost his son, the woman who has lost her husband, and many other people who had suffered and needed an outlet for their anger that the helpless child's family is the problem.
She watches, her concern growing bigger and bigger as many more villagers started picking up pitchforks and sharp fire pokers from their houses.
Horrified, her contractor ran away with tears in his eyes as he witnessed the people who he has lived with for the past seven years of his life would go to such length.
"..."
Ignoring the chaos unfolding before her, the spirit follows her contractor back into his home.
It was no different to the other houses there, albeit slightly bigger. Inside, she saw the young boy kneeling next to a woman on her death bed. Her blond hair messily strewn across the old mattress, pale hand holding a golden ring, and her face hidden by her son's shaking frame.
By the time she enters the room, the spirit had already missed half of the conversations.
"-st like... your father..."
The sound of him trying his best not to cry in front of his dying mother broke her heart.
"B-But why... I don't even w-want to..."
Gnome wanted to comfort her contractor, but seeing as this is all just a memory. There's not much she could do.
"You must... my dear Luka... please..."
CRASH!
It sounded like someone from outside has broken the front door to get inside the house.
"COME ON OUT YOU DECEASE BRINGER!"
Multiple footsteps are getting closer and closer.
"Take... my ring..."
"..."
The door to the room was then brutally assaulted with an axe from the other side.
CRACK!
"...My son..."
CRACK!
"...I c-can't... I'm so sorry... b-but I can't..."
CRACK!
"I never... wanted to be a h-hero..."
CRACK!
"Father was a m-murderer... I don't want to be like h-him..."
CRACK!
"Luka..."
CRACK!
"I'm scare mother... I'm so s-scare... h-how can I be a hero l-like this...?"
CRACK!
The Spirit of Earth witnesses a tragedy happening before her eyes. Powerless to do anything to stop it.
CRASH!
When the door finally broke down, the sound it makes was so impossibly loud that she had to cover her ears before a bright flash of light illuminates the whole room.
A hand grabs her by the collar and roughly pulls her out of the horrifying memory.
===0===
"...!?"
Gnome looks around to find herself back in the dream-like world. It has changed, with dark rumbling clouds, black puddle reaching up to her knee and a disturbing scratching sound echoing through the air.
Turning around, she was greeted by a very enraged yellow-haired woman.
"You are not welcome here."
She tries to explained to the masked woman that she is one of Luka's spirits, the person before her feels like a spirit as well but she has never seen her before. Does that mean her contractor have four being living inside of him this whole time?
More importantly, if the woman is also a spirit, what element does she embodies?
"I have severed the contract. You are no longer bound to him."
Like saying the sky is blue, and the grass is green. The woman before her said those impossible words as if they were facts.
Sweating bullets, Gnome come to the realization that her contract was indeed broken by the mysterious woman.
How?
A contract between a spirit and their contractor is a sacred bond that could only be severs through the people in it actively choosing to end it.
"My name is Luka, just Luka. Let's go on a journey..."
"..." She felt heavily disheartened.
Did... did Luka wanted to severed the contract?
Did he send this masked woman here to kick her out?
As she was lamenting her actions, the woman marches over to the spirit.
Her loud splashing footsteps echo across the world as she went for another grab. This time to ensures the spirit would leave for good.
SWOOSH!
Another person enters the dream-like world.
"...!"
"..."
Grabbing on to Lilly's hand before she could do anything, the forest dweller places himself in front of Gnome faster than anyone could react.
"That's enough..."
His face is red, not out of embarrassment but more so a fever. Sweating from head to toe, trying his best to catch his breath, Luka is clearly not in his best shape at the moment.
"Invasion of privacy..."
"She was trying to get to know her contractor better..."
"Your most repressed and darkest memory..."
"It was never her fault... she didn't know what she was getting into..."
"She almost saw everything..."
"..."
They both gave each other the thousand yard stare. Two damaged people trying to solve a problem in their own way, neither backing out.
All the while, the Spirit of Earth could only stare on in confusion over what's happening.
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In the end, Lilly relents.
"Do as you wish... partner."
Letting go of her hand, he turns away from her.
"Thank you..."
===0===
Gnome blinked.
The hot desert sand beneath her foot notifies her that she's now out of the dream.
"...?"
Looking back up, she saw Luka staring off into the distance.
There's a loss look in his heterochromatic eyes.
Like he doesn't know what to do.
That may be how he feels at the moment. But Gnome certainly knows what she wanted to do.
===0===
When he got a bad feeling about the disappearance of the Spirit of Earth. The purplette started theorizing where she could have been.
The brainstorming session ended with a horrifying conclusion.
Just as he was about to opened his domain and see for himself, a disturbing sound replays in his head.
CRACK!
A scar doesn't leave...
CRACK!
It stays as a reminder of your mistakes...
CRACK!
The forest dweller falls to the ground in phantom pain.
CRACK!
"Gah!"
CRACK!
The thunderous headache is back. Now twice as bad as before.
'What's wrong, buddy!?'
'Your mind is going berserk...!'
'Young man, calm yourself!'
He struggled, fighting through the pain and got himself back up.
Placing his fingers together, he whispers.
"...Domain...expansion..."
SNAP!
A bright flash of light swallows everything near the forest dweller.
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===0===
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It was unfair to everyone involves...
He doesn't blame Gnome for being curious...
He also doesn't blame Lilly for being protective...
In the end, he was grateful that no one got seriously hurt.
But... it did a number on his mental state.
'Wouldn't be able to use Serene mind in a while...'
A small hand tugs on his cloak.
"Hmm?" He look down, it was Gnome.
She had a concern look in her eyes as she tries to get his attentions.
Right. She probably saw almost everything...
He knells in front of the spirit, making sure they're on the same eye level.
"Are you alright...?" He asked.
She frowns, pointing at his face.
"...!"
The Luka from back then would have probably brushed it aside and changed the topic. But after everything he has been through...
He sighs, giving the spirit a sad smile.
"I'm...tired. Not physically, but mentally."
"..." Patiently, she waited for him to continue.
"...What you saw... that was 10 years ago... I thought I was getting better..."
"After all the steps I took... I thought that... one day I could confront it..."
He brought his hands in front of him. She realizes it was the same pose as in the memory. The way he was holding on to his dying mother back when he was a child.
"...But I was wrong..." His eyes dimmed.
"I'm still as pathetic as I was back then..."
'Luka...' Witnessing the state of her dear contractor, Sylph calls out for him.
"..."
Thud.
"...!?"
Suddenly, Luka found himself surrounded by dolls.
Is he being attack by someone!?
'You are not...' Undine's voice calms him down.
And she's right. After all, why would the wind let an attack get to him in his most vulnerable moments?
Looking closer, the dolls were actually hugging him.
'This is...'
A hand started patting his head.
"..."
'She always try to help, in her own way.' Salamander informs him.
Ah... now he understands...
Gnome was trying to comfort him this whole time.
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===0===
Holding out his hand once more, he asked.
"Last time, we got interrupted a bit... let's do it properly this time..."
"...!?"
With shock in her eyes, she questions him.
How can he... after what she did...
"Gnome, would you like to go on a journey with me...?"
"..."
She accepted his hand. And as the light of a new contract illuminated the ruins around them, she also accepts his forgiveness, his friendship, and his worthiness to wield her power.
===0===
Luka find salvations in flying through the sky.
No matter how bad things get, the feeling of being one with the wind will always cheers him up.
'Yay~! Gnomey is here!'
'...'
'Gnomey! Gnomey! Let's go sing a song~!'
'...'
'I LOVE CHI-PA-PA~!'
'...'
He could feel a wave of violent intent flowing out of the Earth Spirit.
'You know... I'm surprise Gnome hasn't done it yet.'
'It is strange...'
'Alright! Now let's sing that song you love Gnome!'
'...!'
'How does it go again? Oh yeah~ Now I remember!'
SMACK!
'Youch!'
'There it is...'
'Her patient ran out...'
Tunning off their shenanigans, the purplette marvels at how beautiful the scenery up here is.
Golden yellow sand stretching out as far as he can see. There's also a few small villages he flew past that has people wearing outfits he has never seen and eating food he had never try. He even come across an oasis.
...That Antliongirl is definitely hiding to trapher prey...
He drops a bag full of oranges in front of her, surprising the monster.
"Huh!?"
He hopes that was enough for today at least.
===0===
'There it is...' The Sabasa Kingdom appears on the horizon.
The Kingdom is also known as the 'Kingdom of the Burning Sands' and is currently ruled by a wise and reliable king. He is a descendant of the monster Sphinx, the first Queen of Sabasa, and therefore has monster blood within him, something he takes great pride in.
His daughter, Princess Sara, is also said to be preparing to take over the Kingdom once she was ready. Her birthday is on the coming day, so if he wanted to attend, he should probably get her a present.
But that begs the question.
What could he possibly give to a princess that she didn't already have an access to?
Food for thoughts...
...
Wait, what is that person doing?
At the edge of the Kingdom, the forest dweller saw a person wearing a hood discreetly walking away from the open market into the desert.
On paper, this doesn't sound all that suspicious but if you took in the fact the wind is literally telling him that the person is going out of their way to hide who they are...
After what happened during his time in Port Natalia, can you really blame him for wanting to be cautious?
Silently landing behind her, the purplette clears his throat.
"!?" Gasping in surprised, the hooded person turns to him.
"Excuse me, the desert over there is really dangerous..."
With their face being cover in shadows, they answer him apprehensively.
"...I am well aware of that."
"And you still choose to travel alone...?"
"Yes. Now, if you have nothing else to say..."
His mind started putting together the pieces.
"Here, I'll come with you."
They sputtered. "Wh-What? You don't have to do such things!"
The forest dweller raises his hands placatingly.
"No, no, I insist. There's no way I would ever leave someone in danger alone."
They went like this for a couple more minutes, until the hooded person gave up and told him to do as he wishes.
All the while, Luka wonders what they are looking for.
To a point they would willingly put themself in danger like this.
===0===
Over the past couple of days, Sarahas been secretly preparing for this moment. When the guards were busy with new visitors coming in for her upcoming birthday, and when her father has to deal with mountains of paperwork to notice her leaving the castle a second time.
Last time she tried to pass the Pyramid's Dragon Seal Trial, she was easily defeated by the monsters inside. After that, she dedicated her entire being into training as hard as she can. Determined to achieve her goal.
She knew that her father would probably be angry at her for sneaking out of the castle again... but it's for a good cause!
Once she achieved the Dragon Mark, she can finally confess her feelings to Granberia!
Well, if she could find the Dragonkin that is.
But that's a problem for future her! The one in the present now have to complete the trial first.
Now... If only this creepy guy would stop following her...
"..."
"..."
Silently watching her from behind with his glowing heterochromatic eyes, the violet hair young man hasn't said a single word since they started walking to the Pyramid.
There's an aura of melancholy coming from him.
But that's not what truly bothers the princess...
His footsteps don't make a sound.
That fact has been bothering her the whole time.
It's... unnerving.
And she's not even mentioning how he's not sweating at all!
They're in the middle of the desert! In high noon! And he's not sweating!
There's so many red flags!
The second he tries anything with her, she'll make a pincushion out of him...
Clutching the handle of her sword, Sara narrows her eyes and continues her journey.
Step by step... little bit by little bit...
She will turn herself into a woman worthy of the Heavenly Knight of Fire!
===0===
The pyramid is a marvel of architecture.
Standing at around 200meter in height, with beautifully carved pillars placed in front of the entrance,the giant structure could be seen under the bright sun of the Safina desert.
He remembers reading that it used to be white back then, but over time the color of the bricks changes to a bright yellow.
'I wonder how many people it took to build this...?'
'A lot of them~!'
'...'
'Well, you're not wrong...'
'It depends on how many people there are back then. When the Kingdom was being build, the Sphinx wanted a place to call her own. Her husband heard this, and decided to have his people build the Pyramid for her as a gift.'
'That's... amazing.'
'Indeed, a true show of his love towards her...'
'Ever wonder if they ever have sex on top of it~?'
'...'
SMACK!
'Uwahhh!'
Moving on, Luka follows the hooded person inside.
Through the beautifully decorated entrance, to the long hallways leading to a splitting point which she immediately went left, he suspects this wasn't the first time she has been here.
And from the way she maneuvers around the corner...
"Hisss!"
CLANG!
"I'm not falling for that again!" Shouted the hooded person. Pulling out her sword and parrying the attack on time.
He is pretty sure they're a woman by this point, and his thought were proven right when her hood got shredded in the ensuing fight.
With short yellow hair, dark blue eyes, and a personalized armor made to fit her figure. Now all he needed was her name...
"Hey!" She turns to him. "Don't just stand there, you said you wanted to help me!"
The forest dweller tilts his head at this.
She's doing well, and her opponent is purposefully trying not to seriously harm her.
Why would she need his help?
Despite questioning it, Luka still comply to her request, swiping his hand and sending out a small wind blade towards the Lamia, knocking her back against the wall.
"Hissss!"
Sara was greatly surprised by this, but seeing an opportunity in front of her, she went in and knock the monster out with the broad side of her weapon.
As she took the chance to recover, Luka walks past her and drops a bag of jerky on top of the unconscious Snake girl.
"...What was that?"
"Turns out Snake girls really like jerky, so I left her with some when she woke up..."
She sputters. "No! Not that! I'm talking about the magic you can apparently use!"
"What about it...?"
"..."
"..."
"Never mind... let's just move on."
===0===
Muffled noises reached the ancient monster inside the Pyramid. Paying closer attentions, she could tell it's her descendant taking the trial once again.
"Take that!"
CRASH!
"This is the result of my training!"
SMACK!
"I can still fight!"
CLANG!
"I need help!"
THUD!
"Please don't push yourself..."
"Hmm?" That last one is not her descendent, it's another person.
A very powerful and potentially dangerous person...
It seems Sphinx has to take matters into her own hands.
===0===
"Who are you...?"
Lowering his wind barrier, the Mummy girl fall unconscious from the impact.
"Luka, just Luka. I'm a traveler from Natalia..."
That's one less jerky...
"Is every traveler from Natalia normally as strong as you?"
He let out an awkward chuckle, "I'm... not sure I can be classified as normal..."
"Hmm?"
"I tell you mine, what's yours?" He changes the subject.
She was quiet at first, but decided that if he was a bad person, he could have easily force himself on her all this time. The fact he has helped her all the way here, it wouldn't make sense unless he was actually just trying to help her.
"Sara... just Sara."
"It's good to meet you, miss Sara." He gave a light bow, dodging the arrow fired from the mechanism ahead.
"Why are you helping me?"
"At first, because I was worried. Now, because you ask for my help."
"..."
As simple as that...?
Their smile started matching each other's.
===0===
A very obvious important looking entrance to the Sphinx stood right ahead of them as they defeated the group of Lamia sisters. The were very determined if nothing else, the youngest one of them even clung on to Luka in vain attempts to seduce him.
After telling the little one he is spoken for. Luka gently pry her off and send her away with a bag of sausages.
"Hmph!" The small Lamia slithers away with a huff.
'That kid is gonna be a menace when she grew up~'
'Tell me about it...'
'...'Gnome nodded in agreement.
'If you think that is bad, you guys should've seen Granberia back then!'
As much as he would have love to hear that story, Sara is getting impatient.
"The Sphinx is right there! Let's hurry."
"Every journey has an end, don't rush yours, miss Sara..."
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...
...
Just as they predicted, inside the beautifully decorated room, the ancient monster stood before them. Her appearance is that of a giant dog with a woman's upper body on top of where the head is. Her dark scarlet eyes, white pair of wings, four blue serpents around her, and what little clothing she wore only serves to make her looks more regal than she already is.
Staring impassively at them, a crown designed to resembles a cobra rested atop her head.
"What brings you here again, child?" She asked.
"Great Sphinx! My name is Sara, the princess of the Sabasa Kingdom. And I'm here on my second attempts for the Dragon Mark!" His companion immediately answers.
Because of course she is, at this point, the forest dweller isn't even surprise anymore...
"My name is Luka. I'm here to help a friend..." His simple reasoning ironically drew more attention than Sara's spirited one.
"How interesting." Said the Sphinx, a strange glimmer in her eyes.
"Now then, before I gave you both the mark. You have to answer my riddles correctly."
Oh?
"I have spent many years thinking of riddles that is suitable for this trial, and all those who are wise enough to answer them correctly may receive the mark."
This is new... a test of wisdom instead of combat?
It's clear to say, the purplette is getting invested.
But wait, if he does this right, he would get the Dragon Mark.
Unless Donna is secretly a dragon all this time, why would he need that?
'It's preferable, to have something when it is unneeded, then to not have it when it is needed...'
'You just wanna hear the riddles, don't you~?'
"..."
SPLASH!
As his fairy friend suffers the consequences of her actions in the background, Luka decided to wait and see how thingswould play out.
"I choose Luka to represent me! He's proven to be wiser than me throughout our journey to get here!"
Or she could do that. Never mind then...
He clears his throat to hide his embarrassment and to give himself a bit more time to prepare.
"Ahem... I appreciate the complement, miss Sara."
'But for the love of everything, please tell me next time you're going to make an executive decision by yourself...'
Turning back to the Sphinx, the way her mouth is slightly upturns, she could probably tell how he actually feels.
Oh boy...
...
...
...
With a solemn understanding of the hidden meaning behind her riddles, Luka answers the last questions.
"I don't know..."
"Indeed, for after all these centuries, I also share your answer..."
As all the questions are related to humans and their lifespan, Sphinx then reveals her backstory, having loved a human male, but she was forced to watch him die of old age. She then asks what they would have done, if their life is ending sooner than their lover.
The thought of leaving Donna all by herself... knowing she would mourn him for years to come...
It was a new fear he unlocked that day.
Knowing she inadvertently brought him here; the princess couldn't help but felt a little guilty after seeing his anguished expression.
As for Sara herself, as long as she could spent the rest of her life with the Dragonkin, she would gratefully leave this world with a smile when her times come.
Sphinx was a bit disappointed by her answer, but kept it to herself.
'My descendent is still young, there's still time for her to grow pass such simpleminded thinking...'
"In the end, I ask you this, because you hold a very strange fate, Luka."
"Should I be concern...?"
She shook her head.
"Only if you're running away from it..."
He took her words in consideration.
...
"Oh, by the way... miss Sara?"
The princess waves her hand at this.
"It's fine, Luka. You don't have to be so formal."
"Right. I wanted to ask who you're going to propose to..."
After all, what kind of Dragon girl could have won the heart of a royalty? He was really curious in knowing them.
"Well..." She started blushing a little. "Just so you know, her name is..."
...
...
...
His mind blanked out.
===0===
They left the Pyramid with a matching mark on their left hand. While Sara is ecstatic about it, the forest dweller tries to think of a believable explanation in case he was asked about it by his friends.
'Don't worry guys, I wasn't going to marry a Dragon girl. I just got this from helping the Princess of the Sabasa Kingdom complete the trial so that she could propose to Granberia!'
...Yeah. That's not working.
Still in cloud nine, Sara turns to him. "Thank you, Luka. I won't forget this!"
He gave her a small, yet genuine smile. "Don't mention it."
"On the contrary, I must mention it!"
"..." He took on a thinking pose. In truth, he should be thanking her for giving him something to keep his mind occupy. But it looks like she isn't going to let it go.
"Hmm... what can I ask for?"
"If it is within my capabilities."
Got it.
The forest dweller let out a small chuckle. "How about inviting me to your birthday party tomorrow? I've never been to someone else birthday, so it'll be a new experience..."
"Of course!" Her eyes light up in happiness, easing his melancholy.
Luka are now personally invited to attend by the princess herself.
Talk about going a bit overboard...
===0===
As he escorted her back to the Sabasa Kingdom, she told him of several places he could try going for a visit. Some beautiful villages near an oasis, to the gorgeous beach southwest from here. And lastly, she requests for him to find out what was wrong with the Witch Hunt Village.
Apparently, there were reports of strange things going around in there.
"I know it's selfish for me to request something of you after all you have done, but as the future ruler of this kingdom, I'm naturally worry about the state of the nearby settlements..."
He could honestly never blame her for that.
"I'm going on a journey, visiting the village you wanted me to is just going to be a convenient part of it..."
Her eyes soften. "You're very reliable, Luka."
"I do try..."
===0===
"So, let me get this straight..." His deep, grumbly voice echoes throughout the throne room.
Deliberately pausing his words, the King of Sabasa level his piercing blue eyes over to him, radiating an aura of pure intensity only a protective father could have.
Oh boy...
"You found someone suspicious leaving my kingdom and decided to follow them to the Pyramid to keep them safe. Despite the fact you know nothing about them. And then, after finding out that the person is actually my daughter, you still decided to help her pass the Pyramid's Dragon Seal Trial because you... feel it is the right thing to do?"
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
"Do you understand how much danger you are putting her through by not stopping her, or at the very least, informing me of this?"
"That is not fair, father! Luka has been nothing but-"
"I am not talking to you, Sara." Not even taking his eyes away from him, he continues. "Tell me, young man. If at any point during the trial had my daughter been seriously harmed. What would you have done?"
Luka thought about it for a few second, choosing his next words carefully.
"Then... I would have healed her with my magic and brought her here. It would be clear to me then, that she wasn't ready to take the trial."
"And if I were to order for you to be thrown in jail for not taking her here sooner?"
"I'd accept and do my time in there for endangering your daughter."
"Would you really? Are you saying this now because you truly meant it, or are you only saying what you think I wanted you to say?"
"No. I truly meant what I said. You have every right to be angry with me for allowing your daughter to be in a potentially dangerous situation."
"..."
"..."
A couple tensed minutes passes as they stare into the other. It got to a point where even the guards next to the king is starting to feel nervous for the forest dweller.
And then, as the king closes his eyes in acceptance. The pressure around the room dies down.
"Very well... I believe you. Thank you for bringing her back here safely, young man."
Luka gave a bow of respect. "Of course..."
"Now then!" The muscular royalty perks up in sudden excitement.
'Wait what?'
"Tell me, are you a hero, Luka?"
"No. I'm not. Just a traveler..."
The king nodded to this. "I see... So are you in any form of romantic relationship with someone?"
It hit him like a blow from Granberia.
"Wh-What?"
"Oh no... he's doing it again..." Sara exasperatedly covers her eyes.
"Because if not, then please feel free to marry my daughter!"
His mind blanked out for the second time that day.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's note: I hope I did the 'big reveal' moment in the beginning justice. It was hard trying to put enough for the reader to understand, but vague enough to leave it to the imagination.
Fun fact: I was going to make the entirety of Safina after the encounter with Gnome a montage of Luka getting used to having the power of four spirits before moving on to the next arc. But then I remember Sphinx exist, and realize how much of waste it would be to skip the interaction between her and this version of Luka.
So moving on, next chapter is gonna be filled with my usual fast pace writing.
