Chapter 307: Chapter 307
’What... In the...’
The fantastical event!! It finally–!
— Shush, Human! I will disappear if I don’t make it short! —
’...what the hell.’
— You are the Ninth, aren’t you? I can feel Aenean near so you must have her tear! —
’Uh... Yeah... But wow, doesn’t she reminds you of Theressa? This little thingy.’
— Who’s Theressa? What an odd name. I dislike it. —
I wasn’t talking to– Huh???? Does this thing can read my mind???
— I can. —
!?!?! OMG! My nightmare came true!
— However, how rude! I kindly came to warn you since Fenrir is guarding the Palace and can’t reach you and Aenean’s tear here! But the Ninth calls me a thingy! —
...Sorry... But who’s Aenean? Calla’s guardian spirit?
— That’s right! Yet Ninth! I am with little time as the splinter’s spirit reigns this Forest! It is time I speak my means! —
Oh? Wait, so the legend–
— Shush! I said I have no time! —
Tsk. This little...
— The name is Fathia, I am the courier fairy. My mission today is to warn the Ninth in the name of Fenrir and those in Izeneya. —
’... O–okay. W–What did they say?’ — Nervous since I realised Izeneya had the Gods I kind of... Threatened, when I got the Title, I asked the tiny being.
— Danger will continue to hunt you. Stronger in the near future. —
So it WAS hunting me...
— Stay alert. Elizabeth. —
!!? — I jumped at the sudden mention of my name.
— Guide the child so no harm is dealt by their hand. What you learnt in your past should not happen again. Yet the evil has arrived... We will aid your soul, so keep Aenean’s tear near... That one is wicked... And... Your existence... It..... can’t... permit..... —
’Wait! That’s the best part! Don’t go "poof!" now, Fathia!!!!’ — Seeing it disappear like an exploded bubble, I jumped to uselessly grab the air around the levitating feathers. However.
— Tehee~ Got you~ —
The hell?! It’s not funny!
— It is for me~ — As if joking about my death, the malicious thingy said as it giggled. Turning serious again to continue conveying a vague message.
— Your knowledge will be needed to change your learnings, Elizabeth. The child you reside in, her being cannot disappear from this Sanguine Cinder Realm... May your hazards not take your life. —
’My life... I don’t get if this is a good message or... Hey! Are you joking again?’
— Fathia has to leave now... Ninth, stay safe... Those in Izeneya hold you dear, so follow the instruction... Given by their words... And they will sho...w their fondness... fairly... To the souls... —
Coming near me, Fathia took one levitating feather to place it on my forehead and kiss its tip.
— Blessing from the divine... Stay alive chosen child. —
It was certainly magical. How its body disappeared like a whiff of brilliant breeze... And it’s the appearance itself as well.
Nonetheless...
’This doesn’t help at all though...’ — I thought as I took the feather that stayed on my forehead even once Fathia left. — ’All it does is make me feel more paranoid... Since it proves something wants us dead.’
The only good thing is that I now know I should be more alert in the following days until I hinder the flow by surviving the previous time to the original.
I was honestly shaken even if I understand it, but the birds had remained even though Fathia had disappeared... And they were nice and tender creatures.
One little one first came near, lulling tiny peeps and moving its head so I would pet it.
’... How kind... Are you guys trying to cheer me up?’ — Forgetting the reticence to hold them in my hands I took the little friend that hopped happily around as I lifted it.
The pure sight made me feel better while still worried and I don’t know how it came out like it did, but at some point, I guess we all grew too comfortable... Because as of now... they were playing with my hair. Sticking branches, feathers and who knows what else in it.
The whole experience was really unique. Never in my life did I think something like this could happen to me...
’I’m not even a princess... Our skin’s white though... Maybe they got the wrong person, heh. Wrong princess guys~ hehe... Just kidding.’ — Rubbing one’s tummy, I laughed at the surreal experience.
"Marianne?"
’Hm? Oh, mister.’
"... What... How..."
The Duke that probably came to get us for lunch opened his eyes widely at the actually unbelievable scene. And since I saw how the birds stayed nonchalant at his appearance, I gestured with my hand so he would seat with us since he had told us that he had never seen the marching feathers before.
’Mister come seat with us.’
"...I-Is it alright?... They won’t leave?"
’Come seat already~’
He walked with huge caution to seat with us and we sat there surrounded by the many birds for a while... And it was fun since the birds also came to play with his hair.
"... Maybe our appearances aren’t to their liking. Haha." — He laughed, watching how more things were placed on our heads by the happy creatures.
Nonetheless, they left once finished "decorating" us. And only the duke and I were left seating on the ground with big crowns they had made.
"... They truly were preparing something... Dear, you must be truly loved by the divine. It pleases me greatly."
’I feel more as if they are using me, Mister... But if they show things like these to me... I guess I can let them. Heh. It doesn’t change what I wanted and have to do so... It’s a win-win.’
The day continued as usual after that. Although with an elated Duke that could not stop staring at us with awe. Until he finally said his thoughts.
"I am so grateful I could see you like this, my child... I have not thought this vacation would grant such marvellous sights of you and your demeanour..."
As we walked back to the Forest House he had told us, sending us to our room immediately to rest and cleanse before having our last dinner at this green place.
And it was once I was welcomed by the tear’s symphony that the last magical thing was made clear to my eyes... Since I wanted to see it after being told by Fathia that I should start keeping it nearer.
"I will be back immediately with your bath, my Lady." — I heard Paige say... But I was too fixated on caring for the tear to even bother nodding.
For the second time, my hand went to take it. This time not being rebuked as I took it out of the box... not touching it directly since now it had a thin silvery chain that had the tear encapsulated inside a kind of cage, that I know the crystalline treasure itself wouldn’t touch my skin if it was like this.
’... Its... it’s as if the dancing glints... are the marching feathers... Haha, these tiny details I link together are so lovely and awesome...’
Admiring it on my hand I couldn’t help but think the many birds that had stayed with me today were the shiny specks inside the colourful tear that now were caged inside this fancy wristband that although had it imprisoned... Appeared free still.
’It’s so pretty... Pretty tear you became fancier, hehe... I still feel afraid to take you out of the coffer but...’
Fenrir, and those in Izeneya... Seem serious about making me take Aenean’s tear with me...
Aenean...
’What a good thing to learn. So it’s Aenean and Calla... The friends dancing here.’