บท 24: Name For Her
"Erlos," Draven called for him.
Erlos immediately dropped his work and came to them as he knew why Draven had called him. He knew why Draven had called for him.
"Elder Leeora, let me speak on Sire's behalf," he said in a tone that made him sound like a gossipmonger. "The King has brought her from a human kingdom called Valor. We found that the humans there burned an entire mountain to kill her. They think she is a witch. Oh, she is also the only princess of that kingdom but her family has abandoned her because some human priest declared she was a bad omen who would bring disaster to them. Poor girl."
Leeora listened intently. She didn't find it strange that humans tried to kill a fellow human thinking she is a witch. "Do you know her name?"
"That we don't know," Erlos replied and glanced at the King. "We should have asked around more but Sire wanted to go back to Agartha. I am not to blame."
Hearing those words, a pair of red eyes moved up to look at that whining servant. "Then I am giving you a chance to complete the investigation. Do not come back until you learn everything you can about that creature."
"M-Me, Sire? What—"
Erlos did not even get to finish what he was saying when he disappeared from the study. Draven used his power to send him somewhere far across the continent.
"Did you send him to that human kingdom, Sire?" Leeora asked, but she was not worried. She trusted the King's way of treating Erlos.
"He should be back in a day or two," Draven replied and resumed his work.
Leeora chuckled. "Sire sure has a unique way of training him to make him realize his powers."
"What do you think about that human creature?" Draven asked as he put down the scroll he was holding.
Leeora thought for a while. "I may need a couple more days to be sure, but the human girl seems unable to speak. She seems to be an intelligent child but she wasn't taught basic manners and reacts warily to sudden sounds and movement, as if she's experienced a troublesome childhood. Though she looks about fifteen, she acts like a little girl half her age. Well, looking at her thin physique, she did look like she was mostly starved and—"
"I am not talking about that," he said and looked pointedly at Leeora.
Leeora sighed. "She looks like an ordinary human girl, at least on the surface. It's hard to know anything about her unless I observe her more."
"I cannot sense her existence with my powers," he added.
"With your powers, Sire?" Leeora was aware of Draven's abilities and found it strange. "Interesting. I am sure there is something terribly wrong with her body then."
Draven simply nodded and heard the elf lady continue, "We are not sure if it's her own power or someone else's. Her constitution is human but perhaps she's not a pureblooded human. However, even if one of her parents or ancestors belongs to a supernatural race, it still does not explain how Sire cannot sense her existence. Mixed bloodlines generally give birth to descendants with weaker powers. Do you think she is a mutation with power as great as yours, Sire?"
Draven frowned as if to think, but didn't say anything.
Leeora continued to throw ideas on the table. "There is also a possibility that she is in fact neither a half-blood nor human in the first place, but something is hiding her original identity in the guise of a human body. A kind of seal strong enough to hide itself from your powers, Sire... However, Sire, even among us supernaturals, no one can do it, not the Head Witch, not even the Monarch of the Witches herself. No one can do it except for you, Sire… or those with powers like yours."
"Those gods?" Draven chuckled sarcastically. "Those creatures that the weak humans worship for nothing?"
"What do you mean, Sire?"
Draven shook his head, as if he's not interested to answer. "She's human."
Leeora frowned. "Hmm, then if that girl really is just a human being and not a sealed supernatural…Sire, I apologize but I am lacking in knowledge. I must continue observing her."
He gave out a satisfactory sound, as if the things she said were what he wished to hear.
After a while, Leeora had a thought. "Sire, if you give me permission, I can reach out to the witches and have them cast a spell on the human girl to read her memories. Perhaps we can have a clue as to her life experience, though there is a high chance it might yield no result since if her body can't be sensed by your power, chances are a lesser being like a witch will also fail."
Leeora was sure Draven must have thought about all these possibilities and asked, "What are your thoughts about this, Sire?"
Draven picked up his quill as if to show it wasn't worth thinking about. "Do whatever you want."
Leeora could not say anything and simply bowed before him. "I will excuse myself and take a leave then, Sire."
The King did not give her a response. As she was about to leave, the elf turned around again as an afterthought. "Sire, I am thinking of asking you to give her a new name even if Erlos finds out what she's originally called. "
Draven gave her a bland look as if to say, 'Why will I do that?'
"A new name for her new life," was all that Leeora said as she left. "Please think of a good name for her, Sire."
Draven stopped working the moment she was out of his study. He leaned back in his chair as he mumbled, "Name? Such a bother?"
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