บท 73: Meanwhile on Endoria
Elara's brow furrowed as she glanced over at Ruby. "So, how much time has passed for Lilith by now?" she asked, her tone filled with concern and curiosity.
Ruby paused for a moment, mentally calculating. "Let's see... we've been on the road for a couple of weeks, but with the way space magic works and the realm I sent her to, time flows differently there. It's been about six months for her, give or take. The realm has a strange temporal shift because of its high magical density. But since Lilith is a being of magic, it shouldn't affect her negatively."
Levy and Ella, who had been quietly flying nearby, drifted closer to the group. Ella, her eyes wide with interest, asked, "Since Levy and I are faeries, would we be able to handle that world as easily as Lilith?"
Ruby tilted her head thoughtfully. "That's hard to say," she admitted, tapping her chin. "Levy's a Guardian of this world, so she can't leave without some serious help. Plus, her connection to this world's magic keeps her tethered here. But both of you are magic-born, like Lilith, so you'd handle the dense magic better than most. However, you wouldn't have it as easy as a dragon or, say, Lilith herself. Her magic has grown beyond what it was before. When she was last here, both Levy and Elara could easily overpower her. But now…" Ruby trailed off, glancing at the group. "When Lilith comes back, you might not even stand a chance."
Ella blinked in surprise at Ruby's words, while Levy remained silent, though her expression hardened slightly. The thought of Lilith growing so strong was both exciting and intimidating.
Tami, the young Fenrir pup, nuzzled at Elara's legs, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. Elara bent down, gently running her fingers through Tami's soft fur. "It seems like Tami misses Lilith," she remarked, a small smile playing on her lips as she looked at the pup.
Ruby chuckled softly. "That's to be expected. Tami grew fond of Lilith, but in that world, Tami wouldn't stand a chance. She'd only be a hindrance to Lilith's growth. The magic there is too overwhelming for a young pup like her." Ruby's eyes softened as she watched the pup, her voice gentle. "But don't worry, Lilith will be back before you know it."
Back in the heart of the Holy Kingdom, within the grand stone chamber of the Light Council, the air was thick with the gravity of the situation. Throrinn, the eldest of the council, sat at the center of the circular arrangement of seven elders, each draped in ceremonial robes signifying their rank and wisdom. Holy Knight Sara stood before them, her posture rigid, a mix of exhaustion and duty clear on her face as she began her report.
"Honored Elders of the Light," Sara started, her voice carrying across the room with the weight of recent events. "I, Holy Knight Sara, report back from our subjugation quest, where we investigated the rumored demon lord."
The elders listened intently as Sara recounted her journey. "We ventured to Everwood, following various clues and whispers. Our search led us to Bez'Eru, a city deep within demon territory. Given the dangers, I took only two of my trusted knights—Sir Aldric, an experienced scout, and Dame Alia, a skilled combat mage—while the rest of my company remained hidden in the nearby mountains for safety and recovery."
The mention of Bez'Eru caused some elders to shift in their seats; the demon city was infamous for its treacherous magic and dark inhabitants.
"The girl we believed to be the demon lord was not present when we arrived," Sara continued, her tone growing more serious. "However, through cautious conversation with the locals, I managed to gather some critical information. According to those I spoke with, this group consists of three individuals—a maid-knight, described as having an air of nobility despite her station; a battle-mage, powerful and disciplined; and a faerie, rumored to control wind magic. Their presence in Bez'Eru seemed unusual, even to the locals, and I was told they moved quietly, attracting little attention."
The elders exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by the details.
"After further inquiry, we discovered that this group had recently left Bez'Eru, traveling back toward Everwood and then further east. Their last confirmed sighting was in Brambleton, a small town on the edge of the kingdom's influence. Unfortunately, we lost track of them there. They vanished without a trace." Sara hesitated, her brow furrowed, clearly frustrated by this part of her report. "Despite our best efforts, we could not pursue them any further."
Taking a breath, she concluded her report. "What I found most concerning, however, is that none of the people I spoke with in Bez'Eru sensed any malice or ill intent from these individuals. They were described as strange but not threatening. If this girl truly is the demon lord, she is either hiding her power very well, or this could have been a wild goose chase."
Silence followed her words, the air heavy with tension as the elders processed her findings.
The council members looked at one another, their expressions contemplative. Finally, the eldest of the group, a silver-haired woman with a commanding presence, spoke. Her voice, though soft, carried a weight of authority that could be felt throughout the chamber.
"This is useful information, Sara," she said. "The fact that none of the locals detected malice suggests that if this girl is indeed the demon lord, she is unlike any we've encountered before. It could be a trick or... something more complicated."
Another elder, his voice raspier with age, added, "We must tread carefully. If this group is traveling without causing harm, it is worth considering whether they pose an immediate threat. But their connection to Bez'Eru cannot be ignored."
The silver-haired woman nodded and then addressed Sara directly. "You have done well in your investigation. We will take this information under advisement and deliberate on the next steps. For now, you may leave us."
Sara bowed deeply, her chest still tight with the weight of the unknown. As she turned and made her way out of the chamber, her thoughts swirled. Though her mission was complete, something about the group she had tracked didn't sit right. What if they were more than they seemed? What if the rumors of the demon lord weren't entirely false?
She had done her duty, but the mystery still lingered in her mind.
As Sara lay back in her quarters, the weight of her armor finally lifted from her body, she stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering. The cool, still air of the room gave her a moment of peace, but it did little to quiet the storm of thoughts swirling in her head. Her sister's words echoed in her mind, resurfacing in the silence.
"Sara," Lyra had said when they last spoke, her voice gentle yet full of conviction. "These people you are looking for… if what you say is true, and there might be a demon lord among them, I can tell you this: I felt no malice from any of them. Rather, I felt... relief. As if they are not bringers of destruction, but perhaps bringers of hope for this world."
Sara had been taken aback by those words. A demon lord, a bringer of hope? It went against everything she had been taught, everything the holy scriptures had warned them of. Demon lords were symbols of chaos, corruption, and ruin. They brought death to the land, twisted magic into foul forms. And yet, Lyra had spoken with such certainty.
"I know you are more devoted to the Goddess Oria than I am," Lyra had continued, her eyes softening as she regarded Sara. "And that's one of the many reasons you became a Holy Knight, to serve with unwavering faith. But if you truly want my advice, listen carefully. Tell the elders what I've told you, about the feeling of relief and peace I sensed. And when you have rested, meditate. Pray to Oria. Ask her for guidance about this demon lord you seek. Perhaps the Goddess will reveal more to you."
Sara sighed as she recalled the conversation. Lyra had always been more in tune with the subtle energies of the world, less bound by strict rules and traditions. Where Sara followed the holy doctrine of Oria without question, Lyra had always looked at the world with a broader perspective, often seeing things that others missed.
But could she trust her sister's intuition when it came to something as serious as this?
Sara shifted in her bed, her mind unsettled. She had seen the tension in the elders' faces when she reported back, the way they had looked at each other when she mentioned there was no malice detected. It was as if they, too, were trying to make sense of a puzzle where the pieces didn't quite fit. Could Lyra be right? Could these people—this group she had been chasing—be something other than a threat?
The thought made her uneasy. If there was even the slightest chance that these individuals were not enemies but rather something else entirely, she needed to approach the situation differently.
Sara closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. Tomorrow, she would follow Lyra's advice. She would kneel before the shrine, pray to Oria with all her heart, and ask for guidance. The Goddess had never steered her wrong before, and if there were answers to be found, they would come through her devotion.
For now, though, her body ached from the long journey, and her mind was tired. She let her muscles relax into the softness of the bed. The mystery of the demon lord and the strange group she had followed still gnawed at her, but for tonight, she would let the worry drift away, trusting that the answers would come in time.
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