It was late in the evening and I was already transported back to my room in the Nymph Forest.
I'm staring at the dagger sitting on the table next to my bed. The red gem on its hilt was reflecting the moonlit coming from the window.
She had told me the name of this weapon but she did not explain it any further.
I guess it's just an expensive weapon after all. She did said that it can cut through tough metals like a butter but I haven't got the chance to try it. I'll try it tomorrow.
I stared at the moon peaking from my window as I lay down the bed.
I took the time to think about the things that had happened today especially with Llumia-sama's summoning.
"Thank you for this weapon. You said that you originally summoned me here to give this to me. Why?"
It was suspicious that someone would use a very rare magic and runabout methods just to summon someone and give him a weapon.
"Because you will need it, I'm sure of it."
I'm trying to read her expression to see if she is lying but I couldn't see any hint of dishonesty on her face.
"You're sure of it? I don't see any reason for you to give me this."
"Sorry but that's all I can say for now. You don't need to worry about it, I have no ill intentions."
You say not to worry but that makes me feel worried even more.
"Well, since I already gave you that weapon, I'm going to send you back. Don't worry, no one would notice that you disappeared."
"Then how can I explain where I got this?" I held the weapon in front of me.
"Just tell them that it was a gift from the caretaker, they would automatically understand that. Also, I recommend that you should head out on your journey already in 3 days' time. I think that you're ready."
This girl sure knows an awful lot about me.
"…How can I trust your words?"
I looked at her seriously. The last thing I wanted to happen for me is to be tricked in this world.
"I already gave you that weapon, what more proof do you want?"
"I'm thankful for this but I can't just say yes to everything you say. I need to ascertain that I can trust you."
She crossed her arms and think for a while, then she opened her mouth.
She looked at me with serious eyes.
"Because you will regret it if you don't. It's your choice to make. I'm just giving you a free advice."
Gulp… her tone changed a little and I was sucked in by her intimidating gaze.
I don't feel any fear but for me, her words had a heavy impact in them. It's as if, if I don't do it I would certainly regret something for the rest of my life.
"Well that's it for today. I'll send you back now. My magic on the other side won't be able to fool that head maid any longer."
She raised her hand and a large circle with many patterns glowed under my feet and it engulfed the whole place hiding everything from sight.
"Ah! Just one more thing! Why did you call me hero?"
I shouted at her direction. Her image is already hazy from my view.
"You will know when time comes. I wish you good luck. Take care, Ares-sama."
"Hey! Wai―!"
Before I could finish my sentence I felt a lifting sensation. I can't tell which is heaven or earth. My sense of balance became distorted and I can feel myself being sucked in by a force. My consciousness fades and everything was painted in white.
Thud!
I felt my feet landed on the floor. The sound that it made was the sound you would hear when you step on a wood.
When my vision came back to me, I was inside the room.
I did ran quite far from here to the forest so I wondered how did she did it.
Well if she can transfer me to a place far away from here then these distance should not be such a big deal for her.
"Ha.." I sighed at the fact that she did not answered my last question. She also dodged some other questions.
But right now, the weight of her words keeps me from sleeping.
"…I will regret it, huh."
What would I regret? I don't know. All I know is that I need to do it. I could feel how sincere she was when she said that.
I also think that I'm ready to go on a venture. She did say that I'm ready as well. Just where is she observing us?
"She's like a stalker." that's all I could think of.
Tonight, I might not be able to get any sleep at all so I decided to go outside.
The hall downstairs is cold and dark. I opened the door with a creaking sound.
Creak…. It slowly opened. I tried not to make too much sound.
"Mmm! So cold…" When I'm outside the mansion, the breeze of the cold evening blew on my direction.
I stretched my arms and back which made a snapping sound of my bones.
"Now that I think about it, I sweat a lot during the training earlier. Maybe I should visit the spring to freshen up." I went at the backyard and get a towel then I proceeded to the spring inside the forest.
Rustle, rustle…
The grasses that I stepped on made rustling sounds as I go through the forest with my hand produce fire magic as my light source.
"This place is really something. I heard from Alou before that a lot of other forest have umpteen of monsters lurking around. To think that this place is still safe to walk on even at the middle of the night, as expected of Alou's mother."
After walking for a few minutes inside the forest, I reached the entrance of the spring.
I washed here multiple times before so I know the way already. Martha-sensei also told me that I should take my clothes off before heading in the spring because there's no place to put it in if I entered with it.
This is the same spring that Alou had accidentally summoned me, the Spring Paradise.
There are 2 springs in this forest but this one is better and nearer the mansion.
After taking all my clothes I entered the spring with only towel on.
The entrance of the spring was covered in thick fog and the flowers around the place give out the smell of sweet fragrance.
It was a relaxing smell and atmosphere here. I sat on the side of the spring with splashing sounds of water.
"Phew, this is very relaxing."
"Mm?"
When I let out a relaxed sigh I heard a voice on my side. I turned my head to my right and,
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Someone is sitting beside me just a foot away on my right.
"A-A-A-Ares?! Wh-what are you doing here?!"
"Y-you too Alou! Wh-why are you here in the middle of the night?!"
I saw Alou with her half body submerged in the water.
"D-don't look here!"
"S-sorry!"
"AH! Kyaaaa!"
"Wha―?!"
She suddenly stood up and splashing of water was created. She was waving her hand vigorously as her face flushed red from embarrassment.
I immediately closed my eyes and turned to the right when I felt her hands suddenly slammed on my shoulders and a feeling of something soft on my chest.
"Mm!"
"Wh-what?" I slightly opened my eyes to check what happened.
Because of her flustered movements, she slipped to my direction and she managed to support herself from falling by holding on my shoulders but her face it my chest and her lips accidentally touched the part under my collar bone.
She immediately retreated herself.
"Wha! I-I'm sorry! Ah! Kyaaa!!"
But she suddenly hugged me.
"H-hey! What are you doing?" I averted my eyes and there on the side of the spring, I saw her usual white clothes.
"Wha― you're naked?!"
Martha always told her to take off her clothes when going inside the spring because she has a habit to wear one while in here.
"B-because if I don't you will see!"
"I-idiot! It's touching!"
Because she hugged me while naked, the part of her chest got pressed on my own body.
"He-hey! Don't flail around! Are you really that desperate to see me naked?!"
"Huh?! That's not it!" she doesn't seem to realize her position now. so I tried to calm her down.
"J-just calm down for a while okay?"
I said while brushing her head.
Wait, this is sexual harassment right? And wait, who is harassing who?! Not me!
"Just breathe, don't panic, alright?"
"O-okay… fu~, fu~."
She took some deep breath and finally calmed down.
"Okay, good girl."
"H-hey! Don't treat me like a little girl!"
"Ah, s-sorry."
"Seriously, Ares…"
Then we fell silent while staying like in that position for a while.
I don't want to take advantage of her just because of this accident so I decided to break the silence.
"I have something to tell you but first, you can let go now. I'll close my eyes and turn around. I promise."
I said in calm manner and closed my eyes. I could feel that she raised her head to look at me.
"…okay."
She slowly let go of my and I turned around like I promised.
"Is now okay?" I said while still closing my eyes.
"Yes."
Fuu… I exhaled to let out the tense in my chest.
"First, I want to apologize for this. I didn't mean to enter the spring and peep on you."
"I-I know that! Hmppf."
"Eh? So you're angry after all. I'm really sorry."
"…it's fine already. I understand that this is just an accident…"
"Y-yes… thanks."
Now it was me who fell silent.
It was an awkward timing but I have to say this either way.
"So about the thing I want to say is…"
"…Yes?"
She asked, urging me to keep going.
"I think it's time for me to go already."
"E-eh?! When?"
She became flustered after hearing what I said.
"…3 days from now."
"Wh-why so sudden? I told you that you can stay here for a month right? You can even stay here as much as you want."
"The truth is… I met someone earlier. That's also the reason I'm here because I can't sleep after talking with her."
"A girl?!"
"Eh? That's where you would react?!"
"Just answer!"
"Eh? Ah, yes. She gave me an advice and a weapon."
"…just who is it?"
"Nn, the caretaker..,"
"N-no way…."
When she heard the word 'caretaker' she let out a tone as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Do you know her?"
"Of course, how can I not know… she's my mother."
"Your mother? I thought she is the guardian of this forest? The one who talked with me said that this and that forest she owns are different."
"It is not entirely different, just 2 versions of this forest. This is the outer and that is the inner. Her name is Llumia, right?"
That's impossible… to think that she is her mother.
"T-that's right… wait then why did she introduced herself as the Queen of the Wisps?"
"Because she is. More importantly, you met her in person?"
"Y-yeah. She is something else."
"Indeed. She is a Queen after all."
The admiration to her mother reflected on her voice.
"Well, if that's what happened then I guess it can't be helped huh. Mother is always right, she never made any mistakes. You can trust her advice."
"I trust you Alou. If you say so then I guess its okay for me to trust her."
"hehe~ thank you."
"I know this is very sudden and I'm sorry. Also, thank you for everything. If you ever need anything, I mean anything, just tell me."
"That's a promise then Ares. I hope you won't forget those words okay?"
"Of course. Thank you Alou."
We talked for a while and get out of the spring.
It was an awkward and very relieving conversation.
For some reason, my mind is clearer than before and so, I was able to fall asleep.
When I woke up in the morning, my body is so refreshed from the good night sleep.
I started my morning doing some running outside the mansion when I saw Alou sitting on the wooden bench in the courtyard. She was looking at the fountain.
She looked normal for me but when I approached her, her face became red and she waved at me awkwardly.
Something had changed with Alou, but at that time, I have no idea what it was.