Chalice look dumbfoundedly at the priestess. Her words seeped into her very soul. Somehow an epiphany was inching its way into her mind. The bigger part of her wholeheartedly accepted Hikari's words. They made so much sense that she couldn't refute it even if she tried. However, there was still that trace of the evil voice trying desperately to make itself heard. She did her best to ignore it as she continued to ponder.
Light huh? Could finding the light of her life really liberate her from all of these misery? Honestly, she didn't want to run away anymore. Chalice yearned immensely to truly live her life to its fullest. She wanted to use her capabilities to prove her worth. To leave her mark in the world. She didn't want to die like she did back on Earth. Silently. Without a trace, without anyone knowing, and without anyone mourning for her.
But how will she know if she found her light? What was this light in the first place anyway? Chalice was lost. For the first time, this genius did not know what to think or do. So she looked at the woman in front of her. The woman whose eyes seemed to hold all the mysteries of this world.
"How would I know if I already found my light?"
The priestess smiled at her question.
"You've already found it. You'll realize this yourself soon enough. And when you do, young lady, don't push it away."
Chalice sighed exasperatedly at Hikari. She tried. But she just can't keep up with all her mysticism. She didn't dwell on it though. If she has found it, then that's good enough. Chalice will take the priestess' word for it.
---
Meanwhile, Luke has exhausted his horse again. He hasn't taken any rest and only stopped briefly to eat a few bites of food and drink water. His heart cannot settle as long as he hasn't found the princess.
He has already entered the inner sanctuary of the Zeru Mountains. He wanted to check in with the Amaterasu tribe which was half a day's ride more. Luke was hoping that some of the Amaterasu people may have seen Chalice running about in the forest. It was fortunate that her horse was also easy to single out.
Most people weren't aware that there was a tribe residing deep into the inner areas of the mountain range. It was also coincidence that Luke came to know about it.
It was during a hunting trip he spontaneously took because William basically forced him to take a day off. Zeru Mountains was the better option for the excursion because he didn't need to worry about fogs like in the Cloud Forest of Nephele.
Luke was chasing an elk when he stumbled upon a blind lady trying to harvest peaches from its tree. He didn't know whether to laugh or pity the woman. Still in the end, he helped her pick out the fruits. In turn, the woman invited her to the tribe. It turned out that she was the Priestess of the Amaterasu tribe. Their figurehead.
He was quite jubilant when he found out because it was said that none has ever confirmed that the tribe really existed. And that even if some people did encounter the tribe, they kept mum about it. It was only when he met them himself that he believed it was only right for them to hide themselves. The beauty and wealth of their place would drive people with greed. Aside from the fact, that the tribe was a bit on the naive side because of the countless years of seclusion.
He became fond of them and their honest to goodness personalities. Except maybe the priestess. Luke does respect her. However, Lady Hikari had the power to render a person reeling in confusion at her words.
He wasn't spared of this. Though for others, it wasn't much. Luke felt as if the priestess stripped him bare of his secrets. It was as if she knew everything about him and yet she just chose not to divulge it directly but through confusing riddles. It was a scary feeling for him.
Luke continued riding after the horse has sufficiently rested and fed. Soon enough he arrived at the familiar line of trees. He breathed in deeply and proceeded forward. A desperate wish in his heart bloomed. He wished that somehow, someone in the tribe had clues about Chalice's whereabouts.
Given the time she left, she couldn't have reached Freyr City yet. So the tribe was the most probable stop she could have made. Luke didn't have any problems chasing after her even to the ends of the world. Nevertheless, he couldn't possibly allow her to suffer the hardship of such long time travel. Who would cook her food? Fix her hair? Choose her dress? Who would take care of her?
Ah, but then who was he kidding? Deep down, the reason for the urgency of finding her was him, himself. Luke has tasted the bliss of being close to her everyday. He was the one who can't take it being so far apart right now. He missed her too much. And it was driving him mad. He needed to see her teasing smile and hear her languid voice. He needed to smell her fragrance even if it was detrimental to his control. He needed to feel the warmth she exuded. Luke needed her to remind himself that he must keep living because she needed him.
Chalice was his anchor to this world. She was his sunshine. It was her who brought light and direction to his existence at the most vital of moments. She was his sanity and his heart.
"Chalice, love, please let me find you soon. Please."