some time has passed since the meeting about Osiria's tied fate. this time, they're simply talking about future goals and aims.
"hey, is it true that you're going to take on an apprentice?" Liliya asked with a nonchalant tone. it was staved off as a rumor and this rumor has been out for more than 2 months without any changes or moves. and such, this rumor was said to be false but-
"it's true..." Theia smiled wryly "I haven't made that rumor a proven fact though... and the reason as to why is..." she frowned. no one expected a cliche reason since all of them are immortal by age.
"I can't continue to be the highest on the hierarchy... although it would be quite understandable to stay for other people, I should at least let other people experience such bliss right?"
both Liliya and Naoya were dumbfounded at Theia's response, Mei on the other hand was just sipping awkwardly on Theia's side.
"so..." Naoya responded- "this is just on a whim?"
Mei gave out a whisper, audible enough to be heard just by the to of them awkwardly. "I-... I'm afraid so..."
"and we thought it was something serious like an Illness or something... haahhh... and Mei... this is true right?" Liliya stared blankly at Mei who was still averting her eyes-
"wait... don't tell me..." both Liliya and Naoya now looked more dumbfounded than ever, if it were a manga, they would simply be paper with no faces, just a silhouette.
"hahaha..." Mei was in an awkward position- "everything from the start was my idea..."
Mei called in for another cup of tea, "it was simply to let Theia have more time in the lab. you see... I'm having trouble with my experiments and most of the time, I need Theia for the parts that I need to solve. simply put, both of us are in interest of giving up Theia's throne just for this..."
an awkward silence filled the room, no one was even bothered to talk with how the atmosphere was. until-
a phone rang, Theia's phone to be precise. the vibration was felt through the cloth and she answered. as soon as the voice was uttered in the phone, Theia felt a small chill in her spine.
"Mei! get to the lab now! control camera number 10 on Gravel city of the Fallen race"
Mei was questioning the sudden order but- "since this looks urgent... haahh... sorry for cutting the conversation short..."
Theia took a small glance back to Liliya and Naoya. "you'll have to forgive my sudden exit... what about I treat you two to dinner sometime?" she stated her final words before entering the dark part of the mansion. both Liliya and Naoya looked at each other and just sighed
"it looks like they'll be busy... if it's something urgent then we shouldn't interrupt them right?" Liliya nodded. since they're currently in the Grand hyp Tree of the Floran underground city, they decided to pay a visit to their old friend, but of course, visiting both Osiria and Analisse' room before they venture out once again.
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after the whole conversation, both Liliya and Naoya decided to pay a visit to their old comrade, a soldier of the Fallen that has saved them multiple times.
a woman clothed in green and white gown that has asymmetrical patterns that of a leaf, stiff yet gentle leaves for ears and long, pink strands of vines short enough to be mistaken as hair. it was Flora Heiro.
"M-Master Liliya! Captain Naoya! i-it's a pleasure for you two to visit!" Flora was taken aback, well, of course, it was a surprise visit by the two stars of the world that both Flora admires.
"good afternoon princess Flora" both Liliya and Naoya bows in sync.
"C-Captain Naoya- p-please raise your heads! it's such an embarrassing scene for me..." Flora hid to one of her servants. Flora was a shy but powerful individual capable of fighting toe to toe with Liliya, at least, without Liliya's mutations.
"please perish the thought." Liliya smiled warmly to Flora, but that smile had a different tone, it was as if she was telling Flora something.
"a-ahh... y-yes... your visit is more than welcome. miss Crysanthemum, please escort our visitors to the grand ballroom and prepare some furniture"
the servant bows and leads the two to the east hallway where the ballroom is.
meanwhile, the maid, Crysanthemum is smiling brightly while be formal with the other two visitors, Liliya and Naoya.
"hmm? what's wrong?" Liliya asked the maid but it simply smiled without a word.
. . .
both Liliya and Naoya arrived to the ballroom. it was barren, some blank white walls with vine etching on the pillars and the walls. the ceiling was almost all glass, but it was deemed useless as only tree branches and leaves were visible. in the middle of the ballroom, a large table and 6 chairs were placed, the table was probably large enough to even fill up 10 or so more chairs with a few more room to spare.
both Liliya and Naoya sat down and immediately-
"master Liliya, Captain Naoya, a pleasure to finally calm down with the two of you."
Flora gracefully walked down the stairs with 2 more servants assisting her. her clothing was different too, it was less formal and more... airy?
"a-ahh... Flora- I mean, queen Flora, we don't need to have such a grand welcome. we were simply visiting the Palace grounds. we had a meeting moments ago and we had thought of visiting since we were in the forest"
Liliya seemed to be cautious with her words, although she was the one who have taught her to be formal.
"Please... no need to be formal with me, just think of this as the old days."
Naoya simply ticked his tongue, although he didn't meant that to be a sign of hostility.
"Flora... you are royalty, in the castle, you are the present queen of the Floran race. and your name is Flora Roselia, do please take that in mind." Naoya made his opinion and Liliya simply smiled at him.
"also, you are not a soldier of the Fallen race anymore, you are a queen, we no longer have control over you" after saying that, Flora felt a bit lonely.
a few years ago after the return of the soldiers of the Fallen, Flora was relieved of duty due to political reasons and Naoya had to leave her to the Floran race. as of right now, Flora doesn't have any relations with the Fallen soldiers.
"but please... at least let me reminisce over the past captain Naoya... I may have changed my standing but my perception of you two are still the same, captain"
Flora smiled. the atmosphere became somewhat tolerable but it was warming.
. . .
. .
.
a long time passes and the triplet moons have finally shown themselves.
"ms.- *ahem* Mrs. Liliya, Captain Naoya, how's Lady Osiria? it's been a while- 2 years to be exact since I have seen Lady Osiria. I quite miss her"
even with the time, it took a few more minutes for them to finish their conversation
*meanwhile*
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it's quite some time since we had this kind of gathering... although it's a shame that mom and dad are still outside... how long do they intend to stay to big sis Flora? I know it's been a while but at least remember their own child... geez...
"Osiria... are you pouting again? what's wrong?" Alice looked at me straight in the eye. she's been clingy to me ever since "that" incident happened...
"ahh... I was just thinking about mom and dad... aren't they supposed to get back home right about now?"
it's also quite rare for even dad to forget his own child... maybe I should just leave them huh? nah... that's too much.
since it was around dusk, Aunt Theia called in for us for dinner. we were already walking to the dining hall with a servant called Michelle, such a beauteous maid too, wonder if I'll grow up like her... shining ruby eyes and golden brown hair, it's obvious enough that she's human but she still looks so young...
. . .
we arrived to the dining hall and greeted with such a large buffet. Aunt Mei and Aunt Theia was already sitting all happily in the table, chatting with each other.
they suddenly noticed us and invited us to sit. the servants bowed and left except for Ferret and Fimo, twins?
"Osiria, how's study? should I have sent in a private tutor for you?"
I choked a little bit from her question- "a-ahh... right, I'm passing every subject at least... the lowest I had was physical combat with the grade of 85. I didn't use Omi too so is that alright?"
Aunt Theia smiled- "that's good, I never expected you to pass Physical training in the first place and I do plan to have your parents train you with that. how about your ether? are you fairing well mentally?"
why does Aunt look so concerned? "y-yes... there's nothing wrong with me... at least not that I think I do?" we didn't talk that much, most of the conversation was questions about me... are they this concerned about me since I'm adopted?
"Aunt... do mom and dad care about me?" I didn't look all that concerned, of course, they do but if I ask now, it wouldn't look questionable. they are out right now so I should thought I should ask.
Aunt Theia looked a bit surprised, was my question not off the mark? "Osiria, of course, they do. if not then I would've adopted you immediately without question." hmm... then-
"if you would've chosen... would you adopt me back then or leave it to mom... miss Liliya?"
Aunt Theia looked perplexed, "hun, it wouldn't have mattered even if I was your mother. I will admit to it that Liliya did adopt you just to cure her own depression but as time grew on, both of them grew attached to you. did you not feel that?"
feel it? of course, I did... if it wasn't for them then I could've died a long time ago...
"if I were to adopt you that time, nothing would've changed much. Liliya would of course be the same with you but Naoya would've not cared, your future might've changed but what we can't change is your fate
my fate? "excuse me for being rude but... why? what does my fate got to do with any of this?"
Aunt Mei looked hesitant so the one who explained it all was aunt Mei-
"Osiria, you're an enigma, to be exact, you have the largest pool we have. your adoption would've been planned ages ago and it wouldn't have mattered"
wouldn't have mattered? "then you're saying that I would've been adopted either way?"
Aunt Mei nodded, it seems that Alice also knew about this...
"Osiria, it was totally coincidental that you were adopted by Liliya but if you weren't then I would've informed Theia long ago to adopt you thanks to your ether pool being large. it's quite amusing how we didn't notice it 2 years later..."
both my aunts smiled wryly while Alice was just eating away all of the food in the table...
"then... what does my fate have to do with it?" I return my original questions back but-
"I'm afraid you yourself will have to know. we're both not goddesses but we can safely predict a 100% future for the person we have chosen, that is you. it cannot be changed and it cannot be tampered with."
hmm? what's wrong with me knowing my fate if it will change or not? aren't we all destined to die no matter what?
I look at Alice who was still stuffing herself with food... what's in this to make her starve anyway? that aside, Aunt Mei and Aunt Theia seemed to have returned to their own world once again... seriously... this duo won't separate no matter what...
it might take a while for me to return to the academy. we still have something to do and it looks like miss Maya was endangered but she seems to be fine... her other two companions were at the brink of death though... I wish them a nice future.