Once I arrived inside my room, I headed first to the bathroom to clean my body. After a quick shower, I changed myself to a light outfit.
It's still early in the morning but because of my current condition, it's not like I can perform greatly in any activity. Thanks to that, Sean just told me to rest.
I dried my hair and kept them untied before sitting on my bed. I'll continue my conversation with Anna later at night just to be on the safe side. For now, I decided to read the letter Alfen sent to me.
As soon as I read the letter, the only thing I could think of was questioning Alfen.
"I'm extremely sorry for causing you trouble. Thank you for saving me and I will repay you someday!" -- is what was written inside.
If I learned something while I was with them, it was that Alfen is a pretty soft-hearted individual. How should I say this... he resembles an innocence akin to a child who clearly hasn't seen the world and therefore acts impulsive and uncertain.
I could understand the apology and gratitude, but because I purposely made his condition worse to avoid attention and trouble, it's kind of hard to just accept gratitude. What I mean to say is that I could understand it, but feel a little bad about it.
But what really caught my attention was the last part. What does he mean that he'll repay me? I don't even know if we'll see each other again. If there was something like an internet and search engine here then it would be possible, I'd say.
To be fair, I haven't seen the whole of this world. They have automatons and they look more human compared to my previous world, but I can't say that for certain since I'm also having thoughts about Sophia who's the only automaton I know of.
For all I know, other automatons in this world would be in a loop program while my Sophia's actually a learning artificial intelligence. Well, my point is that I haven't seen all of this world so maybe there's a possibility that Alfen knows something that I don't that gives him reason to think that we'll see again.
Then again, I can't deny the possibility that it was just something like formalities. It was a rather short structured letter, after all, and there wasn't any format used.
Describing it as a letter is an overstatement. It was just a note folded in a letter. I thought of whether to throw it or keep it, but I ultimately decided to just throw it away.
I remember the words anyway, so I'll just keep that in my mind.
Breathing in and out, I laid myself down on the bed and relaxed. Unlike a normal fever that heals after a good night's sleep and a meal, my body still felt as weak as when I woke up yesterday.
I could still hold a sword, but this certainly would hinder me in terms of strength, speed, and stamina. I'm not even going to lie anymore, a merciless beating that heals quickly is better than a status ailment that shows no sign of disappearing.
After a few repetitions of my breathing exercises, I got bored and headed to the living room where Sean and Sitri were talking with Sophia.
"That looks amazing! Where did you buy something that beautiful?"
"It was a gift so I don't know either."
"It looks too high quality. If you're looking for a protector for that, I think you'll find some in our next destination."
Sophia was showing off the pendant from the original White's father, Luck, to the twins. Sitri was looking at it with shining eyes while Sean was responding to Sophia.
All throughout our time in Bellos, Sophia used most of her time looking for a protector for that pendant. Bellos isn't a big place but in no way is it also small. It was reasonable that she found it hard to find something.
I even heard she tried to call on a blacksmith to do it for her. Most of them declined the job, but those who actually accepted it and got results got their spirits shattered as the unsatisfied Sophia "tested" its durability.
Well, I think we all know what happens when an automaton with metallic bones does some "testing." In the end, those smiths were left depressed. Denis told me that story when we ate with them one time and it was pretty funny.
Now that I think about it, other than the twins, I don't think they know that Sophia's actually an automaton. I don't know about Anna, but I certainly did not disclose this information to others after I learned the possibility of Sophia being something other than an automaton.
I suppose that was for the best as well. I haven't shown myself to them and was just listening, but I suppose I don't really have a reason to hide either.
Just as I was about to gather their attention, the carriage slanted. No, more like we were driving on a very, very steep mountain. It was so sudden that I fell bosom first and slid across the carriage floor with my back.
""White?!""
The twins caught sight of me as I was sliding across the floor. Both of them were hanging on their sits with confused smiles stapled on their faces as they watched me. Sophia was also surprised by my unexpected appearance but soon chuckled as she continued to watch me.
It's not like I can help it. The furniture is stuck to the carriage so it would be easy for them to grab hold of something and remain unmoved. On the other hand, there was me who didn't have the opportunity to grab hold of something and is currently enervated.
"J-just hold on for a moment, White! W-we'll be there soon."
Sean was having a hard time stopping his laughter as he told me. I don't really know where we're going, but I sure do hope it's somewhere worth my entire freshly bathed body being used as a mop.
After a few long moments that felt like hours, the ground finally stabilized and we were riding on a plane road once again.
"Where exactly are we going?" Brushing off my clothes, I asked the twins who are still teary-eyed from their laughter.
"N-no. Our next stop is in Narsil but we decided to go somewhere first so we could get a picturesque view." Sean wiped his eyes as he explained.
"Picturesque view?" To my question, Sean simply turned his head to the carriage door. Since he was practically telling me to see it for myself, I opened the door.
He wasn't lying. It was truly a magnificent view.
Across the mountains, rivers, volcanoes, and flying islands lay a humongous tower with an indescribable feeling to it. I don't know how far it is, but I can tell that it was really, really far away.
However, despite knowing that, the tower's height was insurmountable as if it ripped the sky apart so that it could continue to grow even further like an elevator extending to the limitless space of the universe. Even from this distance, I could tell that Galaxia, the 80-story long black dragon, would just be an insect compared to that tower.
Along with the blue sun and the warm colors of the sky, it felt like I was inside of a painting that would rip any thoughts other than the concept of beauty.
"...could that be?"
"Dorr Valia. Marvelous, isn't it?"
I didn't even have the room to think who answered me as the sight really blew my mind away. Taking a deep breath, I regained my calm and looked at the others as well.
The twins looked at the scene with proud smiles. Sean crossed his arms and looked at it as if a patriotic hero looking at his flag while Sitri looked at it as if looking at a work of Salvador Dali, analyzing every detail she can see.
I turned my attention to my other side. Sophia also looked at the scene with an awestruck expression which left a smile on my face. Then I noticed that Anna had also gone outside the carriage and is currently looking at the tower.
However, unlike everyone, she had a grim expression on her face that soon turned to sorrow before going back inside the carriage. With everyone still in a daze, I left one last look at the tower before following after Anna.
...
"Are you okay?"
"What do you mean?"
She was clearly uncomfortable. However, it's not my business if she doesn't want to talk about it. As much as I'm vulnerable to my own curiosity, I'm not shameless enough to force someone to talk about something clearly heavy.
"No, never mind. Let's continue where we left off earlier. You were saying something about the guardian apostle of knowledge attacking you as a bad thing, right?"
Anna glanced at me then turned and laid herself down in her bed, her arms covering her face. Since it would be troublesome if the twins heard something about this conversation, I followed Anna to her room.
"... I don't really know what to do anymore. You might be a child, but you certainly are really adult-like, aren't you?" She gave me an exhausted smile as she talked.
"Listen. This information is something humans are purposely unaware of. If I told you, I need to make sure that you will stay with us or at least stay neutral. Knowing that, are you willing to fight against your race's beliefs just to know this?"
Her words were serious, but I can't help but feel fear coming from her as she said those words. Earlier this morning, she was steadfast in telling me everything, but it seems that she has thought of things more thoroughly now. Either that or this is something concerning not just Galaxia.
"... I can't give a straight answer for that right now. I'll answer your question with another question, do you demons plan on starting a war to seek revenge against humanity?"
I still remember Mr. Renard's words. A new war is coming, a continuation of the war from seven years ago. Although part of my reasoning for traveling to another reality is because I just want to get this over with and have my freedom, the thought of having strength that could be beneficial in protecting those important to me put the final nail in the coffin.
"We are indeed planning to start a war but it's not against the humans or the elves. We..." She answered me but did not finish her statement. It seems that I can only learn of everything if I pledge to her, but that's something I can't just do impulsively.
It's a matter of consequences, at that point. Instead, I asked another question.
"If you can't answer that, then it's fine. Instead, answer this, what exactly is your purpose?"
To my question, Anna stiffened up a bit but quickly calmed herself before opening her lips. "I... Our purpose is to find the guardian apostle of fate."