"Huh? What do you mean 'be your friend' didn't I told earlier that I'll treat you as an important acquaintance from now on?"
I was confused.
"U-Uhh, N-no, what I meant to say is... C-could you spare me a bit of your time?"
Weird girl. She's getting flustered by such nonsense.
"For what?"
"I still have more to say. About Garam War Chieftain too."
She looked serious.
Well, I guess she didn't get flustered by something nonsense.
"Follow me."
I led her to the place where I stayed with Garam for 5 years. This house was destroyed before but when I came back the day after, it was already standing like nothing happened...
After a long walk, we arrived at the house and was greeted by a chaotic and dusty interior.
"Do you mind if I clean up a little?"
"Please do?"
Am I shameless? No, I'm not? She was the one who suggested to clean and I merely accepted her proposal.
Aly raised her right arm forwards and opened her palm widely and then she chanted "Gust". Moments after, gentle winds blew away the dusts in the interior towards outside. Moreover, she used the winds to arrange the furnitures that were on the ground. It was only possible using her delicate yet amazing control over the wind.
"Ohh... You're quite good, as expected of an 'Elementalist'."
After hearing my words, she flinched.
"E-eh? H-how did you know? I d-didn't do things that would get me noticed though."
"You can't fool my eyes girl."
I left her dumbfounded on the doorstep and headed inside.
"Water or tea?"
"Water please."
Then I served her a cup of water on the table.
"Sit."
"O-okay."
She took her first steps inside the house and sat on a chair in the dining table.
"Then? What more do you have to say about Garam?... About Grandad?"
I corrected my words. It was my respect towards Garam who housed me despite not being his own blood.
"I told you that the War Chieftain has died. However, that's just a hypothesis."
It piqued my interest.
"What do you mean?"
"2 months ago. My Father, King Henry, personally persuaded the War Chieftain to come back to the Forest..."
Her expression slowly turned sad.
"... That was because of the ongoing war between us, Elves, and the Demons of Mount Lyr..."
She drooped her face.
"Continue."
And I asked for more information.
I was curious about why they're having a war. 'Who waged the war?', 'What exactly happened to Garam?'. My curiosity could only be sated by asking for more.
"... It all started 5 months ago. The 'Elf's Forest' and 'Mount Lyr' are literally just next to each other. Due to that, there have been many fights among elves and demons but there haven't been a single war... because the two sides would suffer big loses. The Kings knew of that and made a peace treaty..."
She grabbed the cup of water on the table and drank.
"However, the new king of the demons, Bael, destroyed that peace the instant he donned the crown. After receiving the crown, he sent 5 legions to attack the forest..."
"..."
I silently listened to her story.
"... We successfully fended the surprise attack but the damage we received was large. Only because of King Henry's wise judgements, we somehow managed to last until a month ago..."
She clenched her fist. Forcing herself to remember what happened.
"... We received a report that 'Bael' plans to send all of his legions, all of his forces to the Forest. The King didn't miss this chance and created a small group of powerful units he called 'Cyclone'. The 'Cyclone' units are the King himself, the War Chieftain, and 5 Generals that were personally handpicked by the War Chieftain. They planned a sneak attack to 'Bael' while his forces weren't there..."
Her complexion turned grim.
"... However, the day after, the King returned all by himself. He was severely wounded, on the verge of death..."
["It was a trap..."]
She remembered her father's, her King's words before she came here.
It was an obvious trap. I've met the King once and I don't think he would fall to such an obvious trap. Something's fishy.
[Dad... The War Chieftain is still there. He desperately struggled along with his 5 Generals to buy me time to escape.]
"... M-my father, the king, gave me an important task before his final slumber..."
["Aly... My daughter... You shall persuade the 'Beastmen' in the Beast Country 'Farco'. Seek their help. We can't do this alone."]
"... My brother, the crown prince, is currently replacing the King's work and is barely able to lead the elves in surviving each day..."
She raised her head. Looking at me with a bitter smile on her face.
"... The War Chieftain told me about you when he came back. He was really fond of you..."
"Don't worry, I'll help you..."
It was obvious that she's gonna ask for my help. Especially after she experienced my powers firsthand. I wish to help as well, to repay Garam for his kindness towards me.
"Sir Karl... As you may already know, 'Elementalists' are one of a kind in this world. They are beings that are capable of bonding with 'Elemental Spirits' and so, they are treated as national treasures... However, I'm not that talented as an 'Elementalist'. I haven't even bonded with a single spirit ever since I awakened as an 'Elementalist' 3 years ago... Did father gave me this task to keep me away from the battlefield?"
*Sobbing*
Insecurities.
Low confidence.
Anxiousness, etc.
As I peeked inside her using my eyes, all I could see were negative feelings that were bottled up inside her.
I pitied her. She was holding all of these negative emotions and still acted like a cheerful girl for the past month when she entered the school.
"Wait a minute. If your task is to seek help from the 'Beastmen' then why are you at school? Shouldn't you be at the Royal Palace?... Don't tell me!?"
She wasn't able to persuade the 'Royal Family', the 'King'...
"... Yes... It seems like I'll be going home empty-handed."
Her voice was trembling.
Even though she revealed herself as the Elves' Princess to the 'King of Farco'. The King still couldn't help her since the 'Elves' Forest' and the Beast Country of 'Farco' doesn't have a strong connection.
"I requested to enter school just to meet you, Sir Kari- Karl... However, It took me a month to judge your character since you don't interact much with others. hehehe..."
What do you mean judge my character? You're just scared of going home. Scared of carrying and facing the responsibility.
Her weak side angered me, but...
"Go home this instant and do your best to survive for 3 more months--"
"--W-what!? That's impossib--"
She stood up from her chair and slammed her hands onto the desk out of shock.
"--Reinforcements will go there the day after tomorrow. Trust me."
"..."
"And if you survive for 3 months..."
I gazed at her. Locking my blue eyes to hers.
"I will personally go there and end that war."
It's unthinkable to trust my words. It's even more unthinkable to trust that I could end the war. However, she was willing to think the unthinkable and do the impossible. If it meant hope for her, for her race, for the forest and for her family.
She wiped the tears off her face and straightened herself.
"I'll trust you, Sir Karl..."
"You better."
"I shall go back now and safely deliver this hope to them."
As I watched her face her hurdles somehow made me give off a gentle smile.
"Yeah... I wish you luck."