"Kota, are you ready?!" I heard Lilith yell from down the stairs. I was adjusting my dress pants in the bedroom. It was for some reason looser than the last time I wore it. Looking at the mirror, I could see how I looked and it was quite visually pleasing seeing the all white on me. The blue vest of mine had its buttons to one side, My white jacket fitting snug.
Today was the Day of dancing. Two days have passed and quite frankly, nothing really happened those days. Lilith and I just sat around the house, studying or just training in the front lawn. All the adults besides Sarah were either out and about. Sarah would watch us when we did our thing, occasionally helping Lilith or me with studying or cooking.
Once I got my dress shoes on, which were white as well. I took the time to grab my staff. it wasn't necessary, but something urged me to take it for today. Maybe because I was thinking too much of Arael's task?
Yeah, that's been on my mind for a few days now. I was still trying to wrap my head around what the reason for this task was. She said it was to help the two join together for a war, but from what I was getting right now…It just seemed like Sir issac was just here to pay a visit to an old friend, I wouldn't really see how Sir issac would deem King Lucian request to be insane. Plus, there hasn't been any sort of signs that Lady Marika would be doing anything…
The sudden thought came up. Come to think of it, none of this adds up. This whole task of hers. Was she testing me or something? Maybe thinking that I'd follow through with her task to see if I was a dog that'd just listen to a command? I mean, I did follow her last task to my best efforts. Hmm, maybe this was a test. After all, arael did seem to think this was all a game to her…quite weird to me.
"Kota! Hurry up! If I can put a suit on in like Three minutes, you can too!" I heard Kale yell.
I'll need to think about this more when we get to the university.
I headed downstairs, seeing everyone already ready for the university. Lilith wearing her dress, a white top with a blue corset. White sleeves that were frilly at their ends. She looked very nice in it. Lilith also had her shortsword attached to her waist.
Kale donned a similar wear to me, only difference was that he had extra buttons to his blue vest and didn't have the buttons on his jacket. He too also has his two blades along his waist.
"Wait…we're all bringing our gear?" I asked.
"Of course, well I am. I work for the king, any rough housing in the university would be sort of my issue if I didn't do anything." Kale shrugged. He didn't really seem ecstatic about it. "Kinda wish I couldn't bring them."
"Then put them away." Tera sounded irritated. "It's not like someone is going to beat the hell out of someone there." Looking at Tera, she wore a quite revealing white dress. A diamond shaped hole was on the chest area, showing off some skin there. Any cultured man would look there.
"Yeah, but it could happen! See, always be prepared for the worst!"
As those two bickered, I looked at Lilith and her waist where the sword was. "Why do you have yours?"
Lilith looked surprised when I asked her and she wobbled, making the holster move "just following what Kale was doing. I'm keeping mine."
"In case of…?"
"Maybe the same reason you're keeping your staff?" She pointed at my staff.
"…Alright, fair enough." I then noticed the front door was open. "Who's outside?"
"Mom." Lilith peered out of the door. "She's just taking in nature right now."
"Yeah, she does like nature. She talked about it during our way back to the south entrance some days ago." I walked next to Lilith and peered through the front door.
Sarah stood in the middle of the front lawn, looking up at the sky. She wore a more plain white dress, her sleeves opening up at the end and her skirt was split. She had her hair in a bun.
Looking up at the sky ourselves, we saw that it was night time. It was a sort of purple green coloring, mostly from the Trees doing their mana…Photosynthesis? Still don't know what to call it. Tera never said anything about it, it seems like not many people question it.
Looking at Sarah also reminded me of something else. Once I told her how I felt about Lilith, it seemed her attitude had slightly changed from uncertain to…slightly less uncertain! Hell she even gave us a pastel that was supposed to signify our love. Even though Lilith didn't notice that. She didn't seem to really mind me and Lilith cuddling or holding hands now. Man, her mind has really changed in these past couple of days. Though that might be because of her condition…
Then Sarah spoke, turning around and looking at us. The wind began to pick up, rustling her white dress.
"Kota?" Her voice is calm and steady. "I'd like to speak to you privately."
Lilith looked at me with curiosity at my sudden name drop, but I took it as some sort of talk similar to our last one. So I went through the door and walked out onto the front lawn, facing her.
"Lilith, close the door. No eavesdropping." Sarah stared past me at Lilith. I then heard the door quickly close. Leaving us two in the middle of the lawn, a purplish light from the moon painting Sarah.
"What is it you wanted to tal-."
"Listen." She stopped me, putting her finger to her lips. "What do you hear right now?"
I was taken back, mostly out of confusion. Still, I kept quiet and listened. The rustling of the wind and trees. The noise of the city bustling and celebrating, it was a lot quieter than the last few days as everyone was prepping to head to the university. Somehow I found most of this to be…peaceful.
"It's..quiet." I answered.
"It's tranquil, isn't it? Reminds me of my hometown, near the east. You know of the east coast of this land, yes?" Her eyes pierced into mine, there was an uneasiness to this that I couldn't put my finger on.
"…Why are you asking me this?" I was quite confused at all this, what was she trying to say to me?
Sarah put her finger down, smiling. Though it didn't seem like a happy smile, with her eyes that looked to be filled with remorse or somber.
"Can I ask you something?"
"If it answers my question, then yes."
"It will. But please…" Sarah clasped her hands together, almost like she was praying. "Do not tell Lilith."
I held my breath, something was clearly amiss now. Sarah's sudden call to talk with just me, her odd choice of words, the look in her eyes. The anticipation was killing me for what she wanted to say.
"I have been lying to you all about my condition. In fact, It's in a much worse state." She said bluntly. The winds howled louder as I stared at her. "I have only two more days before I succumb."
I was in utter shock. Two days? How the hell did it jump from weeks?! No, this must be some sort of play of hers.
"I-T-this isn't real." I said. And to that, Sarah sighed and slowly pulled the left side of her dress down, revealing her shoulder and grossly enough, grey skin that seems to be shedding off her.
"A side effect of Mana exhaustion…with no way for the mana to leave my body. It ends up destroying it." She said somberly.
"W-why are you only telling me? Why not Kale or Tera?" Those two were the adults watching over us, why not tell them about this and have them explain it to us?
"Because I trust that only you can take care of her. She trusts you more than them. If anything, you'd be the one who she goes to."
"…"
"Once this day is over, I'll take my leave tomorrow. And for that one day, I'll recollect all the things I've done and pass peacefully somewhere…"
"This is absurd! Why not tell Lilith? If you leave tomorrow, what the hell is she going to assume? What if she wants to see you and I have to spill the truth?"
Sarah looked at me with somber eyes. "I'm spending my last days with her as much as I can. If anything, I wouldn't want to make her cry if I told her. More of less know that my impending death is right around the corner." She held a hand to her chest, looking more intensely at me. "I'm leaving her to you and your family."
"I-I…What about Emmit? Weren't you looking for him?" I felt like things were going too fast right now. Sarah just stood there, smiling sadly as the wind blew.
Sarah let out a sigh. A heavy sigh. "I've accepted for some time now that I wouldn't see him. He's long gone, somewhere travelling. Plus…what else could I do with this decaying body of mine?"
I watched as Sarah then moved slowly to me, still speaking to me.
"I'm making it obvious aren't I? I trust you, Lilith trusts you. Once I'm gone, Lilith won't have anyone besides you. Through the days I've been here, I've seen how you two interact. I don't want her to lose that. Please." Once Sarah got face to face with me, she put her left hand on my shoulder, gripping hard. "Stay with her."
Stay with her…Those words echoed in my head. Those were words I already promised to Lilith and now Sarah was asking me to do it. She trusts me enough to hold this promise…Once I came into this world, I wanted a normal life. Not this…Weird path to power that Arael is making me do. And once I met Lilith, I had my goals set. And now the mother of that person is asking me as a dying wish…. I'm going to uphold her wish.
I raised my right hand and gently gripped Sarah's hand on my shoulder, looking determined as I spoke. "I promise."
"…Thank you." Sarah said, she smiled again. This time out of happiness. "And please, don't tell her about this. Not until she is capable of understanding."
Then, we both heard the front door rattle.
"Kota? Sarah? If you mind, we'd like to go l dance!" I heard Kale yell.
"No one goes outside till mom finishes her talk!"
"Lilith, get off my leg! That doesn't really stop me from getting to the door! Let me go!"
"Never!"
Sarah stifled a laugh. "Heh…enough with our talk. They are eager, and so am I. I'd like to watch you two dance together." She said, looking at me. She then looked towards the front door, easing her voice. "I am done here!"
Suddenly, the door swung open. Kale practically dragged himself out as Lilith clung to his leg. Tera standing behind them with unamusement.
"Alright, missy! Let go! We are outside!" Kale frantically shook his leg until Lilith finally let go. She quickly got up and shot a look at me before scurrying towards me.
"Hey, hey! What'd she say?" Lilith asked, curious. She got up all in my face as I backed up.
"Uh…you know…she talked to me about nature!" I lied to her.
"Really? That's it?" Lilith looked like she wanted to press on with the conversation. But Sarah stopped her with a hand pressed against her head.
"Now, now. No need to ask. It was a private conversation." Sarah gently said, rubbing Lilith's hair. "For now, let us dance."
Lilith immediately backed down, nodding her head at her apologetically. Sarah smiled, but gave me a quick glance.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let us head to the university." Tera said. "Wouldn't want to be the last ones there."
"Yep, let's get going. The sooner, the better." Kale adjusted his jacket before beaming towards his gate, Tera following behind.
Sarah watched the two move ahead and looked at Lilith. "Ready?" She then held her hand out.
"Yeah!" Lilith quickly held hands with her mother and the two followed behind Kale and Tera. Which left me on the front lawn, alone.
Somehow, I feel the stakes have grown now. The pressure of Sarah and now this promise was stacking on top of This damn task arael gave me. And now…For some reason, I felt my gut sink when I lied to Lilith.
Am I doing this right?
A/N: Early Upload! This is a more emotional chapter. I'm not that great at conveying emotions, but I did the best I could as this is suppose to be more of a Bomb drop. This is where the story takes a more darker tone. The next chapter or so…will be more lighthearted until the last few. Where I decide it's time to finally kick into the real story of this story.