Aradia ran.
She hadn't been expecting the illusion mansion to collapse. There had been no such instances in the novel, Yeon Haa knew the novel's storyline would change with her here but she hadn't expected it to be this early
Astolfo the protagonist of this world, whose job Aradia had stolen this arc was currently picking up Mei to run out of the attic as well
Astolfo, being the protagonist he is, is of course strong enough to carry a full grown woman who also happens to be a swordmaster in bridal style for maximum efficiency
Clara swung Isaac's arm around her shoulder, holding onto it while she hulled him to his feet. Her other arm wrapped around his waist to drag him out of the attic as fast as the pink haired girl could manage
The red head didn't have to worry about dragging someone physically but she was currently screaming inside her mind trying to get a response from Lir
Aradia knows he can handle himself, for the most part at least but even so, it makes her worry
Running down stairs take far too much effort thus the red head sat sideways on the railing and slid down and got to her feet before doing it again
Aradia glimpsed behind her, to her surprise Clara was keeping up with her, of course she was still struggling to some extent but even so it was very impressive
«hey»
«don't you dare "hey" me! Where are you?»
Just a little more and they would reach the door. People might think exiting the door will save them but it will, in fact be only the first exit
They have to get out of the whole territorie, meaning they have to exit the large gate on the other end of the courtyard to truly make it out
«i'm almost outside, I was looking for something»
«what were you looking for now?»
«..the violet witch had a certain presence to herself, but after you burnt the painting and the mansion started to collapse, I felt a familiar but somehow foreign presence»
«what?»
«yeah, and-»
Aradia didn't hear the rest, she pushed open the large door in front of her, leading them into the dead leaves filled courtyard
Beneath their feet the dead leaves let out loud crunches. The mansion's outside parts were starting to fall off on to the asphalt, making load thud noises in the process as well as dust
Aradia looked back yet again and regretted it immediately, the front of the mansion was falling towards them
In the rush, trying to open the gate became a tedious task
"Fuck.."
"Kick it down!"
Clara shouted from somewhere behind her
The red head swore under her breath before kicking the gate and it some how worked, the gate opened up wide
And they ran
A mist of dust covered the area, the only sound that could heard was of the dust settling and broken breathing from under the rubble
They had almost made it to safety but the mansion collapsed completely behind them thus leaving them rolling on the ground
For the most part their bodies are fine, nobody got beeried
Aradia opened her eyes slightly, even without the dust she couldn't make any sense of what she was looking at, she was having a concussion wasn't she?
As the red head tried to focus her blurry vision, she started to see something white, had she died again?
No, the white thing seemed to move forward appearing to be a silhouette
But before the red head could see its face.. she passed out
The next time she opened her eyes, the dust had settled already and the sun above was shining
Aradia wondered how long they had spent in the mansion
Speaking of which, it was completely demolished. Aradia could see into the magic forest from where she lay over the pile of rubble in front
The red head attempted to stand up straight but decided against it realizing her foot was stuck between two large pieces of debri
She looked to her side and saw Clara staring at her. After a short while Aradia broke the silence
"What?"
"What was the violet witch talking about?"
As expected, that was Clara's first question
"I don't know"
The red head answered cooly
"..seems your training is paying off"
Aradia said, she hadn't had a proper conversation with the pink haired girl in a while now, while she feels as though there is no need to initiate a conversation right now she can't help it. And hey, it's not like she can get up and get moving any time soon anyway, might as well spend that time socializing
"..thanks"
Awkward silence again. Aradia noticed from her very first day in this world that Clara acts very uncomfortably around her, in a way like she can just never relax around the red head and speak what is actually on her mind
"Do you hate me?"
Aradia blurted out, she knows this is not her place to ask such questions, after all this isn't even her actual sister
"What?"
Clara's eyes widened in surprise first before narrowing down, her brows furrowed
"No, it's just.. you seem to be uncomfortable around me"
Aradia looked up at sky as she spoke. It felt weird, when was the last time she talked to someone about something like this
"Why would- where did you even get that thought?"
Clara cut herself off before speaking with a stern voice that reminded the red head of the Duchess. She sort of missed them...
"Do you or do you not?"
The red head questioned, eyes wandering untill they landed on the pink haired girl again
Clara in response sighed, like Aradia was being impossible on purpose
"I.. don't, alright? I don't hate you nor will I ever do, it's just.."
Clara trailed off with another sigh, seemly trying to put her words together
"Just something's can't be helped given what happened.."
Aradia frowned, she had managed to go this long without knowing anything about the relationship she had with her family but what did she not know about that caused a rift between their relationship?
"What are you talking about?"
The red head decided to take a gamble and act oblivious, she knew this could backfire greatly but oh well
"Do you seriously not remember?"
This made Aradia all the more confused
'what is she talking about?'
But before Clara could comment, foot steps approached them and a familiar voice spoke
"This place is wrecked"
"Ellen"
It was surprisingly Mei who had spoken, Aradia didn't know how long she had been awake for or how much of their conversation she had heard
Beside her Astolfo grunted and started shifting, awake as well. It would seem the only one who was still under was Issac
"If it isn't the infamous saviour"
Ellen said as he stopped a few steps back from the group, he looked clean and tidy, his hair swaying in the wind but his expression was that of mockery
"Well, at least I don't send students to my job"
Mei said cooly and the red head remembered why she was her favourite character when she had first read the novel
But is calling her a character correct? In a sense Yeon Haa is also a character if she thought of everyone else as such
"I was simply testing them, as I should unlike someone"
Ellen's mocking tone snapped Aradia out of her spiralling thoughts
"Testing them? Oh please, they are kids, they could have died Ellen"
Mei said it seriously, she wasn't joking right now and this made Ellen serious as well, or as much as he can be before becoming sarcastic again
"I know what I'm doing"
Aradia had expected Mei to bite back but instead she seemed conflicted for a few minutes before simply responding with
"I hope so"
Whatever conversation they had with their eyes was something the red head couldn't figure out
Ellen looked at the rest of the group still laying on the ground, his eyes landed on Astolfo for a second too long before falling on Aradia
"You made it.."
He said in awe almost, not in a teasing of mocking way, the red head couldn't help but wonder why
"Sure did"
Aradia replied instead
Ellen nodded at that, he crossed his arms around his chest as he stood under the sun
"Very well"
Mei got up, getting to her feet and grabbing her sword was had been left discarded on the ground
The two teachers talked about something in low whispers that Aradia unfortunately couldn't hear but judging by their expression it was a definitely an interesting one
«Are you alive?»
«of course! Who do you take me for? I'm the water spirit prince!»
Lir bosted proudly in the red head's mind
«Yeah.., what were you saying about different presences?»
«Right, that»
«Do you still feel it?»
«i do, but now it feels dangerously close to the magic forest...»
Aradia didn't reply to that, she tried to remember what significance the magic forest had to the story
"What are you thinking of?"
The red head was caught off guard by Clara speaking to her in a shushed voice
"Nothing..."
"Yeah right, like I can't tell"
Clara rolled her eyes for the dramatic effect
"Are you two going to stay on the ground the whole day?"
Both siblings looked up to see Astolfo standing above them, he looked pretty wrecked
"Help me get up"
Aradia said and pointed to her stuck leg
Clara instantly got up and freed her leg, Aradia was surprised
"I thought you too were stuck?"
"What? No? I just didn't want to get up"
The red head blinked at her, then twice and then thrice before sighing and getting up
Her legs felt numb but she could manage
Aradia saw Lir from her parallel vision before he disappeared
Astolfo went over to Issac and picked him up as if he weighed nothing
Ellen looked over at them, doing an once overall. He looked at Astolfo standing with Isaac in his arms and raised a brow
The protagonist is response just shrugged
"It's easier carrying him"
"Fair enough"
Mei looked at Issac for a minute before commenting
"The boy is very talented"
Clara looked proud at the comment and Aradia wanted to scoff at her reaction but it would be a lie that she too felt a sense of pride
"The sun is going to set in a few hours, you all should hurry to the inn I've gotten ready for you all to spend the night at"
Ellen said as started looking over the damage and into the magic forest
"I won't be staying, Mei will show you all the way. Oh, and be ready, we'll leave early in the morning tomorrow"
He glanced at Aradia and then one by one the whole group
"So don't do anything reckless and sneak out in the dead of night"
Ellen spoke with a frown, like he was addressing an annoying habit
In response, all of them, minus Issac who was still out cold, looked sheepishly toward him
Aradia had a feeling he knew that despite his comment, she and probably the others too would go out tonight regardless
Even if he did, be didn't bother calling them out further. They stood like a bunch of statues as Ellen exchanged a few more words with Mei
The raven haired woman nodded along to whatever he said before looking at them
"Let's go, you all need a shower and I need a break"
And thus they started walking towards the inn, which was pretty far away given everyone avoids the magic forest and the now gone illusion mansion
By the time they reached the inn the sun was starting to shine brighter
'it's going to be sunset soon..'
Lir had not come back with her but knowing him, he would probably find his way back when he was done anyway
Aradia went inside with the rest of the group and found out she was sharing a room with Clara
The two stared at each other for a while
"I'm going to go freshen up first"
Clara announced and the red head nodded, she wanted to lay down after walking for so long
Aradia hit the bed with a soft thud and with a sigh closed her eyes...
Bonus:
*Student days:*
Mei: how did you find your meal?
Ellen: it was good thanks
Mei: that is not what I mean and you know it
Ellen: your cousin told me where you hid it
Mei: ...you fucking seduced her-
Ellen: what can I say? I'm just that hot
To be continued...
Hi, hello it is me, Yan
First, I'm sorry I didn't post last week, I was not motivated at all bro, like seriously I could not make myself write at all
Not only that but in one day I had four mental breakdowns and a fit of rage and my emotions are a mess so yeah writing became a chore to say the least
Second, my birthday is tomorrow people! I had another breakdown this morning but now I'm happy because birthday lol
Anyway as an apology have this 2000 word chapter
I'll try to post every week again but no promises (sorry-not-sorry)
Once again please forgive this lowly author for any grammatical mistakes
Have a good day, afternoon, evening or night
And I'll see you all in the next chapter
Baiiii
Words: 2,259