Lilly sat in quiet meditation, feeling the early morning light gently warm her skin. It had been several days since she assumed the role of Lady Protector, a title that still felt surreal. Each morning began with getting ready for the day together with Mia, who had recently started staying over.
Lilly's thoughts drifted as she focused on the amulet, feeling the flame's energy pulsate within her. She could hear Mia moving around the room, getting ready for another day at the smithy.
The floor was now partially covered by a formation they had installed a few days ago, which had been a lot of help during late and private evenings.
Lilly could hear Mia approaching her now and suppressed a smile, keeping her eyes closed. A gentle kiss landed on her forehead.
"I'm heading out now, dear. Good luck with meeting the princess and your new tutor today!" Mia said, sounding slightly nervous.
Lilly opened her eyes to see her off, still sitting in the same pose. Mia looked as lovely as ever. "Thanks, love. Good luck with the smithing!"
As Mia departed with a wave, Lilly turned her attention back to the flame. They had gotten even closer after Mia started staying over, and Lilly felt like her life was close to perfect these days.
'Now if only Elly could show up…'
She continued her training, manipulating the flame carefully around her now that Mia was gone. External meditation was usually fine, but with her mana being made of flames it was better to be on the safe side.
She had tried some spells since getting more control, and it was okay for the most part. The spells usually had some fiery aspect of sorts though, making them way stronger and more dangerous than their regular versions. But as long as she controlled the temperature and strength it was fine.
'Myndia said the flame would purify my body over time, making me stronger and more volatile. As the purity increases, the force I can excerpt at a time also increases. Then I have to be careful about my output.'
The flame was an incredible power, but it was also dangerous. Any emotional outburst could have dire consequences if she didn't adequately control it, potentially causing disasters on its own.
The unexpected sound of a knock against the glass jarred Lilly from her meditation. It was an odd, unfamiliar sound, especially for her third-floor window. Lilly opened her eyes to see what could have caused it, and immediately felt a rush of immense relief.
"Elly!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and joy, as she stumbled over to the window to open it.It was unusual for Eolande to visit this way, but Lilly was too relieved to question it. She quickly opened the window, allowing Eolande to enter.
Eolande stepped inside, her usual composed demeanor softened by a relieved smile. They embraced each other as soon as she had made her way inside, both smiling.
"Elly, where have you been? I've been so worried!"
Eolande released the embrace, holding Lilly at arm's length, her eyes searching Lilly's. "I'm sorry Lilly, I had to take care of some things. I really wanted to stay with you after the attack, but… I couldn't." Her voice wavered, betraying her inner turmoil.
Lilly felt worried about Eolande not telling her where she had been, but she could tell she was conflicted. "Why the window though?" she asked, changing the subject for now.
Eolande gave a wry smile. "There are a bunch of guards outside your entrance. I didn't feel like explaining a bunch of stuff, so I just checked your window instead." Her smile faded as she added, "I… I should tell you why I've been gone. Can we sit in the bed?"
"Uhm…" Lilly felt a bit embarrassed about the state of the bed now. It was far from neat at the moment, and it was clear that two people had been sharing it. "Sure," she eventually said, hoping Eolande wouldn't tease her too much.
"Oh, Mia moved in already? You girls are quick." Eolande stopped momentarily while observing the bed, but still sat down at the edge of it.
"Well, she stays here pretty often now. But she hasn't moved in completely yet. We're taking our time." Lilly sat down next to her, explaining the situation.
Eolande's smile was bittersweet as she spoke. "I'm really happy for you two, taking some time to get used to things is a good idea," Her expression then shifted to something more somber. "About my absence…" She hesitated, looking down, a shadow of shame crossing her face. "The one who attacked Lady Selene was from my past. He's part of an assassin group I once led."
Lilly was surprised. She had imagined many scenarios for why Eolande had been gone for so long, but none of them were close to this. "You led assassins? That's... unexpected."
"Yes, it was my life for many years. I grew up there, and trained from a young age. It's not a very nice place to grow up. But I had comrades, and my brother, so it wasn't all bad." She was talking slowly, recounting her past for the first time. She seemed ashamed, Lilly thought. "Then I eventually started hating it, and I tried to change the rules. I eventually failed, and decided to leave instead. That was over 200 years ago, and I've been an adventurer ever since."
Lilly felt conflicted. Assassins were rarely considered anything but terrible people, or at best emotionless killing machines. But Eolande was neither, she was a good person, and Lilly knew it. "Thank you for telling me Elly, I can tell it wasn't easy. I think you did what you could to improve it though, and you're a good enough person to deserve a second chance, no matter what you did."
Eolande lifted her eyes to meet Lilly's, revealing a vulnerability Lilly hadn't witnessed before. "I appreciate that Lilly, but if I told you some of the things…" She drifted off, seemingly unable to continue.
"What made you change?" Lilly asked, determined to make Eolande feel better about herself.
Eolande's voice broke slightly. "... There was a kid, barely even your age… I never took jobs without knowing they would prevent potential bloodshed, but even then... That kid…" Her eyes were filled with unshed tears. "He looked at me with the most innocent eyes. My blade was already buried deep, and nothing could save him at that point… And he just asked me, in a quiet whimper; why?" She covered her eyes with her hands, trying to hide her pain. "And I had no answer! I couldn't tell him he was just born with the wrong parents, he had never done anything wrong! And still, I…"
Lilly's heart clenched, seeing Eolande like this. Without hesitation, she reached out and wrapped her arms around her in a comforting embrace. "That sounds like something only a good person would regret, Elly."
Eolande leaned into Lilly for a moment, finding solace in her embrace. "You're such a good person, Lilly, seeing the best in anyone. But there are regrets I'll never be rid of, dreams I'll never escape." She inhaled deeply, gathering her composure. "He's the first person I buried in the graveyard we visited. And the last one I put there myself..."
Lilly sat in silence, absorbing Eolande's words. The weight of her past and the pain in her confession, it painted a picture of a life lived in shadows far more complex than Lilly had ever imagined.
"So the group sided with Dortfell? And helped them attack Thundrel?" Lilly eventually asked, hoping to find some answers to the questions swirling around in her head.
Eolande hesitated, her gaze distant, as if struggling with what to reveal. She leaned away from Lilly again to look her in the eyes. "It's complicated, Lilly. They did side with Dortfell, but it wasn't that straightforward. I promised to keep some secrets to protect you, secrets about the clan and their intentions. But they won't come after you or Lady Selene again, I promise."
Lilly's brows furrowed, a mix of confusion and concern evident on her face. "Secrets? To protect me?" She had experienced that a few times too many already, and Eolande should know as much.
"Yes," Eolande affirmed, her voice laced with a solemnity that underscored the gravity of her promise. "There are things better left unknown, for your safety and the city's. Just know that the clan's involvement with Dortfell isn't what it seems."
"But why can't I know? Aren't I involved too? And what could they gain by attacking Selene like that?" Lilly's question was tinged with frustration, her desire for transparency clashing with Eolande's protective secrecy.
Eolande reached out, placing a gentle hand on Lilly's shoulder. "Trust me, Lilly. The less you know, the safer you are. I've made a promise, and I intend to keep it. For your sake, and the people of Thundrel."
Lilly sighed, a sense of unease settling in her heart. While she understood Eolande's intentions, being kept in the dark was unsettling. Yet, she knew Eolande well enough to trust her judgment.
"Okay, Elly. I trust you," Lilly conceded, her voice soft but firm. She reached out, placing her hand on Eolande's. "Just promise me you'll stay safe too."
Eolande nodded, a sincere smile breaking through her somber demeanor. "I promise, Lilly. Who else is going to protect you from Dortfell now?"
Lilly chuckled lightly, releasing Eolande's hand. "Well, I do have a small army of guards now, as you've seen. I don't know how much you've missed, but I've taken on the role of the city's temporary protector while Selene is recovering."
"I expected as much. I saw you attack the fleet that day. You were incredible!" She smiled at her with a proud look. "But I doubt these guards are capable enough to protect you from anything Dortfell can throw at you. So I'd like to stay as your personal bodyguard in the near future, at least until you've become capable of protecting yourself."
Lilly raised an eyebrow playfully. "Are you sure? I spend a lot of time at the barracks these days, not doing much. It's pretty boring honestly."
"I insist, Lilly. And I'm over 800 years old, you think I can't handle some boredom?"
Lilly's face broke into a wide smile. "Then I'd be honored to have you, Elly. But I have to get going soon. Are you okay to start immediately, or do you need to stop by home first?"
Eolande stood up and straightened her posture. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Lady Protector." She then gave a mock bow, her eyes sparkling with humor.
Lilly chuckled, feeling glad to have Eolande next to her again. Knowing she was okay was a huge weight off her shoulders. The secrets were bothering her, but she would think more about them in the future. Now she just had to get through these next few weeks before returning to her normal life again.