Chapter 62: A Daughter’s devotion

 True to Mori-fae’s word, his domain soon vanished like a cloud of smoke. The solemn atmosphere returned with the mournful cries of the duchy’s knights. It’s like she blinked and the world regained life, becoming vibrant with color. Looking down, she saw her father struggling to breathe through his bloodstained lips. It makes her begin to cry all over again, even though she knows there’s a way to save him now her heart can’t overcome this crippling sorrow so fast.

To her, he’d always been a man who wore a big smile, always appeared to be larger than life, and full of warmth. He’s always been her shield, a safe place she could run back to after causing mischief. She knows the only reason she’s been able to grow up so carefree in comfort and luxury is because of his tireless efforts. It’s easy to recall several times when he would carry her as a child, giving her an exhilarating view of the world from above his broad shoulders.

“I can’t lose you like this A’lieto, not like this!” Jasper’s grief was rapidly transforming into rage. The destructive nature of a dragon manifesting in him as his eyes began to glow gold in an ominous manner. In his heart he’d already decided, if he is destined to lose his beloved today then blood must flow. He must drag every living creature within this forsaken forest to the afterlife as an offering to David.

“Snap out of it Uncle Jasper!” Her sharp words brought him back, the gold light in his eyes slowly receding as his reasoning returned. “I have a spell that can save Dad!”

“You do?” It’s now his turn to look puzzled. It’s understandable, just a moment ago everything looked bleak. No one even knew he’d been looking for a spell all this time and yet suddenly it appears at this crucial moment. Anyone would think it’s strange that the spell he’s been searching for after many years would just suddenly appear like a pie falling from the sky so unexpectedly. It almost makes him want to clean his ears just to make sure he heard it right a second time.

“I can’t tell you how I got the spell, but do you trust me?”

He’d been so angry before that he nearly missed it. That familiar spark of fire that had been missing from those amethyst eyes were back. His little spitfire is back!

 “Why are you talking like we’re strangers, of course I trust you darling.”

Relieved by his unquestioning faith, she turns back to Rei. Getting Uncle Jasper to trust her is one thing, but her confidence drops a bit when it comes to Rei. Through the seal she’s seen a different side of him that she never saw growing up. To Eren he appeared more childish, willing to throw a bit of a temper out of jealousy. For her, it had always been the opposite. He’d always been withdrawn, cold and unreachable. He presents himself as mature, putting her childish antics to shame. Even though she knows their relationship isn’t the same as it was in the past, she can’t help but doubt where she stands in his heart.

Even while fearing his response, she's prepared to ask for the sake of her father. “Will you help me?”

“You are my wife, he is my father-in-law, you need not even ask.” Rei steps forward with a soft smile, more than willing to be of use.

“I need you to channel your light mana into me while I use the spell to transfer Dad’s soul into the egg.”

“Got it.” Rei immediately gets into position behind her, placing both of his hands on her back before releasing a steady stream of mana for support. The duke had been nothing but kind to him since he married into their little family of two. He’s relieved to be able to play a part in his revival.  

Taking a deep breath, Ariellia gently places her father’s cooling body on the ground. “Take out the egg Uncle Jasper.”

Without missing a step, the older Bastion follows her orders, bringing out a dragon egg covered in beautiful blue scales from his storage pouch. He carefully lays it next to the duke’s body, his hands shaking in anticipation. No one knows how many bitter years he’s waited for this day while searching countless kingdoms and libraries for this spell. He’s long anticipated the day when they would both be rid of that insufferable woman’s cursed oath.

Now that all the necessary pieces are in place it’s all left to her. Ariellia suddenly feels a heavy weight on her shoulders. The thought of what could happen if she fails chills her to the core. She may have mixed feelings towards her other self, being angry that all his meddling might have led to this, while also being incredibly grateful that he took the time to level her up for the future. If he’d been lazy and left her at her old level, even if Mori-fae gave her such an amazing spell she wouldn’t have been able to cast it at all. Her pitiful mana reserves would have been drained dry without even completing the incantation. It is true that she’d wasted her potential all these years. At least at her current level she can fully comprehend the spell and wouldn’t make the mistake of misinterpreting the incantation.

[Soul Array]

As expected of grand scale magic, she feels it eating up her mana the moment the spell is cast. Feeling beads of sweat gathering at her brow, she frowns in pain as she begins the delicate process of extracting her father’s soul from his dying body. He must have sensed a familiarity to her mana, so the pampering duke didn’t cause her any trouble, following her command willingly without a fuss. She smiles thinking it’s just like him to do so, refusing to cause her any discomfort. A bubbling feeling of hope rises to the surface now that they are almost halfway there, her breathing becomes ragged with her hands visibly shaking but she doesn’t quit, pushing through to complete the spell.

In her mind she offers a prayer in gratitude to the dragon pair willing to part with this precious gift, and then she says a prayer for the poor unborn baby dragon. She knows her father will treat his new body with respect befitting of the dead. Carefully, she weaves his soul into the silent egg.

Thump, Thump, Thump

Tears flow uncontrollably from her eyes as she hears the little heartbeat from the egg. It’s her father, his soul has been accepted and now he’ll have a chance to live again. Words can’t describe the amount of relief she feels in this moment. She wouldn’t be the cursed child that caused the death of both father and mother. She doesn’t even care when she feels her nose start to bleed again from overexertion. She completes the spell, cradling the blue egg to her chest while openly sobbing.

“It’s okay darling, I know you tried your best. David wouldn’t have wanted you to feel burdened by his passing.” Jasper tries to comfort her, misunderstanding the reason for her silent tears.

“So much for faith. Don’t curse my father back into the grave Uncle Jasper, he just got a new lease on life.” She rebukes him while stroking the egg’s warm scales.

!

It seems his age must be getting to him, the disbelief on Jasper’s face slowly morphs into unbridled joy. He rushes to pull both Rei and Ariellia into a group hug.

“Very good, very good, you saved him.” The relief in his voice is obvious.

It’s not just him, her words caused a huge stir in everyone’s hearts. Elves are known to be prim and proper, preferring not to be rowdy but this piece of news calls for a celebration. A round of cheers rang out all over the battlefield. The solemn atmosphere was finally cleared with the parting clouds, leaving a brilliant warmth from the sun. Everyone was so busy celebrating no one seemed to notice Anya retrieving a dark orb from David’s broken spear. No one noticed except a certain fox boy who’d never stopped watching her.