Chapter 93: The price of strength
Rei finds it strange to see the girl he’s grown to like mimic his legal guardian’s patient smile. When she steps toward him, her steps are firm and rooted to the ground, not the odd push and pull like before, when sometimes she rushes in and other times hesitates to approach him. She gently places her hand on his cheek, and a familiar warmth presses on his heart. In her currently fused state, he doesn’t know if it would be appropriate to hug her as tightly as he wishes. Would it be disrespectful to his teacher if he did?
“I can feel your mind racing, husband. Why are you so distracted?”
“You said it again.”
“Said what, husband? Is that not what I should call you? Are we not newlyweds?” She tilts her head with an enticing pout on her lips. Her playful nature becomes his answer. She may house a fragment of Oya’s soul, but she is still Arie. The fragment only lends her the old matron’s strength and skill. Unlike the impostor, she did not take over her body and will.
“It is nothing. I only wonder how much stronger you’ve become with this new skill?” He does not voice the thoughts in his heart.
“It’s amazing, Rei. I feel so much stronger, like I can lift a whole mountain!” She lifts her arms and flaunts newly defined muscles. Her eyes light up as she giggles mischievously. “Like this, you can’t run away from me anymore.”
He shakes his head sheepishly at her childish plans. “This time it's not me running away. Come, I’ll hug you right now if you want.”
“…”
Her long silver eyelashes flutter about like feathers; his bold words leave her so startled she becomes too shy to act. She’s so used to being rejected that it never occurred to her that he might be more willing to indulge her now. It’s strange how she visibly deflates. Shouldn’t she be happy with their current relationship? She tries to move away but suddenly stumbles, groping about like she can’t see what’s in front of her. For Rei, her actions are alarmingly familiar; he recalls a similar time when he saw Oya trip over a recently moved footrest when he was much younger.
“Are you…?” He can’t bring himself to finish the sentence. He can only grit his teeth and clench his white knuckles into fists by his sides, refusing to panic. If he’s reacting this way, what of Arie? She’s the one who abruptly lost her vision. How is she coping with the sudden loss?
“Why can’t I see anything!” Tears gather around her muddled gaze.
“All things are equal in magic; you can’t have the Lady’s strength without bearing her burden as well,” Jasper explains with a sigh, as though expecting it but still wishing it weren’t so.
“Rei!” The distress in her voice is palpable.
“It’s okay, I’m right here.” He pulls her into his arms, gently patting her on the back to calm her down.
“Oya once told me she constantly has to channel mana into her eyes for her to see things.” Clad freely offers timely advice to his distraught young miss.
“Did you hear that? Why don’t you try it, Arie?” Rei softly whispers encouraging words into her ear.
“Okay.”
She tightly shuts her cloudy eyes while concentrating her mana into them. When her amethyst eyes snap open again, she can see, but not in the way she’s used to. Everything is hazy; it’s easier to pick out the living beings than inanimate objects. For a living person, there’s a distinct aura around them. On Clad, a soft blue aura flows around him like a deep, steadfast stream. For Riell, it’s like a forest, dense with the illusion of a purple fox hiding within the foliage. Curious, she turns her face towards Rei and exclaims. It’s like being drowned in divinity, a ring of pure light constantly showering down on him from above.
“How is it? Do you feel better now?” He asks, unaware of what she sees.
“You’re really amazing, Rei. Do you know that?” She smiles and rests her head on his broad chest, utterly content.
“What, have you changed your mind? Are you finally willing to keep me as a husband?” He jokes.
But she’s not shameless enough to face his challenge, so she hugs him back tightly and hides her lovely blush from his amused gaze. She’s pressed so close he can barely make out her words.
“I’m happy…but I know…it’s not me you like.”
‘What does this silly girl even mean?’ He still recalls his disastrous confession a few days ago, when she firmly rejected him in favor of a divorce. Why does she sound so insecure? Shouldn’t he be the one living in doubt, not the other way around? Crazy, she’s literally driving him insane.
“Cease this sickening display at once, or did you forget that I’m still present!” Jasper’s muffled voice rudely interrupts the two. They spring apart like criminals caught in the act. As a doll, it’s easy to forget the old dragon lord’s presence. Looking down, Ariellia notices a scorching red aura burning around the stuffed toy like a flame. She unhooks it from her waist and lifts it to eye level to examine it closely.
“Will Lady Oya be okay now that her soul fragment is in Ariellia?” Riell doesn’t want to be the one to speak, given the strange atmosphere, but he’s too worried about his guardian not to. He nervously licks his lips while averting his eyes from the lovely couple. As a single dog, such affectionate displays can be quite devastating to witness without any preparation. Just a month ago, he never would have believed his lying eyes if someone told him Rei would fall this hard for the spoiled dark elf, but now the fox is willing to bow and accept this new sister-in-law with a cup of wine.
“Yes, I can feel it. Her soul has settled down now.” Ariellia places her hand on her chest, sensing something only she can feel. It’s like a cool wind circling above her heart.
“What do we do now? The impostor still has the last fragment.”
It is good that Arie can now defend herself in battle, but there is still concern for the motionless matron lying on the bed. They must gather all her soul fragments before her body withers away.
“It’s far too early to despair, brat. Now that Ariellia and Oya are one, she will be more sensitive towards the last piece. She may even be able to lead us directly to the impostor’s hiding place.” Jasper quickly puts the boy's wild fears to rest.
“That would be great!” Clad jumps up on the spot with a broad smile on his face. The knight has been so depressed lately, so this is a welcome sight.
“How is it? Do you feel anything tugging you away?” Jasper asks.
Ariellia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, centers herself, and tries to detect any unnatural compulsion. She feels a pull and points her finger towards that direction. Everyone follows her finger, only to find it pointing Eastward, right to where the capital is. It seems it's inevitable that all their troubles lie in that direction.
“This really just can’t wait. We’ll set off once the funerary rites are complete tomorrow.” Jasper huffs, finding this blatant manipulation distasteful.
“You head out first, Rei. I’ll join you once the substitute head nun from the church arrives.” Riell looks reluctant to part with the kids now that Lady Oya is like this.
“I shall stay with him and protect my lady’s slumber. Should her final fragment return, I shall set out to join you on the road.” Clad is honest about being unwilling to leave his old friend’s side even if it goes against his duties.
“I understand, I will not pursue this matter.” Ariellia may be spoilt, but even she knows better than to disregard her knight’s will. If it were Rei, she would never want to leave too. Hopefully, they encounter the impostor sooner rather than later on the road.
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