"Perpetua?"
I looked at her, stunned, then at the creature, and finally at the letter in my hand.
"So this was a prank?" I held the paper out toward her.
At that, she blinked before crawling closer across the bed.
"Oh, this~" she hummed while taking the letter from me. "I sent it to you three days ago."
"This thing brought it today." I pointed at the orange creature.
"Oh." Her eyes moved to it before a fond smile spread across her face. "It can be quite airheaded."
Airheaded...
The creature let out an offended little "Pu!" while puffing its cheeks.
"...Is this your familiar, or a pet, or whatever?" I asked, staring at the strange little thing.
She tilted her head side to side lazily.
"Sadly. I met this cutie on the same day in the forest we saw each other."
So she admits she was there after all.
Should I try asking again what she was doing there at night?
No. She will just go round and round around the question like before.
"...So how are you?" I asked, forcing my voice to stay level. "Are you feeling okay?"
She sat on the edge of the bed, playfully swinging her legs with a carefree smile. "I am fine. Sieg doesn't need to worry. More importantly..." Her gaze moved down to my arms on the object I held. "Who is this?"
"This is a Drake—"
Suddenly, a wave of agony invaded my mind.
My knee buckled.
"Sieg?"
I looked around the room, gasping for air, but there was no visible source for such a violent assault.
A mental attack?
No, the pain wasn't coming from outside. It was coming from the connection I shared with...
"Faux?" My head snapped toward the window.
"Keep pouring mana into it! Don't stop!" I shoved the egg into Perpetua's surprised arms.
Before she could even reply, I threw the window open and jumped out.
"O wind."
The air wrapped around my body instantly.
I moved forward at full speed, racing over the town as wind slammed against my face. The pain through the connection only kept growing stronger the farther I went.
Faux...
Trees blurred beneath me as I moved deeper into the forest as I homed in on the source of the distress.
Two distinct mana signatures clawed at my senses.
The sight below made my blood boil, rage exploded through me.
Mana burst from my arm as a raging blade formed over my hand and descended down at full force.
The gorilla like beast looked up with widened eyes, but it was far too late.
I landed past it in a violent gust of wind.
A second later, its head slid from its neck and rolled across the ground as blood sprayed into the dirt.
A weak "Fua..." came from behind me.
I turned instantly and scrambled to the body of the dead beast, its massive hand still clenched tightly around Faux's small body.
"Seriously!"
I grabbed the thick fingers and forced them apart one by one.
The moment the grip loosened, I quickly picked Faux up into my arms and poured Aethel magic into him.
He was not only covered in grime and forest rot, but he was injured all over, his small frame trembling under my touch.
What was he doing here in the middle of the deep forest?
"Sieg, how is he?" Perpetua's voice came from behind.
I glanced over my shoulder to see her walking closer, cradling the black egg with that orange creature hovering near her shoulder.
James said she can use Space Magic... Did she use it to follow me here?
"He is alive," I said, my voice tight as I focused every ounce of my concentration back onto the healing spell.
"Fua..."
Faux's golden eyes slightly opened. As he looked up and locked onto my face, his pupils dilated and his eyes widened in shock.
"FUA!" He let out a piercing cry and jumped straight out of my hands.
"Huh?"
I stared at him in disbelief. "Wait! I am not done healing you."
But Faux only grumbled and turned away from me stubbornly.
"What is wrong with you???" I shouted, irritation bubbling up inside me. "Running off and doing this alone? What were you even doing here? Is this the 'important matters' you are always busy with, huh?"
He slightly turned his head and glared at me.
"Fua fra faz fu."
"Huh? 'Nothing to do with me'?" I snorted angrily. "If I had not come here, you would have died or worse, gotten eaten!"
His fur puffed slightly as he bared his tiny teeth before spinning around fully.
"FRA FA FUA!"
"Oh please, I saw how you were handling it! You were getting crushed by-"
"Now, now."Perpetua glided in between us. "Things are getting a little too heated here." She looked between me and Faux before winking at me. "Why don't we walk it off?"
As the sky became a mixture of dusk and orange, Perpetua led the way, humming to herself with an infuriatingly lighthearted melody.
Both Faux and I reluctantly followed behind in silence. From time to time, we shared glances, only to glare at each other and look the other way the moment our eyes met.
Why is he acting angry when he is the one who almost got himself killed?
"This is my secret place."
She spoke without looking back.
We walked out of the dense forest to find ourselves on a small hill, and down below, the sight was mesmerizing. A vast field of luminous flowers spread across the valley, the dying light of the sun blending with the bioluminescence of the petals to create a scene of breathtaking beauty.
We walked down the slope, moving through the glowing sea of flora.
Was there really a place like this here before?
My eyes moved toward Perpetua.
As she walked, her fingers lightly brushed against the flowers, almost as if she was embracing the world itself.
The flowers glowed brighter at her touch.
Some gently bent toward her hand as though they enjoyed the brief caress and regretted when it passed.
I looked down at the egg, then glanced at Faux, who was busy smelling a nearby flower.
A slow breath escaped me as I closed my eyes.
I should have just gone home.
Soft chuckling came from ahead.
"What?" I asked, my brow furrowing in irritation.
"No, it's just that Sieg's grumpy face also looks cute." She said, turning toward me as she continued walking backward.
"I think you mean handsome. And I am not grumpy..." My eyes shifted toward Faux. "He is."
"If you ask me, he is acting a lot like you."
"Like me?"
"Mhm." She raised a finger playfully. "Jumping ahead all alone, pretending to be strong even when hurting inside, refusing to rely on others."
"That again? If I can do something alone, why should I rely on others?"
And betrayal always comes from the people closest to you
I learned that lesson clearly in my previous life.
"I heard from Peri that she has seen Faux fighting alone in the forest many times."
Peri?
Even though I didn't voice the question, her eyes moved toward the strange orange creature floating nearby.
So that little thing has a name now... But Faux...
"... Why is he doing that?"
"Maybe," she said softly, "just like a certain cute, grumpy, handsome person I know, he is blaming himself for not being strong enough."
This girl...
"I am not blaming myse-"
"Sieg."
Her voice suddenly turned serious.
"Your mother's death is not your fault."
The words struck harder than anything ever could.
"How dare you say that!? You weren't there! You don't know anyth-"
"It's not your fault." She stepped closer.
"What–"
"It's not your fault." Another step.
"Listen to me–"
"It's not your fault." Another step.
"Stop this!"
"It's not your fault."
She looked directly into my eyes and repeated it slowly, words carving themselves into my consciousness.
I opened my mouth again, ready to argue back, but my voice choked. It simply didn't come out.
What is this...?
I could feel my chest hurting so much, a pain expanding behind my ribs until it felt like my very heart was being crushed.
"Sieg," she asked softly, a faint smile on her face, "what do you want right now?"
I want to hear her voice again.
I want to talk to her.
I want to see that silly smile again.
I want to see her again.
But that was impossible.
She was…
"It's not your fault."
The mantra, repeated over and over, felt like a physical mass pushing me down. I grit my teeth hard in anger.
"Shut up!" My voice cracked. "What do you even know!?"
I took a step back.
"When those white wings came out and I would have dealt with that creature then..."
Vague memories of the fight against the Unending Demon surfaced in my mind, the cold terror of that moment clawing at my throat.
That overwhelming feeling of helplessness.
"That's why I need to become strong! So strong that nothing like this can ever happen again!" My voice rose shakily. "But no matter how much I try, it feels like I am stuck! Nidrik keeps getting stronger while I am still here!"
My chest started hurting more and more.
"I am tired... I don't want to do this anymore. I want to leave everything behind and just sleep..." I looked directly at her. "But I can't! I am Mother's successor! I have to carry everything she left behind!"
The words came out carrying a desperation I didn't intended.
"I am not allowed to stop!"
Perpetua quietly looked up at the darkening sky, her expression soft and unyielding.
"I understand." Her voice was soft. "Being strong is important. If we want to protect the things we find beautiful, we need strength."
"That is correct–"
"But Sieg..."
She stepped closer and gently placed her hands over mine.
"You do not have to do it alone."
Her eyes met mine calmly.
"There's Nidrik. James. Erina. Your grandparents." A small smile appeared on her face. "And even if it is not much, there is little old me too."
Warmth spread from her hands.
"Sieg, you can trust us. You do not need to stay alone."
Alone is safe. Alone is how I don't drag others into this.
"I-I can't do that!" I shook my head harshly. "I can't drag other people into danger!"
My voice lowered.
"Mother carried everything alone."
"But there are people who want to help you and walk beside you." She spoke gently. "When you collapsed during the fight against the Spectre, Nidrik stepped forward. That alone proves you can trust him... and others."
Her eyes softened.
"And I am certain your mother did not carry everything alone either. Lady Valka must have had people she trusted. Friends who helped her grow stronger and protected her." She glanced toward Faux. "Just like how Faux feels about you now."
"Faux?"
I turned toward him.
His golden eyes were wide, trembling slightly as tears streamed down his fluffy face.
For the first time in months, the connection between us became clear.
The emotions rushing through the bond slammed into me all at once. Helplessness… Weakness… Fear… Sadness… The pain of being powerless…
It felt like looking into a mirror.
"Fra fua…I will be strong... I will protect you. I love you."
Through our bond, I felt how pure and deep those words were as they reached straight into my heart.
There was no stopping the tears that rained down my face.
I dropped to my knees, hiding my face behind the egg to mask the sound of my sobbing.
Ah... damn it...
A small, warm presence pressed itself gently against my head.
There was no need to look up.
"Faux..."
"Fua?"
"...Thank you."
Our connection, our bond, deepened far more than ever. There was no need for words anymore.
I could feel exactly what Faux was feeling, and he could feel me just as clearly.
Right now, we were both simply glad that we had found each other.
"I am sure Baloo feels the same way," Perpetua said as she kneeled beside us. "And the little one resting here too."
Her hand gently brushed across the egg.
"So Sieg, let's walk on these pages of life together from now on. Whenever you are in a pinch, I and others will be there to help you turn the page to the next chapter."
I looked at her quietly.
"...That is a pretty big promise you are making."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Don't you remember? It is not a promise." A playful smile spread across her face. "It is my selfish wish."
"We will live our lives with happiness so radiant that even the world itself feels its warmth... correct?" I asked quietly.
"I am so glad you remembered." She clapped her hands happily.
Then she extended one hand and placed it atop the egg.
"So... do you agree?"
"Fua."
Faux placed his tiny paw over her hand.
That strange creatu–Peri moved closer and after some effort put her little hands atop Faux's.
All of them looked toward me
A small laugh escaped me..
"Sure."
I placed my hand on top of theirs.
Doing something like this felt so stupid and childish, but the pain in my chest eased little by little.
A faint tremor brushed against my palm.
"Hmm?"
"Fua?"
"Oh?"
"Pu?"
All of us quickly pulled our hands back.
A thin crack had appeared across the top of the egg.
The shell trembled again and the complex golden markings etched into its surface glowing brighter and brighter with every second.
"Is it..."
The entire egg shook violently.
The light expanded, consuming our vision, accompanied by a loud sound of shells giving away.