Something must’ve gone wrong when I was unconscious. I could tell that. Shika wasn’t the type to look like that.
Even when she broke out of the spell and confronted the demon, she looked confident. However, she seemed somewhat indecisive—or rather... guilty?
She didn’t say a word as we were escorted by a servant. She averted my gaze whenever I tried looking at her.
Zariel on the other was as nonchalant as ever. She was silent, yeah, and she didn’t seem to be worried or so. She was on my shoulder, sitting casually as always.
After the long corridor beside the garden partially filled with snow, we arrived where Shika’s mother was. This house somewhat reminded me of my grandpa’s. They used to have a large house in the countryside, which was almost similar to this one—a traditional old one.
The servant who escorted us knocked gently on the sliding translucent doors. Within a brief, it slid rightwards and opened.
The interior was as traditional as the outside. A small lamp hanging on the ceiling. A warm, eye-comforting light was emanating from it, illuminating the room with gentle rays of light.
Just beneath the lamp, there was a low table on the tatami floor and a few zabutons were placed around it.
On one of the zabuton Yuukina, Shika’s mother sat casually while her servants sat traditionally around the corners of the room.
Seeing us approaching, she smiled cunningly. Although the smile was of someone who was a mastermind in plotting, it looked unimaginably graceful and elegant.
"This way." The servant then led the way. With a glance at my surroundings, I sat before Shika’s mother. Of course, I sat in formally. Shika sat on my left—on the right side of her mother.
Zariel preferred my shoulder. She sat there, with her legs crossed and arms folded—posturing like she was the VIP.
Ms Yuukina didn’t say anything until the green tea was served. She took a sip and then gestured for me to take mine.
"How do you like the tea?" she then said smilingly.
"Not bad I guess," I replied, taking a long sip of the tea. It was warm but didn’t affect my tongue that much. "It smells like herbal but the taste is quite different."
Of course, I was surprised as well. It was yet another experience that left me amazed. The game was beyond realistic.
"It’s also different than what I prefer."
"It’s no surprise, haha." She let out a gentle laughter this time. "You must have a rich taste for foods and stuff."
Then there was a long silence. It was so long that I finished having the tea in the meantime.
"Shall we get into the business then?" I broke the silence, narrowing my eyes at Shika’s mother. "I don’t know what happened when I was unconscious. But I’m certain you didn’t have a motherly conversation with Shika."
"Why do you think so?" Shika’s mother murmured, looking curiously at me, "What I told her was something any mother would tell."
"Too bad you’re not cut out to be a perfect mother then." I shrugged, "If you were, your child wouldn’t have the indecisive look on her face right now. I bet you convinced wrongly."
"Zanthrix, it’s not you think..."
"He’s right though." Zariel interjected, preventing Shika from saying any further, "You were motivated back when we arrived here. You were all torn up and had the look of someone who refuses to yield under any circumstances. However, you look fragile now."
"Zariel..." Shika’s words faded and she averted our gaze.
"Quite the Seraphyll you’ve got there, Zanthrix." Ms Yuukina mumbled, crossing her ten fingers as she placed her chin upon them. Then she looked cunningly and said, "I never saw a Seraphyll attached that much to someone. You two must have a good relationship."
"Perhaps, but that’s not a matter to discuss right now. We’re here for something else and you certainly know it."
"Right, right. Let me be frank with you then." She replied to my statement, "What I told her was a suggestion."
"Suggestion?"
"Yes. A suggestion or rather an obvious alternative."
"Elaborate."
"Reclamation of the Iceborns is a difficult task to accomplish. It won’t be like the demon you defeated. Even if you acquire the four fragments of the Frost Daiken, no one knows how to turn back everything the way it used to be. Not even Shika can."
"That’s where I come in..."
"And how do you plan exactly to do that when you don’t even know the actual story behind the Iceborns."
"I’ll figure it out. There’s nothing for you to concern."
"Quite the optimistic eh? However, that will only lead you to your failure." Check latest chapters at novel{f}ire.net
"That’s on me." I implied, "Now cut the crap and tell me what did you suggest to Shika."
"Yuukina told me to stay with the Rojo Clan." It was Shika who continued afterward. "Since I’m her child, she told me that she’d accept me into their clan even though I have a different aura nature."
"Extinction of the Mavi Clan is inevitable. They cannot be saved. The least I can do is ensure my daughter’s safety," Ms. Yuukina replied. "And yet... she still calls her mother by name. It hurts, you know."
She put on a faintly sad expression as if pretending to be hurt
"Wow, that’s a remarkable way to persuade someone."
"Don’t bother Zariel. I’ve seen someone better in persuasion." I replied to Zariel and stared at Shika, "Anyway, what’s your decision, Shika? I mean if you want to stay here, abandoning your father and the efforts you’ve been putting in for so long, who am I to object? Though keep this in mind, you won’t be betraying one particular clan this time. You’ll betray the faith of the Mido as well as the Nora Clan too."
"Hey, quit speaking like that." Zariel yelled at me, striking a chop on my head softly, "She’s not a snake in the grass."
"But Zariel it’s her choice to make."
"Even so, I know she won’t make a reckless decision like you."
"Thank you, Zariel. I appreciate it." Shika mumbled softly as if a dead tree had regained the will to survive again, "And thanks for your honest support too Zanthrix. If I choose the path I’ve been on, you need to hear the whole truth. I’m not sure whether you’ll be around or not."
"That doesn’t matter." I replied, folding my arms as I looked at her, "Even if you don’t share everything with me, I’ll still be helping you out there."
Then she remained silent for a moment, took a deep and long breath, and finally began speaking...
"The truth is...."