Chapter 22: Reunion (3)

“Kyaa!”

“Saint!”

A woman woke up screaming in bed.

She was drenched in sweat, as if from a nightmare.

“Alicia?”

“Saint, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

She took a deep breath and looked around, her expression twisting in frustration.

“…Aria…”

“Yes?”

“Where’s Aria?”

“Aria…?”

Alicia paused, as if considering something, then replied with a small “Ah.”

“The woman you were fighting?”

“Fighting? What are you…?”

Lucia looked at Alicia, confused.

But as Alicia explained what had happened, Lucia’s expression hardened.

“Aria… said she didn’t know me…?”

“Elena asked her several times, but she insisted she didn’t know you.”

“…That’s… impossible…”

Lucia lowered her head.

No one truly believed that the woman called Aria didn’t know the Saint.

Despite their different demeanors, they were too similar in appearance, save for their hair and eye color.

At this point, claiming they weren’t related was less believable.

I’ll have to request an investigation into this Aria when we next meet with the Church, Alicia thought.

“Where are the others?”

“They’re waiting in the next room. They’re worried about you.”

“I’ve caused them trouble…”

Lucia tried to get out of bed, but she swayed, and Alicia quickly supported her.

“You shouldn’t get up yet…”

“I’m fine. Just a little dizzy.”

As they reached the door, it opened, and Leon entered.

“Lucia? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I think I’m fine.”

“Haa… That’s good.”

Leon sighed in relief.

“Is Elena alright?”

“I don’t know. She’s reunited with her sister, so I guess she should be…”

“Sister? Oh, right…”

A faint memory surfaced from before she lost consciousness.

There had been another person present, besides themselves and Aria.

“You know how worried Elena was.”

“Yes.”

“They’ve been talking ever since we got back.”

After returning to their lodgings, Elena had taken Lena to her room. Alicia had said Lucia needed rest, so she had accompanied them.

Lena, you left the Great Forest without a word, and then you cut off contact? Do you know how worried our parents were? We tried to find you, but you didn’t say where you were going, so we didn’t even know where to start. And you didn’t even bring a communication device. It’s been weeks, and Mom and Dad haven’t been able to sleep. Mom’s even fasting. And I had to convince Grandpa not to send out a search party…

S-Sister…?!

Leon shuddered slightly, remembering the scene before he left.

“Elena’s just worried, that’s all.”

“Right…?”

“I should go see them. I’ve caused them enough worry.”

“Don’t blame yourself too much.”

Leon led Lucia to Elena’s room.

They reached the door, and Leon took a deep breath before opening it.

“…What should I do?”

“Sister, don’t be so hard on yourself…”

Elena sat on the bed, her head in her hands, while Lena tried to comfort her. It was a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor.

“Elena? Are you okay?”

“Elena?”

“Ah, Leon… Lucia, you’re awake?”

Elena seemed to only notice them after they spoke.

It meant she had been deeply distressed, to the point where even her sharp elven senses failed her.

“Did something happen?”

“Something happened… Yes… something I caused…”

“Hmm?”

Elena mumbled something incomprehensible.

It took thirty minutes before they finally got the full story from her.

“So, this Aria saved your sister from s*ave traders?”

“Yes.”

“And you mistakenly attacked her?”

“…Yes.”

“Are you alright, Elena?”

“…No.”

Her voice grew quieter, her mood darkening.

Lena patted her back, but Elena remained dejected.

“But… it was a misunderstanding. It’s okay…”

“It’s not okay! You know how important debts of gratitude are to elves! Not only did I misunderstand the person who saved my sister, but I also attacked her… This is a matter of elven honor…”

She didn’t seem to care much about the attack, though…

Leon remembered Aria’s composure while facing their combined assault, but it didn’t seem to matter to Elena right now.

“Sister… Aria didn’t seem to mind…”

“Elena.”

Lucia approached Elena.

Despite the tense atmosphere, she had a question she needed to ask.

“What was your impression of Aria?”

“My impression?”

Elena thought for a moment before replying.

“She’s incredibly strong.”

“She certainly blocked our attacks without any difficulty.”

“Anything else?”

“Hmm… She seemed emotionally detached.”

“Detached?”

Lucia asked, surprised.

“She didn’t react much when we attacked her, or when Leon and Alicia arrived. There wasn’t any visible emotional response.”

As if she didn’t have any emotions at all.

“Aria…”

How much had her sister changed?

Two years ago, she had been mature for her age, but not cold.

She had always reacted vividly to everything Lucia did.

“Perhaps you should sit down, Saint.”

“…Thank you.”

Lucia swayed, and Alicia quickly brought a chair.

Lucia sank into the chair, her thoughts racing.

“Anything else?”

“Well… according to Lena, she came to the capital for the Academy entrance exam.”

“The entrance exam? She’s applying to the Academy?”

“There’s only one Academy in the Empire.”

“Haa…”

That was a relief.

If she was applying to the Academy, Lucia would at least see her again at the entrance exam.

“How long until the exam?”

“About three days. Acceptance letters are sent out two weeks after the exam.”

“Three days…”

“That’s still a while away.”

Wait for me, Aria…

I returned home after the unexpected encounter with the Hero’s party.

I wasn’t hungry, despite having bought groceries, so I put them away and lay down on the bed.

Is it really you?

Aria…

“Annoying.”

The scene kept replaying in my head.

I hadn’t felt anything at the time, but an unpleasant feeling was now bubbling up inside me.

“I shouldn’t have met them.”

It was unexpected, but it still happened.

I had to get close to them because of the Demon King’s orders…

We would probably meet again at the entrance exam.

How long until the exam?

I checked the calendar.

Three days.

“Three days…”

“Time flies.”

Time passed quickly.

The morning of the entrance exam arrived.