Chapter 3: Hector’s request

Seventy years had passed since the defeat of the demon lord, in the dense deep forest

there is a small waterfall with crystal blue water likes a mirror that reflects

the blue sky a gentle wind accompanied by the song of the leaves and birds.

There is a girl sitting in the edge of the river with feet soaked in water as herlong, flowing ebony hair dances in the wind and her

striking emerald eyes that shines upon the sunlight, she’s holding a thick

brown book and she was so indulge in reading that numerous animals gathers

around her, it’s not she didn’t notice it she just let them near her since they

don’t posses threat to her.

As the gentle wind continues to blow that her book flips in several pages when the

wind hits it, she close it gentle as and look upwards seeing some weird shape

clouds, she slowly stands up and wear her boots and pick up her bag.

“I guess I’ll go visit him”

In the holy city Lila walking in slow pace while amaze to the structures of the

city, the buildings was build into square shape. There is a open ground in the

centre where the holy church was build and all the residence are so respectful,

especially the soldiers that immediately recognize Lila upon seeing her from

afar.

Welcoming her with much gratitude they escort her to the central church where she sees a

statue of them the holy city must really recognized their action on defeating

the demon lord, though visiting the church is not her main reason coming in the

city, nor she believe in god yet she respect their culture and believes thus to

show respect she pay respect by visiting the church and meeting the head

priest.

Expecting to be Hector the head priest, she is unusual excited she is wearing a smile on

her face with bit of blush on her face, but that expression soon gone when

unrecognized person come out in the door, he is wearing a white rob with gold

line in the edge he must the head priest.

“Lila-sama Welcome to the holy city, what service you may seek?”

Lila shakes her head upon hearing the word of the priest.

“No, no I’m not seeking any service I’m just here to visit an old friend named

Hector” Lila asks.

“Ah Head priest Hector, unfortunately he already retired 4 years ago, I’m the one

succeed the title of the head priest”

“I see” as bit disappointed voice came out from Lila’s mouth as she rubs her hands

together.

Seeing

the troubled girl in front of her the priest immediately replied “I heard that

former head priest Hector is living in the outskirt near a hill outside this

city”

After

hearing this Lila’s face brightens as she replied with jolly voice “Really?”

The

head priest smile and replied “Yes, I will ask some holy guard to escort you”

“Thank

you very much” Lila bows to show her gratitude.

Lila

was happily walk, seeing the girl that supposedly is the mage of the hero party

who defeated  the demon lord hops as she

walks, they just couldn’t believe it they want to talk to her yet the too

embarrassed to open their mouth over thinking that they might get ignore.

‘This

is really the mage of hero party?’One of the soldier think.

 ‘It’s been seventy years since the defeat of

the demon lord, and head priest Hector is now old how she is so young?’

As

their head has many questions that requires answer yet they just afraid to asks

thinking that they might offend her, but as curiosity building up the more they

want to ask her and this is now and never this chance may never come again

since they got a chance to see the one of the hero that save the world not to

mention escorting her.

“Um

Lila-sama” One of the soldier gather his courage to talk to her though his

voice is shaky like he is cold.

“Hmm?”

Lila looked at the soldier.

Upon

seeing her striking emerald eyes they all got stunned and couldn’t muttered a

single word as they got so nervous that their armour starts to shakes as well.

“Are

you guys okay?” Lila asks worriedly.

They

all stiffen up as their armour started to rattle doing so sensing the soldiers

being nervous around her Lila started to laugh.

Seeing

a beauty laughing in front of them they feel something shoots them in the

chest, they feel like seeing a goddess in front of them, and they all started

to laugh also.

“Come

on guys I bet you all nervous to ask Lila-sama something” One of the soldiers

jokingly said.

“Shut

up, you are the one is so eager to ask her something”

“S-stupid

don’t say it.”

“Really?”

Lila looked at the soldier in her back, and sweetly smiles to him and said “You

know you don’t have to feel nervous”

After

hearing her, the soldiers began to ask her various questions as they continue

their escort to her not knowingly that they already arrive in front of Hector’s

house, they bitterly say goodbye to Lila, she watch them walk back to the city,

as she turns her back she got startled by a little with silver hair waving to

her back deep purple eyes she is looking straight to her like their in standoff

waiting for each other to take a move.

Or

more like clashing between two socially awkward persons, Lila was just able to

happily engage conversation with the soldiers earlier because she is so happy

that she will meet Hector after a decade.

Thirty

minutes had passed still them staring at each other.

‘Who

is this little girl? And what is she doing here, I thought this is Hector’s

house since the soldier the one bring me here” Lila face darken in realization

‘don’t tell me Hector finally lost it, after retiring he also began his

predatory on little girl, what to do should I report him? But I just cannot

report someone without solid evidence’

 On the little girl side ‘Who is this girl?

What is she doing here? Why she knows this place, I mean she’s been escorted

here she must be someone important or just another beggar’

The

door behind the little girl slowly opens and an old man with crane in hand

appears from the inside.

“Elysia

what are you doing?”

“Hector-sama.”

Elysia in monotonic voice.

Hector

turn his gaze in the girl in front of Elysia, she saw Lila with awfully

disgusted face at the same with anger she drop her bag and ran toward Hector

and grab his shirt.

“You

pedo-priest you finally lost it don’t you after retiring you prey on this

little girl and bring her to this secluded place!” Lila said it in panic voice

as well as hoping that her assumption is wrong or else she will be force to

report Hector to authorities.

“Um,

Hector-sama who is this person?” Elysia ask.

“Ah

you don’t know her Elysia, her name is Lila my comrade and a friend of mine way

back in my youth days” Hector introduce Lila while patting her head making her

embarrassed.

Elysia

doubt the words of Hector while looking closely to Lila, hearing that she is a

comrade of Hector in his earlier days, Elysia darting around Lila while looking

to her closely.

“Please

don’t lie to me Hector-sama, there is no way this is your companion during your

expedition on defeating the demon lord” Elysia point her finger to Lila.

Hector

just laugh hearing Elysia’s remark while Lila just remain silent listening to

the two exchanging word like a grandparent and granddaughter.

 He notice Lila was silent standing in the side

listening he put his left hand to Elysia’s head making her stop from talking.

“Why

not we come inside and talk, I know you are tired from your travel” Hector said

with soft with bit raspy voice.

Lila

just follow them in silent as Elysia ran toward to the kitchen quickly brewing

some tea, she get a wooden stall under the table since she’s not tall enough to

reach the kitchen, Lila just watching the little skilfully making tea like she

is making it all the time.

Lila

put both hand under her chin and look at now old Hector looking outside the

window smiling.

“I

never expect that all of people you will take care of someone”

Elysia

quickly serve the hot tea as soon she finish making it and grab her staff in

the corner, and slowly walk to Hector as she hold high her staff made in wood.

“I’m

going out to practice Hector-sama”

Hector

just nod in respond and Elysia ran as her little step sound slowly disappeared,

Lila was tracing her finger in the mouth of the cup as the tea still steaming.

“Then

what the story of that girl I know you are aware of her true identity, that

silver hair and that purple eyes” Lila talk with serious tone.

Seeing

Lila’s serious face Hector smiles as he take a sip in the tea and slowly

putting it the table and once again look at the window as the wind blow, and

sound of boiling water in the kitchen he look at Lila as the sunlight partially

covers his face.

“Yes,

as you said I well aware of her”

“Then”

“You

know when we conduct an expedition in the border of southern region near the

dried great river there is small town that was completely destroyed by the

remnants of the demon army, I was surprise at first by the horrible sight that

welcomed us, every one experience a terrible death everyone is beyond

recognition it was a terrible sight, some of the soldiers even throw up seeing

the dead bodies even me up until now I still remember that horrible sight like

yesterday.” Hector clench his fist while telling it to Lila and he was voice is

stiff like he doesn’t want to talk about it.

 “Wait if what you said is true the town near

in the dried great river is” Lila slams her hand in the table in disbelief.

Hector

just nod “I have the same reaction at first, it’s hard to believe but that was

happen we thought there is no survivor, and we already lost hope for finding

one but when we digging a grave for the dead I saw a silhouette up the cliff

the surrounds the city, there I saw a girl past out in front of the demon

commander that was pinned in the dead tree seemingly died by burning”

“I

immediately bring her to treatment she is almost dead by the time I found her

but she is still breathing faintly, it took 4 weeks when she regains

consciousness, and she is no recollection on what happen that day, I guess that

was for the best if she doesn’t remember it then let it will be” There is a

trace of sadness mix with anger in Hector voice when he said it.

“By

the way Lila, can I ask you to bring Elysia to your travels?”

Lila

look at Hector with bit surprise then she took a sip on her tea “If what you

said is true she has a potential to become a mage but sorry Hector she will

only get in my way, you know I’m going place to place sometime not knowing the

danger lurking”

Hearing

this Hector just smile looking at Lila, ever since they first met when they

recruited her that memory is still fresh to his mind that Ethan rudely approach

her while picking up some flower in the forest thinking it’s just another

random girl Ethan grope Lila’s butt, on relation Lila blasted them with fire

magic that burns half the area while chasing them intending to kill them, she

may awkward but she deeply cares for her companion and her unconditional love

for magic though she will answer you just ‘hobby’ of hers but Hector knows that

she dedicated her life into magic.

“Then

teach her magic”

“Huh?”

“You

know I can see you through her, she love magic as you do”

“I

don’t love magic it’s just a hobby of mine”

After

sometime, Hector ask Lila to go to Elysia usual spot near the cliff in the

mountain on the other side there is a large waterfall with a round stone on the

top, Elysia was sitting in one of the branch holding her staff looking in the

stone.

“I

heard you almost every day coming her to practice”

“Hector-sama

said if I hit that stone on the other I can be a mage”

Elysia

stands up and point her staff to the stone and fires a fire spear to it yet it

didn’t reach the stone it disappear mid-air leaving a smoke that also disappear

immediately.

“You

sure can fire a powerful magic yet you lack control on your mana” Lila said it

while leaving.

Elysia

just look at her and after follows her back to the house, they eat lunch

together as Lila decided to stay for awhile to teach Elysia magic and

unexpected request from Hector.

 “Lila thank you for deciding teaching Elysia

magic”

“Don’t

worry about it, I decided to hang out for awhile consider this is my payment”

Lila answer while taking a bit to the meat.

“While

at it, there is something I request can you come to my library after this?”

Lila

just nod still eating as Elysia look at the two adult speaking to each other,

she just continue to eat decided not to listen to them since even she wants to

it’s not her concern, after meal Elysia washing the dishes as Lila and Hector

walk together toward the library under in the house, it was dark that only

lamps is the source of the light, there is multiple book shelves five for the

exact and some books scattered in the floor.

“Elysia

when she is not practicing her magic, she spends her entire time her reading

books”

Lila

walks toward the books in the floor and pick up one of the book, ‘Magic basic

control’ while looking at it she thinks that Hector said that Elysia loves

magic is not a lie, she may study this book over and over again since the book

is pretty worn out inside out.

Hector

hand a book over to Lila “This is the book of written by the legendary mage and

spirit contractor Evanora, says that you can gain eternal youth without undergoing

to spirit contract”

Lila

gets the book and opens it and said “You this book are fake right? There is no

such magic that grant you eternal youth and even Evanora herself is dead right

even though rumours said that she is immortal”

“Even

though I still believe on it” Hector said while exiting the library.

“I

thought you are not afraid of dying that was you said to me 30 years ago”

Hector

stops on his track and said without looking back to Lila “I was just making a

brave face, of course I’m afraid of dying like most people do”

Lila

didn’t say anything after hearing it, just holding the book in hand as both of

them is silent not making any sound.

“Anyway

you also say that is part of my research since I cannot read ancient text I

want you to translate it for me”

“Got

it, but it would take some time you know and also I will try to look for a

magic that makes you immortal”

“Thank

you Lila”

“But

don’t expect, I cannot promise you anything”

“Yeah”

After

that Lila began her research as well as making translation of the book, while also

teaching Elysia magic.

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