historical

"Milleia, what happened?" I asked but I could guess what was the content of the call.

Milleia turned her gaze at me. Tears were brimming in her beautiful pink eyes. "I-I...!"

She was hesitating to tell me what was going on.

"Milleia." I called out to her again but she still didn't reply so I took a step forward to approach her-

"I-It's nothing! I just need to go somewhere...."Milleia finally spoke and plastered a fake smile on her face. "Say sorry to Jayden from me, I-I don't think I will be able to cheer him up!"

"..." I stared at her for a few seconds before shrugging my shoulders. "Okay, don't take your time. The exams are soon there."

"Y-Yes! Thanks...t-thanks Edward..." Before tears could fall, Milleia turned around and left in a hurry. She was probably going back to her village to see her mother's condition.

Her mother was suffering from a serious sickness and was on her deathbed. Milleia was going there to see her mother but she will soon realize that her mother had only a few days at best.

Her mother's illness seemed incurable. Maybe with a few more years, Maria or Seraphina could have healed her...

There was still the actual Saintess but she was in a coma stage so there was no other choice except that one.

"Sigh..."

It should be Jayden's role but that guy chose Carla's route. If I was playing the game, I would have to choose between fighting for Lyra or helping Milleia. Unfortunately, it's too late for Jayden to help Milleia. I will have to do it myself otherwise, she will lose her mind along with her mother.

....

....

....

The next day, I woke up earlier and prepared myself. I needed to go to the Dorian Forest. Deep in that forest was something called 'the Golden Grass'. They were famous in the Celesta Kingdom but only in legends but I knew that they were really existing as I played the game.

But before that it was time to summon another spirit....

Cleenah told me that I was strong enough to call another spirit to help me. It was because I had unlocked another Anima's core.

Anyway, I wanted to do that in a quiet and isolated place so the Dorian Forest was perfect for that. After stealthily leaving the dormitory, I put on my mouth mask, altering my eyes and hair just like when I was going by the name of Nyrel. So now, I had black hair and red eyes.

When I reached the Dorian Forest which was in the south-east of the Capital, I didn't try to summon it right away. I walked deeper until reaching a safe and isolated spot. Safe because they were Mana Beast in the Dorian Forest.

"Since I became stronger, could it be that the one I'm going to summon will be stronger than even Mary?" I asked Cleenah curiously.

[<No. It's you and your luck.>]

'What? Does that mean that I was lucky to have Mary?'

[<Extremely lucky, yes.>]

Well, her mirror ability was sure useful in both defense and attack and you could even 'teleport' if you placed the things well. Of course it was going to take a lot of mana but I wasn't going to complain. I could save myself from several dire situations with that ability. An example of that is how I saved Milleia back in the race.

Thinking about that, I pricked my fingers to squeeze out blood so I could draw a circle. It was the same circle I had drawn back then in the Enigma Dungeon of the Falkrona Capital when I had nearly died.

Suddenly a mirror appeared and from it Mary appeared.

"Mary?" I tilted my head at her sudden apparition.

"It's just in case someone or something attacks you while you are elsewhere." Mary explained.

Oh, I see.

Indeed when I was supposed to 'travel' in the past to save the said banshee, only my soul was going there. During that short time, my body will be in this world defenseless.

Now that I think about it, I was really careless and insane back then...I mean I summoned Mary while we were fighting for our lives against the Boxing-Kangaroos...

"Thanks, Mary." I said and resumed drawing the circle.

"..."

Not going to lie but it was a little awkward.

I learned two months ago that Mary was in fact in love with me and it of course shocked me to the core. I knew that she cared for me but never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that she would one day fall for me.

What was even more strange was the fact that Mary didn't even have a change in demeanor after saying that. She was acting like usual...I was the only one racking my mind about her words and the consequences.

I looked at Mary. She was checking in every nook and cranny if there were or not any traps, animals or beasts.

Honestly it would be a lie if I said that I didn't like her. She had been at my side nearly six months now and I couldn't even describe how grateful I was that she was there for me.

Putting aside Aunt Belle who was far from the capital and Elona with whom I reconciled recently, Mary had been there as a moral support. The days I was sick, tired or depressed because of the training, she had been the one taking care of my room, even the meal.

I mean, which dude wouldn't fall for such a girl?

With Cleenah, Mary was one the people who was responsible for how I was now. Be it in strength or mind. They both helped me a lot. The only difference was that Cleenah only spoke to mind whereas Mary could literally live with me. She could be considered to be alive but again that was the problem.

A relation between us was impossible as Mary was contracted to me. She might have a body but it wasn't exactly right. She could only be 'alive' thanks to my mana and the contract. More importantly, we couldn't have a family. Cleenah told me that right after I contracted Mary.

Maybe Mary was acting normally because she knew that nothing could ever happen between us...? Despite that, she told me she loved me back then...

[<If you like her, you should just tell her.>]

'Are you the one telling me that? You are the one who told me that you couldn't and shouldn't have a family with a contracted Banshee.'

[<Yes...but at least she will be happy to know that you like her. I'm sure nothing else could make her that happy than a confession from you...>]

Huh...

I felt embarrassed when Cleenah said that like that.

'Even if I say that, it will be even more dramatic as we can't have a relation...'

I mean it's like confessing to her before rejecting her right after.

Damn...

It's really like I'm cursed.

I have only loved a few girls in both lives and none of them will end up with me...

Ephera is dead and I don't trust that guy at all.

Miranda cut off every relation with me after what I had done to her.

Aurora hates me--I really destroyed my chance when I was her fiance. It could have really worked as Aurora was really trying to accept me despite my despicable deeds but as expected even her, couldn't hold back in the end.

Finally Mary...

[<Sigh...It's not entirely impossible Amael...>]

Huh?

'You told me I shouldn't even think about it for myself and herself though?

[<That's right. The current you and even in the future, I would advise and tell you strictly to forget that as its against the laws and it is considered as a taboo.>]

'Taboo?'

[<Yes...I may be the Goddess of the Banshees but there was someone else before and that person is the one who created the laws with the other Gods. Mary has died, that's the authentic true Amael. Never forget.>]

'I know.'

[<You could anger several Gods by doing that and they might try to kill you and believe Amael, you will die without even room for argument. They will kill you without a second thought for transgressing the laws.>]

Ah...

[<I honestly don't know how far your strength will rise but I don't think you will reach the realms of Gods. What I am trying to say is that it's not impossible but you will die for sure and I wouldn't be able to even protect you in my current state. I am your Legacy while 'they' are not.>]

Yeah...

I nearly forgot that.

Cleenah was a Goddess but she chose willingly to become a Legacy.

Legacy are the ones residing entirely inside someone while the others are the ones living in another realm with their entire strength.

Until now Cleenah never told me the reason behind her choice of becoming a Legacy...

'What do I have to do, Cleenah?'

I asked Cleenah curiously.

[<You have to create a body of flesh and blood. Break your contract and transfer her Anima's Core to that body.>]

Seems easy.