Chapter 9: Ones Held Dear (1/2)

"W-What are you?" Ilived two lives, what my eyes saw, my brain refused to believe A monster, for a lack of a better word, which easily towered over ten ed, on a crudely carved throne of jagged stone with an arazed down at , carried an oddly tranquil quality Two massive horns protruded out the of sides of its head, arched down and around it's skull, curving up to a point near the front, re al out of its lips and while its body was adorned in a sleek black armor that had neither decorations nor eloith the quality of a priceless treasure

Reiterating the fact that I was once a king, still, this being that stood beforethe nerve to call iant throne was a being that would make even the most unfaithful heretics bon in sublory… with its head resting on its arm, while its other hand nonchalantly scratched its nose

What I had failed to notice until now, though, because of the di co hole in the side of it's chest, blood continuously oozing out

"We finally meet," it repeated with a lazy half setting up, but failed halfway and end up back on my butt,

"Bugs will fly into your mouth if you keep it open that wide"

Great At least it has a sense of hu ," the horned huht throughto take to a while for me to open a dimensional rift that will transport you to your house, so until then, just be patient and wait here There are special roots that grow here You will be able to live off those until I finish," it sighed

That's right That's what I was here to do I ain a bit ofa little closer to the being

Giving a courteous bow, I replied, "Thank you for everything you've done for me and what you will do If there is any way I can repay you, I will do for you whatever is in oodneither a favor nor your gratitude I a this for my own amusement Come! Sit here closer to me and keeplaughed, patting an area of its throne for me to sit on

I cli to use mana to just ju

"Uhh… excuserude, but you don't exactly look like a lady How should I exactly address you as?" I said, ht I don't exactly look like a lady, now do I? I wonder why I said that My na out a soft chuckle

This giant de but a Sylvia to me, but I chose to keep that to myself

"Elder Sylvia, do youone, although I "

I immediately rattled off all of the questions that had been onSylvia "Where is this place? Why were you here all alone? Where did you coe wound? … Why did you save me?

She patiently waited for

"You must have had a lot on your mind The first question is easy to answer This place is a narrow zone that is between the Beast Glades and the Forest of Elshi+re No one knows of this place because I've been warding off anyone who cah the cases are rare in the first place You, young child, are the first to enter into this domain," she easily explained

"Please call me Art! My name is Arthur Leywin but everyone callslike an excited child

"Kukuku… Very well child, I will call you Art!" Her red eyes glazed, looking afar while answeringon to your second question I am here alone simply because I have no one left to be with While I do not think telling you everything would be wise, I will tell you that I havethat I have; my last battle with my enemies left this wound As for where I come from… very far away, haha"

There was a moment of pause before Sylvia continued on, this ti me

"As for why I saved you… even I do not fully know the answer to that question Perhaps I have been alone for far too long and I simply wished to have soaged in battle with the bandits When you fell off the cliff to save yourit was a waste for such a good child to die You are very brave It is rare for even an adult to be able to do that"

I shook my head "I was scared too and I didn't have much of an option I just wanted to saveinside her" I didn't know if it was fro and powerful she seems but in front of her, I seemed to turn into a child No, I was a child in front of her

"I see… Your nant You must miss them dearly Rest assured, your faht cannot reach far enough to tell anymore"

"…"

A wave of relief washed over

I see, they're safe This new life brought about eht never experienced in my previous life

"Thank God Th-they're alive…they're okay" I let out sniffle

Sylvia's giant hand reached down as she softly patted er

The day passed by withup some roots in between to eat that looked and tasted very similar to potatoes but were black in color

We talked about all sorts of things to pass the time as she prepared to open a portal At one point, she asked e

"I was under the ie to have awakened so far was the age of ten, and even then, because the child couldn't grasp how to use it, there was very little he could do with it Yet, not only have you already formed your mana core, but, by the way you use your edoddly proud by her co I can read really well and I get what the pictures and words in the books are saying"

A fewthe portal

In a regretful tone, she explained one day, "The spell will take some time in order for it to be completely safe I do not wish for you to land in a destination you are not fa transported a couple hundred round Please be patient; you will be able to see your loved ones soon"

I nodded and said that as long as I knew they're alive, I was fine aiting It beat trying to clie of the mountain

These past couple of days, while I trained s

Sylvia really e a book by its cover" Contrary her intientle, patient, and warm She reminded me oftender when I did soht, as well as the other bandits, deserved worse deaths than they had when she suddenly flicked entle, a flick of a finger froht of I was sent tu, "What was that for?"

Pickingme on her armored knee, she said in a soft but pained tone, "Art Perhaps you are not wrong in that those bandits did deserve death; even I chose not to save that e you fell with for the same reasons However, do not let your heart be clouded with continuous thoughts of hatred and the sort Continue on proudly with your life and gain the strength to protect your loved ones fro the way, you will come to face situations like before, e corrode your heart but move on and learn to better yourself froain"

I blinked, a bit stunned by the fact that I was being lectured on morals by soely, it stuck to me as I just responded with a blank nod