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Chapter 127
“Water…”
It hurts… My body feels so heavy… I have no energy in my body…
What is happening to me?
…Eh?
It’s warm…
I like this warmth…
Where am I? What is happening?
Feeling the heaviness change into a warmth that came with a light-headedness, Ann felt like she was in a dreamlike state.
When she opened her eyes, still in that dreamlike state, she saw a familiar and nostalgic room, and next to her was…
“Mother…?”
It was her mother, who looked younger than when Ann last remembered her.
“Ann dear, how are you feeling? Do you want some water? You’re still burning up,” Her mother approached her and touched her forehead.
“Mm…”
Am I having a fever?
“Geez, this is why I told you to not let Ann out in the rain for too long!” Her mother then turned to scold her father who was looking apologetic.
“Don’t scold… Father… I insisted on looking for… Vidor…” Ann felt her mouth moving on her own, and that was when she recalled that she was currently seeing a scene from her past.
“Ann, didn’t I tell you before to not overdo yourself? Your body isn’t as strong as you thought it’d be. I can’t stop worrying if you are like this…,” Mother sighed.
Aah, I am sorry, Mother.
In the end, I overestimated my own power and… overworked myself to death.
I am so sorry… I should’ve listened to you more and remembered your words.
Ann felt like she wanted to cry.
“Sorry, Mother…,” Little Ann muttered as her mother just patted her head.
“There, there. Don’t do it again, alright? …Promise me that this will be the last time?”
Nn? Did we have this conversation before?
Ann felt as if the conversation was supposed to be different, but…
Her head was too muddle-headed and her eyelids grew heavier.
“Now go to sleep.”
“I… don’t want to…” Ann muttered.
Because if I sleep right now, I won’t be able to see you again, since this dream will end…
Huh?
Her mind cleared up the moment it reached that line of thought, and suddenly, she found herself awake in an unfamiliar bed and unfamiliar room, but surrounded by the people she got to be familiar with.
Sitting next by her side wasn’t her mother, and it wasn’t her husbando either… When she registered who was sitting next to her, she nearly jumped and her heart nearly jumped out of the surprise and the goosebumps she got.
It was none other than Rakiasha!!
Imagine waking up, still in your weakened state, only to see the enemy who caused all this to be sitting literally next to you?
If she wasn’t strong, she might have passed out again…
“I see you have awakened. Stay still, I am pouring my mana to you to help you recuperate,” Rakiasha didn’t seem to notice that Ann was spooked by her, or she merely ignored it as she tightened her grasp on Ann’s left hand and casually said.
“Huh? Ah… Eh?” Ann couldn’t comprehend what was happening and she could only utter nonsense as she tried to stay still.
Yes, although she didn’t jump in surprise, she was still spooked to the point that her body jerked up right away, instinctively trying to run away.
The warmth that I felt earlier was actually from Rakiasha?!
It felt so surreal to her, since the damage she sustained was also from Rakiasha…
When Ann turned to look at her surroundings, she was relieved to see that her comrades were also in the room, looking at her with a mix of concern and relief.
She felt safer when she saw that her comrades were there, so she relaxed.
Then, she furrowed her brows when she thought of a question.
Why won’t they sit closer to her?!
But then, her eyes caught sight of Rakiasha, and then Nymnienna who seemed to be guarding her bedside.
Ah… Maybe they had no choice. Okay…
Ann decided to stay still as she focused on the warmth that seeped to her body from the place where Rakiasha touched her.
As she began to daze off, Rakiasha suddenly opened her mouth, “I admit my defeat. You won the duel. But I wonder how you managed to do such a feat that nobody has ever got to do before?”
That golem was, in a gaming term, her ultimate skill. Only the one with the strongest power could defeat it–and so far, none managed to defeat her after she pulled out her golem.
Ann was the first one, and it wasn’t through a method that she had imagined it would be.
Still dozing off with the warmth that caused her to be dumber, Ann totally didn’t expect to be called like that, so she just answered with a slightly hoarse voice, “Water…”
“Ah, yes, here’s a cup of water,” Nymnienna moved as fast as the lighting as she gave a cup of water to Ann, who reflexively received it with a thanks and drank it.
After drinking the cup of water and satiating the thirst that she suddenly felt, Ann realized what was happening and quickly shook her head and said, “No, I mean, it was all thanks to water.”
“Water? You mean, water magic?” Nymnienna asked with a frown.
“But aren’t you a strong multiple element holder? Wouldn’t it be ice and perhaps, earth magic?” Rakiasha asked, based on her hypothesis.
“Uh, no… I am, uh…,” Ann’s brain just started to boot, and now she was unsure if she could announce to the world what her magic element is, and if her magic element actually could hold this much power…
She looked at her surroundings once more. Other than Nymnienna and Rakiasha, there were only members of her party in this comfortable and homey room.
“Right. I just recalled how you seemed to say that you managed to make the Imparie tribe members fall unconscious using water magic. But during the duel, you used ice magic, a mutated form of water magic. If you’re a mutated ice magician, then you shouldn’t be able to use water magic anymore… but water magic users shouldn’t be able to use ice magic without the mutation happening in the first place… Just what is the secret behind your power?” Prince Kiehl mumbled, not understanding what was happening.
The prince’s words made everyone gathered in the room to tacitly understand that the prince hinted to Ann that it was fine for her to speak about it here, rather, it’d be better for her to tell the truth right here, or he feared that Rakiasha and Nymnienna won’t let them off.
“I thought your magic mutated during the duel but you didn’t seem to act surprised when you used that ice magic. You acted as if you knew you could use it,” Mila also said, but this time it wasn’t as scrutinizing as she usually was. Rather, she helped Ann this time, as she spoke after seeing that Ann still didn’t open her lips.
You have to spill the beans here, or these Imparie tribe higher ups might cause a ruckus!
“Just what are you?” Rakiasha wondered.
Ann finally came up with how she would try to explain, so she opened her mouth and said, “I… am just a normal human. And let me tell you, I am a Pure Water magic holder. The secret to my power… is knowledge.”
“What?!” Everyone in the room gasped, unable to comprehend Ann’s words.
They were so shocked upon learning that Ann was a Pure Water magic holder. Prince Kiehl and Allen had a clue, given how they had heard the rumors that the previous king’s daughter was a furnace–in other words, a Pure Water magic holder. But they thought perhaps it had undergone some changes, given that the soul inside was changed. More importantly, it was beyond their comprehension that a Pure Water magic holder could be this strong. And what’s with the remark about the secret behind her power being knowledge?
“Ah… I think I understand,” Laura was the first and only one to nod in understanding.
“I know you’d get it, Laura!” Ann was overjoyed.
If Laura understands, then the homework of explaining stuff is now shared between us! It’s not just my sole responsibility, hehe!
“Ahem… How do I begin?” Ann cleared her throat as she prepared to give her full explanation. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her at that time.
“It is true that my… this body’s magic has always been Pure Water magic, and there was no change whatsoever to it, even with the addition of my soul. It’s just… I come from another world with a more advanced knowledge and technology compared to the ones this world currently has. Ah, it comes with a downside, though, that magic doesn’t exist in my original world.”
“Huh…?” It seemed as if everyone in the room, except for one person, found it hard to imagine such a world.
“I can attest to that. I’ve said it several times before, but I have memories from before I was born here. In my past life, I lived in that world and got to know Ann there,” Laura chimed in, adding credibility to what Ann said.
“Anyway, science… The knowledge of nature is more developed in that world. Maybe since we don’t have magic there, we have to rely on knowledge and technology. And I suppose there is much knowledge that is yet to be known to the people of this world, one of them being the vast knowledge of water. And to be honest, I am not sure if I can reveal everything about it to the people of this world. As you have witnessed before, it is far too powerful. If it’s to be widely known, sure, on the one hand, Pure Water magic holders won’t need to think they’re weak and useless in combat. But… in the end, they will still be targeted, although with different intent. Plus, who knows if there’s any Pure Water magic holder with evil intent themselves? They can bring about calamities. Tsunami, flood, and… Just imagining it, I…,” Ann started off explaining, but the more she talked, the more it seemed as if she was talking to herself.
“Tsuna… what?” Even the eldest there, Elder Matthias, didn’t really understand what Ann was saying.
“I understand your concern, Ann…,” Laura nodded and with a serious expression, she said, “I think it’s best if we discuss it further with Reginald after all this is done. Right, Kiehl-sama?”
“Huh? Yeah, obviously. Sorry, the whole thing is just too…,” Prince Kiehl seemed to have a difficulty in comprehending things.
“Pure Water…”
Meanwhile, Rakiasha muttered the two words with an expression of disbelief.
And after that, nobody uttered even a single sound.
After a while, Ann made eye contact with Laura, and oddly enough, it felt as if they could communicate through their eyes.
‘What do I do now?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Should I speak?’
‘Probably?’
…Though it was not helpful.
“Chirp!”
It was at this time that Ann finally realized that Birdie was all cuddled up to her.
Ann turned to look at Rakiasha and asked just in case, “Uhm, since I won, that means you’re giving Birdie back to me and letting us all go, right? And you will also help with the ritual?”
Rakiasha snapped out of her daze and answered, “It’s a given for us to give the Mythical Bird of Ascendence back to you and let you all go if you wish. However, I remember that our agreement is only about the custody of the Mythical Bird, not about helping with the ritual?”
“…!!” Ann wanted to click her tongue, but she refrained from doing it, lest it upset the two Imparie tribe’s higher-ups who were right in front of her…
So stingy! If they really honored Birdie, then they should also help Birdie to achieve her objective, no?
We are this close…
Can nothing really be done in this situation?
Then, wouldn’t our journey here be for naught and we’re back to square one?
Ann then turned to look at Birdie and thought to herself.
Oh, at least we have a strong verification that Birdie is indeed the Mythical Bird of Ascendance, but still…
“Chirp?” Birdie tilted her head when she realized Ann was kinda staring at her.
Ann gently nudged Birdie with her finger as she said in her heart, ‘Oy, do something, can you? It’s what you want as well, right? Help la! I believe your words weigh more than mine here… I will even call you Master!’
Ann felt she was going crazy for actually wanting to rely on this small bird next to her…!
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