You could say that I had a taste of home at night, for the first time . It was no longer bland porridge and stale dried fish . I bought a fish on my way back from the port . We filled up a small table with food . Ying had to go battle the wyrm at night . A soldier couldn’t fight on an empty stomach, so I had to ensure she had enough to eat for the meal .

Ying claimed that she didn’t eat much, but I wasn’t convinced, because she ate bowl after bowl, albeit expressionlessly . Subsequently, we ended up eating virtually everything . I was done after two bowls, while Ying had half a chicken, half a fish, eggs and rice . Not to mention that she ate it all with a poker face . She didn’t give a reaction after she finished eating, either . She didn’t smile or show the satisfaction after a filling meal . I couldn’t tell if she was full or otherwise . However, we didn’t have anymore, so she must’ve been full, presumably .

“Thank you . ” After finis.h.i.+ng her meal, she stood up and gave me a small bow . She then went to one side .

I looked at Ying’s partially visible feet and asked, “Do you have to leave right away? Do you know the location for the battle? Also, I don’t think you should use those practically broken fis.h.i.+ng boats to fight the wyrm . ”

“I’ve always done this,” replied Ying, keeping it simple .

Ying went into the shrine and picked up a broadsword in front of the statue of G.o.d . She strapped it to her waist and then whipped her black hair . She took out a few hair rings from a drawer by her side . She did up her black hair that was akin to running water at the back, thereby revealing her white neck and small ears . She said, “I won’t be back tonight . I should be back by tomorrow morning . You’ll be at the shrine alone . Remember to close the doors so that you don’t catch a cold . ”

“Do you really not need me to come?”

“Would there be any point in you coming?”

Ying left me speechless with her question . I stood up . In a serious tone, I responded, “All right . I shall wait for you here . ”

“Mm . I’ll have to bother you to wash the dishes . There’s a well in the corner of the courtyard . ” Ying pointed to a corner of the courtyard, and then went to the door with her broadsword .

We didn’t say anything else . Ying wore on her shoes, adjusted her hair and the broadsword at her waist . She then gently pulled the door shut . She left the room leaving behind just a faint scent . Nothing was out of the norm . She was heading to a battlefield, yet she didn’t look tense or unnerved . She was as calm as though she woke up to go and sweep the yard .

I carried the dishes to the well and struggled to grab a bucket of water . I washed the dishes, and then tidied them up . I sat at the edge of the courtyard and admired the ancient tree that was swaying in the wind . The shrine was lonely after nightfall . The shrubs around were comparable to sentries of the shrine . The last traces of the sun were still visible on the horizon . A breeze, different to the refres.h.i.+ng breeze in the day, blew the smell of the sea over . The ocean surrounded the island and provided it with sustenance .

I didn’t know how long it’d take for me to return . All I knew was Lucia and Nier were okay at the moment . In saying that, I didn’t know how they were doing . I started to feel concerned again . I hadn’t heard any news of them in three days, and I wasn’t sure if the rescue fleet would be able to save them in time .

I was hoping Ying would have good news for me . The wyrm attacked the rescue fleet, while Ying had gone to chase it down . I was confident she’d be able to bring the rescue fleet back . She was confident she could defeat the wyrm . If Nier and Lucia were safe, they’d come back with Ying .

Ying’s circ.u.mstance on the island weighed on my mind . The people of the village weren’t worthy of her loyalty . She protected the village, but she wasn’t shown any semblance of respect or trust . All they did was doubt her . She shouldn’t be wasting her loyalty and kindness on the island, but, being duty-bound, she helplessly couldn’t bear to leave the village . The only way to free her of her duty her was to slay the wyrm .

As long as the wyrm was live, there was bound to be a way to kill it . If possible, I want to help Ying kill the wyrm, relieving the village of its threat . Once she was freed of her shackles, she could see the outside world instead of a world with just a shrine and the island .

I stood up, headed inside and shut the door . Truthfully, the wind outside was getting somewhat cold .

I wondered if Ying had begun fighting the wyrm yet . I hadn’t seen the wyrm or how Ying looked when she fought . But nonetheless, her emotionless face was very rea.s.suring when I was worried .

“Ying won’t fail,” I told myself .

Current time out on the ocean…

Vyvyan vigorously opened her eyes and shouted toward the sailor behind her, “Slow down!!”

Elizabeth lingered for a moment . After the order to slow down was given, she went up to Vyvyan’s side . Part of their white sail had been pulled down . The s.h.i.+p hastily reduced its speed . The sound of the waves around them instantly calmed down a fair bit . Elizabeth looked at the side of Vyvyan’s face . It was the first time Vyvyan wore a very tense expression . It was as though there was something lurking in the water that could attack them at any moment .

Elizabeth drew her sword and vigilantly watched her surroundings . However, there was nothing other than the waves cras.h.i.+ng into the side of the s.h.i.+p .

Vyvyan quietly said, “There’s a fight . The power with my son is fighting with somebody . It appears that power has failed and is being pursued . Also, there should be a fleet close by . It seems it’s been destroyed . Did you send out other fleets?”

“No . ”

“That’s not our people, then . I feel that whatever is pursuing that power might put Lucia and Nier in danger . The two of them seem to have been dragged into the fighting . Let’s hurry over . Come to think of it… I feel that… I’m partly to blame . ”

Confused, Elizabeth asked, “What’s it got to do with you? Haven’t you always been on this s.h.i.+p?”

Gaze ahead and tone serious, Vyvyan explained, “The creature the individual was fighting has absorbed my mana . The necklace I gave my son dropped into the water, and it absorbed my mana through the necklace . But it has detected me, as well . It appears it realises how frightening my power is . Luckily, the individual has been saved . Go full speed now . We should be able to rescue Lucia and Nier… No! No!! The individual has taken Lucia and Nier away . By the looks of it, the individual failed, because they tried to take Lucia and Nier away!!”

As they got closer, Vyvyan could sense more . A moment after, she opened her eyes: “There’s no need to worry now . It’s too late . It seems the individual planned to fight the creature, only to find Lucia and Nier . That resulted in their defeat; therefore, they had to abandon the s.h.i.+p and retreat to safety . The creature detected my power during their escape and fled . There’s nothing left on the battlefield now . ”

“No, not nothing,” said Elizabeth

Elizabeth aggressively swung her hand . She picked up a fire torch with her left hand and threw it toward the sea, revealing a sea of glowing eyes staring at the s.h.i.+p . The fleet let out shrieks of terror .

“Come, soldiers . You may be sailors, but I believe you’re also brave soldiers who can fight on the frontlines . Valkyries, lead the charge together with me . For glory and for my son, take these…”

Before Elizabeth could finish, a flame froze the sky . A sudden explosion went off in the air . Elizabeth looked at the green eyes by the s.h.i.+p with a stupefied look . The entire body of water froze . A barrage of ice picks pierced the creatures below .

Vyvyan was airborne . With a wave of her hand, aerolites fell from the sky, smas.h.i.+ng everything below to dust . Next, she gradually returned to the ground . The sea began to flow again as though nothing happened . She said, “Sorry, I felt that your s.h.i.+p might sink if so many of them attacked . ”

Vyvyan patted Elizabeth’s shoulder . Elizabeth fired, “Busybody . ”

“You’re welcome . ”

.  .

You could say that I had a taste of home at night, for the first time . It was no longer bland porridge and stale dried fish . I bought a fish on my way back from the port . We filled up a small table with food . Ying had to go battle the wyrm at night . A soldier couldn’t fight on an empty stomach, so I had to ensure she had enough to eat for the meal

Ying claimed that she didn’t eat much, but I wasn’t convinced, because she ate bowl after bowl, albeit expressionlessly . Subsequently, we ended up eating virtually everything . I was done after two bowls, while Ying had half a chicken, half a fish, eggs and rice . Not to mention that she ate it all with a poker face . She didn’t give a reaction after she finished eating, either . She didn’t smile or show the satisfaction after a filling meal . I couldn’t tell if she was full or otherwise . However, we didn’t have anymore, so she must’ve been full, presumably

“Thank you . ” After finis.h.i.+ng her meal, she stood up and gave me a small bow . She then went to one side

I looked at Ying’s partially visible feet and asked, “Do you have to leave right away? Do you know the location for the battle? Also, I don’t think you should use those practically broken fis.h.i.+ng boats to fight the wyrm . ”.

“I’ve always done this,” replied Ying, keeping it simple

Ying went into the shrine and picked up a broadsword in front of the statue of G.o.d . She strapped it to her waist and then whipped her black hair . She took out a few hair rings from a drawer by her side . She did up her black hair that was akin to running water at the back, thereby revealing her white neck and small ears . She said, “I won’t be back tonight . I should be back by tomorrow morning . You’ll be at the shrine alone . Remember to close the doors so that you don’t catch a cold . ”.

“Do you really not need me to come?”.

“Would there be any point in you coming?”.

Ying left me speechless with her question . I stood up . In a serious tone, I responded, “All right . I shall wait for you here . ”.

“Mm . I’ll have to bother you to wash the dishes . There’s a well in the corner of the courtyard . ” Ying pointed to a corner of the courtyard, and then went to the door with her broadsword

We didn’t say anything else . Ying wore on her shoes, adjusted her hair and the broadsword at her waist . She then gently pulled the door shut . She left the room leaving behind just a faint scent . Nothing was out of the norm . She was heading to a battlefield, yet she didn’t look tense or unnerved . She was as calm as though she woke up to go and sweep the yard

I carried the dishes to the well and struggled to grab a bucket of water . I washed the dishes, and then tidied them up . I sat at the edge of the courtyard and admired the ancient tree that was swaying in the wind . The shrine was lonely after nightfall . The shrubs around were comparable to sentries of the shrine . The last traces of the sun were still visible on the horizon . A breeze, different to the refres.h.i.+ng breeze in the day, blew the smell of the sea over . The ocean surrounded the island and provided it with sustenance

I didn’t know how long it’d take for me to return . All I knew was Lucia and Nier were okay at the moment . In saying that, I didn’t know how they were doing . I started to feel concerned again . I hadn’t heard any news of them in three days, and I wasn’t sure if the rescue fleet would be able to save them in time

I was hoping Ying would have good news for me . The wyrm attacked the rescue fleet, while Ying had gone to chase it down . I was confident she’d be able to bring the rescue fleet back . She was confident she could defeat the wyrm . If Nier and Lucia were safe, they’d come back with Ying

Ying’s circ.u.mstance on the island weighed on my mind . The people of the village weren’t worthy of her loyalty . She protected the village, but she wasn’t shown any semblance of respect or trust . All they did was doubt her . She shouldn’t be wasting her loyalty and kindness on the island, but, being duty-bound, she helplessly couldn’t bear to leave the village . The only way to free her of her duty her was to slay the wyrm

As long as the wyrm was live, there was bound to be a way to kill it . If possible, I want to help Ying kill the wyrm, relieving the village of its threat . Once she was freed of her shackles, she could see the outside world instead of a world with just a shrine and the island

I stood up, headed inside and shut the door . Truthfully, the wind outside was getting somewhat cold

I wondered if Ying had begun fighting the wyrm yet . I hadn’t seen the wyrm or how Ying looked when she fought . But nonetheless, her emotionless face was very rea.s.suring when I was worried

“Ying won’t fail,” I told myself

========.

Current time out on the ocean….

Vyvyan vigorously opened her eyes and shouted toward the sailor behind her, “Slow down!!”.

Elizabeth lingered for a moment . After the order to slow down was given, she went up to Vyvyan’s side . Part of their white sail had been pulled down . The s.h.i.+p hastily reduced its speed . The sound of the waves around them instantly calmed down a fair bit . Elizabeth looked at the side of Vyvyan’s face . It was the first time Vyvyan wore a very tense expression . It was as though there was something lurking in the water that could attack them at any moment

Elizabeth drew her sword and vigilantly watched her surroundings . However, there was nothing other than the waves cras.h.i.+ng into the side of the s.h.i.+p

Vyvyan quietly said, “There’s a fight . The power with my son is fighting with somebody . It appears that power has failed and is being pursued . Also, there should be a fleet close by . It seems it’s been destroyed . Did you send out other fleets?”.

“No . ”.

“That’s not our people, then . I feel that whatever is pursuing that power might put Lucia and Nier in danger . The two of them seem to have been dragged into the fighting . Let’s hurry over . Come to think of it… I feel that… I’m partly to blame . ”.

Confused, Elizabeth asked, “What’s it got to do with you? Haven’t you always been on this s.h.i.+p?”.

Gaze ahead and tone serious, Vyvyan explained, “The creature the individual was fighting has absorbed my mana . The necklace I gave my son dropped into the water, and it absorbed my mana through the necklace . But it has detected me, as well . It appears it realises how frightening my power is . Luckily, the individual has been saved . Go full speed now . We should be able to rescue Lucia and Nier… No! No!! The individual has taken Lucia and Nier away . By the looks of it, the individual failed, because they tried to take Lucia and Nier away!!”.

As they got closer, Vyvyan could sense more . A moment after, she opened her eyes: “There’s no need to worry now . It’s too late . It seems the individual planned to fight the creature, only to find Lucia and Nier . That resulted in their defeat; therefore, they had to abandon the s.h.i.+p and retreat to safety . The creature detected my power during their escape and fled . There’s nothing left on the battlefield now . ”.

“No, not nothing,” said Elizabeth.

Elizabeth aggressively swung her hand . She picked up a fire torch with her left hand and threw it toward the sea, revealing a sea of glowing eyes staring at the s.h.i.+p . The fleet let out shrieks of terror

“Come, soldiers . You may be sailors, but I believe you’re also brave soldiers who can fight on the frontlines . Valkyries, lead the charge together with me . For glory and for my son, take these…”.

Before Elizabeth could finish, a flame froze the sky . A sudden explosion went off in the air . Elizabeth looked at the green eyes by the s.h.i.+p with a stupefied look . The entire body of water froze . A barrage of ice picks pierced the creatures below

Vyvyan was airborne . With a wave of her hand, aerolites fell from the sky, smas.h.i.+ng everything below to dust . Next, she gradually returned to the ground . The sea began to flow again as though nothing happened . She said, “Sorry, I felt that your s.h.i.+p might sink if so many of them attacked . ”.

Vyvyan patted Elizabeth’s shoulder . Elizabeth fired, “Busybody . ”.

“You’re welcome . ”.