Chapter 393 Healing
It has been a week since Brianna died. Winerva rarely gets out of the cell, only doing that when she needs food or a breath of fresh air. Her complexion has gotten better compared to how it was a week ago, but she sometimes behaves like Millonia, which is fine. No one stops her for whatever she is doing. This world is not a stranger to violence and vengeance, after all.
It has been a relaxing week for me. I have been going back and forth between Antares and Verniculos, just watching people do their thing. Looking at what I have been doing for the last six months reminded me that I need to have a vacation. That is why Aurelia, Millonia, Valeria, and I are discussing which masterless territory we should visit at Profound Night Garden.
This vacation was initially intended for me and Millonia. However, after their discussion a week ago with Millonia, Valeria and Aurelia decided to tag along. Millonia doesn't seem to mind about their joining, so I don't bother asking. Besides, we have hung out together a couple of times before and all of them get along well.
"It is going to snow soon, so going east is out of the question. I don't want to waste my Mana on heating my body," Millonia comments, eyeing Aurelia accusingly.
"It is not like we are going to sleep outside," Aurelia countered, slightly confused by Millonia's accusing stare.
"Where is the fun in looking at snow-covered scenery all day? Aren't you going nuts looking at all of those whites the entire time?"
"We can visit Ice Garden and I have heard many people praise its beauty."
"Millonia hates Snow Spiders," Valeria reveals, ending the argument. "Over a decade ago, we stayed at an inn a few Absitan away from Ice Garden after intensive training. When night came, a Snow Spider managed to get into her room. It bit her chest making it numb and cold for three hours. I let her be because I thought it would be a good idea to develop immunity toward it. But as you can see, she was traumatized by the experience."
As if to prove her point, Millonia shivers involuntarily. I find it slightly funny, but I don't have the heart to laugh at her. The endemic Beast of the east, Snow Spider is dangerous. One bite is enough to put a Middle-Class Knight to sleep forever in ten minutes. We can laugh about its venom because we are by no means normal. Millonia's fear for those tiny menaces is just.
With that said, I think it is also over the top to hate the entire region just because of those Beasts. However, I do agree that during winter, there is not much to see in the east. The discussion continues. Aurelia and Millonia are the ones mostly talking. Valeria will chime in sometimes and I will remain silent. I am new to this world, after all.
The discussion would have ended a long time ago if we weren't waiting for Winerva. Until Winerva finishes playing with Helia, we will remain here, giving us ample time to extend the discourse. Unfortunately, the only way to end the discourse and get everyone to agree is to immediately leave. We will not be leaving anytime soon.
"If we move a little bit to the northeast, we can find Guatencia. It is one of the many cities that remains green during winter. It is still cold there during winter, but the air is humid enough to moisturize your skin. Hot springs will also pop up and many people come there to enjoy them. The rejuvenating effect of the springs is still debatable, but they beautify the skin."
"Ooh. I like that."
"Does it—"
"No, it doesn't have Snow Spiders."
Satisfied by the answer, Millonia nods her head along with Aurelia. It seems everyone has agreed that we should head to Guatencia. I am also intrigued by the place. The last place I visited that showed contradicting nature phenomena had a Corrupted Spirit residing in it. I wonder if Guatencia will be the same.
'Speaking of Spirits, when are you going to stop the spirit trade, Layland?'
Luxia reminds me of the promise I made close to a year ago. I was planning to end all of the trade lines during the preparation of the war, but the Demon Kings Summit came up. I have got all of the information I need, so I only need to move. Ideally, I will be able to carry out the purge in two weeks.
'I will do it after the vacation and the Cresundia Fair. We have worked hard to get to our quite comfortable position and I think it is time to reward everyone for their hard work.'
'Very well, then.'
'By the way, where is Teanosvera?'
'He is playing with the chicken.'
The chicken that both of my Forest Spirits have come to call is no other than Phoebesius the Phoenix. Teanosvera spared the poor spirit and forced it to form a Spiritual Bond with me. Phoebesius looked quite resigned—still does—so Teanosvera took it into his hands to educate the Phoenix. I haven't seen Phoebesius for a while now, but from our Spiritual Bond, I think Teanosvera's education works.
'I need to remind him to tone down his training intensity. A mentally broken Spirit is useless, after all.'
'Spirits don't get crazy. That chicken will also never be corrupted since you actively suck his darkness out of him like you do to us.'
I don't even bother arguing. I initially thought Luxia and Teanosvera were pacifists, but their recent behaviors tell me that they love violence as much as I do. That can't be helped. Their Master is a Demon, after all.
Suddenly, the constant tug on my Mana Pool disappears. It means that the spell that I cast on Helia has finally been deactivated, which in other words means that Helia has died. Standing up, I excuse myself from the girls. A look of recognition enters their eyes and they decide to join me. Slithering out of Profound Night Garden, we head to the dungeon.
Upon arriving there, we find Winerva leaning against the wall outside the cell. A defeated smile hangs on smile as she gazes at the rooftop. She might not have been the best at sensing, but she should be able to register our presence if she wasn't so out of it. I tap on her shoulder twice, bringing her out of her reverie. She wants to jump on me but stops herself once she realizes how bloody she is.
"Come on. You need it," I encourage, opening my arms.
She jumps into my arms and hugs me tightly. I sense longing from her as she holds on to me like a last line. After some time, she lets go of me and looks at me awkwardly. She is concerned about dirtying my clothes, but they are fine since I coated them with Mana before she jumped on me. Seeing her state gives me an idea.
"We are going to take a bath. Do you want to join?"
"Sure."
Winerva must be so out of it that she agrees to my offer in an instant. Deciding not to dwell on it too much, I take the girls to our bathing spot in the Lost Cause Forest. The funny thing about this forest is that it is genuinely dangerous; so much so that we are the only constant visitors. Thinking retrospectively, Valeria sure is ruthless for leaving me in that kind of place alone.
Upon reaching the river, the girls undress before I do. They drag me into the river, causing me to store my clothes in my Spatial Storage with a flick of my hand. Skin-dipping in the river with Valeria, Millonia, and Aurelia on either side of me, we look at Winerva who is still standing on the riverbank. She is already naked but still hesitant to join us.
"No one is going to stop you, Winerva," Valeria says calmly, taking her blind mask off.
Winerva's eyes widened. It is her first time seeing Valeria's beauty, so I get her reaction.
"Pardon for the intrusion," she says once she recovers, inching toward us slightly.
When she is about to sit slightly away from us, I use my Mana to pull her before me. She yelps as she plops down before me with a splash. Dumping water on her blood-matted hair, I wet it and rinse the blood away. Taking out a shampoo from my Spatial Storage, I apply it to her hair before massaging her scalp. She scrunches up during the process but eventually gets comfortable with it.
"How do you feel?" I ask as Valeria applies shampoo to my hair.
"I… don't know," Winerva mutters softly. "I guess, empty will be proper. The satisfaction is gone. Should I have kept her alive longer?"
"Would have fun if you did?"
"…I am not sure."
"Then, you have made the correct decision." I smile as Winerva looks up at me. "Vengeance is okay, but life is not all about it. Make it a process; not your purpose."
It took me some time to be able to put out those words. Valeria was the reason why I could grow out of my emptiness after having my revenge. It is a simple thing to realize now that I think about it, but at that time, I was so lost. Winerva needs that figure; the one who says it is time to move on. I don't know if I will impact her as much as Valeria did me, but I am willing to tell her that.
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