77 Accepting the role (2/2)
The secondary effect of modeling, alchemy. Not only changing the shape but also changing what it was made of.
She had come to realize lately that because of her opponents always using blessed metal, many of her earth attacks ended up simply being stoped by the swing of a blade. If she could master her alchemy ability and reinforce her attacks, she would be able to fight on even ground against that kind of threat.
[Evlin!! Please! If you can hear me! Say something!!]
”...!”
But just as she was starting to focus on her new ability, she was interrupted by a message from Gustav's voice inside her mind.
[Evlin??]
”Gustav??”
She stood up in a hurry and looked around to see if she had really heard him.
”Gustav?? Is that you???”
[Evlin!!! Yes! It's me!!!]
Evlin continued to look into the white void and all of sudden, she saw the image of a blond man appearing right in front of her.
”Gustav!!!
”Evlin!!!”
The two hugged each other in relief after being separated for so long. Somehow she could touch him in the white void.
”God! It's so good to see a friendly face!! I've been stuck in here for so long!!”
”Same!! You have no idea how much we miss you!!”
Evlin then remembred about her conversation with North.
”Gustav! Is everyone ok? What happened out there?”
”...”
”Gustav...?”
Gustav made a difficult expression as if he had just eaten a sour dish and was trying to hide his distaste.
”Something... Something happened with Ashley...”
”... ... ... What...?”
Evlin's eyes started to widen up and she was beginning to feel her chest tightening. The last time she saw Ashley she was stomping a giant horse demon as if he was made of cardboard. But she also knew after talking with South that she was in danger because of the dryad in her brain.
”Gustav...”
”...”
She took a deep breath and held her chest with both hands while carrying a look of fear as if she didn't want to know the truth.
”What happened to my sister...?”
”...”
Gustav continued to hold his sour face and looked at her.
”The dryad kidnapped her...”
”What...?”
”The dryad used Ashley to feed on our negative emotions and locked her inside her mind. She has total control over Ashley's body...”
”No... Please no...”
Evlin feel on her knees and covered her mouth so she wouldn't start crying. Her sister was the most precious thing she had in that world. She would not be able to bear it if something happened to her.
”I- I- I need to come back!! I need to get out of here now!!! I need to save her!!”
”Evlin calm down! Were working on it!!”
”How can I calm down??? My sister is being held prisoner by a demon!! All because of me and my stupid idea!!! I need to bring her back to normal!!”
”You can't!! Not while you're in the white void...”
”Ugh!!! Then...”
”Don't worry! We have a plan!”
”... You do...?”
”Daren and Lilith are on their way to recover Ashley's body. Once they do I will use my power to return her to normal!”
”Your power...?”
”Yes! I've been blessed by the south god. I can bring Ashley back!”
”You... You are a champion too?”
”Ah, no... It's just a small blessing... I don't have an immortal body nor am I a servant to him.”
”I- I see...”
Evlin still wasn't comfortable with the idea. This situation was her fault, she fused Ashley with the dryad, she was her sister, she should be the one out there saving her.
”Evlin...”
”...?”
”Do you trust us?”
”Eh...?”
”Do you believe in me to save your sister? Do you believe in us to save you?”
”...”
The words from the North god returned to her. She realized that she did in fact had difficulty relying on others to carry her duties. She needed to learn to place more faith in her teammates or she would end up burying herself with responsibilities.
”I do... You guys are my family... And I know you would never abandon us!”
”Thank you for your trust.”
”...”
”I promise you... We will return Ashley to normal, we will free you from this place, and when we do, we will take on Marcus and the east goddess together!”
”... Together...?”
”Together!!”
Evlin felt a sense of relief. The truth was, she always pictured in her mind that she would end up somehow having to face Marcus and East alone. She knew that this was a fight that belonged to all of her friends but she couldn't help but feel her place was always on the frontlines, always taking the biggest risk, always jumping to protect everyone.
She did that during her fight with Marcus. Instead of trying to work as a team to take him down, she tried to hold him off while everyone escaped.
But now, the team had grown, it was stronger and more reliable. She didn't need to carry everything by herself anymore. She felt she was finally free to just play her own role instead of doing all the roles.
She came closer to Gustav and gave him another hug.
”Thank you Gus! I needed that so much!!”
Gustav was surprised by the show of affection but was happy that he could put her mind at ease. Gustav had for a long time now resolved himself to always be there when Evlin needed someone to help her sort her feelings and ease her suffering.
”I need to return now... But I'll be right there by your side! If you need me just call!”
”Thanks Gus! I will!”
The image of Gustav started to fade and Evlin was once again alone in the white void.
But this time, she decided she would no longer feel sorry for herself or try to worry about things she could not do.
Everyone had a role to play. And her role right now was to wait.
”Everyone is doing their best... I can't stay behind...”
She started to concentrate again.
Right now she couldn't save Ashley, she couldn't protect her friends, and she couldn't fight against the demons. She was stuck in there and there was nothing she could do about it. But there was one thing she could do to prepare for once she was free.
Evlin continued to focus and kept trying to reach the deeper meanings of her magic so she would be better prepared to fight once the battle started.
”I'm counting on you, everyone...”