88 The Necromancer and the Priestess 22 (2/2)
”Tell me more,” Eugene said with a serious expression.
A half hour later, Yin Mei and the others left the tent.
Leon and Kai both had on worried and serious expressions, but Yin Mei and El's expression were unchanged, as if they had not just discussed the entire fate of the continent.
”You...” Kai suddenly said, and the group stopped in place, everyone looking back toward Kai, not knowing who he was speaking to.
”What is it?” Yin Mei asked, tilting her head in questioning. Her expression was calm, with no change, as if this was any other day. As if they weren't on the verge of a battle that would determine the fate of the continent.
”... Aren't you too calm?” Kai asked. Was this really the high priestess that he knew? The symbol of the people? The protector of the people? The so called incarnation of the goddess?
Yin Mei was confused over Kai's sudden question. ”Then what else should I be, other than calm?” She asked, truly feeling confused and unsure how to react.
”I don't know,” Kai was also confused why he felt this way, and even more so, was frustrated. But this question hit him right in the gut. That's right, what was he expecting of her anyways? To be panicked? To be depressed? No, none of that suited the high priestess. Actually, wasn't being calm the best reaction? In the end, they were here as soldiers. The moment they lost their calm was the moment they would die.
So, why was it that even when he thought this, he still couldn't accept it? As if there was a feeling of wrongness. As if the girl in front of him, was for some reason, abnormal.
Ah... that's right. It's because every action she took was far too logical. Even though it made sense, it lacked humanity.
He had felt this before, that it was as if this girl was isolated from the world, a barrier between her and everything else. Like she was in a world all of its own. Like this world was a chessboard, the people chess pieces, and she was the player.
It sent a shiver down his spine. Indeed, it was almost as if she was playing at god.
Was this the true nature of the powerful? That gentle and compassionate high priestess, was this her real self showing?
He recalled that smile she had shown when the demon bridge had opened.
It can't be. She couldn't possibly be the high priestess of his memories...
”Kai,” Leon said, interrupting the man's thoughts. ”You're asking really weird things...” He said. Actually, it wasn't that he hadn't thought this himself. But Leon knew that those thoughts were rude. After all, all that Yin Mei was doing was being logical, so what was so strange about that?
”You're right,” Kai said. That's right. What was he thinking? He didn't know this girl's situation or thoughts. So all these assumptions were being rude. There was no way that she could be like that... he shook his head, getting rid of his doubts. ”I'm sorry,” he said, apologizing upfront as he bowed down.
”No, there's nothing to apologize for...” Yin Mei said, but inside she was wondering. Was she really too calm? Was there something wrong with that? With... her? No... it can't be, right? Look, even Kai admitted his mistake. Leon as well, said that what he asked was weird. That's right. What was wrong with being calm anyways? How else should she have reacted...?
But somehow, she felt like that a very, very long time ago, she wasn't like this...
... All people change. Change was not necessarily bad either. So, there wasn't any need for her to be worried. When she thought about it like this, she thus quickly threw her doubts to the back of her mind. Why was she even concerning herself so much with this little question?
It shouldn't concern her. So what if she was different?
That's right.
She closed her eyes, then opened them, her expression cool. El looked at her, his expression slightly concerned, as if he could see all the thoughts and emotions that had gone through her head in that short amount of time. But in the end, he didn't say anything.
They soon reached the tree where Rosella was waiting for them, Eve still unconscious and lying on the floor by the base of the tree. She asked what had happened, to which Leon politely explained everything that had gone on. She turned slightly pale, but quickly returned to normal, her face calm. Kai wondered if maybe he was the weird one - or perhaps, women were just more adaptive than men...?
”For now, I think we'll return to the capital. After all, we have Sir Kiel with us,” Leon said, also glancing toward the unconscious Eve. He didn't know her name though, so didn't say anything about her, but everyone could guess that he was also talking about her as well.
”That's probably... the best thing to do,” Kai said. After all, Leon, Yin Mei, and Rosella actually didn't have anywhere to stay the night. The guild's encampment was slightly further off, but they didn't have any room there to stay either - unless they wanted to share a crowded tent with the others. The reason for this was of course, because Yin Mei had decided to abuse Leon's handy ability as a space affinity mage, and thus, they were staying at the capital rather than camping out here in the wilderness.
Of course, the White Bird party was very jealous, but after all, it would be asking too much of Leon to be teleporting large groups of people across long distances daily. With just them, it was still not too much to ask for. But with each person added on, the mana consumption would start to increase exponentially.
”Alright. Then, we'll talk to you later,” Leon said, and Kai nodded. He glanced at Rosella, who looked away with a dark expression. He seemed to want to say anything, but in the end, simply gave a generic goodbye to the group before watching Leon cast a spell and teleport them off.
Only when they were gone, did he let out a sigh, not knowing how to feel.
Why was it that things were this complicated now? He really wished... that they could go back to those more peaceful, more simple times.
But maybe it was because they all knew that that was impossible, and that was why things had come to this. In the end, there was no one he could blame but himself.