"I’m really confused right now, Emma," Sherry said as they entered the room she once used to live in.
Sherry used to visit often when she was a child, usually accompanying her father for extended stays. Whenever their fathers fell into debates about developing tools they believed were necessary for the modern world, those discussions stretched on for days.
That was how Sherry beca Emma’s only friend, the one person who managed to pry open her shell and reach the real Emma, not the cold and mature figure everyone else saw back then.
"Please don’t let this be about William again," Emma sighed as she sat beside her. "Tell , what’s the problem with him?"
Sherry straightened and said, "We exchanged letters just two months ago, and back then you weren’t even remotely interested in anyone. And now, suddenly, you’re engaged?"
She shook her head. "That’s not you, Emma. You don’t make hasty decisions." Narrowing her eyes, she added, "Wait a minute. Did he force you into this engagent because of your connection with the Tower?"
Emma chuckled. "I was the one who suggested the engagent." eting Sherry’s gaze, she continued, "You’re doubtful because you don’t know him. Trust my judgnt. I could never have asked for soone better. He’s everything I need. If anything, I sotis feel I don’t deserve him."
Sherry rolled her eyes. "There you go, talking like a foolish maiden in love."
Emma laughed softly. "Well, what about you? What have you been up to these days?"
Sherry shrugged. "I got a little interested in Dad’s research, so I left my own work in the middle and started roaming around again."
At the age of fifteen, when most people joined academies for higher education, better resources, and an environnt for personal growth, Sherry chose to focus on research instead of character building.
She was a smart girl, and much of what the academy could have taught was already within her grasp. Because of that, her father didn’t force her to follow the conventional path.
However, once she began her own work, she stopped traveling the world with her father in search of wonders, unlike the past when she followed him like a shadow.
She believed she needed ti and calm to produce sothing aningful, unlike her old man, who was always hungry for more knowledge, a trait that served him well as a researcher.
Recently, however, Sherry had returned to her forr role.
"What changed?" Emma asked. "Are you also interested in unconventional sorcerers?"
Sherry shook her head, then hesitated. Glancing around, she scooted closer to Emma and said, "I’ll tell you, but don’t you dare utter a word to anyone. Swear it."
Emma chuckled. "Stop being dramatic and tell . You know you can trust with your secrets."
Sherry humd, then finally revealed, "Father recently got his hands on the lost logs of the era before the Great War began."
That imdiately piqued Emma’s interest.
Sherry continued, "He found very ancient scriptures written by an unknown author, describing unwritten facts about that era. Things historians tried hard to hide, or maybe they didn’t, and soone simply removed all the books that ntioned certain subjects."
"What subjects?" Emma asked, her voice quieter now.
Sherry shook her head. "I can’t say exactly. For the first ti, even my father is being careful about leaking information, even to his own daughter."
"Uncle doubts you, huh?" Emma frowned. "But you must have so idea. Ambiguity alone wouldn’t make you abandon your research paper halfway."
Sherry grinned. "You know too well." Then her expression sobered as she looked down and gave a brief nod.
Her thumbs brushed against each other as she spoke quietly. "I saw it, faintly. An illustration. A few entities, clad in both light and dark, kneeling on the ground. Begging, if I dare say."
Emma’s gaze hardened. "Who were they kneeling before?"
Sherry shook her head. "It’s there in my mind, but I can’t describe it properly." She looked up at the silver-haired girl and continued, "Just imagine a bleeding figure, sothing whose skin looked as if it had been torn apart by nails. And yet, even in that state, he was commanding dominance, instilling fear into everyone before him."
Emma fell completely silent.
Her heart hamred against her chest.
She parted her lips, then stopped herself. She needed to think before speaking.
After a mont, she asked, "Does he carry those illustrations around?"
Sherry scoffed. "Like hell. He’s kept them in the safest place possible, sowhere no one but him can access."
Then the blue-haired girl added, "But what got you so riled up? Don’t tell you want to know more too."
Emma chewed on her lower lip before slowly nodding. "I do."
Sherry clasped her hand. "I knew it. We are sisters, after all!" Her eyes lit up as she continued, "We’ll sneak into their conversation tonight. I’m sure my old man will discuss it with your father. He wouldn’t have co here if he didn’t want a second opinion."
Both girls knew their fathers trusted each other and respected one another’s wisdom. If Jeromy were ever to share knowledge that bordered on the forbidden, it would be with Vitori.
Emma wasn’t soone who eavesdropped, but truthfully, this was more than simple curiosity.
She was anxious.
Because sohow, this felt connected to soone very close to her.
....
Not long after, Emma excused herself, leaving Sherry to rest in her room after the long journey.
Her heart felt restless, and to calm herself, she needed to see him.
She made her way to Nana’s room, pausing to take a deep breath. She couldn’t let William sense her unease, especially since she hadn’t told him anything, starting with what she had heard from the Shaman. That was why she had to keep it to herself.
Click
She entered the room, and the sight before her made her chuckle as the thorn in her chest instantly lted away.
"What is that?" she asked, seeing the little girl busily tying William’s hair with small clips.
She had already braided it from different sides, making him look both adorable and amusing.
William smiled helplessly. "She was very eager to show what she learned."
Emma laughed as she sat beside him, finally catching Nana’s attention.
The little girl smiled and waved her hand.
"Did you do this, Nana?" Emma asked, holding a small bunch of strands on William’s head.
Nana understood and hopped in agreent, clearly pleased with herself.
Emma tilted her head and suddenly untied her own hair. "What about ? Does Nana not love big sister?"
Nana was both overwheld and delighted at the sight of such long hair.
However, when she opened her small hand, only three clips remained.
"That’s not fair," Emma whined. Then she glanced at William. "How about we take so from him?"
William imdiately leaned away. "Don’t even think about it. These aren’t coming off anyti soon."
Emma narrowed her eyes. "Oh yeah? But what’s the use when your hair is so short?"
William grinned. "I can spot a jealous person when I see one."
Emma grumbled and turned to Nana, who was smiling from ear to ear.
Then Nana stepped forward and handed the clips to Emma.
Confused, Emma was about to ask what happened when Nana suddenly turned and climbed onto her lap, making her intent clear.
Emma chuckled and looked at William. "See this? My Nana gets pampered by . In your case, she has to pamper you." as she said she started to comb Nana’s silky hair.
William laughed softly. "Don’t worry. I’ll complete the cycle and pamper you later." He finished with a wink.
Emma let out a small hmph, but the smile curving her lips was unmistakable.
As Emma braided her hair, she asked William, "Can we stay the night here?"
William humd. "Of course we can. If things turn difficult once we return, we’ll simply leave the training program."
He knew that after reuniting with her childhood friend, Emma would want to spend ti with her. In fact, he had been expecting this.
At the sa ti, it would give him a chance to spend ti with Nana. The little girl had many more things she wanted to show him.
Emma leaned against him and said, "Please don’t mind Sherry’s words. She isn’t a bad person."
William smiled at her fondly. "She’s wary of , and that only shows how deeply she cares about you. How could I dislike soone like that?"
Emma narrowed her eyes and added, "But don’t like her either. Sherry has always been quite popular with both guys and girls."
William chuckled. "Alright. I’ll find a middle path and make a proper connection with her."
Emma smiled, pleased with his answer.
They both fell in soft silence after that.
Yes, there was sothing bothering her but Emma didn’t want anything to take away the peace she feels around these two.
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far, leave a comnt.
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