"Um, okay..." Elysia didn't mind, but she had another thought when Rosie took a hilt of the shattered sword. It was one of the weapons that were destroyed in her battle against the cursed monster.
'Ely, what would you say to this student council president? That sword came from her family, right?' Elena queried with curiosity.
'Ah-um, I'll answer as best I can.' Elysia responded with a simple answer. She could only sigh because she was so careless by throwing away the crushed weapons at that time.
Rosie showed the hilt of the sword as if she highlighted it in the carving. "Ely, can you tell me where you got this sword that has the symbol of my family? Are you... Are you Alisha Reinhard, my little sister?" Rosie grew nervous, expecting a yes and afraid of a no. She didn't know what got into her to ask such a question, but the urge was so strong.
Evelyn and Ella were a bit confused at the sudden change in events. Even so, they just watched in silence because they knew it meant a lot to the student council president.
"That is one of the 40 weapons given to me in the name of Duke Harold Reinhard. He and his troops accidentally encountered my master in Avrora Forest. Back then, my master and I were just stranded in this world without knowing much. After that, my master granted Duke Harold's two wishes.
In exchange, my master asked for information about the world and then a provision for me since I was assigned to a safe capital city in the Holy Central Region. 39 of the 40 weapons were destroyed during my battle against the accursed monsters, and only this one is still intact." Elysia took out a long sword with the same symbol. Then, she took a breath and looked into Rosie's eyes.
"Please forgive me, but I am not Alisha, President Rosie." Elysia stated her conclusion to make things clear. She was not Alisha but Elysia.
After many considerations, she didn't want to prolong Rosie's problem. Bianca once told her about Rosie's situation and circumstances. So, it was much better to be aware of reality and hurt now, than to be dissolved and drown later.
"Is it? Well..." Rosie lowered her shoulders and looked down, but she immediately stared at Elysia's face with a strange thought.
"Wherever I look at you... You are just like my little sister, albeit you are prettier than Alisha and your eyes are purplish-blue instead of sky blue like me. Are you Alisha from another world? Or, you are Alisha, but your memory has been manipulated by the Goddess of Light? Can't you remember me, your dearest big sister?" Rosie stretched out her hand and touched Elysia's cheek, but the latter had a chill as she looked into the former's eyes.
"Rosie! I know the unfortunate tragedy has befallen your little sister and her entourage last month. But this is too much, do you realize what you just said? She is Elysia, not Alisha! Why do you still insist on that?" Bianca immediately pulled Rosie away from Elysia. She was worried and scared, but she was also felt sad about her friend.
"I- I, what did I just say? Oh, Goddess, please forgive me... I have no intention. Sorry, Ely, sorry... Ah, I- I don't know anymore." Rosie stuttered then covered her mouth. She turned pale, realizing what she had just said. Tears started to form, but she wouldn't let them fall.
*Clang*
The sword's hilt was dropped to the floor, and Rosie walked backwards as if she wanted to run. But, there was a girl who couldn't bear to let that happen.
"Please sit here first and calm yourself down. It's okay, hush-hush, don't cry." Elysia stood up and took Rosie's arm. Then, she led the girl who was bursting with emotion to the sofa.
Rosie could only obey due to her confusion and disbelief. She didn't know what got into her and made her say something inadvertently and impudently.
"Elyy, I-I, no-" Rosie wanted to say something, but Elysia just hugged her.
"It's okay, I apologize for what I said if it hurt you." Elysia apologized, even though her statement was necessary to make Rosie aware of the facts.
"No-no, I'm the one who should apologize. I shouldn't have said that." After saying that, Rosie unconsciously hugged Elysia back and hid her face on Elysia's shoulder. No sound came out as the sequel, but she was trembling a little.
'Though a little cruel, hope Rosie bees aware of that.' Elena delivered a prayer for the girl who was crying sadly in silence.
'Yes, it hurts to be considered someone else as a substitute. Rosie will only get hurt even more if it's left alone for a long time.' Elysia exhaled softly and looked up slightly, wishing Rosie all the best.
Ella looked at Evelyn with a clueless expression as if asking for information. She didn't know the details and cause of this event. Everything just suddenly happened and became like this.
Evelyn smiled wryly and whispered to satisfy the clueless girl. She and her best friend were told about Rosie's little sister tragedy by Bianca. Rosie's strange behavior towards Elysia was due to that.
"I see... President Rosie is sad." Ella nodded slightly and whispered. Then, She looked at Elysia and Rosie with understanding.
Alexander just sighed as he looked at the student council president. He knew the full details and understood the cause, thanks to the information the Southern Emperor provided.
Then, he walked out to take care of a few other things. The girls needed some particular time without him around, especially Evelyn and Ella, who wanted to ask Elysia some personal questions.
As for Bianca, she immediately sat down on Rosie's other side and stroked the sad girl's back. She felt somewhat conflicted over the current scene, a mixture of relief and sadness.
She was relieved that Rosie would move forward and adequately pray for the souls who had gone to heaven, but sad that Rosie was devastated. However, it was only temporary and brief, and all for Rosie's own good. Bianca assured herself.
A few moments passed in silence without anyone saying anything out of respect for Rosie. Until the red-faced girl lifted her face from Elysia's shoulder.
"Sorry, I made an unwanted scene." Rosie wiped her cheeks to make sure no tears were left. She already felt a lot calmer after moistening Elysia's academy uniform with tears.
"You don't have to apologize, Rosie. You feel sad, then cry. There's nothing wrong with that." Ella replied with gentle words.
"En, thanks... Nee, Ely." Rosie looked at the girl who was right in front of her as if she wanted something.
"Yes?" Elysia glanced back at Rosie.
"For the next few days, please e with me to Cuttexus City. I decided to go home and ask my grandfather for all the details. Fran will also be ing home with me, and I want you to e with us. Can you grant my request?" Rosie smiled slightly, but her expression was pitiful.
"What about the academy? Are you going to ask permission for that? What about your responsibilities as student council president in the academy?" Elysia didn't answer right away.
"Yes, I will ask permission directly from the principal after this. Bianca will take care of it for a few days, so you don't need to worry. Then, it's a yes?" Rosie reassured Elysia, hoping Elysia would e with her.
"Uhm... Why do you want me to e to Cuttexus City? I don't know anyone there." Elysia was conflicted to respond. She turned to Evelyn and Ella for help, but they were just waiting for her to make a decision.
"Uhh... You're right, it's kind of weird to say, but I just want you to e with me for no reason. I want to know the tragedy straight from my grandfather's mouth, but I'm afraid." Rosie looked up a little and said what came to her mind.
"It's not because you made me a substitute, right?" Elysia voiced her doubts as she knitted her brows.
"I no-no, that's not it. I was thinking a moment ago, about myself in the last month. I stuck behind my belief and deception, then denied the obvious reality. It's been a month since the tragedy, I'd better go on a pilgrimage and send my prayers to Uncle Orlando, Aunt Amanda, Alisha, and the others in person. It's only two or three days, we'll be traveling at full speed. I won't take up your time any more than that." Rosie waved both hands to reinforce her denial. She didn't want Elysia to misunderstand her intentions.
"..." Elysia was silent for a moment, and Rosie became agitated. Well, Elysia was just having a quick discussion with Elena.
"Alright, I'll e with you, Rosie. But, we're not leaving today, are we?" Elysia gave a sweet smile and nodded. In Rosie's eyes, that answer was the beautiful thing she wanted to hear the most.
"Yes! Today is your day of full rest, Ely. You've just been revived by your master, and for sure we're not leaving today. We'll leave tomorrow afternoon, and I'll pick you up here." Rosie jumped a little and pumped her hands with joy.
"If Ely decides to go, then take us too. We also want to go there and make a pilgrimage to Alisha's grave." Evelyn requested after she gave Ella a signal, and the latter nodded at her.
"Sure, it's my pleasure! You can e with us." Rosie didn't have any objections.
"Then, let me take care of a few things first. See you tomorrow afternoon here! Let's go, Bianca." After saying that, Rosie immediately grabbed Bianca's hand, and they left the room.
She needed to do a lot of preparation before assigning several assignments to Bianca in her absence. It wasn't fair to have Bianca take care of so many responsibilities in those three days.
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