Mid Afternoon - Mid Winter : Atlas | Bahamut
-----
"My lord," Gently bowing as she entered my room, Chloe spoke through a smile. "Everyone's things have been prepared. I sincerely apologize if we made you wait."
I was quick to wave her off with my wing. "Don't worry, I only just wrapped up my work anyway. Go ahead and et outside while I take this to Mother's office."
Cheerfully nodding, she promptly trotted out of the room just before I made my way to Mother's office with a few stacks of papers pertaining to the construction of Eikasía, Hera's underground city.
*Vwoom* But while my mind had yet to switch gears, the mont I stepped into Mother's cold office, mories of my childhood resurfaced, and my thoughts slowed.
"Are you done already?" Speaking warmly, Mother gave an oddly surprised look.
"Yeah, Hera and I scanned a majority of the city when we were investigating the cult, so these were easy to do." For the most part, the papers were asking for permission to build certain structures, asking for advice, or raising questions about structural integrity, all of which I could easily answer after having seen it all in person.
"Ah, that must be why Hera wanted to forward those to you." Grabbing the stack of papers, she curiously looked through several of them before eventually looking back up at . "So, are you planning to head to the Cabinet now?"
Nodding, I walked over to her and gently pressed my head into the bottom of hers. "I'm not sure I'll be back before the festival begins since Hera will probably want to run around like a workhorse, so if not, I'll see you whenever we get to Atlas. Are you planning on staying at this estate or the-"
"We will be here." Cutting off, she let out a soft sigh. "Haah, unfortunately, our new estate on the outskirts hasn't been finished yet, and probably won't be finished for a number of months. With the construction of Eikasía, many of the architects we normally hire have been preoccupied."
She seed both excited and disappointed. "What a sha..." After glancing over the design in so of the papers, I was honestly excited to see how it'd turn out. -But it looks like that'll have to wait...- "In any case, I'll head out now, before I make everyone wait too long."
"Haha, alright, sweetie. Be safe~." Standing up and gently embracing , her smile ward.
"Ah, actually, I have sothing for you." -I almost forgot.-
"Hm?" She imdiately tilted her head as she watched pull sothing out from under my wing.
"If you ever need to co to you for anything, use this to reach ." Handing her a tiny, human-sized tablet, I turned on the screen to reveal a keypad. "If you just type '4856' into that keypad, it will notify , and I'll co back in an instant."
Her eyes instantly glowed as she took the tablet. "H..How do I type it in?"
"Just tap a bit of electrically charged water onto one of the numbers. Like this," Quickly showing her how to use it to ensure she wouldn't accidentally destroy the tablet when she needed , her expression slowly lit up. "I only have one, so please be careful not to lose it, and be sure to keep it with you." -Now that Father's awake, I'm a little less stressed about it, but...- "If sothing happens, please don't hesitate to type in that code, okay?"
Hastily nodding, she looked down at it like she was holding so priceless artifact. "I'll take care of it, I promise!"
"Haha," I honestly wanted to laugh. "When I get the chance, I'll try and make a few more so Father and Krystallo can have one, but for the ti being, I need you to at least watch over Father with it, okay?" -After his dragon sleep, he shouldn't get pushed around by anyone under the ancient stage, but you never know what might happen...-
Eventually wrapping up our talk, we finally exchanged our farewells, and I made my way outside to see Chloe, Maria, and Krystallo all waiting for .
"Apologies for making you fine ladies wait."
""Pft-!""
Chloe and Maria almost choked at my joke before Krystallo held her head up with pride. "It's okay, I'll forgive you for the low-low price of a taxi ride across Bahamut."
"Why, of course! Anything for the princess." *Flash* Quickly changing to my fenririan form and growing in size, I laid down and lowered my wing to let them on my back in a jokingly posh manner that Chloe and Maria were both quick to play along with.
But Krystallo was too stunned to move. "Wha-..." Looking in the eyes, she wore a look that could only be described as unbridled disbelief. "How do you grow so much bigger every ti you leave the nest?! Are you taking illegal elixirs or sothing?!" Hopping up onto my head, she gave a few firm stomps before looking down into my eye with a pout. "Why can't you let in on your secrets? I want to grow strong too, you know..."
"Haha, you are already strong Krystallo, far more so than you seem to think." Looking back at the large cloud-like soul stuffed in her comparably tiny reserve, I wanted to scoff.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
"But that doesn't change the fact that you and I are brother and sister, yet you're a god and people still treat like a child..." Sitting down, her expression slowly darkened. "I know Mom said I shouldn't be, but.. I'm jealous..."
Seeing genuine pain creep into her eyes, I felt my chest tighten a bit and turned more serious. "Look, Krystallo..." Lowering my tone, her eyes snapped to . "If you really want to get stronger, I can make that happen, but not only will it be difficult, if you don't truly want it, and only seek it to satisfy your jealousy, you will only find yourself miserable..."
As I grabbed her things and covered everyone in so many layers of magic that they would barely even notice us moving, Krystallo's face turned troubled and she fell into thought.
-Good...- Eventually spreading my wings and taking to the air, I didn't say a word, leaving just a soft breeze to comfort her while we flew.
But while I expected it to take so ti, after about half an hour, she finally spoke again whilst looking over the vast land of central Bahamut beneath us. "I guess I just.. want to feel worthy of being your sister..."
My stomach churned instantly.
"When we were young, it didn't matter.. I didn't know any better.. but as ti has passed, the gap between us has only widened... I want to ask to spend more ti with you, but am afraid you'll turn down like Mom, saying it's too dangerous for to go with you..." Almost wincing as she looked at the ground, her tone slowly turned solid. "So if strength is what I need to go with you on your trips, then I will train like no one ever has..."
Feeling guilt simply destroy my insides, I looked down at the ground and tried to distract myself for a mont.
But there was nothing I could do. "I know I'm probably just being ignorant and naive, but even if the trip puts my life at risk.. I want to co.. I want to see the world you live in and be able to say I deserve to stand next to you in it... I'll make it happen even if I have to grab the devil's hand-"
"Stop." Steadying myself, I used my aura to ease her mind before quickly speaking. "That's not sothing to joke about..." Seeing her hang her head, I softened my tone. "If you wish to walk with on this path, you can.. but I also want you to experience a normal life... As much as I hate to admit it.. the way I live isn't ant for most people. Not only is it dangerous, it's taxing, and cos with an imnse amount of responsibility."
"I don't care! I've lived enough of a normal life to know it's not what I want..."
"Then I will show you the life I live, and you can decide what path you want to take, okay? If you wish to follow in my footsteps, I will do everything in my power to guide you... I just.. don't want to put you at risk like I did Father..."
Slowly realizing the magnitude of what I was saying, she fell silent.
"You know I love you, Krystallo. I'd burn the world to protect you if I had to. So.. please don't forget that..."
Gently nodding, she glanced at before looking back at the ground. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be..." Over the last ten years, I had constantly been run around without the ability to spend much ti with her. "If anything, I should be the one saying sorry to you..." But having the ability to redeem myself in that aspect ca with risks. -I can't risk Odin setting his sight on her...-
So, from that mont forward, I amplified my divinity's presence several-fold, ensuring there wasn't a single god on Delphi that didn't know exactly where I was, and in turn, where to not wander.
But while my divinity's presence was now so thick that even Krystallo seed to jolt from its sudden change, I tried my best to keep my nerves calm. "Let's just focus on having a good ti during the festival, okay?"
Looking back at her, I watched her expression quickly warm. "Okay..."
And at last, the tightness in my chest finally eased. -But, even though it's what she wants.. bringing her into my world...- Looking at the seemingly distant, stormy clouds over the horizon, I felt nervous. -Is this really sothing I should do..?-
Falling into silence as we continued through the rest of the flight, no one said another word, silently enjoying the view over Bahamut as the sun accelerated toward the horizon behind us.
It made for a rather peaceful and relaxing flight, to the point that Krystallo had even dosed off halfway through, gently gripping my fur as she sank into a dream so deep she didn't even wake up when we landed. *Fwoosh* *Fwoosh-Thump*
Quickly letting Chloe and Maria off with everyone's things, I motioned over one of Hera's maids and had her show them where everyone would be staying for the ti being before looking over to see Hera walking out into the rain on the other side of the courtyard, shielding herself from it before walking out toward .
"She looks comfortable..." Looking at Krystallo, still dead asleep on my back, she spoke with an oddly motherly tone.
"She got so things off her chest." Glancing back at her, I straightened my posture a bit before laying down, lowering my head to be at the level of Hera's shrunken form.
"That's good... She has so troubleso years ahead of her..." Pausing, her gaze quickly turned to . "In any case, what brought you to the cabinet? I thought you were starting the festival in Atlas."
"Well, I actually had a question." She imdiately tilted her head as I spoke. "Did you ever go to a festival like this when you were younger?"
Promptly nodding, she gently sat down. "I was usually in charge of managing the events. It feels nice to not have that responsibility this ti..."
-I see...- Looking up into the underside of the dark cloud as well, I paused before continuing more softly. "Then, do you want to experience the festival from a different angle this ti? Technically I'm still young, so I was planning on going with Krystallo, but I'd like for you to co along as well if you think it's sothing you'd enjoy."
Lowering her gaze to , a warm smile crept across her face. "Of course, I would. It'll give a chance to check out so of the areas of Bahamut I haven't been in a dozen millennia, and..." Creeping up to , she gently pressed herself into my chest. "I don't mind having an excuse to spend more ti with you."
Seeing her smug look, I felt my chest grow warm. "Haha, alright." Gently lowering my head and nuzzling her with my snout, I spoke warmly. "Then I'll do my best to make sure it's worthwhile."
"Haha, alright. I'll look forward to it~."
User Comments
0 comments from readers