Chapter 41: The Forbidden Harvest

The hall was immense and filled with people. But unlike the palace parties little Saelith was used to, the atmosphere this time was solemn.

Everyone present wore long red robes. The only exceptions were the two figures lying among flowers on an altar at the center of the hall. Theirs were white.

Sae knew those two figures. They were her parents.

The little girl, who could not have been more than six years old, looked around, trying to find some explanation for what was happening.

That was when she felt one of her hands being gently squeezed.

When she looked up, she found the warm smile of her grandfather, Archon Thaelor.

But while that reassuring smile was filled with affection, the Archon’s eyes hid a sorrow as deep as the waters surrounding Atlenia.

Sae, who had always been sensitive to the emotions of others, took her grandfather’s hand between both of her small ones and squeezed it tightly.

Thaelor was surprised for a moment, not expecting so much strength from his little granddaughter, but it did not take him long to bend down and embrace her.

As she felt her grandfather’s arms around her, Sae’s vision began to blur, just as a funeral choir began to echo softly through the hall.

“Mm?”

An older Sae rubbed her eyes as she sat up on the grass.

“Why… that dream again, now?”

“Ah! Sae! You’re finally awake!”

Ily ran over to her, followed by Nerez and Cerys, whose gaze was lost in the distance.

“I’m very sorry, Lord Nereziel. I was the one who insisted on accompanying you to explore the valley, and now I’m making you waste your time…”

“That’s right, Sae!” Ily scolded her, hands on her hips. “This is one of the last chances we’ll have to accompany Lord Nereziel before he continues his journey through the underworld. We have to make the most of it!”

“I have no idea what you’re hoping to accomplish… but I’m sure it’s nothing good,” Nerez sighed.

“Lord Nereziel! How could you say that about the intentions of a girl as cute and pure as me?!”

Ily lifted one leg and stuck out her tongue, trying to strike some sort of pose that was probably very adorable in her mind.

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“Well, ignoring Ily…”

“Don’t ignore me!”

“Sae, you don’t need to worry. It’s only natural that you needed some rest,” Nerez continued, definitely ignoring Ily. “In fact, even if the visiare have far greater physical capabilities than humans, it’s surprising that you were able to keep up with Cerys and me. Ily is the exception, of course. I don’t know what she’s made of that she still hasn’t gotten tired.”

“Of pure cuteness?”

“I’m not particularly knowledgeable about humans, but thank you, Lord Nereziel!” Sae replied, also ignoring Ily, as she got to her feet. “I’m all right now. That little nap restored all my energy.”

“That’s great and all, but I think we should end the exploration here.”

Cerys approached them with her gigantic scythe already summoned and an expression more serious than usual.

“Did something happen?” Sae asked, while Ily, beside her, also looked at the redhead curiously.

Cerys merely pointed in one direction, the same one where the camp was located.

Nerez had already turned his gaze that way. The Godscript had given him bad news.