Chapter 7: A Night of Slumber
Iradace led Bai and Ara to the manor, then bowed and left, not wanting to disturb them further.
A Calamity Class being, anywhere, was to be respected, especially in the Frigid Lands, where strength was everything.
Bai, from Iradace’s change in demeanor, knew she had recognized her strength. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone from a lazy, sneering owneress to a respectful, serious host.
But…
“This is… unexpected…”
Bai activated the lighting rune in the bedroom and sat down on the bed, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
“Bai, what’s wrong?” Ara asked, resting her head on Bai’s, her eyes half-closed.
Hmm, even after turning from silver to black, Bai’s hair still smelled so good…
“I was just thinking… the ‘Snow Maiden’ Iradace mentioned, it must be Ice Lily, right?”
She had only intended to enter the Abyss from a nearby location, but had ended up in the Frigid Lands… Ice Lily’s homeland.
She remembered, when they had first met in Vikarn Port, Ice Lily had offered to take her to the Frigid Lands, to receive the Ice Demon’s heritage.
And now, after all this time, she was here…
“Well, it’s a loose end. Before the final journey begins, I should probably tie it up.”
Ice Lily’s situation seemed… precarious. Not just the demons of the Frigid Lands, but other factions in the Abyss were also after her.
For her, for her heritage…
Bai knew a little about Ice Lily’s past, about the Ice Demons.
And she didn’t want to leave any regrets. If fate had brought them together again, it meant their intertwined destinies had not yet reached their end.
“Ice Lily…”
Ara frowned, and a memory flashed through her mind, a cold, arrogant woman, wreathed in silver light, the phantom of the Abyssal Lord behind her, her gaze firm.
“Hmph, a bad person,” she said, squeezing Bai’s cheeks. “She tried to kill Bai. Why does Bai want to save her?”
“It’s… a matter of principle… it’s hard to explain… don’t squeeze so hard…”
Bai gently pulled Ara’s hands away, then pulled her into her lap, her head resting on her knees.
“And besides, she helped Bai before, even if it was just a small thing.”
From their brief encounter in Vikarn Port, Bai’s impression of Ice Lily hadn’t been entirely negative.
“Is… is that so?” Ara frowned. It seemed there were still many things about Bai she didn’t know…
She looked into Bai’s eyes, into their deep, black depths, and saw a whirlwind of emotions, of colors she couldn’t name.
“Bai,” she whispered.
“Hmm?” Bai looked down at her.
Ara wrapped her arms around her neck, her head resting against her chest. “Is Bai… very tired?”
“No,” Bai said, hugging her back, gently patting her.
“Rest, Bai,” Ara said, pulling away slightly, her gaze fixed on her. “No matter what happens, no matter what fate has in store, Ara will take Bai far away from here.”
“We’ve only just found each other again… Ara doesn’t want to lose Bai, not even for a moment…”
“That would be running away, Ara. And that would only make things worse,” Bai said, brushing a stray strand of hair from Ara’s face. “And Bai doesn’t want to lose Ara again either. So, be good, okay?”
“But Bai won’t tell Ara anything…” Ara pouted, her eyes welling up with tears.
“Knowledge can be a poison. It’s not always better to know more. The ignorant have their own luck. You’ll understand one day,” Bai said.
“Hmph…” Ara pouted. She wanted to share Bai’s burden, but Bai wouldn’t let her.
“Let’s get some sleep, Ara. Bai is a bit tired today,” she said, patting the bed beside her, a playful tone in her voice. “It’s not every day you get to sleep in a nice bed, especially in the Abyssal Demon Realm…”
First, the sterile, lifeless Vikarn research center, then the endless dream, then the Knights, and then…
Although her words were light, they were also true.
As Ara had said, she was tired. She wanted a place where she could rest, with Ara.
But…
“I can feel it. The end of the journey is approaching.”
She looked out the window. The Abyss’s night sky was a strange, beautiful sight, a pale blue moon hanging in the dark, gloomy sky.
“Since entering the Abyss, the whispers from the Place of Divine Advent have grown louder.”
During the Battle of Vikarn, when she had been lost in the void, she had briefly entered the Place of Divine Advent, had heard the countless whispers surrounding her.
And since her return, she had heard them from time to time, especially when she had glimpsed into fate.
And she was beginning to understand. Her origins, and the information in Sister Neily’s diary…
“Ara, let’s go to sleep.”
She looked down to see Ara already asleep in her arms, her small face peaceful, though her brow was slightly furrowed.
“Honestly…”
A faint smile touched Bai’s lips.
But then, as if remembering something, the smile faded, and she sighed.
“How long… will these peaceful days last…?”
But even a brief moment of peace, of tranquility, was a happiness to be cherished.
“Oh well. Let Ara rest. I still have some preparations to make. Tomorrow may bring more trouble.”
Her goal in the Abyss was to find the entrance to the Place of Divine Advent. But to find such an important place, she would have to deal with a demon commander of Shaya’s level.
This journey would not be easy.
She gently lifted Ara and placed her on the bed.
But as she was about to let go, Ara’s hand shot out, grabbing hers, a sleepy murmur escaping her lips.
“Bai, don’t go…”
“Bai’s not going anywhere. Bai is just leaving for a little while…”
“No!”
Ara pulled, and Bai, caught off guard, stumbled.
Before she could regain her balance, Ara’s arms were around her, her soft lips pressing against hers.
“…Don’t… don’t leave…”
In that moment, Bai’s mind went blank, her consciousness fading.
And then, with Ara still clinging to her, she fell back onto the bed.
A night of slumber.
