Chapter 77: It’s Time to Forget
Hearing the voice, Lilia immediately turned.
And Erlya, following her gaze, also turned to the newcomer.
“Oh, it’s you. Long time no see,” the young woman said, waving her hand, her tone a bit… indifferent.
The first thing one noticed about her was her long, silver hair, cascading down her back, seemingly unkempt.
But even so, the visual impact was unforgettable.
And beside her, holding her hand, was a purple-haired girl, her head bowed, her aura a bit… gloomy.
It was, of course, Bai and Ara.
After defeating Elthorp in the heart of the Abyss, and sending him into the abyss of his own despair, Bai had not taken the final step, had not faced Shaya in the gray hall.
They both knew that a battle between them was inevitable, a battle with no compromise, no reconciliation.
But although she was so close to the end, she had chosen to retreat.
Partly because she was exhausted from her previous battle, and partly because she knew she was no match for Shaya.
And, as Vivian had said, she was still a knight, at heart. She couldn’t abandon the Empire.
So, she had returned with Ara, even though no one in the North Empire, not even her former comrades, remembered her.
Lilia’s gaze was fixed on her, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
At the same time, Erlya raised her axe, stepping in front of Lilia. “Who are you?”
She was on high alert. This stranger was clearly not human, her features a clear sign of another race, perhaps even a demon from the Abyss.
And to encounter her here, in this remote port, and for her to recognize the Empress of the human Empire… regardless of her intentions, she had to be cautious.
“Have we… met before?” Lilia asked, her brow furrowed. “You seem familiar, but I don’t seem to remember.”
And she had said “you,” plural, not singular.
Which meant she recognized not just her, but also Erlya.
Otherwise, even a Legendary Knight would have overlooked the maid beside her.
Bai’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. “I don’t think so. But to have met, is a kind of fate.”
She had almost forgotten that the sealing ritual had erased her from almost everyone’s memory. She didn’t want to get entangled with her past acquaintances.
But her words, spoken in her usual, cold tone, sounded a bit… stiff, almost comical.
“Pfft!” Lilia couldn’t help but laugh, the pain in her chest easing slightly.
“…Miss, be careful,” Erlya said, not letting her guard down.
She hadn’t dared to call her “Your Majesty.” What if the stranger didn’t recognize her?
“It’s fine, Erlya,” Lilia said, taking a deep breath, and let go of Erlya’s arm.
“She could be…”
“A demon from the Abyssal Demon Realm?” Lilia raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying the knights on the front lines have been so negligent as to let a demon wander freely into the heart of the Empire?”
“I… that’s not what I meant… it’s just…”
Erlya was at a loss for words.
Lilia chuckled. “Alright, alright. Such a cute little sister. How could she be a bad person… hmm? Haven’t I said that before?”
Yes, she had. The first time they had met.
Bai said nothing, a silent thought passing through her mind. Even without her memories, Lilia still felt a faint sense of familiarity, of trust.
Erlya, on the other hand, had always been wary of her. Her current reaction was to be expected.
“The knights are indeed very capable, but that doesn’t mean they can stop all infiltration from the Abyss,” Bai said, approaching Lilia.
Erlya gripped her axe, but Lilia stopped her.
“But the Legendary Knights are well aware of this threat, and their defenses are strong. There’s no need to worry.”
Bai glanced at Erlya, her words a silent reassurance.
“So you are…”
“Just a passerby,” she said, raising her hand, which was still intertwined with Ara’s. “Taking my sister to see her homeland.”
“Homeland…” Lilia murmured, her gaze drifting to the distance.
“And you still haven’t answered my question. Is this Vikarn Port?”
Bai looked around, confused. “It doesn’t look like it, but in my memory, this is the place…”
“Yes, this is Vikarn Port,” Erlya replied. She was still wary of the beautiful, silver-haired girl, even with Lilia’s trust.
But she still answered her question. “There was a great battle here a few years ago. A large portion of the core area was destroyed. When it was rebuilt, it was… redesigned.”
Partly because the mysterious building complex had vanished, and partly because the Empire had acquired the technological legacy of Vikarn, and the city-state now had more options for its reconstruction.
“I see,” Bai nodded thoughtfully, then turned to leave. “In that case, I won’t disturb you any longer. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”
“Huh?”
It was Erlya’s turn to be confused. She had thought Bai had some ulterior motive, but she had just… asked for directions, and then left.
She couldn’t figure her out.
“…”
Lilia watched her go, a million unspoken words on her lips.
“By the way, one more thing,” Bai said, pausing, her profile a delicate, beautiful silhouette.
“Some things, it’s better to forget than to remember. Especially—”
She pointed at her own chest. “—here.”
“…Here?”
Lilia touched the spot, the crimson rune beneath her skin burning.
The autumn leaves swirled around them, the wind a chilling whisper.
“I suppose… it’s time to forget.”
“Your Majesty?” Erlya’s voice came from behind her.
“Let’s… go back,” Lilia said, her head bowed, her expression hidden.
