Millielle's POV
I wake and stretch, wincing at the soreness covering my body. Shadow really put us through our paces, huh. I somehow manage to get into a standing position, but my legs are shaking under my own weight.
This is bad.
*User is at their physical and mental limits, even when utilizing the [Dominance Switch]. This Skill highly suggests an extended period of recuperation, minimum three days time.*
I gently ease myself back into a sitting position, the tremors subsisting for a good while afterwards.
So... How badly would I hurt myself if I was to travel back home then to Minas' ranch?
*Simulating... Travelling by wing would put the minimal amount of stress on the User's body; however in order to safely transport the Ammit to the ranch Teleport would be necessary. If the User rests for a day before using Teleport with the Ammit there is only a 30% chance of permanent damage to the User.*
Tch. I suppose there's no way around it then... I'll just have to rest up at home before taking Ammit to see Mina. I sigh. This damned impatience of mine. Though I guess it's not just that, considering the time-pressure we're under.
The more time that passes before I can join and help the Champions, the greater the danger. I fetch a side-dish I snuck from the banquet to welcome the other leaders, it's a plate of thumb-sized sausages garnished with some sort of leafy green.
I hurriedly eat the meal as Delpha enters from the bathroom, her long silver-white hair still wet from the bath she just took. I catch myself absentmindedly admiring her naked form, living in the forest with me and my Servants has firmed up her already nice body, particularly her legs.
We both realize what I'm doing more or less at the same time, and Delpha's face turns beet red as she rushes to throw on her Octopus Cloth. I look away from her, embarrassed at myself. Delpha opens her mouth, no doubt to lecture me, but is interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Miladies, the Grand Priestess requests an audience." The mellow voice of Sakaya's Trusted comes from behind the door. I glance at Delpha, who nods in response.
"Come in." I respond, and the door opens, revealing Sakaya and the Trusted. Only once the door is securely closed behind them, does Sakaya give in to her desires and throws herself at me, landing onto the pile of bedding with a 'fwumph'.
"Aah~ Millibelle, I've tried so hard to resist, but I just can't anymore~" She moans as she hugs me tightly enough for me to worry about accidentally cutting her on my scales. "Not being able to do this... It made my heart ache." She murmurs into my mane as I awkwardly move to embrace her.
I shoot a pleading look towards Delpha, who sticks her tongue out at me efore starting to com her hair. No help there... I accept my fate, and so Sakaya and I embrace until she is satisfied.
"Hah, that feels so much ettter." Her cheeks are flushing red as she seems to come to her senses somewhat. "Er- Uhm..." She stutters, hiding her face in her hands and turning away from me. "I... I know this isn't... Proper... I'm sorry, Millibelle." She mutters from behind her hands.
"I don't mind it..." I admit. Indeed, I feel quite a bit better now. "Actually, Sakaya, I am returning to my den today. Unless you have arranged other transport, I'll happily let you and your Trusted accompany me."
Sakaya looks at her Trusted, who shakes their head. "No transport has been arranged, so we would be glad to take you up on that offer." She smiles.
It should be okay to carry two more... I'll still have time to rest more if need be before I have to be back here for the next session in the Church. I carefully get up before transforming into my humanoid form.
"You look pale..." Delpha mentions as she holds out her hairbrush for me to store in the Hidden Space. I wordlessly accept the item and store it, already regretting the transformation. All the stiffness went from my front pair of legs to my shoulders, adding to the tension already there...
"I think I overdid it a bit yesterday." I groan as I stretch my arms above my head, trying to work out some of the tension. "But I'll be fine if I just get some rest once we get back home." I assure Sakaya and Delpha, who exchange worried glances.
"Are you sure you're okay to be flying so far?" The Trusted asks, their concern clearly aimed not for me, but towards the safety of Sakaya.
"Once I get a high enough speed, my energy consumption in flight is almost nothing." I reply as I get up and walk towards the door. "I guess we should go say farewell to your brother, Delpha." I turn back towards her.
She gets a hesitant look. "I... I think I'd prefer if we just left without that..." She mumbles, looking down. They had seemed friendly towards each other when Shadow came to get her yesterday. Perhaps there was something that happened before then?
Sakaya sighs and gets up close to me to whisper; "According to one of the Trusted, her brother tried to convince her to stay here with him. She took it... badly."
As the head of the Church, such events would no doubt be important enough for the Trusted to report to her about. Attempting to withhold an Oracle from their duties isn't something the Church would take lightly. If Delpha hadn't refused, I fear the First Crown Prince would have landed himself in a lot of trouble.
But perhaps that's what he wanted.
I walk back to Delpha, placing a reassuring (I hope) hand on her shoulder. "If you don't want to, then we will not." I hesitate a moment before adding; "Though I need to check on Peach before we leave."
Delpha nods, releasing a shaky breath before regaining her composure. "She's right in the garden, so it won't take long." I reassure her.
The Tree of Eternal Peach Blossoms has grown by about a meter in the short time since it's been planted in the royal garden. I can only guess at how wide her roots must spread. A pleasant aroma wafts from the countless flowers even in the cold winter weather. If anything, the crisp cold air is making the scent even more vivid.
A flurry of petals that were until now slowly fluttering to the ground are suddenly swept up in a gust of wind, congealing into one cohesive humanoid shape before solidifying into the Avatar of Peach. She looks a little older now, having gone from looking like a five-year old to somewhere around ten.
"Auntie~ You're leaving?" She floats down to give me a hug whilst still suspended in the air.
"I'll come back in less than a week, but after that it might be a while before I can visit again..." I inform her. She looks up at me and pouts. "I'll be busy with your mother, helping her plant your siblings." I explain.
Hearing this, a spark alights in her eyes. "Siblings? There'll be more like me?" She asks, clearly excited at the prospect.
I nod. "At least three. Although they'll be born far from here, you'll be able to meet them once your roots connect to each other."
"Oh, oh! Then I'll try very hard to grow my roots! I'm already connected to mom, but I'll grow even further!" Peach excitedly bobs up and down in the air. "Ah, then, bye!" She smiles and waves before her form glows pink and then scatters into a poof of petals.
Thankfully, she was easily appeased by that... I sigh to myself before transforming into my true form and letting Sakaya, Delpha and the Trusted get onboard.
Once everyone is securely fastened to my body, I take off into the air whilst trying to ignore my fatigue. Just a little while longer...
"Take care of yourself, Millibelle. And you too, Delpha." Sakaya gives me a hug of farewell that lingers for just a moment too long before waving goodbye to Delpha. I once again take to the air, my ascent a bit clumsy from how tired I am.
A few minutes later, I touch down a bit too hard, not having the strength to properly soften my descent. Delpha quickly removes the silk securing her to my back and hops off before moving to my side in an attempt to support my wobbling body.
"Be careful, I'll crush you if I fall-" I mumble, only to be ignored.
"Come on, you can fall over once we get inside." Delpha chides as she somehow guides me towards the cave. Once inside, I take a few steps towards the pile of pelts that is my bed before my body gives in to fatigue.
Luckily, Yggdrasil catches me with her roots and softens my fall.
"Oh dear..."
The rest is muffled as the world goes dark.
I feel like I'm floating...
There's a slight warmth...
My eyes are so heavy... Even though I try to open them, I still can't see.
Ah?
There's something...
A light? Somehow... Even though my eyes are closed, I can sense this light?
It feels powerful. Just being near is making me feel better.
[The power that was taken, now restored...]
?
I try my best to investigate the light with my other senses. It's... Prismatic?
The eight colors representing the Eight Primary Elements, forming a stable presence despite the erratic swirl of energy within.
[Thanks to this, I finally get the chance to speak to you.]
That voice again... It's faint, yet perfectly clear.
Who are you?
[I am Chaos.]