Tina opened her eyes.
“This is…?”
She was lying in a lotus flower, with a leaf that spread out above like an umbrella and sheltered her from the dense vapour.
The lotus flower grew out from the bottom of the lake and was as wide as a double bed. Loud sounds from splashing water could be heard from close by as there was an unceasing waterfall nearby.
The lake was not large, and dense mist covered its surface. On the sh.o.r.es were towering mountains and a dense forest from which the noisy chirping of birds could be heard.
“You’re finally awake!”
A little boy with immaculately combed hair stepped on the lotus leaf and poked his head in to peek.
“Kester headmaster…” Tina looked at the boy’s face, “You’re here too?”
“That’s right, Tess got me to look after you.”
“Look after me?”
“Because the transition ritual can only be completed if you stay in the sacred lake. Tess went with Molan so she got me to do it.” Kester broke into a wide smile, “Thank me now!”
“Thanks…”
Tina did not understand what was going on but she went with the flow and thanked him anyway.
Sacred lake? Transition ritual? Molan was also nearby? Who is Tess?
She only remembered going to the Oracle, and an elf had used a strange spell there and she had taken an attack for the Prince.
“…Didn’t I, die?”
“You did die.” Kester said, “But you revived!”
He pushed up close.
“Let me see your forehead.”
“Ah?”
Kester parted Tina’s fringe without waiting for a reply.
“Eh~ Seems like it worked, but then something seems different.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well this works too!” Kester nodded as he spoke to himself, before facing Tina.
“You have a pink mark here,” He touched his forehead, “But only half.”
Tina felt even more bewildered. She moved to the edge of the lotus and looked at her reflection in the water. There was indeed a pink mark, like half a flower petal.
What was going on? She was about to question Kester, when she saw that the waterfall parted and there was a cave from which someone was running from.
That someone was Molan, and he leapt onto the lotus and seeing Tina he was stunned for a moment before being completely elated.
“Molan? You–”
–Came. Before she could finish, Molan had flown in and pushed her down.
Tina couldn’t push Molan off, and wanted to kick him between his legs. But she realised Molan was crying on her shoulder, his tears drenching her clothes. This big boy was hugging tightly with all his might, as though she would disappear the moment his grip loosened. Tina thought of the winter night she took Molan back to the carriage from the streets and how he held onto her hand as tightly as now, afraid she would change her mind and abandon him again.
When she thought of this, she hesitated and gave in, and decided to give him 10 seconds.
“… It hurts.” Tina muttered softly.
Molan finally stopped, and flew into the air.
“Let, let me down!”
His limbs were struggling like he was trying to swim as a formless wind carried him up and stopped him from taking advantage of Tina.
Tina watched the spectacle before her in a daze.
“Big brother, mama said that boys can’t bully girls.”
A cold voice that still sounded childish floated over. A little girl walked out of the cave, and the waterfall closed behind her.
Tina had never seen such a pretty little girl. Looking at her, she felt as though she had seen the essence of spring. She wore a pure white one piece gown, with bright golden hair that was longer than she was, with small pointy ears poking out of her hair. She was short and appeared to be 8 or 9 years old, with breathtaking features, of which the jade green eyes which were big, round, bright and clear, seemed to surpa.s.s any jewel in the world.
Was she left behind by the G.o.ds?
The little girl squinted at Tina, and hopped from leaf to leaf as she made her way to Tina.
“So you’re the sister Tina that big brother was crying to see? You really are here in the sacred lake huh.”
She stood before Tina and looked up into her eyes. Tina looke dback at her and saw a petal shaped pink mark on her forehead.
“h.e.l.lo.”
The little girl greeted Tina.
“My name is Tess, mama gave it to me.”
(TL: In case anyone somehow doesn’t get it, this is actually Tess. 100%. Trust me, I’ve read ahead. And yes, in case you are concerned, Tess does not disappear from the story but less focus for now. She got the equivalent of 2 volumes after all.)
Maruko leaned against the rail at the rooftop and watched over what happened at the lake.
“To have forcefully stopped the unstoppable ‘Transition’ spell huh.”
His face was expressionless.
“The soul has entered his body… Possession stopped at 20%? Why did it not progress? And the soul is even moving according to the host’s will… Why?”
“Irritating, I cannot make sense of it.” He clicked his tongue and looked downwards.
Another Maruko lay on the ground unmoving, as the demonic beast knelt beside him, its body had 5 large holes bored into it, 1 had traces of frost around the wound while the other 4 had burn marks.
Maruko played with a fireball in his palm and sighed.
“Useless fellow. And you still need me to wipe your a.s.s for you. What sect what lineage, did you think you were playing house or something?”
No trace of emotion ever showed on his face, his features were so fixed that they seemed like they were sewn onto his face.
“Instead of using demonic beasts, why not use humans.”
The fireball in his hand burnt strongly, engulfing his whole body.
“Next up… Is me…”
As the flames subsided, the rooftop was empty.
Because of me, the G.o.d of fate now has 2 emissaries.
A portion of Tess’s life was transferred to Tina, allowing her to live once more. After the “Transition” spell was stopped, Tess turned from a ball of light into a 9-year-old little girl.
By right, Tess should have retained the half spirit form. According to the headmaster.
What is a half spirit form? I asked.
A ball of light with sentience, the headmaster answered.
In the end, Tess did not maintain the form of the ball of light and instead became a little girl with long hair clad in a white one piece gown, essentially a mini version of Tess before she left the forest.
I felt that she could maintain a physical form because the G.o.d of fate loves her too much and wanted her to continue being the emissary.
I call the Tess that became small little Tess. Little Tess’s memory and powers have all regressed to that of when Tess was 8-9 years old. She can’t remember me, she can’t use the almighty wall of wind, and she keep talking about her mama. Speaking of which, where is her mum? I would actually like to meet her.
Because mama told little Tess that humans are bad, she has been very cautious of me. When she told me, big brother don’t come near me! I was completely defeated.
Simply… Marvellous!
An angelic golden haired little girl calling me big brother!
I, I, I feel like I’ve reached the peak of life!
Little Tess wasn’t willing to bring me back to the sacred lake in the forest of elves to find Tina. I cried and begged and knelt but she wouldn’t, as she said her mama told her that humans cannot enter the forest! Later I bought a bag of shaved ice for her which she loved and when she asked for a second bag, I said I would give it to you after you bring me to the sacred lake and she immediately agreed.
By the way, little Tess remembers the headmaster so that means that they knew each other before she was 9 years old.
Little Tess insisted on staying in the forest and the headmaster got the king of elves to take care of her before taking me and Tina out of the forest. To be honest, I really can’t bear it and asked little Tess to give me a hug!
And I got blown away.
(TL: Again, I repeat that Tess is not written out, she will return)
After losing the command of their leader Maruko, the headless “Demonic Lineage Sect” was decimated by the 13-nation coalition army. Some were captured, some escaped, and some committed suicide, as the coalition army swept through and swiftly regained the conquered cities. According to the international Double Anti code, all members of the “Demonic Lineage Sect” were executed. After the demonic beast died, all people with red eyes regained their reason. As their acts were not of their will, the international courts did not sentence them to any punishment.
The Jacquedini king gave a speech and launched a celebration in the rebuilt capitol, with all commanding officers in the coalition army as guests of honour to receive the thanks and gifts from the people of Jacquedini. 7 days after the “Demonic Lineage Sect” was exterminated, I returned to St Txarango once more.
William said that my killing of Maruko was a great feat and could offset my previous crimes greatly. But as I was originally given a death sentence, my status was now reduced to that of a slave.
You still have slavery!? I was hopping mad.
Eh? We’ve always had it? William said as a matter of factly.
From what I’ve heard, the international courts sentenced me to hard labour doing land reclamation works for life but Rosa stepped in and used its international clout to request for a lighter sentence. The courts convened again, and sentenced me to slavery for 30 years, which left me with no rights during this period.
Slaves can’t go to school unless their master is accompanying them so I can only carry my chains into cla.s.s when my master has transferred to St Txarango.
“Today a new student has transferred to our school. She has come a long way from the great nation of Rosa and is a distinguished member of the royal family of Rosa.” Mr Hvaler stepped away from the front of the cla.s.s, “Give everyone an introduction your highness Alisha.”
“Un.”
Alisha swung her ponytail back, as she lifted her head up high and stuck her chest out.
“I am the 4th princess of Rosa, Alisha Rosa Czedtofani. Everyone, please do get along with me without minding my status! And this is my slave.”
She pulled the chain on my neck, “Molan, you greet them too.”
“… Oh.”
I answered her listlessly.
“Everyone, it’s been a while. I’m Alisha’s slave, Molan Faburando, please do get along with me without minding my status…”
Please you all must get along with me like before! Don’t drop a stone down the well I’ve fallen!
“Good boy good boy~”
Alisha smiled as she rubbed my head.
Tina sat at the front, with her look sharpened suddenly at the sight. I quickly avoided her eyes.
Half a year ago, I would never have thought that one day I would be toyed by fate so much that I become an inferior human!
But it’s still good, after coming to another world, a lot has happened and I’ve had enough experiences to have stories to tell for a lifetime. And the people I treasure are all alive and kicking, that’s good enough, what’s better than being able to live?
Hehe~
This world has Tina, Shuoxue, and little Tess. Not bad.
If only I didn’t have to eat leftovers and sleep in the stable, then the world would be great.
…
… f.u.c.k.
What a backward civilisation.