[Author's Note: For bonus chapters, the goal every week is:
- 25 Power Stones
- 50 Power Stones]
Volume 2 Chapter 34: Quirks
Tria: "You can talk to the two of them and entertain yourself while we talk."
Vespera: "Yes, Your Majesty."
After receiving Vespera's confirmation, Tria led Carmilla to the side and cast a wind dome spell, similar to the one she used when she spoke privately with Daniel back then.
Tria: "So, what is it? Why did you request to talk privately?"
Carmilla: "It's just really awkward to talk about Vespera while she's present."
Tria: "That's fine. She's aware that others might perceive her differently based on her behavior."
Carmilla: "Why does she continue to act like that?"
Tria: "Because the longer you live, you eventually develop a few loose screws in your head."
Carmilla: "But Daniel seems normal to me?"
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Tria: "Daniel seems normal to you, but he has the hobby of wearing a mask and a black robe the whole time."
Carmilla: "But he seems very normal to me, and when you revived him, he was only wearing a black robe that fit him perfectly."
Tria: "It's because he was not wearing any mask back then when he chose to enter his eternal sleep. Even if someone was wearing a mask or something covering their face, those individuals would be required to remove them in the presence of the elder council or in the presence of my original, and since I am her clone they are also required to do so in my presence."
After Tria mentioned that, a hint of a majestic aura started to emit from her, but a few seconds later, it disappeared as quickly as a passing wind.
Carmilla: "It doesn't sound too bad to me."
Tria: "What if I tell you that he wears a mask and robe wherever he goes, even to sleep?"
After hearing that, she thought of something.
Carmilla: "Don't tell me…"
Tria noticed her reaction and didn't let her finish what she was about to say.
Tria: "Yes, Daniel has that exact quirk."
Carmilla: "What about Vespera?"
Tria: "Just ignore how sometimes she acts like a kid; she means no harm. She's truly a great spellcaster who's just really addicted to researching weird spells."
Carmilla: "If you say so."
After their conversation ended, Tria canceled the wind dome spell and the two of them started to approach Vespera, who was circling Eve and Pepper.
[2 minutes ago.]
After Tria led Carmilla a few meters away, and have set up a wind dome spell to block any sound from leaving.
Vespera started to look at the two exact same figures, one of whom Tria led away.
Vespera: "So, what are your names? I'm Vespera."
Eve: "Eve."
Pepper: "Hi, I'm Pepper. Tria mentioned that you're a very powerful spellcaster."
Vespera: "Yes, I'm very powerful. Do you want to see me cast a forbidden spell?"
Hearing that, Pepper sweated for a bit before replying, worried that if she responded too late, Vespera might have already started the process of casting a forbidden spell.
Pepper: "Nah, maybe next time."
Vespera: "Is that so? Too bad for you then. So, what's the deal with the three of you? Are you some kind of triplets? And why is she so silent?"
Pepper: "Oh, Eve just lets her be. She usually stays silent since she tends to talk very little."
Vespera: "Then, what's with the three of you having the same appearance, now that I think of it, you three seem to have the same mana signature. Wait, no, there is still a minute difference that's very hard to notice."
Before Pepper could reply to what Vespera had asked her, Vespera herself started talking non-stop.
Vespera: "Oh, you two seem to be a clone. Let me guess, the one talking with Majesty's clone is your original, right?"
Pepper: "That is correct."
Vespera started circling around the two of them, looking them up and down.
Vespera: "That's very strange. Usually, a normal clone shouldn't have consciousness."
Pepper: "How about Tria? She was also a clone, right?"
Vespera: "Oh, it seems that Majesty's clone also has consciousness, but based on my senses, there is a small soul piece. So basically, the one you are calling Tria is Majesty's incarnation and not a clone, but the two of you are different."
Vespera ceased talking and began observing the two of them carefully.
Vespera: "You two have almost the same mana signature and soul as your original, but a bit different. Strange, I seem to have felt the same thing in the past, hmm…"
Vespera began to ponder, but she continued to circle around the two while observing them.
This is the exact scene Tria and Carmilla witnessed when they finished their conversation.
Tria: "Oh, Vespera seems to have entered her research mode. Let's give her some time to exit that mode."
Carmilla: "Why shouldn't we interrupt her?"
Tria: "We can't interrupt her because once she enters that mode, she's entirely focused on her current task. In such cases, she won't stop until she finds what she's searching for."
Eve and Pepper noticed Tria and Carmilla approaching them, so they anticipated that Vespera would halt her peculiar behavior of observing them while lost in her memories.
However, they did not anticipate Vespera ignoring Tria and continuing to circle the two of them. Tria then led Carmilla to the side, and they both observed Vespera circling and observing Eve and Pepper.
A few minutes later, the two of them, feeling extremely awkward, finally heard Vespera exclaim.
Vespera: "Ahh, I remember now why I found your presence very familiar."
Tria and Carmilla also heard Vespera exclaim as if she had discovered something.
Vespera: "Finally! Huh, someone managed to acquire that skill after hundreds of years. Oops, let me rephrase that; I forgot that I have been dead for more than a thousand years. Finally, someone managed to get that skill after a thousand and more years."
Tria: "It seems like you've remembered something."
Vespera: "Apologies, Your Majesty. It seems I have entered that mode again and didn't notice your presence."
Tria: "It's alright, but you should apologize to the two of them; your behavior made them feel very uncomfortable."
Hearing what Tria said, Vespera observed Eve's and Pepper's faces, noticing their peculiar expressions. Observing this, Vespera bowed to the two of them before offering her apology.
Vespera: "I'm sincerely sorry for my odd behavior just now."
Eve, as usual, spoke a few words.
Eve: "It's okay."
Pepper: "Apology accepted, but please refrain from doing that again. It was really creepy being observed like that."
Vespera: "Hahaha."
Vespera laughed awkwardly after being called creepy by Pepper. She didn't say anything further, as she herself knew that her actions were indeed quite eerie.
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Vespera: "I've also noticed that you have almost the same aura as Majesty."
Tria: "You can call me Tria. Since you're so astute, I assume you might have a few guesses about my identity."
Vespera: "Yes, Your Majesty Tria."
Tria: "So, care to share why you found their aura similar to my original body?"
Vespera: "Your Majesty Tria also has the same aura as them and your original body."
Tria: "Please continue."
Vespera: "I noticed that Eve and Pepper here have almost the same aura as her Majesty and you your majesty Tria. So, I assume it's due to their original body, named Carmilla, the one who is beside Your Majesty."