Taste of New Life

-----Kaede's POV

Mell: "I hope we can do that again."

Kaede: "I'm sure we will."

After our little play session in the lake, albeit quite a freezing one at that, we're now back on the road once more, heading towards Yarene. Thankfully only the hem of Mell's dress got wet, so she should be fine, but if I do catch her shivering, I'll just chuck a blanket over her.

Lillian: "How far are we away from Yarene?"

Iris: "From the city? Still quite a ways away, but we should be approaching Yarene's borders by tomorrow."

Thank god... Sure we have breaks throughout the day to stretch our legs, but being cooped up in a caravan for so long... I'm getting quite sick of it. Makes me think back when I was travelling in that carriage when I was little. I was dumb at the time and ended up screwing up my mom's plans, even being killed because of it... Thankfully I'm older now, I wouldn't think of doing the same thing to the people inside this caravan.

Marcus: "We're already getting that close?"

He seems surprised by how far we've come as he munches on a sandwich from his bag.

Iris: "Yes. Although we won't be seeing towns for another couple days. Yarene's borders extend further than the borders of Inasdale."

Marcus: "What, so Yarene is bigger than Inasdale?"

Iris: "That... I'm not quite sure."

Faye: "Yarene is bigger than Inasdale. If they weren't, then I'd think that Inasdale would've declared war on Yarene years ago."

Marcus: "So you've been to Yarene?"

Faye: "Didn't lady Iris tell you?"

Sicily: "Ah! Sorry, This guy joined us during our escape."

Iris: "Faye here, along with- her sister, Fleur, were the ones responsible for my trade routes reaching the Yarene kingdom."

The mentioning of Fleur's name makes me look towards the person in question. Her body still as limp as ever, with her face as calm as can be, almost as if she's dreaming about flying through the air, soaring with her sister.

Marcus: "And "this guy" is named Marcus."

Sicily: "Yeah, okay."

Yeah, I'm very much not in the mood to be sitting here for too much longer. I sort of feel like trying to get used to flying while I'm at it.

Kaede: "Hey, Iris?"

Iris: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "I wanna stretch some more. You don't mind if I hop out?"

Yui: "Huh?"

Iris: "We won't be stopping though."

Kaede: "That's fine. I was thinking more along the lines of flying. I'd like to get accustomed to it if I can."

Now with all the soldiers knowing about my identity, along with Violet's family and Gabriella, I feel like it's safe enough for me to give flying a proper go.

Mell: "Take me!"

Kaede: "Hehe. Later. I'd like to get familiar with myself first, okay?"

Mell: "Okay."

Iris: "Sure. I trust you can keep up?"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

And so, after jumping out of the caravan and growing out my wings, I quickly flew up above the caravan, riding on the dirt road. The sudden gust of wind causes my hair to fly past my face, which makes it quite uncomfortable to keep my eyes open. But I soon find myself getting used to it as my eyes gradually open up to an entirely different world.

Before, inside the caravan, all I could see was the dense forest and the dirt road. It was fine at first, but it grew old real quick. The surprise visit to the lake was enjoyable, but this... This is completely different. Now, I was above the trees, seeing much more of the world as I knew it. I can even see the mountain range that Mai took me to in front of me, along with a river stretching over to my left. And much much further, I can make out a large cliffside with a castle placed atop of it. I'm guessing that's where the capital is? And looking back, I can see the lake that we were just at, and way way further back, I can even see small glimpses of Inasdale in the distance, but that might be due to my enhance vision too.

I take a moment to appreciate my wings as they naturally keep me steady in the air. At first I thought they were hideous, but after Yui called them "beautiful" and "elegant," I guess I've come to see them in a different light.

Mai: "Having fun there, Selene?"

Suddenly, Mai appears next to me, matching the same speed as me as we both fly in the sky; although Mai is just using her flight magic instead.

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

Mai: "You've grown quite a lot since the time when I took you to that mountain range."

Kaede: "Yup! Don't need that stupid magic anymore~"

To be honest, I'd still like to learn it somehow. Although after knowing what it felt like first hand, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable making Yui or Mell float. I can already feel my stomach churning at the memory of that.

Mai: "Well I'm glad to see you smiling more."

Kaede: "Do you really care about my wellbeing like that?"

Mai: "What do you mean? Of course I do. You and your mother is the only reason why I'm in this mess."

Kaede: "Mess?"

Mai: "Nevermind that."

I feel like she slipped up on something there. Did something happen with Mai that I don't know about? How bad of a mess is it? Or is she just simply talking about being bound to me... No... she would've just brought it up if that were the case... Then there's something else happening.

Mai: "Oi, I said to nevermind it."

Kaede: "Just tell me if it concerns me."

Mai: "It doesn't."

Kaede: "And anyone else?"

Mai: "Nope, just me."

Well at least I got that much, but I'm still very curious about what it is she's talking about.

Kaede: "...Can't you just tell me?"

Mai: "Hah~ Fine."

Well that worked easier than I expected. I figured she'd be hard pressed on not talking about it with me.

Mai: "But don't tell anyone about this."

Ah... Okay, so there's a condition...

Kaede: "Okay."

Mai: "So, you know when I talked about my brothers and sisters?"

Kaede: "...Eh?"

Did she ever say something like that? I remember her saying she isn't some sort of god and that she is just a being that watches over this world. But isn't that what a god is? I don't know. Oh! Nevermind, I do recall her saying something about her and her siblings watching over worlds. I forget that this world isn't the only world.

Mai: "...Remember now?"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

Mai: "Well, to put it simply. My siblings are quite mad at me, saying that I've thrown my job onto my sister."

Kaede: "Wait wait wait, hold on."

So, Mai has been in contact with her siblings this entire time?

Kaede: "I thought you're now bound to me, in the material plane, right? That's what you said."

Mai: "Yes, that's correct."

Kaede: "Then, how are you in contact?"

Mai: "Well, it's not like I can talk to them, but I can still perceive their thoughts. Much like how I perceive pain when you yourself are in pain. And even right now, I can feel their anger towards me."

Woah... Okay, now that's pretty interesting. So Mai is emotionally connected with her siblings? But physically she's connected with me?... Okay that sounds kind of wrong when thinking of it like that, but that's the gist of it I guess.

Kaede: "But aren't they watching over the other worlds? I'm confused how that'll cause a problem."

Mai: "Did you forget? I brought your soul from another world to save your soul in this world. My other siblings can also traverse worlds as well. And if they found out what I did, they'll surely punish me."

Kaede: "...Okay. Wait, so then who is now watching over this world in replace of you?"

Mai: "You're asking as if we have a name. You do remember that you gave me the name Mai, right?"

Kaede: "Yeah, but surely you call your siblings by names or something."

Mai: "Hmmm. I guess? Although we don't really think of them as names."

A whole new wave of curiosity washes over me at the though of learning Mai's actual name, and possibly even her siblings' names. From the way she's talking, it doesn't seem to be all that personal, so maybe it's okay to pry?

Kaede: "Then, what name do your siblings call you?"

Mai: "Hehe, you're really interested in this. Why?"

Kaede: "Come on, you're a being not even from this world. Who wouldn't be curious."

Mai: "Hmmm. I don't know~ I've changed my mind."

What a tease... If she's going to play like this, then-

I slowly grow one of my nails out into a long, pointed dagger-like nail before brining it to my left arm, gently pressing the tip of it against my skin, but not hard enough to draw blood; not yet at least.

Mai: "Okay okay fine!~ I don't know why you'd resort to that just to learn this. It's not even that important."

Kaede: "If it's not important, then why not tell me?"

Mai: "...Because it's cute to tease you."

Knew it. I begin to pierce my arm slowly as blood slowly glides along my skin. Sure I can feel the pain, but I remember back when I fought the horned devil when my arm was cut up pretty badly, Mai was crying in pain. And just like now, she's holding her arm as if she herself is the one being tortured.

Mai: "It's Leuce!"

I stop upon hearing her shout before healing the wound as if it was nothing.

Kaede: "Loose?"

Mai: "Yes, Leuce."

I'm pretty sure I'm hearing it wrong, but it does sound like she's saying loose.

Mai: "Not loose! Leuce."

Kaede: "Ah~ Okay, got it."

It's subtle, but after hearing her say both of them together, there is a slight difference.

Kaede: "So, would you rather me call you Leuce?"

Mai: "...Like I said, it's not really a name, but do what you want."

Kaede: "Hmm~ I'll stick with Mai, for now."

She smiles at me upon hearing that. Seems as though she's happy with being called Mai over that name, so I'll just stick with it.

Kaede: "And? What about your sister? The one that's watching over this world?"

Mai: "...Are you going to torture me again to get that information?"

Kaede: "No. I only did that for you. If you don't wanna say who she is, then that's okay."

Mai: "...Erytheia."

Yeah I'm not even going to try and pronounce that one.

Kaede: "So, Ery?"

Mai: "Pfft. Sure."

I direct my attention back to the caravan, and it seems as though we've fallen behind by quite a bit. I blame Mai.

Kaede: "Fufu~ Race you to the caravan!"

Without wasting a moment, I propel myself forward with my wing, using as much force as I can as I quickly soar through the air. The wind crashing against my face only increased until finally, I found myself back above Iris' caravan in a matter of seconds, with Mai following soon after.

Mai: "Hey! Where was the countdown?"

Kaede: "Oh? That's surprising. I didn't know beings such as yourself use countdowns."

Mai: "Heh, you got me there."

We chuckle with one another as we continue to fly above the caravan, making sure not to fall behind this time around.