Honesty

"Uhm... Are you sure you're alright, Seb?"

How annoying. How utterly irritating.

The one time I actually tell the truth. The whole truth. Nothing but the truth.

And they don't. Believe. Me.

"I know I got knocked out pretty hard, but I assure you that it's the truth."

"I'm... sure you think that."

I don't like that. I don't like that at all.

"Fine. I don't need you to believe me. At least help me with the spell. You can't deny that there's something there."

"That's... true. I've never seen anything like the spell on Elizabeth's sword in my life," Vol replies, tentatively.

"Right? So help me replicate it. I know I'm on the right track."

I'm closer than I've ever been before in my life.

Vol seems unsure about what to do, but Elizabeth speaks up from beside him.

"I'll help."

"Huh?? You will?" Vol exclaims.

"You know he'll just keep going without us, right?"

"Right... It'd be better if we were there to help. At least we can try to avoid any more near-death experiences."

"Good," I say, "It's settled, then."

I won't lie. A part of me despises them for not believing me. Not a big part. Not a small part. Just a part.

But I know they're my friends. They just want what's best for me.

That's why they're still here.

They care.

It worked out, eventually, as they both agreed to help me in replicating the spell. Progress is faster now. I think. Frankly, it's hard to tell, but it feels that way.

It's almost like we're back in the magical academy in Rosewood again. The three of us, holed up in our room, working on a revolutionary project. It wasn't that long ago, but it's still oddly nostalgic. We make sure to go outside for walks and dinner. Okay, they make me go outside, but it's nice enough. I enjoy being with them, even if they seem very concerned for my health.

We have a while to go, though.

---

Certain odd events in Tayde have caught my interest. The times when we've been out for walks, there's been a general sense of uneasiness. I eventually decided to take a walk over to the guild that Vol mentioned. Since our battle with the first greater monster, I was technically raised to a C-rank adventurer, so getting in was no problem. It kind of makes you wonder what it takes to be an A-rank, though.

Anyway, it turns out that there has been an odd increase in monster spawns in the area. Thinking about it, something similar has occurred before. I get the sense that I should be on the lookout for signs of another greater monster.

Another, slightly less interesting thing happened, too. I returned to the church where I had been contacted by Smile. I was hoping to talk more to the young girl who had brought me there, but I couldn't seem to find her anywhere. I asked a particularly mature-looking nun where the girl was. Apparently, she had been dismissed, though the nun didn't tell me why.

It didn't strike me as too odd, though. She told me, herself, that she often fell asleep during prayers. Not exactly prime nun behavior.

That's what I assumed the reason was, at least.

I thought it would be too weird to visit her home, though the nun probably could have told me where it was, so I just left it.

It wasn't until a few weeks later, that I happened to see the young girl out on the street one evening.

When I approached the girl with a friendly "Hello!" she jumped and spun around to look at me, only relaxing after recognizing who I was.

"Oh, uhm, hello. Are you feeling better now?"

Ah, right. Last time she saw me, I was all messed up from my little meeting with Smile.

"Yes, I'm very well. Thank you."

I decide to get straight to the point, since she looks like she's about to run away.

"I just wanted to thank you for your help the other day. Actually, I went back to the church, but they said that you had been dismissed. How come?"

I think I'm going to stick to my good old partial truths for now.

"Ah- uhm- well..."

This girl has some serious communication skills. A serious lack of them, that is.

"You alright?" I ask, in an attempt to move her along.

"Yeah, yes. I'm fine. It's just... they didn't tell me why they threw me out."

"Really? That's a bit rude."

"Y-yes, it is! But, well, for some reason, the gods have removed their blessing upon me."

"Their blessing?"

"Mhm," she nods, "I haven't been able to use my healing magic since the day after I left you at the church."

"I see."

With the context I have, it sounds like she's being punished for something. Healing magic is usually attributed to Not Gaia, I believe. Could it be that she's being punished by Not Gaia because she lead me to contact with Smile?

This is all so very confusing.

I wish I had all the answers.