Chapter 144 - Enlightenment

I'm not sure if it's appropriate to say this, it feels a bit too direct. But from her attitude, it seems I'm just overthinking things. 

"Don't worry, I know what you're saying. The main thing is I feel so useless, maybe it's hard for me to adapt to life in this world..." 

Cyra answered me with a rare worried expression, quite different from her usual silly carefree look.

I suddenly understood...No matter how blindly confident, after going through so many adventures, she must have realized it's not easy to level up. In every battle, she could only hide at the back to watch, although excused for safety reasons, it must be very frustrating for her personality.

In terms of growth speed, Cyra is not that slow - she should have reached mid-tier four, almost catching up with Vivianne and Yulanda's level, but still far behind Nicola and me. 

But there's nothing that can be done. For normal angels during their two-winged phase, most would just slowly develop in Edenmere, waiting years or decades before joining the angel corps with four wings to come out here. But someone like Cyra has no patience to wait like that.

So two-winged angels like her who ran out with us almost never exist. At tier four, it's too common in the human world, even leaving the city for the wild isn't absolutely safe, often relying on Nicola and me for protection.

As fellow transmigraters but with such a gap despite starting together, she must feel a lot of pressure, just like how I felt when I first met Nicola. But our situations are a bit different from her and Reed's, so it's hard to help them except by giving time, with no other good methods.

Thinking of this, I could only remain silent, unsure how to console her.

"It's okay, angels have long lifespans anyway, you could say we hit the jackpot. Maybe decades later when I reach the higher tiers, I can beat you all up!"

True to her optimistic nature, though Cyra seemed gloomy earlier, she quickly bounced back after stretching, staring at me with a carefree look, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"But you...came specially to console me, yet you don't seem as unruffled as you claim!"

"What do you mean not unruffled? I've never wanted to go home!" 

I protested indignantly. But thinking carefully, our family situations were completely different, so not really comparable.

"I'm not talking about that, I mean your love life. You obviously like Adrian so much, why won't you just admit it?"

Cyra shook her head, mercilessly changing the subject to hit my weakness.

Why bring this up again? She's really gossipy to the core! Hearing this, I felt a bit unhappy and turned away curtly.

"What makes you so sure I like Adrian? Don't forget, you know about my previous identity - why keep egging me on?"

"Okay okay! So you're still sticking to identifying as a guy..."

Seeing the crowd dispersed by the guards, and my stubborn denial, Cyra shrugged, then suddenly threw me a "coquettish look", leaning over in a flirtatious manner and cooing suggestively.

"Well what about me then? I don't really care about those hang-ups you're so conscious of. I'm open to anything, all genders welcome! Why don't we give it a try?"

"Get lost, do you have to be so disgusting!"

Her face was almost touching mine with that kiss-me pose. Seeing that, I was utterly revolted, my hair standing on end as I quickly stood up and kicked her away with one foot.

That kick wasn't very hard, but it still took Cyra a while to struggle up from the ground, grumbling unhappily.

"Geez...did you have to be so vicious? Don't forget how strong you are now!"

"Why did you suddenly do that?"

I demanded angrily. Didn't she prefer women? And the True Church she believes in doesn't really approve of that kind of behavior either, right? Was she just testing me?

"Calling yourself a man, yet react like that to a gorgeous girl like me, unforgivable..."

I have to admit Cyra's skin is pretty thick to say such narcissistic things out loud. But in my eyes, while she's not bad looking, Michelle's mental trauma on me was too deep. Plus I've never seen Cyra as a girl, so I don't feel the need to treat her delicately. 

"I was just trying to enlighten you..."

Cyra brushed off the dust and mellowed out quickly, back to her usual cheeky self as she slung an arm around my shoulders.

"Oh well, we're siblings after all...uh, sisters! I'll let you off this time, just go easier with those kicks next time, angel bodies can't take that kind of abuse!"

"So do you actually prefer guys or girls?"

I was confused by her constant wavering, so I scrutinized Cyra doubtfully. If she likes girls, why was she so ambiguous with Cysper? But if she prefers guys, there's no evidence for that either. Could she really swing both ways?

"Argh! That doesn't matter, does it? We're talking about you here - why are you so hung up on it? I don't care at all!"

To my question, she answered in typical blunt fashion, then turned to me.

"Let me ask you again, do you currently see yourself as a man or woman?"

"A...a woman, I guess..."

To be honest, I've accepted reality already. Although there's still some reluctance, I have to admit it.

Thinking deeper about how I really feel towards Adrian, it's impossible that I'm completely clueless by now. Originally, besides Nicola, the one who cared most was this girl, afraid she and our old classmates would mock me if they found out. But unexpectedly, Cyra actually came to counsel me herself, really an ironic twist.

"There, it's settled then! If you like someone, just go for it!"

Hearing this, Cyra immediately thumped her chest declaring confidently.

"Don't worry, Reed and I fully support you. Adrian seems like a really great guy! Many say he's very reliable, we won't make fun of you, so don't worry about what others think!"

Though put crudely, there is some simple logic to it. I felt the beliefs I once firmly held start to waver slightly. 

Of course, only just a tiny bit! Don't forget Adrian is currently opposed to Astralrealm and colluding with monsters, so discussing this has no real meaning. Moreover, I can't bear to admit any interest in another man in front of my former classmates!

No matter how much she eggs me on - "Just admit it, everyone already knows anyway, it's no big deal!" - there's no way I'll fully believe her words! She might spread it around, and before long it really will be public knowledge.

"Don't worry, leave Nicola to me! Why don't you just shout out loud to that city in the sky 'I love you Adrian!' Maybe he'll hear you!"

Seeing me still stubbornly refusing to open up, Cyra even started whispering encouragement into my ear.

"No way I'm shouting that, go shout to your Cysper instead!"

I didn't know what was driving her, but I finally couldn't stand it anymore and kicked her away again.

"Ugh..."

Looking up at New Parristol again, I felt an inexplicable vexation and shook my head as I left without a backwards glance.

...

We can't wander around in the camp, and as an angel this identity is quite eye-catching, so I followed some guards patrolling nearby. I didn't see Reed anywhere, while the others were resting, so I returned to my own tent.

But not long after I came back, I heard commotion outside. Poking my head out, I saw everyone craning their necks skyward - the sky city had inexplicably moved much closer in our direction. If it came any nearer, it would almost be right overhead.

Strangely though, it had stopped moving, hovering motionlessly like when we first saw it, just in a different position.

"What's going on?"

I curiously asked a guard at the entrance.

"Why did that city start moving, and why did it stop?"

"We're not too sure either. According to the scouting griffon riders, New Parristol was originally heading this way, but halfway through, thick black smoke suddenly started billowing out from under the base of the central Chromos Tower. We suspect there may have been some kind of fire or explosion, and then the whole city just stopped..."

The guard answered a bit embarrassedly, then quickly explained. 

"Since our commander instructed us not to get too close, we couldn't really see clearly what exactly happened."

A fire? An explosion? 

My first thought was that someone sent saboteurs to cause damage, and the prime suspect would naturally be the Kingdom's forces. But if even they didn't know about it, then who was up there?