Her Gift

Daphne looked at Elgin with eyes containing reverence.

<I can tell that your magic compatibility is very high. I've never seen a human like you..>

It was odd. She wanted to lay down her suspicions since the young man was the one who saved her, but it still bugged her. Everything about Elgin was weird.

[Elgin! I forgot to tell you, but you should be careful in front of spirits unless you already trust them, or there's an important matter. Spirits are very close to nature and life itself. They are sensitive to the law of the world and its balance. You might get discovered as an anomaly if you are rash in front of them!]

Cecily barged in and broke Elgin's train of thoughts.

'So what should I do? Ignore her? Run away? Attack?' He asked.

[Stupid fool! All of those are suu~per suspicious, do you want to speed up your countdown to death?! Just act normally, but don't give her too much ground to work with. Always give half truths and half lies. Act dumb if you need to, but don't let your acting be detected! It's fine as long as she doesn't catch on.]

'Damn, it's easy for you to say that!'

Elgin had to come up with more lies to fool this little faerie.

A cohesive story that would fool Daphne.

"Well, I'm not a human from here. I just started out in this world, I got thrown down here with a bunch of people days ago."

<What..?>

Daphne's eyes widened, as if Elgin just said the most ridiculous thing ever.

"I'm being serious. All of us arrived at Ulya from different gates, and were bestowed with the same mission.. to climb Yggdrasil. I don't know what it's for, but I'm headed there since I don't have any other goals. I just happened to stumble upon your home in my exploration and.. 'saved' you."

Elgin masked his expression and behavior, acting uncomfortable as he told the story. Like he had a heavy burden on him.

He wasn't lying!

But his feelings were lies.

<I see.. Then, that could explain a lot. I'm sorry, I doubted your intentions at first.> Daphne sincerely apologized.

Daphne stayed in silence for a few moments.

Elgin didn't dare strike any unnecessary conversation in case he would get found out, so he watched as the fairy flew towards the lake and took a dive.

His eyebrows furrowed, and he approached the lake to see what the faerie was up to.

In mere seconds, Daphne returned with a hesitant expression.

Swish!

A blue light appeared, cradled in the faerie's small hands.

"What is this?" Elgin asked.

<..This is the remnants of the lake's blessing. The lotus died out, and I don't think it could ever return. This light is the nature of the lake. It had long faded until you came and rescued the energy circuits.>

<I think it's alright to bestow you this as a gift. Would you like to accept it?>

This was Daphne's resolution. The best solution she could think of. To gift the blessing away to the man.

As a reward for both of them.

"What about you? Isn't this what you're protecting? If you give this to me..?"

To be honest, Elgin wanted to accept it right away, but he had to act kind first!

<I don't think I could stay here for longer. I used to be content with my stable status as the guardian spirit, but that has disappeared now. Thankfully, all the events granted me.. a peculiar freedom. I can go out of my territory now, I can feel it.>

"Are you going to investigate about your case..?"

<Naturally. I won't just stay still and accept the course of actions, I need an explanation for myself before I perish. The blessing of Yale ends here, there's not much left to protect. It's an embarrassment compared to the past.. No traces of the former glory. I can't bear it.>

Daphne had a look full of longing on her face.

Even though she wanted to deny it, the lake was akin to a part of her soul. After losing it, she was thrown into jeopardy and almost lost all of her senses.

Her willpower kept her afloat. Her pride, her unwillingness to back down.

But all that ends now. She wanted to take actions for herself.

That's why, rather than tying herself down to this blessing, it was better to give it away to someone like Elgin.

'Can I accept this? Will I get in trouble..?' Elgin asked Cecily for advice.

[It's fine. It's just a blessing.. and it will indeed help you. Besides, I'm sure that you already have a rough idea of what caused Yale to change, and why it's always the Players who come to fix it?]

'..The reset.'

[Yeah. It's definitely that. Daphne isn't hostile, and the blessing is a far cry from its original state. Not that amazing or spectacular. It's alright. Her enemy is our enemy, to be honest.]

Elgin looked at the blessing Daphne held once more. The spirit tilted her head to the side lightly, asking what the man's decision will be.

<If.. you find it unpleasant, you don't have to accept it. I guarantee that it will help you, though.> Daphne pleaded softly.

"I will gratefully accept it."

Daphne's expression brightened up. She flew higher and stopped in front of Elgin's head.

The ball of light was inserted into Elgin's forehead, which was then sealed by Daphne with a little kiss.

<I would've never thought that this day would come, but I guess fate works in a strange way. The blessing was imparted. Please take good care of it!>

Daphne felt a lot more relieved now that she was 'completely freed'. She let out a long sigh, looking up to the sky with a wide smile.

She might not be a guardian spirit anymore, but she still had a goal.

"..I wish you luck. I hope you find your answer."

Elgin pitied Daphne quite a lot.

<You too, human. Again, I can't thank you enough. I hope that blessing thrives in your hands and aids you in your journey. If the fate wills us to meet again, then I ought to repay you some more.>

Daphne was much more cheerful now.

Elgin nodded.

<..May the light of the Goddess be with you at all times.>

Daphne departed, flying away from Elgin into the unknown.