Lilith's Plan

-----Yui's POV

The day past without much worry. Mai explained further that Lilith would most likely be hunted down by the soldiers, leaving us to continue to hide her in the guild. But in my opinion, if hiding is the plan, then I don't think a guild would be the best place. Soldiers would surely at some point come and ask for her whereabouts, but it's not like we have anywhere else to go, running back to Inasdale would be suicide.

We were currently having lunch upstairs again in case soldiers barge into the guild from downstairs. Fleur and Faye agreed to help hide her, but not if it'll cost them their job. With Fleur now working downstairs, Faye now had some time to join us as we sat at the table with our lunch. We had moved one of the tables from Sicily and Lillian's room so that we could all sit down.

Mai: "Hey, Lilith."

Lilith: "Yes?"

Mai: "Why didn't you use magic back then?"

Lilith: "Hmm?"

Mai: "Back when you were fighting, before I brought you here."

Lilith: "Oh- right."

Lilith stood up from the table before turning around to show her back to us. It was when she lifted her shirt that I saw some kind of a magic crest inscribed- wait. It looks more like it's been burned into her skin. Looking at it closer, there was scarring all around where the crest was burned. All of us looked on, speechless at the sight of it. There were also several other scars that seemed to not belong to the crest, looking to be some sort of slash marks which reminded me of a whip. Some of which were more fresh than others.

Lilith: "I used to be able to use magic. But one of the requirements for me to be free was to have this done. It blocks my ability to use magic."

Sicily: "Wait! I know that design!"

Lillian: "Mmm. It was the same as our shackles."

Lilith: "Shackles?"

Sicily: "Oh- uhm."

Kaede: "These."

Kaede proceeds to dig through her bag, bringing out the shackles in question. True to Sicily and Lillian's words, the engravings on the shackles looks to be very similar to the one on Lilith's back, with only minor differences here and there. Lilith having noticed had now brought her shirt down before turning back around to face us.

Kaede: "They do the same thing that crest on your back does."

Mai: "I see~ I was wondering why."

Lillian: "To think the humans would burn it to a persons skin though..."

Yui: "Can't you heal her with your magic?"

Kaede: "I can try, but when I tried to get these off of Sicily and Lillian, it was quite painful for me."

Sicily: "Mhmm! You need a key."

Lillian: "I don't think there is a key for that though..."

...

Kaede: "Alright~ I'll try. Excuse me Mell."

She lifts Mell up from her lap before seating her back in the seat.

Lilith: "No no, it's-"

Kaede: "It's fine. Could you turn around for a moment?"

Lilith: "..."

She begrudgingly accepts as she turns around, exposing her back to Kaede once more, with Kaede placing her hands on her back.

Kaede: "I'll begin now."

Lilith: "Mmm."

We watched on in wonder, leaving our food to the side as we watch Kaede's palms glow brighter on Lilith's back. It didn't take long before Kaede quickly flung her hands away from Lilith. The crest was still there, but she did manage to heal the redness and swelling of the other scars.

Kaede: "!!!"

Yui/Faye: "Kaede!"

Faye and I were the first one to get up from out seats.

Kaede: "It's okay. It's the same thing that happened last time."

Sicily: "I figured..."

Olivia: "Then how are we supposed to get rid of it?"

I find myself looking to Mai for answers since she's well versed with the magic in this world.

Mai: "I don't know why you're looking at me for."

Yui: "But you know a lot about magic, right?"

Mai: "Yes, but this is no magic that I'm aware of. From what I know, humans are the only ones who use magic such as this, so I wouldn't know."

Didn't Mai give humans the ability to use magic though? What does she mean she doesn't know? Does she mean that humans created this kind of magic?

Lilith: "I think the only ones who can get rid of this are the people who burned it into me."

Kaede: "Is that why you never ran away?"

Lilith: "Yes. If I could, I'd run all the way to the Yarene Kingdom."

Wait, another kingdom? I guess I've never really explored this world yet, only really spending my time in the city for most of my life.

Yui: "How far is it?"

Lilith: "It would takes weeks to make it there, and you can't realy on caravans to get there. Actually, the only way you could get there is through trade routes. Which was my plan when I... hid Selene on that carriage."

Kaede: "Wait! So you were trying to send me to Yarene?"

Lilith: "Yes. From what I heard at the time, Yarene is more accepting of demi-humans. So I thought that maybe you could live a healthier life there."

It's true that I only really see more demi-humans the further I get from the city. In Maemont, there were still a few, but was still like 98% human. Here in Azalea though, it's more like 75% human.

Sicily: "What about elves!-"

Lillian: "Sis!"

Lilith: "Hmm? Aren't elves monsters?"

Sicily/Lillian: "..."

I guess Lilith doesn't know their identity yet. And looking at Sicily and Lillian, they seem to have taken offence to being called monsters as they cast their gazes away from Lilith, especially Sicily. She looks like she'd kill Lilith right this instant.

Faye: "Well, as a demi-human myself. I've never really seen elves as monsters. So if it's true that there are more demi-humans in Yarene then surely elves will be considered more friendly there."

Nice assist Faye! I could see Sicily and Lillian's spirits rising as smiles grew on their faces.

Lilith: "Really? I'm surprised. Didn't elves try to attack Inasdale in the past?"

Sicily: "That's!-"

Lillian: "Sis, calm down."

Lillian had to cover Sicily's mouth to stop her saying any more. I can't imagine what going through their heads, being called a monster and now having crimes thrown onto you. Judging from the reaction of Sicily, I guess their relationship with humans aren't that great; maybe specifically from Inasdale. Maybe if they're okay with it, I'd like to know the history behind their distaste for humans.

Kaede: "Moving back on the topic. Would it be possible to find people in Yarene who could get rid of that crest on your back?"

Lilith: "That... That could be possible. But I'm not sure."

Faye: "Could be worth a shot. It's not like the Yarene kingdom knows who you are, right?"

Lilith: "I guess... But it's not like I can actually get there."

It's not like I could go either. I'd be leaving my family behind, and Luna... As tempting as it sounds, I can't really just throw it all away. Thinking so, I look over at Kaede, and surprisingly she was already staring at me, as if she was trying to gauge what I was thinking.

Kaede: "We'll think of something. For now, we'll stay here."

Relief washing over me upon hearing that, knowing that I won't need to say goodbye to my family. At the very least I'd like to tell them my plans.

Yui: "Why is it that there is no proper transports between the two kingdoms?"

Olivia: "Oh. I heard from my father that it's mostly because of Inasdale. Yarene wants a proper connection, but Inasdale is strict on having only supply lines between the two kingdoms.

My immediate thought would be because of Yarene's people being accepting of demi-humans, but maybe there's more to it than that. Also I'm aware that my family runs supply lines out to these towns, but I wonder if they also stretch to Yarene?

Lillian: "Do you know why Inasdale is that strict?"

Olivia: "Sorry. I'm not entirely sure. My guess would be something to do with the war in some way?"

Sicily: "War?"

Olivia: "The old war. Between humans and monsters."

Sicily and Lillian both looked confused as if they have no idea.

Mai: "Hmmm. I don't see how that can be an issue. Yarene did give aid to Inasdale during that time."

Olivia: "You were there during that time?"

Mai: "Of course I was. I'm a "spirit" after all. But it could be that Yarene didn't offer any of their forces and only aided with supplies and food."

Yui: "That seems reasonable don't you think?"

Kaede: "Hmmm, I'm not so sure. When I spoke with the king and queen, they seemed quite full of themselves. I can see them holding a stupid grudge like that."

Faye: "Well, Inasdale is more military focused, so I can sort of agree with Kaede there."

Right, so basically Inasdale is still pissed off at Yarene for not sending any of their men, even after all these years? Isn't that war like centuries ago?

Mell: "Mom~"

Kaede: "Yes?"

Mell: "Are we going somewhere again?"

She moves back over to Mell who was still sitting at the table, gently head patting Mell's head.

Kaede: "I'm not sure. Do you not want to go?"

Mell: "...I like it here. But if you're going somewhere again, then I'm going!"

Kaede: "Oh course. I won't leave you, I promise."

It looks as though Mell has become a lot more attached to Kaede since we left the city, now even calling her 'mom' more often than not.

Faye: "We can discuss this another time. For now I think she'll be safe here. Just as long as the soldiers don't expect us to be hiding her here."

Mai: "I don't see how they could. I came here by spatial magic."

Faye: "You mean like, teleportation?"

Mai: "Correct."

Faye: "Wow~"

And so, our plan to travel to Yarene is put on hold. I'd love to talk about this with my parents and Luna. Actually, I never said anything to Luna before I came here, I wonder what she's up to...