Chapter 9: Sylvia II

ARTORIAS LEYWIN'S POV:

"W-What are you?" Arthur managed to stammer out. He seemed to be in shock towards this creature that had helped us. She looked quite sinister, but I've seen much worse and beings more terrifying. I wasn't on guard however, my instincts weren't flaring up so I don't believe she has any bad intentions towards us. Though, she could simply just be that skilled, she did save us afterall, from such an impossibly far distance aswell.

I casually scrutinised her appearance, which resembled a being of complete evil, her menacing look had been lessened from her gentle aura and the way she looked at us. She reminded me of my mother from her temperament–minus her appearance.

She looked like a monster, which easily towered over ten meters high, sitting cross-legged, on a crudely carved throne of jagged stone with an arm lazily supporting its head.

With petrifying red eyes that gazed down at me, she had two massive horns protruded out the of sides of its head, arched down and around it's skull, curving up to a point near the front, reminding me of something almost akin to a crown.

It had a mouth with two fangs peeking out of its lips and while its body was adorned in a sleek black armor that had neither decorations nor embellishments, it still glowed with the quality of a priceless treasure.

"We finally meet," it repeated with a lazy half smile that revealed a row of pointed teeth.

...

"Bugs will fly into your mouth if you keep it open that wide." She joked towards Arthur.

"As for what I am, I won't say anything more than what you can see from looking," the horned humanoid monster said with its eyes seeming to gaze straight through us.

Seeing that Arthur was in a state of shock, I initiated a conversation.

"Thank you for saving us and guiding us towards here. Is it true that you can send us back home?" I asked politely.

"You're very welcome." She replied to me with a chuckle before continuing, "It is going to take a while for me to open a dimensional rift that will transport you to your home, so until then, please just be patient and wait here. There are special roots that grow here. You will be able to live off those until I finish," it sighed.

"I see, thank you." I repeated, grateful for her help. However, I was slightly suspicious, why would she help us? Did she have something to gain from helping me and Arthur? As I was pondering, Arthur seemed to have regained his composure before he stood up and walked closer to the creature.

Giving a courteous bow, he spoke, "Thank you for everything you've done for us and what you will do. If there is any way I can repay you, I will do for you whatever is in my power."

"Kuku. I didn't know children could be so well mannered. Do not worry; I am expecting neither a favor nor your gratitude. I am simply doing this for my own amusement. Come! Sit here closer to me and keep me company. I haven't talked to anyone in a while," the being laughed, patting an area of its throne for me and Arthur to sit on.

Arthur climbed up the platform before propping himself on the throne next to the being. I also climbed up shortly after before sitting beside Arthur.

"Uhh... excuse me for being rude, but you don't exactly look like a lady. How exactly should I address you?" Arthur said, making eye contact with the being.

*Chop*

"Ow! What was that for!" Arthur asked me, annoyed that I had chopped his head.

"Arthur, it's not nice to say that to a lady. Show some courtesy." I replied.

Before Arthur could talk back, I heard the creature laugh before she spoke, "Haha! No, it's fine. I don't exactly look very lady-like. As for what you can call me as, please, address me as Sylvia." She spoke in an elegant manner.

I nodded at her words before Arthur seemed to want to ask some questions.

"Elder Sylvia, do you mind if I ask a few questions?" Arthur asked politely.

"Go ahead young one, although I may not be able to answer everything."

"Where is this place? Why were you here all alone? Where did you come from? Why do you have that huge wound? ... Why did you save us?" 

She patiently waited for Arthur to finish before replying.

"You must have had a lot on your mind. The first question is easy to answer. This place is a narrow zone that is between the Beast Glades and the Forest of Elshire. No one knows of this place because I've been warding off anyone who came close, although the cases are rare in the first place. You children, are the first to enter into this domain," she easily explained.

"Please call me Art! My name is Arthur Leywin but everyone calls me Art! You can too!" He blurted out before shutting his mouth with his hands.

I simply just listened to their conversation. Arthur had been asking all the questions I also had, so I remained quiet.

-

Some time had passed as the two had been conversing, before I got a gist of Sylvia's situation. From her words, she seems to have many enemies and is currently in hiding. She also revealed that her last battle had caused her to receive that terrible injury near her abdomen. The reason why she saved us seemed to be on a whim. She seemed rather lonely, so maybe she just wanted some company? Sylvia had simply said that she was moved by how Arthur had saved our mother and how I had attempted to save Art from the fall.

Arthur seemed to trust Sylvia a lot, evident in how he had cried when he found out from Sylvia that our parents were still alive. My eyes also moistened from the news, I was also very happy that they were safe.

The days passed by with me and Art conversing with Sylvia.

We picked up some roots in this place to eat that looked and tasted very similar to potatoes but were black in color.

Arthur had mainly been the one to talk with Sylvia, but, I also had occasionally spoken to her. It was mainly when Art was asleep as I didn't want it to be awkward when me and Sylvia were alone. I don't like sleeping much and I resisted my dreariness from trying to take over. This was mainly due to my past life. I wanted to train my body to not require as much sleep, which proved quite a difficult challenge.

Sylvia seemed quite annoyed at this though, berating me about how a child needed sleep for growth and to stay healthy. She seemed very insistent about me needing more sleep, so, after quarrelling a little, I had simply promised her that I would only stay awake for two more hours when Art's asleep. She really started to remind me of my mother, she was as benevolent as her, treating me and Art as if we were her own. I also felt a sense of ease around her like I do with my family.

One day, the topic of discussion had been about about us and how we were able to use mana so well at our age.

"I was under the impression that amongst humans, the earliest mage to have awakened so far was the age of ten, and even then, because the child couldn't grasp how to use it, there was very little he could do with it. Yet, not only have you two already formed your mana core, but, by the way you use your mana, you seem to be more efficient than a lot of full-fledged mages."

Arthur simply replied for us saying, "My parents said that we were geniuses or something. Me and Tori can read really well and we can understand complex books."

Sylvia had a twinkle in her eye as if she knew that the word 'genius' wasn't sufficient enough to describe us.

A few more days trickled by as Sylvia continued preparing the portal.

In a regretful tone, she explained one day, "The spell will take some time in order for it to be completely safe. I do not wish for you two to land in a destination you are not familiar with. Even one inconsistency can lead to you being transported a couple hundred meters off the ground. Please be patient; you will be able to see your loved ones soon."

I was fine with waiting, but, my worry for my parents never subsided. I wanted to tell them that me and Arthur were alive! I feel that they would be blaming themselves for our deaths, so the sooner the rift gets made, the better. Though, I really enjoyed my time with Sylvia, even considering her like a mother-figure with how caring she had been to us.

In these days, I had trained my mana core with Arthur, and began opening up more to Sylvia. Despite her demon-like appearance, in essence, she was more like an angel with her dignified and benevolent personality.

She even had provided my brother with some wisdom when he had began talking about the bandits that attacked us–an expression of pure anger that wished for the most painful death to fall upon them.

She had flicked my brother's forehead, sending him tumbling to the ground before advising how he shouldn't be consumed by negative emotions. She had said that you shouldn't let hate and grief corrode your heart whilst also saying you should move on and better yourself to prevent these situations from happening again.

I agreed with her words and Arthur just blankly nodded.

However, for some reason, I've noticed that Sylvia's wound was getting much worse. The wound had started to bleed even more profusely as the days went by. Sylvia had attempted to hide it, but it didn't stop me from noticing.

"Sylvia... are you alright? Your wound seems to be getting worse." I had asked with a worried expression.

"Do not worry little one, this wound festers from time to time." She replied with a weak smile.

However, I felt that it was simply a lie. But, it seems she didn't want to share about it, so I stopped asking. Though, I would now occasionally glance at her wound from time to time.