Chapter 274: Returning from the ruins

Contrary to Claud's expectations, the Celestia Ruins didn't send out monsters or automatons as they left the place, nor did the ruins blow up or anything. In fact, the departure of little shiny Throne had absolutely no impact on the ruins, thereby proving that most novels about exploring ruins were absolute lies.

"Either that, or Throne actually isn't an important keystone," Lily replied. "Don't go abusing those novel authors; they work really, really hard to finish their work. There's also a great deal of research thrown into their work too."

The two of them floated in mid-air, at the boundary that divided the ruins from the world outside. A small movement would take them out of this interesting and dangerous world, returning them to a sane and comparatively simpler world.

"Yeah, okay. I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologising?" Lily shook her head. "Still, those names sound rather similar to something I've read."

"What names are you talking about?" Claud asked, mystified.

"Oh, the members of the Inwards Star Council. I swear, I've come across words similar to them somehow in one of the many novels I've read." Lily pouted. "Anyway, let's go. We should really check up on the situation, and Throne's been bumping my neck and demanding to see the little fellow we keep talking about."

"Throne's quite cute, I guess. But I'm also worried. Crown has been sleeping peacefully the whole time, and I'm scared something happened to the little guy."

Lily nodded. "Let's leave this place entirely, then."

The burning sphere below them vanished as Claud and Lily crossed the border between Celestia and the world outside. Now that Claud thought about it, the place he kept referring to as 'the world' and whatnot was quite the clunky way of speaking; why didn't this world have a name?

However, he didn't voice that thought as they left. Instead, the two of them began to descend rapidly; the freezing temperatures that came with such heights had dissuaded them from doing absolutely anything else.

Claud and Lily were hugging each other for warmth by the time the temperature had risen to acceptable levels.

"It's so freaking cold high up," Claud muttered.

"Y-yeah." Lily's teeth chattered, and Claud rubbed her back. "Let's get some warm food in Lostfon. Do you think stew's a good idea?"

"Stew, yes."

Shivering, the two of them continued to Lostfon. After a while, Claud had warmed up enough to take out Crown, who was snoring deeply…somehow, anyway. The velvet box rolled around a few times as Claud poked it gently, and with a miffed meep, it rolled awake.

"Meep?"

Before Claud could say anything, the little silver ball had hopped off Lily's neck and landed on his opened palm. The two began to exchange little meeps immediately afterwards, prompting Claud to exchange looks of consternation with Lily. For one, he — and judging from Lily's expression — and Lily couldn't understand the meaning behind those meeps, and more importantly…

"They sound like they know each other," Lily noted.

"They at least share the same language system," Claud replied. "I can't understand what Crown is saying, but I can feel some confusion from its little meeps."

"Same for Throne." Lily stared at the box and the silver sphere, and then tilted her head. "But isn't it great? I remember you told me that you wanted to find out Crown's origins and everything, right? This is a huge step in the right direction."

Claud nodded, and then looked up at the distant Celestia Ruins. The sense of danger he felt whenever he entertained thoughts of taking out Crown also meant that Crown was related to the Celestia Ruins, but what exactly was that particular relation? And why did he feel danger?

"If I became stronger, I might return to the ruins and take out Crown there," Claud muttered. "I'm sure the sense of danger I felt was because I am still too weak. If I'm the level of a Chromatic Lord, taking out Crown there shouldn't be an issue, right?"

"You could use your super-strong skill there," Lily replied. "Would that work?"

"It only lasts for a few seconds. Not enough time for even the prelude," Claud replied. "And…the forces govern that place might just chase me down or something. I don't want to wake up any nasty, slumbering forces."

"Oh." Lily shrugged. "Okay then."

The two little fellows were still exchanging meeps, although from how Crown was meeping in long sentences, it would seem that their conversation had taken a new turn. Maybe they were explaining to each other how they got here or something.

"Wonder what these two guys are saying now," said Lily.

"Well, maybe Crown was telling Throne about how I became his master or something," Claud replied. "Sure does give off that vibe, doesn't it? But since they're friends, how are we going to carry them around? Throne likes to sit on your shoulder, while Crown wants to sleep every day in my pocket."

"Put the two of them into your pocket?" Lily suggested.

"Throne's your contracted pet, though." Claud shook his head. "Never mind. Anyway, if we stay indoors, they'll probably bounce around the bed or something the whole day. Crown's going to teach your pet how to laze around."

"Better than a pet animal, eh?" Lily smiled. "No need to clean up, no need for food…just show affection to it and let it bounce around for a while."

"What a nice slogan." Claud turned to the two sentient objects. "Crown, Throne, you two should continue your meep-versation in my pocket or in Lily's. We're going to be entering Lostfon — a town — and showing you guys off isn't how we roll."

Crown bounced on his palm once. "Meep. Meep-meep! Meep."

"Meep?"

"Meep!"

After that short, yet confusing conversation, Claud assumed that the two of them were fine with having a conversation in his pocket, and he placed the two little fellows inside.

He let out a sigh of relief a moment later. "Man, that was scary."

"What's scary?" Lily asked.

"Carrying you, Crown and Throne with me at once. I know it's hard to notice at times, but we are flying high in the sky," Claud replied. "If my hand slipped once, those two guys might be injured."

Lily flinched. "Maybe we need to sew a special home for these two guys. Having them on your palm or in your pocket doesn't sound so safe anymore."

"Right?"

The two of them glanced at each other.

"I'll do the sewing—"

"I'll do the sewing—"

Claud rolled his eyes. "Alright, we both have the same idea. Let's do it together, then. Still, it can't be too bulky either, and one advantage of placing them in my pockets is the ease and convenience. What do you suggest?"

"Now?" Lily shook her head. "Let's think it over properly when we return."

She turned her attention to Lostfon, which was now visible, along with the defence lines created by Duchess Lacuna's forces. Further north was a vast sea of black; that gigantic attack Claud had unleashed not too long ago clearly failed to inflict losses that were irreplaceable.

One good thing about the current situation was the absence of any conflict whatsoever. From up high, Claud could already tell that Duchess Lacuna's forces hadn't seen any combat yet; both sides were just shooting nasty looks at each other or something.

"Are they waiting for something?" Lily wondered. "Like, say, the great Dark's counterpart to the Moon Emissaries?"

"The Dark Emissaries?" Claud guessed. "Who knows? That said, we should check if the Nihila sovereignty has been isolated too. The Istrel sovereignty was isolated only after the Moon Emissaries appeared, right?"

"Not too sure about that," Lily replied. "But the city looks normal to me, anyway. Are we still covered by your Presence Nullification? I lost track of time while we were shivering."

"It's almost over," Claud replied. "We should hurry up and land too, since we'll also fall out of the sky when that happens."

Channelling some mana into Flight, it didn't take long before the two of them landed in the city. Claud felt a weight roll off his shoulder as he felt solid ground between his legs, and he sighed. Flying was fun, convenient and fast, but it was also dangerous.

Now that he was back on land, Claud could also tell that he had been on tenterhooks for the entire journey. Even though he didn't need to fly in the Celestia Ruins itself, the fact that it was a floating ruin had never left his mind at all. And besides, the place was full of dangers.

"What a nerve-wracking journey." Claud shook his head. "And I'm still shivering."

"Let's get some stew or hot soup, then," Lily replied. "My treat!"

"Both of us pool our money together, so is there really any point in saying those words?" Claud asked.

"It's fun, alright?"

Claud looked at her smile, and then nodded. "True."