Chapter 75: A Millium Long Feud

Took a short break after end of month work. Posting is now resumed.

Giliath demands your power stones!

Would you guys like to see anything else be covered before the end of Vol 3? Naoto "getting rescued" and joining Zephyr will essentially be the last bit of Vol 3.

Can you take a guess who will break out with him? The party members will be split up based on the bases but I will confirm it's a total of six people :)

*

S1194, Western Erebonia.

As the western side of Erebonia became more active, it wasn't without saying that deep inside the Isthmia Great Forest that changes were also happening. This particular forest was not only special to Erebonia but to all of Zemuria. It was the counterpart to several special workshops placed around the continent. This placed was brimming with mana, and for a good reason. Although not visible to the naked eye, a hidden barrier could be seen surrounding its innermost region.

This barrier prevented any normal humans or monsters from going in or out. Only those sensitive to mana could see that a barrier was actually placed here. It could not be picked up by normal orbal device readings.

The one reason was that this place housed a teleportation stone, one of three in fact. It connected this place to the hidden village surrounded by mist, the Hexen Clan. The village of Eryn. Well, at least this village was currently considered the Hexen Clan's main base of operations.

This beautiful teleportation stone glittered in mana, becoming activated for a brief moment. After activating a rather tall yet slender figure appeared. Long wavy indigo hair that reached well past her chest. She was wearing her formal white dress together and her long blue hooded robe. The only difference right now was that this figure, who appeared to be a beautiful woman, had aged a bit since Naoto had seen her last.

This woman could also currently be seen holding a long staff in her right hand. It was a pure crimson staff, which belonged to that of the Hexen Clan's leader, the Crimson Roselia. This was not an imitation staff that Vita was currently using during her travels with Tamamo either. No, far from it. This was the one and true staff Roselia always uses has her main weapon. Roselia had lent it to this woman.

And well, as for who this woman was, it was Isola Millstein, Emma's birth mother. While Isola and Roselia were not bound by blood, Isola and Emma were. As for Vita, she was a disciple to Isola and Roselia, and a big sister figure to Emma. A light smile crept on Isola's lips seeing the teleportation stone transfer her out of Eryn Village and into Isthmia Great Forest, with Roselia's staff in hand.

"That long period of research is finally bearing fruit. Mother has been keeping an eye out for Naoto while she is in her state of recovery, so it's up to me to see where the darkness in the Spirit Veins has been converging. It's rate has been slow, but it is finally leading to a single singularity. I'm sure in the next year or so, we'll finally be able to pinpoint where that bastard is hiding.", Isola uttered to herself.

"But for now...", Isola continued to say, only to reach out into one of the hidden pockets in her robe. She pulled out a necklace of sorts with a pretty blue crystal attached to the end of it. This was very similar to the Sealing Crystal Rean would end up wearing later on, but the crystal behaved vastly different.

If Rean's crystal would help purify his power, then the crystal in Isola's hands would essentially trace the darkness such power had. A compass one would call it.

Once activated with mana, Isola could trace the darkness along the Spirit Veins, similar to how it would appear visually on Roselia's scrying mirror.

"Let's see if there has been a change since I've last used this Spirit Crystal...", Isola uttered to herself. With the help of her staff, Isola circulated her m ana a bit. The Spirit Crystal started to move on its on as if it was being pelted with wind. It no longer stayed vertical and soon became horizontal, pointing in a certain direction straight out from her current position, to which was facing north.

"This...", Isola uttered to herself, before tilting her head a bit. "The Spirit Crystal is pointing toward north, and slightly east. There isn't much out there besides the border the crosses into North Ambria. But the site of origin is also in that direction, the Osgiliath Basin...", Isola continued to say. "Don't tell me that bastard is going to take things back to the beginning, is he?", Isola questioned.

After questioning herself, the Spirit Crystal deactivated. Isola now knew where to head next. This was a decision she had made herself. If the darkness of the Spirit Veins continued to spread at this rate, it was likely Erebonia would fall into war once more, just like how it clashed against Liberl a couple years ago. Except it would end up far worse than the Hundred Days War. Isola wanted to take action. Even if she couldn't prevent the spread, her taking action now could end up causing a delay...

Citing an incantation, Isola warped out of Isthmia Great Forest, only to start traversing north...

Meanwhile, turning back time a bit...

Eryn Village, Roselia's Atelier, First Floor.

A sole figure could currently be seen slouched over on one of the tables with a cup of tea currently placed on it. A weary look could be seen in the figure's eyes. They appeared to be a child at first glance but they had hair long enough to where it touched the ground from where she currently sat, and it was pure golden-blonde. This was of course Roselia, the current leader of the Hexen Clan. She was residing in her Atelier right now, still in a state of recovery from the forbidden spell she casted a couple years back.

From then till now, she has recovered enough mana for another use of it, but despite that, her eyes could be seen more weary than before. Perhaps it was due to the multitude of papers currently scattered around on the first floor. Her scrying mirror could also be seen activated.

f one looked closely, its reflection currently displayed a violet haired boy with what appeared to be four figures now surrounding him in a limestone cave of sorts. Every so often they would see guards pitter back and forth, keeping eye on the cell they were residing in. Next to him were a bluish-indigo haired girl, a lilac haired girl, and a new addition. A blue haired girl with amber eyes, and a dark blue-black haired boy with blue eyes.

Even so, Roselia ended up letting out a long sigh.

"Hah...I can't believe that stupid disciple of mine turned me into a record keeper out of all things. What's the point of keeping these system numbers if he can already see it...?", Roselia said, letting out a compliant. She even felt too lazy to lift her cup of tea.

"Hehe, at least it helps keep your mind in an active state, right? We can't have you slouching like this all day. Mother.", A woman's voice said, only to have the door of her first floor open. Opening it revealed Isola. She wasn't alone either, a little eight or nine year old girl with plum colored hair could also be seen beside her.

"Mommy is back, Grandma!", the plum haired girl said excitedly before rushing into the atelier. Roselia saw this and her tiredness immediately vanished, causing her to sit up again.

"Well if it isn't Emma. I see your patrols have finished, Isola.", Roselia said, looking at Isola and Emma.

"They have, but what is all of this? Your house is even more of a mess than it was last time.", Isola said, looking at the all of the scattered papers around the first floor. Most of them either listed various numbers or descriptions of sorts.

"Hahaha, tell me about it...", Roselia said, lodging another complaint. "Can you believe Naoto is having me do this? I am his master!", Roselia retorted.

'What goes around comes around, is it?", Isola responded. "Oh right speaking of Naoto, I did end up meeting Vita and his familiar during my patrolling of the Spirit Veins. Everything is on track again but I feel there is still a looming threat to where I may need to take action myself.", Isola continued to say.

Hearing that, Roselia suddenly came to a halt.

"A looming threat...", Roselia uttered, only to search her memories to what Naoto had shown her while they were at Naoto's villa. "Has it really come down to this already?", Roselia couldn't help but utter.

"Mother?", Isola said, still confused. Seeing this, Roselia looked back at Isola.

"Do you feel the need to head back out there and find this, Isola?", Roselia began to ask. "Even if you don't know if you will come back?", Roselia asked.

Seeing the seriousness in Roselia's eyes, Isola knew it was a sensitive topic.

"Yes. I am ready to face this to whatever it may be. Is there really a risk to where I may not come back?"

"I saw you perish, Isola. This is not to be taken lightly.", Roselia answered. This caused shock to appear in Isola's eyes while Emma remained confused.

"...!", Isola tried to retort. "Don't tell me did you glimpse into the future, Mother?",

"You can call it as such, though I won't reveal the method used. I refuse to let you forfeit your life if you head back out there, Isola.", Roselia continued to say in a serious tone.

"While things may be back on track, I feel if we don't take action soon, we may enter a situation to where it can't be reversed...", Isola said with uncertainty. Hearing this, Emma blinked her eyes.

"Will I not see you, Mommy? I want to go outside too! It's unfair that you, big sis and big brother all get to head outside. Why am I always stuck here?", Emma replied, puffing her cheeks out a bit. Seeing this caused Roselia to laugh.

"Haha, it is not time for you, Emma. I have given an exception for Vita. Vita is still far too young to officially become a Wanderer. Naoto is an outsider to begin with. He was not born in Eryn.", Roselia responded to Emma's discontent.

"Boo.", Emma responded. This also caused Isola to smile.

"You'll get your chance, Emma. If you want to follow in my footsteps you'll be able to head out in due time.", Isola consoled Emma bit while ruffling her hair.

"And on that note, Vita told me she and Tamamo are done in Liberl. They'll be heading to Remiferia to check on something before returning to see how Crossbell is doing. As for me, I will continue to monitor Erebonia.", Isola said.

"Remiferia huh? Now that you brought it up, I almost forgot that Naoto also asked me to start searching records for an individual.", Roselia uttered to herself, which drew Isola's interest. "He had just only encountered him during his infiltration of the cult.", Roselia continued to say.

"Oh, who would that be?", Isola wondered.

"A boy who goes by the name Van. Van Arkride.", Roselia answered.

*

Sorry but not sorry. Millium is not present yet. Only five more years for her.

Naoto only played until Reverie so he doesn't know about Van onward.