[48.6] The One who has the Answers

The Swordmaster continued her story, "While I was gone, I had no idea what Vira had done. Vira was… She was never the same after she killed those arrivers. She went off to seclusion and it was only Abadi and me after that. However, eventually, she left seclusion and the world slowly started returning to normal. Humans quickly forgot about the Great War and that arrivers even existed to begin with. However, during all those years, Abadi and I noticed something dark stirring within Vira, but we didn't know how to help… Until Elam arrived."

"Elam?"

This is the first time I've heard that name.

The Swordmaster nodded, "He was the next arriver to come. He was a child of Chaos and a very mischievous one at that. I guess the poor kid died young and didn't have much of a life. He was like a breath of fresh air for Vira and she started to come out of her shell."

She motioned at Zephyr, "You know, Elam actually created you demons."

Zephyr was shocked, "Really!? How?!"

She shrugged, "No idea. I don't think he knew exactly how he did it either. However, you are all just like him. Incredibly childish and mischievous. Rather than evil, you are all just immature."

Zephyr's face twitched, "Oi."

She ignored him, "Vira was so entranced by Elam that she tried to copy everything he did. When he created demons, she created the Holy Light priestesses."

I cut in, "-She created them?!"

"That's right. I never knew her talent until she gifted those priestesses with the power of the Holy Light. Then we discovered that Vira has the talent for giving blessings. She blessed humans to give them the ability to use the Holy Light. At the time, it was the only magic humans could use. The blessings caused their hair to bleach and their eyes to turn completely blue… Just like Vira's."

I couldn't believe it, "Wow…"

Cyrus cut in, "But where did it go wrong? From your stories, she doesn't seem to be a murderer."

"As I've said, Vira was never the same after killing those arrivers. Her love for Elam slowly started to turn toxic. She was controlling and incredibly jealous of anyone who spoke to him. He was a free spirit and was so likable, her emotions progressed until they became worse and worse. To make matters even more difficult, Elam looked at Abadi as if she was his mother. However, Vira saw it as Elam having a crush on Abadi. She soon became convinced that Elam and Abadi were having an affair."

The Swordmaster spat out, "Ugh! It made me so furious! Abadi was an angel! She would never do that!!! And the age difference was too much!"

Looks like the Swordmaster isn't over Abadi as she claims.

She calmed down and added, "Then one day, Vira had enough and ended the relationship with Elam. After a few days, she regretted it and returned to make up with him only to find him naked in bed with another woman."

Zephyr shook his head, "I can imagine where this is going."

The Swordmaster frowned, "Vira thought the woman was Abadi. Although Elam claimed he didn't know the woman and that she had just appeared from thin air and disappeared again, Vira was convinced he was lying."

I scoffed, "I wouldn't believe such a lame excuse either."

"Unfortunately, Vira stormed out of the room and confronted Abadi. Abadi had no idea what she was talking about, but Vira didn't believe her. In a fit of blind rage, she stabbed Abadi… Abadi was such a pacifist that she didn't even try to avoid it or fight back." She let out a somber sigh, "At the time I was in another trance creating a sword… Sometimes I wonder if I hadn't been so distracted with such a stupid thing, maybe Abadi wouldn't have died."

A dark feeling stirred in my chest.

I reached out to pat her hand, "It's not your fault."

The Swordmaster smiled bitterly, "It doesn't matter whose fault it is. Now Abadi and I are forever separated… I cannot die and meet her; she can't come back to life to meet me. I was so depressed I fell asleep for a very long time. Elam ran off and started jumping into bodies to hide from Vira's rage. Vira lost her mind and thought all arrivers were sinners that she must get rid of. She even worked hard to instill a new belief in humans that anything from Chaos, including demons and necromancy, was evil and should be destroyed."

She shook her head with a sigh, "Abadi preached that our talents were meant to turn this world into a better place. However, Vira was convinced our talents would sully this world. All of the new arrivers would die upon being discovered by her and the rest who survived could only do so by hiding their identities. She even used her followers to massacre the demons and abuse them for her own benefit."

So I was just extremely lucky to survive up until this point?!

Zephyr asked, "But wait… Wasn't that centuries ago? How are you all still alive?"

She answered, "Oh. Back then there was a child of Order who could create fruit that would give you immortality. She was in my village and gave it to whoever wanted it. Unfortunately, she died so the immortality fruit ceased to exist and her last remaining fruit was eaten by Elam. Now, if any arrivers manage to avoid Vira, they have normal lifespans of the bodies they occupy."

Zephyr looked at me with a smug smirk, "Looks like you missed out."

I rolled my eyes, "Why would I want immortality?"

The Swordmaster slapped her legs, "But that's that. I'm sure you have your questions."

Questions!?

I have too many!

But where to start?!

I pursed my lips, "First, how do you know about the red string?"

"Ah. That string. I almost forgot. Yes, when Abadi brought me back to life, she mentioned a red string connecting her to me. However, I could never see it so I thought she was just being dramatic. She told me that she knew of another who had a red string. Apparently, when you defy the natural order of life and death to bring back someone from the dead, you give part of your life to them. If they die, you will die. But if you die, it doesn't make a difference to the person you brought back since they already have a piece of your life."

"But that doesn't make sense. I brought my mother back to life and we aren't connected by a red string."

She shook her head, "For some reason, that doesn't count. The natural order sees that as natural. My body is made of clay and sand. To the natural order of life, it is unnatural."

Cyrus spoke up, "But I never died and my body isn't made of clay."

That's right! The most obvious hole in this theory!

I agreed, "I never brought Cyrus back to life!"

The Swordmaster paused, "Are you sure?"

I nodded, "I think I would remember that."

Cyrus scoffed, "I think I would remember dying."

"Hmm… That's odd." The Swordmaster pondered this, "There's only been Abadi's case and the other one… But both times we defied natural order and our fates were tied by that red string… When did you notice the string appear?"

I thought back, "Oh! Our first meeting. Those evil jerks were beating Cyrus black and blue and I jumped over him to protect him with my body."

Cyrus made a face, "...I remember that."

I looked at him apologetically, "S-Sorry…"

The Swordmaster shook her head, "That wouldn't have counted as unnatural. Did you notice anything else that was strange?"

I thought back, "I had a large bruise on my head… Maybe even a concussion."

She sighed, "No. That's not unnatural. Maybe you did something in your sleep?"

Cyrus cut in, "She didn't. She was so deeply asleep she wouldn't even budge due to the noise."

The Swordmaster gave up, "I have no answers for you then. I will have to investigate it further."

I changed the subject, "Oh! What about smelling? Whenever I sniff things, I can see their colors!"

"Ah yes. That's a common trait belonging to arrivers. Arrivers can see the essence of life or the shape of mana. It is essentially the color of their soul and it's always unique to that person." The Swordmaster laughed, "HAH! So many arrivers lost their life to Vira because of that trait. They'd go around sniffing and-"

We all glared at her in judgment.

She cleared her throat, "I-I didn't mean to laugh."

None of us believed her.

The Swordmaster jumped up and went to leave, "A-Anyway. That's enough for today. I will find you tomorrow to start training you, my disciple."

Cyrus rolled his eyes as she left.

"Wait!" I shouted after her, "I still have questions!"

She ignored me and disappeared.

I turned to Cyrus in a huff, "I told you I was from another world."

Cyrus scratched his cheek awkwardly, "It's… A lot to take in."

Zephyr spoke up, "I still don't believe it. I'm not immature or childish!"

Cyrus and I gave him a look of pity.