GRP Chapter 21

Samthyeon emerged from his shock and began observing the flower before him in minute detail. The number of petals, the shape of stem and leaves, the fragrance, the color....

It was a very familiar flower. Samthyeon knew the only place this flower grew. Ultera's Forest. A flower that bloomed only in the forest containing the sacred tree granted by the one Mother, the great Creator.

Samthyeon sank heavily onto the sofa. Information about Mariaeks began overflowing in his mind. The cool beauty befitting a Heimdrykze god, the incomplete body hard to believe belonged to a Heimdrykze god. Her expression unchanging like a sculpture molded from snow, yet her eyes rippling like a lake struck by stones even at the smallest matters. An aspect that could be called human. Also something that could be called ungodlike. A winter god who'd lived only in Heimdrykze, yet who bloomed a spring flower that grew in the sacred tree's forest. Weaker than anything, yet greater than anything.

Everything was alien. As if two incompatible natures had been crushed and mixed together.

'Mariaeks.'

What exactly was she?

Since staying in human lands, Mariaeks was experiencing peaceful time for the first time. Because she hadn't encountered Garthe, the main culprit of great worries, for three days. She'd heard several days ago that he'd left the citadel to eradicate forces that had sneakily pushed their way near Olgidphaenn. They said it would take quite a while to completely uproot them since the monster group wasn't strong but numerous.

Though the situation of thirst and hunger hadn't changed, just the fact that he wasn't before her eyes made things far more bearable. The tension that had kept her jumping at every sound of passing wind gradually eased. This owed not only to the absence of the apex predator but also to her previously unpredictable life taking on a degree of repetition.

She'd wake to the sound of knocking on the door. Exchange morning greetings with Oze and stop by Samthyeon's room. Research with Samthyeon. Compared to the first day with its many difficult questions, recent days' research felt much closer to casual conversation. The atmosphere of Heimdrykze, stories of Heimdrykze's gods, her own life...

Samthyeon would only listen attentively, occasionally nodding or responding with "Is that so?", "I see," "Quite fascinating," "As an insignificant human, I can't help but be impressed." Even while conversing under the pretense of research, he didn't try to dig deeper than necessary, and conversations with him had recently begun feeling rather comfortable.

After such trivial chatter with Samthyeon, she'd follow Oze to explore various parts of the castle. Every space felt similarly gloomy and similarly empty, but people busily moving about inside made the atmosphere lively. Some greeted Mariaeks, others watched from afar. In the end, they were observing each other.

When she grew tired, she'd return to the ownerless room. Drink a sip of water from the vase, pass time, and night would soon arrive. Lying on the wide, soft bed, she'd fall asleep quickly.

After spending three days this way, Mariaeks came to know. This place was far more dangerous than she'd thought.

Clang clang clang!

The bell rang again. Mariaeks's eyes followed the bell's raucous echoing. It was commotion enough to make her body shrink, but having heard it over twenty times recently, she'd grown somewhat accustomed. By now, she couldn't help but know this bell meant an attack by monsters or gods.

In the small temple, situations that might occur once in decades were erupting here in succession. The humans' attitude of accepting it as routine, no big deal, was quite impressive.

"Man, how do they arrive so perfectly at every mealtime?"

"Since it's when we eat, it must be their mealtime too."

"Smart, huh?"

Warriors chatted casually while carrying enormous weapons out of the castle. Mariaeks, hood pulled up, hid behind a pillar watching the castle empty.

From raucous laughter to someone snoring or the rustle of clothing—all sounds disappeared. The silent space felt unfamiliar. Ridiculously, despite a hundred years of temple life that had always been quiet, she'd grown accustomed to this fortress's commotion in mere days.

Her heart stirred. Mariaeks struggled to regain composure while looking around. Because she had things to do.

She carefully recalled in her mind the spaces and paths Oze had shown her over three days. Two most necessary places were conspicuously absent from the vaguely drawn map. The basement where Ullri and Baen were imprisoned, and somewhere to obtain food. But thinking inversely, those places existed somewhere excluding where she'd been. The range to search had drastically narrowed.

She couldn't know if situations where Garthe and his subordinates all left occurred frequently. She had to think this might be the last chance. Mariaeks quietly stepped into the corridor the humans had all exited.

"Damn, they attack the moment we arrive.... Don't those things have anything better to do."

"Looks like we'll warm up before unpacking."

"Hey, you there! The bell rang—why aren't you assembling?"

A resonant voice poured out from behind. Mariaeks turned around, startled. Three women with elegant appearances—sun-like golden hair and white wings—cast disapproving looks.

They were tall as the giant Garthe, though not so much due to large builds as elongated limbs making them overall tall. She hadn't seen them before. Though she'd met many humans wandering the castle for days, Mariaeks could be certain. Setting aside their distinctive appearance, they possessed energy so strong that even glimpsing them in passing would be unforgettable. Just what kind of place was Olgidphaenn that humans as powerful as Heimdrykze gods were everywhere?

Samthyeon's words from the banquet hall flashed through her mind.

'Seems like everyone's gathered except a few.'

The women harbored souls like wild beasts despite their refined appearance.

"You, ignoring me right now?"

"Cocky little mouse, aren't you?"

Wild beasts... meaning, they were quite rough. Mariaeks didn't know the vulgar expression "ignoring," but could roughly understand the meaning from context.

"No...."

"Oh-ho, speaking informally on first meeting?"

The women's expressions hardened before they burst into hearty laughter. Kekeke.

"I like you. Very spirited."

"The weak can't survive in this harsh world. Good attitude."

She couldn't follow their thought process at all. Mariaeks just stood dumbly among the women shaking with laughter.

"That aside, I haven't seen you before. New recruit?"

It wasn't entirely wrong. Mariaeks nodded awkwardly.

"Look at that embarrassment—reminds me of the old days."

"In our time, being new didn't get you any breaks. The world's gotten so nice."

"Aww, cute, so cute. Good. This senior Ryaia will take you."

"No, I...."

Before Mariaeks could state her refusal, the largest woman who'd introduced herself as Ryaia strode over and tucked her under her arm.

"No. I mean, I...."

She tried again to express her intentions, but that too failed. Because the women started running at high speed. Mariaeks had to quickly close her mouth to avoid biting her tongue. Raucous laughter echoed loudly through the passage. Perhaps because the woman's legs were especially long—she'd only taken a few steps yet the distant door was right before her nose.

'Wait.'

Having the door before her nose was fine, but it was a closed door before her nose. Given the position's structure, her head tucked under Ryaia's arm at the front would obviously hit the door first. As Mariaeks gasped in breath, Ryaia holding her also breathed in deeply. Her ribcage swelled as if about to expand. With cheeks puffing full as if she'd inhaled air to the limit.

The moment Mariaeks feared she might burst, Ryaia exhaled. Whoosh. That breath became a gale sweeping through the passage. The firmly closed heavy door opened wide like a lie. Mariaeks squinted in the pouring sunlight. Cold air rushed in from outside.

Thud, thud. Each time Ryaia kicked off the ground running, Mariaeks bobbed weakly up and down. At some point, the vibration shaking her body changed to a floating sensation.

Mariaeks finally opened her eyes. The snow-covered ground was receding. She raised her head to look at the woman holding her. White wings spread wide as if to embrace the sky.

Strong wind from flight sent accumulated snow flying back toward the sky. Cold crystals rising from below to above tickled her eyes gently. When she squinted then reopened them, Mariaeks was flying far higher than the buildings.

"New recruit! How's flying through the sky!"

Mariaeks moved her hands like a jointed doll, unnaturally covering her mouth. Unbelievable. They said life's various experiences all became nourishment, but for beings living with feet on the ground, was this kind of experience really... necessary? Truly?

"Feels amazing, right?"

"Too overwhelming for words?"

Her stomach felt slightly queasy. They interpreted Mariaeks lowering her head as affirmation and smiled contentedly.