POV: Lilia Greyrat
While the wagon rolled across the verdant plains of Milis — or rather, Gaia, as it was now called — I was still a little dazed.
The wind carried the fresh, pure scent characteristic of that region, but my mind was far away.
"Are you all right, Madam Lilia?" asked Oigar, a beast-race warrior who had been escorting me since I entered the Kingdom of Gaia. His deep, steady voice contrasted with the calm atmosphere of the journey.
I shook my head, coming back from my thoughts.
"Yes, Oigar, I'm fine…"
He seemed satisfied with the answer and turned his attention back to guiding the wagon.
Since I had left my father's dojo in the Kingdom of Asura, I had been relatively confident in my ability to defend myself on the way back.
I didn't notify Rygar, Aisha, or anyone else about my arrival.
My heart was heavy and my feelings confused about many things, and I wanted time to reflect without interference.
But as soon as I set foot on the Continent of Gaia, upon disembarking at the port, someone was already waiting for me.
Oigar was there. I discovered that, upon learning I would come — and without being sure of the exact date — Rygar had placed Oigar in West Port to await my arrival.
In the end, I had no choice: I accepted the escort. After all, if Rygar had sent him, he was certainly someone trustworthy.
Oigar was not bad company. On the contrary, his silence most of the time gave me space to think.
The Kingdom of Gaia, although different from Milis in its political and social structure, still had problems like any other place: crimes, ambushes, highwaymen.
Once, in the middle of the journey, a group of bandits tried to attack us.
However, when they realized Oigar was of the beast race, they retreated immediately, as if they had seen a ghost.
The reputation of the Howling Magic of the beast warriors had spread widely during the years of war.
More than half of the fighters of the beast race had reached some degree of mastery in that technique, and it had become especially feared.
Its casting speed and lack of incantations made it a nightmare for ordinary opponents — even a single use left a clear opening for the enemy, making it hard to evade.
And as proof of that, those bandits were eliminated easily by Oigar.
I myself believed I would have no trouble defeating them, but I acknowledge that, if I had been alone, it would have been a very dangerous fight.
Even with my Advanced Level in the Water God Style, it was obvious to me that Oigar was stronger than I — not only physically, but in sword skill and versatility in the use of Howling Magic.
It didn't bother me to be the weaker one on the trip; it was practical and saved me energy.
The real problem I was facing at the moment was not the danger of the road, but what awaited me at my destination.
I still had to decide how I would deal with the fact that Rygar had murdered Paul and was an enemy of Rudeus.
The last months I spent at my father's dojo were anguishing for one reason: I was faced with two choices, and both were definitive.
I could go to Ranoa or to Gaia.
Some time ago, I heard that Rudeus was at the Magic University of Ranoa.
He had sent someone to post, on the missing persons board in Fittoa, the names of himself, Sylphiette, and their parents as alive.
Almost at the same time, I learned of the War of Milis… and of how Paul had died at Rygar's hands.
I also discovered that Zenith and Norn were now living in the Great Forest.
Given that, the question was simple, but the answer… was not.
Who would I follow?
Rudeus… or Rygar?
And for months, I kept returning to that same question, and it continued to torment me.
A few months ago, simply thinking about it was distressing, and it triggered panic attacks — a choking tightness in my chest, shortness of breath, and the feeling that the air around me was growing heavy.
I kept asking myself, repeatedly, where exactly everything had gone wrong.
There were moments when I considered the cowardly option: to remain forever at my father's dojo, pretend nothing had happened, and not take part in the family conflict that had grown without my knowledge.
But I discarded that idea.
Because, no matter which side came out hurt… in the end, I would regret it.
I would have to choose.
With that inevitability in mind, I began weighing everything that was important to me, putting memories and debts side by side like pieces on a board.
It was an exercise my daughter Aisha liked to do, even when she was a child.
First, my debt to Rudeus.
Even knowing now that Zenith would not have abandoned me, I cannot deny that it was Rudeus who saved me and Aisha.
I betrayed that family by getting involved with Paul and, even so, he spoke in my defense.
Even if Zenith had not sent me away, no one could say what my fate — or Aisha's — would have been without his interference.
I owed him.
And even when I allowed Aisha to become Rygar's disciple, I set the condition that, in the future, she would repay her debt to her brother.
But… there was the other side.
I didn't know how Rudeus had changed. Deep down, I always felt he was kind, but his personality never inspired much confidence.
And after all he had experienced, I couldn't dismiss the possibility that he was a completely different person now.
Alongside that half-elf, Sylphiette, he participated in an ambush against Rygar. And from the letters I received, I learned that he had killed many of Rygar's subordinates.
There was also Roxy to consider. Although she was not family, her connection to Rudeus and her influence beside him were important factors.
And then… there was Rygar.
As with Rudeus, Aisha and I owed him our lives. But in this case, much more directly.
If it hadn't been for him, I would have been raped and killed by that adventurer.
And Aisha, at only two years old, would have been left alone to survive — something unlikely, even with the intelligence she had always shown.
Rygar not only saved us, he helped us during the entire return trip to the Kingdom of Asura.
He was the one who discovered Aisha's immense talent and began training her personally.
Knowing my daughter, I was certain her loyalty to him was absolute, since she never came to know Rudeus as an older brother.
In the letter she sent me, her position was very clear.
She described Paul's death as an accident — the result of his choice to ally with Milis and attack Rygar's master, Verdia Solarion.
As for Paul's death… I could accept it reluctantly.
It wasn't as if I had loved that man deeply, as Zenith had.
I was attracted to him when he became a better person, but there wasn't much beyond that — besides the fact he was Aisha's father.
Rygar also spared Zenith and Norn, offering them a home.
That counted for a lot.
There was more: Ghislaine and Eris were completely on Rygar's side and against Rudeus.
When I put everything on the table, I thought the decision would be easy.
But… no. Everything became even more nebulous.
Logically, everything pointed to choosing Rygar. But that would mean betraying someone who, once, had extended a hand to me.
And in the end, what tipped the scales wasn't feeling.
It was power.
Rygar had risen to the top, becoming one of the Seven World Powers. Practically, that meant the final decision of this conflict could be his.
I thought… that if I could convince him to step back, maybe everything would end well.
That was what I told myself.
But perhaps, unconsciously, I already knew what I had chosen.
I chose my daughter.
And that was why the weight on my chest wouldn't let me breathe completely free.
I sighed deeply. Beside me, Oigar cast a look in my direction, but said nothing.
---
After several days of travel, the scenery began to change.
The dusty roads and isolated villages gave way to sturdier buildings, pointed towers and the flags of the Beast God fluttering in the wind.
And then, at last, we arrived at Tinaver.
Oigar stopped the wagon before a large gateway, asked a few questions about who was in the city and confirmed our identity.
From there, we followed wide, well-paved streets until we reached an immense complex.
"Star Rise Academy," he said.
I had already read that name in Aisha's letters, but I didn't know exactly what her connection to the place was.
Was she a student? Why would she attend an academy if she was already Rygar's direct disciple? The questions piled up in my mind, but I decided to save them for later.
I picked up my sword and the small pouch with my belongings. I took a deep breath and said my farewells:
"Thank you for everything, Oigar!"
He waved nonchalantly, like someone who didn't like to prolong goodbyes.
"As soon as you go in, say you came to see Miss Aisha Greyrat. They'll let you through."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me before the metal gate.
The gray wall around it was high and solid, and atop the gate there was a large metal plaque with carved letters:
STAR RISE ACADEMY
Following Oigar's advice, I announced to the guards that I was Aisha's mother and wished to see her.
Their attitude changed immediately. In an instant, the professional tone gave way to an almost reverent respect.
One of them even inclined his head slightly. It was… strange. I had never felt anything like that in my life.
Soon, a beast-girl approached. She had lively eyes and a radiant smile.
"Hello, ma'am! My name is Minitona! So you're Lady Aisha's mother?"
'Lady… Aisha?'
The title sounded out of place to my ears. Even so, I answered:
"Yes… I'm her mother. Where is she?"
"I'll take you to her! Right now, she's probably still practicing!" she said, almost bouncing with excitement.
We walked inside the Academy, and what I saw impressed me. Spacious pavilions, refined architecture, well-kept gardens.
People of all races circulated among the buildings: humans, beast-men, elves, dwarves and even demons.
There were shops specialized in magic scrolls, others in weapons, stalls with rare herbs and all kinds of alchemical products.
Everything buzzed with activity.
As we walked, Minitona talked nonstop, asking me all kinds of questions about Aisha — when she started using magic, whether she had always been so clever, whether she had been bossy as a child.
From her tone, I realized they were close friends.
I answered patiently, but with each question my curiosity grew. Finally, I couldn't help myself:
"Minitona… what exactly does Aisha do here? From the way you're asking, it almost sounds like she's a magic teacher. But isn't she too young for that?"
The girl let out a little laugh, as if I were joking.
"What are you talking about? Aisha is the Headmistress of the Academy!"
I stopped in the middle of the corridor.
"…What?"
I waited for her to say she was joking, but she didn't.
Minitona simply changed the subject, talking about something else as if it were completely natural, while I followed behind her, trying to process the information.
We passed by a Magic Tower, then crossed a huge training field where dozens of students were casting elemental magic under the supervision of instructors.
Finally, we reached a closed training ground, guarded by two imposing beast-men.
At the sound of Minitona saying "Aisha's mother," they immediately made way.
As soon as I entered, the sound hit me: the crackle of lightning slicing the air and thunder echoing.
We were on the second floor, from where the entire open space below could be seen.
In the center of the earthen field, there were several wooden targets. And there stood my daughter.
Aisha.
She was standing, one hand extended toward a target, while sparks of electric magic still crackled around her.
In the other hand, she held an open book, her eyes running over the pages as she murmured something to herself.
"Lady Aisha! Your mother has arrived!" shouted Minitona.
Aisha looked up.
She was bigger, taller, more confident. She had grown so much since the last time I saw her… almost five years ago.
Warmth rose in my chest. I felt tears sting my eyes before I even realized it.
Her face lit up in a broad smile.
"Mooooom!"
With a quick motion, she shaped the earth beneath her feet, creating a staircase that rose to the second floor.
She ran up, her steps light but swift.
And then, she simply threw herself into my arms.
I held her tightly, squeezing her with longing.
"Aisha…" my voice came out choked.
She said nothing. She only hugged me even tighter.
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