A gentle breeze blew past the group.
"Azure, Sheira. Let me formally introduce myself to both of you." Aqua placed her hand onto her opposite shoulder before bowing.
The duo stood at attention while Laura was busy tending to the Fang.
She took a moment before taking a straight position, "I am Aqua, the Crimson Magister. Some call me the Blackflame Twilight, The Divine Devourer, but you may just call me Aqua."
As much as she hated her other titles, they still made her what she was right now.
Azure followed the action as she bowed, her lips curling into a smile while her cheeks gained a slight red tint, "Azure Hallowshield. A sworn shield of the royal family and the princess Sheira."
Sheira's eyes moved from Azure to Aqua, her face turned slightly red as she saw the red-haired elf, "My name is Sheira, I am a princess of the elven kingdom." She bowed deeply.
Azure looked at Sheira for a moment before her grin widened.
The young elven princess was always good at hiding her emotions, but who could blame her for failing to do so now?
She was captured and had her blood drained while her mind was almost broken, which would have turned her into a slave. Of course, she would view her savior with admiration, the same admiration she had for the girl.
In a moment after introductions, Azure pounced on Sheira, wrapping her arms tightly around the girl and knocking her down to the ground.
"I WAS SO WORRIED!" Azure shouted as she rubbed her face against Sheira's.
"Az…ure … you are crushing me!" Sheira squirmed to free herself, but Azure did not allow it.
She had kept her cool until now.
"Let me have this! I was so worried for you!" Azure's hand streaked through Sheira's hair as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Sheira sighed before wrapping her hands around Azure.
After a moment, Azure lifted her head and faced Aqua, "You too, hero! Join us!"
Aqua couldn't help but widen her eyes while pointing towards herself with an utterly dumbfounded look on her face, "Me?"
"Yes, join the group hug!" Azure grinned, ignoring Sheira's panicked expression.
Aqua rubbed her chin.
Was this some new elven tradition?
Should she really be participating?
After a moment of deliberation, she took a slow step before she was gripped by an eager champion and pulled down on top of two girls.
"Aqua, you saved both of us! Don't be shy!" Azure squeezed both girls tightly.
'Why?…' Aqua asked herself, what kind of tradition was this?
Was it just a celebration?
In her life, she hadn't had people hugging her almost ever, so this was a completely unfamiliar sensation.
The unfamiliar sensation that she liked.
'... This is nice.' Her smile widened as she relaxed and wrapped her hands around two girls.
Sun God was the only being she had received hugs from, but they were different; its wings were not the most comforting, despite showing its care and love to her.
However, this was different.
She felt herself truly relax after so long.
In a way, she did not wish to relax; threats could be lurking behind every corner, but just this once, she closed her eyes and let two thankful girls squeeze her with all their strength.
After what felt like an hour of hugging, they let go of each other.
Azure made some distance before she turned to Aqua.
"Aqua… Please forgive me for my distrust I had shown until now." Azure put her hands in a V shape before bowing deeply.
"I was panicking and afraid. I hope you do not think less of me for that."
Who could blame her for such a belief? Nobody sane would fully trust a random person they met, despite being saved by such a person.
Aqua shook her head, "I do not, Azure. You were worried sick about your friend. If anything, I would think more highly of you for such an act." Her lips curled into a slight smile.
"Thank you…" Azure bowed slightly.
"As I promised before, please ask me any questions you might have." Aqua walked past them.
She then turned her head towards the duo, "However, let's do it in private."
Two girls looked towards each other before quickly following after the elven hero.
Rustling of the woods, the gentle sunlight.
It was all rather tranquil considering they were basically on the run from the Inquisitors.
As they stepped deeper into the forest, Aqua turned to them.
"Ask anything you wish to know. I will answer to the best of my abilities." Aqua stretched out her right hand.
Azure pondered for a moment, "Could I ask why Sheira's hair is colored black?"
"Because I had to save her." She stopped for a moment. Azure certainly wanted a better explanation.
Perhaps there was no reason to hide the truth from her or Sheira.
"Sheira is now a goddess… sadly, it was the only way to save her." Aqua's expression soured.
She had cursed the girl with godhood as the only way of saving her; it was a terrible price to pay, but she would make sure to guide her no matter what happened.
Two girls merely blinked, their jaws agape.
"WHAT?!" They shouted simultaneously.
"Are you serious?! I know you are powerful, but… THAT?!" Azure shouted while Sheira merely remained quiet from sheer shock.
"Unfortunately, there was no better choice."
"Better choice than becoming a goddess?!" She turned to Sheira.
"That means my friend will finally be able to compete with her other siblings?!" Her grip tightened around Sheira.
Even if she looked different, that didn't change the fact that she was her liege and dearest friend.
"But… I don't feel any different." Sheira muttered, her gaze focused on the ground.
Aqua shook her head once again, "That is because you must learn both Aether conversion and Divinity Utilization."
"Huh?" Sheira tilted her head.
"I have explained it to Azure once before, but you will need to master it to fully utilize your power."
Sheira tapped her cheek as she curiously stared at Aqua.
"You can trust Aqua. She knows what she is talking about." Azure smirked.
While she didn't trust her before, now she felt like she could trust her with her life.
"Of course, not right now, but once we finally arrive at a safe space, I will teach you everything you need to know." She grinned, "I created you as a goddess, and so as my daughter, I will teach you."
Sheira's eyes widened in surprise, "Daughter?!"
"Yes," Aqua raised an eyebrow, "Is that a problem?"
Sheira pouted, "But you don't even look older than me."
"I am over 400 years old, Sheira. Frankly, I stopped counting after that. I might as well be over 500." Aqua tilted her head.
"HUH?! But!... fine… I am only 170…"
Azure placed her palms onto her mouth, barely holding in her laughter.
Was Sheira being forcefully adopted?
However, what surprised her was that Aqua was over 400 years old; she was even older than Azure herself.
Something that made her like the red-haired girl even more than she already did.
And yet she looked as young as Azure did.
Elves after the end of the Age of Frost only lived to a maximum of 1000, which made Aqua close to middle-aged.
That is if someone as powerful as her is even mortal…
Azure turned to Sheira, whose eyes sparkled with excitement.
She understood just how much Sheira wished to learn magic, and yet she never could.
And now she had someone capable of turning her into a goddess, offering her tutoring.
If anyone else claimed such an incredible feat, she would have called them an idiot, and possibly had them arrested…
However, with Aqua, it was different; she had demonstrated her immense powers on many occasions.
Especially with the ability to bring her back from the dead.
Azure's face turned red as she thought about it.
She was saved by Aqua, and she truly appreciated it.
But she had no idea how even to show her appreciation.
What would a woman like her even have a need for?
Aqua had power, looks, most likely money, and everything a heart could desire.
Her eyes wandered to the sword she had been gifted.
'Even this blade is a better gift than even the king could possibly offer…'
The woman could even turn a weak girl like Sheira into a goddess if her words were true.
She then stared at the dress that Sheira wore, most likely a gift from 'Adoptive mother.' The fact that she found incredibly hilarious and would most certainly remember to use when she teased the girl.
The only thing she could offer was herself, but even that wouldn't be enough payment for someone like her.
What was worse of all, they were both women, making her offer even less attractive.
In her stupor, she did not notice Aqua standing right in front of her, which made her almost fall backward.
"Ah…" She rubbed the back of her head.
"Did I scare you?" Aqua smiled warmly.
Azure shook her head.
"You looked worried. Is there something wrong?"
"I… just don't know how to repay you for everything." She looked down at the ground before she found her chin gently lifted to face Aqua.
"I helped of my own volition, you know?" Aqua smiled as she stared into Azure's green eyes.
"But…"
"Shush, I am glad I was able to help."
A tear welled up in Azure's eye.
Aqua was not staring at the so-called Champion, but a scared but also relieved girl.
No matter how much Aqua tried not to care, it was just as impossible.
When looking at someone on the verge of tears, her heart just screamed to do everything to stop it.
Azure's hands clasped around her hand.
"Thank you, I will repay you no matter what…"
Aqua tilted her head in confusion. Azure owed her nothing.
If anything, she should have been proud for getting her help for no price whatsoever, and yet she looked genuine.
"Sure." Aqua's lips curled into a soft smile once again.
Aqua let go of Azure's chin before turning back and walking to Sheira.
"When can I start learning Aether Conversion?" Sheira's eyes sparkled.
"I said, when we are in a safe space. I know you are eager, trust me, I know that feeling well, but there is a time and a place for everything."
Azure stared at the scene with a shocked expression.
There was no way Aqua was this selfless, but despite her better judgment, she truly believed it.
However, despite believing her, she still wished to repay her somehow.
Azure pushed the thoughts aside as she focused on something far more urgent than how to repay her savior.
"How will we return home? Beasts of burden are dead, and we have no way to procure more."
Aqua grinned, "I thought you would never ask. Transporting a large number of people might be hard, but…"
A swirling portal opened right above her hand.
From it fell a carving of unknown design.
From what it had looked like, it gave the impression of an airship, and yet it looked rather alien to Azure.
Sheira's curiosity got the better of her as she popped her head right above Aqua's shoulder.
"What is that?" Sheira tilted her head in confusion.
Aqua twirled a small carving in her hand, her face carrying a hint of sadness and nostalgia.
"This… is a mystic engineering marvel. Portable airship!"
Two elven girls blinked in surprise, "HUH?!"
'Of course she has that… why not… make a goddess… carry a damn airship in whatever that portal is… resurrect dead… SURE!' Azure's lips twitched.
Why had Aqua acted like these things were completely normal?