Once we were sure everyone was safe, Luci nearly tackled me to the ground in a hug.
“Mira! Thank the Goddess you're okay!” She went quiet for a moment, and I returned her hug as I heard muffled sobbing from my shoulder. “If Duke Augmonica didn't call the Pleiades back… She would've killed you…”
“...Yeah,” I didn't really know what to say- what I was supposed to say- so I kept quiet, holding her until she calmed down.
During that time, the rest of her family approached, save for Tahli who Lana escorted out of the room as soon as she was able to. Wendell seemed like he wanted to say something, but Lana preemptively hushed him so as to not make things worse. Meanwhile, Vic was standing to their side, his eyes glued to the ground.
Soon Luci pulled out of the hug, wiping her eyes with her hand before grabbing both of mine, completely unaware of anyone else here.
“Mira… You're too reckless,” she scolded, her cheeks red and puffed out. “First there was the Shadow Dragon, and now this! The last time you almost died was understandable, since you didn't have a choice, but that woman took you hostage because you tried to play the hero! I… listen. I said before that I wanted to adventure for at least a couple years before retiring from it, but if it'll keep you from killing yourself, then I'll gladly stop right now. We can stay here, get married, and leave this Shadow business to somebody more qualified.”
“I, um…” I didn't know what to say to that.
“You have a choice. Promise me to prioritize your own life for once, or we give up adventuring. I'm not going to budge,” she said, crossing her arms.
“I… I can't just stop adventuring, and I know you don't want to either. I'll try to stop being so reckless, for you.”
I don't think it's a good idea to just sit back and let innocents die when I can do something about it. I don't know why the Goddess gave me a second chance, but if my purpose is to save her people, I can't fail her. That's why I gave the answer that I did.
“N-No. You can do better than just that,” she shot me down, not accepting my answer.
“Huh? But- Oh,” I realized what I had done wrong. Luckily, it wasn't because she wanted me to pick the other option. “Sorry. I promise to try my best to stop being reckless from now on.”
“Hah… I guess that's the best I'll get from you. I don't know why I was hoping for more,” she finally smiled, her face still red from crying as she briefly hugged me again. “I'm glad you're okay, at least. I guess I'm pretty weird, huh? You're nonchalant despite being the one that almost died and yet I'm here crying when I'm perfectly unharmed. We should probably look for the others shouldn't we?”
“No need,” Lana said, making Luci jump.
“M-Mother! How long have you three been there?”
“A while. We needed to talk to the two of you. What do you know about the Augmonica girl calling Mira a ‘hero' and this ‘lord’ she wanted to bring her to.”
“She was an Augmonica?” I asked.
“Yes. Trisha Augmonica,” Wendell replied. “She was from a branch family due to her mother marrying a knight after being disowned due to her inability to use Augmentation magic. Trisha just so happened to be a prodigy with the magic, so the main family wanted to take her. Eventually, her parents died in a monster attack, and she was taken in by the main family only to mysteriously disappear a few weeks later. Neither myself nor the Dutchess know where she was or why she disappeared, but it likely has to do with the magic she was using and the fact that she killed the Duke and tried to kill the rest of the family. Now, as to why she was targeting you, Mira.”
“I thought calling her ‘Hero’ was more of a sarcastic thing because she tried to stop her, but if she was talking about taking Mira to her ‘lord’, that changes things…” Luci said. “Wait. Mira, do you remember what the Goddess said before?”
“You spoke to-!” Wendell started yelling, only to be cut off by Lana.
“Quiet, dear. Although, I do share the same question. What did the Goddess say to you?”
“It was after the last time I encountered the Shadows,” I began. “I ended up passing out after everything was done, and that's when I met her. She said it was the second time we've met, though I don't remember the first. I forget exactly what she said, but said to keep fighting the Shadows, and something about finding the place closest to her in Chinoko's darkest hour or something.”
“That's ominous…” Lana seemed to be deep in thought for a minute, until Setsuna approached us holding a piece of paper.
“Mira, there's a problem,” she said.
“I… know?” I half-asked, confused.
“Two things. One: read this,” she handed me the paper.
It said, “This isn't the last you'll see of me. If you want the Revierre girl back, I'll be waiting for you in Osakara with a deal: You give me the hero girl with green hair, and I let Blondie here free. -T”
Of course, I read it aloud, noticing Vic clench his fists when Mary was mentioned. By the end, there was blood dripping from his hands. He looked up to me when I was done.
“...Mira, I-” he started to talk, stopping himself after glancing towards Luci. “No. That's not an option. I have to go. Mary is in danger and I won't take no for an answer.”
“What kind of king would?” Wendell proudly said. “You've proven yourself capable, my son. Go save your wife. When you return successful, I will consider that to be your final assignment before you can take the throne.”
“Wendell, don't inflate his ego. And Vicadra, you can't just run off to another kingdom. Be logical about this. As we just saw, her magic is too strong to deal with on your own. You'll need to prepare for the inevitable fight, and make sure that whoever you bring with you is strong enough to make up for the difference in strength. You'll have to keep the numbers small, too. It doesn't matter how good of a relationship we have with Osakara; they'll see it as an act of war if you bring too many,” Lana lectured.
“I understand, Mother. I'll make the proper arrangements to leave the day after tomorrow at the latest,” Vic nodded.
“That's fine,” Lana accepted his answer. “Now, Setsuna, you said there were two things that came up?”
“Yes. If I'm right, which I probably am even though I hope I'm not because I should've made this connection sooner if it is right, then shit’s probably gonna hit the fan soon.”
“What does that mean?” Luci asked, not understanding the idiom from my old world.
“Well, I'll skip explaining the saying and go ahead and get straight to what I meant by it: Things are gonna get real bad real quick,” she paused. “What do you all know of the Shadow Lord?”
