After Estel spoke to Aisha, She once again had too much time in her hand.

Given the amount of ridiculous laziness, she could garner.
None had bothered to come in the greenhouse aside from servants who rarely gather ingredients.
As she once again had spare time, she asked a peculiar question.
This one relates to her extinct race.

// What happened to the white dragons?//

"You once said that the last of the white dragons was your master?
What happened to her and every one of them?"

Aisha simply looked away, as it gazed at Estel with a tired expression.

"The allure of the white dragon is simply too potent.
Once everyone discovered what they were capable of...
They all soon made their move to claim them.
Be it by our scale or even turning them into their servants like cattle's.

Demon-kins and Human-kins and even the many dragons sought them."
It then looks away with a sad gaze.

"Our race was simply that attractive.
But it was also incredibly fragile!

Many times over a white dragon fell due to the assassination for our flesh and scales, lofty guardians that tried to keep us safe often ended tragically..."

"But, Why?" she asks.

"Because Our enemies are often too many or too strong for us to handle."

"I mean...
why would they push such a capable race to the brink of extinction?" she asked with worry.

"You should already know...
Our scales are technically miracles that can turn curses and magic against anything.
In combat and in reality, it is quite a valuable and priceless piece of material,
that can save another's life, but... their fragility cannot be ignored.

We are simply too vulnerable.
 

To make it worse, a way to extend another's life was created from the use of our kin's blood.
This led to many enemies to soar even greater...
That the very threat became the world itself."

"Extend... a person's life.
Using the blood of a sentient race.
Have they lost the ability to value life?" she questioned it.

"We were beings that are closest to the realm of the spirits itself.
Our lifespan surpasses even dragons themselves.
They studied our kind intently in hopes they can prolong their own.
and they simply succeeded."

Estel then shed tears feeling pity for Aisha, who was supposedly it's their guardian.

"Wipe your tear's child, this happened long ago already.
It was a time, where we dragons are only seen as monsters.
There is nothing we can do anymore,
Even if I were to wish to return that time." As it said these words she did so in response.

"But-"

"Now only the present matters!" Aisha cried out.
As it continued it's tale.

"During those times, we became alone...
None would defend us, one by one...
We fell to them, dwindling in numbers..."

"What about the demon-king? what was he doing?" Estel asked in anger.

"That is the problem.

During that time, there was no demon-king to rule the land.

It was the hour of chaos where neither side would kneel.
Our race was slowly being massacred, by the greed of the world itself!" it said in frustration.

"Until of course, a demon-king arose to rule them all.
But... it was all too late."

"Only one was left...
But... her heart and mind were already broken...
She was saved at the last moment by a black dragon who is also the former Demon-king.
Technically she was undoubtedly the last white dragon.
It was also the name given to you and your sister.
Her name was... Stella." As it said these words.

Estel eyes could only widen in both surprise and shock as she then asked.

"But... why would father?" It then turned to Estel with a smirk.

"Your father did not expect neither of you both would become a white.
The man simply wanted to remember her, using his mother's name in lieu of her time.
Clearly, it shows how that man loved that person despite the difference in their race.
After all, even as a young whelp, I was there as he grew older." It then winks to Estel.

Estel then said in a monotonous tone.
"That's quite, romantic of him..."

It then playfully moved around in front of her as it said.
"But you are fortunate.
It's already been decades since the last white fell.

To be honest...
Even the former demon-king who was a black dragon sought to restore of her race. But she simply felt too much sorrow that she simply yearned for anything to quench her loneliness that none other than him could heal her fears of those that hunted her."

"Even if it means she will not give birth to the same race as herself?" It nods to her in response.

"Any news or records of the white no longer exists or even useful anymore now that they are gone." As it said these words Estel still displayed worry and unease.

It then spoke in a calm manner as it said.
"I advise you keep the secret of your blood in the shadows.
Although, I highly doubt they can use you as an ingredient because of your human blood."

Estel swiftly retorts with a pale expression.
"That's not a funny joke."

But it simply waved its tail a bit as it soon crawled to Estel as it turned into an armlet once again.
As it then calmly said with a lecturing tone.
"Whether it is a joke or not,
Do not forget...
You're as fragile as any human here.
While also being the last heritage that carried the last of the bloodline of your kind.
Remember that..." Estel then felt troubled when it said these words.

In her mind, she could grasp a terrible omen.
[Ugh, this is giving me a bad feeling...
If what you said just now was right then doesn't that mean my father will likely search for me?]

The armlet trembled as it heard her troubled thoughts.
"How surprising...
For how I recalled you rarely met your father.
Yet... you just struck a good hunch." It said with intrigued then laughed.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha..."

"THAT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE LAUGHING ABOUT!?"

"If he sends the Shadow Knights.
Doesn't that mean, this place is in danger?" Estel shuddered at the thought.

She had seen the knights of her kingdom.
Watched them fight in an arena and saw how powerful they were.
She then imagined a pile of corpses under them if they were to attack the city.

"Calm down, lass...
The treaty exists...
A law that dictates that self-defense is permitted if an attack is made to one of them.
They will likely just enter the city and peacefully talk to the leaders granting permission to search for you." Estel still frowned at the thought.

"That's even worse..."

As she wallowed in her thoughts,
Strength was needed in order to escape.
She soon understood that magic is a necessity to survive...
and thus... she made finally made a choice.

________________________________________________________________________________

//The Weight of Kindness.//

Soon night came and they returned to their room.
As the three girls were back in their bedroom.
Estel then faced Lana and made a request...

"Lana... may I speak with you in private."

Leanne who was inside the room was surprised.

"Ho... is it something that you don't want me to hear.
Then I'd like to hear it." she said with a wide smile.

Estel swiftly retorts.
"It's something, private..." she nervously said.

Lana then showed curiosity as she happily said.
"Oh! this is quite surprising...
Very well then, if it something you don't want Leanne to hear."
She said, then looks to the side hiding her other eye then glanced at Leanne then winks.

As they soon walked to the balcony while Leanne remained inside the room.

As the cold wind blows, their nightdresses then fluttered.
Estel then reached her hand to Lana.

"Please let me carry the heirloom." Were her words.

"Eh?" to her surprise, then said with a blank expression.
"No way." Estel dumbfounded face as she said those words puzzled her.

"But why?"
"I'm worried you will lose this somehow and won't tell us.
Afterward, you will try to escape.
but it's already too late and we have no choice but to sell you off to another nation."
She calmly said with a worried expression.

But Estel's face froze into a wry smile the moment she heard it.

"That won't happen!" She cried out.

But Lana then responded in a worried expression.
"But it will..."
As she explained to her with a pained expression.
"You are always enduring troublesome things.
Even if you aren't responsible for them.

You still keep all your problems hidden so others will not worry.
But that in itself is causing others to worry more for you!

You don't need to endure any more!
This isn't the demon-kingdom anymore!

People like myself and Leanne care about you!
So tell me...
Why do you want to keep something simple like this a hidden from Leanne!?"

As Lana confronts her.
A drop of tear fell from Estel's right cheek.
She was puzzled why it fell, yet somehow understood it.

[She's quite right...
Isn't she? Estel.] Luria spoke to Estel in her thoughts for a moment.

She was silent.
while gazing at Lana.
Her bandaged body reflects her toughness despite being a woman.

It reminded her of the day her sister, Esla once fought her own classmate with similar injuries.
All because they made fun of Estel in front of her. Which led to her own mother scolding her
Estel who was around at the time could only get in the way and stood up to her.

"She is not at fault, I'm the one who should be punished.
It is all my fault that she got caught in a fight,
It is all because of me!
Because...
I don't have wings!
So it's fine to punish me instead, Right!?" showing her a pained and angry expression.

Her mother face swiftly went pale with worry, as all she could do was hug her.
 "No... that's wrong!
No one deserved to be punished.
I'm just telling her, don't fight when it doesn't resolve anything!"
Esla could only bitterly smile as she understood her words.
She soon joined to soothe her grieving sister with her mother.
But during those hours, Estel felt it...

(As she was embraced by their kindness)
Estel could feel the same emotion as she felt back then.
As she soon deeply inhaled the cold air to answer her question.

"Let me borrow the gem for tomorrow.
Then come to the greenhouse with Leanne later.
I'll show you, the reason."

As she said these words, she wiped her eyes and cheek with a single hand.
Turning to her room, as though nothing had happened.
She greets Leanne with a calm expression.
Lana on the other hand secretly placed the pocket watch on her spare maid-dress which was neatly hanged and ready for the next day.

She then winks at Estel with her faith in mind.
As they soon closed the light to rest for the day.
________________________________________________________________________________

//White magic, is actually extremely rare.//

They soon returned to the greenhouse.
The two then saw.
Estel holding the pocket watch with a confident expression on her face.
Leanne was the first to greet her.

"Lana told me, you had a surprise for us.
So we came...
Though, for what I recall that pocket watch were always on Lana?"

She then glanced at Lana with a brow raised with curiosity.

Estel then retorted.
"Well yes, this is the pocket watch that Lana carried.
But before that...
Lana, please seat here." Lana swiftly followed as she sat on the chair she prepared.

Leanne then felt annoyed.
"Aren't you suppose to be my maid!
Why are you two suddenly so close."

Lana herself was confused.
"So tell me, what exactly do you intend to do here?"

Estel simply ignored her words, walking behind the chair Lana sat on
She opens up the pocket watch.
As she then exhaled, as she said.

"Screw it!" she cried out

Touching Lana with wounded bandages with both of her hands.
"Oww!, Hey!" she cried out.
Both of them then began to shine in white radiant light.
As sigil of floating light circled around Lana and Estel.

"What the!?" Lana in her confusion.

Estel then began to chant.
"Let nature thyself be my compass"
"Allow my wish to be fulfilled."
"Reclaim what was once lost."

『Restore!』she cried out, the characters that floated then swiftly grew brighter.
Blinding everyone inside the greenhouse.
Leanne finally peeked to open her eyes.
Nothing had changed, only a bright light that blinded them briefly.

But she was sure of what she had seen...
That was definitely was...

"Light attribute...
Estel, you can use it?"

Lana herself was surprised but was simply contented with Estel's action.

As for Estel...
She simply shrugged then she said.
"Only one way to find out."

The two then began to unbind Lana's bandages.
To their surprise, all the cuts and bruises were gone.
Showing that her magic truly did work and not just a simple trick of the eyes.

Lana was the first to speak.
"So this is why you wanted to borrow the heirloom.
To think our dear Estel to be capable of doing this.
The church will likely come after you like hounds if they heard of this."

Estel gave a troubled look, as she said.
"It's only possible thanks to the heirloom, but...
That man will likely return for this.
Which is why...
I would like to ask Leanne for help in procuring a replacement."

Lana could simply giggle, overjoyed at how Estel was finally showing a secret she kept from them.
Leanne simply blinked many times as she heard it.
"Lana... Am I hearing things?
Did Estel actually ask me for help?" But she simply silently smirked.

"Tell me!?
what kind of secret trick did you do!?"

Lana could simply smirk as she said then bluntly said these words.
"Leanne you might be smarter than me when it comes to observing people and finding secrets.
But you seem to lack a bit of common sense when it comes to these things."

Leanne then felt defeated as she kneeled in all four.
Frustrated that her own aide was better than her in regards to people.
She desired Estel to feel closest to her.
But Lana beat her to the punch.

"Ugh... how could this happen." She sulks.

Estel simply gave her a worried as she asked.
"So... does that mean Leanne can't help me?"

Lana then raised a hand to Estel as she stood.
She came closer to Leanne and said in annoyance.
"Is this really the time for you to be sulking?
She is waiting for an answer who is finally asking for your help."

Leanne then stood, as she then understood her words.
"Yes... I can definitely craft you the finest piece of jewelry that can make even a nation tremble!"
Estel swiftly retorts.
"Rejected!" She cried out.
As she then explained.
"Make it an accessory that can hide the jewel as a function similar to this..."

Leanne complained with begging eyes.
"But why?"

Estel swiftly explained.
"Is that even a question!" She shouted.

"It's only common sense to hide such a valuable object.
No fool out there will walk around with a large diamond in plain view."

Leanne calmly gazes at her as she nods in agreement to what she said.
Lana then worriedly said to her.
"I think you need to relax a bit.
Was it that shocking for you to see Estel like this."

"Ah... yes, I suppose I am simply surprised that Estel actually told us her secret." She blankly said,

Then added.
"You know how much I love uncovering a person secrets.
But it feels really strange to have it blown to your face like this..." Leanne said with a wry smile.

Estel retorted the moment she heard it.
"Was my secret that surprising?"   

Leanne and Lana at the same time then responded.
"IT IS!" they shouted at her in perfect unison.

"Uuguuh..." giving them a whimper.

As the two continued to discuss they soon made themselves comfortable.
With Estel fixing them another drink of tea.

"Light mages are extremely rare in general.
Not only are they pursued by the church, nobles and many organization alike.
Can only dream of having one on their side." Leanne said while gathering her thought.

Estel as she heard it, flinched realizing her life might be in more peril than she thought.
But Lana then added.
"But they are also often pushed into turning them into profit against their will."

Leanne this time was the one to flinch the moment she heard it.
"Is... is that so..." Leanne fiddled her hands as she looks away.

Lana didn't fail to notice this and said.
"Please don't scheme on this opportunity...
It might be true that Estel's attribute is incredible.
But it also draws too many problems especially when involving that church."

Estel curiously then asked.
"What exactly is that church?" She asked.

Leanne then explained.
"The church of light...
Or so they call themselves to be.
A bunch of zealots who worship those who have the ability to use light.
Though, they are also corrupted enough to also use them to earn riches."

Lana then added.
"They also have a strong monopoly on gems such as diamonds and jewels regarding the light attribute. Though, the real problem only comes when they pursue the person in question.

I heard they are simply relentless, that there were also rumors and stories about a nation being pushed to give away even their children to them."

Leanne's face twitched as she then said with a proud expression.

"They can try and take Estel from me,
But they have to go through ME! before that happens."

Lana who finishes her tea then retorts.
"I advice not challenging them.
They can easily cause a rebellion in this country and branding you a heretic.
You're not even the queen yet, it's very unlikely you can win against their current power."

Leanne flinched the moment Lana brought down her cocky attitude.

She then explained.
"Their church is worship by the many countries and it continues to expand...
Even now.
But still, it is wise to keep it a secret, for now, Estel." as she gazed at her with worry.

But Estel herself had a really pale and exhausted expression.
Understanding the attention caused by light magic.
She needs to restrain herself from using it in public.
As she then added to her thoughts.
[How on earth am I supposed to tell the both of you.
That my father's men are coming here!]
Which was her main-goal after revealing her magic...
But the concept of light magic being rare blew their minds into a long discussion.
Hence she was unable to warn them, nor could she explain.

____________________________________________________________________________