// The Things we discover...//

"Good afternoon, Everyone.
And congratulation on your surprising success.

My name is Weiss Eli in your tongue.

But...
Don't be alarmed and lower your weapons.
I am here under investigation of my kingdom in search of the anomaly surrounding Havel.

Right now,
I am on a mission in search of the so-called Saint who called forth a Class 10 Greater Spirit.
That caused a miracle during an incident 3 years ago."

The man said as his eyes shine with eyes dyed in emeralds carrying a beastly of a powerful being which many would dread to face, especially of those who governed the skies.

A Dragon Of The Wind.

Were Lotte's first guess the moment he removed the hood on his head and revealed the green scales on his face and the glowing eyes that shone with power.

She staggered at first but their situation had grown worse.
If they challenge the dragon now, that it had gotten close to the ship.
They would be facing an inevitable defeat if, it chose to transform itself and used its powerful winds to tear their ships apart.

Which is why...
Her next course of action was.

"Why come to our ship?" Lotte ask.

"Mhmm?
You blew up the ship that I was on,
what other choices would I have?"

"Couldn't you just transform using your wings and flee?"

He smiled and laughed.
"I see...
So your already aware of what I am...
Good."

He turned away from Lotte and gazed at the sinking ships from the distance.
"Battles like this happens often amongst you humans.
Though, it's the first time I saw someone capable of unleashing a powerful spell.
Capable of destroying this many ships.

I had quite a goosebumps when I felt that presence from the distance."

"What!" Lotte shouted in surprise as she noticed the other crews trembling.
She gave them the hand signal to lower their weapons and return to their station.

He gazed at them leave then said.

"As expected of someone who is experienced in the sky.
I never expected you to be a woman though."

"There's plenty of people like me out there who have been hardened by these hard times."

He laughed it off then said. "Indeed!"

"However...
This attack was skillfully crafted!
And it is composed of multiple spells that somehow synergized with one another of the opposite elements!

Spells weaved with years of technique and mastery.
Even my own kind will struggle to conjure up this kind of attack!"

Those were the words of Weis as he observed the destruction from the distance.
Parts of the ships later exploded as ammunition of the ship was later reached by the dark flames.

Lotte, on the other hand, was unable to comprehend such deep words.
It was then he asked her...

"So tell me.
Where is the one responsible for unleashing this spell?
It would be troublesome if this person would somehow attack my homeland.
I wish to know if this person is worthy of carrying such power or a fiend who carries no value for life."

Lotte swiftly answered and pointed at the direction where Trio's ship exploded.
"You saw first-hand what happened.
The ship where the caster conjured that spell was destroyed.
Survival is highly unlikely..."

(The eyes of a dragon is supposedly sharp coupled with their keen senses.
But it's very unlikely that this person is aware that the trio was the one who caused it.

They were too far for a human or even a dragon such as himself to even see clearly with all those sinking rubbles of destruction from the damage the spell has caused.) were her flowing thoughts.

Smoke, fire and debris covered the battle field.
The first airship that was struck by the Arrow Of Decimation wasn't lucky.
It instantly blew up to smithereens tearing it from inside out with a massive force as it pelted the second ship while causing a rain of burning debris across the other ships blinding them for a short brief moment at the same time the rest were pierced by the intense flaming heat of the lance crippling or outright sinking them.

The demi-human Weiss then sighed.

"Such a shame." He bitterly said.

"Only a few humans every decade can perform such feats.
To lose such potential is such a loss."

"A loss indeed." Lotte agreed while showing a pained expression on her face.
Pretending that the trio has fallen the demi-human then said.

"I assume you are returning back to Havel.
Then please allow me to remain on this ship.

It would be troublesome if other humans find a being such as myself.
Dragons after all, easily terrify your kind after all.

And I hate to report that it caused such a problem while under this mission."

Lotte then understood why he was using a machine instead of his wings.
But then spoke once again and requested something.

"Ah...
Please also take care of a friend of mine,
Inside this hopper.

He was sent by the crown to watch over me.
As well as investigate the corruption amongst the nobles.
But he was severely injured during that hellish attack.
The unlucky man got hit by shrapnel from the ship's hull."

Lotte then rushed to check inside the hopper.
She saw the injured man who was wearing noble clothing.
There was a wooden piece of wood penetrating his torso while groaning in pain.

She then shouted.

"Medic!"

Then she glared at the demi-human.
"Say that sooner you fool!
Are you trying to bleed the man to death!"

He was surprised and apologized.

"My apologies, I'm not from these lands.
Usually, my people are resilient enough against such wounds."

She then sighed and complained.
"To think your kind would come here..."

"We are sent to investigate most anomalies that occur from other lands to study their situation.
After all, we deal with threats that you humans usually cannot handle."

"If only your people was able to claim back the lands, the unfortunate kingdoms have lost."

"External threats such as monsters are difficult to deal with.
Even if we cleared them away...

They will simply just return anyways.
We cannot remain for long and our kingdom isn't a charity that wouldn't sell war potential like us as objects.

We have a home, our kind, of course, belong in...

By studying the anomalies we discover weaknesses which your people and ours can exploit.
Isn't that enough?"

Lotte sighed.

"Of course it's enough.
I'm not complaining.
Just the feeling strange that one of you powerful races are actually here."

Weiss laughed at Lotte.

"We have been here from the beginning.
It's been three years and we still haven't discovered where that saint disappeared to..."

"Why exactly are you searching for the saint?"

"You don't know?"

Lotte shook her head.

"Then I guess it's not strange for this kingdom to keep it in the dark.
let us speak somewhere private.

Since you've managed to catch my interest.
I'll tell you about it."

As Lotte guided Weiss to a soundproof room.
She instructed her assistant and men to leave.

In order to speak with him in private.
He checked the walls to see how effective it was and amplified it with his own magic.

"Impressive material." he praised it.

"Just get to the point." she bluntly said to him.

"You have quite a strong mettle to speak in such a way."

"Look here...
I nearly got my whole crew destroyed by an army of soldiers.
And lost my best sorcerer.

You should be aware of how I'm feeling right now."

He dryly laughed and understood as he then went straight to the point.

"Class 10 Greater Spirit.

Light elemental.
It is a spirit of the highest order closest to the godly beings worshipped in this world.

Only a single person can conjure up such a being.
And that would be...

None other than the Goddess which we worship."

"That's impossible," Lotte replied.

"Indeed."
 
"After all the goddess of the demi-humans died 300 years ago.
Everyone knows of this fact...
However the fact someone managed to call forth a spirit of such magnitude.

It's also quite possible that she survived somehow?"

Lotte could only dryly laughed then bluntly asked.

"And your kind cling to this small chance?"

He shook his head and said.
"Not necessarily.
It is possible her ghost was wandering in these lands.
And simply chose to continue her old ways.

Of course, we are just making guesses at this point.
But...
the Saint who conjured the spirit undoubtedly exist."

Lotte then asked.
"How can you're kind...
 Be so sure about this?"

"After a long study 3 years ago.
One of the Dryads of our home sensed the presence of a powerful spirit from Havel.
The spirit was confirmed by one of our kind who specialized in dealing with such beings."

"Namely the Dryad themselves." Lotte replied she guessed.

"Correct." He smiled.

"As spirits themselves,
It's not strange for them to find traces of the person responsible for it.
However..."

"The trail went cold." she guessed it again.

"Indeed.
Since most people now soars to the skies.
It's difficult for dryads to trace them now that the earth is disconnected.

Since we have lost the trace.
We turned to the nobles and the royal family to help search for the saint herself.
Of course, the information is confidential only to the royal crown and our search is for the sake of finding the person responsible for it.

In exchange, we assist them in certain problems regarding their country."

"Then you got caught in the crossfire with us, while being on their ship to investigate the corruption of the nobles. I can kind of understand how you ended up on their ship."

He nods...
Then Lotte asked.

"Speaking of that dryad...
Is that being not with you?"

"The dryad has already confirmed that it was an immensely powerful spirit.
Shamelessly she was drowning in euphoria the moment she stood on the land where the incident took place, we had to drag her out of the land begging to become a part of it.

Her people would be furious if she chose to root herself in a place so distant from home."

"That sounds kind of serious..."

"Indeed.
It is extremely rare for a dryad to wish to be rooted in a place where powerful spirits do not often dwell. Especially in a land controlled and managed by humans.

It simply answers the fact that the saint does exist and is hiding in this place."

"Still, why tell me all this?" Lotte asks.

He then said.
"I feel like we will meet again..."
Then added.

"To become an ally of a sorcerer which is capable of unleashing this much power.
For such a person would be willing to risk himself for your sake in that tiny airship.

Doesn't that mean the person sought to return the favor to save your life?
Am I not wrong?"

Lotte blushed the moment he said those words.

"Well then, I'll be at the deck."

"What about your rooms?"

"I need no room.
People like us can technically sleep anywhere."

"Aren't you worried someone will slit your throat while sleeping?"

"What an odd question.
And No...

I'd sense the fool before that can happen.

After all...
Our senses can easily detect the presence of magic.
And any fool that dare's to ambush a sleeping dragon is in for a reckoning.
As our bodies aren't the easiest to cut after all." He confidently said as he left her in the room dazed by his words.

Lotte then said.
"So this is the wisdom of a long lived race."

________________________________________________________________________________

Once upon a time...
There was an adventurer.
Who wandered the land.

Her eyes glistened in silver and gold.
Hair shined in a grey color that doesn't seem to be wrinkly like the elderly.
It was smooth and beautiful that drew the attention of many.

She wandered the lands aiding those who are ill.
With a demi-human man beside her that appeared like a protector.

But do not think of her as a person who simply gives graces to the world.

Only fools misunderstand that fact.
Will later regret it.

Those who carry ill will towards her...
Will find themselves in the face of death itself.

As the Goddess hair will turn dark and eyes crimson red.
Should they be deemed evil.
Returning ill will into ill deeds.

But brings forth good graces to those who possess kind hearts.

It is also said that the Goddess is someone whimsical enough.

To cause miracles which brings forth to people she deemed worthy...
Tales of the poor where she gave gold and granted new life to those who suffered grave illness were often found to not be tales alone.

As those who had met her...
Sang praises of her deeds till the numbers of their days ended.

"Those were the old tales which were often told to me when I was a child in this world."

Baster said.
When Talie asked Baster what he knows about the Goddess the Demi-humans worshipped.

While asked more thoughts regarding Tori's past.
Both of them are currently in Infirmary of the ship.
Resting on a medical bed they utilized the communication device to privately converse.

"It's amazing how legends and folk tales had truths in them.
But... it is undoubtedly true though...

She often encountered bandits while she traveled.
And her husband had her take their riches for their own use.

To later find out, she gives it to some poor lost slave, prostitute or even cripples.
As she tested her healing techniques on them as experiments."

Baster then cried out.

"Yo...
so she was just using them to learn more magic?"

"Yes. and the compensation was the gold she gave out.
Ironically enough, those people began a cult without her realizing it."

"Couldn't she just stop that?"

"It was already too late when she found out."

"Also... you said she had a husband."

"Yes...
She was married and was living in quite a harmonious life with their daughter."

"Then how the heck did she become a Queen?"

"Very complicated and a really long story...
She had to say goodbye to her daughter to do her work.
At times she visited her, as she worked as an alchemist."

"Alchemist!
Shouldn't she be a princess by now?"

"Told you it's complicated.
She didn't want her daughter to suffer as she has.
And simply gave her a normal decent life...

A position where she can do what she wants and live her life the way she wanted.
She as a Mother gravely envied her.
because of it, however." baster dryly laughed at Talie's words.

Then asked.

"Isn't being a princess a better choice?"

"Not exactly.
Her kingdom is actually full of conflict.
She had to deal with most issues with her men and utilize all she had.
It was rough work that she drags me into her fights from time to time.

And I had to experience the pain of her injures, every blasted time she gets into a tight spot!"

Talie complained.

"So what happened between her and her daughter?" Baster asked.

"Both of them were quite proud of their work the last I saw it.
Though, after her death...
Tori had already created a message for her daughter to read."

"Hey wait what do you mean?"

"Baster...
Before Tori in her past life died.
She sacrificed her life to save this world from turning into a wasteland.

We were given a single mission by the Spirit lord himself.
While also foretelling of her demise...
In order to stop a calamity from destroying this world, she was willing to do so...

Not because she was the Queen of her kingdom or a Dragon of her kind.
But because of her daughter's future and her ambition still lived on.

Her action just now is just a reflection of who she was...
She's being too reckless by using such a dangerous spell that her body can't handle.

Which is why I want you to know...

Please...
Watch her back for me, if both of us somehow got separated.
She is quite prone to pushing herself too far."

Baster went silent.

"Of course I would...
Even if I didn't know, I still owe my life to you two freaks."

"Oi, as if you aren't a freak yourself!" Talie complains.

But Baster then said.
"Still, it's nice to have a reliable companion at the start of this ridiculous world.
I don't think, I would have survived alone without you two."

"Ugh..., my back itches that's so gross!?"

"Why? are you acting like that!?
You are ruining the moment!"

"Because we've never talked like this before.
And it's getting on my nerves!
So Stop Talking and get some rest!"

Baster could only laugh a bit as Talie said those words.
Her ears and cheeks were beet red but then went sullen.

"It's been a long day...
And we still haven't heard the news of what happened to my sister.
I just hope she's still alright."

But then baster said.

"This world is much more modern than your past-life right?
I mean alchemy has been modernized here."

"True...
But it's still hard...
To not worry.
After all, the state of her limbs is just..." Talie grimaced recalling it.

"Can't she just use some kind of miraculous magic in her arsenal to fix herself?
Like how she used that miracle 3 years ago?"

"Baster...
3 years ago.
Tori hadn't told you yet has she?"

"Eh?"

"She can only call forth that spirit every 5 years."

"Your joking right?"

"No... I am not.
The miracle she unleashed 3 years ago was something she gambled on to save our skins.
It was the pinnacle of healing magic that she always carried with her.

Producing wide-scale magic using a spirit is costly...
Usually, she calls forth that spirit only to heal a single person where her healing techniques could not mend. Allowing her to use them again after a month.

But since she used widescale...
It's going to take 5 years for her to recover it.

As the spirits are capable of defying common sense and rules of magic.

The only time she uses it is when she is desperate.

This was the reason she was praised as a Goddess.
She saved many lives and yet...
No one understands the burden she often carried."

"The burden called Knowledge."

Baster now understood Talie's words while they were on the ship.

"Which is why...
I doubt the medics of this place will be able to cure her limbs without any underlying conditions.
Let's just hope they don't need to cut it off, that's probably the worst-case scenario."

Baster then felt a bitter and grim taste on his mouth as he himself understood it.

Tori's condition was severely worse than theirs...
"Let's scold her together after this." Was what Talie said to him.

Which Baster who now grew worried replied.

"Yes, we should."

Later on, the two received word.
That Tori's limb was recoverable...
However, its strength and her ability to move them will be impacted by the severity and requires long term recovery.