Chapter 30
They arrived almost before the sun sets so it's much colder.
"Is this the place?" Aidan asked.
They're standing in front of a two-story house near the end of the village. There were villagers who were eyeing them with curiosity.
"Should I knock?" Nash asked.
"Obviously," Kane said.
Nash rolled her eyes and knocked on the door. They waited for a few seconds, but there was no one who opened it.
Nash knocked once again, louder. "Excuse me? Is Serio here?"
Finally, they heard footsteps approaching them from the inside. The door was opened by an elderly man with absolutely white hair.
"Are you Serio?"
"I am, indeed. What is your purpose for being here?" The imperial crest was displayed by Yjhan, "Please come inside."
They went inside Serio's house. Serio served them some tea, but Nash just looked at it.
"It's not poisonous, don't worry," Serio said as he noticed Nash looking at the tea.
"I prefer poison over tea," she whispered, but Serio heard it. "I am, indeed. What is your purpose for being here?" The imperial crest was displayed by Yjhan. "Please come inside."
"I don't have any beverages available other than tea and water. It's a cold day so I thought you might want a cup of tea"
"Water is fine, thank you," Nash smiled.
Serio was shocked for a while after seeing the lady smile.
"You look like someone I know," Serio said and turned to get some water.
"Hey, is my face that common?" Nash asked Idris, who was beside her.
"Yeah, commonly ugly," Nash pinched Idris cheeks.
"Here," Nash, take the water and drink it. Serio took a seat in front of them, "So, what are you doing here?"
Yjhan gave him the letter from the emperor. He read it with his mind as he nodded, "I see... so that's why,"
He raises his head and looks at Nash for a brief moment before returning his gaze to Yjhan. "Do you know what this letter is about?"
"No,"
"I see."
Nash raised her hand as if reciting in front of a class. "Could you tell me who you are?"
"Nash, " Yjhan called.
"Haha that's fine. You must be wondering why an old man like me was requested by the emperor," he sips his tea before he continues, "When there was a war in the empire before, I was the healer. I was the one who treated thousands of people in order for them to survive a horrific battle that occurred many years ago. "
"About that war... may I ask what started it?" Kane asked.
"Whoa, it's my first time I've seen him interested," Nash unconsciously said that made Kane throw her his fluffy gloves.
"At the time, Roven, the emperor, became a vessel of a demon as a result of his father's desire to exploit his own child to take over the entire world. Demons are legendary beings who are a curse to humans but a blessing to creatures. Demons are not active and have remained in their own realm, but when the late Emperor attempted to open the realm in order to connect humans and demons and exploit their power, it was the beginning of an unstoppable chaos."
"Roven was 5 years old when he became a vessel of the demon Raum. Because Raum was the spawn of the Demon King, the creatures coveted him even more. Demons are capable of wreaking havoc and causing the world to vanish, and this is what the creatures desire: to control this realm where no greedy humans can rule over them."
"How come it isn't a conflict between humans and demons?" Aeries asked.
"That is due to the Lady of Isra, Lady Thanya, who loved Emperor Roven so much that she offered herself to the demon."
"That was harsh," Aidan remarked.
"Not only that, but she chose to be the sacrifice since she was near death from a horrible and deadly disease that I couldn't even heal."
"Then that means, there is a new vessel of a demon?" Kane asked and Serio nodded.
[badump]
Nash was just staring at the water in her cup, 'So... is my whole existence a curse for humans?'
"Does someone need to be a sacrifice to prevent another battle between demons and humans?" Aidan inquired.
"I think the case this time is different. I'm not sure how it happened," Serio explained.
"Thanks to me, you humans don't have to sacrifice," Raum suddenly said in Nash's mind.
"But a war may break out," Nash replied.
"Don't worry, my father likes your existence. My father changed, thinking you are his grandchild."
"What the hell? "
"Well, I guess something slapped him from reality."
"Then you will help us?"
"I told you that in order for us to aid you, you had to learn how to use me and my demon's power."
"Then... I'll learn it if that's what it takes to win the war that could happen."
"The emperor wants you to come with us whether you like it or not, is what he said," Yjhan said. Serio burst out laughing.
"I know... that brat is a stubborn one. Even if I decline now, it won't be long before he himself goes here," He picked up the tray of the cups the Squad 15 drinks, "I'll prepare dinner, and please make yourself at home."
Nash removed her cloak and handed it to Aidan. She approached Serio and took away the tray from him, "I'll help you."
Serio smiled, "You grew up well."
Nash looked at him in shock. "You know who I am?"
"Yes, the first time I saw you, I thought you looked like that Roven brat when he was a small one, but then Roven mentioned your name and said you are his daughter, the one who became Raum's other half's vessel."
Nash faints a smile, "I see."
"Actually, I was there when you became the half vessel of Raum."
'So he lied before when he said he didn't know what was causing the war.'
"I remember Roven begged me to save you,"
Nash chuckled.
They kept talking about Nash's father when he was still little.
...
"Dinner is served!" Nash yelled from the kitchen.
As soon as Yjhan came, she flicked Nash's forehead,
"Ouch!"
"This isn't your house; you can't just yell anytime you want." Yjhan reprimanded her.
Nash pouted and sat on the chair.
"We'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. You can sleep upstairs; there is a large room with 5 beds and a smaller room with 3 beds," Serio said.
"Why do you have so many beds?" Aidan asked. Nash smacked his back.
"He's a healer! Of course beds are required for injured people. Come on! Use your common sense!"
"Oh... right HAHAHA." Both of them laughed loudly but stopped after they felt Yjhan's deadly glare.
...
Aeries, Yjhan and Nash slept in the small room. while the rest on the bigger one.
They all fell asleep immediately due to exhaustion from their long journey.
...
Nash opened her eyes as soon as she sensed movement around her. She turned around to see Yjhan waking Aeries.
"Oh... you're awake. Good. Wake the people in the next room," Yjhan ordered.
Nash peered out the window and noticed that the sun was already up.
She stretched as she made her way to the next room. She noticed a pillow on the ground and used it to knock the others awake.
"Stop! I'm awake already!" Aidan said, still half asleep.
When they finally awoke, Yjhan came in to see if the others had also awoken.
He patted Nash's head, "Good"
"Hehe," Nash felt delighted as Yjhan praised her.
They fixed themselves and went downstairs to see Serio preparing things.
"Are you brats all ready?" They all nodded. "Now get your horses and go to the backyard."
They followed Serio's instructions. When they arrived in the backyard, they saw a portal.
'This is what Uncle Vicor did before,' Nash thought to herself as he stared at the portal in front of her.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry." They went inside the portal and all of a sudden they are in the Imperial Garden.
"My head hurts!" Aidan said and hugged his horse.
"Oh... I thought you brats are used to that," Serio said and chuckled.
"Serio! We haven't seen each other in a long time!" They ran into the empress when she was strolling around her garden.
While the knights knelt, Serio bowed before Ivelisse, "Her Majesty, the Empress Ivelisse, is greeted by Squad 15."
"Please rise," She walked towards Squad 15, "You did well, thank you so much. The Emperor doesn't have to hear your reports so you could go and rest for the day. Thank you for your hard work."
They bow, "Please excuse us."
They went home to their inn and slouched on the couch.
"My butt hurts," Idris said.