Tales of Revenants

Chapter 43 – Impostor

The party got early to depart in Ravina City as soon as possible. They shouldn't spend idling as they fear they might encounter Dimitri Thanatos Allesandro, the ninth Heavenly Hero, considering the Dethrim Kingdom is his homeland.

They traversed through the Groundbeak Plateau and up to the north-west was the Flerdir Forest which is neither part of the Dethrim Kingdom nor Millennium Shore's land division.

No Nightbeast can stand in their way as the party travel through dense woods. They were on the track of forest path that it was wide enough to at least fit two traveling carriages.

Luciella plainly enjoys the view of the greenery and tall tree from the window because it reminds her of the Arcanos Kingdom, the land of elves.

Xenon was not spoiling everyone's dose of mother nature that's why he slowed down the carriage for a little bit.

While he's at it, he was especially curious about the Magus Incarnation himself and how does it even work.

Xenon indeed likes to break down how a technomagic functions even to the slightest details and produce a deduction if he can replicate the magic.

“What's the feeling of the Magus Incarnation, Luciella?” Xenon asked her directly, “You're like some magical girl who can save the universe,” he continued and Laken gave him a head-chopping but then he eluded.

“Stop making zargonian references.” Laken groaned who just woke up from a nap.

“I would not.” Xenon countered.

“Me too, I'd like to hear it. They said your dress changed and all. Would you mind describing it to us?” Eirisse's also curious about the incarnation thing they were talking about.

“To be precise... I really can't understand it myself. The moment I exited Eirisse's recollections, the pure flow of void magic affinity enveloping my whole being gradually returned to the shard.” Luciella explained and was not sure of herself.

The clanking metal and gears from his chest functioned again, “Changing attribute: wise...” they already knew he was going to ask and explain a lot of things.

“First and foremost, when the unknown magic forced you to touch the blood in the coffin's opening, the shards truly reacted to you and it awakened not because of the blood or the light of Solara or anything about the ritual, but because of you alone.” Xenon asserted and sure of himself.

“When you faced great adversity, the Shard of Void answered your prayer and gave you the power you needed. Now, here lies my question...” Xenon speculated a thing that doesn't add up in his head.

“What is it?” Luciella questions and is quite nervous about it.

Laken and Eirisse's attention was also piqued, “Out of all the shards in your pocket, why does the Shard of Void be the only shard that answered your prayer?” Xenon has a question which they would never hope to answer.

“That's true. We have a total of seven shards now and six before Lena gave her's. How could it only activate the Shard of Void...” Laken mutters trying to answer the mystery.

“I'm sorry everyone but I also can't explain... it's just my body acted on its own when my friends were in danger...” Luciella spoke which made her embarrassed.

The three just grinned in glee. They believed Luciella was really the type who would sacrifice herself for the others, and Laken knows that from the beginning.

It doesn't matter what shard activated the Magus Incarnation. They don't need to completely understand the nature of Shards of Creation. What matters is they were able to finish the task at hand no matter the circumstances.

“I was also wondering...” Luciella turned to Xenon, “If your Arcanum Core is what constitutes your life, doesn't it affect when you tried to break it apart into two?” she asked as Eirisse was also concerned.

Laken glared at Xenon for a second and closed his eyes. He is fully aware of why it's still functioning as a whole without any technical problem right after his core was divided into two.

Xenon faltered from taking the first word, Laken was sure the next thing he would utter would be a lie.

“The structural body of a mechanoid is unique you see. We can function for twenty-four hours right after our core is destroyed,” Xenon replied.

“Does that mean you're okay? Isn't there anything I could do?” Luciella questions.

Xenon surmises Luciella was just being considerate and wants to help her comrades. He doubts it's a thing that everyone in the carriage could understand.

Eirisse placed her hands in her chest. She could certainly feel the beat as it will remain true and real. If only she could tell the world a phrase, Eirisse would say how grateful she was for having thoughtful friends.

Since they are in a forest, Laken would never leave the chance of getting a proper and relaxing bath in the river.

He asked Xenon to take a little detour near the waterway, “Let's take a break for the meantime,” Laken suggested and everyone agreed.

Xenon set the carriage in view where they can see if there were ever bandits to steal the merchandise or anything.

Without being asked he inserted up an illusionary division in the middle of the river if ever the ladies don't want to take a bath with the other gender especially the bashful Luciella.

Laken first left his cloak on the carriage and went to the deeper forest in order to get firewood and mountain boar or whatever they can cook.

Eirisse wasn't even behind the trees but she already got n***d. She removed her eyeglasses and went to dive straight in the river.

She emerged from the waters and elegantly flipped her crimson hair. Luciella was astonished as she remembered the fragment of her memory.

The recollection of Eirisse when Laken and her first met, it was the Flerdir Forest. The tall trees and various herbs and flowers all around; it's exactly what Luciella saw on Lilith’s memories.

Luciella undressed behind the boulders. She definitely felt the chill when she submerged to the cold waters. She couldn't contain her tears of joy.

While she was sobbing in happiness, a woman who was also taking a bath near the boulders offered her a piece of soft fabric, “Here, you can use this.” she speaks in a monotonic tone.

Unbeknownst to her surrounding, Luciella just kind of accepted what the woman offered and wiped her tears using the thing. It dissolved when it sank in the water.

“Come here now Luciella! I won't bite you.” Eirisse beckoned Luciella to come out behind the boulder where she undressed.

She was going to do just that when she realized a really critical matter. She thinks if Eirisse was on the other side of the river, and now that she compared the voice, the woman behind her at the time was not Eirisse herself.

It implies there is an entirely different fellow who offered her comfort. Luciella wanted to scream and get help when the woman closed her mouth and whispered to her, “Try to shout, and this g*n will go ka-boom.” She asserted in a really dry tone.

The woman indeed had a g*n at hand pinpointing on Luciella's temple, “Now tell me your name.”

“Lu-Luciella...” She answered stuttering in fright.

“Good girl. If you ever come out of this boulder, this device will go ka-boom too, like my gun.” The tone of the woman isn't scary, her words it is.

She placed a device on her neck which had immense condensed magic. Luciella knew the woman was not fooling around. She had no choice but to comply.

The woman scanned the whole body structure of Luciella using a red laser which was apparently a form of technomagic. Seconds later her physical appearance completely transforms into Luciella herself.

With her blonde long hair, emerald eyes, and her petite body that is always mistaken that of a child's, she entirely mimicked her character.

“I'll be there Eirisse!” The woman said exactly as Luciella's voice.

Luciella was baffled how the unknown woman who came out of nowhere can copy not just the appearance but the voice of her victim as well.

She had no time to be amazed in technomagic. The woman was obviously planning something evil to Eirisse and Xenon.

Even if she had no idea what to do, Luciella will find a way to get out of the situation and tell her comrades that she's an impostor.