Tales of Revenants

Chapter 47 – Proposal

Laken understands his burning flame isn't righteous. He's indebted from Alice's assistance before Barbaros' scythe could deliver his demise.

It's also true that he can't let himself be captured by a Heavenly Hero in such a place.

He needed to chase her off no matter what the costs, but he also had the upper hand for Laken reckoned the reason why Alice is helping the mechanoid defenders.

“We came here to aid the Battalion Commander, I won't play with you now, Alice.” Laken used his advantage of having a scary look and glared at her.

Alice steps backward, it turns out it was a little bit effective, “Hm! My priorities are the mechanoid defenders and I also don't have time to have a pointless fight with you, pissant!” She exclaimed with seethed feelings.

Laken deemed it's a good thing the Heavenly Heroes are logical and reasonable, just like how Lena and Luna aren't foolish enough to fight with him in the middle of Ravina's peacefulness.

He's going to search for the rest and assist them when Alice again obstructed his way, “What do you want from me?” Laken questions not lowering his guard even for a second.

“The prospect of my visions isn't lying. I inferred following you will lead me to her, since you know where the Battalion Commander is.” Alice insisted tailing him.

She's following him exactly with each step. Laken groaned not being able to brush her off because she's sensible to see the condition of Sheria.

He's a bit annoyed and irritated so Laken kind of dash towards the north until Xenon's carriage is at sight.

Laken and Alice arrived at the scene when Eirisse finished chanting Mana Spring to refill Sheria's depleted energy limiter.

“Laken! You're safe!” Luciella was so worried she instantly clings onto him.

“I'm sorry I worried you, Luciella.” Laken gave her a pat on the head.

When Luciella roamed her sight beside him, she noticed a very short little girl who had a flashy dress and cool wand who's pouting for some reason.

“Oh, Laken you are here, Sheria's unconscious and her auto-repair function are operating just fine.” Xenon confirmed by tweaking some technomagic settings on her chest through yanking and pulling some wires. Eirisse is observing him pondering why do the coils had different colors.

“Uhm... Laken?” Luciella poked his back seeking to get his attention.

“What is it?” He questions.

“Who is this little girl Laken? Did you bring another one after Lena and Luna?” Luciella inquired with a really ominous gaze.

“Ah, that was Alice, she tailed along to see Sheria's condition,” Laken answered and both Eirisse and Xenon instantly turned their head to check if they are hearing things only to comprehend the Alice he is talking about is the real deal.

Without assuming why she was here, they superficially went on guard, Xenon charged up his Stargazer while Eirisse revealed her sharp claws.

“Wha!” Alice unconsciously hid behind Laken which made the two confused.

Luciella witnessed Alice cradling Laken's white cape, shivering as her eyes were close.

Now that Luciella remembers, Alice resembles someone's behavior. She recognized the little girl hiding behind the lofty asrial back in Eirisse's sanctuary when they were cornered by the five Heavenly Heroes.

“I'm not afraid! It's just a mechanoid guy who thinks he's cool looks stupid, and the vampire lady is...” Alice's putting up an obvious facade by wiping her tears using Laken's cloak.

When she lays her eyes on Eirisse's fangs, it's almost enough for her to faint. Laken figures out that she's the type of person who acts tough but is actually intimidated by her surroundings.

He compared her to the sisters and even if Luna was very shy, she can be confident at times. Laken believed Alice is just hopeless and fragile little girl who tries her best.

The favor has turned for him considering they can take advantage of her personality in a positive direction.

“I wonder why they let children join the rank of Heavenly Heroes these days. First and second are the sisters, and now you? Don't worry Xenon and Eirisse won't hurt you so it's fine.” Laken sounded he's mocking her when he simply wanted to be friendly.

“What? How dare you call me a child? I'm one hundred forty-five years old and knows all the languages around the world! Be it ancient language, runic symbols, everything!” Alice bragged about the things she achieved out of the blue.

What she just said shocked them all except for Laken, “What?! You're an old hag?!” Xenon exclaims as he can't believe her age.

“Impossible... she's one hundred forty-five years old and she's so young? She puts a vampire progenitor myself in shame...” Eirisse stoops and got discouraged by the fact Alice still looks young even though she's over a hundred years old.

“Is that true Laken?” Luciella asked in confusion.

“She's not lying. The celestials had a longer lifespan than any race around the world, though her mental development is the same as fourteen years old in the human span.” Laken described the nature of celestials.

It is true celestials can live up to a thousand years. Many studied why they have a longer lifespan than vampires and still can't find any answers.

Their looks and appearance are the same as humans, they can only differentiate their race with one another when they start to levitate.

The celestials have a deeper connection to the stars and constellations.

They believed because they are blessed with a great amount of mana, but the mystery about their race continues to bring enigma even for the mechanoids who themselves full of secrets.

“But I'm older than you all here! Bleh!” Alice pinching her cheeks while sticking her tongue out proves her childish behavior.

“More importantly, Sheria are you okay now?” She became much more serious, holding Sheria's hand worried, her company arrived together with the other celestials.

Laken put on the white mask. He doesn't want to make the fire bigger than it seems.

One of the celestials approached Alice and delivered his message, “Commander, the Midnight Pentagram fled together with the Nightbeasts, what is your next order?” he asked after giving a salute.

“Assist on fixing Hexer Aerial Battalion's camp. Give them the amount of mana they needed. I shall take care of Battalion Commander.” Alice stood giving them a command with respect.

“Yes, ma'am!” They accepted the task and reciprocated in salute. They left to commenced what responsibility they were given.

Alice taps Sheria's forehead and surprisingly she levitated in the air. Xenon discerns it was a magic that removes one's gravity so she can easily carry her around.

She went and opened the entrance of the nearest military shelter tent that had a layered canopy from above.

Alice beckoned Laken's party over, “You'll answer my inquiry, or I will make you all disappear.” Alice threatens them but it was not convincing when her hand's trembling from uncovering the tent's vestibule.

The party gladly entered the tent, it was truly big enough inside rather than looking it outside.

Alice laid Sheria on a comfy fabric near the lamp before sitting on a portable chair next to a long table.

The shelter tent looks like exactly the place where the commanders of each side discuss their stratagem.

Laken and the rest also joined with Alice. He instigated the conversation, “Before answering your questions, you must answer ours too,” Laken cut directly to the point.

“I presume that was your threat? Eh,” Alice is playing the ends of her hair by coiling her pigtails with her index finger, “Being nice is always my way of living. I actually have a proposal for you, Laken.” She sounded like someone who had the upper hand.

“Hm... tell us what is it.” Laken knew he regretted the decision of speaking first in a negotiation.

“It's really simple, all you have to do is to return the Shard of Cosmos the Voiceless Revenant stole from me, and I promise to tell you anything you wanted to know.” Alice set her proposal to them.

Xenon and Eirisse think it was an inadequate idea to have a compromise on such a scheme considering their goal is to collect the Shards of Creation. They can't just give up what they had for information.

Luciella too believed there should be another way. But when Laken removed his mask and showed his ambiguous grin, they would agree to whatever decision he would undertake.