Chapter 57: Questions
616 Words
“How did I?”
Staring down at her hands, Ivanna was startled and confused. “What happened?”
She was thinking about how she knew how to break the spell the cloaked man created to separate the emperor from the knights
‘Really, who are you, Meredith?’
She looked at her body. It quite frustrated her how she found out that her very identity of Meredith was full of mystery.
“You must have the power to nullify spells”, Hikaru said, who she had just met secretly once she had visited the fortress of the Society of the Saffron Veil.
She left the palace in the middle of the night, using the same secret route at the back of the servant’s quarters.
Ivanna gawked at him, “Do those kinds of people exist?”
Hikaru nodded his head aggressively, “Yes! They did exist.”
“Have you met them?” Ivanna’s eyes brightened up.
“Yes!” Hikaru nodded again.
“Who? Can you tell me?” She had hoped. Maybe, if she could meet them, they would have an answer.
“Why? You know her already!” He raised his brow.
“What? Who among those people I know?” She pondered.
“It’s you!” He said, pointing his fingers at her with an incredulous look.
Ivanna facepalmed and pursed her lips. “I’m not expecting a dumb answer! You don’t know how much I risk going here even without an official assembly.”
Hikaru gave her a quizzical look, “Who are you referring to as dumb? Is it me?!”
Her face turned blank, looking at him, “It’s you without a doubt.”
“You–” He was about to retort when a ginger head obscured his view of her.
“Hey, sweetheart,” pushing back Hikaru and extending her hand to reach for Meredith’s hand. “How are you?”
Hikaru got teary eyes, “Don’t set me aside. Hear my complaints!”
However, the two women completely ignored him, as if they were so immersed in their own world.
“Ashyra! I’m glad to see you again,” she beamed. She gave her hand to the ginger-haired girl and allowed her to plant a kiss on the back of her palm.
She'd gotten used to it since Ashyra told her it was a custom running in the family. If you’re a warrior, you should give a respectful greeting to every woman you knew in your life – kissing the back of their hands was one of the forms of greetings.
“I’m more than glad to see you, my dear.”
“Stop with those sweet endearments. It made me cringe!” Hikaru complained on the side.
Ashyra then glared at him. ‘She’s scary!’ He flinched. Thus, he turned silent after that.
“He’s right, Ashyra. Even me, couldn't help but cringe,” Meredith chuckled.
“Nah. I want to call you sweetly!” Ashyra pouted and Ivanna found it adorable.
“Fine. Say what you want. Do what you want,” Ivanna laughed. “I’ll be your sweetheart.”
Ashyra chuckled and grinned widely, “I love that! I won’t ask for more.”
They both cracked in laughter like good old friends. While Hikaru silently sulked behind them. He then instead grabbed his broom and started to sweep the dusty floor of one of the fortress's open fields.
‘Ashyra, do you have a person who knew that could nullify magic?“
“I don’t have, but perhaps one of my buddies at the club knows someone.”
Ivanna had hoped. She became determined to find out who Meredith really was.
- Writer
