Chapter 10: Chapter 49 – Cresta’s Regret

I awakened to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Ange had me trapped in her arms, but something new enveloped me that was a first. Where her wings were normally tucked in behind her back, were now wrapped around me like a cocoon.

Our hands were still intertwined. Both rings glistened from what little light escaped past the curtains. As much as I wanted to keep holding her hand, I had to unfortunately let go to check my phone, but not without first pulling the sheets over her shoulders to keep her warm.

A pointless act, since she had fallen into the habit of erecting a barrier of magical warmth this winter to protect me. But one I did regardless and without hesitation.

I guess my confession meant we were in a relationship now. We probably weren't the first interspecies couple, but this was still new to me. In a lot of ways. Did I have to report to the professor about this? The rulebook for otherworld caretakers I had to study before becoming one didn't prohibit such pairings.

When I checked my phone, it turned out to be from Professor Markel telling me to go to the front door. It was four in the goddamn morning.

"This early?" I mumbled to myself, still half-asleep and much rather be lying next to my new succubus girlfriend.

I slipped on a robe and fought the chills as I descended the stairs.

Sure enough, Professor Markel and his usual contingent of armoured vehicle escorts were in the parking lot. He walked up to the entrance of the dorm and apologized for waking me up.

"Isn't it kind of late." I squinted at him, clutching my robe tighter to my chest because of how cold it was. "If it's about another tenant, couldn't you have sent an email or waited until morning?"

"Morning for me was four hours ago. This is urgent enough that you have to be informed right away and in person. High-King Tarcosa of the Empire of Granieda has invited you to Weyera— by name," the professor said.

The both of us stood there gawking at each other.

"I'm still asleep. I could have sworn you just said—"

"You and Cresta will be going to Weyera in two weeks. A temporary caretaker will be assigned to the dormitory. Pack light." He nodded and started walking away.

"What kind of bombshell is this?" I yelled to his back. "I thought this was about a new tenant!"

"Potentially!" he shouted back.

When everyone woke up, we had a meeting in the living room about what the professor had told me. Several of the tenants were noticeably upset.

"Absolutely not! I refuse to let you go to that wasteland without me there to protect you." Ange frowned, hands clenched and brows furrowed.

She was the most vocal and perturbed that I was going to Weyera, and she had a right to be. The memories from when I dove into Remmy's mind of their world in shambles looked bleak and dangerous.

Tamara trotted up to me and tugged on my shirt. "Does that mean you and Cresta won't be taking me to school?"

"Oh, we will! School for you starts in a week. That's five whole days we get to see you off for. Then until I come back, my substitute will look after you. Ange and Ines can be there for you, too." I glanced at Ange whose expression softened upon meeting the girl's gaze, then at Ines who nodded at my request.

"When you're gone… I can help… clean the house," Remmy assured me.

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"Come on, guys. I'm not leaving yet. It's two weeks out, and we'll only be gone for a few days. Hopefully…" I mumbled the last part to myself.

Color me surprised that Remmy was taking the initiative to do something like that again. Were the other sides of her coming back? Atlhough, it was hard to take her seriously while she wore the rabbit onesies Tamara and Cresta gifted her.

Damn. There was just too much going on. Things were going great, and I had to be pulled away from this world. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about visiting their original home. The problem was the professor left a little too much room for speculation on what I was going to Weyera for. The High-King himself invited me. Why?

My eyes fell on Cresta who had been sitting quietly next to Remmy on the couch, deep in thought and without a word of input since I told her.

"Cresta, you must agree that Weyera is no place for a human. Despite all your strength, even you will have a hard time protecting him there." Ange pleaded to her in search of allies.

"You're right," she began, at last looking up at the rest of us. "Which is why I think the only reason could be because Pesha is alive."

Ange went as pale as a ghost, tail tucked between her legs and wings flat on her back.

"Impossible… my kind had done everything they could to—" She put both hands to her mouth as her eyes widened in shame.

"I already know, and I don't blame you for what happened anymore. Tarcosa fought for me to come to earth for a new life. I can't think of any other reason why he wants me to go back," Cresta said.

"Pesha… Isn't that the person you carved into a pumpkin? Who is she?" I asked, only to receive the shocked stares of every Weyeran in the room.

"Irapesha Bloodtalon was a legendary dragonewt warrior feared by even the demon lord I served. Her stratagem and skill in the battlefield dealt the demon armies fatal blows one after another. We were always on the losing end when she showed up," Ange answered. Even she, who was once an enemy, could not hide her admiration for this individual.

"It's as Ange said. Pesha was damn good at what she did. Even with my enhancements, she was able to overpower me every single time we dueled. She was… Pesha was my best friend," Cresta uttered, on the verge of tearing up.

Tamara ran up to console her with a hug, and Cresta rubbed the wetness around her eyes away on the wool.

From what I understood of their past, Cresta used to be under Pesha's command. I distinctly remembered her telling me that she botched an assassination attempt, which led to her commander sacrificing a number of soldiers to save her. Could they be the same person?

I swallowed my hesitation. "If it isn't too much to ask. What happened to Pesha?"

"A general who is long dead now laid a trap for Cresta and… " Ange almost hesitated to finish her sentence, but found resolve upon meeting my eyes. "They used her as bait to lure Irapesha out. I'm sorry, Cresta…"

Tamara let Cresta go so she could face the succubus. I knew better than to think they would break out into a fight over this. Both of them had come a long way as roommates, and I'd go as far as to call them friends now.

But when Cresta stuck her hand out, the most surprising thing was what came out of her mouth next. "I'll bring Akira back in one piece. I'm the best goddamn assassin in both worlds after all! Just don't complain if I have to slaughter scores of demons to do so."

"Well, I would have done exactly the same." Ange returned the smile and shook on it.

While I was glad to know Cresta would be watching my back, it made me uneasy that they had this discussion to begin with. Their worry was evidence of how dangerous Weyera currently was even years after the Calamitous War had ended. I needed to be vigilant, too.

Irapesha Bloodtalon. When I asked the professor, his response was 'potentially'. This wasn't going to be a simple act of picking up the tenant and going home. Hopefully I could close this chapter in Cresta's life that caused her so much grief. 

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