Chapter 19: Chapter 18 – Cumulonimbus VI

「Nightslayers...?」 Xal asks after hearing the retelling.

「Yes, do you know them?」 Rosaria asks.

Xal touches his chin, in deep thought for a moment, 「Several groups and factions sprang up during the war, while everything was chaos and everyone was leaving. Back when the spirits were dispersing, exhausting the region of mana.」

He looks at Rosaria with a serious face before continuing, 「Everyone was busy fighting off the Demon King so this region has been largely ignored, giving these factions free reign to establish whatever they wanted in Wilderness. Nightslayers must be one of the factions with a so-called 'Regis' lording over this place, in lieu of an actual ruler.」

His voice takes on a tone of annoyance while he kneads his forehead with his hand.

「We aren't at all ready to start challenging these factions. We were supposed to keep a low profile while I prepared the stage,」 he looks at Percibell disapprovingly, 「Instead you go and bring us unwanted attention...」

Percibell avoids his gaze with drooping ears, like a child forced to witness her parents arguing. Her hand is still on Rosaria's lap while receiving her healing magic.

Rosaria purses her lips and frowns, 「Oh shut up, if it was that important to you then why didn't you let me know? Are you really stooping down to a blame game now?」 her tired voice is soft yet sharp, cutting through the tense air that makes Percibell uneasy.

「In fact, you never do tell me anything, do you? Knowing about these factions might have prevented today's altercation,」 Rosaria continues.

With no counter, Xal sighs and looks down at the floor.

「To tell you the truth, I thought you would give up and run back to your kingdom not long after experiencing this kind of life,」 he admits.

「Fufu... you fool. You have so little faith in me... you've got to start letting me in on your plans too.」 Rosaria says, leaning onto Xal's chest, her voice sounding even more exhausted.

All of a sudden, she starts hyperventilating.

「Hey? Are you alright?」 Xal looks at her, his arms hovering over, hesitating to touch.

Percibell, who has been enduring and waiting diligently, looks at her with a worried face and drooping ears.

「I think I may have overdone it, heheh... wait, should almost be done...」 Rosaria responds, her voice tapering off to a mumble. The glow on her hand over Percibell's fist starts weakening.

The cuts on Percibell’s fist have already closed and only small traces of them remain.

「It's... weird... it has been about an hour... normally this... should...」 Rosaria mutters, struggling for breath. She directs her gaze upwards to Xal and asks him tentatively, 「Do you think this is because...?」

「Yes, most likely,」 Xal replies with a knowing look.

「It's just like I predicted. I'm actually surprised it took this long to happen.」

He caresses her cheek while looking at her with a guilty expression.

「I told you to stay back, didn't I? Why did you so foolishly choose to follow me when you had everything? Look at what's happening to you...」 he laments.

「Heheh... that Goddess must really have it out for me,」 the princess laughs softly, ignoring his inquiries.

Her tired and sleepy eyelids slowly fall down and the glow around her hand stops before her arm slackens and drops to her side. Her chest is moving up and down with a regular rhythm. She's in deep sleep.

Xal lifts the sleeping and exhausted princess and starts walking toward the private chambers.

「Wait here,」 he sternly commands the elf.

「W-will she be alright...?」 Percibell tentatively asks with a worried face.

Xal only responds with silence as he walks out.

Putting her shirt back on, she sits to wait on the couch with a downcast look.

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Left alone in the room, her eyes start wandering. While looking at the parquet wooden floor, she spots something small, ashy, and brown, all crumpled up. She picks it up and looks around for the trashcan, meandering around the furniture.

A few minutes after, Xal returns and stands before Percibell. He looks down at her with a solemn face.

「I-I'm sorry…」 Percibell inadvertently apologizes with drooping ears, afraid to raise her head.

「I don't think we've formally introduced ourselves, have we? I am Xalvari, once part of the Demon King subjugation party. What is your name, little elf?」 Xal asks.

Surprised by the inquiry, the elf puts her two feet together and straightens her back.

「Eh... No... Ehm, I-I am Percibell, uhh.. of the wind tribe...?」she replies and notices a slight tinge of disappointment showing on his face.

Finding the mood awkward, she averts her eyes while trying to find a purpose for her arms.

「Have you thought about your intentions, what you want to do? Has Rosaria told you about our offer?」 Xal asks.

Glancing back at him, Percibell responds weakly, her voice struggling to get out.

「T-the offer t...to… be your c-concubine?」

Xal’s eyebrows twitch and his lips contort into a mixture of discomfort and forced politeness before sighing and kneading his brows.

「Rosaria...」 he mutters almost voicelessly.

He crouches a little, matching the elf's eye level, and says. 「No, forget about that for now, little elf... We are offering you a maid position. You help us around the house while living with us and get paid, alright?」

He pauses for a moment trying to gauge the elf's reaction but continues when he notices she seems to be taking time to process the words. 「If that’s not to your liking, you may also leave,」 he nods towards the hallway leading to the exit.

「Eh—?」 Percibell raises her head in surprise at the unexpected proposition, noticing Xal's solemn look.

Silence once again falls over the room. The last rays of the setting sun cause long shadows from the chairs, sofas and vases to creep up against the far wall, extending over the two.

Percibell looks at the side table and spots her bow and quiver along with arrows laying bare next to it. Biting her lip with a downcast look, she clenches her fist before softly muttering, 「I... want to leave…」

Xal takes a deep breath.

「Rosaria is going to be disappointed... but if that’s your choice, then so be it,」 he says and promptly straightens his back, before pointing to the door he came from.

「Go through this door, down the corridor and to the right. That's the kitchen. Take whatever food you want. Leaving through the main door should lead you to a road you can follow, though it takes a while. We will not provide any of our horses though.」

He reaches inside his pants pocket and takes out a small pouch before handing it out to Percibell, saying 「I hope you won't hold it against Rosaria. Here, these coins should last you a month... since you’re an adventurer, maybe a few.」

「Huh… n-no… I…」

Her eyelids flutter and tears start dropping down her cheeks.

「Just take it,」 he insists. Following his order, she carefully takes the pouch with both hands.

Xal puts his hand over Percibell's head. Unsuspecting, she winces and jitters, pulling away from his touch and glaring back in fear. Noticing his gesture and confused expression, she becomes flustered and stands up properly. Warily, she nods and waits with closed eyes, letting him put his hand on the crown of her head.

A soft glow emanates from Xal's hand, and spills over her hair before disappearing inside her body.

「This should get you through the barrier. Don't get yourself killed out there,」 he says.

He removes his hand and starts walking away without looking back, heading towards a corridor away from the kitchen. He leaves Percibell who is touching her head and looking at her palm with surprise. Before exiting, he hears a hushed voice speaking, 「Thank you…」

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