To be honest,
Most of the relationships I’ve formed in this world didn’t end well.
I like to think that, in most cases, it was due to circumstances beyond my control… but still, that’s how things turned out.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Pricia Eldainus.
That elf standing before me now was one of them.
Territories ruled by non-humans on the continent—
In the distant past, there were two races that united and led all the others.
The elves, blessed by the World Tree.
The beastkin, revered as the descendants of divine beasts.
These two races joined hands and ended the chaotic conflicts between non-human races.
The modern shift in how non-humans were perceived
It was largely thanks to their efforts.
Pricia was one of them.
A high elf, the most noble of elven bloodlines.
With the signature green hair that only they possess, it was obvious to anyone that she was no ordinary person.
She was the same even in the game.
Not a playable character, but like Kiana Edenweiss, she had a leading role.
I met her before I even enrolled at the academy.
And that encounter was half coincidence.
…Strange. I clearly remember we parted with a smile last time.
Swoosh—!
I barely dodged the wind blast she launched at my head.
A tree behind me snapped with a sickening crack.
…She’s seriously pissed.
“Um… Pricia? Isn’t that a bit much for a greeting after so long?”
“You seriously have the nerve to say that right now? Do you have no shame?”
“I mean…”
What did I even do?
—That’s what I wanted to say, but I just barely held it in.
If I had actually said it out loud, there really might’ve been a bloodbath.
“…Ain. Didn’t we make a promise before we parted ways?”
“……”
I clutched my head, trying to remember.
…Not that I really had to think about it. I knew exactly what promise she was talking about.
“…To stay safe and healthy?”
“And?”
“Uh… That I’d come visit often?”
“You remember all that, and you still had the audacity to greet me like that?!”
Rumble—
As if responding to her emotions, the ground trembled.
The once-still lake rippled violently, and the air grew heavy.
Her spirit magic has seriously improved.
Even I, who couldn’t see spirits, could feel it.
Seeing nature itself respond to her will brought back memories.
It was almost touching.
…Not that this was the time to be feeling sentimental.
Thinking about how all that power was about to come crashing down on me wiped the smile off my face.
“Pricia, um…”
“…What?”
“…Could you let me off just this once?”
“It’s too late for that.”
Crack!
Creak!
Boom—!
***
I’ve made up my mind.
From now on, I must never make Pricia angry again.
“I seriously thought I was going to die…”
“Hmph! Serves you right. Who told you to mess up in the first place?”
“I said I’m sorry, didn’t I?”
After the commotion caused by her outburst of anger,
A brief lull settled in, and the two of us sat side by side, gazing out at the lake.
As I finally caught my breath, I began to take in the state of our surroundings.
The once lush meadow had been torn apart and reduced to mounds of dirt, and the lake wasn’t looking too great either.
Trees that once stood tall had been ripped from the ground and scattered all over.
It was, in short, a total mess.
“…Is this really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, don’t the spirits get mad when nature gets wrecked like this?”
“They say they understand how I feel.”
“….…”
Yeah.
I really am the bastard here.
It was a bit lonely, realizing I had no one on my side.
“And this much is fine. Anyway—”
Pricia raised her hand.
In response, the area began to tremble just like before.
.
.
.
A moment later.
“How is it?”
“…Wow. That’s amazing.”
It was truly a sight to behold.
With just a wave of her hand, the wrecked landscape returned to its original state.
She’s basically a cheat character.
“It’s really not that impressive.”
“…This? If you’re too humble, it just comes off as annoying.”
“It’s true, though. Honestly, it’s not even my power. It’s all thanks to the spirits.”
She went on about how this environment made spirit magic easier to use,
And how it was only possible because the spirits here were of such a high rank.
She dressed it up with all kinds of flowery words and humility, but I knew the truth.
When you put all her abilities together, the simple fact was: Pricia was strong.
Based on what I’d seen in the game, she was easily on par with the playable characters.
If she fought seriously, she’d be a real headache.
Even that earlier scuffle was nowhere near her full power.
She hadn’t even used a weapon.
The bow. An iconic weapon of the elves.
And Pricia, even in the game, was considered one of the top-tier marksmen.
People even called her “Divine Archer” if she survived into the late game.
If she had used her bow just now… whew. Just thinking about it gives me chills.
It was probably her way of sulking.
After saying she wanted me to visit often, I hadn’t gone back even once.
She must’ve been upset…. hurt, even.
“Once again… I’m sorry, Pricia. I really have been swamped lately.”
“……”
She looked at me.
But there was no anger in her eyes.
What I saw there was something else—
A gaze clouded with sadness… and concern.
“…Ain.”
“What?”
“Do you really think this is why I got so angry? Because you didn’t come to see me?”
…So that wasn’t it?
I thought hard about what she said, but nothing came to mind.
What could it be? Was there something I didn’t know about?
I really have no idea.
Maybe my confusion was written all over my face.
Pricia looked at me, sighed, and pulled something out from inside her coat.
Then, she held it out to me.
“This. You remember what it is, right?”
“…Ah.”
What she revealed was a branch.
To anyone else, it might’ve just looked like an ordinary tree branch, but this was different.
It was a magical artifact from the start.
And not just any branch; it was a shard fallen from the World Tree.
The artifact made from it held a special power.
Didn’t that artifact… mimic the life force of whoever bled on it?
My memory was hazy, but I was pretty sure that was right.
At her request, I had shed blood on it just days before we parted ways.
I vaguely remembered how relentless she’d been about it. It had worn me out.
Back then, I couldn’t understand why she was so obsessed with a seemingly useless trinket.
Thinking about it now… I kind of get it.
The condition of the branch she showed me was far from good. Even saying that would be generous.
It had withered into a dull black, and it had shriveled compared to when I last saw it.
It looked so fragile, like it might snap with just the slightest touch.
…Just like me.
“Honestly, I was a little hurt that you never came to see me, but I wasn’t angry.”
“I figured you had your reasons. I believed you’d come back to see me eventually.”
“But…”
Pricia looked down at the branch with a bitter smile.
“How do you think I felt, watching this branch slowly wither away?”
“……”
“If you weren’t going to visit me, you could’ve at least stayed healthy. What is this?”
“…I’m sorry.”
After I apologized, a long silence followed.
…What could I even say?
I felt sorry for approaching her so casually back then just to get a single elixir.
No matter what circumstances I had,
I should’ve been more considerate, especially toward a bond that had formed so genuinely.
I could clearly picture Pricia, staring at that dying branch and worrying about me.
God, I really am a bastard.
Cursing myself, I made a quiet promise:
From now on, I’d be more mindful of those around me.
“Well, at least you don’t look like a walking corpse after all this time. …Though I’m sure it’s a different story on the inside.”
“……”
“I won’t ask what’s going on, but please take care of yourself. I’m asking as a friend.”
“…Yeah. I will.”
And with that, the heavy mood finally began to lift.
We spent some time catching up, talking about everything we hadn’t had the chance to share.
Most of it was about her daily life.
“Honestly, I was a little upset you didn’t come to visit… but Noah took it even harder than I did.”
“…How’s she doing these days? You two started school together, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Through her, I got some updates about the other main characters.
Noah. It was the name of a beastkin who had lived with us on the continent of non-humans, along with Pricia.
If even Pricia felt this way… I can’t imagine what Noah must be like now.
Worry suddenly bubbled up.
“Please don’t worry too much. Noah’s still the same as she used to be.”
“…Which is exactly the problem.”
“Is it? Still, I think she’ll be happy to see you again.”
“That’s… probably true.”
Ah, whatever.
It’s not like I’m going to see her right this moment, so I might as well push this worry aside for now.
Every time I did that, I usually ended up regretting it. But thinking it over wouldn’t make things any better, either.
I finally began to steer the conversation toward the main point.
The elixir is one thing… but I should probably ask why she’s even here in the first place.
To be honest, I had a rough idea already.
There was only one reason she’d ever come to a place like this.
Which made it all the more important to confirm.
“Pricia. So… how did you end up here, anyway?”
“Hmm… The spirits called out to me.”
“The spirits? Why?”
“They said they needed help. Apparently someone with a twisted aura keeps bothering them.”
“……”
It was a familiar reason.
Pricia had the highest spirit sensitivity of anyone in the academy.
Even in the game, the spirits turned to her for help, and she always answered their call.
There was definitely a main episode in the game that followed that storyline.
…The problem is, this isn’t when that’s supposed to happen.
Yet again, an episode was being pushed forward.
By someone.
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