Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 779: Lost In The Stars

Note: This Chapter is about rest. So rest; you deserve to relax from time to time. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Try to enjoy the little things.

Melenai Curlhorn–a daughter of a line of sages known to serve giants as their advisor. From ancient times, her blood had helped chart the course of mortal history. Residing over the shoulders of giants, they were amongst the few whose influence had far surpassed their battle prowess.

Blessed with a tongue that could turn their very words into power, her ancestors had lived a life full of purpose in their service to the giants. Sketching the contour of known problems and further outlining ways to deal with them–that was the essence of the Curlhorn name. It was...

Hollowed from the inside out, the girl, last of her name, sits at the edge of the glassed wall. Away from all distractions, she peered into the sky and thought to herself.

’What did I do wrong that they ended up like this?’ Seeking the wisdom of her ancestor, she peered into the night sky. Hoping that one of them would bring her an answer, but deep down she knew that as servants of Asmareth and carrying demi-human blood, none of them must’ve made it to the heavens.

For a moment, she even looked to the ground–curious as to whether she could converse with her ancestors that may have been stuck in purgatory or the hells. But alas, once again there was no answer, for what became of their souls nobody but the devils would know.

’Maybe it was my fault, after all...’ Her mind drifted like the wind over turbulent and cold currents. Isolating herself in what used to be her secret place to play pretend with her young brother, she couldn’t help but blame herself for everything that had gone wrong. ’None of the others ever had to kill their own master. Maybe it was my guidance that was lacking, and it wasn’t entirely the giant’s fault.’

Forgetting about all the times when she’d been begging the giants to see sense, the demi-human girl placed the weight of burden upon herself. Sulking under the weight with her back against the rocky blocks of the walls, Melenai placed a hand on her heart and stared at the night stars.

"I should’ve known my ancestors trained their palate for poison." Huffing a sigh, she couldn’t help but chuckle at her lack of foresight. "Too bad I didn’t extend that practice to the giants whom I served."

Saved by her blood from the greater effects of Muena’s poison, Melenai wondered what else she’d never thought about that would’ve come naturally to any other Curlhorn–even her late younger brother.

Stretching her right hand to the sky, she chased an innocent thought. Gone long before she took her post, where would he be amongst the stars? A bright twinkle, as was his personality, or something more elusive, like the way he often tried to sneak out of the house? If only there were some way to find out, perhaps that would be the balm for her current ache.

"You’re here." The sudden voice of another woman made the demi-girl squint her eyes. Picking herself off the ground, she sat upright and turned around. "Everyone has been looking for you all day."

"So you sniffed me out?" A wolf chasing after a lamb–how poetic, she thought.

"No, Raven found you first, but I volunteered to check on you alone since you’re so close to the edge of the wall." Slowly moving her head away from Regalia, Melenai turned to look just how close she truly was. "We didn’t want you to do something harsh."

"Why do you care?"

"What?"

"Why do you care?" Turning her head back to the demi-wolf, Melenai gave her a fierce look. "You said you volunteered. Why? Because we both served giants, is that it? Is that supposed to make me like you?"

Shaking her head, Regalia quickly glanced back for a moment before turning around and walking closer to Melenai. Taking a seat next to her without asking, the wolf stared into the distance at the night sky.

"I know you killed them; I wanted their blood to be on my hands." Taking a deep breath as Melenai’s eyes widened, Regalia heaved a heavy sigh. "But I’m currently processing something. A mistake. Still, I didn’t want anyone else to know that your blood reeked of the same poison as was in that wine bottle."

Falling silent, the bard lowered her shoulders. Feeling defenseless with her secret being out of the bag, her body almost seemed like it had loosened up entirely.

"Here to get me for the dungeons?" Offering her hands as if expecting to be shackled, Melenai lifted her head and looked somberly at the wolf demi-human. "I thought I would get some more time before someone caught on, but guess not."

"Hmm..." Pushing her hands back, Regalia leaned forward and squeezed her legs towards her chest. "You did the right thing. I wish I could say the same for myself."

"About what?" Lifting an eyebrow, Melenai grew a bit curious and leaned closer. "The giant you served? Is this about them?"

"No, something recent." Silence fell between the two, and the quiet of the night settled them in. Sitting beside each other, one expected to be hauled away while the other had no intention of telling anyone what she’d found.

However, as the winds grew calmer, the bard’s lips moved once again. She inquired about the giants that Regalia served, and although at first she was reluctant, the wolf girl spoke with a hint of pride in her words.

"Serving under him... It was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced in my life." With a light smile tugging on her lips and her arms wrapped around her knees, Regalia huffed. "If he wanted to move a mountain, the creatures of the land would’ve parted it themselves. If an enemy knew his army was approaching, we could see the ache in their eyes, for they didn’t want to hurt his subject, and yet in war, it was inevitable."

"Sounds like he was well-liked," Melenai whispered back.

"Understatement of the century," letting out a chuckle, Regalia lifted her head and looked at her. "The man who slayed dragons–one title amongst many; even his enemies, except the dragons, loved him. But life’s cruel, isn’t it?"

"Yes...yes, it is." And so the girls confided in each other, talking about their worries before it soon turned into talks about each other. Regalia’s powers as a warlock with three patrons and Melenai’s inherent skill to turn words into magic or even scribe letters into the air as if she were writing reality itself.

The night waned on, and the girls felt light, but in their own words, life is cruel, and there was no end to their problems. There may be peace now, but who knows about tomorrow?