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Velvet pov17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLhspJohD4
I am given a box of letters, the box is surprisingly clean as if it was not from thousand years ago. Laphicet must have kept them well enough. I would like to read them, but then I am afraid to keep Sorey bored, I look at him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ6xPMhqlK
“ It's fine, I have my book to read and I may talk to Laphicet too.” He smiles and encourages me to read those letters, holding a book with leather cover and a golden icon which I saw once in the clinic too. His book is full of tags as if he has read it infinite times, still, this not reduce any interest from him. He must love this book so much, I guess I will ask about it the next time.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMChYwUOuBc
I open the lid of the wooden chest, a paper scent sent to my nose, yellow edges appeared in those sealed letter, but still in a whole, not damaged by any moisture or moth. The box is full of the letters recording one's life, it must be hard to finish it in a day, but I will give it a start.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4xCPNDz0A
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Eleanor POV17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6MHKL8axV
It is sunny today, despite all those horrible events and disaster human went through, they still live strong. Putting on all the items in place in the early morning, shout out their selling goods to attract customers, the people work normally and peacefully as if things never happened. It is glad to see this view, with all the effort Laphicet and the prince Percival has paid.
It will be more joyful if only I can share it with Velvet, but she isn't being here anymore.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbUCIQEXAQ
I want to tell her story to people, but it is unacceptable for them and they can't bear the truth either. It is quite a sarcasm that the one being feared the most is the heroine who saved the world from a mad shepherd who is memorized as a hero. The true savior can't even be given a proper name, but only being memorized as the Lord of Calamity.
Can’t really blame the public, after all, Velvet’s action brought the broke of Abbey and the country, a unification war came up after the broke. Say, to bring the things in shape, we need wars. However, I believed Velvet did right, at last, to let people have their free will and fight but not live like a doll.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sKA0XMZlp
The war is not Velvet’s fault but decided by people, but they will blame the responsibility on the Lord of Calamity.
All I can do is to keep it a secret from the public, what a shame as a friend, but Velvet may want it to be a secret too. She would say she doesn’t want to be a hero and all of that was done for revenge. She always thinks that blaming all the things on the Lord of Calamity would be fine, she even said that several times to me, but as an exorcist, I can’t do it that way. What’s more, I can’t let my friend bear all things alone. I admit, she became my friend later.
Last night of the sailing for the Empyrean’s throne at Port Zekson, she wanted to say something to me alone. We pretended to have a normal conversation, I pretended not to feel a strange atmosphere. We talked about how the world is nice, once her brother had seen the view of hope by looking at the horizon. Except for Laphicet, her voice has never been so soft to others, so gentle that I am surprised, I can know that she must have something important to tell me.
“Eleanor, I have a single favor to ask of you. If anything happens to me, take care of Laphicet.”
“What? Is something that matter?” I was glad that she relies on me finally, but the sentence surely sounds sad.
“The power possessed by the therions and Innominat is fundamentally the same. I have a theory…” Velvet stated while looking at her bandaged left hand. Under the covering, it was the theory claw she used to consume malevolence, now she was thinking of using it for another function.
“No. ‘Theory’ is too rational. A different part of me, something separated from my hatred, want me to do something.” She then denied herself to use the word ‘Theory’, for the rationality in it, she is a person acting by her emotion, but from my point of view now, she always has her rationality with her. This may be why she had the human form even turned into a daemon and now she is like a human to me, to embrace both rationality and emotion together.
“It wants me to leave this world with hope.” Her tone is like saying that it is no big deal, as if she expected her last departure, which made me feel a little scary.
“Wait, you don’t mean…?!”
"Humor me, OK? If the worst happens, I’m counting on you.”
“...I understand. You have my word. I’ll look after Laphicet.” I was glad that she trusts me, but I am not happy with this.
“While I’d love to take advantage of this momentary weakness, I can’t. My oath is to obey your orders until my dying breath.” I turned and walks farther to hide my emotion and then looking at her again to pretend I didn’t notice.
“I’d almost forgotten about all that.” She smiled softly.
“Good thing I kicked your butt after all.” She turned and continue to watch the sea.
She is still as dishonest as before, I wished that she say it is good to know me instead.
The moon of this night is also shining with the stars nearby. The moon shines on the waves of the sea, charming and can't see the true appearance, just like someone who is standing in front of me. She always moves straight ahead, at all costs, and this looks very dazzling in my eyes. We used to be hostile in different camps, with the same age, the same teacher, but with the opposite standpoint. Initially, I joined her camp because of the special task of the spy, and she knew that I was a spy, and she chose to keep me in her team. Now that we are still traveling together, I am still unbelievable about this.
I laughed.
“What are you laughing?” She asked.
“ I thought that I could finally become friends with you.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt1YzhE5Fh
“Just that?”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjxbK7sD9u
“It is an important thing to me!”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ409QxYdxVF
She responded with a short laugh that she was not interested in it.
The journey with her was not entirely happy. On the way, I had seen many different things. Many can't be defined simply by good and evil. It is not black or white. There are many daemons that cannot be called absolute evil, and justice is not completely good either. But they taught me to see everything in my own eyes, to understand, to think, to decide, not to blindly follow the reason for Abbey.
“Now I can see the same scenery next to you. It may be nothing for you, but I'm glad.” I said with my sudden emotion coming up. Velvet sometimes insensitive to the feelings of others, and I will directly express my feeling this time, as I have the strong feeling that it is the last moment for it.
“You are always stuck with something strange. ”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrIhrD9YRZ
“I do not want to be told by you.”
“.....If we met as ordinary people, we would have been good friends.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62G5pxrdJz
“What’s wrong? You are not like yourself today.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LjfTvNDTm
“Nothing, just say my thought, there is no deep meaning.”
“Fuh. Is that so? I do not think so. But, no matter what form we meet, you and I will quarrel for things and finally get along. We are both too stubborn.”
“Yeah, maybe...I'll go back. I will feel troubled when Phi comes to search.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4OAeAmiKL
“I stay here a little longer.”
“Don’t stay out too long. The sea breeze can get cold.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRYRzuvpJs
“...Thank you.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TekrwmzLK
“...I will worry if you get sick, so be back soon.”
“I will return with you now, because an honest Velvet is rare.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESPpCrRQNm
“Fine, fine.”
“....Eleanor, it is good to have you here.” She said with a voice so soft that almost disappearing.
I thought I would be glad if she said that, but it is not. I had no idea how much thought she put in the sincere words, but my heart was painful as I heard.
“It’s just getting started and it doesn’t start without you.” I can’t let the air filled with a silence that it looked like a goodbye and I looked for a substitute.
“Yeah, maybe.” She smiled.
She had known her time come a long time ago, it is her last words to say goodbye and she had gone while taking all the blame from the world.
At least no one remember her true name, except those who traveled together, at least we knew she saved the world and saved us so that her family and herself is not blamed. I can only comfort myself with that.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEBMyD813Y
I see the kids running around the fountain, they live just as they did, never knew the truth behind the peace. I realize the reason to say innocence as bliss, but I don't agree on it.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D9SKsupcE
Then I think of Kamoana, who knew sort of the truth and continue to live, and as I become busier in recent, we can only contract through letters.....17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60lyLXLmxZ
---Wait....letters! Yeah, I may share things with Velvet with letters! Thus I prepared papers and a pen to write a letter.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74E0lkKHNC
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Dear Velvet,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1ahsGUfPZ
This is the first letter sending to you. I don't know whether you will wake up, but I believe there will be a day. I hope there is.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFDr1GQEvI
You really are a terrible person to leave all of us like this, it is hard to forget you. Yet, I am grateful to you too, for saving Laphicet, Kamoana and the other therions, thanks for finding the methods to save the sacrifices, thanks for giving hope to the world. Still, if I had known you planned to do it like that, I would have stopped you and tried to find another way.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadHaLm0TXK
And for now, I will do my best for you sacrifice.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcqxmIKlr3
The Abbey is in progress of destruction, the world is in chaos with that Despite being a betrayer, I try to contract those exorcists I knew and find whoever still having high resonance, so that I may rebuild Abbey with truly correct vision with correct way. Likewise, the country is breaking too, without the support of Abbey and the religion, the army took their region by force, a Unification war broke out to unify the kingdom again. I hate war, but I know it is the only way to bring peace now, so I am trying to support the people who badly affected by the war. To give them foods and resources while the army drained all the resources in war.
For Laphicet, he is being great, I take care of him as you ordered, but I do it not just for your order you know. Believe it or not, he became an Empyrean just after you have gone. He said he wants to protect those weak but also strong and beautiful human like us, this is also what I want to achieve, so I am working with him now. I will build up his reputation in human religion instead of Innominat to keep him in the best state so that he is able to help people.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX3s60zy7w
Last but not least, I would like to talk about Kamoana, I know you would say you are not interested in it but I am gonna talk anyway.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzE6rI5CXC
After the battle, Laphicet's silver flame turn most daemon in the world a human again, same to Kamoana, Medissa and Dyle too. They built a family after that, I guess in our time of sailing, they just built up the relationship. I thought we were great to bring the people from different place meeting each other and becoming a family at last. They told me to say thanks to you, for saving their life but they also mad that you don’t even give a chance to them to say thanks at last. They live strong, as you and Laphicet saved them. It is because of your will and existence, please be proud of that.
Orthie and Russ are being strong now too, they accept their new family and protect them from danger. They are not timid as in the past as you said. I have talked to them for your last, I think they understand and feel sad for you too. They must have forgiven you already, thus, once you wake up, don't blame yourself too much on it. As I said once, you should not bear all the things on your shoulder.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYNCtyWiYD
I may continue to write you letters in the future.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS97CAawEPc
Best wishes,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6GVd6IMuZ
Eleanor Hume17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rstp7wkrw
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As I finished the letter, wind push opened the unlocked window, I stood up and saw the view of Loegres and a bird flying in the blue sky, so I pray that Velvet may fly freely like a bird one day in the future.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGUCLPdxMI
I locked the letter up in a chest.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZpU6Awyrv
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velvet pov17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJHL4mIuIV
“ -----” I wordlessly put the letter in its original manner.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0es9gnDXkb
A feather fell down and I looked up the sky, I see a bird flew away. The wind blows to me and I keep the letter locked from being blown away. I felt the wooden chest become heavier than before but there is nothing other than letters.
I don't know about my feeling now, my heart beat fasting and my body starts tensed up and shaking out. I just try to retain my emotion at the moment, but I feel a warm drop of water on my finger and the warm flow of liquid slid down my cheek, I found my tears drop down unconsciously at last.
I noticed that is the first time I get a letter. Eizen usually sent letters to his little sister in our journey, in one time we talked about the gossip about the writer and the receiver of the letter. I said, “ At least he got a person to write the letter.” I was admiring the things of writing letter although it is irrelevant to my revenge. It is a beautiful but sad thing to me, to send the message in long distance, meaning both the writer and receiver of the letter miss each other but they are separated.
I never admit that Eleanor is a friend to me, I thought I lost all the things on the Scarlet Night. I cared for her because I had to protect the pure vessel for Laphicet. However, deep down, I used to care her and see her as a friend, I had noticed that I forgot her pact of the slave to me until the night I ask her to take care of Laphicet after I died. I have to admit that I miss her, I miss all my friend, even that it is likely impossible to see all of them again. We are likely separated in different worlds, the worlds of life and death.
I hold the wooden chest tightly and whispered “ Thanks, Eleanor.”.
I must say my body became more honest than my mind since I become a human again. I am grateful to Eleanor for writing me the letter. I thought probably none of my friends live in this Age now except for Laphicet. These letters may be the few presents for the memorial to them. Maybe the felt of heaviness of the wooden chest is the weight of Eleanor's mind, One's mind across Millennium, surely heavier than any other letters.
It is glad to hear Eleanor had lived with her will. I think I better not read all letters now but on my way travel with Sorey. It may be much more experienced than just stay in a place. I can sure that she had her new journey at her time too.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdFqfmgjKJ
And now my new journey begins too.
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A.N17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFUqLpcMBu
Originally quite a short chapter, but I try to rich the description in the story. I just want to list some setting after TOB ending without detail writing. Don’t know if I express the meaning good enough or not in the title, I want to express the meaning of “one’s mind thinking towards the other across a thousand years”.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j9buVSWel
The letters from Eleanor may not always come out as a chapter since it will be a disturbance in the plot. If I write the story of Eleanor, that will be long compressed side stories, but yes, she will present in….the future.
P.S. I traced one of the pictures of Eleanor from the animated ending in tales of berseria for the illustration this time.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbBPWy7rFc
P.S.2. reference from りりこ/りこ in pixiv, she(?) captured the friendship very well.
