Book 16: Chapter 3


    Your Highness!


    I finally saw the magnificent city again. Thest time I saw it was about half a year ago. Previously, Id spend an entire month here with my mom and Lucia, but it felt distant to me upon seeing again.


    The guard below the city wall respectfully saluted me, Your Highness, Her Highness has already told us to take you back to the imperial pce once you arrive.


    The guards wouldnt question my whereabouts. They allowed me and the White Deer King into the city. I shook my head: Dont rush; I still have something to do. Ill head to the imperial pce once Im finished with business. Dont worry about me.


    Understood.


    Duargana felt foreign when I saw it, but after entering the city, the past vividly returned to me. Elves and humans had different concepts of time. For that reason, the elven city didnt change in the slightest. The White Deer King trotted along the blue stone path with her head held high. It was clear that the White Deer King was ted to return. I didnt n to go and die, but since I was in Duargana, I needed to visit someone I was familiar with and was also my good friend.


    I arrived at the vige of the dark elves in the city. Elves didnt like toe to the area, as they considered it to be an inauspicious and revolting ce. Nobody wanted to live or do business in the area, either. Thus, Mommy Vyvyan hadnt decided what to do with the ce. As a result, it was deste for the meantime. It hadnt been a year, yet all except one house had be dpidated.


    I went up to Meras house. The flowers still bloomed. Everything remained in the same state as when I left. Mera nearly killed me, but Mommy Vyvyan fulfilled my request. A long time had passed; even so, her house was maintained as though it was still inhabited.


    I went inside. There were no traces of someone living inside. Still, it was neat and tidy. I went into the bedroom. I was familiar with everything inside. The traces of Meras time in the house had already vanished long ago. Her scent was no longer detectable. Even her furniture had been swapped out. I knew they had to swap the furniture out owing to the poor condition of the originals, but I surprisingly lost the sense of nostalgia back then.


    Mera once lived there, yet it surprisingly felt foreign to me when I visited again. As a matter of fact, I felt as if I was in foreign territory. I knew Mera lived in the home, and I knew who she was, but I couldnt connect the two.


    I didnt lie down. After a short silence, I softly expressed, Mera, Ill visit you again. I dont know how many more chances Ill get to visit you, so I always try my best to visit you when Ie back, but the traces of your life continue to disappear. Im already feeling that its foreign to me.


    I choked on my emotions. I looked around at the silent house and asked myself, If I forget to visit one day, will I nevere again? Ill forget you, wont I? Im now a dragon, but my memory and mind hasnt changed. Meras traces can no longer be found in her house, so how will I remember her in the future?


    I took out the small book in my shirt. Meras book of forms was the most valuable asset she left me with, and it was the mark she left in this world. If I lost it, how was I going to remember her? Luna had returned to my side, but Mera no longer had anything.


    The house sparked poignant memories. I desperately tried to recall the traces of Meras existence. I wanted to remember them more vividly to make the memoryst longer. I wondered, I might have very few chances toe back in the future. I wont see her house, and if I dont use pharmaceuticals, will I forget Mera forever?


    I walked over to Meras bed and carefully sat down. I pressed my hand down onto the bed sheet. Noticing something odd, I stood back up and stared at the mattress. I analysed, Theres something bizarre about this mattress. Nobody woulde into Meras house when Im not present. To be precise, nobody would live here even if they dide in. Theyre just cleaners, so they wouldnt live here, but the mattress is warm for some reason.


    If I was an elf or a human, I definitely wouldnt be able to detect it, but my scales were sensitive to heat. As soon as I touched the bed, I felt warmth, albeit faintly. Somebody apparently slept there and then did the bed before they left.


    I tried to figure out what happened: Somebody lives here? The elves wouldnt live here, would they? Could it be a dark elf? That seems imusible. They were dered extinct when Mera died. Mommy Vyvyan couldnt possibly have spared a single one. Mommy Vyvyan wouldve killed everyst one of them, as they attacked me. Mommy Vyvyan wouldnt slip up, so I dont need to worry about that. So, who was it?


    I suddenly heard rumbling downstairs. I left the room. A guard nearly struck me with his spear. Well, he actually did make contact with his thrust, but my dragon scales protected me. Shocked, he shrieked and then threw his spear down and immediately dropped to his knees. I shook my head to indicate that I didnt mind. Instead, I looked at a group of guards holding down a body. I queried, What happened?


    Sorry!! Your Highness!! I am very sorry! I did not think that it was you! I am very, very sorry!!


    Its fine.


    Sorry! Sorry!!


    I irritably pulled him up then questioned, I asked, what happened?


    He lingered for a moment then straightened up: The truth is is is that somebody trespassed on the property. It seems to be a tramp has been living here the entire time. However, due to this ce being sealed off, no elves are permitted to reside here. It took us a long time to catch her. She is rtively ruthless. She has stabbed several of ourrades with her dagger. That was why I was very tense. I apologise. I apologise.


    I shook my head: Im all right.


    I looked at the girl donning a small and tattered cloak the guards were holding down: What are you going to do with her?


    We will probably lock her up for some time, and then arrange housing for her As Her Highness is benevolent, I am sure she would handle it that way.


    In my mind: If you ask me, if Mommy Vyvyan finds out that you stabbed me, youll die.


    I nodded Thats great. Do that. We should provide the homeless with a home. I wont interfere with the matter, then.


    I am very sorry, Your Highness.


    I told you Im all right.