"What am I to you?"
She asked, making me turn silent.
I leaned back on the chair as I thought about it.
Honestly, I had no idea.
And it's not like Valeria is someone whom I meet on daily basis.
I didn't know anything about her— all the information I had about her was from the game.
And it's been so long since I stopped relying on that information.
There were too many factors that made it impossible to rely on them anymore.
Again, she could be the mother of my child.
Zaira could be my daughter.
But...
...Is that really true?
In the end...
"I don't know," I replied, shaking my head. "I have no idea."
"...I see," she replied with a gentle nod.
The waiter brought us our cakes, placing them on the table.
I cut them into small pieces as I fed them to Zaira.
She ate them with a bright smile on her face.
"Valeria," I called her while keeping my gaze on Zaira.
"Yeah?"
"Is there a reason why you can't talk about your past?" I asked, glancing at her. "The past related to me."
It's been some time since I noticed it.
People don't usually take his name or even know who he was.
Everyone I've talked to about 'him' never said his actual name.
Even Nadya's mother didn't know 'his' name.
It's like 'he' isn't something that should exist but still does.
"It's forbidden," Valeria replied, staring into my eyes.
"Why?"
"I can't tell you that," she replied, shaking her head.
"Why?" I asked, frowning.
"Because it's forbidden."
"..."
What the fuck?
"Wait, who forbade it?" I questioned as I cleaned Zaira's face.
"The world's laws themselves," she replied nonchalantly.
And my head buzzed with confusion.
She can't be serious.
Don't the world's laws represent the origin laws?
The laws that govern the world.
The reason why mana can't be destroyed.
Why gods can't enter the mortal world.
Why time always moves in a linear motio—
Oh.
Right.
I messed with time, didn't I?
"How did you guys meet?" Zaira's question made me look at her.
The little girl's curious gaze shifted between Valeria and me.
Curiously, I also looked at Valeria, eager to know how we actually met.
"He saved me from certain death," Valeria replied with a gentle smile. "Like a prince charming he is."
Ugh.
I didn't know how I should react.
"That worked?" I asked, knitting my brows.
Isn't that the cheesiest way to impress someone?
"Is there a problem?" Her smile vanished as she asked.
"Nope," I hastily shook my head while standing up. "I'll pay."
Walking toward the counter, I paid for the cheesecakes.
Meanwhile, my mind kept replaying her words.
'Should I ask about my mother's situation? '
I wondered while walking back to them.
Valeria had now placed Zaira in her lap, and they both were talking happily.
'...No.'
I quickly dismissed that idea.
I need to confront her on my own.
Both Stephanie and Sarah are important in my life.
But...
...They don't feel like they're honest.
"Here," Valeria picked Zaira up and passed her toward me. "Ask him."
Though confused, I grabbed her while she excitedly looked at me.
"Can we do that again?" she asked, her voice pleading.
"What?"
"That, uh, when we arrived here."
"Teleportation?" I asked as she struggled for the word.
"Yeah!" she exclaimed.
I glanced back at Valeria, who just nodded her head.
"Sure, why not?" I replied with a smile as I wrapped the space around us.
...
...
...
The sun loomed close to the horizon as we walked through the empty streets.
While playing around with Zaira, I had moved far away from the capital.
And the girl who was the cause of it was sleeping peacefully in my arms.
"What are you going to do now?" my gaze shifted to my side as Valeria asked.
"Return to the academy," I replied, gently rubbing Zaira's back. "I have some things to take care of."
"..."
Valeria quietly looked at me.
"Something you want to say?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Just some advice, but you should leave the academy," she whispered softly, looking at the sky. "You're limiting yourself by wasting your time there."
"Come on, I can't be an illiterate—"
"Qualifications don't matter when you're strong," she cut into my words. "And I believe you already have enough knowledge to riot in the academy."
"...."
I quietly nodded my head in response.
She wasn't wrong.
I only joined the academy because of the game, Grace, and Aeloria.
I really didn't want Grace to die, and I'm trying my best to stop that from happening.
Aeloria is a complex case.
Depending on the situation, she could be a friend or foe.
Mostly annoying.
'I need to deal with her soon.'
I made a mental note as I glanced at Valeria.
"Anything you want to suggest?" I asked. "Something that will help me."
"Hm." She lowered her gaze, deep in thought. "...Why don't you visit Solace Kingdom?"
"Solace?" I asked, tilting my head. "Isn't it just a small kingdom at the edge of the Darkoina Continent?"
"Yeah," she nodded in agreement. "But remember what it's famous for?"
"...The world's biggest library," I mumbled as I remembered it.
Valeria nodded her head while halting her steps.
"Anyway, it's time to return home," she said as she gently brought her hands toward Zaira.
Reluctantly, I passed the little girl back to her.
She stood in front of me, her head gently lifted to look into my eyes.
She brought her hand up, patting my head like she did the first time.
"I hope the next time we meet... we aren't strangers," she whispered with a gentle smile.
"..."
I didn't comment on her words.
Her sad gaze lingered on my face for a while before she turned around.
Her body vanished the next instant.
"...Sigh."
I sighed as I gently rubbed my temples.
Everything seemed way too confusing.
Things that didn't make sense kept happening.
I sighed again as I looked around.
The streets were almost empty, with no one around.
The trees beside rustled gently as a wind rushed past.
I started to walk once again, gazing at the sunset.
Buzz.
But my steps halted as I felt something odd.
The world around seemed to slow down while goosebumps emerged all over my body.
I felt a familiar energy.
An energy that only I should be able to use.
...Star Energy.
But not from my own body.
I slowly turned around.
A portal filled with small stars slowly conjured in front of me.
Made from my very own Star Energy.
A tall woman walked out of it.
The first thing I noticed about her was two large, curved black horns extending from her head.
Her flowing black hair cascaded down in waves, creating a contrast against her pale skin.
Her face was delicate yet fierce, with glowing golden eyes that bored into me.
A silence lingered between us.
While I felt my body tense up in her mere presence.
Controlling my heartbeat, I gently asked.
'...Edda, her status.'
=======================
Name: Zadie Ivy Fitzgerald.
Affiliation: ??????
Mage Path: ??????
Mana Points: ??????
Knight Path: ??????
Danger Level: It was nice knowing you, Eden.
=======================