Aether : Calraem

Chapter 44: Coven of the Roses(2)

"H-How is this possible?!" Howell Davis exclaimed, unable to comprehend the turn of events. His expression was a mixture of panic and embarrassment.

"You know, I keep getting the impression that people think I'm weak," Nirvana said, crossing her arms. "Am I nothing more than a running gag?"

In the archives of the castle, three people were currently present in a strange turn of events.

In our right corner, we have the ex-Zaba pirate Howell Davis, a well-renowned dryad and very important member in the medical field, rivalling Elaine's level of fame. On paper, this is an all-round nice guy with a respectable personality.

On paper, that is.

As events unfolded with the surprise attack from Damon Roses, instead of trying to inform the captain and Black Pirates, Howell snuck around the castle into the archives. With his bandana removed, his loyalty disappeared with it.

Once he found Nirvana, he chose to attack her instead of continuing the role that he had been playing, using his staff to summon [Red Vines] in her direction. He no longer cared that he broke the rules in attacking a nature goddess.

"!"

But a small mistake that he failed to realise, quickly befell him.

In our left corner, keeping a woman's weight classified, we have the ever lovely nature goddess, the "secret lover of Cortez", the "kidnapped victim extremist" and "pitiful princess", we have Nirvana. She was under the false impression that Cortez stood her up so shs decided to distract herself with books.

That's when Howell arrived and attacked her.

But, fool that he was, he failed to notice a small detail. Something so obvious that one didn't even need to stop and think about it.

Nirvana was a nature goddess.

Before Cortez made it his domain, the true owner of this island was her.

The red vines that erupted from the ground attacked her found a split second, but once shs cracked a smile, they suddenly stopped. Howell had a momentary lapse of judgement and with that, here we are.

"... To make such a blunder...," he muttered.

Strapped against the entryway with those very same [Red Vines], Howell could not move or make a counter. The staff that he valued so much, was now being used as a plaything in front of him. The humiliation that he felt was immense.

Nirvana the other hand, smiled with a carefree nature that somehow didn't match the look in her eyes. She raised the top end of the staff in the air then-

"Hah!"

- bashed him against the side of his head.

The force of the bash could have taken off the head of an average person, but the only evidence that remained was a drop in health, a ruptured ear and a bleeding forehead. Nirvana was really pissed.

"Start talking." She tightened her grip on the staff. "I want to know why. Why would you of all people betray Cortez?"

Are you honestly nothing more than a spineless pirate, she pressed him further.