Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 63

"Where are we headed?" Tim asked, watching as Mila seemed deep in thought, searching for any sign or connection that might lead her to her next beast. Over time, they had grown more attuned to their young lady's patterns, noticing how her actions had become more deliberate and focused as they continued to travel together.

"Hold on," Mila replied, her voice calm but determined. She wanted to try something, to see if it might help her establish a connection. They had just arrived in the town of Pearlrest, nestled within the Asiradda Kingdom. It was a place known for its constant flow of water, making it the perfect starting point in this foreign land. Mila had a feeling that this town, with its deep connection to water, might hold the key to her search.

They were now at the source of a stream where the water flowed with a gentle, soothing rhythm. Mila knelt down and placed her hand into the water, feeling a sensation that was both familiar and new. The water seemed to carry a current of mana, flowing into her as if it recognized her presence. It was as though the water was trying to heal her, sensing some unseen wound and offering its restorative powers.

'Who are you?' A voice emerged from the water, clear and inquisitive. Mila smiled, relieved to know that there were beasts here willing to communicate with her.

'There hasn't been someone like you in ages,' another voice echoed, suggesting that it had been a long time since they had encountered someone with her abilities.

'Why have you come here?' they asked in unison, their curiosity evident. They wanted to understand her purpose, to know why she had traveled to this place.

Mila could sense the genuine curiosity in their voices, a rare occurrence in her journey. "I'm Mila," she introduced herself, her voice steady and respectful. "I'm looking for one of my comrades here. Do you perhaps know someone by the name Kate?" She spoke to the water, which flowed smoothly through the town, though no beast had yet taken form from it.

'Kate?' one of the water beasts repeated, its tone puzzled, while another began to question her further.

'Is she talking about those ice beasts that are always hanging around here?' one of the water beasts murmured, its tone curious. It seemed that ice beasts were a rare presence in the Asiradda Kingdom, especially after so many years.

"Yes, I am," Mila responded quickly, her voice filled with hope. The possibility of finding Kate sooner rather than later filled her with a sense of urgency. "Do you know where she is?" Mila's heart swelled with anticipation—finding Kate was now her top priority, and she didn't want to waste a moment.

'Hm, she's usually everywhere. We just don't know her main location,' the beast replied, sounding a bit uncertain. The ice beast, it seemed, moved freely, and even the local water beasts didn't know where she might be at any given time.

Mila felt a pang of disappointment, her initial excitement dampened by the lack of concrete information. But she couldn't blame the water beasts—they simply didn't know where Kate was, and Mila understood that her beasts had been hidden for good reasons. "Thank you," she said, her tone gracious despite her frustration. "It's good enough that I know she is here. Thanks for the help."

As she withdrew her hand from the water, Mila felt the flow of mana cease. She stood up, her mind already working on the next steps in her search for Kate. But as she rose, a small cough escaped her, and she looked down to see a smear of blood in her palm.

Tim, ever vigilant, rushed over to her side, his expression tense. "You can't keep using so much mana, or have too much gathered in you," he warned, his voice a mix of concern and relief. "It's good that it's not as bad as before. If it were, you might not be standing here now. The mana here is much stronger."