JEWELED : A TALE OF SAPPHIRES AND RUBIES ( SHORT HIATUS)

19. The world tree.

"We?"

"Of course! I'm coming too!"

"Fine. I was planning on that either way."

"Yay!!"

"But shouldn't you first take permission from him?"

"Ah..the emperor... Okay."

****

"Good afternoon, Father." Athanasia bowed and sat down on a chair opposite Claude.

Today they were having tea in the garnet palace since Claude had a lot of work (cleaning up behind the scenes.) to do.

Claude hummed. He remembered how she would act so cautious around him before and how it had improved over years. A small smile formed on his face at the thought.

Athanasia caught that. She smirked.

"Actually, father, I have a request." She said.

"Yes?" Claude stopped his work as he raised his head to look at her.

"Well, I and Lucas were planning to go somewhere.."

"That warlock?"

"Yeah, my childhood friend."

"I...see..." He remembered how she had cried when that boy got hurt on their first meeting. He didn't know it was a headache or whatever but the fact that Athanasia, who didn't show such emotions to anyone at that time, didn't even bother to hide her worry in front of him.

He knew she held that boy in high importance.

"Where are you planning to go?" He asked.

Athanasia was stunned. She never expected Claude to agree so easily.

"You actually agree?" She blurted out but covered her mouth in shame.

Claude looked at her and then said,

"Yeah, that boy is with you."

Athanasia's face instantly brightened up and she said,

"To the world tree."

This time it was Claude's turn to be stunned.

Of course he knew what the world tree was.

He also knew that not just anyone could reach the world tree.

But he was happy that Athanasia didn't lie to him about their destination.

"World tree?"

"Yes. We have already contacted it." Athanasia replied.

"I see." (Aoi: ah...what a lukewarm reaction... habits are hard to change I see.)

So, this boy may not have been so weak after all.

He also acknowledged the fact that this boy would never do anything to hurt his daughter. If anything, he was relieved that there was someone who could be so frank with his daughter.

Though he regretted the fact that it wasn't him she completely trusted. Of course the regret cannot go away. It could only be peeled off little by little, but he knew, he would surely take this regret with him till his last breath.

"You can go."

"Yay! Thanks dad!" Athanasia blurted out and teleported away.

He did not ask how long she will be gone, he did not ask why she wanted to go. The only thing he said, was 'go'.

****

Athanasia teleported back to her room and excitedly told Lucas,

"Lucas! Father allowed me to go!"

Lucas was surprised.

"That's good. We'll set out tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"You've got to come back before your debutante and the journey may as well take a year."

"Okay then!"

Athanasia was truly excited for some reason at the thought of meeting the world tree.

She swiftly prepared necessary items. (Aoi: FYI the necessary items were sweets and more sweets.)

She informed Lily and Felix about it too and the next morning they were ready to set out!

"See ya!" Athanasia waved her hand at them before hopping into the portal with Lucas.

The void.

"Sia, don't stray too far. You'll get sucked into some random world and cannot return again."

"I swear if something happens to her, you'll pay." The voice sounded.

"I know. You don't need to remind me."

"Okay!" Athanasia replied and stuck beside Lucas.

"A few more minutes and we'll be there."

A few more minutes later.(Aoi: ...)

Athanasia finally saw the end of the void. The farthest end where light shone brilliantly.

They quickly entered it before it disappeared and found themselves in a whole new world.

So bright and otherworldly that Athanasia couldn't help but take a deep breath at the sight.

But even as she did that, despite the unapproachable aura it exuded, she felt inexplicably close to it.

She walked into the otherworldly aura while dragging Lucas with her.

"So beautiful..." She murmured as her eyes were still wide in awe.

"Finally." A voice sounded.

"Huh?" Athanasia was confused and turned to lucas and asked,

"What was that?"

Lucas just looked into the bright extravagant light, sighed and shook his head.

"Let's go inside." He took her inside.

"You've finally come, sister." The voice sounded again.

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(744 words)

Okay, so the next chapter is going to be outright ridiculous.

If you don't like it then do not attack me okay?

Ahhhh....it truly looks ridiculous to meeee....