Elysia in Another World

Chapter 5 - Eighteenth Birthday

After the field trip, the rest of the first year passed by uneventfully. Every outing was accompanied by one of our several guardians. I noticed odd things a few times after the field trip at the end of term one. I'm pretty sure it was the enemy's surveillance, but nothing actually happened.

The only real thing that bothered me since then was the answer to my question. "What was I?" I got the answer, but I still haven't come to terms with it. I still don't know why I locked my memories. I know what Elysia Athas was. It feels unreal. I know I created the system. I remember creating it. I don't know why I created it. But I do know the system is a construct of my origin power. Now that I know what I was, it makes sense that I would be the one to create it.

But what happened that caused me to go so far as to sacrifice myself... to split my soul from my body? One to be used as a glorified battery that has powered the most powerful barrier in history ever since... and one to gather mana to power the rest of Elysium.

But how long can my original body last? I don't know how old I was when I split apart. I still know next to nothing of the past, but I know how powerful my prime is. What in the world could have happened to warrant such an extreme act?

Such thoughts have plagued me ever since.

December 10th... today's date.

Before we knew it, the year was almost over. Yep, I'm eighteen now and of age to marry. Alethea, Michelle, Adele, and I started making plans soon after that outing when Adara and I confirmed who we were with each other. Adele and Michelle were still not at the party, though. What was keeping them?

"Happy birthday, my lady," said one of the many guests. Kye nodded and thanked him quickly before he left to make way for the next person.

I have to greet so many people, and I'm stuck in this dress. I mean... Alethea said I look beautiful, but I really don't like wearing dresses.

Kye glanced beside her where Alethea was standing and smiled.

Never mind how I look, she's the beautiful one here. We're getting married soon. We're chronologically eighteen now, too, though we'll be legally nineteen in less than a month. This world is weird.

"Happy birthday, my lady," said another guest.

That voice is familiar.

"Thank y-" She stopped short when she saw his face. "You!"

Alethea looked over and gasped.

"Who are you?" Kye asked, her expression leaving no room for anything less than an honest answer.

"Greetings, my lady. I am Shiro Shikigami," he answered.

"That name again," Alethea interjected, her hand glowing white.

"Not here, Alethea," Kye said, grabbing her partner's hand. "Your name is Shiro Shikigami?"

"Yes, my lady."

Kye smiled. "Shall we have a discussion in private?"

"Kye!" Alethea protested.

Kye waved her off. "Shall we?"

The man agreed, and Kye announced she would retire for a while.

"Who is that?" Layla asked as Kye and Alethea led the man out of the room, with Liliana and Aliana following. Kye's parents were just out of earshot and didn't hear the name the man gave.

"I don't recognize him," King Zen replied, caution in his eyes. "I don't like her meeting with him in private if I don't recognize him."

"I don't either. His mana is strange. He's hiding it quite well, but I can tell it's not normal."