Elysia in Another World (Part 1)

Ch18: Searching For Rei P1

Chapter 18: Searching For Rei P1
~18.1~
*****

Over the next week, Layla, Allison, and James searched as many planets as possible. More royals were pulled in to search as well, ones not assigned to the academy. Liliana and Aliana's parents were among those included. Michelle's mother, Draenara, joined the search, as did the older members of the Maya Royal Family: Drangan, Drayon, Hœnir, and Drakon. The Royal Council was put on hold so that council members that had neither planet managing nor academy duties could search.

At the beginning of the following week, Louise and Isabel pulled Adele and Michelle aside to question them. Only royals knew of the fact that they had children, and that didn't even include all of them, certainly not the students and children.

"Tell me what's wrong with them!" Louise demanded. "It's highly unusual for Alethea to miss school. She has had perfect attendance until now!"

"And Kye hasn't shown up as an instructor either! I know you two can help her remote in!" Isabel added.

The two archnobles were adamant about getting answers. "Tell us! What is going on?!"

Adele sighed and nodded at Michelle. "I knew you'd make me do it." Michelle took a moment to gather her thoughts and began explaining. She told them why she and Kye missed a month of school in their second year. She withheld the details about Elysia, Maya, Adele, herself, and their weapon partners. Louise's and Isabel's faces slowly morphed from angry to shocked as the explanation went on.

"Let me get this straight to make sure I'm understanding properly," Louise said. "Kye and Alethea found another child born with white mana and adopted her, Kaede. Then, the four of you got married and went on a honeymoon where they conceived Rei and Joey, and you conceived Ariel, Adriel, and Anna. That was also when she destroyed that S+ Class beast. And now, Kye is confirmed pregnant again?"

"I never knew Alethea is transgender," Isabel said. "She's so pretty and carries herself so well that... she's... wow."

"And now, Rei has been kidnapped." Louise grimaced at the thought. "I can't imagine the pain they're going through. How are the two of you doing? She's not your biological daughter, but you still called her your daughter. It's clear all four of you love and share the children equally, regardless of who the birth parents are."

"To be honest," Michelle said, "we're not good either. We're probably about to join the search. We already have absence authorizations. At this point, every royal that isn't an instructor, governor, student, or minor is searching."

"My family would very likely agree to help," Louise said, Isabel echoing her sentiment with a nod. "My mother especially. She knows the feeling of having a missing child. My little brother disappeared one day, and we found him a few days later. He just ran away, so it's not quite the same, but-"

"Okay," Adele said. "Both of you, please arrange a meeting."

"I also suggest talking to Rosalie," Isabel added. "Rosalie van Einstadt, whom we met in our first year on a field trip."

Adele nodded. "Rosalie is already searching. Everyone born before World War III is already searching or working at the academy. Leonhardt graduated last year... I should speak to him and Wolfgang." Before they could answer, Adele's eyes widened. "Wait... Michelle, do you remember those three from Terra that Kye and Alethea met in our first year? We didn't really interact with them, but they got fairly close. Do you think we could ask them? They got the special training from Kye and can probably scan a pretty large area."

Michelle shrugged. "They were fifth year and higher, if I recall. I'm not sure about them, but it could be worth a shot. I think the girl... what was her name... Astrid? I think she was really good at mana sensing."

"Oh, I'm friends with her!" Louise opened her NeuraPhone interface and pulled up Astrid's contact details before forwarding them to Adele and Michelle.

Michelle checked out the details and smiled before saying to Adele, "I'll go talk to Astrid. Can you take Einstadt?"

Adele playfully chopped Michelle's head, knowing that she just wanted to take the easier task. "Yeah, I guess."

Luma appeared next to the group of four, startling Louise and Isabel. "Hey, I just finished checking a few more of the remote planets. Nothing. I-" She stopped when she noticed the extra company. "Oh, hello."

"G-greetings, I am Louise Chevalier."

"I am Isabel Strauss."

"Hi, I'm Luma Caliburn the Sword Saint. I'm from Planet Elea in Realm 7."

Their eyes widened, and they exchanged glances. ""Realm 7???""

"Yeah, long story short..." and Adele proceeded to explain the Void.

They slowly nodded. ""I see...""

"Yeah, so I'm gonna keep checking the remote planets..." Luma checked the list of planets in the furthest galaxy. "It looks like I've covered about half of the occupied planets in that galaxy."

"Good work. We were just talking about finding more searchers."

"Good idea. There's a crazy number of occupied planets in the first four realms. The Atlantis Empire is ridiculous. I haven't flexed my mana like this in a hundred thousand years."

"Heh."

"Anywho, I'm heading back out." She turned to Louise and Isabel. "Nice to meet you! Good luck in school!" She began channeling white aether, "<<Unlimited Teleport>>," and disappeared.

The instantaneous invocation of an epic-tier aether-powered spatial spell surprised the two archnobles. "Whoa, I thought only Kye and Alethea could insta-cast spells with aether! And that's an epic spell, too!"

Isabel added, "Yeah, who even is she? She used white! And did she say 'a hundred thousand years'?"

Michelle smiled dryly, "The title in her introduction isn't for show. I'd say she could give even Lady Allison a run for her money. She's a freak of nature like Kye is." Their eyes widened again.

After a few more minutes of general chit-chat, the group went their separate ways, each going to a different place to find more searchers. Louise and Isabel traveled to their families' planets in Realm 1. Louise's mother and Isabel's father governed a vassal planet each, though they still called Terra their home. Michelle went to Terra to track down Astrid and her brothers.

Adele went straight to Drachenheim and stopped by the Dragon Palace in Drachenstadt to speak to her mother briefly.

"I'll come with you for Einstadt. I need to speak to Wolfgang as well." Adele nodded and Draelana teleported the two to Einstadt using a long-cast, "<<Unlimited Teleport>>!" Once there, they went straight to the governor's palace. The governor quickly agreed to meet with them.

"Greetings, Lady Draelana," he said. "I assume this is not a social visit?"

"No," Adele said.

"Oh?"

Adele nodded and explained about the kidnapping.

"I see. Yes, Lady Atalante sent out a mass message to all the governors just yesterday asking for volunteers. The governors can't sacrifice time to aid in the search, unfortunately, but my son Leonhardt may join the search if he's willing. Rosalie is already searching."

"I see."

"Yes. Actually, I've already ordered Leon to re-search Einstadt. I can't exactly order him to search other planets without royal authorization, but if you'd like, I can have him report to Drachenstadt when he completes his search."

"Have him report to Arslade. The HQ is set up in the Magic King's palace."

"I understand."

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Revision: 2024-6-24