Era of Arcane: The Journey Beyond Worlds

Chapter 64: Preparing to Depart

"Protect me?" Did I hear that right? I had no idea someone knew my identity and had been sent to protect me.

"Miss," Faye said solemnly, bowing to me, "It was Duke Raymond Beppes who sent Mellie and me to secretly protect you. However, we lost track of you at the beginning, and when we learned you were heading to Lurobull, we traveled there to finally start protecting you properly."

I was skeptical. With how lazy the two of them usually were, they hardly seemed like the type to protect anyone. Lost track of me? They probably just took the chance to go off and have some fun.

"Miss, you don't believe me?" Faye's brows furrowed.

Who wouldn't find this suspicious? "I'm sorry, it's not that I don't believe you, just... a bit uncertain. My father sent me out to gain experience, so why would he arrange for someone to protect me? Besides—" I cast a sidelong glance at Faye and Mellie. "Are you sure you've been protecting me?"

"Miss, please take a look at this." Mellie, uncharacteristically serious, looked at me with newfound gravity.

I glanced at Faye and Mellie, then reached out to take the thin, sapphire-blue card Mellie handed me. These kinds of cards were used to transmit messages; a small infusion of one's power would reveal the message within. A fixed card could only be used by a specific person, and would be useless if handled by anyone else.

I channeled a bit of magic into the card, and a rich voice echoed from it. "My daughter Lisa, you've endured so much these past years. You've been fortunate to learn and experience so much, making friends along the way. Don't blame Faye and Mellie; they were sent to test you, not truly protect you. It's time for you to come home. Katy and I are waiting for you, my dear."

Once I heard the final words, the card vanished, and a sense of relief washed over me. So, Mellie and Faye were genuinely sent to watch over me, or more precisely, to relay my news to my father. No wonder I hadn't heard from him at all—it seems everything had been arranged from the start.

"Miss, please forgive Mellie and me for keeping this from you all this time." Faye looked at me earnestly, bowing once more.

"It's alright." I waved my hand dismissively. "I don't blame you; it was my father's arrangement, after all."

"Miss, when shall we prepare to leave?" Mellie asked, her expression uncharacteristically stern.

I looked at her and felt a bit uneasy. "No need to call me 'Miss' anymore," I said to them both. "We're not in the manor; we're still out here."

Mellie and Faye exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. Mellie, especially, suddenly threw herself at me, her excitement palpable. "Dear Lisa, I've been holding back for so long! Thank goodness you don't hate me. I really don't want to be that dull."

"Alright, alright, I get it. Let go of me already..." Perhaps I've been too soft with her—one day, she's going to take complete advantage of me.

"Sweet little Lisa, you know we..." Mellie finally let go but still clung closely to me.

"Are you two planning to head back as well?" I asked, looking between Faye and Mellie. "You've come to protect me, but once I return home, what will you do? Will you continue your travels?"

Mellie lowered her head, her mood somewhat somber. "I don't know. If it weren't for you, Lisa, I wouldn't have left with Faye and discovered such a different way of life."

"Then," I chuckled, taking Mellie's hand, "how about this, Mellie—you and Faye send me home, and then join Lance and the others on more adventures, exploring other lands. What do you say?"