RE : OVER

14 || Old Companions

"My name is Celte," the Sidhe introduced himself.

From what Mayu knew about him, Celte had a lot of pride and deemed the Sidhes to be superior to humans. On this opinion, Mayu had never refuted him because she knew it was true, especially during the beginning. How could humans compete with the Sidhes who had five basic traits all at once?

More over, from conduct alone, the Sidhes were innately honest and kind. Perhaps, that's why the Sidhes were never faced with a terrible trial such as the [First Kill] was for humans.

In her first life, only after everyone had gone through numerous life or death situations, and after the humans grew stronger to be able to fight on the same level as the Sidhes, then Celte finally let go of his inhibitions.

Even for Celte to approach them on his accord this time, must have actually been Zephar's doing. The Sidhe Prince had always been more accepting of strangers after all.

Small talks ensued between the two Sidhes and the six humans, each one trying to probe into the other. Suddenly, another Sidhe, a tall female, ran towards them with a pale face. This was an unfamiliar face to Mayu, perhaps one that did not get to survive until the very end.

Zephar immediately greeted her, "Rennath, what's-?"

Rennath, the female Sidhe, had accompanied Ran and a group of other humans to investigate a cave. Just like how it was in the Forsaken World, as soon as they came to [Sidhe's Dream], all awakened trait users immediately knew the next destination they had to take. However, this time, there was no specific 'realization' the cave would lead somewhere, or be an exit.

Rennath's pale face showed panicked expression, "That human oracle... Ran Foster, she vanished inside the cave!"

"What?" Zephar, Celte, Yuna, and Mayu collectively remarked.

Reminded of a certain cavern existing in [Sidhe's Dream], Mayu was torn between feeling worried about Ran, or delighted for her. Ran Foster's sudden disappearance could only mean one thing: she had found the exit and passed the prerequisites for it.

Nonetheless, there was also a bit of vexation and regret that she did not get to see the woman who would be her sister-in-law. Mayu had done her best to leave the [Forsaken World] as early as she could. However, from the looks of it, if Ran Foster had really disappeared inside Bone Cavern, then she had more than defeated Mayu's record.

However, clearly, the rest of the others currently present did not know about the reason behind Ran's sudden disappearance.

"Ran... should be fine," Mayu said, causing the others to frown at her.

"That cavern has creatures from the Sidhes' first Forsaken World," Zephar spoke with an aggrieved tone.

This was new to Mayu. In her first life, she had not met Ran and the others until the third world. And Zephar had never explicitly told stories about his version of Forsaken World either. All she knew was, the first world the Sidhes had awakened in, was much harsher than the humans'. A lot of Sidhes fell prey to the monsters, and Zephar was the last royalty who managed to survive.

The cavern was indeed treacherous. The creatures roaming the cavern made the Lesser Wraiths look like harmless rabbits. Many humans had perished inside Bone Cavern as well, despite having awakened two traits. In her first life, Mayu managed to get through it because she had tenacity and will, amplified multiple-fold from her [Caritas]. In the end, it led her to acquire another trait. Perhaps, all her strength was derived from this will to live.

"There's really nothing to wait around for then," she said, shrugging her shoulders, "We should check the cavern and see what the deal is. Or do you have any other alternative?"