Lilia's Tale

Chapter 44: Kidnapping

Author's note: This is an exceptional update, as I am not quite yet recovered. Updates will still lag behind, although I will work harder on getting back to a consistent schedule.

Additionally, I would like to mention that the missed weeks (Sep. 25th and Oct. 2nd and 9th) WILL be uploaded as time permits me. If any subsequent week is missed, they will be made up for eventually as well. No concrete schedule, however.

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I was woken up being shaken by Father. In my numbness from the lack of sleep, I asked:

"Wha 'sit"

"There are people at the door and they demand you to go with them. I don't know if they trusted me or not, so hurry up!"

This was too much action for barely-awake me. I yawned, stretched as I could, and shrank my wings as I got up from the bath. Father had brought me my necklace, which I put on, before stepping out and dressing myself.

"Are you not drying yours- Nevermind, I forget that you absorb any water that touches you," he stopped himself.

I could tell he was trying not to look, but I didn't really care. I dressed myself and left the bathroom, going to the front door yawning again. As I arrived into the main area, I noticed the people who were at the door. They were obviously guards, although the armor and gear they were wearing was of significantly lower quality than what I was used to.

They themselves took notice of me as I yawned for the third time, approaching. A relatively young man with a scar on his left eye at the front of the group approached as well.

"Are you Lilia?" he asked.

"Yeah. Is there anything wrong?"

He cleared his throat before responding.

"You are to come with us for an inspection, as you are suspected of not being human."

I had to rerun the sentence in my head before figuring out what exactly I had been told. As the realization hit, my sleepiness disappeared.

"E-Excuse me, what?"

"You are suspected of not being human. Reports from a soldier alongside the testimony of the Imperial Guards and those from health officers have made it clear you were capable of feats humanly impossible. As such, you are to be placed under investigation."

"Hold on, hold on, hold on!" I blurted out. "Wasn't I suspected before and told to be human?" I mentioned as I recalled the whole incident with A-rank adventurers.

"You are under further investigation from now on. Follow without resisting or we will have to use force."

I could feel my heartbeat rise as I was unable to think of anything to say.

"May I know what the reports were exactly?" I suddenly heard from behind me.

"My apologies, Great Summoner, but that information is secret even to the rest of the unit here. I am the only person knowing of them."

"Then I cannot allow you to take my daughter. I wish to know why she is being suspected in the first place."

"As I said earlier, I cannot give you any details, and if you keep resisting, we will have to use force," the man said in a significantly more authoritative voice.

"I will come in her stead and ask the general of Dorya's garrison for the details. I have the authority as a Great One to know."

The man pulled out his sword. However, as soon as he got in a fighting stance, blue glowing chains appeared, attached to the walls, and restrained his sword. I could tell they were summoned, although my first question was why they were made out of summoning magicules and not alchemy magicules, as they aren't living creatures.