Lilia's Tale

Chapter 49: Supplies

I sighed to indicate the long awaited solution and the hope that filled me.

"We just have to hold until then," I added.

"Just how much food do we have?"

"Let me check real quick."

I went to look around the kitchen for anything we could use for the next two days. I scavenged for anything I could find, but ultimately was disappointed by the results.

"Some potatoes, a few carrots and that's it. Barely enough for a meal for two."

"We might actually have to go out hunting or gathering wild berries."

"Unfortunately, yeah..."

"I'll take care of that. I think enough has happened to you that you don't need to bother with gathering our food. I also know the forest better than you do, and can always make use of summons to help me."

"Well, I can't say I haven't been overwhelmed by everything that has been happening lately. Ever since the whole thing with my wings, it has been hard."

"Oh. I forgot about your wings. Didn't you want to try to learn how to fly?"

"I did. I've been forgetting about it, though."

"Well, if we end up going to the capital, you won't ever be able to learn."

"I guess it's something to sacrifice."

"I'll go and gather some food now for dinner."

I nodded as he headed outside, summoning about five birds I didn't recognize. Now left alone, I needed to find some activity to not dive deeper into a negative mindset. While I felt hopeful, I did not feel happy.

My first thought was to find something to read, as I would need to read quite often once school starts.

...Would I even be allowed to attend school, now that I'm supposedly known as a yokai? That was an uncertainty that weighed heavily on me as I realized. Would the principal accept me? Would I have to be put under any form of special restriction? What if I'm not allowed in?

Pondering any further wouldn't help, as I still had to go through the meeting with the Emperor. He apparently still accepted to meet me, which was quite surprising. Perhaps he has reasons I do not know, which he will explain? There was nothing I can do except what I had to in the present.

As I waited for Father to come back, I tried again to make my wooden board float. I managed, although it was painful, similarly to when my magic circuits got injured in the past. I was healing significantly faster, either because the damage wasn't nearly as heavy, or due to not being the first time.

The wait wasn't particularly long, but enough to make me anxious. When he came back, he had large amounts of all kinds of berries being carried by a strange summon I had never seen before. It reminded me of Holy Knight, yet the usual helmet had been replaced by a large container holding the food. It felt both hilarious and surreal.

"Welcome home, Father. I can see it went well?"

"I think we'll have enough for two days at most. Considering they're already on the way, they should be here by the time we go through everything."

"You're right. Do we have to cook them?"

"I don't think so, but maybe you can find something to do with them?"

The summon grabbed its head and placed it on the table, scaring me in the process. I was deeply worried for its health despite the inhumane nature of an animated armor, and its life as a summon. Once reassured, I checked the berries directly.