Lilia's Tale

Chapter 51: History

I left the ruins with a heavy mind, still worried about Father's future. I was aware I couldn't do anything due to my soon-to-be admission to school, so I could only trust him to do what was right. I eventually arrived at the carriage, where the jockeys were once again surprised, as the pegasi bowed down like Frea did.

"You don't need to bow down," I sighed, as the pegasi went back to their normal position.

The jockeys were even more confused, now looking at me and their pegasi back and forth.

"W-Who are you?" one finally decided to shout.

"I'm the daughter of Kouji Jirou, the Great Summoner. I'm here to put our luggage in the carriages."

"What did you do to our pegasi?"

"I don't know, but it's not the first time it happens, don't worry. It's all good, they just...particularly like me? I don't know."

I could tell from their expression they did not believe me. However, I did not know of anything else to do or say, so I waited for them to do something. After an awkwardly long silence, one of them eventually came up to me, asking:

"Are you really sure you aren't some sort of monster that wants to attack our pegasi?"

"I can attest to that, I do not have any wishes to do anything to your pegasi. In fact, if I was able to not have this weird effect on them that they just bow down when they see me, I'd be glad."

"...Are you really human?"

I wanted to nod, but remembered that I was now known as a yokai. It pained me, yet I did not have any other alternative.

"I actually am a yokai. Or so I've been told."

Their expression quickly changed upon hearing this revelation. Whereas they were previously suspicious, they now seemed on their guard.

"And what kind of yokai are you?"

"I don't know. I've always been raised as a human. I only learned recently that I apparently am some sort of yokai."

"We obviously can't trust this thing!" one of the other jockeys suddenly shouted.

"Yeah, we definitely can't!" another yelled.

They kept going and voicing their discontent as I sighed.

"Look, if you don't want to trust me, that's fine. I'll just wait for Father to be here. Surely you'd trust him, wouldn't you?"

"And who exactly is this father of yours?" the man in front of me asked with a smug face.

"Kouji Jirou."

The smug quickly turned into surprise.

"T-The Great Summoner? Surely he can't-"

"Yes, him," I cut him.

"I-I did get a glimpse of the Great Summoner earlier, talking to our Colonel, and some small girl behind him. Could you be..?" another of the jockeys shyly said.

"Hello, my name is Kouji Lilia, and I am the adoptive daughter of Kouji Jirou, the Great Summoner," I shot with a smug face of my own.

They quickly backed down from their high and mighty expression to one of respect, bowing down of their own.

"I am the captain of the Flight Division, Garni Samuel. What business do you have with us?"

"I have been told to put these luggages in some carriages so we can quickly be sent back to Glace."

"Was it an order from Colonel Sanders?"

"Colonel Sanders?" I repeated in confusion.

"Colonel Sanders Kamui, colonel of the Fifth Imperial Division."