For the next few days, Esdeath was busy in her room, going through the painful process of refining and absorbing essence stones to enhance her physical state. The room was sealed with barriers.
As for Maruti, she did everything she could for those days. She wasn't going to waste her time cooped up in the apartment.
Whether it was just messing around with Penetrator, who was still in the library, buried in books, trying to piece together his past.
Or having light conversations with Maddie and Scarlet, who were surprisingly good company when they weren't being all queenly and guard-like. She tried out different restaurants and specialties of the kingdom, her taste buds dancing with new flavors and spices.
She explored the cultures here, walking through the bustling streets, watching the people, and trying to understand their way of life.
From what she understood, it had three cultures mixed in, creating a unique and vibrant society.
There were a large amount of believers of the sun god. Even Queen Maddie is one of them. Maruti learned that Maddie wakes up every day and prays to the sun god for its stable temperature and warm sunlight. It was a simple, heartfelt prayer, a part of her daily routine.
There were many temples of the ancient sun god, with statues of a muscular man with a vibrant, sun-like halo behind his head. It was in a circle but had spikes around it, to represent the sun.
Some of those temples' history went back thousands of years, with different tales and miracles that the native people believed in.
Not like Maruti cares about culture, but she liked how the believers of the sun god promoted masculinity.
The other one was the lunar dynasty believers. Yes. Most of the believers were elves, especially dark elves, those who worshipped Lord Rama and promoted archery and spearmanship above anything else. They were a graceful and deadly people, with a deep connection to the moon and the stars.
Although the population of elves around the world is quite low, but other than forests, if there's any place you can find them in high amounts, it would be without a doubt the kingdom of awakeneds. Because elves like safety, which the kingdom of awakeneds provides very well.
Anyone could spot one or two elves walking by around the street easily, their long hair and pointed ears a common sight.
Victoria Von Scarlet's father was also human believer of the lunar dynasty, so is Scarlet herself. Her being a spear user surely indicated that.
The third culture was very similar to Japanese cultures. There were shrines, folklore, and dresses similar to yukata and kimono. But what surprised her was that people believed in a nine-tailed fox, and yes, most of the believers were beast-kins.
They were a people with a deep respect for nature and spirits, their lives intertwined with the world around them.
But this was not the surprising part. Because their nine-tailed fox, or fox goddess whatever, her name was Arlin Arlecchino, the same surname as Alice.
Not to forget, Maruti saw her transforming into a nine-tailed fox. So there was no doubt there was a connection between those two.
"Fuck, so Alice is from a royal bloodline? The fuck was she doing in class C then?" Maruti thinks to herself, her mind racing with questions. Everything about Alice wasn't making sense. It was like a puzzle with missing pieces, and she was starting to get frustrated.
She opens the door to their apartment and steps inside, the familiar smell of the room greeting her.
She is greeted by Esdeath laying on the bed, her body still and pale. Her skin looked like a boiled skin that had just dried up a few minutes ago, like it might peel if someone touched it too hard. Her eyes also had red circles popped up, just like in the past, as if she didn't sleep for days. She looked fragile, and more delicate, making you have feeling to protect her.
"You feeling good?" Maruti asks casually.
"Yes, way better," Esdeath replies, her voice a little hoarse but clear.
"Good, I'll be expecting no more loud moans from you this night," Maruti replies back in a teasing tone, a smirk on her face.
It wasn't moans, but light screams of pain which escaped from Esdeath's lips for the past few days, especially at night, when she could not even sleep properly.
"Yes, because I already talked with Maddie. We'll be departing this evening to meet M.A.L.I.C.E," Esdeath replies, her voice flat and devoid of emotion, as if she were just stating a simple fact.
"What? No way, you can't even stand up yet," Maruti almost shouts in surprise.
"I'll be all good by afternoon. Besides, I don't wanna waste much time," Esdeath answers firmly. The process was already done. The only thing she was feeling was some aftereffects and pain, but her body was healing at a rapid speed, thanks to the essence stones. It would only take a few hours for her body to be as good as new, even better.
"Whatever..." Maruti sighs, sitting down at the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. She was still annoyed, but she knew there was no point in arguing with Esdeath when she had made up her mind.
But the moment she sits, her back presses slightly harder against Esdeath's fingernail of her toe.
"Ouch! Watch where you are sitting," Esdeath immediately pulls her leg back, a sharp intake of breath escaping her lips. It was a small pain, but on top of everything else, it felt like a stab.
Maruti was about to apologize, but seeing Esdeath's pained expression, she felt like she was overreacting a bit.
"You know what, you really have grown weak," Maruti says, a smirk on her face. "I mean, I went through the same process, but I didn't feel as much pain. Just used a painkiller essence stone and went through the nights. That's all." She said it casually, as if it were no big deal, trying to get a rise out of her.
She puts her chin on her palm, looking at Esdeath with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Maybe this is what happens when you can't keep your legs closed for a certain someone," she sighs, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.
"Everyone feels the same once they go through this phase and the pain becomes past," Esdeath answers, her voice a little strained. "Besides, it's not like we have a Rank B painkiller essence stone that can shut this level of pain," she sighs, a hint of frustration in her voice.
But at that moment, Maruti gives her a 'what are you talking about' look and says.
"You don't?" Maruti says, her eyes slightly wide, not in surprise, but in innocent confusion.
"Wait a second, you have it?" Esdeath almost shouts, leaning her back forward, her eyes wide with disbelief. The movement sent a jolt of pain through her body, but she ignored it, her focus entirely on Maruti.
"Yes, that lolicon gave me," Maruti replied in a low tone, a little sheepish. "I thought you had it as well." She hadn't meant to keep it a secret, it just never came up.
"Ohh, fuck me, I really want to punch you," Esdeath exhales deeply, her voice a low growl. She was clearly angry and frustrated at the same time. All that pain, and it could have been avoided so easily.
There was no point for her to go through all that pain.
"It's not my fault, you never asked me," Maruti rejects her idea of slapping her, feeling that there was no fault from her side here. It was Esdeath's fault for never asking her even once. She wasn't a mind reader like Kailith, after all.
Soon enough, time passed by quickly. It was already close to evening. Esdeath had wasted all her day laying on bed, but because of this, her skin had turned back to normal. Her body had no changes other than it felt more polished and shiny for some reason, like a newly forged sword.
Maruti was already ready. She put all her belongings back into her storage type essence stone, along with some murals and gifts she brought for Kailith, Alice, Ravenna, and Brenna, to give them once she goes back to Anastasia.
"When are you going to change?" she asks, looking at Esdeath, who was still in her nightwear.
"Right now," Esdeath replies slowly as she sat up. There was no pain now, but her body sure felt weird after not moving for days. It was a strange, tingling sensation, like pins and needles all over.
She casually got off the bed. Since she was laying there on the bed all day, she of course needed a nice, cold bath to wash off the feeling.
Esdeath opens the button of her nightwear, taking it off and then getting her pajama.
Meanwhile, Maruti just stands there, waiting for her to finish, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Catch!" Esdeath says all of a sudden, throwing her clothes towards Maruti.
It was just a casual throw for no reason, a playful gesture. But for some reason, it generates a great shockwave, making Maruti's hair fly backwards violently.
The whole front wall gets obliterated in one go, alongside with the door. Even the ceiling wasn't an exception. Dust and debris filled the air, the sound of the explosion echoing in the sudden silence.
It was already a good thing that they were on the top floor of the building, or else who knows what it could have resulted in.
Esdeath: "..."
Maruti: "....."
The sunlight of the early evening pours on them, like it was some romance movie or some shit. Both looking at each other with an equal level of surprise, their mouths hanging open.
"What the fuck was that?" Maruti asks, her voice a shaky whisper.
"I don't know either," Esdeath replies, looking at her own hand in disbelief. "It shouldn't have increased this much," she mutters to herself, a frown on her face.
She immediately willed it, and her status screen opened at once, a translucent window appearing in the air in front of her. A few notifications popped up, glowing with a soft, hollow light.
One look at her status window, and she immediately understood what was going on. Her stats gain had been paused since her body couldn't handle it at that time. But now that her body condition has grown to a supernatural level, it could withstand the stat alteration.
She sighs immediately. "It's my constellation. Gave me some bonus buffs," she says casually, not making a big deal out of it.
But hearing this, Maruti couldn't help but bite her lower lip in jealousy. She turns around, looking up at the broken ceiling, directly into the clouds that were now visible in the evening sky.
"You are seeing this, aren't you?" she shouts out loud, her voice full of frustration. "Look how her constellation is helping her. Why can't you help me? Hello? Any answers? Nothing?" She stomps her feet in frustration, a childish gesture that was completely out and in of character for her at the same time.
"He's dead, what are you expecting?" Esdeath sighs once again, rubbing her temples. She was used to Maruti's dramatics, but it was still tiring.
"Then how did he chose me as his incarnation?" Maruti asks, still irritated, her hands on her hips.
"Ask him, not me," Esdeath answers, turning back around. "And also take care of anyone who comes to ask what happened," she says before entering the bathroom, closing the door behind her, leaving Maruti to deal with the mess.
There, she casually takes off her undergarments. Unlike at Anastasia, where she had to bathe in a bathtub, there was a shower here. It was a modern convenience she appreciated.
She turns it on, the water cold and refreshing. She applied the soap on her back, her front arched a little as she applies it while the shower water showers on her head and chest, cleaning it. The water ran down her body, washing away the sweat and the lingering pain.
She was having some nice bath time despite the whole ceiling being uprooted. Sunlight poured down on her with the shower water, Yet it didn't affect her at all, like everything was normal.
While she had her comfortable bath, many people came to check, their faces filled with worry and confusion. Maddie and Scarlet were one of them. Maruti could barely make them understand that it was a failure from refining a Rank B essence stone, a story she made up on the spot, but it was the best she could come up with.
Half an hour later, finally, Esdeath was ready, fresh and motivated. The carriage was already assigned outside. Both Maddie and Scarlet were waiting there as Esdeath and Maruti approached.
"Too bad that distance is too large or else I would have given you my car," Maddie says lightly with a smile.
"Which? Your favorite, that red one?" Maruti asks, a grin on her face. She had driven Maddie's personal favorite car. It was similar to a vintage red Ferrari of the early 19s, the particular one without the rooftop. She let her drive several times, although Maddie was quite surprised that Maruti actually knew how to drive very well.
"Yes, that one," Maddie replies with the same smile.
"You are joking right?" Maruti asks back.
Maddie nods lightly.
"Yes, I am," she says before she couldn't hold back her laughter and laughs like she made some great joke. But in a way that sure felt kinda funny, even Maruti chuckled.
"We'll be going," Esdeath intervenes, her voice pulling them back to reality.
They both bid a formal farewell to Maddie and Scarlet before going back to their carriage.
The carriage drove off immediately, taking them towards the border of the kingdom of dwarfs.
"Another three days of boredom," Maruti sighs, slumping in her seat.
"Not really, it's close by. Maybe one night and one day," Esdeath replies calmly, looking out the window.
Maruti nods, she felt slightly good after hearing that. A day and a night was much better than three days.
The carriage moves for hours without stopping. They were still in the awakened kingdom.
To kill time, Maruti looks outside of the window as the carriage moved. But then she spots something familiar, a large, impressive building with a sprawling campus.
"Look, it's another branch of awakened academy," she says, pointing at it, a nostalgic feeling washing over her.
"Huff... bye bye academy days," she sighs, knowing there was no going back to the academy now.
"You sure feel quite nostalgic. You liked being there?" Esdeath asks, her voice a low murmur.
"Kinda. Food was quite good and we could duel there pretty much every day,"