On the way to Morita Hospital, Durandal's heart had been heavy with a lingering weight.
However, after that single visit, not only had the victim's mental state taken a turn for the better, but in a way, the reward from Genius had finally soothed a long-standing ache in her soul.
Because of this, even Durandal—who rarely let her emotions leak out—was radiating a happiness so clear that anyone could have sensed it.
The hour was growing late, so Durandal and Elysia bypassed the temporary office and headed straight home.
By now, Durandal didn't even blink when Elysia followed closely at her heels and strolled right into her bedroom.
Since returning from the Onsen, Elysia had hardly spent a night in her own room, save for the half-month Durandal had been away on business in Sapphire City.
Actually... perhaps even that half-month was an exception.
When Durandal opened her wardrobe, she found that her once sparse closet was now overflowing with Elysia's clothes.
Durandal pulled out her own loungewear, then reached for a set belonging to Elysia before turning to the pink-haired girl sitting on the bed. "Want to join me?"
Elysia's eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet and snatched her clothes as if terrified Durandal might take back the offer. She made a beeline for the bathroom, calling out over her shoulder, "I'd love to! ♪"
Durandal knew the gesture was perhaps a bit bold.
But she was in a truly wonderful mood today—better than she had ever been.
Upon learning that she could preemptively identify the human hosts of Herrschers and modify their Cores to ensure they retained their human will, Durandal's first thought was that her greatest joy would be the knowledge that she could truly save the Previous Era.
Yet, looking at Elysia, Durandal realized she was wrong.
She had never been a perfect saint.
In her memories, at the nominal age of twelve, when she accepted the power of the Holy Blade Durandal and anchored the Seed of Sumeru within herself, she had said:
[I want to protect the people I love, and the people they love in turn! I want to protect this world!]
One protects the world because they want to protect those they cherish, and those cherished ones love others. It was a beautiful, cascading cycle.
It was exactly like Schicksal's current motto: To fight for all that is beautiful in the world.
And to her, wasn't the most beautiful "thing"—or person—already standing right in front of her?
Before this, though Durandal knew her arrival had changed this world immensely, she still lacked the confidence to truly alter the fate of the person she cared for most.
This was the person Su had observed across countless leaves of the Tree; no matter the world, she always made the same choice.
Durandal was certain that Su had never observed this specific world, but she hadn't been certain if this world's Elysia would choose differently.
But now, Durandal finally had the foundation to truly and completely change Elysia's destiny—even if Elysia chose that same path again.
She wanted to share this joy with her.
When Durandal stepped into the bathroom, Elysia was half-crouched by the tub, starting the water. She had shed her constraints, her silky pink hair cascading down her back, perfectly veiling her form.
Durandal hung her clothes alongside Elysia's, placed her worn garments into the hamper, and walked toward her.
Elysia clearly felt her approach, but she didn't turn around. Instead, she toyed with the shallow layer of warm water filling the tub, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.
Durandal knelt down as well, gently pulling Elysia into her arms from behind.
The rising steam of the bathroom enveloped them, coating their fair skin in a delicate mist.
Elysia's body gave a tiny shiver. Then, sensing that Durandal's embrace was simple and held no further intent, she relaxed. She leaned back, nuzzling her warm cheek against Durandal's shoulder.
"The tub will take a while to fill. Let's rinse off first, shall we? ♪"
"Mm, alright."
As Durandal stood, she pulled Elysia up with her.
She reached out to click the shower on and pulled the curtain shut to keep the spray from splashing into the bathtub.
Meanwhile, Elysia squeezed a generous amount of shampoo into her palm and gestured with her hand. "Turn around, let me wash your hair for you."
Durandal obeyed without a word.
She fetched two small stools—one high, one low—that Elysia had clearly prepared in the bathroom long ago.
Durandal took the low one, and Elysia settled onto the taller stool behind her, gently working the shampoo into the blonde hair that was streaked with strands of white.
Elysia picked up a few of those snowy locks, inspecting them closely. "I knew it. Durandal, your white hair isn't from stress... it's a genetic manifestation, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Durandal nodded. "In truth, my hair should have been pure white. The blonde is more of a side effect."
"A side effect?" Elysia sounded puzzled.
She gathered Durandal's long hair, massaging it with tender care. "I feel like I've rarely heard you talk about your past. Would you tell me the story behind your hair color?"
"I can. But first, Elysia, I have to ask... how easily do you cry?"
The question caught Elysia off guard. It was a difficult one to answer.
By nature, Elysia was the ultimate optimist—so much so that even if she felt sad, the feeling usually didn't last more than three seconds. But that was how she reacted to her own life.
To this day, she never sought out tragic literature or films; she didn't enjoy looking for reasons to be unhappy. So, she truly didn't know where her breaking point was.
"Is the story behind it... that sad?"
Elysia's movements became even softer, her face clouding with a pity she didn't even realize she was showing.
Durandal thought for a moment. "It's a story involving two generations of a family that was ultimately torn apart. And I... I was perhaps the luckiest one among them."
With that, Durandal began to tell the tale.
She blurred the specific dates, locations, and names, but she shared the story of Cecilia, Siegfried, Kiana, and herself with Elysia.
When the story ended, Durandal realized there hadn't been a sound from behind her for a long time.
She started to turn around, only to feel a warm, soft body press against her back.
Elysia was trembling rhythmically. And beneath the pitter-patter of the shower spray, Durandal caught the faint, muffled sound of sobbing.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.