Vogir, Murmic, and especially Hardim—who understood the situation best—imdiately explained everything to Elr and Grethia. The two of them still looked dazed, their faces filled with disbelief; naturally, Elr and Grethia asked dozens of questions, clearly struggling to wrap their heads around what Hardim was telling them. After several patient explanations—even though Murmic’s face had turned red with frustration and Vogir had to hold his shoulder to keep him grounded and from exploding—Elr and Grethia finally accepted the truth and fell into a deep, silent thought.
But suddenly, both of their faces went tense. It seed their mories had fully returned. They looked at each other, their faces turning pale, and then scanned the room with panicked expressions before turning back to Vogir, Murmic, and Hardim.
"Papa, Your Majesty King Vogir, Uncle Hardim, is Lugerna with you? Is she here too?" Elr asked frantically.
Naturally, Murmic and Hardim were confused and looked at each other, while Vogir looked baffled, not understanding what Elr was talking about. The room fell into a tense, heavy silence. No one spoke while Elr and Grethia looked increasingly panicked, but then suddenly:
"Sister Lugerna is on the northern continent, Brother Elr."
Everyone turned toward the door. Kresus had opened it, stepping aside for Thorena, Ard, Eva, and Luca to enter the room.
"You’re back? How did it go?" Vogir asked, glancing at Luca, who looked a bit strange to him and appeared very small.
"Sorry we’re late getting back; Luca wanted to see the city before coming here," Ard said, resting a hand on Luca’s head.
"Yep... this city is nice, I like it here... good job, King," Luca said casually to Vogir.
Vogir was understandably confused and stared at Ard and Eva. They imdiately explained who Luca really was. Once they realized that Luca was actually Lucathan, the Guardian of the Seas—and after seeing her unique appearance with her scaled legs, long blue hair, bright blue eyes, and shell-like armor made of a tal that looked incredibly strong—the faces of Vogir, Murmic, Hardim, Elr, and Grethia went pale instantly. Without a second’s delay, they all dropped to one knee before Luca; even Elr and Grethia scrambled out of their beds just to kneel.
Seeing Vogir, Murmic, Hardim, Elr, and Grethia kneeling before her, Luca looked extrely uncomfortable. She turned to look at Ard, Eva, and Thorena, who were standing casually behind her.
"Hey... Ard, Eva, tell them to stand up. I don’t like it like this," Luca said with a pout.
"You are their goddess. How about you say a word or two first," Eva replied.
"Huh... is that how it’s done?" Luca asked while tilting her head.
Then Luca turned to look at Vogir, Murmic, Hardim, Elr, and Grethia, who were kneeling with their heads bowed. She took a very long breath until her blue eyes glowed brilliantly.
"Wake uuuuuup!"
Luca scread, ordering them all to stand with a massive roar that truly shook the entire room—and even the palace—until Ard and Eva felt themselves wobble while Thorena actually fell onto her backside. Naturally, Vogir, Murmic, Hardim, Elr, and Grethia jumped in shock and stood up abruptly, their faces pale as they looked at Luca, who appeared very satisfied. She stood with a smile, hands on her hips, and her chin tilted up proudly.
"For... forgive us, Goddess Lucathan," Vogir said.
"Hey... call Luca," Luca replied, staring at Vogir.
"Ye... yes, Luca," Vogir replied.
Then Luca turned her gaze toward Elr and Grethia, who both flinched the mont she looked at them. Luca ran and hopped onto the bed to examine Elr’s face, then turned to look at Murmic and jumped down to stand right in front of him. Murmic stood tall and stiff as she studied his face while rubbing her chin. After that, she turned back to look at Ard and Eva.
"Ard, Eva, these two look just like Thorena and the girl who crossed the ocean with the Githiess egg," Luca said, pointing at Murmic while turning her head to look at both Ard and Eva.
"Of course they look alike. His Majesty King Murmic is the father of Elr, Lugerna, and Thorena, while Elr is Lugerna’s older brother. They’re family," Ard answered Luca casually.
"Oh... so that’s how it is... humans and their kind really are strange," Luca muttered, lost in thought.
Hearing Luca’s words, Elr and Grethia glanced at each other. Then Elr looked at Thorena, who was staring at him, before turning back to Ard, Eva, and Luca.
"Excuse ... but was the girl who crossed the ocean and carried the Githiess egg... was it Lugerna?" Elr asked slowly.
Ard, Eva, and Luca imdiately turned to Elr upon hearing his question. They could see that Elr and Grethia looked extrely anxious; it was written all over their faces.
"After receiving Brother’s letter, Sister Lugerna imdiately fled from the palace back then," Thorena blurted out.
"I... I know. When we escaped from the kingdom’s capital fifty years ago, we t Lugerna and handed the egg over to her. Then we split up; Grethia and I snuck back into the city while Lugerna went to a seaside village to hide there," Elr replied.
"In my and Elr’s mories of the city, we were captured. The people in black robes who caught us said they had sent troops to that village to take back the Githiess egg. That’s why we were so worried about Lugerna’s situation," Grethia added.
"People in black robes? Hmm... likely the cult forces led by Idor," Vogir murmured.
"That’s right. No doubt about it, Your Majesty," Ard said.
"Don’t worry. According to Luca, Lugerna managed to cross to the other continent with her help. Isn’t that right, Luca?" Eva asked.
"Yep! Because she was carrying Sister Githiess’s egg, I helped her cross. Otherwise, I definitely would have sunk her and eaten her. She’s safe on the other continent, so you guys can relax," Luca said proudly, crossing her arms over her chest with a smirk and nodding with her eyes closed.
"But... why did she cross over?" Elr asked.
"Because her village was destroyed. To protect my sister’s egg, she crossed using a tiny boat. It’s lucky I was watching over her, though it seems she fainted the mont she saw , hahaha!" Luca answered, laughing with pride.
Hearing Luca’s words, Elr and Grethia naturally flinched in shock. Not only was that village the place where Lugerna had fled, but it was also where they had t and lived for a ti; the realization brought a wave of sadness over them both, and without realizing it, they gripped each other’s hands. But on the other hand, they also looked slightly relieved to hear that Lugerna was okay and had successfully crossed the sea, carrying the Githiess egg with her.
The atmosphere grew silent, and no one could find the words to speak. Finally, Luca, looking bored, turned to Ard and Eva behind her.
"Hey... let’s go walk around the city. I’m not finished seeing everything yet," Luca suggested.
"Later, okay? We’ll go for a walk after this," Eva replied.
"Hmph... this is boring. So, when are you guys going to the other continent to catch up?" Luca asked casually.
Everyone imdiately turned to look at Luca except for Ard and Eva. Her question hung in the air. Ard seed to think for a mont, then looked at Eva, who appeared to be thinking the exact sa thing.
"We leave tomorrow. What do you think, Luca?" Ard asked.
"Great! That ans today we play around the city and eat good food, hehehe," Luca answered cheerfully.
"You really are sothing. But I agree—let’s go eat so good food, Luca," Eva replied with a smile.
Vogir, Murmic, Hardim, Elr, Grethia, and Thorena, hearing the conversation between the three of them, began looking at one another as if they were talking with their eyes. Then, Elr stepped forward.
"Excuse ... but may I know who you are?" Elr asked Ard.
"Oh, right. We haven’t introduced ourselves yet," Ard answered.
Ard and Eva introduced themselves, aided by Luca, who explained that they were Ashton and Esralda—the heroes from 3,000 years ago who had successfully sealed the Demon God Malekh. Elr and Grethia, now knowing who Ard and Eva really were, looked on in absolute awe. Then, Elr seed to discuss sothing with Grethia before turning back to look at Ard and Eva.
"Can Grethia and I co with you to cross over to the great continent beyond the sea?" Elr asked.
"Hey... what the heck!" Murmic and Vogir shouted at the sa ti, until they both turned to look at each other for saying the exact sa thing. Hardim could only shake his head as he watched the two of them.
"Of course, I’m coming too," Thorena added.
Murmic’s face turned even redder, and his blood pressure seed to hit its limit, while Hardim tried to calm him down at his side. anwhile, Vogir continued to stare at his daughter with a sharp, unreadable gaze without saying a single word. Ard and Eva, seeing the tension rising in front of them, imdiately grabbed Luca by the shoulders and pulled her back, covering her mouth so she wouldn’t say a thing.
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