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Chapter 5: The Seer’s Warning

After bidding farewell to Liliya, the group boarded the carriage, driven by Miss Edwina herself, as they left the City of Courage with the envoy and accompanying troops.

Just outside the city gates, not long into the journey on the main road, Vilyric was contemplating the long journey ahead, planning to introduce a few interesting card and board games to the girls inside the carriage, when suddenly the sharp shouts of soldiers and the sound of Edwina drawing her sword rang out.

The carriage came to an immediate halt.

“Who goes there! Get down!”

The girls exchanged glances, and Leila, sitting on the outer side, quickly lifted the door curtain to peek outside.

She promptly shrank back in.

“Lady Vilyric, a woman with strange wings on her back has flown near the carriage, and it seems she’s aiming at us, but she hasn’t attacked.”

“A woman with wings?”

Since Leila herself was a Winged Person, if she called it strange, it must mean it wasn’t the ordinary kind of wings. And pondering who among Vilyric’s acquaintances had wings…

The Priestess promptly jumped down from the carriage and spotted a young girl with dark blue hair floating about ten meters above the ground, neither attacking nor retreating.

With dragon wings spread wide behind her, each side measuring at least ten meters long, she certainly looked imposing; no wonder the soldiers were so tense.

Although the other party exuded no hostility or pressure.

“Is it her?”

The Little Dragon Daughter who followed out gasped in surprise, her previously eager battle spirit quickly deflating.

This person was someone both she and Vilyric knew.

“Lily… Aaliyah, what brings you here?”

Edwina raised her hand, having already grabbed her cross sword and shield, signaling for the others to be cautious, while those surrounding royals who had seen Vilyric’s initiative were momentarily stunned and exchanged uncertain glances, lowering their bows.

Many of these soldiers returning from the western battlefield had witnessed Vilyric’s strength and respected her; since she recognized this person, there was likely a misunderstanding.

Only Edwina remained on high alert, stepping protectively in front of the Priestess, whispering in a volume only they could hear.

“Miss Vilyric, this woman is a powerhouse from the Throne of Immortality, at least transcendent in strength, and she shamelessly called you by name! It was she who captured me and took me to their base!”

“Really?”

Had Edwina ever fought against Rebecca?

Since Vilyric understood the previous predicament of the Dragon Lady, she was sure that Rebecca wouldn’t casually engage in battle or capture someone. So, thinking about the intricacies involved, she gradually got the gist, yet she didn’t catch the subtle awkwardness in Edwina’s words.

Now was not the time to inquire slowly.

“It’s okay, I’m here. Aaliyah won’t cause any waves, and she has reformed under my guidance.”

“What? No way!?”

The Holy Knight Lady turned in shock, but quickly nodded as if it was the most natural thing.

“As expected of Miss Vilyric, I understand.”

Though Edwina still seemed to be mumbling “forgiveness,” “greatness,” and “charity,” which was a bit odd, Vilyric decided to turn a blind eye to it.

“Miss Vilyric, is this woman your friend?”

The envoy group leader, Miss Philena, who also rushed over, sheathed her half-drawn sword with a puzzled look at the black-haired girl.

“Well, if you insist on calling her a friend, not exactly… Hey, hey, don’t rush to draw your sword again! She doesn’t seem to be our enemy. Let’s try to engage with her first, shall we?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Philena in her full armor on horseback nodded.

“Since Miss Vilyric has said so, let’s overlook her transgression against the envoy. A foreigner… fine, you do as you please.”

As they spoke, Rebecca, in her dragon lady form, descended from the sky, looking at the black-haired girl with a somewhat complex expression.

“Miss Vilyric, may I speak with you inside the carriage?”

“Hmm? Sure, come in.”

After gesturing, the Priestess stepped back into the carriage first.

Vilyric understood that whether it was Rebecca’s identity or her collaborator, the little princess Mona, both were secrets that should not be exposed lightly, so this request was quite reasonable.

Not long after, the other girls returned to the carriage as well, even the Holy Knight who was supposed to stay outside couldn’t help but follow in, still feeling uneasy.

Rebecca naturally noticed Edwina, but she didn’t pay much attention, sitting with her head bowed, stealing glances at the comfortably seated Priestess.

“Well, what’s the matter?”

“The people here…”

Rebecca glanced at the two white-haired Winged girls and the Holy Knight lady, hesitating slightly.

“Is it a very important secret?”

“Not exactly…”

“Then feel free to say it; they’re all on our side.”

Since Vilyric assured her, Rebecca, not one to dither, nodded.

“Mona sent me to tell you that she saw a terrifying vision in her Revelation and that you should be extra cautious on this journey.”

“A terrifying vision?”

The Priestess frowned.

Not because she was afraid of some unknown horrifying future, but mainly because Rebecca’s vague wording was too cryptic. With just these five words, even if Vilyric wanted to prepare, she wouldn’t know where to start…

Mona’s Revelation or foresight about the future was indeed quite valuable to some extent.

Although that little princess had clearly stated she couldn’t see someone like Vilyric’s future, a series of events that previously occurred in the capital had fully demonstrated her ability.

Since she specifically sent Rebecca to relay the message, it indicated that the situation was likely quite serious; it might not just involve the envoy, but perhaps the entire Western United Kingdom or even the world at large.

“Is there no more specific information?”

Upon hearing this, Rebecca thought for a moment and said slowly.

“I’m not very clear on the details, but just this morning when I went to find Mona, I found her passed out on the floor beside her bed. I hurried to rescue her, and while she was half-conscious, she kept mumbling for me to find you quickly, saying something about the source of disaster being in the south… and so on.”

The source of the disaster, a terrifying vision…

Wait, could it be that what Mona predicted were the monsters crawling out of the Abyss and the subsequent changes?

After all, the only unknown entities Vilyric could think of that might bring disaster would be those.

And, to be honest, the Priestess hadn’t fully figured out what Mona’s Revelation ability entailed; even if the little princess wanted to convey it properly, that feeling was hard to put into words.

It seemed to be some sort of future vision akin to watching a film, but not experiencing the entire future firsthand; more like dreaming—muffled behind a veil, fussy and indistinct.

That’s why it was called a Revelation.

Just like this time, even though she had never heard the little princess mention disasters or terrifying visions a month prior, it suddenly prompted Rebecca to rush over with the news right when Vilyric was about to head south.

“By the way, is Mona alright?”

“Yes, she’s fine, just fainted from an extreme fright. Mona has seen some supposedly terrifying futures before; this isn’t the first time it happened, but this time it’s particularly serious, and she should recover after a few days of rest.”

“That so… as long as she’s fine.”

While the Priestess was not afraid of any disaster, since the news came from Mona herself, she should still keep her wits about her.

“I’ll be attentive to such issues as needed. Thank you for making the trip, Miss Aaliyah.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Since the message is delivered, I’ll take my leave now, and about that…”

“Hmm?”

Standing up from her seat and taking a couple of steps outside, the blue-haired dragon lady suddenly turned back, blushing and somewhat shyly said.

“Just call me Rebecca. There’s no need to hide anything anymore. Also, thank you for your help despite past grievances; I’ll forever remember this great kindness. If there’s anything I can assist you with, please feel free to find me; Miss Vilyric knows where to locate me.”

After a bow, Rebecca hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain as if to escape, extending her dragon wings and soaring away.

“Heh heh, the master is truly in deep trouble.”

A teasing remark came from beside her, one that only Vilyric could hear, draped in mirth.

“?”