Chapter 33: Sword Spirit Maiden
Departing from the Elf’s tavern, they had returned to the inn. Sunlight cast a faint glow, and the sound of fresh wind played softly by the window.
Ophi and Ain seemed to have gone out on business, so after Irene bid farewell, only Ig and two girls of different ages remained in the room.
Verafia’s delicate fingers lightly gripped the young man’s arm, her tender face slightly flushed. Her big eyes gazed upwards as Ig held her in his arms on the pure white bed, like a doll. Beneath her exquisite dress, her slender legs clad in white silk dangled delicately like small wind chimes.
Verafia remembered him stepping onto the snowy plains and her own ambition to devour the dark, starry sky in Winterfall City. However, after actually being turned into a phoenix egg, she no longer retained any memories at all.
Ig smiled warmly, recounting his experiences over the years and various interesting matters.
“I never imagined… so much time has passed. Ig must have gone through a lot.”
The girl’s youthful lips parted, her gold eyes fixed on Ig and the faces that, while seemingly unchanged from when they parted, actually held many differences. Her tender voice spoke with a slight touch of emotion.
Ig gazed at the girl’s gold eyes, which were as brilliant as gems yet even more gorgeous and magnificent. He smiled and gently stroked her soft, smooth, silk-like golden hair.
The time since parting with the young girl was indeed not short.
After that snowy plain, Ig had spent a full year warming the phoenix egg with his body temperature… and in dwarf king’s capital, Ig had also waited for over a year.
“But, it’s good that Veer was with me the whole time,” Ig said with a smile.
“Mmm, stupid Ig… you wouldn’t even let a phoenix egg go!”
Verafia’s pale, tender face suddenly blushed. She lowered her head, her little hand tightening its grip on him, and her gold eyes filled with shyness.
Swaying her slender legs slightly, Verafia tilted her head again. Her golden gaze fell upon the red-dressed girl who was still sitting beside them, her hands gently supporting her cheeks, gazing at them with a soft smile.
The Silver Moon Elf, Irene, had already excused herself earlier. However, the sword spirit maiden still watched them with soft eyes.
Seeing the girl’s gentle golden eyes and her own face reflected, Verafia felt a little embarrassed.
At that time, Verafia hadn’t thought that she would wake up again. She had wanted to create a girl identical to herself through the End, to accompany Ig by her side forever as her replacement.
However, Ig had never held any romantic feelings for the girl.
“This idiot, a girl identical to me, and he’d rather hold a phoenix egg?”
Verafia buried her head, complaining slightly. If it weren’t for this guy, she wouldn’t be in such a difficult situation now…
But, if Ig, while she was asleep, had truly treated the sword spirit maiden as herself according to her wishes, how would she feel now?
Biting her lip, Verafia’s heart became tangled again.
She would be very angry at that time. Even if Ig apologized profusely, she would never forgive him, right?
“Veer?”
Ig noticed the girl’s conflicted expression and called out to her.
“You’re thinking about Ig… and Xiao Yan.”
Verafia’s voice was low, her slender eyelashes flickered, and her peripheral vision glanced towards the girl.
“Veer, Xiao Yan and I definitely have nothing…”
The fair white finger reached out and sealed the young man’s lips, Verafia shaking her head somewhat sorrowfully.
“Of course, I’m not doubting you. It’s just, just, after all, she was created by me, and I wanted her to be able to accompany you… but now, it seems I’ve taken Ig away from her again. Mmm…”
Verafia’s voice grew softer. She could feel her own selfishness and hypocrisy.
Yes, she had done nothing, yet she was born with a mission imposed by herself to act as her substitute and accompany the boy she loved. However, after awakening, she had taken Ig back, and the girl still had to force a smile while watching them… It felt pathetic to think about it.
But, if she were to voluntarily agree to share Ig with the other girl now, Verafia felt she couldn’t do it at all.
Hearing the girl’s explanation, Ig also felt awkward.
For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.
Indeed, in Ig’s heart, there was only Verafia. Even though there was a girl with a similar appearance, Ig found it difficult to replace the girl in his heart. But, just as Verafia said, wasn’t this overly cruel to her, who was completely innocent?
“Sister.” A soft, beautiful voice suddenly called out.
The sword spirit maiden walked up to them, her red dress like a blooming rose, her soft golden hair flowing down gently. In her golden eyes, pure emotions flowed as she softly said:
“Actually, Sister, you don’t need to worry about me at all, and you don’t need to feel upset because of me.”
Even though Verafia and Ig’s conversation was quiet, for the girl who was shaped by Verafia using her origin, it wasn’t difficult to guess.
Surely, it must be Sister who feels troubled because of me?
This thought surfaced in her heart. The sword spirit maiden’s eyelashes blinked, her snow-like tender face revealing a gentle, sweet smile. Her gold eyes gently lifted, gazing tenderly at the girl’s lowered small face:
“And please don’t blame Master. Before I opened my eyes, within the sword, I could feel Master’s heart… Master’s heart only contains Sister, so even if Sister wanted me to be you, it couldn’t replace the shadow that belongs to you in Master’s heart.”
Hearing the sword spirit maiden’s words, Verafia’s cheeks flushed, and she felt even more embarrassed.
She was the instigator, yet the girl was actively making excuses for her.
“But, even so…”
Verafia opened her mouth, but she didn’t know what she could promise.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as, as the sword spirit of the End, I can always accompany Sister and Master.”
The sword spirit maiden smiled gently instead: “Actually, I was born because of Sister, so of course, I shouldn’t desire what belongs to Sister.”
“I am originally a sword for you and Master… but, since neither you nor Master treat me as a tool, I am already very happy.”
——
*Adding a note here. (Otherwise, it feels a bit unreasonable)*
