Not far from the Gate of Orario, someone asks:
"Little girl, where is your mount?"
Yes, now that I notice it, all of us here is mounted while Ilias isn't.
We've been informed to bring any kind mount we can get, so I immediately use Maiya this time. Who would have thought I could use her sooner than expected.
In front of me is Ryu-san as she doesn't seem comfortable seating from behind, so I ask her to switch position and she bashfully accepted. Her reticent and stoic emotion since the first time we held the conversation couldn't be seen from the current her, which is good of course.
But sometimes, her ignorance especially to an answer she seeks but receives indefinite answers always makes her return to whom she originally was. I don't know how to cure that though. Its her well being and maybe it factors her race as an elf, I guess? I...really don't know.
But I am sure she will overcome her own hurdle. She will change her views overtime if given more time. That's why I always think that if I compare her to humans, her naivety is that of age seven. So she need an experience to change her views. More experience. More experience than human can have.
Returning back to Ilias. . .As we didn't seem to know what was happening here----after all she's our guide, Illias simultaneously put her index and thumb finger altogether creating an O, putting them into her mouth and whistle. . .
*Pheeeeeee*
So the air stream started to reply from her whistle with the sudden gust of wind created by the trees. Dove also flew off as if retreating from the incoming danger.
I don't know when but suddenly, within a flash emerged a white flaming wolf bigger than Allen Fromel's current steed which made the latter flinch out of inferiority.
The white wolf has the semi-curve horn coming from the upper part centering from its nose and has the fierce look and ocean colored eye. Hair flickers from the wind as if its body was indeed flaming but it was just the fur. A hallucination? No, I'm sure it was flaming.
Noticing the wolf had a saddle and Ilias is moving towards it, I didn't ask for more---as its pretty obvious. The wolf lowers its body for Ilias to ride which surprised everyone.
Amazing. For her to have such beautiful steed, I'm speechless. Of course others do so too. They were stupendous by this scene. Even for monster or animal, I'm sure this is the first time everyone saw such splendid creature. Mouth still in agape, Ilias simultaneously talk: "Everyone, can Eris form a contract on all of your steed? We just have to make her their leader"
All of them looked at each other and none of their steed walked forward so I guide Maiya and lower her head thereafter. Hmmm, good girl Maiya. You are the best horse I'd ever had.
Momentarily, the rest did so the same, seeing that Eris is harmless. Their mount walked forward and lowered their head.
"Thanks Agwin" Ilias who's like a fangirl before have different demeanor this time while thanking me.
Before I even throw a question, she Immediately stated: "Thank you for your cooperation everyone, now let's go, Eris?"
Surprisingly, this Eris---the flaming white wolf doesn't have a reign so it wasn't Ilias who have the decision where it go which not just me but others was surprised too. This time, it was Asfi who questioned with her white horse as her mount: "Is she not your steed? Why she doesn't have a reign?"
"Yes, she is indeed my steed but she's also my protector, my friend and my pillow, heheh---anyway, let's go for now. We'll talk along the way. I will answer everything you wanted to know"
With that, Eris move which surprisingly, our mount followed suit without our guidance.
"Eh?" So Asfi questioned again in yelp as her mount suddenly followed.
She didn't guide her horse but it follows Eris. "Her mount have falna" Ryu-san muttered and look at the forefront white wolf.
"Eh? Ryu-san? is that true?" So I immediately asks. Yeah, I know it was possible to give falna to an animal according to Astraea-sama herself but why am I questioning it now? I might know the answer here.
"Indeed, Eris had falna, fufufu" Ilias answer after hearing Ryu.
"From Artemis? Isn't giving falna to non-people is inconceivable?" Ryu-san asks. Because most elves didn't like gods for this simple reason, so she thought.
Ilias look behind Ryu as she winked at me and only reply: "Agwin, do you remember? I'm sure its only vivid in your memory but Eris is with me ever since, but she's only an egg from then"
I try to skim my memory but I can't find it so I shake my head.
"He he he", so she chuckle and answers Ryu-san along with the word, "Well, Eris is my guardian and a god I've forgotten the name give her his falna, which immediately made her this big, but that god has been killed without us knowing and sent back to heaven so Eris' falna was suddenly locked up. But Artemis-sama, knowing Eris has already received her falna once, didn't make a second thought and give her-her blessing. And like that, I've become Artemis-sama's child after Eris so I should call her senpai~ hahaha" so she explained excitedly.
Amazing. Such coincidences happen all at the same time, not even fate can complain.
I know for sure that there's no such thing as 'Ilias' nor 'Eris' from the original 'Scenario of Orion' but look. Its here, in front of my eyes and witnessing this at this very moment. Amazing indeed. Is this the butterfy effect because of you, Agwin? I can't help but ask myself.
This world is indeed vast. Vast than I ever imagined. I can't help but feel the breeze touching my skin in each of our stride with close eyes. Ryu-san rested her back and close her eyes too and questioned "Agwin, what are you thinking?"
But as I was about to answer---- "Hey Agwin! How about you come here and I'll let you hug me instead of that elf?"
Our world who should supposedly calm was broken by Ilias as vein popped out of her head. Envy is visible from that eye and word of hers. She and Eris are leading us but not that far ahead, so few turn and she saw what are we doing from her side and there, she broken this serenity of me with Ryu-san! Urgh! just ignore her.
Then Ryu-san open her eyes and look at me as if saying---don't, Or I'll kill you!. . .or so according to that dead-fish eye of hers. Argh! Of course I won't accept Ilias offer! I love riding Maiya after all! But didn't spout such word.