Unbeknownst to me, Father was shedding some light on what he truly wanted to do inside this country. Becoming Erebonia's Chancellor in the coming future. I for one knew this would happen. He'll be working from the ground up, rising through trial after trial to secure his own path in the coming turbulence. One I might even say is more turbulent than mine. But who knows.
As for me, a different scene could be seen playing out. Thankfully enough time had passed, allowing that pounding headache to completely vanish. It gave me enough to recollect my thoughts. Yet that did not last long, as I heard both Father approach my room. And at the same time, I suddenly saw this large blue magic circle appear in an open space from the bed not too far away.
The same golden-blonde haired girl I encountered yesterday came out of the magic circle, teleporting into the room. It was so out of the blue. I saw a look of interest in her eyes, and yet I paused. My eyes even squinted a bit.
"You know, you're a lot smaller up close like this.", I said, retorting to the girl's arrival. I saw her insanely long loose hair, which extended well beyond her waist. It touched the ground in several places. It was wavy and as unruly as her crimson eyes were. But I could immediately recognize who this person was.
"Do you want to meet your ancestors that badly?", The golden-blonde haired girl retorted, scoffing back at me.
"Been there once, lady. I'd rather not do it again. There's no way in Gehenna am I going back to that void, even if it only lasted for a short while.", I replied, causing the girl to suddenly pause in her tracks.
"So you don't even deny that you've died once. Do you think this is still all a dream to you?", The girl responded back, both amused and still slightly annoyed. I gently shook my head, denying her.
"I know this is no dream. I came to that realization very quickly when I was brought to this place. It is truly a pleasure to meet you. The Crimson Roselia. But I think right now, you're Roselia Millstein?", I said, formally welcoming the Witch into my room. Or in this case, the true leader of the Hexen Clan.
"Umu. That did just confirm one of my suspicions about you, boy. We met yesterday, but I never gave you my name like Vita and Isola did.", Roselia. "And it is good your consciousness is in the right place. I might be able to have a proper conversation with you like this.", Roselia said.
"You probably caught on pretty quickly. I slipped up once already. I had a feeling you'd come knocking on my doorstep. I just didn't think it'd be the very next day.", I replied. I stopped joking around. As to what I was referring to here, it was dropping the name of Agnagarn.
"So you're saying you really did know the name of that pup.", Roselia responded, musing to the knowledge I had.
"Guilty as charged. I can take a crack as to why you've come here. I give you my thanks for giving me a reprieve in recovering from yesterday. But I'll be blunt, what you've come seeking may leave you with more questions than answers.", I said to Roselia.
"Is that right? I left Eryn Village with Isola and Vita to search for someone.", Roselia simply stated. "And as you've stated boy, I'm Roselia Millstein. The leader of the remaining Witches of the Hexen Clan. We reside in a secluded village deep within Isthmia Great Forest called Eryn Village.", Roselia responded back. Her earlier annoyed look vanished, and she introduced herself to me. "I've found a trace not too long ago, and I found it tied to this place."
"A trace huh? I did encounter two particular figures a couple years back. It seemed they were more interested in Father, rather than me. One of them was dressed like a knight right out of the Middle Ages too.", I said. Roselia's face immediately turned serious after she heard that.
"Did you happen to catch their name?", Roselia said. I knew I couldn't lie to someone like Crimson Roselia. She has way too many powerful incantations within her grasp. Those included mind-bending ones. She could easily scour what I had, forcibly. Seeing the Crimson Roselia not immediately do this, I already count that as a big win. If it's inevitable, why bother forcing it if you can do it cooperatively? That's what I thought, anyway. I had no intention to run or hide. I'm more curious as to what the Crimson Roselia will do from here on.
"Unfortunately, no.", I gently shook my head, answering Roselia's question.
'Tis a shame for that. Nonetheless I do thank you for presenting this information to me, boy. The trail hasn't gone cold yet. Still that was only part of why I came here.", Roselia said, speaking back to me. Hearing that drew my interest.
"Only part of it? May I ask why?", I decided to ask.
"To put it bluntly, I came to see what Lianne was searching for, and whether or not you were that person. It looks like my searching has come to a halt for now. Instead, it looks like I stumbled across something I didn't expect to see.", Roselia answered. Her lips curved upward into a grin.
What Lianne was searching for. And the way Roselia worded that, she's looking for someone, not something...
I answered that Lianne did come to my villa. It happened over two years ago. She was that knight lady together with that other mysterious figure who I could likely guess who, but I won't dare say her name. As for the knight lady, she received the name Arianrhod from her. You could probably guess who the other person is.
As for the knight lady, her real name is Lianne Sandlot, a master combatant who excels at fighting even more so than Father and other influential figures. At one time, she was feared as the strongest throughout Erebonia, and the entire continent. But here's the kicker. Lianne was alive over two-hundred years ago. She was a knight assigned to help and serve Emperor Dreichels who played a pivotal role in his Accession. All of that took place in what we now call the War of the Lions. It's a popular subject to study if you attend Thors Military Academy.
During this time, Lianne would make a name for herself, and earn the title, Lance Maiden. I guess she goes by Arianrhod, the Steel Maiden now, doesn't she? The Eisenritter are no more either. They're an order of chivalric knights that directly served Lianne, and took part in many campaigns to help Emperor Dreichels ascend the throne. Their primary weapons involved, as the name suggests, lances and spears. That's not all they used, though. Some in their ranks used giant greatswords, like what Father uses. The martial arts the Eisenritter had over two centuries ago have passed down to lots of schools that stand today.
As for Lianne, once she becomes Arianrhod, she would reform the Eisenritter into the Stahlritter. The likes of Duvalie, Ines, and Ennea among other people would join it. I am not sure if they have encountered each other yet. This will probably happen in due time.
One of those people I will point out in particular. Ennea. Like Tio and Renne, Ennea too will fall victim to the DG Cult. It is very possible if I proceed onto this plan of mine, I might encounter Ennea.
As I thought about Lianne aka Arianrhod, Roselia decided to speak out, causing my train of thought to end.
"Seeing you not immediately respond to me, allow me to ask you another question, boy.", Roselia decided to ask.
"Sure. What would that be?", I responded, gaining interest as to what Roselia wanted to ask.
"Do you believe in reincarnation?", Roselia asked. I wouldn't call this unexpected, coming from the likes of the Crimson Roselia. I didn't immediately answer her.
This might be a turning point for me. I know many characters like to keep their secrets hidden, and like I said before, there are many, many powerful characters in the Trailsverse. With but a snap of their fingers, they could easily crush you into small bits of sand. I see no use in lying to the Hexen Clan's leader. Besides, I already became friends with Vita. She could have easily casted one of these incantations the moment she arrived. I do have Vermillion Eyes still active because I got that additional EP from leveling up, but even that couldn't hide the Crimson Roselia's presence. I could only nod my head.
"I do believe in reincarnation, Roselia. My words I said earlier weren't empty.", I answered with confidence.
"So you expect me to believe you know the meaning of reincarnation, even without me explaining it to you?", Roselia questioned, still suspicious of my answer.
"Yes.", I simply replied. "I do have memories of another. I received them right after I was born. That should suffice, no?"
I wasn't wrong when I said that. But I've had memories of my previous life even before I was born, but it wouldn't be a lie to say that I've had them since I was born. I saw Roselia's eyes turn wide. Did she like this outcome?
"Then...!", Roselia excitedly responded. I quickly denied her, not wanting her expectations to go out of turn.
"Like I mentioned earlier, Roselia. I fear only disappointment will come your way once you know who I am. Hell, it might even lead you with more questions than answers.", I said, quickly denying Roselia. She returned to her normal demeanor, and nodded her head.
"Umu. You keep bringing that up, boy. You claim you have memories of another. And there is, in fact, a method to check whether you are telling the truth or not.", Roselia stated, drawing my interest again.
"What would that be?"
"Before that, could you turn off that incessant buzzing that keeps gnawing away at my head? I swear this buzzing is more annoying than Isola berating me.", Roselia retorted. An annoyed look in her eyes. It took me a second to know what she was referring to. I chuckled after realizing.
"Haha, whoops. Hold on for a moment.", I responded with a chuckle.
I knew the Vermillion Eyes couldn't mask the Crimson Roselia's presence, but it isn't rejecting her. Instead, it's being a fly, unable to be swatted away. Imagine a ringing in your ears that just couldn't stop. I'd definitely grow annoyed if I had to listen to that for a while. My crimson-clad eyes vanished once I closed my eyes. The golden-colored eyes returned.
"Those eyes of yours...", Roselia uttered, gaining interest. "Would you happen to know the bloodline you possess?"
"Perhaps only a part of it. I was introduced to it by Grandmother. The details of my Mother have not been revealed as of yet.", I said, answering her.
"Is that so? Perhaps that Father of yours will tell you one day."
"Maybe.", I said back at her., "So, what do I need to do?". I asked.
"Umu, we shall make contact.", Roselia answered.
"C-Contact?"
"Come. Sit in front of me.", Roselia said, urging me to approach her.
Hearing that, I nodded. I shifted through the bedding quickly and reached the end of my bed. As for Roselia, she climbed onto the bed, and entered a lotus position. She placed her staff across her legs.
In the next moment, our faces were close enough to where they could touch.
"Good. You didn't back away.", Roselia said, smiling back at me. I took this time to calm down.
Next, I saw her eyes brighten. Part of why she was called the Crimson Roselia was her eyes, they were pure crimson. Once they shone brightly, it was as if I saw a pool of blood.
"Close your eyes." Roselia said.
"Yes...", I answered, closing my eyes again. After I did, a bright red light shone from her staff as it laid across her lap.
Afterward, she raised her hands and placed them on my shoulders, bringing her head to mine.
"Mare Spiritus." (Ocean of the Soul)
The moment Roselia uttered her incantation, a multilayered magic circle appeared around the bed, covering our current position. Four large spheres appeared inside it, and the magic circle started to spin rapidly.
Once the magic circle emerged and settled into its formation, Roselia spoke out to me.
"Boy, take a deep breath in and look into my eyes.", Roselia asked.
Hearing that, I took in a deep breath, slowly opening my eyes.
"Woah...", I said quietly, seeing Roselia's eyes. They were now a mix of crimson and gold, making her eyes very enchanting. If one stared at these for too long they'd definitely get mesmerized.
Sure enough, not long after looking into Roselia's eyes, my consciousness faded, only to find myself again in a never-ending colorful tunnel of sorts...