【Story】Journey of Sister Chapter 2

Ch. 2　To the Holylight City

Part 1

“Being Shut Out”

Sister: Phew, fin-finally made it…
I touch my aching stomach, raising my head to look at this magnificent nation in front of me— The country of knights blessed by the Holy Gods. I prop on my staff and walk towards the city gate step by step, but two sharp swords cross before me.
Sister: What does it mean?
Templar~Given the frequent invasion of demons recently, the templar commander has ordered that all travelers are not allowed to enter without special permission.
Sister: Wh-what!?
Sister: “I’ve been through hell to this place! How can I just go back empty-handed!
There is no way left! This is the time to use extraordinary means.”
I pinch my thigh hard enough to make my eyes tear. Even if I can’t see it, I can imagine how pitiful I look. Anyone who has a little sympathy will definitely be shaken for me.
Sister: Boohoo…Grand Templar, I came to see my mother one last time, far, far away from home. Could you please bend the rules a little—Ah!
Templar~Leave! Or we’ll show no mercy!
The templar pushes me to the ground and closes the gate.
Sister: Bastard! How dare they get rough with me? I would’ve blasted them away with magic normally— However, Umm!
I can’t help the nauseous feeling that comes up from my stomach anymore, so I rush to the wall, vomiting crazily. This is why I can’t use magic.
The journey from the desert to the Holylight City is long. As a genius mage, searching for secret treasure is my instinct. I saw mushrooms I’ve never seen in the forest the night before. Of course, I took a bite to experience this novel food. It was a very delicious mushroom, so I ate it all up, and the result was just as you can see.
Sister: Urrggg—
Sister: “This is all brother’s fault…He usually does the tasting for me. Now that he isn’t here, I have no choice but to try it by myself. I must settle this debt with him when I go back…Ah…I feel dizzy…Anyway, find a place to rest first.”
Within two steps, the earth-shaking dizziness hits directly. Powerless, I kneel on the ground with blurred vision; my consciousness starts fading away uncontrollably. At this time, a childish female voice comes.
???: Hey, someone passed out. Can’t leave her alone in this deserted land. White bear, take her to our garden.
Sister: No…I…I needa…find…mother…
Much as I want to refuse, the words that came out are too feeble. Not only that, but the dizziness is also even more intense than before, swallowing my last bit of consciousness. I could only fall helplessly into the silent darkness…
In the vision of absolute darkness, only a voice comes to my ears.
Male Voice: Phew, Wonderful. Mother and son are safe…What’s with that serious look?
Female Voice: …It’s not done yet. One more to go.
Male Voice: Wh-what! What do I need to do—
Low Male Voice: Shut up!
I don’t know why, but I want to see them, especially that gentle female voice and that low male voice. I move my hands and legs out of instinct, in an attempt to get away from the darkness.
After making every effort, I finally see the light, so dazzling that I can’t bear it and want to shout, but the voice is a baby’s crying. Someone reaches out to touch my cheek as if to comfort me; the action is as soft as clouds.
I look up at this sweet, green-and short-haired lady. She seems to have taken a lot of effort and looks exhausted, but she still responds with a gentle smile.
???: Don’t cry. Mommy and Daddy will protect you and your brother.
2385~Low Male Voice~I will make you feel happy no matter what it takes.
The male voice sounds from above. Until now, I realize that I’m being held by a brown-skinned man. He stretches out his hand to cover the back of the lady’s hand, and his bright purple pupils reflect my figure—a baby, and then I wake up from this blurred dream in the next second.
Unspeakable emotions flow all over my body, which makes me shed hot tears, as if something important is leaving me. The tears are out of control.
The next moment, someone hands me a fluffy handkerchief. Reflexively, I take it to wipe my face, only to find that the handkerchief has an unusually solid touch. An ominous premonition surges in my heart, and I slowly raise my head.
Sister: AHHH——!
Then I yell hysterically. Hey, don’t get me wrong. I’m a dignified and well-mannered lady. I don’t scream very often. But when looking at this giant bear twice my size in front of me, I bet anyone will be shocked to scream. That fluffiness is not a handkerchief but a huge bear paw.
I quickly pick up the staff aside and cast an elemental magic against the bear. Suddenly, a petite figure rushes over, standing before that beast.
???: Don’t!

Part 2

“Girl of Sacrificial Offering”

???: Don’t!
I look at the girl who suddenly appeared in front of me—about 13 or 14 years old, with bright blond hair and a gorgeous face. Well, not as cute as me, though.
???: It means no harm. We brought you to the garden because you passed out. We’re not—
Sister: Alright, I trust you.
???: Seriously…why do you believe me so easily?
Sister: Uh…coz you look cute.
???: Haha, interesting. I’m Idun. What’s your name?
Sister: You can call me sister…But you seem to be younger than me, so—
Idun: No, sister is good. I may look young, but actually, I’m much older than you.
Sister: How enviable! Youth is one of the desires that humans have always pursued.
Idun: Um…this is not something enviable. For this I have to pay the price…Countless memories are mixed up together. Whenever I think back to the past, what I get is nothing but confusion, because I can’t distinguish my memories, like it’s not mine.
Sister: That sounds painful.
Idun: Indeed…only that mission, I don’t forget…No, I can’t forget, to be exact.
Sister: Mission?
Idun: I have a promise with that person.  Every time the horn sounds, I’ll meet him in the tower. Other than that, I spend my whole time in this garden.
Sister: The tower…do you mean the Enochian Tower? Isn’t that place dangerous? I heard that the Dragon of Poison, which almost destroyed the North, is sealed there.
Idun: Unexpectedly, you knew about it. I thought it was forgotten by the world…and the misfortunes of those heroes of the past.
Sister: It’s true that not many people remember; if it wasn’t for the name of the tower being the same as my brother’s, maybe I wouldn’t have investigated.
Idun: So, everyone has let those past tragedies sink into oblivion…
Sister: “Not good, she’s about to cry. I must have said something wrong. Need to find another topic!”
Sister: Uh, oh right, you say you’ve been staying in the garden. Will you feel bored?
Idun: Maybe, but I have nothing else worth doing anyway.
Sister: How come? The world is so big, how can there be nothing you want to do? It’s just that you haven’t found it yet…
Suddenly, a strong dizziness hits me, and I’m about to fall. Luckily, Idun helps me out.
Idun: You’ve been lying down for a whole day without eating. You must be hungry. I go look for food. You have a rest.
Sister: Sure, thank you.
I sit under the tree, watching the petite Idun go away. I can’t help but move in my heart. How distorted is this world to make a girl so desperate?
???: Come…come over here…
Sister: “Wait. Is it the rumored call of the dead? Finally!”
???: Come…
Sister: Alright, alright, coming!
I follow the mysterious voice to the depths of the forest with joy. There is an old shrine there. The sun shines through the lush leaves on the mottled wall, creating a sacred and inviolable atmosphere…But it doesn’t work for me.
I walk in without hesitation. The inside of the shrine is narrower than I thought. There is an altar in the center of the square space, piled with simple stone pillars, which makes the Carta on the top of the pillars particularly conspicuous.
As if inducing me to touch, the Carta pulses softly. I can’t resist reaching out to the book. When I almost reach it, I feel a killing intent instantly, and my body takes the lead in responding with a back leap—
Next second, giant razor-sharp shears fall down, cutting a part of my bang off.
???: This is not something you can touch, human.