Chapter XXIII: Lilies

A Chapter by Oran

Due to various circumstances, the writer does not want to see Solis wake-up immediately and instead wants to give a lecture about the Known Regions, so he's gonna be occupying a whole paragraph again.

First and foremost, I shall discuss the four main factions of Humanity that reside within the Known Regions. Even long before the Elemental Incident, Humanity was already petty enough to divide itself out of different beliefs and values, yet all serve the same God. The Upper Kingdom, where corruption is the price to pay for freedom, is located to the North. Below it is The Lower Kingdom. You'll find poverty due to plagues and drought within this area. To the east, the Draconians are encamped, building their nation with tremendous progress. And to the Northwest, the Berial Magus are trying to innovate magic from ancient texts and forbidden techniques, making them the most powerful magicians in the Known Regions but also the most disruptive because of a thriving disease within their people called "Sleep Deprivation". That's pretty much it for factions, but there's also a level - 2 levels- in societies which is applicable on all four of them. The [1]Aristocrats and the [1]Plebeians. Obviously, Aristocrats are higher than the latter, and they are also the only ones that can use magic. Plebeians are significantly a little less powerful because they can't use magic, but they can wield magical weapons. Far to the west, the Elves thrive in their country,[2]Sauniere'. Their people have no levels of society but they do have strict laws, almost as if it's their religion. Despite this, they also serve the same God as Humans, but they see themselves as higher than them, for all of them can use magic. Also, these people use the old Elemental language and have pure white hair and pointy ears unlike Humans.

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De'Ann is bored to death inside the Xenovian Archives. After the funeral of ninety-some soldiers including her two mentors, she dragged herself wherever she could walk to; not knowing what to do until she just suddenly got there. She haphazardly picks up a book on the shelf and starts reading that last paragraph the writer wrote.

Her eyes were densely skimming through the text as her freehand brushes her short ponytail that tread behind her ear. She is wearing a plain white shirt, cargo shorts, and training boots, but despite all this, her feminine curves still seem to surface; like those B-cups on her chest.

"So this is where you've been, De'Ann....", said a woman who was a year younger than her. She was wearing a pinkish blouse similar to that of Anna's which complements her reddish hair. Come to think of it, she looks like Anna's step-sister.

"Lady Lena", she closes the book, shoves it back on the shelf, then takes a knee to bow down.

"What did I say about bowing before me?"

"I'm sorry, Milady, but your father kept insisting-"

"He's not here right now, is he?"

"No, Milady", she stands up, defeated but still bent on not looking at her, "I apologize."

"What's wrong?", she looks at De'Ann with a concerned face. "Are you still hung up on what happened?"

"No... I'm sorry, Milady", still not looking. Instead, she stares on the tiled floors of the library.

"Come on", she changes her way of speaking, "I'm not looking for an apology."

"Then what are you looking for, if I may ask?"

"Obviously you, Miss Erin."

"What is it that you need from me?"

"You don't have to act tough; I know you, remember?"

"I assure you, Milady, I'm fine", she turns around and takes a book from the shelf as if she even wants to read anything right now.

"Don't act like that; I know it's painful-"

"Shut up, Lena!" Her face tears up a little bit while she weakly whispers: "Just shut up...."

Lena's face didn't seem to possess any sign of annoyance. She is an Aristocrat, but De'Ann is a Plebeian. Disrespect would be punishable by life imprisonment, or worse yet, death. But she doesn't really want to do that to her dear friend, so she takes her exit.

"Have fun with your books, then", she proclaims in a very cold tone.

De'Ann turns around quickly, holding onto the open book with both hands. Guilt spread through her mind like a poison. Lena has never reacted that abhorrently silent before, especially since any Aristocrat would simply blow a fuse and start a rampage with his tongue then sentence her to death. Words formed in her head to keep the feeling from spreading: "Wait!" but her they were a bit delayed, so the impulse took on its actions. She drops the book and lunges to grab the Lady's arm. Both paused in the scene.

"I said wait... don't leave me too...." Her arms on their own and wrap themselves around Miss Lena, hugging her from behind.

Lena clasps the hands that are wrapped from behind her with her own. This softness that she felt from behind her, this sense of comfort, nothing else in this world has ever made her feel this easy. One moment she was coldly brushing her off, now she's in the mercy of her gentleness.

"That's just not fair...."

She slowly turns around, and finally meets De'Ann's azure eyes, brightly glowing in desperation for respite. Just a little bit of rest from all that's happened. Surely, she knew, that she's already found it, two inches shorter than her.

Everything's fine; everything's fine as long as she's here.

It echoed continuously inside her head. It always has been. Only this time, she hears it as clear as day. If the whole world would just melt like that, it'd be alright for her.

And just when she thought the moment wouldn't last any longer, Lena suddenly dives in. The soft lips of the aristocrat's daughter pressed firmly against De'Ann's. Her eyes widen. Her heart hastens its beat. Her body trembles. This pleasurable yet unexpected sensation causes her to let out a muffled chirp. She is mesmerized by the sweetness, the touch, and the scent of another lily affectionately embracing her. She shuts her eyes and lets go of everything, all for the enjoyment of this uncommon feeling.

After what felt like a lifetime of peace, Lena parts away from De'Ann's lips, still holding her tightly in her arms. At the same time, their eyes pry open and they beheld each other with utmost intimacy. Lena's face was flushed red, such that it could make anyone's heart melt from its warmth.

"Don't be sad anymore. I'm here now."

Lena buries her face on De'Ann's chest.

There they lay in each other's warmth.

If only it could last forever....

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1. Got that idea from the Anime, Zero no Tsukaima.

2. A character from Dan Brown's, "The Da Vinci Code". Apparently, he's a curator.

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