I Became My Healer Elf Character - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Arriving at the Mountain Town
Ever since Alfa was little, she had to endure the life of a princess. Not long after her birth, her father had tragically passed away. While the little girl, didn’t remember his face, there was always a small void in her heart. By the time she was a year old, the queen had already mingled with the Duke, producing another illegitimate heir.

In her early years of life, Alfa didn’t understand anything. She had no idea why people clung onto the words of her mother. Behind all of the acts, her mother treated her normally. In her early years of life, they would often visit the Duke’s manor.

Her younger sister served as a playmate by the time Alfa had turned 6 years old. It was at this time, that she noticed something building within herself. There was a resentment towards the mother who raised her. Not only that, but there was a resentment towards the goddess Amelia.

Alfa never voiced her thoughts out loud, but when she would go to church on the first day of every week, she began thinking about it more deeply. Why are we made to worship a figure who hadn’t shown herself in centuries? Other countries have gods too, so why does no one here seem to acknowledge them?

When she started having these curious thoughts, she began to realize that everything seemed to be a facade. Why should we care about a goddess that doesn’t even answer our prayers? Why does Mother care so much?

These thoughts made her realize that her beloved mother didn’t pay as much attention to her little sister. One day, when she was only 10 years old, she was sent on another play date with the 8-year-old Esalda.

While they played in the garden of the Duke’s manor, Alfa decided to confront her little sister, wondering her thoughts on the matter.

As they walked through a grove of flowers, Alfa grabbed her little sister’s hand. “It’s unfair, Esalda. Why do they…Why does she only look at me? Compared to you… I’m just…”

Esalda tilted her head cutely at the time and placed a curious finger on her temple. “What are you talking about, esteemed sister?”

Alfa frowned from the title. “I told you many times you don’t need to call me that, and this is exactly what I speak of. Why am I the esteemed sister?”

Esalda was too young to understand the meaning of her sister’s words, but she could sense the sadness coming from her. The little girl with blue hair hugged her elder sister.

“Esteemed sister is esteemed sister?”

Alfa forced a smile and began patting her sister’s head. “How about this, when no one else is around, please call me Alfa or older sister, okay?”

“Okay!” Esalda bounced as if it was a game. “Can I get a nickname, too?”

Alfa’s smile seemed more genuine now as she looked at the bright little girl. “How about… cute little sister?”

“Hehe…”

///

“Older sister?”

Alfa groggily opened her eyes from the back seat of the chariot. “Cute little sister?”

Esalda giggled as she pat Alfa’s head. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.”

Alfa looked out towards the surroundings, noticing that the mountains were getting even closer. It wouldn’t be long before they reached the mountain town. It was the last and only town in the way of the Amelia mountains.

The princess yawned and stretched her arms. “I had a dream. You remember when we were little and played in your father’s garden?”

“How could I forget? Those were some of the most fond memories I had growing up.”

“I still don’t know why Mother is doing this.”

Esalda worriedly grabbed her sister’s hand. “I told you before that it doesn’t matter to me. You gave me plenty, so I am thankful that Her Majesty allowed those play dates.”

“I can’t comprehend her at all. She should be the closest to Amelia, yet she is so far removed from reality.”

“But, she has also served as a strong leader when people needed it. I am sure you can see that.”

“That’s exactly why this doesn’t make sense. We were just attacked by demons in the capital, and yet…”

At that moment a cute little fairy floated in front of Alfa’s face. Her tired eyes drooped in the twilight hours of day. “Did you have a good rest?”

“Yes, thank you for that.”

The little fairy puffed her chest. “There’s no need for thanks. I am simply following the queen’s orders.”

“The queen, huh? Say, why do you call her a queen? And why does Kurayami call her Master?”

Senjo tilted her head. “Isn’t it the same for mortals? There are ranks, and Kurayami is closer to the queen then I could hope for.”

“I suppose that makes sense, but what is she the queen of?”

Senjo narrowed her eyes as if hearing something strange. “Isn’t it everything?”

Alfa chuckled to the cute little fairy’s musings. “How could that be? Amalin has its own queen.”

Senjo sighed. “Mortals wouldn’t understand. Do you understand hope? Everyone has some faith and hope. People hope that they will see the next day tomorrow, and the animals hope that someone doesn’t come in to hunt them while they sleep. Even monsters of the dungeons cling to their own sense of hope, so it’s kind of like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Spoke too much…sleepy…” Then the fairy fell asleep in midair, floating along with the chariot.

Alfa looked towards her sister who shrugged.

“Don’t ask me. I only met Miss Hikari recently.”

“I am curious what really happened during that skeleton attack. Why have all of the knights given the same story? The Hikari I saw fighting that demon was like some grandiose figure of legends.”

“Maybe you’ll witness another scene? After all, the mountains aren’t exactly the safest passage.”

Alfa nodded, recalling all of the reports of miners who died to wolves or other monsters. A long time ago there was the legend of a dragon who made a nest there, but no one has heard of anything like that recently.

Dragons were extremely reclusive creatures, and it was rare for people to encounter them. If they did, they could count themselves lucky to survive. The survivors often had their tales spread across kingdoms, and whole poems and sonnets would be written about them.

Alfa subtly glanced towards Kurayami. The draconic woman clung greedily to her master’s arm. Alfa knew that Hikari was truly someone special. She had the ability to tame a dragon and a fairy. Not only that, she summoned a remarkable angel during the demon raid that seemed to plunge the entire city into silence.

When they finally approached the mountain town, the group was met with odd gazes from the guards.

By the way, the town itself was extremely fortified against attacks. There was a towering stone wall, and the gates were made of that old familiar metal. These were hardened by seasoned dwarves who took on the commission. The place needed this treatment as it served as the only entrance towards that sacred ground known as the Amelia mountains.

Passage on the other side of the mountain was near impossible. Not only would you face harsher conditions, but that side was unbelievably steep. It formed a natural barrier to the forests of the elves, and it made anyone who wanted to reach either side have to travel all the way around if they aimed for a safe journey.

Merchants commonly took an eastern route, and they often brought back a few things from the elven tribe. Most notably, the apples that could cost a gold coin for just one of them.

Since the elves were mostly recluses, they didn’t let just anyone enter. One had to earn their recognition as a trader to even consider it, so very few merchants were up to the task.

While the guards looked at their chariot strangely, they quickly got to business, making the group present proof of their identification and their reason for crossing. It was a blessing that Hikari had chosen to hide the horns of the unicorns and their strange eyes.

“We were given permission to climb by the queen herself,” Hikari said. She then pulled out a token the queen had given her before. “This should serve as the proof.”

The guard showed a temporarily shocked expression when he looked at the two sisters in the back. Nonetheless, he looked over the token holding the royal insignia.

“Everything appears to be in order. Remember, if you climb the mountain watch out for wolves and trolls. Traipse carefully while on the sacred ground, and don’t do anything to disrespect the monuments on the way.”

“Monuments?”

“Aye, several people make pilgrimage up there, and the miners built monuments of Amelia along the way. They serve as a guide and a place for prayer and respite. Each of them are enchanted with a heating element for travelers afraid of frostbite.”