The next day, after staying in Katima’s house, we keep heading north.
It’s pretty early, because I want to see all the great spirits today if I can, so Snow is still sleeping.
“Hn…”
“You can sleep more.”
“…Okay.”
She starts fidgeting in my arms, but I hold her tighter and fix her position, and she falls asleep again.
“You really are loved, father.”
“She still wants attention all the time, and she’s so cute that I end up spoiling her.”
Brynhildr walks next to me, with a smile on her face. I think high elves don’t need much sleep, and that’s why she’s full of energy.
Yesterday, she was surrounded by alfar and bombarded with questions well into the night, so it looks like she has a lot of stamina.
“What was it like talking to the alfar?”
“Honestly, I felt it to my core how narrow-minded I have been. I thought we were much more disliked, but they welcomed me like that…”
“They were practically mobbing you in the end.”
I think back to last night and smile.
Brynhildr looks a little troubled and pouty. It’s cute, because it’s so different from her usual dignified expression.
And I’m sure they all like her because she’s an honest person.
“Well then, is this the home of the earth great spirit?”
We stop in front of a sheer precipice.
Mister Giarth should be around here, but…
“He’s not here.”
Strange. He was watching over Snow two days ago, so I figured he would follow us and appear here…
Come to think of it, did I check when I left the house?
“Oh well. Let’s keep going and head to Mister Guen’s place.”
“Very well.”
Surely in the end, someone will be in Miss Sheryl’s place at least.
We climb the precipice, and head to the volcanic area.
There are actually monsters here, and I see ones that look like frogs roaming around. There’s also a fire dragon in the sky.
But the moment they see me, they look perplexed and run away.
“…You are feared everywhere you go.”
“No, that one isn’t my fault, it’s Katima’s.”
The first time we came here, Katima hit multiple home-runs with them.
They remember I was with her, and they don’t want that to happen again.
“Even though we won’t attack unless they do so first…”
“If they do attack, I will repel them.”
“I’ll count on you then.”
After walking a while longer, I feel a strong presence that’s without a doubt Mister Guen’s. But it’s not the only one.
“Ah, Mister Giarth is here too. Wait. She’s not releasing her power, but Miss Sheryl is also here…”
That’s strange. They often go to her place, but the opposite is rare.
“This is… The power of the northern great spirits.”
Brynhildr’s voice cracks like she’s nervous.
I think it will be fine, because Snow is here, but I stand in front just in case.
“Uoooooooooh!”
“Nuoooooooo!”
I can hear their yells as I get closer.
Mister Guen is swimming in a crawl in the river of lava, and Mister Giarth is stretching his limbs and charging forward.
They’re both unleashing strong power I’ve never seen from them, so there’s not a single monster around here.
“What are you doing?”
Both reach one end of the river, and then turn and go the other way.
They’re heading towards Miss Sheryl, who I assume is the goal, and she turns to us for just a second before turning back to them.
We arrive just as Mister Guen is jumping out of the lava.
“Uooooooooo! Yeeeeeeeees! I won…!”
But then, something wraps around his legs and pulls him back into the lava. And then Mister Giarth comes out.
“Nuooooo!? I woooooon?”
I guess they were having a swimming race in the lava.
It looks like Mister Giarth is ecstatic about winning, because his eyes are shining, and all the lava is blown from his body. That’s an amazing way to display emotion.
“Hnn…?”
Their yells wake up Snow.
“So noisy…”
“Do you want to sleep a little more?”
Snow shakes her head, but it doesn’t look like she wants to go down, and she presses her face against my chest.
She’s a little grumpy because she was woken up like that.
“These are the northern great spirits… I have never seen them before, but what power…”
“I want to explain what’s going on, but I want to hear what that’s all about first. Snow, can you wait here with Brynhildr?”
“…Yes.”
“A-a-are you sure?”
“Yes. Look after Snow for a bit.”
I put Snow on the ground, and she holds Brynhildr’s hand.
She’s still a little sleepy, and it’s cute how her head rocks back and forth.
Brynhildr is taken aback because she’s holding hands with a great spirit, but if Snow doesn’t have a problem with it, it’s fine.
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Thanks for the treat.