Lotus Year 96

  Amidst the wreckage and mud, I can see and hear the screams of fear and people running. As I lift the arm of water, I see those left behind in the mud, their faces stained with dirt and blood. I see fear. But all I feel is indifference towards their misfortune. All I want is to forget.

  I don’t want to remember these things. I can’t face these broken pieces that make me feel like trash. Why is it so hard to forget? Why don’t these memories just die with the body? Why do I have to live with this, with the fear and dread of recalling something unpleasant? These memories just don’t disappear.

  I don’t want to play anymore. This game has lost its fun, and it’s time for it to end.

  Following my will, the great arm of water rises to the sky once more, now stained with mud, blood, and grass. It rushes toward the stadium, where a young woman watches the situation in terror. The massive limb of water, hurtling toward her, begins to shake violently before exploding into waves of water and foam. From the remnants, currents of water slither like snakes toward the girl, wrapping around her limbs and immobilizing her.

  The icy currents connected to the lake slowly start pulling her toward the water. She screams and cries, but the currents keep dragging her through the mud and rocks. Just when it seems she’ll be pulled to the lake’s bottom, a slash comes out of nowhere, breaking the currents and causing them to dissolve into puddles around her.

  "Don’t get in my way!"

  I turn to see Hirake, his amber eyes fixed sharply on the lake. He holds his rapier, as if challenging me. The lake bubbles in response, and hands made of pure water surge toward Hirake without hesitation. He skillfully cuts them down, dodging and counterattacking with ease. Hirake activates a magic amulet on his belt, sending a shockwave toward the water hands, destabilizing them. But I use my control over the area to suppress the amulet. Since it was created using my magical energy, it obeys my will and cracks abruptly, halting the shockwave.

  "GO AWAY!"

  I launch my attack again. Hands, blades, bubbles, and projectiles of water and magic shoot toward Hirake, but he continues to fend them off with mastery. When he tries to cut a large water projectile, his rapier passes through it as if hitting nothing. Amazed, Hirake looks back to see the large projectile tremble strangely before dissolving into a mound of light, leaving his rapier slicing only air.

  With no time to react, Hirake looks forward and realizes that among the truly dangerous projectiles are completely harmless illusions, impossible to distinguish. His face darkens as he grasps the situation. In response, Hirake unleashes a strange power, causing his rapier to create a shockwave that sweeps away all the water hands, whether real or illusion.

  By now, the people have fled, leaving only Hirake, seemingly fighting against the lake.

  Amidst the algae and roots, a shape begins to rise—a lady made entirely of water reveals herself to those who remain. Unlike her usual featureless face, this time, she has a complex expression: large watery eyes with heavy dark circles, thin lips closed in sadness, and a small, delicate nose. Her face is both fragile and devoid of emotion, overshadowed only by her large witch's hat.

  Hirake stares at the lady in perplexity, not expecting her appearance. He watches as she begins to cry. Tears stream down her water-formed face, making her look hurt, even miserable.

  But contradicting her harmless appearance, the creature’s face distorts bizarrely. Her delicate, gloomy expression morphs into a monstrous mouth, impossibly wide, emitting a shrill, distorted cry.

  Those who hear the crying wish they hadn’t. The sound doesn’t cause harm, but it leaves a mark on everyone’s memory. The creature continues her bizarre wailing for a few moments before her face reverts to its previous, delicate form. More tears run down her face, disappearing into her body like a mirage.

  Black clouds and the sound of cracking wood are visible not far away. The entity’s crying mixes with the screams and the threatening rain clouds. Without time to react, an arrow made of water speeds toward Hirake, coming from some hidden place among the lake’s leaves and branches. The arrow flies straight for his heart. Hirake freezes momentarily, then quickly assumes a defensive stance, bracing for the attack.

  But to his surprise, the threatening magical projectile made of water and crackling energy simply ignores his unprotected armor and flies past him. Hirake turns back to find the arrow’s true target—not a living being, but an old, inanimate object: a rusty, patched metal flute.

  The impact of the arrow opens a hole in the ground, shattering the flute into several pieces beyond repair. Confused, Hirake turns once more to the lady, as if asking her true purpose. But instead of an answer, he sees the flowers and leaves of the lake wither. Their previous splendor dries up like tears in fire, and soon the lake, once full of life, becomes a large pit of dead plants and twisted roots. Hirake looks at the scene in astonishment, then back at the lady in frustration, searching for answers. But all he sees is her trembling and vibrating before bursting like a bubble and disappearing into the lake.

  When it’s all over, nothing is the same. A day that seemed to promise festivities and joy has instead brought only sadness and melancholy.

  Lotus Year 96

  I feel horrible, like I've ruined everything—years of hard work, patience, and meticulous planning, all dissolving like water. The faith Mistyfall once had in me seems to be wilting like an old flower. Selene is doing her best to minimize the damage, but the nature of the event, the way it happened, and my reaction... none of it helps her much.

  Many people have come to the temple to complain. Selene prays and tries to talk to me, trying to understand my senseless actions. Suzuke is now facing problems with Hirake, and this incident has painted me as an unstable and dangerous entity—something to be contained, not worshipped. The bitter words and murmurs from the nobles only fuel the fire. These people’s hearts change as easily as the waters of a lake; one moment, they're happy and grateful that I’m here, and the next, I’m a savage monster.

  I have no excuse for my actions. I don't usually act on emotions, but when I do, I tend to overdo it. I was angry, scared, remorseful, guilty, maybe... It was all so complex and chaotic that I didn't care about the consequences. I just wanted that damn music to stop. I didn’t want to hurt anyone; I just wanted to destroy that stupid flute and forget these strange memories.

  But now, it all seems so petty and selfish. I played god with these people, pretending to control them and the world when I can’t even control myself. Do I still remember that I was human? Or something like them? I recall general information and important things, but I don’t remember my face, my name, or my story. I never wanted to remember them. The human me died, rotted, and from that body, a new me blossomed. So why should I keep looking back at this dead person, searching for answers, when I have a whole new life to worry about?

  Sometimes, I feel like these human memories don’t do me any good. I feel like if they weren’t here, I’d make better decisions, act more precisely and clearly. It’s as if my body, soul, and mind are three different parts with no harmony, tied and glued together in a haphazard way, forced to coexist.

  My mind doesn’t agree with my body, my body can’t work with my soul, and my soul doesn’t want to be here. I feel like a collage of mismatched pieces, trying to live this life concisely and peacefully, but my body craves more—more resources, more space, more food, more energy. My mind refuses to push past certain limits that should be easy for me to break. In the end, I’m left juggling between body and mind, trying to please both equally.

  Logically, I know the simplest solution is a public apology, giving away some treasures, and staying low for a few years until everything is forgotten. But I still feel like killing them all, making them disappear from this earth, going back to the days when all I had to worry about was collecting star points. But I also know enough to see the value in Tieflings as long-term servants. If I can ingratiate myself into their culture and customs, becoming the center of their lives, I could gain an entire nation that would protect me with their lives and worship me enough to bring resources from faraway places.

  But apologizing feels so wrong to me. I don’t want to bow my head to them and admit I was wrong, even though I was completely wrong. I don’t want them to see a fragile, sensitive side of me. I need to be perfect—a strong, glorious, and fearsome being, not a pathetic entity that apologizes to mortals. I’ve been here since the very beginning; this is my home. I can’t leave, even if I wanted to. If I start bowing to anyone who shows up here, I’ll be suppressed, maybe even contained.

  This is my fault, all my fault. I was stupid to think this could work. All of this—this pathetic make-believe. Why did I think I could live with them? Why did I think it was okay to play god? I can’t even take care of myself, let alone them.

  Can I start over? Leave them all to fate and bury myself in my cave until a new promising group appears? I’d still have to take care of Kiiro, but it’s an option...

  No, that’s not realistic. It’s just pushing the problem under the rug. I can’t make the same mistake again. I need to act, not wait for the world to move around me... Wait... What if I...

  An idea comes to me. The current problem is that people fear me and respect Hirake. I don’t need to make people love me again to win; I just need them not to hate me. And there’s an easy and direct way to do that.

  A deal with Hirake. He has already sought my protection and “wisdom.” I can work with that. Suzuke probably won’t like it, but I can make Hirake king on the condition that he protects me. I can offer him my protection and magical abilities. Hirake is sensible and reasonable. If I offer him a stable base to build the monarchy he desires, I’ll get what I want. I can offer him jewels, magical amulets, aquatic beasts, and even secrets about his enemies. After all, nothing happens here without my knowledge.

  We can claim that Hirake “calmed the lady’s fury” or “sealed” her, allowing us to work together for many years until this story is forgotten. Kiiro may not become king as his mother wishes, but it’s possible to marry him into the royal family if Hirake has daughters. Thanks to Suzuke’s efforts, Hirake is currently at a stalemate in the fight for the throne. If Kiiro were to ascend as Suzuke wishes, I have no doubt that Hirake would be exiled or even executed to avoid any conflict. But if I serve as the bridge between them, I can ensure they don’t kill each other and work together. Suzuke will follow my lead if I push the right buttons, and Hirake has the character to make hard decisions for political reasons.

  The most dangerous part of this plan is the nobles. They are an unpredictable factor, and I have no reasonable way to contain them or tie them to me. Of course, I can try to buy some nobles with empty promises and treasures, but they’re a volatile element I don’t feel ready to handle.

  It’s a bold plan, relying entirely on Hirake’s goodwill. I have a few noble secrets I’ve overheard, but nothing substantial enough to bind him to me. I don’t like the sound of it, but it’s better than letting the nobles run wild and instigate chaos.

  Time is on my side—the healer of all wounds. It makes everything forgotten, swept away into oblivion. I just need to buy time. When my popularity is high again, I can continue with my plan.

  -={The Lost One and the Fool}=-

  Inside a stone and wood room, a man with purple hair sits at a table, examining an object broken into pieces and wrapped in an old cloth. This object is an old flute, which for some reason provoked the "lady" so intensely that she revealed herself publicly and attacked a crowd.

  There shouldn’t be any reason for the "lady" to be so upset by the flute. If the music were the issue, the attack would have happened long ago, as many people sing to their children or play instruments that survived the red plague. Yet today was different; for some unknown reason, the calm and seemingly harmless music sparked the "lady"'s fury, and Hirake wanted to understand why.

  Hirake is no fool. He knows the "lady" is not a deity or a miraculous being but rather closer to a nature spirit—a guardian spirit. These beings are generally beneficial to nature and the world, but they may be dangerous to those who interact with them. Nature spirits like dryads, ents, nymphs, and gnomes can coexist with humanoids, sometimes even interacting amicably, but they always act in their own interests.

  Dryads, for instance, feed on lost travelers, keeping them alive in their real bodies for months while slowly draining their life force. If you find a dryad in the midst of a "meal," she may not attack you, but if you encounter her decoy during hunting season, she will drag you deep into the forest and immerse you in dreams while feeding on your body.

  Ents are peaceful until someone intrudes on their territory. As guardians of ancient forests, they attack anything that doesn’t "belong there." They can be pacified with the right methods, but they are usually hostile toward strangers.

  Nymphs, closely related to spirits, are tied to specific aspects of nature—mountains, lakes, forests, or valleys—rather than specific elements. They often give rise to entities like dryads, naiads, and faeries. Generally, nymphs don’t harm anyone unless their home is being damaged.

  Gnomes are creatures that blend into their surroundings, mimicking plants, rocks, or other natural elements. They hide in the forest and feed on decaying matter, resembling goblins in some ways but preferring to remain unseen and avoiding contact with humanoids.

  A guardian spirit is a spirit that protects a region, object, or person. They are usually very strong in their domain and cannot be separated from what they protect. Many famous kingdoms had guardian spirits that protected legendary weapons, deities that shielded noble families, or spirits that blessed the land around the kingdom.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  These spirits are consistent in their nature and can be identified easily. Spirits protecting items like swords and accessories tend to be sociable and friendly, though some are violent and cruel. Those protecting people or families are typically reclusive and mysterious, avoiding interaction with anyone outside their protected lineage. Spirits guarding places are more territorial, focused on the well-being and integrity of their domain, indifferent to external events like kingdom construction or wars.

  Finding these spirits can be challenging. It’s difficult to distinguish whether a mana-rich area is merely an "oasis" or the home of a spirit or entity. As societies develop around a guardian spirit’s domain, conflicts often arise due to environmental damage or the depletion of magical energy.

  The "lady" resembles a guardian spirit, protecting and blessing these lands. The land is healthy and fertile, with plenty of clean water and a reasonable amount of magical energy. The magical stones produced by the "lady," along with abundant fish and vegetation, make this land exceptionally promising. After the red disaster, finding such a pure and clean piece of land is like discovering a diamond among dirty stones. It holds the potential to become the foundation of a strong and enduring empire. However, these gifts come with the challenge of dealing with a mysterious and unreliable entity.

  Hirake understood that if he could gain the "lady"'s favor, he could resolve the power struggle. He had no desire to rule over people or claim the throne. He considered himself unworthy of such a position. Lacking noble origins or royal status, Hirake rose to prominence through military conquests and prestige. His rise came from fighting in wars, commanding armies, and executing royal orders. Known for his speed and lethality with a rapier, he became a great commander through decades of service. It was early in his military career that he met the 4th princess and fell in love with her, hoping that one day, with enough prestige and a fitting position, he might marry her. The 4th princess was not in line for the crown, and Hirake believed he could gain the king's approval with enough prestige.

  But everything changed with the arrival of the red plague. It started subtly—people fell mysteriously ill with fever, purple spots, red eyes, and wounds that wouldn’t heal, eventually leading to rotting. When the first victims died, they rose again as rotting undead, filled with black slime.

  The plague soon overwhelmed Cinderville. The dead, impervious to conventional attacks, continued their bloodthirsty mission. The only way to defeat them was to destroy their heads completely. But by the time this was discovered, the plague had spread beyond control.

  Most of the more naive nobles fled through the catacombs, trying to escape to the north in search of human lands. Unfortunately, they were completely obliterated by swarms of rats and dark creatures infected by the plague that lurked in the catacombs' shadows. Those who fled at the first sign of trouble were luckier. Rumors suggest that some reached human lands and are thriving, but such tales are hard to believe.

  The last to leave were both the unluckiest and the luckiest. Those who stayed behind to preserve what little survived the plague soon realized they had no choice but to flee. Even if they could protect themselves from the plague creatures—though that wouldn’t last long—they faced hunger, disease, and dwindling manpower. Resources depleted rapidly, and with increasing deaths and illness, paranoia set in. Many were executed at the first sign of infection, and those who survived fought among themselves for the remaining resources. Hirake, with the help of what remained of the Cinderville elite, managed to escape the city, leading all who wished to follow him. The journey was grueling and many died along the way, but those who survived reached this "Promised Land." Despite his reluctance to become king, Hirake had the qualifications and morals to lead.

  The people trusted him. They saw in him the leader they needed: kind yet brave, firm but understanding, tough yet fair. He was everything they needed to navigate this dark era. So Hirake resolved to live up to their expectations. If being king was what it took to protect them, then he would be the king.

  "Perhaps Ermand knows how to contain or imprison spirits? If that creature is a spirit... It has a strange presence, one I've never felt before, as if its presence were an illusion...

  And I think I might know why." Hirake pondered.

  "Is its physical form just a proxy? Like the dryads? I believe its main body is at the bottom of the lake... I can faintly sense a core of mana buried there. If that’s true, it would be easy to eliminate if I could access it... But even if it is true, how do I reach the bottom of the lake safely? I’m sure the creature wouldn’t let me get close to its main body if that’s its greatest weakness." Hirake thought.

  "Fighting it should be straightforward. I didn’t expect the illusions, but its attacks are purely elemental. It should be easy to reach the core, but should I really do that?" Hirake mused.

  He could indeed kill the "Lady." Her attacks didn’t inflict significant damage. If equipped with his armor and activated his skills, he could easily cut her in half—if he could even get to her.

  But the question wasn’t whether he could, but whether he should. The "Lady," though unpredictable and mysterious, was vital to the integrity and prosperity of the city. Her actions—such as eliminating all the flowers and plants on the lake’s surface—had caused significant material and moral damage. The fish that once swam peacefully had vanished, impacting the fishermen’s work. The dead plants halted the production of Lotus Silk, leaving fabric production paused indefinitely.

  The once-pure water flowing through the canals was now muddy and filled with decaying plants, creating extra work for those relying on the clean water source. The sudden shift from a lake of magical flowers to one of rotting plants and twisted branches had dealt a severe blow to the people’s morale. The temple tried to mediate the damage, but this required all the Templars to return to assist with damage control, leaving their other duties and services unattended.

  If one were to weigh the pros and cons of keeping the "Lady" in these lands, the pros would far outweigh the cons. This land, created and sustained by the "Lady," could not thrive without her. The next best option would be to seal her off—something nearly impossible without expensive magical materials and specialized personnel.

  "Damn... I can’t take action against her... Sealing her is practically impossible under these circumstances. But I can’t ignore the attacks on my people. The most puzzling thing isn’t the attack itself; I always thought she would attack eventually, but it never happened. But everything changed because of that flute... What does this mean? What triggered all this?" Hirake thought.

  Amid his thoughts, a knock at the door startled him. Frozen for a moment, Hirake quickly stood, hand on his rapier.

  "WHO'S THERE?! IDENTIFY YOURSELF!" Hirake shouted.

  'How could someone approach me without me noticing? Sharp senses are a basic soldier skill. How did someone get to my door?' he wondered.

  Without an answer, Hirake approached the window next to the door and peered out discreetly, finding only a faint blue glow. Below his door lay a lotus flower, glowing softly, accompanied by a small fish made of water that floated through the air as if it were in an aquarium.

  "What the hell—" Hirake said, approaching the door. He opened it slowly, keeping his dominant hand on his rapier. As soon as the door opened, the small water fish hovered in front of him, as if waiting.

  "...How can I help you?" Hirake asked, confused. The water fish made the lotus flower float toward him with a gentle wave. Hirake picked up the delicate flower, still puzzled by the fish. The fish then dissolved into a bubble of water on the floor, leaving Hirake with the glowing lotus flower.

  Not understanding the situation, Hirake brought the flower inside and placed it on his desk, wondering about its meaning.

  "Was this Selene's work? What is she trying to say? That I shouldn’t threaten the 'Lady'?

  Or is it a cruel joke from an angry Templar?" Hirake wondered. The lotus flower on his desk began to open mysteriously, revealing a small ball of bright blue water that floated just above it and began to vibrate, emitting a voice.

  "Hello Hirake, it is a pleasure to formally meet you." The voice, though monotonous, was delicate and emanated from the water bubble.

  "Wha—" Hirake said, turning quickly with his rapier raised toward the voice.

  "Oh my~ There’s no need for that. I understand our relationship may not be friendly, but I’m trying to change that. Can’t we just... talk?" The voice came from the water bubble, pulsating and shifting with its tone.

  Hirake looked at the source of the voice, disbelief etched on his face, as if meeting someone he thought he knew well, only to discover they were very different from what he expected.

  "You... Are you the 'Lady'?" Hirake asked, still holding his rapier.

  "Well... Lady, monster, creature, deity, spirit, witch, entity, or demon—you can choose. I’m usually called 'The Lady of the Fountain,' or 'Lily,' if you prefer."

  "You're... Different from what I expected."

  "Oh? Different, you say? Forgive me for this unconventional appearance. It’s challenging for me to maintain a physical form away from the lake, so I had to resort to more flexible methods of communication."

  By now, Hirake had sheathed his rapier and moved closer to the voice, his confusion evident, as though meeting someone he thought he knew well but discovering their personality was very different.

  "I’m referring to your willingness to talk. You’ve always seemed reclusive and unsociable."

  "Are you referring to my lack of response to your request?"

  "...That too, but mainly, I didn’t expect you to communicate so well. I didn’t think you knew how to talk to humanoids."

  "...Oh... Thank you, I suppose? I don’t usually speak much because I’m... afraid of people. I prefer to observe and listen."

  'She's "afraid of people"? Is she lying, or could she be a shy nature spirit like the gnomes?' Hirake thought.

  "Why did you come here?"

  At this question, a long silence fell from the water bubble, as if the speaker was deeply contemplating their response.

  "I came because... I made a mistake. I know we have our differences, but please believe me when I say I didn’t mean to hurt anyone... During that event. It was an accident, and I need to make amends."

  "An accident? That implies something beyond anyone's control. But you caused it intentionally, or did you 'accidentally' create a limb of elemental magic and attack an audience at an event you hosted?"

  "...I won’t deny my actions, and I apologize for the mistake. I’m willing to compensate the victims generously and ensure their safety and well-being, but you need to understand it was an 'accident.' I just wanted that flute to stop playing."

  'And it all comes back to the flute. She seems genuinely sorry, but why did a flute make her act so uncontrollably?'

  "Can you tell me why that girl's flute upset her so much?" Hirake asked, examining the broken pieces of the flute wrapped in cloth on the table.

  "...It wasn't the flute itself... It was the music. It reminded me of things from the past—bad things I don't want to remember. I wanted the music to stop so desperately that I acted out violently."

  'Bad memories? So she's not a young guardian spirit? That would explain her eloquence and her ease in sharing her territory so peacefully... But the energy concentration and her explosive reactions... They seem like clear signs of a young spirit...'

  "Can I ask a somewhat personal question?"

  "Hmm? Sure, as long as it's not too compromising."

  "Are you a guardian spirit or a nature spirit, like nymphs and dryads?"

  "Wha-... That was unexpected. Well... I don't really know. I've never met any beings like myself, so I don't know the name of my species. But I don't think I'm a 'true spirit,' maybe something more natural?"

  'She doesn't even know? This is even more mysterious. Nature spirits are born from manifestations of the spirit realm in elements of nature, so they know their origin and past. As far as I know, 'true' spirits live only in the spirit realm and don't leave unless summoned.'

  "Then another question. Is the aura of energy I sense at the bottom of the lake its main body?"

  As soon as Hirake spoke, the water orb stopped abruptly, and a long silence ensued. Just as it seemed like the silence would last forever, the previously warm and gentle voice turned cold and harsh.

  "STAY. AWAY" the voice spat.

  'I knew it... This isn't a guardian spirit but something akin to dryads. The humanoid form it shows is just a 'proxy' for appearances.'

  "I don't intend to harm you, but that might change depending on your actions."

  "YoU-!" The voice hissed as roots and vines began to sprout from the lotus flower, wrapping around the wooden table. Soon, the roots and vines covered the surface of the table, and inky black thorns emerged.

  'She's not good at hiding her emotions... Threatening her life visibly is an easy way to make her angry and defensive.'

  "You think you pose a threat to me? If you plan to intimidate me with empty threats, get out of my house!"

  "Ugh-" The creature hissed as it caused the thorny vines and roots to dry up and disappear, making the lotus flower return to its usual, pleasant form.

  "I apologize for that. I'm not comfortable with threats, but I'm not here to declare war or create misunderstandings between us."

  "Huff, I understand you're here to apologize, but it doesn’t change much. The damage is done."

  "And that's why I came here. The damage is done, but it doesn’t have to end badly. We can turn this into something beneficial, you and I."

  The voice returned to its more monotonous and delicate tone.

  "What do you mean?"

  "...You have something I want, and I can give you what you need. We can make this work splendidly. You said yourself once that you don’t know what you're doing... But I can help you find your way."

  Hirake, slightly annoyed by the cryptic words, walked over to the table and stared at the small bubble of sparkling water floating on the lotus flower with his amber eyes.

  "Get to the point. Don’t beat around the bush."

  "...You want to be king, or rather, you need to be king. But you can't do that if no one recognizes your power. If I send Selene to support you, you'll have the temple working on your behalf. All the amulets need to be recharged there, and new amulets are only produced there. People fight for Selene’s favor, but only I can make everyone fear and respect you. I can offer you blessings, treasures, secrets, and magic beyond your capabilities. Suzuke, Kiiro, Selene—they don't stand a chance if you're by my side."

  Hirake's eyes trembled at the "Lady's" bold and sudden offer of power, wealth, and prestige.

  "What do you want from me? Why are you offering this now?"

  "Well... Let's just say I had faith in my group, but now I’m uncomfortable with what I have. I made a big mess, you know. So I need someone capable to clean it up, and I don't think Selene is up for the job."

  "So now that you feel threatened, you want my help? Isn’t that a bit hypocritical?"

  "...Maybe. But I’m willing to pay for it."

  Irritated, Hirake sat heavily in the chair in front of her, sighed, and looked up thoughtfully.

  "I have one condition. If you want my help, you need to give me some answers—honest answers."

  "...I’ll tell you everything I can..."

  "I want you to tell me the truth, Lily. What are you? What do you want? Why are you doing all this?"

  The voice in the water bubble seemed to choke momentarily, as if the question was too absurd to process. Silence returned for a few moments until the water bubble began to pulse again with the voice on the other side.

  "I told you... I don’t know what I am. I just want to survive... I need to survive, no matter what it takes."

  "Survive? Is that all? Of course, staying alive is important. But why do you take it so seriously? If you just wanted to live, wouldn’t it be easier to isolate yourself from everyone? Why are you involved? Why are you so concerned with public opinion?"

  "I... I can’t control myself. I don’t want things to get out of hand. You people are so unpredictable, chaotic, and greedy, always wanting more. I kept you alive—it was me, not anyone else. I protected you for years, decades! But you keep reaching for more and more, growing like weeds. I need to ensure you don’t go overboard!"

  'She’s dangerous... This creature sees us more as a pest than as visitors. But is it our fault, or just the result of her overreactions?' Hirake thought.

  "Seriously? What exactly did we do to 'cross the line'? I'm sure we can resolve this peacefully instead of resorting to conflict. I respect your influence over these lands, but I can’t tolerate threats to my people without solid reasons."

  "...You all... You've grown too much... You've stayed too long... Much longer than expected. It shouldn’t be like this. You should leave, like everyone else. I need to ensure you're not a threat!"

  Hearing the irritation in the voice coming from the small water bubble, Hirake put his hand on his chin and began to think. 'This is unexpected. It’s not that we did anything wrong; the problem is that we "stayed too long." She must not be used to permanent groups, which might be why she's hostile. This is a major problem. How can I resolve this?'

  "Tell me, Lily, why are you so afraid of us? I assure you, I have no intention of harming you unless absolutely necessary."

  "Afraid?! I’m not afraid of you! You’re invaders! Pests! You shouldn’t have stayed here in the first place! I’m just trying to make everything fit together!"

  "Lily, if you keep acting like this, I don’t think we can have a constructive conversation. I want to resolve our issues so we can work together, but that’s only possible if you’re willing to cooperate."

  "...I just... I don’t trust you. I don’t trust anyone."

  Hirake raised an eyebrow at the small bubble of water. The statement felt more profound than the words suggested. He didn’t sense deceit or manipulation; instead, he felt genuine sincerity.

  "...I see. Trust is hard to come by. It’s like exposing your back to someone with a knife and hoping they won’t strike. I won’t press for details, but could you at least tell me what made you distrust everyone?"

  The small water bubble crackled and pulsed. The silence on the other side stretched longer than expected until a weak, whisper-like voice emerged.

  "The past..."

  Patreon first and released for free on Scribble Hub and Royal Road according to the schedule.