Queen Of Adis

Elior grimaced at the complexity of the situation. "Well, I have to admit that my presence can really make a seer's power to awaken. However, I also have to show myself in order to help you. Since I cannot take away the gift that was given by the gods, I can only impede it. Ah, but don't worry, the only memory I will erase is the teeny-bitsy consciousness that your brain has started to have for your second gift, as well as my existence."

Haru gasped and her eyes grew wide. "Y-you mean... if you fix my head, I can no longer remember you?"

"Mn," he confirmed with a sad smile on his face.

"W-wait, since my second ability hasn't awakened yet, perhaps we can do it another time?"

"I'm afraid we don't have 'another time,' my dear. It's now or never, Haru. You have a tough battle ahead of you, very soon." Elior insisted as his eyes glowed in a golden light.

Adis furrowed his eyebrows at his unsolicited revelation, however, he knew the old geezer meant no ill intention.

"I shall be here until tomorrow, child. Talk to your mate and think about it."

She opened her mouth to give the pope her reply but Adis held her arm firmly and shook his head, silently implying to not decide on impulse again.

"Fine. Let me sleep on it for the meantime. I'll give you my response tomorrow afternoon," she finally conceded.

The Demon King just nodded to the elder and pulled her hand and started to walk out of the greenhouse without even bidding the pope goodbye. She suddenly halted when she heard Elior called her out.

"Haru, I am really happy to meet you." He gave her another of his melancholic smile before continuing on drinking his already cold tea.

"Meow~" Vesta who had been silently watching them on top of the table stood on her hind legs and waved her arm goodbye.

She smiled with her eyes and raised her hand to wave back before she finally turned around to leave the place.

Once they were outside, Haru immediately pulled Adis closer and whispered to him. "He doesn't know that Vesta is a goddess?"

Adis wrapped an arm over her shoulder as he answered her in a low voice. "I think he had a feeling that she's not an ordinary cat but he never made an attempt to confirm it. Just like you, he is an obedient 'lover.'"

"Can't he see her true self in his vision?"

"Humans cannot be stronger than gods even if they're blessed by them. The gods can't afford it if the 'blessed ones' will use their powers to turn against them someday. Therefore, his vision doesn't work on Vesta, even if he wants to."

"Oh, I see."

Adis smiled mysteriously and gently tapped her nose with his finger. "But that doesn't mean you can't outsmart them. Knowing how strange your mind works, I have a feeling that you will shock the heaven someday."

Haru just clicked her tongue and did not comment on his remark.

Then, she glanced over her shoulder to watch Elior and the grinning cat through the glass structure, feeling sorry for their situation. "His eyes are so bright, yet so sad at the same time. I wonder how painful it is to see a vision. But, even so, I thought that perhaps their relationship can grow even further."

"Those who are in heaven cannot have a romantic relationship with those who are below them unless they are willing to renounce their power and immortality." He intertwined their fingers and matched her pace as he continued. "Having an immortal life can be very tiring and lonely, especially if you lost your reason to live for that long. Hence, many of them chose to abandon their immortality to be with someone they love. I, for one, would also choose the same path."

He stopped walking and c.a.r.e.s.sed her smooth cheeks lovingly. "I'd rather live a short life than live another day without you, Haru." He enveloped her small frame in his embrace and firmly kissed her forehead.

She giggled as she hugged him back. "Geez, you are really hopeless without me."

*****************************

Meanwhile, back in the greenhouse, Vesta got startled when her human spoke all of a sudden.

"There must be a reason why a ghost of the future has bestowed her royal presence in the past." His eyes were glowing while gazing in an empty space as though he was seeing someone in front of him. "Are you looking for an answer... Queen Haru?"

A transparent figure of a woman suddenly appeared while a golden l.u.s.ter sparkled around her. An enchanting voice echoed inside the glass structure which caused Vesta to screech and ran into Elior's embrace.

"So that explains why our paths never crossed in the present time. It was because your existence must not be known by me."

"Though it seems my efforts are for naught. The fact that you are here only means that your visions have awakened." He replied while c.a.r.e.s.sing his cat's fur to calm Vesta's nerves.

"I never once thought that I also have the power of a seer," Haru muttered as she looked at the fading shadow of her past self.

"Do you blame us from erasing it in your mind? Do you think it was wrong?"

She shook her head and looked back at the pope. "I believe in my judgment, whether it was in the past or future. Since today's happening had been erased in my memory, it only means that my past self consented it. Why would I blame others for my own decision?"

Elior smiled in approval. "It seems that time has made you stronger and wiser, dear child."

"It's only been almost two years. However, I honestly don't have any idea why am I here. The last thing I remember was I just slept and when I opened my eyes again, I am already watching the scenes of the past."

He creased his eyebrows and tilted his head. "Has something happened for your heart to unconsciously want to go to the past?"

Haru stiffened as she recalled what happened to Pier.

Elior instantly understood her reaction. "It seems you still don't have much control over your second gift. However, since you have seen everything in the past, I don't have much help to offer you. Do find my future self in your time and seek his advice. He must have been yearning for you to remember him again. After all, he is a lonely soul."

"Mn," she nodded and started to chase after the couple.

"Queen Haru!" Elior called out before her ghost could pass through the glass panel.

"Two same beings cannot be in the same period at the same time. The balance will be obstructed. You must leave soon, else the past will swallow your presence and you won't be able to go back to your own time. Moreover, seeing that demon brat was so attached to you, if you don't wake up soon he will surely die of loneliness, just like a love bird that lost his mate."