"So, in the end, you're saying you couldn't find a solution for your situation?" As we made our way back, I summarized the situation for Erina and Yura. They both nodded, showing interest.
"Right, she just spoke her part and sent me away without giving me time to ask anything... Still, if you can call it advice, I did gain something."
It was somewhat comforting to have gained some direction, even if not a complete solution. The credibility of the instructions from the deity of time was convincing enough.
"The deity of time, huh... I've only heard of her in legends, never seen or met anyone who has."
I pondered deeply, rubbing my chin between my thumb and index finger. Tempest was a figure rarely known even to the gods, a very elusive character. In the game, she was only frequently mentioned but appeared in person only in the final battle.
The mystery around her had always fueled curiosity among players, and when she finally appeared at the end, it was astonishing. Her overpowering strength made her one of the most difficult bosses in gaming history. Her difficulty was comparable to notoriously hard games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring.
The normal RPG mechanics were out the window; it required precise controls and dodging. Her time magic patterns were almost considered cheating due to their overwhelming effect. For instance, a mere brush from her attack could age a character rapidly, leading to natural death, or she could erase someone from the timeline entirely.
It sounded like an unbeatable character, but since it was a game, there were ways devised to defeat her, bending the lore to provide a means of victory. "Looking for a girl named Miru, huh? Do you know her, brother?" Yura suddenly asks me, bringing up Tempest's advice. It dawns on me that I hadn't introduced Miru to my sister before.
"Right, remember the woman with dragon wings I mentioned when you first came here? She was my former boss. There's a young girl who remarkably resembles her, though they're complete strangers."
Yura tilts her head in confusion, "Resembles her but isn't related? That's odd..."
I too find it strange but have to take the girl's word for it.
"So... do you know where this kid is? Do you have her address or something?"
"Honestly, I have no clue where she lives. She just appears out of nowhere..."
Yura's curiosity only grows, "What? That's almost like a ghost... How will we find this Miru then?"
As we ponder this, the carriage comes to a halt. We've returned to the royal capital.
"There's someone who might know, a deity here in the city. They could help us locate her."
Disembarking, we head towards the high steps of a familiar temple.
"Here again, huh..." I muse.
It's Mori Onē's temple, a place I've often turned to for guidance.
"I'll go alone this time. You and Erina can stay here if it's inconvenient."
Leaving them behind, I ascend the long staircase, thinking it's always quite the workout.
Inside the temple, I'm greeted by Mori Onē and, surprisingly, Lus Ria is still with her. "Ah, my husband... have you come? Sorry, I've been quite preoccupied with various thoughts lately... I regret not being able to be by your side as a wife." Mori Onē looked somewhat exhausted, almost as if dark circles were forming under her eyes from fatigue. What could be weighing on her mind?
"I came to ask if you know the whereabouts of Miru," I request politely. Without using any divine power, Mori Onē quickly deduces Miru's location.
"She should be on the large plain southwest of the royal capital, near a giant tree in the center. She's likely to be there."
Her certainty baffles me. How does she know this without consulting fate?
"How can you be so sure...?"
"Well, I'm somewhat acquainted with the child Miru. Whenever she has nothing to do, she's often found lying under that tree."
It's surprising to learn Mori Onē knows Miru. I hadn't expected any connection between them.
"Thank you for your help, Mori Onē," I express my gratitude. She smiles, but then her expression turns slightly bitter as she hesitantly asks me for a favor.
"And Harold... I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from visiting for a few days. I have many things to ponder over personally, although I wouldn't refuse if you came looking for me..."
It seems Mori Onē is also a bit worn out. Are she and Lus Ria planning something significant?
"I'll be mindful of that," I reply cautiously and head out of the temple. My steps are light, knowing my next destination is clear.
"Southwest, the large plain... Miru usually stays there?"
Why would she...?
"Here's the plain Mori Onē mentioned..."
Following the Goddess of Fate's advice to the southwest, we indeed find the vast meadow she described, with a huge tree standing majestically at its heart.
The sight alone is tranquil and sweetly enchanting. As the sky bathed in a beautiful orange hue at sunset, I found myself utterly captivated by the mesmerizing scene at this vast meadow, perfectly complementing the environment. "Is Miru really here?" I mused aloud, stepping forward alone.
Erina had to return to the Rubias mansion due to urgent matters, and Yura went back to the inn because she wasn't feeling well, leaving me to come here alone. With each step, the sound of my feet pressing against the grass echoed, and a gentle breeze swept through my hair. The serenity of the place was indescribable, unlike any I had seen before.
"Miru, are you here?" As I neared the giant tree, I started looking for her. Is she really here? And where does she actually reside? Her elusive presence made me increasingly curious.
"Hmm..." I heard a faint sound.
"Miru?" Only when I got right under the tree did I finally find her - a young girl, much like Mori Onē described, resembling a young dragon, lying at the base of the tree. She seemed to be having a bad dream, given her distressed expression.
"Miru, Miru...!" I called her name gently, trying to wake her up.
"...?" She slowly opened her eyes, seeming bewildered to find me there.
"Oh... brother?!" Her reaction to seeing me was one of shock, as if she had seen someone she should not have encountered. Her pupils shook with anxiety, and she was so flustered that she seemed to struggle to find words.
"It's me... Harold. Calm down for a moment." Her unexpected reaction shook me a bit, but I tried to remain composed, hoping to calm her down and inquire about her identity, as per Tempest's advice.
"Miru? I'm curious about your identity."
"?!?" Her response to my question only deepened her shock, almost heartbreakingly so. "What... what?" Miru seemed to question if she had heard me correctly.
"Do you know Tempest?" I asked, using the name of the time goddess as suggested by her.
"Ah?!" Her confusion deepened, and she looked utterly overwhelmed, her hands clasping her head.
"I'm curious about your true identity. Who are you? I'd like you to tell me the truth." Considering how similar she is to Miru, it's hard to believe it's just a coincidence. Not only do they look alike, but even their names are remarkably similar.
Miru, after hesitating under the weight of my persistent questioning, finally lowered her head, looking defeated. "Alright, I'll tell you..." she said in a formal tone she didn't usually use.
"I am Miru Wicker." Hearing her real introduction along with a shocking revelation left me astounded. Wicker... it was too familiar, the surname I use in this world.
Could it be...
"I will reveal my true identity." The reality of her words was almost unbelievable, and a torrent of thoughts rushed through my mind. Was it really possible?
"Miru Wicker... The second offspring of an entity beyond notions... The daughter born from the union of the great dragon Mir and Harold Wicker..."
The unbelievable was slowly becoming a reality, blurring what was true and what was not, driving me to the brink of insanity.
"I am... your biological daughter." The chance encounter with a girl resembling Mir was not just a coincidence after all; it was fate. This mysterious girl, who seemingly came from nowhere, was calling herself my daughter.
"Father," she addressed me, claiming me as her father.