As dusk descended, Isao and Isla decided to share the lavish space of Sylveria's chamber. "Your room is quite spacious," Isla remarked, laying face-down on the plush carpet with an air of nonchalance.
Sylveria, startled by her companion's sudden preference for floor-sleeping, demanded explanations. "W-what are you doing, idiot?! Why would you choose to sleep on the ground?!" The princess's exasperation was matched only by Isao's peals of mirth as she witnessed Isla's peculiar behavior once again.
"I'm just accustomed to harder surfaces." Isla replied matter-of-factly, her disinterest evident in her tone. Sylveria's face contorted in disbelief at the assertion, prompting the two friends to devise a different plan.
With Isao's assistance, they carried Isla into the adjacent bathroom, where a generously sized bathtub awaited.
As the three friends lounged in the expansive tub, the steaming water and fragrant soap bubbles enveloping them in a sense of comfort and camaraderie. Sylveria couldn't help but chuckle at Isla's simple yet contented observation.
"Yeah, the bubbles are pretty cool, aren't they?" Isao agreed, blowing a few across the surface of the water, causing them to pop with a delightful splash. Sylveria leaned back against the tub's rim, her eyes drifting shut as she savored the momentary peace. "It's moments like these that remind me of how lucky I am to have you both in my life." she murmured, her voice tinged with emotion.
Isla, submerged up to her neck in the warm water, cracked open an eye to regard her friend with a lazy, half-smile. "You're always getting all mushy and sentimental, Sylvie."
"Honestly, I never questioned our reunion." Sylveria acknowledged, her tone tinged with a mix of conviction and wry acceptance. "The goddess did promise to entwine our fates, after all. Still, the nerfs we've endured since arriving here irk me to no end." Isao nodded in agreement; her gaze reflective as the trio commiserated over their diminished capabilities compared to their former selves. The memory of their collective strength in a past life lingered, leaving an indelible sense of loss and frustration in its wake.
Turning to Isla, Sylveria posed an inquiry that piqued both girls' curiosity. "By the way, I noticed you employing the 'Sky Splitter' technique during your skirmish with Bartolomeo. However, as we're not in our original world, the sky didn't part as it once did." Sylveria's gaze narrowed, genuine puzzlement etched onto her face as she searched for an explanation. Even Isao appeared perplexed, her curiosity piqued by her companion's unusual actions.
"Well, it's pretty simple." Isla said matter-of-factly, a touch of indifference coloring her words. "Back when we were powerful, my mana was imbued with the pure white essence, also known as "white mana", granting me unparalleled abilities. But in this new reality, my mana is a basic green, requiring me to adapt to new strategies and techniques. The Sky splitter I used is a modified version, something that this body can perform even without white mana."
Sylveria's brow furrowed in understanding as she processed Isla's explanation. "Ah, I see. It makes sense especially since your natural aura seems to be a green tint rather than the crystalline white we were accustomed to."
Isao leaned in; her curiosity piqued. "That brings up an interesting point – have you tried experimenting with manipulating your green mana in combat? Perhaps you can discover new techniques or amplifications that cater to this world's unique properties?"
Isla considered Isao's suggestion, her lips pursing thoughtfully. "Hmm, it's worth a shot. If nothing else, it'll give me something to practice and improve upon." Sylveria nodded, a determined glint in her eye. "I agree. We should all focus on adapting and developing our skills according to this world's parameters. "Well, you two certainly boast impressive mana." Isla observed dryly, eyeing Sylveria's icy blue aura and Isao's lavender radiance. "It's no secret that Sylveria's inherited ice magic remains unchanged, and your Lavender hue suggests your lineage too holds special affinity for it, Isao."
"It's probably because my mother's a skilled Ice wizard." Sylveria chimed in, providing plausible insight into her preserved mana trait. "Oh, I see – our family's naturally bestowed 'Lavender' coloring mirrors my mana, explaining the name 'Lavender,'" Isao explained, filling in another piece of the puzzle. Isla, however, couldn't resist a frustrated groan, lamenting her own perceived disadvantage. "Damn the meddling goddess, always playing favorites!" she griped.
"I think it might be because there is no "White" mana in this world and she gave you the commoner status so you can have the time to train and enhance your abilities. Truth be told, being a royalty and nobility eats a lot of our time as we are required to attend family matters and study." Sylveria said comforting Isla. She grumbled under her breath, but Sylveria's words of comfort carried weight. It made sense that the goddess would curtail their birthright to grant them more opportunities to hone their abilities in this unfamiliar realm. "I suppose you're right, Sylvie," Isla admitted, her grumpy expression softening. "If being a commoner gives me more time to focus on training, then I can't complain too much."
Isao chimed in, her lavender-hued aura glowing softly. "And remember, Izzy, even without extraordinary mana, you've still got your quick reflexes and cunning to rely on. Those skills served you well in the past and will undoubtedly aid you in this new world as well." Sylveria smiled, reaching out to gently squeeze Isla's hand. "We're in this together, Isla." With a determined gleam in her eyes, Sylveria shifted the discussion to more pressing concerns. "Actually, let's focus on the bigger picture for a moment. Base on my studies, we're currently in a completely different continent from where we aim to go. That means the fallen hero, the corrupted goddess, and the nefarious Belzegor await us elsewhere." She gestured vaguely toward the northern horizon, emphasizing the immense distance that still separated them from their ultimate goals. "For now, our primary objective should be building our strength and perfecting our craft. Only once we reach the age of 16 can we truly consider embarking on the adventure that lies ahead."
Sylveria's smile was radiant, her words infused with a mix of resolve and anticipation, fueling the trio's shared desire to reclaim their rightful places in this new world and confront the darkness that threatened it.
The two friends shared a warm smile at Sylveria's proposal, her words filled with optimism and purpose. Gathering strength and honing their skills seemed like a reasonable plan, considering the formidable foes awaiting them in the distant evil castle located in the Central Continent.
"Sounds like a solid strategy to me." Isao agreed, nodding in approval. "By the time we're 16, we'll be more than prepared to embark on our adventure and face whatever challenges lie ahead." Isla, ever the pragmatist, offered a practical assessment. "Agreed. We should aim to master at least two advanced techniques each by then, not to mention expanding our knowledge of the local flora and fauna for potential uses in combat or healing."
Sylveria's smile broadened, her icy blue eyes sparkling with determination. "Then let us begin our training in earnest! With our combined efforts, I have no doubt we'll be ready to take on the fallen hero by the time we turn 16."
Later that night, In the corridors of the royal palace, Prince Arin and Princess Celeste peeked through the doorway of Sylveria's room, their gazes softening as they beheld the peaceful scene before them. Sylveria, Isla, and Isao lay entwined in slumber, their youthful faces etched with contentment as they drifted off together like innocent children in Sylveria's bed. Celeste, with her raven tresses and kind heart, smiled warmly. "Look at them, Arin. Our dearest Sylvie, finding joy in the simplest of pleasures with her friends by her side." Arin, with his mischievous grin and easygoing nature, chuckled softly. "Indeed, Celes. It warms my heart to see our frosty princess letting her guard down and embracing the joys of childhood once more." Together, the siblings silently watched over their sister and her companions, grateful for the warmth and happiness their presence brought to the royal household.
