NOVEL NEXT Chapter 148: Tailwinds
"No, I don't!" Nolan protested quickly.
"Yes, you do, Master," Linda said calmly, a knowing smile on her lips. "You can't decline a request if money is involved."
"Yeah, you're right!" Celia teased, giggling. "Just the word 'gold' and Master is ready to move mountains."
Nolan groaned, covering his face. "Alright, fine. I wouldn't say I love money… but maybe I've just learned it's never good to refuse it when it's offered. In my old world, money decided everything—whether you lived well, or even lived at all. So… yeah. I guess I just don't want to waste a single coin."
"Master, what did you mean by 'your previous word'? I don't understand. You said that before but I never heard it," Linda asked.
"Oh, sorry," Nolan said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I misspoke. I meant when I was younger I was focused on getting money, not anything about a previous world."
"Okay, okay, Master," Linda said, relaxing.
"But Master," Celia pressed, "since you're going back to Sindra, what about the person who tried to take your life? What are you going to do about them?"
"That's one of the reasons I'm returning," Nolan replied, his face growing serious. "It was my first encounter with a demon, a fallen Archangel. I didn't finish the fight last time. If I meet it again, I want to face it properly. I want answers."
"I've never seen one," Linda said, wide-eyed. "They really exist?"
"They do," Celia answered quietly. "Fallen Archangels are those who fell from grace. They're not completely immortal, but their power is terrifying."
Nolan nodded. "Exactly. They can be defeated, but only if I understand them. That's why I have to go back, to finish what was started."
"Do you think you'll actually encounter one when we get back? We're only going to stay a week," Linda asked.
Nolan leaned back, rubbing his arm. "I'm not sure… but I feel something big is waiting. Something scarier than even a fallen Archangel. My body aches, like it's pulling me back there. I can't explain it."
"Well, Master," Celia said softly, glancing at him, "I was planning to ask you a favor. I wanted to wait until we got back to Sindra, but… can I tell you now?"
"Master, me too," Linda added quickly. "I also have something I want to ask."
Nolan sighed, half amused. "Fine, fine, one at a time. Go ahead."
Linda stepped forward, her cheeks flushed. "Master… I don't know if you'll agree, and it's fine if you decline. But… I just wanted to visit my family."
"Your family?" Nolan blinked, then froze. Wait. In my old world, if a girl brings a boy to meet her family, that usually means… marriage… or at least dating. No way. Linda can't see me like that. She only thinks of me as a friend… right? Yeah, it has to be that. He forced a smile, trying to push the thought away.
"So? Can I get an answer?" Linda asked, her eyes locked on his.
"Oh, uh—sorry. Maybe. When do you want to see them?" Nolan asked.
"When all this is over," Linda replied.
"Alright then. Fine. I'll go with you—when I'm less busy," Nolan said with a small nod.
Linda's face lit up. "Thank you, Master!"
"Okay, Celia. Your turn," Nolan said, turning to her. "What's your favor?"
Celia folded her hands together, rubbing them nervously. "Master… I don't really have a family anymore. But… I once had someone. A woman who treated me like her own child, even though she had nothing. She was poor, but she gave me happiness. I promised her I'd come back to see her… when I found the one I wanted to be with."
"The one you want to be with?" Nolan asked carefully.
"Yes. I've already told you many times, Master," Celia said, her voice trembling slightly.
Nolan blinked. So… she really means me. She wants to be with me… But am I even ready for that? Or is it just my imagination? He shook the thought away.
"It's fine," Nolan said at last, his voice calm. "When the time comes… we'll see."
"I can't wait to get back to Sindra. I can't wait to taste Mira and Aria's cooking," Linda said.
"Yeah, me too. Aria's cooking is one of the best. Nothing fancy, but it's so tasty and addictive," Celia added.
Meanwhile, Lyra had already slipped out of the room. "I need sugar," she muttered to herself as she ran down the hall. "I give up. I give up. I'm not doing this. I give up."
"Your Highness, please come back! Why are you running? This isn't befitting of a princess. This is the royal castle, your chamber," a maid called after her.
"No. Leave me. Stay away," Lyra snapped, desperate. "Since becoming human, this has been the worst day of my life."
She kept running, then vanished, slipping into invisibility so the maids only stared at each other in confusion. Lyra tore off the princess dress she had been wearing and tossed it aside. Once free of the costume, she shifted back into her usual self and bolted out of the mansion, heart pounding. She had to get away from the place, now.
Now Lyra was in the garden, breathing hard. Should I take off? Fly away? she thought, her wings twitching under the surface, ready to burst out. She bent her knees, about to launch into the sky, when a group of knights spotted her.
"Hey! What are you doing there? Stop! Get back here!" four knights shouted as they began to chase her.
Lyra spun on her heel and ran. I could fly. But Master told me never to do that where people can see. If they saw… it would be a disaster, she thought, gritting her teeth.
Her legs pumped as she darted through the lantern-lit paths of the garden, her breath ragged. I could destroy them. Why am I even running? Why is a great and mighty being like me doing this? Why am I fleeing from people I could crush with a snap?
But still, she kept running, the sound of armored boots clanging against stone behind her, echoing in her ears.