Eve Story | Judgment Fable | Ella and Yoru | Episode 74: Returned
There are things I left behind in order to return.
To bring back the answer I found at the edge of the desert to everyone.
I closed my eyes and searched for that sword.
Ella and Yoru Episode 74
[Returned]
I closed my eyes and searched for Silve in my heart.
I could feel, ever so faintly, the direction where that sword was placed.
When I showed that direction to Ella, she spread her wings and took flight.
After finding a large river and resting briefly on the riverbank, we decided to return to the Central Shell City.
I wrote the direction of the river on the note Dike had given me.
To measure the distance on the way back, I had Ella fly at as constant a speed as possible.
Every time I counted to one hundred, I jotted down the count in my notes.
After flying for a while, I saw the shape of the turtle from the sky.
—We made it back.
As the familiar city drew closer, my heart began to race.
"Yoru. We're landing."
Ella said, and began to slowly lower her altitude.
As we approached the plaza of the Central Shell City, dust swirled up in the wind created by her wings.
The residents, noticing us, gathered in the plaza one after another.
As soon as Ella's feet touched the ground, Dike came running toward us.
"Did you find it!"
At his voice, louder than usual, I couldn't help but smile.
"There was a river!"
When my voice reached the plaza, a beat later, a great cheer rose from the residents.
Some were hugging the person next to them, while others raised their fists toward the sky.
I even saw people laughing while crying.
As if pushing through the cheers, Nico appeared.
"Welcome back, Ella."
"I'm home, Nico."
Ella smiled, looking a little embarrassed.
Seeing that, the cheers in the plaza grew even louder.
"All that's left is to tell the turtle our destination."
Sees called out from behind.
I took the dragon stone from my chest, held it up quietly, and began to chant.
A blue light enveloped Ella.
After a while, the wings on her back vanished, and her tail and horns melted into the light.
Having returned completely to her original form, Ella stared at her own hands, her eyes wide.
Then, she smiled, looking somewhat satisfied.
"Next, it's my turn."
San rushed toward Ella energetically.
However, seeing that her wings had disappeared, she slumped her shoulders openly.
"Sister. This isn't a game."
When Nico sighed, laughter spread through the surroundings.
I handed the note I had written during the flight to Dike.
Dike cast his eyes in turn over the direction of the river, the counts I had made during the flight, and the detailed numbers indicating time and speed.
Holding his head, he muttered something to himself.
Before long, he looked up as if struck by a realization.
"At this distance, we can reach it in five more days!"
Dike's voice was a mix of relief and joy.
The plaza was once again enveloped in cheers.
"In that case, can we drink today?"
Before I knew it, Rose was standing next to Dike.
Her usual cheerful smile was on her lips.
"We haven't arrived yet. Besides, according to Disaster Prevention Plan Article 10—"
"It makes no difference whether you drink after arriving or before arriving."
Rose shrugged her shoulders, looking exasperated.
"Well... I suppose a little bit is fine."
With a tired face, Dike also gave a small smile.
"Then it's decided!"
When Rose raised her voice, cries of joy erupted here and there in the plaza.
I stood beside Ella, watching the scene.
Then, someone threw themselves at us with great force.
It was Oto.
There were a few tears in her eyes.
"Yoru. Ella. Welcome back."
I wrapped my arms around Oto's back.
Ella also leaned in, gently pulling us together as if to embrace us.
The three of us huddled together, quietly sharing the joy of having returned.
＊
Lights were lit in the night of Roubent.
Our return and the discovery of the river spread through the city in an instant, and the Central Shell City was in an uproar like a festival.
Water rationing was still in effect, but the sale of alcoholic beverages was partially permitted, and for the first time in a while, people had returned to the taverns.
We declined Rose and the others' invitation and were raising a small toast at a table in the inn.
Ella was enjoying the alcohol she hadn't had in a long time, reaching out one after another for the dishes lined up before her.
When Oto sang a cheerful song, the tavern gradually began to heat up.
San, who was supposed to be injured, had also snuck out and was listening intently to Ella's story.
—We're back.
I stared at the faces of everyone laughing happily, thinking about that vaguely.
"So, San, what will you do after this?"
Ella asked suddenly.
"I'll get scolded if I go back now, so I intend to stay here today."
San replied while tugging at her hair.
Her hair, which had been black, had returned completely to its original blue.
"No, no. I mean after this city is saved."
Ella said innocently.
A brief silence fell over the place.
I, too, naturally turned my gaze toward San.
San lowered her eyes, wearing an expression as if she wanted to say something.
After a short pause, San looked up.
"Can I... can I come with you too?"
She stared at Ella with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
Ella looked surprised, but immediately returned to a serious face.
"I haven't even said I'm leaving this city yet."
She said, smiling a little mischievously.
San clenched her hands and looked down.
"It's not up to Ella to decide that."
Oto suddenly interrupted the conversation.
Everyone's gaze gathered on me.
"Eh? Me?"
I pointed at myself and let out a strange sound.
—Why me?
San was staring at me with pleading eyes.
Ella and Oto were grinning, as if they knew the answer.
I let out a breath and looked at San to ask.
"Can I ask just one thing?"
San showed an expression as if she were a little frightened.
"Please get proper permission from Nico."
Hearing those words, San suddenly broke into a smile.
"Of course!"
Laughter spread through the tavern.
—We've grown again.
I looked at each of their faces in turn and sighed.
Even so, my lips were smiling.
＊
The next morning, the city had regained its vitality.
On the roadside, there were people sleeping while clutching liquor bottles, still lingering in the afterglow of last night.
Seeing such a scene, a smile escaped me.
Today was the day to tell the turtle about the river.
Just like before, we would borrow Oto's song and Ella's dragon power to hear the turtle's voice.
The four of us headed to where Dike and the others were waiting in the plaza of the Central Shell City.
A crowd had already formed in the plaza, and in the center were Dike, Nico, and Rose.
Nearby, Sees was also waiting, holding the dragon stone.
Noticing Nico's stern gaze, San quietly hid in my shadow.
When Oto played her lute, the dragon stone shone, and Ella's body began to glow.
This time, only the sound of the lute and Oto's gentle voice echoed in the plaza.
"Hey, Mr. Turtle. There was a river. What do you want to do?"
Ella whispered as if speaking to it.
The ground shook slightly.
The gathered people held their breath and watched what would happen.
The light spilling from Ella gently enveloped the people gathered in the plaza.
A strangely pleasant warmth spread deep in my chest.
The voice reached my ears suddenly, but clearly.
"Tired... want to... sleep."
The people around me were also looking at each other with surprised expressions.
"Go... to the... river."
"Let me... sleep..."
That voice was undoubtedly the voice of the Gigant Turtle itself.
Nico and Rose nodded quietly, and Dike was frantically writing something down.
With those words, the light scattered into the sky.
It flickered fleetingly, as if the very life of the Gigant Turtle was unraveling.
"I understand. Let's go together."
Ella said, and looked at me.
I nodded silently.
