While Naoki was pulling Melusine out of the swamp.
On the Mirror Clan's side.
Led by a few fairies, Aesc met again with the head of the Mirror Clan—Einsel—after a hundred years.
"It's been a hundred years since we last met, Lady Savior."
Einsel, who still looked like a young girl, bowed deeply to Aesc in respect.
Among the six great Fairy Clans, Einsel was the only clan leader who paid respects to Aesc in this manner. This was also because the Mirror Clan, like the extinct Rain Clan, was a clan willing to acknowledge the sins of their ancestors. Towards Aesc, who came to make them atone for their sins, the Mirror Clan from top to bottom held pure respect.
"Your visit to our city this time, is it also for a Prophecy?"
Aesc nodded: "Yes, I'm troubling you again, Einsel."
"—Tell me where the next calamity will appear."
The location and time of the calamity's appearance.
This was the reason Aesc came to the Mirror Clan.
Although Aesc would awaken whenever a calamity was about to occur, it wasn't because she sensed the calamity's happening, but rather she could feel a premonition, a kind of intuition. Even while asleep, Aesc could faintly sense it before the calamity arrived.
However, she could only sense it. Aesc did not know exactly where the calamity would occur, or when it would happen.
That was why she needed the prophetic assistance of the Mirror Clan's leader.
This was a secret agreement reached between Aesc and Einsel a thousand years ago. The other five great clans were completely unaware, even Totorot and Hector didn't know.
After all, if news that the Mirror Clan was assisting the Fairy of Paradise spread, the Mirror Clan would surely become enemies of most fairies on the British Isle, inviting the same fate as the Rain Clan.
Therefore, contact with Einsel was one of Aesc's greatest secrets.
"I understand. Please wait a moment."
After receiving Aesc's usual request, Einsel closed her eyes, sat silently and entered meditation, pouring all her attention into the future related to the calamity.
Based on previous situations, the time of the calamity's appearance was about five to ten years from now. For ordinary humans, that was quite a long time. But in the eyes of fairies, that amount of time made little difference.
Einsel's prophecy didn't take long. Just a few seconds later she opened her eyes again.
"In six years. The location is Londinium."
"Londinium?"
Aesc frowned: "Why there?"
For the Faerieland and the current Aesc, Londinium was an extremely important place.
That place held the key to whether humans and fairies could coexist peacefully. It was a crucial location determining whether Britain's future could be saved.
Why did the calamity have to appear there?
"I don't know. The prophecy doesn't provide results that detailed. This is also how it usually is. You should already know."
"Yes, of course I know."
The cause of the calamity's appearance is the curse of Cernunnos from beneath the Great Pit. The location of its appearance is completely random, with no pattern at all. Its appearance in Londinium this time can only be called bad luck.
"Thank you, Einsel. With six years' time, I can make various preparations before the calamity arrives, just like before."
"No need for thanks, Lady Savior. This is merely our simple atonement." Einsel said sincerely, "If we can provide some assistance to you, that is already very good."
"However, I believe this calamity should be the easiest to resolve in all of history, because Britain now has two saviors."
Two saviors.
Aesc smiled slightly: "You mean Naoki... It's true, if he is here, resolving the calamity would be very easy—as long as he is willing to help resolve the calamity."
Naoki would help her, that was true, and Aesc knew it. But she also knew that he would only help her. Towards those fairies, Naoki had no intention of protecting them at all. If a calamity came, it was very likely he would sit back and watch the fairies be destroyed by the calamity.
But Londinium is a human city. If everything goes smoothly, Londinium should become the new capital of the Faerieland, a city where humans and fairies coexist.
If that's the case, Naoki should help, right?
(No... I mustn't think that way, Aesc.)
Aesc shook her head, discarding that thought from her mind.
Thinking that way, although it could make Naoki help, it would be equivalent to using the humans in Londinium as hostages, forcing him to fight the calamity with morality—that went against Aesc's true intentions.
She didn't want her cooperative relationship with Naoki to change. Moreover, it's just a calamity; she alone is enough to resolve it.
Seeing Aesc think this way, Einsel was slightly surprised: "Lady Savior, you truly care deeply about the other savior."
"Is that so?"
"In my opinion. The expression on your face is one I've never seen before. Of course, it might also be because I don't meet with you often, so I don't know you very well."
An expression Einsel had never seen before?
Aesc frowned: "My expression... what is it like now?"
"To be honest, it might be a bit offensive, and might make you unhappy."
"It's fine, please say it."
"In my opinion, your expression when talking about the other savior is somewhat like an expression combining hesitation and joy."
"...."
A very accurate assessment. Aesc herself thought so too. She wasn't completely ignorant of human feelings. In this regard, she could still make a rational judgment.
"After all, he is the hope I've waited for for three thousand six hundred years. I don't want a moment of selfishness to end up wasting everything and shattering that hope."
"You have worked hard."
To this protector who has guarded Britain for three thousand six hundred years, Einsel once again conveyed her most sincere gratitude and apology.
Just at that moment—
"Aesc, are you inside? It's me, Naoki."
Naoki's voice came from outside.
"My business is finished. Is your business done too?"
"Ah... yes... my business is finished too."
Aesc hurriedly answered. After exchanging a final wordless glance with Einsel, she stood up and walked out of the room.
Then Aesc saw the scene outside that nearly made her heart stop.
Naoki himself hadn't changed much from a few minutes ago, only his clothes were slightly disheveled.
The focus was on his arm.
Melusine, wearing children's clothes manifested by Naoki, was currently hanging there like a koala. Her petite body clung tightly to Naoki's body, looking very dependent.
"Oh, Aesc, you're out?"
Seeing Aesc come out, Naoki waved his hand.
"Let me introduce, this is Melusine. I pulled her out from Albion the Dragon's remains—"
"Lovers!"
Melusine interrupted.
"Naoki and I are lovers who love each other!"
"...."
At that moment, Naoki clearly felt the temperature around Aesc drop drastically.