War For Underworld

Regrets of the Past

Medina, Cordea Plains, three days later

Once again, she's beset by confusion by the actions of the Lord of Knights. She remembers, once long ago, she told him he never showed worry or burden as he tried taking it all on his own, but ever since the Ancient Apostles started popping up, he has been nothing but quiet and apprehensive. It wouldn't be so worrisome if he talked to her, but he's been avoiding Medina like she's a sickness. Though maybe that's the wrong term, since she hasn't actively sought him out, but she does want to talk to him.

The last time he avoided her, it was right before the war, when her family made the proposal for Jaymes to marry Medina. Back then, Medina kept her feelings hidden. Well, not exactly hidden, she did kiss Jaymes before her original death, but she doesn't know if that was a romantic kiss or just something in the moment.

She just knows she let Eydis win without a fight until the proposal, then he left. He claims he headed for the World's End Altar deep in the Dark Territory, then they reunited during the first day of the War of Underworld. With him joining the raid party escorting Alice to the World's End Altar and her defending the gate with Eydis, they wouldn't meet again until she caught up with what remained of the raiders and otherworldly allies. She caught him dissecting a tree, stopping him before collapsing in his arms.

In the end, he rejected her and chose the Knight of the Abyss. She deigned to keep her feelings in control, and for a year and three months, it worked...until it slipped the night they spoke on the balcony. For the Medina that loved him, it was a wonderful moment, but for the side of Medina that was Eydis' friend, it was a betrayal.

That guilt has dominated her since their return to the capital and her talk with Ilia. Speaking of taking action, even if it is wrong, doing something in the present rather than regretting it later seems to be the opposite of Medina's life story. She spoke ill of her father (which she doesn't fully remember due to the severe retrograde amnesia her soul suffered before her revival, although her past memories before meeting Kirito two years ago are slowly returning) and initially self-rejected Jaymes, both she regrets she didn't do anything about it while she could.

Enough of regrets. They did what they did that night, but that's not why he's avoiding her. He's been this way since he took Mia back to the dark world, and having experienced this side of him before when Administrator killed her, nearly losing his protégé while he's away is enough to shake his core. But unlike that time, or when Vecta hurt two girls he called Shino and Lievre while also chasing Alice, Jaymes cannot release his feelings on the person responsible. Neither can Medina who feels the same way after seeing Ilia in the same condition.

That is, of course, the attacker truly is Eydis. Right now, all they have is circumstantial evidence in the power of the Dark Slash Sword.

First, they need to find Eydis and make her explain everything. Like Medina, Eydis is not bound to the "natural" laws of the world after breaking her seal, so murder without consequence is quite possible for her. But Eydis is a gentle soul, quite unlike the more serious Medina. Not that Eydis doesn't have the ability to be angry, Medina still feels the cold steel that once left a mark on her face two years ago, but it's out of Eydis' nature.

"Lady Medina, Sir Jaymes has arrived at the estate."

Sighing, Medina half-raises her head from the discourse called a desk and nods in acknowledgement. "Do you think you can bring him to me?"

"We'll do our best, milady. Also, you have a message from your mother." Medina holds her hand out as the butler gives her the rolled parchment and takes his leave. She sets the letter aside and continues looking over her documents as Jaymes' replacement on the Unification Council. Eventually her doors are knocked upon again, with the same butler making a different announcement, the one she's hoping for.