Voyage Of The Villainess

'The silver bracelet lets your soul connect and travel to this world. The red ruby stones were able to let me communicate with the priestess and the shadow from time to time.'

Malaya's thoughts were interrupted when someone entered the room just now. As of now, the high priest lent them some space and room to stay for a limited time, since they were doing the repairs at Lila's home.

"Malaya, are you not sleeping yet?"

"As you can see, I'm not," Malaya said, looking quite despondent at Lila. She remembered the request Lila made from the high priest.

"Malaya, Can I ask you a question?" Lila asked as she took a seat at the right bed that was at the right side of Malaya.

"Go," Malaya simply responded.

" Are you mad at me because of what I requested?"

"Lila,  you don't need to do that," Malaya said with a sigh. "And don't worry that much because  I'm not mad at you. I just feel overwhelmed at how things escalated this quickly. But if you tell me the reason why you request such things, I might calm down a bit." At this moment Malaya looks directly at Lila's eyes waiting for her response.

"So it really looks like you're mad.." Lila said as she looked down, completely dejected. "Is it me, being your servant is such a troublesome thing for you?"

"Yes,"

"You're so brutally honest." Lila smiled wryly.

"Listen, Lila, it's not like having a servant is not a big deal to me. As you have known, I have grown surrounded by servants. But not to the point they will give their life in order to serve me. Having someone serve me and having someone who entrusted their lives completely to me are two different things. And Lila..."

Lila clasped both her hands waiting for Malaya's next words.

"You are my friend and not a servant. Please change your request tomorrow into something else."

"But Malaya, this is what I wanted to do. I want to be at your side forever until I die. Please, let me be part of your life. Besides you, after he dies you are the only one who accepts me despite my physical appearance." Lila looked at Malaya desperately.

"You are already part of my life Lila and I want you to be free and live your life on your own not to waste it by serving me. You can do more and better than this. Besides, when my friend does something stupid and I know it can suffer them in a long run, I will stop him or her no matter what the cause." And Malaya looked at her with firm eyes.

"You are free, Lila. And I don't want that freedom of yours to be bound by anything or anyone. I know there is something within you that makes you more alive and serving me is not the answer. You have something to offer to this world, Lila. Don't be so attached too much because attachment can lead you to suffer. When you are bound by something, it's suffocating and always keeps you wondering how long you will be able to escape..."

Malaya remembered her last life, back when she was at the orphanage.

"To let this be all done."

The plot that Malaya painstakingly followed along with the ridicule and harsh treatment she received in the academy until her banishment.

"Lila, don't ever forsake that freedom of yours and use it to where you can truly be happy. You have a unique and your own purpose here, you must use it and don't waste your energy on something that didn't serve you. Yes, maybe your mind is clouded right now because you think serving me gives you pleasure in the beginning. In this world that is full of regrets I want you to choose what's truly made you feel happy and being my servant is not the answer for that. If what you're afraid of is that I'm going to leave you after hearing my stories then how about this, instead of being a servant with her life at the mercy of my hands, how about you come with me? Come with me on my journey and together let's find out what you are truly seeking for your freedom, your happiness? Just like everyone in my crew."

Malaya stood up and extended her right hand in front of Lila. "What do you think of my request Lila?" She asked with a genuine smile plastered on her face. It took a minute before Lila answered her question and tears suddenly flowed into her eyes. 

"Malaya," Lila slowly reached her hands to Malaya. "First, I'm so lucky to meet you and the feelings of being noticed for and loved that I craved about that I found again those things to you. That is why I'm afraid to leave at your side. But now I will do as you say."

'I will do as you say,' Malaya sighed inwardly. 'There is still a long road for Lila but this is better than being a servant to me with a life and death contract.'

"Then welcome to my crew, Lila," Malaya said with a huge grin on her face and Lila just nodded her head with enthusiasm while removing some tears from her face using her hands.

"Can I do something?" 

" What do you want.." Malaya didn't continue what she was trying to say since Lila suddenly hugged her tightly. "I'm looking forward to your journey with us Lila," Malaya said while tapping Lila's back.

"Thank you, Malaya. You don't have any idea how you made me feel like I belong to this world." the tears began to flow  to her eyes once again." Ugh! Today was so emotional but like what you said I'm doing this to find my purpose here in this world. I will talk to the high priest again about my request. And even though you told me that I am officially  part of your crew, let me still aid you in a way that I want."

"Do what you please," Malaya smiled. 'Since I came to this island, I've met two people who want to be my friend. What an astonishing coincidence and difference in personalities.'

Unbeknownst to them or just like what they want them to know, Malaya glanced at the door. 'I hope there is no more trouble that will happen after that sudden summons here.'

***

"My liege,"

The high priest turned his back when his right arm man and black knight arrived. 

"Did you find something strange about them or anything suspicious?"

"Your honor,  as of now based on our observation they did nothing strange since their stay here at your estate, they normally eat their food, take a bath together and when they were done touring some parts of the Glowing Garden, they decided to take off from the day and rest in the room. They only talked about the contract of the life and death servant and Lady Malaya told Lady Lila to not continue this. And then she also mentions joining her journey with her crew as well, after everything was sorted over here." The black knight narrated.

"I see, then what about Sir Kayden?"

"He was led to the dwarves to repair his weapons and I believe that he will also stay in their house. From the reports, he did nothing out of the ordinary and just patiently stood there watching the dwarves with their work." The black knight answered once again.

"I see," then the high priest walks towards the huge window of his office. From there, he could see the colorful and sparkling lights of the Moon City he built. "Tell me Melverick, the Moon city is truly magnificent isn't it?"

"It as you said, my liege. The Moon City is far better than the ones I have seen so far in this world. Especially after all you've done. You are the one who created this city after a long war of fighting to unite everyone here." Melverick, the black knight answered." It was an honor for me to be here and serving you, my liege."

"Thank you, Melverick."

'In this world, huh.'

"May I ask, why did you ask me such a question, my liege?"

"I see my right-hand man is as curious as ever."

"It-it's nothing like that, my liege."

"It's alright. I'm just teasing you. Don't take it so seriously." The high priest chuckled. "There is just something in my mind that caused me to ask such a question. And if you are going to ask what that is, it's not really that great an importance and just some random thoughts. You may go back to your post now, I'll have my rest now since tomorrow will be another hectic day for us. Be prepared." The high priest said with a smile as he walked towards his room that was only beside his office.

'As long as those three are here, the upcoming days will surely be hectic one for me. But it seems they are nothing like the other champions. Even Evereen let them cross here. But nevertheless, I should never let my guard down..' With those last thoughts in his mind, the high priest finally decided to sleep.