"What now? Should I go find the main road?"
"Of course, that's what you're here for."
Bestie offered to be the scout, and Sister responded. Then she climbed up a tree.
From my position below, I couldn't see her up there. What she was doing or what was visible from up there.
"Can't you use healing magic, to heal?"
"No, this isn't a physical wound or illness."
Sister stared at my leg. She asked Beta to heal it with magic, but Beta responded with inability.
"Why is that? Why are you so sure you can't? Without even trying."
Sister stared sharply at Beta. She probably thought that Beta was just making excuses or evading.
"Huf…" Beta sighed. "I am a priest. A cleric, and it's certainly not a few people I've managed to heal."
"But… it's all limited. Not because my ability is lacking, but because the illness requires a different method of treatment."
"Because not even an archbishop like Alpha Preservation is capable of doing that."
I couldn't blame her for not being able to do something beyond her ability. And besides, I didn't ask to be healed.
This might just need time to heal, and well, I wasn't in a hurry for it. Even if it hindered my activities, but so be it. It was just that Sister was insisting; it seemed she wanted my leg to heal immediately.
"You're just jealous, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're just jealous, seeing your little sister being carried by someone else, besides yourself."
Sister folded her arms and turned her face away.
"See, no answer. That means it's true, hahaha…"
Beta teased her, using her index finger to poke her cheek.
This was the first time for me, seeing her embarrassed like that. We might have been together and known each other for a long time, but that was just between me and Sister, and Bestie who sometimes showed up unexpectedly.
Before, I only knew her as a student, a senior who lived in the same dormitory. I didn't know who she really was, or what she was like when facing people other than myself and Bestie.
"Bukkk!!!"
Bestie fell or maybe jumped from the tree.
"We have to get out of here, fast."
"Eh-eh… wait. What is it?"
She immediately slung Beta onto her back.
"No time to explain. We have to hide, quickly."
Sister lifted my body along with the little dog on my lap.
"Alright, while we're moving. Try to tell us what you saw from up there."
"It's… my sister…"
Her face turned pale as she spoke while running.
"Wait, your sister? So you mean, Alpha Annihilation is heading here?"
"I don't know for sure, but seeing all the trees flying around." She paused for a moment. "I'm positive, it must be her doing. Not only that, I also saw your mother flying this way."
"Tcih… this is a pain."
Bestie was terrified, while Sister seemed… hm… I couldn't read her expression right now.
Was she scared? Angry? I didn't know. Beta, on the other hand, was just as scared as Bestie.
I peeked back from over Sister's shoulder. Behind me, I could see many trees floating in the air, then diving down.
"My sister is getting closer, we can't run any further."
"Should we just go back...? Come on, let's just turn ourselves in."
"No. If you want to, you can do that yourself and receive Mother's punishment alone."
"Ah, no, in that case, let's run faster. Don't get caught."
"Hey, can I just drop her here? She's heavy and slowing me down."
"Hahaha, that's a good idea."
"Eh… no, don't. Do you two want to kill me?"
"Just kidding, hahaha."
The two of them were only ever in agreement at times like this. I glanced at them both, who were giggling after teasing Beta.
"What now?"
Sister looked at me; she probably wanted my opinion. Whether to go back as Beta suggested, or continue.
I saw a large tree with a hole in its center. I pointed toward it.
"Ah… good idea."
If running meant being chased, then the best option was to hide until they left.
"Let's hide in there."
From a distance, this tree looked medium-sized, but up close, its true size was much larger.
The four of us hid inside the hole. The hole was small and located at the bottom, like an underground room with a hollow entrance. This might be the former den of a rodent, or a mammal.
"Bushhh…"
A very strong wind struck the surrounding trees, making them tilt as if hit by a tornado.
"Don't make a sound, she's here."
The four of us ducked down, peeking slightly from the hollow.
Outside, not far from the tree where we were hiding, I saw a female figure, who was none other than Alpha Annihilation.
"Hm… I'm sure I felt them around here."
She wasn't aware of our presence. Her position was quite far, but her voice could be heard, carried by the wind.
"They noticed, and it's because of your actions. Look behind you."
Alpha Warding appeared, floating in the air. She approached Annihilation and stood near her.
"Hahaha, sorry. I didn't mean to make a path."
We could hear both of their words. I looked at Bestie; she was shivering, holding her head with both hands.
Beta was in the corner of the room. She sat hugging her knees, not interested in peeking.
"Now we've lost their trail."
"Why are you so worried, Sister? Isn't your daughter mature enough to go on a journey and choose her own path?"
"Yes, she is mature, but you know, what her personality is like. Especially when it concerns that sister of hers."
"Why? What about it?"
"I was so happy when she told me, she had a friend she considered her own sister, without even knowing who that friend was."
"I understand how you feel. Feeling happy when my sister said she had a friend. Because I know many people are hesitant and tend to stay away, when dealing with someone who has ties to an Alpha."
"Your sister is better, because their relationship is healthy. On the other hand, my daughter is very protective; she tends to possess and restrict. I might have spoiled her too much, which made her become like that."
"Tcih…"
I heard Sister's sound beside me. She was about to stand up and go out, but I held her back, pulling her ear.
She stared at me; I returned it with a shake of my head.
I felt she would go out and challenge her mother if she wasn't stopped.
"So, you're here."
A voice was heard. I and Sister simultaneously turned towards the sound. Behind me, I saw Alpha Preservation walking closer.
Heh… where did she come from?
"You forgot this."
Ah, she was right. I had forgotten the identification tag.
In her hand was a coin or medal. She asked me to take it.
"Relax, I am not asking you all to return. On the contrary, I support your endeavor."
Preservation looked at Beta, who was sitting huddled. Beta didn't realize Alpha Preservation was there.
"What are you doing here?"
Beta flinched, approached, and stood before Preservation. She lowered her head.
"It's unbecoming, isn't it? In a situation like this, for you, who is their older sister, and also a Chronicler. To look so pathetic."
"Sorry…"
"It's fine. Now take them, these little sisters of yours, and go. Watch their every move, and guide them with your knowledge and insight."
"But, what about my mission?"
"Don't worry about it, I will speak with Alpha Warding. And as for you."
Preservation looked at Bestie.
"I will speak with your sister. She might actually be the easiest one to talk to. If it concerns the Sigma Teacher."
"Go, while I divert their attention."
She pointed to a hollow on the other side of the tree.
Ah, so this is where she came in from. She entered through a hollow, and it turns out this tree had a very vast underground space. It was like a tunnel with roots as its walls.
The four of us left through that path.
"And remember, to return. Whenever that may be."