Chapter 71 - Maribelle’s Mission

Chapter 71: Chapter 71 - Maribelle’s Mission

A full week had passed.

Vincent paced relentlessly back and forth across the polished floor of the grand waiting lobby of Her Majesty’s Palace. His hair was slightly disheveled, and dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes. He could not sit still.

Night and day, his mind was haunted by an overwhelming guilt over how he had left things with Maelle. Worst-case scenarios replayed continuously in his head – he envisioned House Elsa launching a raid, corrupt nobles cornering her in the shadows, or Quinton retaliating while she was defenseless without him.

Sitting nearby, Maribelle watched her son with gentle, maternal eyes.

"Vinny," she caught his hand as he passed and pulled him toward her. "You need to calm down, baby. Breathe."

"I can’t, Mama... It’s been seven whole days! What if those Elsa’s already sent assassins after her?! What if the Academy decided to side against her?! What if–"

Maribelle pulled him down next to her and ran her fingers tenderly through his hair.

"Listen to me, Vinny. You are giving that Princess far too little credit. From what you told me, Maelle is far tougher and more resilient than you think. She survived years of isolation, bitter slander, and malice long before you ever entered her life."

She gave his cheek a gentle squeeze. "Besides, she isn’t completely alone anymore, is she? She has friends. Ava, Gwen, and Toby. They’re watching her back."

"You didn’t see her in that cave, Mama..." Vincent whispered, looking down at his trembling palms. "When she summoned me for the second time, she was tied up, half-dead. I can’t get that image out of my head..."

"For what it’s worth, the simple fact that you are here with me, healthy, breathing, and alive, means Princess Maelle is alive and fighting, too."

"I just... I need to get back to her–"

"Lady Maribelle! Mr. Winters!" the deskman shouted excitedly as he waved up a glowing piece of paper. "Her Majesty is finally ready to grant an audience regarding your emergency request!"

Vincent snapped upright. "Finally! Let’s go!"

He rushed toward the front desk, but the official held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Pardon the intrusion, Mr. Winters, but Her Majesty has specified here that she wishes to speak exclusively with Lady Maribelle."

"Wait, what? But the request was filed on my behalf!"

"The order came directly from the Supreme Goddess herself," the deskman confirmed, bowing his head respectfully.

Seeing the panic flash across his face, Maribelle placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and gave it a confident squeeze. "Don’t worry, Vinny. Stay right here. Mama will be back with good news before you know it."

"Alright... thanks."

Maribelle straightened her gown and stepped through the grand double doors alone.

....

Inside the vast chamber, sitting high above on an ethereal throne of starlight was Lazarus, the Supreme Goddess.

Maribelle walked down the cosmic aisle and gathered her skirts and bowed with reverence.

High above, Lazarus tilted her head as her eyes twinkled with mild amusement.

"Rise, Maribelle... It is a rare sight indeed for you to have greeted Us with such proper respect instead of your usual casual demeanor."

"Your Majesty... I bow because this is a deeply serious matter regarding my son’s life."

Lazarus leaned back against her throne. "Ah, yes. The emergency request. We admit, We almost brushed the request aside to deal with higher, more important matters... but then We remembered young Vincent has yet to fulfill his destined return to Earth.

"It would be a tragedy for his soul to perish prematurely. Thus, We summoned you. Forgive Us for the week-long delay."

"I thank Your Majesty for not putting it off any longer. May I ask... why was my son excluded from this audience?"

"Because of the fundamental cosmic laws governing the mortal planes. Because Vincent is currently bound as a Familiar under Pristina’s planetary laws. Us sending him down directly without the summoner’s call from his master would result in Us disrupting the boundaries of that world."

Lazarus flicked her finger, and a shimmering golden slip levitated down through the air, floating into Maribelle’s outstretched hands.

"However, you, Maribelle, are recognized as a hailed Goddess of Pristina. You and your husband saved that mortal realm. You possess natural planetary authority. Therefore... you yourself may descend."

"Me...?"

"Hm. We dictate two clear objectives for your descent, Maribelle. Either one will suffice to conclude your mission: First, you must either resolve whatever conflict or threat that is currently endangering Princess Maelle Ebony’s life – thereby securing Vincent’s own. Or... you must convince Princess Maelle Ebony to willingly re-summon Vincent so he may handle the threat himself."

A radiant smile burst across Maribelle’s face. "Thank you, Your Majesty! I accept this task!"

Leaving her formal persona behind, Maribelle gave a cheerful wave as she turned toward the doors. "Thanks a bunch, Laz! I owe you one again!"

Lazarus chuckled softly, shaking her head as the doors closed.

Stepping back into the waiting hall, Maribelle found Vincent practically biting his nails off. The moment he saw her, he bolted across the room.

"Mama! What happened?! Can I go back?!"

She caught his hands and explained the dilemma and Lazarus’s decree. "...So, because of Pristina’s planetary laws, you can’t go down by yourself. But I can. I’m going down to lay the groundwork for your return."

Torn between a desperate urge to go himself and a wave of overwhelming gratitude toward his mother, Vincent wrapped his arms tightly around her in an emotional hug.

"Thank you... Please... help Maelle."

Maribelle hugged him back tightly, patting his back. "You’ll be with her in no time, baby. I promise."

Together, they flew to the grand Golden Gates at the edge of the Divine Realm.

After verifying her task with the Way-Guide and sharing one last, loving goodbye with Vincent, Maribelle stepped into the center of a transportation circle. A pillar of brilliant white light erupted around her, and in a flash, she vanished.

.

..

...

Maribelle materialised in a peaceful, sun-dappled forest path. As she looked around, her eyes sparkled with nostalgic warmth.

"This is... the Pixies’ forest." She smiled fondly. "It’s been so long."

Recognising the landscape somewhat, she made her way through the dense foliage toward the hidden village of the Silver Leaf Sanctuary.

........

’It should be right around here...’

Before she could take another step, seven elven guards dropped from the high canopy above. They drew their bows and aimed directly at her, their faces tight with hostility.

"Halt, intruder! How did a human woman bypass our outer illusion?! State your business or be executed!"

Maribelle held up her hands peacefully, offering a sweet smile. "Hello there! I’m actually not a human as you can see by the wings. Also, I’m a good friend of your Elder. Could you please take me to see her?"

"Lies! Those wings are mere props! Also, the Elder takes no foreign visitors! Leave now or we shoot!"

"Now, now, there’s no need to be rude–"

"What is the meaning of this commotion?!"

"Hey, hey. I sensed the illusion barrier break."

The elf guards parted and bowed their heads as the blindfolded Elder Bran stepped into the clearing.

The moment Bran’s spiritual sight locked onto Maribelle’s unique, divine mana signature... she froze dead in her tracks. Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably. She slowly raised her fingers to her mouth as tears suddenly began streaming down her cheeks from beneath her blindfold.

"E-Elder...?"

"Elder, what’s wrong?!"

Ignoring the elves, Bran practically stumbled forward before breaking into a full sprint. She threw her arms wide, flinging herself into Maribelle’s chest and wrapping her in an intensely emotional, weeping embrace.

"M-MARI! YOU’RE *SOB* YOU’RE BACK! YOU’RE REALLY HERE!"

The guards looked on in absolute shock, lowering their bows hands as they stared at the scene in utter disbelief.

"Aww~ There, there, Bran... Look at you. You’re so big now" Maribelle cooed gently while stroking the crying Elder’s white hair.

Bran wiped her tear-stained face from under her cloth and turned to glare fiercely at her stunned elves. "You idiots! Haven’t you been listening to your history classes to recognize that this is Lady Maribelle! The very Goddess who saved your ancestors and helped found this very Sanctuary with the help of the Pixies!"

Realizing their blunder, every guard dropped to their knees and bowed their heads to the grass in trembling apology.

Maribelle looked at Bran with warm affection, measuring her shoulders. "Still, I can’t believe how much you’ve grown into such a beautiful woman. You were just a tiny little girl always chasing after Dusty last time I saw you."

Bran’s long ears twitched with unbridled happiness. "Please, Mari! Come to my place! We must drink tea and catch up–"

"I would love nothing more, Bran. But I cannot stay long. I am on an urgent mission to save my son’s bond with Maelle Ebony."

"Vincent... is your son?! No wonder... Wait. Save him? But they seemed so close to each other. Sure, there was a little doubt from Maelle’s side on whether to trust Vincent..."

"It’s complicated," Maribelle sighed softly. "Which is why I came directly to you, Bran. There’s an elf here that has become somewhat of a friend to Maelle. I’m looking for a person called Roxa."

"Roxa?"