The Lone Wanderer-Chapter 210: Homecoming (4) – Nesha

Nesha stood still, basking in the water’s warmth as dozens of tiny rivulets splashed on her shoulders, before trickling down her back, gently caressing her. Only after a few minutes of silent appreciation did she begrudgingly step out of the stream. She didn’t want to keep Elaine waiting for too long.

Picking an expensive-looking glass bottle from a marble shelf on the wall, she opened it, dripping a viscous liquid that smelled of lavender in her hand. Next, she applied it to her hair, bubbles forming as she scrubbed away the accumulated dirt and grime.

‘Gods, I missed this so damn much…’

Naturally, she hadn’t had a proper shower since before their escape from the Guild. And not for a lack of wanting one. Sadly, for the longest time she’d had no choice but to wash herself with whatever laughable amount of cold water would fit in a barrel. Which, for the record, hadn’t always been enough to rid herself of the swamp’s stench.

Though, it wasn’t her time in the Guild flashing through her mind right now, but a series of nostalgic memories from even further back. Scenes from a tender age long past, within walls long destroyed... Not that she’d enjoyed her childhood much at the time, yet she couldn’t help but miss it – and even that asshole of a father – now that they were all gone.

‘Despite everything, I was so lucky to be born to a noble House.’ she sighed.

Most nobles took simple pleasures like warm showers or fresh food for granted. And Nesha wasn’t an exception. It took living for two years among commoners for her eyes to open to the hardships the have-nots faced on a daily basis. Of course, even nobles were deprived of such amenities when they were travelling, but that was just a temporary arrangement. Not having a proper house to return to was downright depressing…

That said, her time in Bogside town hadn’t been all bad. Her relationship with Percy aside, the sheer progress she had made with her magic was far beyond what she would have thought possible. And she wasn’t just thinking of her Refined spell. The runes she had studied alongside Percy were – quite literally – out of this world. Much like him, Nesha had actually grown rather interested in the field after all this time.

Overcome by curiosity, she leaned forward, trying to make out the runes carved on the wall. They were there for controlling the water’s flow and temperature, much like the ones she had used in the Guild. Sadly, her poor eyesight in tandem with the thick layer of steam filling the room didn’t make her job easy. Thankfully, she wasn’t in a rush…

‘Wow! These are really crude!’ she realized as she traced their contours with her fingers.

There was no doubt the enchantments were functional, but they were far bulkier than they needed to be for such a simple task. Not to mention the rather expensive materials they seemed to have been engraved on. Such a waste. Before Bogside town, Nesha hadn’t really been in a position to criticize Remior’s runecrafting techniques, though things were different now.

‘I wonder how House Etna would react if they saw our runes…’ she couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought.

House Etna was another of the seven Great Houses, and they were the leading authorities on runecrafting. Most noble families on Remior commissioned their enchantments from them. Even the Alchemists’ Guild had probably employed their services back when they built their settlement all those thousands of years ago. Percy’s spatial amulet had likely been crafted by one of their experts too. Suffice to say, if the old geezers in charge of the family were to see how much more compact and effective the Vault’s runes were, they’d stop at nothing to get their hands on them.

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‘Better be extra careful then.’ she thought, a shiver washing away her amusement. ‘The last thing we need is another Great House after us…’

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Stepping beneath the water again, she allowed it to wash away the foam in her hair. Next, she brushed her hand over the runes once more, stopping the flow. Finally, she grabbed a towel hanging on a nearby rack, drying herself. Only then did she walk out of the bathroom, after wrapping the towel around herself.

“Must’ve been a while since you had a proper shower.” Elaine smiled as she saw her, handing her a set of neatly folded robes.

“Sorry I took so long!” Nesha hurriedly said, her cheeks heating up.

“Ha! You call that long?!” Elaine’s grin only grew wider, however. “Every time I take a shower after a long mission, I get people banging on the door to check if I’m still alive!”

Nesha nodded, her own lips curling up as she ran her fingers over the soft silk. Wearing something nicer than the rough patches of linen she’d grown used to was yet another small pleasure she’d been looking forward to.

“How did my jerk cousin get you to spend two years in such a lousy place, anyway?” Elaine suddenly asked, probably noticing something from her expression.

Nesha shrugged.

“He didn’t. I followed him of my own volition. Initially, I did it for the sake of growing stronger, though I’ve come to enjoy spending time with him and Micky. Besides, it’s not like I had anywhere else to go.”

Elaine raised an eyebrow.

“Forgive me if I misunderstood something, but I was under the impression the Guild only recruits nobles. Couldn’t you go back to your own House?”

Nesha sighed, placing the clothes on the nearby bed before sitting. They were currently in Elaine’s room, the girl having been kind enough to lend her her private bathroom. Apparently, the Yellow-borns in House Avalon were given better accommodations than everyone else. Not that different from House Veritas, actually…

“My House no longer exists. I’m all that’s left.” Nesha said, her voice cracking a little more than she would have liked. She was surprised at it too, not having realized she still felt so strongly about it.

Elaine gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

Nesha was about to speak, to let her know it wasn’t that big a deal, though Elaine moved first. Sitting beside her, she grabbed her hand.

“Nesha… I’m so sorry to hear that… Percy should have brought you here right away, instead of making you live in those conditions! I swear I’ll give that idiot a piece of my mind later!”

Nesha shook her head.

“Don’t worry about it. I admit I’m not completely over it, but it has been nearly a decade since it happened.”

“Do you know who did it?” Elaine asked again.

“I do know which family attacked us. But I’ve been thinking… They couldn’t have pulled it off by themselves. There’s probably someone higher up, pulling the strings…”

Elaine remained silent for a couple minutes.

“Is that why you’re trying to get stronger?” she eventually asked.

“Ridiculous, isn’t it?” Nesha chuckled. “A lone Orange-born, going up against an entire noble House? Possibly a Great House, too?”

“Not nearly as ridiculous as… whatever Percy’s trying to accomplish. And I think he might actually pull it off one day too. I mean, a Red-born killing Greens? That’s insane!”

“I know, right?! It’s why I chose to follow him in the first place. I figured if I can accomplish even a fraction of what he does, taking my revenge won’t be as… hopeless.” she said.

Though, thinking of something, she sighed.

“Then again, keeping up with Percy might be even harder…”

“Well, regardless.” Elaine slapped her thigh before standing up. “You’ve always got a home here. Even if you break up with Percy one day, I’ll ask Grandpa to let you stay!”

“Y-You don’t have to do that!” Nesha panicked.

“Are you kidding me?! An Orange-born with a rare bloodline, a space affinity, who knows runecrafting and Circulation?! Any family would be lucky to have you! Hell, you’ll be the one doing us a favour!”

“I don’t know Circulation yet…” Nesha muttered weakly, taken aback by Elaine’s warmth and straightforwardness.

“I’m sure you’ll learn it in no time with Grandpa helping you!” Elaine insisted. “You should have seen how much trouble it gave me, but I still figured it out in the end. And you’re more talented than me too. I mean, going from zero to a Refined spell in only two years?! That’s amazing!”

Nesha squeezed Elaine’s hand tightly.

“Thanks, Elaine. For everything...”

The aquamarine-haired girl flashed her another radiant smile, her face beaming even more brightly than before, somehow.

“I didn’t even do anything!”

Next, Elaine pulled her to her feet too, dragging her along.

“Come on! Percy must’ve finished talking to Grandpa by now! I want you both to meet Owain!”

“Hold on, Elaine!” Nesha struggled to keep up with the enthusiastic girl.

“Let me dress first! I’m not even wearing shoes!”