| ā | That's what it means to be human. We can fix in a few days what they [the gods] can't in tens of thousands of years. | ā |
– Laila to Leez Haias [1]
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| ā | Laila is the kind of person who can deceive her own mind for the greater cause. | ā |
Laila Hemawati is a quarter of unknown heritage. She is an AA-ranked magician and the Priest of Darkness in Rindhallow. She is one of the priests of the polar city of Rindhallow, the other being the Priest of Death, Claude Yui. During Season 2, Laila is often tirelessly trying to get Claude to take his position seriously.
Appearance
Laila usually wears a green mask that fully covers her head, which resembles a monster head with wall-eyes, a menacing look, a downward curved mouth with adversely colored lips, and nostrils as eye-holes.
Laila has the physical appearance of a woman in her early 30's. She has pale skin, long, white, straight hair, purple eyes, and a mole under her left eye. She does not wear make-up[3]; although, she often wears purple lipstick to match her eyes. If Laila had not worn her mask, she would have gotten a very dark tan.[3] She wears her hair up under the mask to not give away anything about her physical appearance. She also has ripped abdominal muscles.[4]
Her wardrobe includes a variation of sleeved robes of different colors (black, brown, purple, dark blue, and green). The robes usually cover her whole body, but some of them reveal her shoulders. She wears black or purple long gloves all the time. She wears a pair of boots or flats; she used to wear heels. [5] Sometimes she also wears a black cloak.
Personality
Laila has a serious and calculative personality; she suppresses her emotions, and even when fully prepared to vent them, she retains her composure and dignity. [6] [1] [7] Claude said that in the past Laila used to be sentimental and cried for deceased animals. [8]
As a priestess, she possesses an immense sense of duty to the point that she is willing to bury her grudges to protect Rindhallow. [9] Laila is frank and speaks her mind even if she has to contradict a god's opinion. [10] She is greatly respected as a priestess and magician.
Laila values human lives [11], which she proved by choosing to preserve a life instead of getting valuable information. [12] Laila would also worry about the well-being of a rakshasa. [13] She seems unforgiving with people who have killed others even though they were not in control of themselves [6] or were unaware of the situation. [1] Laila refuses to have her life dictated by others and to submit to expectations. She will fight to secure her place and her survival. [14][1] [7]
Laila often gets irritated with Claude's lack of commitment to his position as the Priest of Death; she is constantly forcing him to do his job [15] [16]. She is quick to physically punish him when he neglects his job or when he steps out of line. [17] She also has very little patience for Claude's false politeness. [8] [2]
Skills and Abilities
Laila is one of the strongest magicians on Willarv. She specializes in Chandra magic due to her attributes, but she is also proficient in other types of magic, such as hoti Vayu. [18] Her mental strength and good judgment in dire situations is among her more valuable assets, which she receives praise for. [2] [14]
Her mastery in silent magic has earned her the recognition as the leading expert in dream-tracking.[19] According to a god, such mastery in her skill was uncommon even among those of the ancient human race. [14]
As a quarter, Laila possesses superior physical strength which gives her an edge as a fighter. She often displays her martial abilities against Claude Yui. [15] [16] She is skilled with weapons, particularly the spear, and in fighter tournaments, she prefers to fight with a spear than using magic. [20] She won the N19 Fighter Championship against Teo Rakan, although god Chandra rigged the tournament in her favor. [10] [14]
Laila has an interest in conducting experiments. She also teaches several lectures at the Rindhallow Magic University.
Notes
- A talking alarm clock with Laila's image is seen waking up Rana in Mistyshore.
- The name on Gandharva's stolen magician's license was "Roi Hemawati." It's unknown if he's related to Laila.[21]
- Laila means "night" in Hebrew and Arabic.
- Laila frequently uses Claude as a test subject for her experiments; he does this job willingly.[22]
- During season 3, Chandra makes Laila assist him while he bathes. Currygum clarified that Laila was like a personal attendant like those of the medieval times. [23]
- Laila appears as one of the vague silhouettes that Brilith recalls when Agni asked her if she had a reason to continue living.[24]
Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
History
Lailaās real name is Kubera Hemawati. When she was a child, she received an oracle from god Chandra. He told her to cover her face and forget her true name, and if doing so did not change her destiny, to call for him. [25] Since then, she has lived under the alias "Laila" and covered her face with a giant green monster mask.
Laila was a priestess candidate in the Temple of Darkness before the Cataclysm, and her mentor was the Priestess of Darkness. She was deeply attached to her mentor. The Priestess summoned god Chandra during the Cataclysm to protect Rindhallow. However, he was unaware of the changes in the summoning rules, so he overused his powers, consuming the lifespan of his summoner. [6] [1] Laila was present when her mentor died and witnessed as the god uttered cruel words on behalf of his summoner. He also blamed Laila for her mentor's death because she should have been the one to summon him. Before returning to the god realm, Chandra stated that she will have no alternative but to call him soon, and he also promised that she would not die like her mentor. Laila profoundly resents Chandra for the death of her mentor. [1] She became the new Priestess of Darkness.
Laila was childhood friends with Jibril Ajes and she admired Jibril's tremendous talent in silent magic. [26] [27]
She met Claude Yui when he was a child; they had a sort of mentor-student relationship. [28] In the present, Laila often gets frustrated when Claude lacks off with his duties and does not hesitate to reprimand the priest.
Season 1
Chapter 4: AAA Magician
It must be fate
(1) On the 12th month of the year N11, Laila was a test administrator for the magician test in Rindhallow, which Brilith Ruin came to take. When Brilith admitted she did not have a partner for the test, Laila suggested for her to team up with Asha Rahiro, who was likewise partnerless.
When Asha arrives, she rudely agrees with the idea, offending Brilith in the process.
(2) Continuing with the flashback from N11, Laila, the test administrator comments to both Brilith and Asha that they are fated to be partners. Laila then requests their signatures for official purposes. Brilith tries to delay it by asking Asha what she thinks of the partnership. Asha brushes off Brilith's concern by stating that she will take and pass the test no matter who her partner is.
As Brilith is signing the documents, Laila bades Brilith to look after Asha, since she would have it hard as she is missing an arm.
Later, Laila can be seen bored from reading and signing many documents. She decides to ignore a delayed letter from Eloth thinking it must be someone asking for their child or student to get better results, since these kinds of letters are common during the magician testing season. She did, however, read the letter once problems with Asha's test results had become obvious.[29]
(4) Laila is seen reviewing reports as the testing continues.
The four AA Magicians
(5) Laila had the duty of giving out magician ranks when the tests were over. She initially made it seem like she was quite mad about Asha threatening to assault an examiner and might disqualify her, but revealed her ploy once Brilith stepped up to Asha's defense. Laila had made up a completely new rank for Asha, the A++ rank.
Laila's silhouette, the far right, is among the silhouettes of the four AA magicians of Willarv.
However, Asha was unhappy with her new rank because she needed the AA rank to access the Human Search System. After hearing this, Laila signs a letter of consent for Asha to use the system, under the condition that she gathers the signatures of the other three AA magicians that were in Eloth at that time. In exchange for the letter, Asha had to accompany Brilith safely to Eloth and then back to Atera.
Asha is a genius
(6) In the present, Lorraine recalls a conversation she had with Laila about Asha's talent as a magician. Laila called Asha a genius.
Chapter 6: The Past I Yearn For/Longing for Yesterday
(2) While Maruna gathers mara and upani-ranking suras to attack Rindhallow in case Gandharva's plan fails, he and a subordinate discuss the city's previous Priestess of Darkness who summoned Chandra to save the city during the Catacylsm. Unaware of the new rules set in place, Chandra used his powers freely, draining his summoners lifespan, to eradicate the suras attacking, and inevitably killing her. Maruna speculates that there's no one in the city capable of summoning Chandra for protection. Even if the current Priestess, Laila, was successful, the god won't be as powerful as before.
Chapter 9: Rival
(6) On the morning of the 3rd day of the 12 month of year N15, Laila visits the snoozing Rana to get her to wake up.
Chapter 10: The Night it Rained Fire
(15) When Agni tells a dying Brilith that he will only give her her life back if she has a reason to live, Laila is one of the few people Brilith could differentiate, but couldn't recognize, as she combed through her memories in search for a reason to live.
Season 2
Chapter 20: Grudge
Life is good
(3) Claude has been chilling around in Kalibloom for many days, Laila wants him back in Rindhallow as soon as possible to maintain the death barrier. She sent a letter to Kalibloomās priest, Siera Sies, requesting him to show Kubera's godly items to Claude, or else Claude will stay in Kalibloom for months. She adds that if Claude does not come back soon, the demand for replacing him as the Priest of Death will increase, and Claude will be delighted about it. She desires Claude to continue as the priest of death because he is the best in that type of magic.
Before consenting to show the items to Claude, Siera tries threatening him by telling Laila said that if he does not return to the Temple of Death within a week, she will snap his neck. Claude just laughs and jokes that she says that but only ever breaks his arms and legs and he can heal himself with Asvins magic.
Chapter 24: Taboo
Laila taking a break
(6) In Rindhallow, Laila lies down complaining about fatigue, when a staff member delivers a letter from Claude. Within it, Claude apologizes for not returning, and requests her to support Asha Rahiro if her case of accidental manslaughter gets re-opened, which is extremely likely now that Asha has exposed that she can use Hoti Visnu. Laila considers his message more irritating than heartfelt, then notices that the weather outside suggests a storm is on its way. A strange pillar of light can be seen on the horizon.
Chapter 25: That Which Cannot be Grasped or Held
Claude chilling in Kalibloom
(1) An emergency message from Laila gets delivered to Kalibloom: Rindhallow requires immediate aid.
Chapter 27: Last Resort
Kasak left Claude in Kalibloom
(1) Kasak Rajof arrives in Rindhallow in answer to Laila's request for help and is met with excited cheers of the people. Taking note of the commotion outside, a staff member inside the temple of Darkness complains to Laila that nowadays people go crazy about anyone strong and famous, and forget about their questionable pasts. Laila says people act like that when they are directly unaffected by those actions. It does not matter to them how many people Kasak murdered during the Cataclysm. She leaves with the intention to kill Claude, who was supposed to arrive with Kasak.
Laila is disappointed upon learning that Claude stayed in Kalibloom, and Kasak tries to explain that Claude needed to keep a certain rakshasa in the city to shift the balance of power towards humanity. Laila then presents a document sent from Kalibloom stating that the rakshasa already left Kalibloom by himself, which angers Kasak. After expressing her low expectations of Claude, she then tells the half that they need to discuss the dangerous situation in her city, and that he must have seen that strange pillar of light outside which might be related to the suras planning an attack on the city.
The pillar of light is gone
(6) Laila scans the horizon with a pair of binoculars and tells Kasak that the pillar of light is gone. A staff member informs her that her orders regarding the city defenses are ready.
Laila figures that they can defend against an attack similar to the one on Atera, but they have no defense measures if a giant sura joins the attack as in Kalibloom. Laila declines to submit a request for aid to other cities since the purpose of the suras is unknown, and other cities would be left more vulnerable; furthermore, they have Kasak. The staff member asks if they should request help from Agni, but Laila says they cannot impose any demands upon a God.
Did I hurt your feelings, Kasak?
Kasak finds her respect towards the gods a bit unexpected considering the fact that her mentor, the previous Priestess of Darkness, died during the Cataclysm because she summoned a god. Laila is offended that Kasak brought up the subject, yet she gives him an answer. She is able to bury her grudge because of her duty to protect the city. However, he should be aware many people still hold a grudge against him because of his killings during the Cataclysm. It is within the power of the city's magicians to kill him whenever they want using hoti yama, but they too, bury their grudge because his presence is needed. Kasak reminds her that it was not his intention to murder and he made a public apology. Laila states that not everyone was able to accept his apologies at the time for the death of their loved-ones as smoothly as his daughter Agwen. Laila feels she made Kasak uncomfortable after everything she told him, yet she will not apologize because he is the one who started talking about the Cataclysm. Kasak says he is a dragon and is not uncomfortable, therefore, he does not require an apology.
With this clear, Laila subsequently informs Kasak that he is now an official mercenary with the duty to protect Rindhallow, no one will order him around but she expects him to do his best to keep the city safe. She adds that Kasak will be provided with food, a place to stay, and a daily payment of 20 thousand in gold which will be sent to his daughter as per his wish. When Laila requests that he and Agwen review the contract, he asks her if she would be willing to summon a god herself should things get critical. Laila pauses for a moment and then replies: yes, as a last resort.
Chapter 31: Your Justice and Mine
(8) As a defensive measure, the city of Aeroplateau overlaps barriers with Rindhallow. Claude, who was in Aeroplateau for Asha's trial, has returned to the Temple of Death and is taking over the barrier stone. Laila finds his behavior suspicious, yet she is relieved he is ultimately carrying out his job.
Laila receives an oracle
Claude asks her if Laila is her true name. She admits it is not and adds that she forgot her true name when she was very young. As she says this, she recalls the time a god knelt by her bed when she was a child, and told her to summon him if forgetting her name and hiding her face failed to change her destiny. Laila shares with Claude how troublesome not having an ID card was for her because people had to vouch for her until she obtained her magic license. She gets curious as to why Claude asked for her name, but he excuses himself, saying it was something that suddenly crossed his mind. Laila gives him a suspicious glare and then leaves to mind her own business.
(14) Claude is overjoyed at the news that Agni will be taking over the barrier of the Temple of Death because it is the weakest. Laila is disappointed in him for bragging about his ineptitude to maintain a barrier. She performs a side headlock on him and jokes that Claude will be found dead the next day. She decides that he will be in the front lines to fight and takes him out of there. Claude wants to remain in the stone barrier room, but Laila remarks that acting nice now is pointless.
(19) Laila takes Claude to his room and gives him some sleeping pills that will put him to sleep instantly, but they have one side effectāhair loss. She subsequently advises him not to run off, at least for his own sake and the sake of his sister. Claude points out that fleeing the city or defending it are both deadly choices, therefore he will stay. As she leaves, she says she wishes his actions would come from his heart, if only a bit.
Wake up!!!
When Laila returns later, she is astonished to see that Claude has already taken the pills when the suras have not even invaded the city yet. She strongly slaps him but fails to wake him up. A staff member interrupts her; they bring an urgent message from Saha.
The message informs Laila that a cloaked sura is acting as a decoy to distract the turrets, but the real threat is the cloaked sura in space. This last sura was attacking the cities until Saha paralyzed it with hoti surya.[30] Saha asks Laila to use the last resort to finish off the sura in space.
(21) Laila sits in her room with her mask off and utters the summoning spell Idha Etu Chandra.
Answer me, low life
(22) The summoning spell has been a success. Chandra is leaning into Laila when abruptly Claude slams the door screaming at her that there is no need to summon a God because the suras will retreat soon. Laila is awkwardly quiet while Chandra holds her head and demands answers from Claude.
(23) Claude does not give Chandra straight answers, and this provokes an angry Chandra to use physical punishment on him for blasphemy. Laila asks Chandra to please cease torturing Claude. She knows he is suspicious, but he means no harm to her, and defending the cities is a more urgent problem. She places her mask on and asks him to carry out the plan they previously discussed. Chandra expresses delight that she has grown enough to dare talk to him like that. He hopes she will continue to do so and ultimately drop the formalities with him.
Let it go!
She replies that if she committed blasphemy, he should judge her in hell because soon she will die like her mentor. Chandra sits next to her on her bed, and makes excuses for himself saying it was not his intention to kill her mentor. He made a mistake and reckons that in the human realm it has been a long time since the incident, so she should overcome it. As a response to this, Laila silently stares at him. Chandra gets closer to her and asks her if she recalls his promise with her. She answers she prefers actions over words while meeting his gaze. Chandra laughs and leaves.
As soon as Chandra is gone, Laila lands a kick on Claude's face, causing him to bleed and lose some teeth. She calls him a lunatic for challenging Chandra's authority. Claude begs her for mercy as Laila continues to punish him.
Season 3
Chapter 35: Return
Sexy Laila
(4) In the Temple of Darkness, Chandra is taking a bath, and Laila sits on the edge of the bathtub holding a letter from Ran Sairofe. She tells Chandra that Ran asked him to look for someone else to do his errands because Ran is going to be the new Priest of Water.
You are going to hell!
(1) Laila works on paperwork in her office. Chandra and Agni are keeping her company. Agni, who has been staying in the Temple of Darkness lately, is fooling around. Chandra tells him that he should not neglect his summoner and urges him to go back to Atera. Laila retorts it would be a blessing for her if Chandra neglected her because not all summoners desire the company of their god. Chandra gets upset at Laila and climbs up onto her desk. He states that he has been extremely soft with her these last seven years and reminds her that she could go to hell for the sin of blasphemy.
She responds she is destined for hell anyway and concealing her thoughts from Chandra is useless because of insight. Then she sarcastically gushes praise for Chandra, while thinking that he should remove his feet from her desk and calling him a brat. Chandra is shocked. Agni laughs at him and admits he is envious of the fact that Laila has had a positive reaction upon learning about insight. Unlike Laila, Brilith had a negative reaction to this knowledge. Agni wants to stay in Rindhallow until Brilith sorts out her feelings.
| ā | Don't put your feet on the table, while I'm working on documents, brat. | ā |
– Laila trolling Chandra [31]
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Chapter 36: Another Beginning
Time to go
(2) Chandra is annoyed that Laila is taking so long with the paperwork. She almost concludes her task when Agni suddenly embraces her from behind and teleports them to Atera.
Laila saves Brilith
Brilith is having a nightmare and cannot wake up. Laila enters Brilith's dream using dream tracking and immediately kicks a black silhouette that was choking Brilith to the face. As Laila tries to wake up Brilith, the black silhouette counterattacks with a pointed weapon. Laila stops it with her bare right hand, not caring that she is bleeding. She glares at the black silhouette, causing it to tremble and fade away. Laila does not quite comprehend why Brilith let herself be dominated by something so weak. She tries waking up Brilith again, and this time she succeeds.
Brilith is shocked to see Laila on her bed. Laila brings up that this was the third time she has to fly over in the middle of the night to wake her up. She asks Brilith if she recalls anything about her dream, but unfortunately, she does not. Brilith gets curious about what Laila saw in her dream, but Laila explains that the people she sees in dream tracking are mare black silhouettes to her.
Child Laila
Laila recommends Brilith to thank Agni, who is outside, because he took Laila all the way there. Suddenly, Brilith asks Laila how she copes with insight and confesses she envies Laila's personality and talent in silent magic. Laila states that dream tracking is only useful to wake people up but is useless compared to other types of silent magic. Despite that, Brilith wishes she could be like her. Those words cause Laila to recall the time when she as a child told the same thing to Jibril Ajes. Laila tells Brilith that her mother would have been sad to hear her talk like this. She acknowledges that when a human learns to practice silent magic, something about them changes, and they cannot return to their old self.
Brilith listening to Laila
(3) Under the morning sky, still twinkling with stars, Brilith and Laila take a stroll through the gardens of the Temple of Fire, discussing the insight of gods. Laila understands how shocking it must have been for Brilith to learn about insight after so many years of being ignorant about it and how hurtful it must be for her that Agni knows the secrets she wanted to keep to herself. Nonetheless, she points out that Agni has been tolerating all sorts of Brilith's thoughts and words during years. Laila believes it is possible to develop an exceptional connection with a god because you can share your most dreadful secrets with him. As a result, one bad word or action cannot ruin that relationship, unlike how it happens among humans.
Laila suggests for Brilith to be open with her feelings even though it will be hard to meet Agniās gaze. She consoles Brilith regarding her worries about blasphemy, confessing that she herself has committed many blasphemous actions, yet Agni assured her she would not go to hell which must mean that the sin of blasphemy does not exist. Laila finishes her exposition by saying that she prefers to know about insight and it is not a big deal.
| ā | It means you now have someone with whom you can share even your most painful secrets. It's worlds apart from any ordinary human relationship where one wrong word might ruin the whole thing. | ā |
– Laila about relationships with gods [31]
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Chapter 37: Threat
Working
(1) In Rindhallow, Laila reads notification letters from various cities. She informs Chandra that the increased sura appearances are not to be taken lightly anymore because Mistyshore, Kalibloom, and Atera were attacked by quite many of them. Fortunately, no human lives were lost, but many people are now aware of them. Chandra instructs Laila to send letters to all the cities in which she is to declare the existence of the Taraka clan, and prompt them to prepare for defense.
Flirting
(3) Chandra asks her if she has sent the letters and about her opinion on them. She affirms this and states that Chandra made an accurate judgment about the people he selected to carry out the fragment experiment. All of them are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of humanity, as he would have confirmed with insight. She adds that insight must be practical because you can accurately predict a personās behavior. Chandra puts this into question by revealing that some people have yet to make their minds about their feelings. He suddenly shifts to adult form, gets close to her, and says he has to make assumptions tooā like if Laila truly hates him. He believes she does not know either. In response, she calls him shameless.
As the god takes his teen form again and steps away from her, he observes that she is often insolent now that she has accepted to go to hell. If she continues with that attitude, they will spend eternity together in there. Laila asks him if they can meet only in hell. What about paradise? Are gods not allowed in there? Chandra stands in silence. Laila says it does not matter if he cannot tell her because she won't go to paradise anyway.
| ā | Some humans are yet to make up their minds about how they feel. Which means sometimes, even we have to take a guess. For example, whether you really hate me. | ā |
– Chandra to Laila [32]
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(4) Later, Laila gives Chandra a letter that came from the Temple of Chaos. He asks her if Agni would have received it too. She confirms it because it is a letter addressed to the gods. Chandra leaves to Kalibloom.
Chapter 38: Devastation
Claude making a fuss
(5) An agitated Claude approaches Laila holding a letter from Lutz Sairofe. Lutz believes the taraka suras choose their targets based on transcendental value. If many people with a high value gather in Kalibloom for the fragment experiment, a horde of taraka suras might attack the city.[33] Claude has already contacted the city, but their communication system is down. Therefore, something must be going on. Laila asks him to calm down because there is nothing they can do.
Claude and Laila
Claude suggests that it would be nice of her to display some emotions instead of being so rational. He adds that he misses that part of her, and wonders about how much she has changed since the times when she used to cry for dying animals. Laila retorts that he has changed too, and that there is no sincerity in the scene he is making. She believes Claude has lost his sense of responsibility and is the person who has lost its humanity the most. Claude rebutes that there is someone worse than him. Someone who assassinated people to boost her power and went missing after killing Saha On āAsha Rahiro.
She reflects on his words for a moment and voices realization that she forgot Asha. Claude says it is strange how Saha's murder case fizzled even though Lorraine left behind a letter explaining the truth.[34] Laila agrees with him and says she did not find it strange until he brought it up.
Asha overturned the board
Claude reflects on Lorraine. Although he has an idea of what could have happened, he cannot understand why this happened now. Laila questions what he is thinking. He states that Asha's life span ended in N13, but she was present during the battle of N16 (the sura attack on Rindhallow and Aeroplateau) because someone gave her an opportunity. After that, there were two possibilities: either win, or lose and die. But Asha took a third option; she could not win so she overturned the board so that no one could. She vanished for seven years, and now she is back to try to win again. Laila stares at him silently and then asks which god gave him an oracle. Claude only replies that he is the Priest of death.
He suggests that many people will be confused now that they remember Asha, and he thinks it would be terrible for someone in particular.
(6) Claude, holding a letter sent from Atera, goes to see Laila in her office to inform her that Brilith has collapsed just like he thought. Laila reminds him that it is futile to make a fuss, yet Claude incites her to help Brilith using dream tracking. She refuses because Brilith might be experiencing a mental breakdown, and interfering would damage her mind. When Laila adds that Brilith is in Atera, Claude asks her to stop making excuses because she can easily call Chandra back from Kalibloom to teleport her.
Claude is upset with Laila
She refuses again. Claude gets desperate, abruptly sticks a vajra in her desk, and proclaims a god's absolute priority is the safety of their summoner. He asks Laila how long would it take for Chandra to come if her life is in danger. She invites him to try and find out, but that she will snap his neck first. Claude puts on a serious expression for a second, then bursts into laughter saying that he would never hurt her.
He regains his composure and expresses acceptance that Laila will not help Brilith. Laila repeats that she does not want to damage Brilith's mind. Claude cannot comprehend why she is so concerned about that when her priority has always been the greater good. Her attitude angers him. He leaves.
Later, Laila quietly sits on her chair behind her desk with her mask off.
| ā | Who cares if her mind is damaged? It's not like you. The city, the greater cause, is always your priority. Why are you worried about the mind of one person? It really pisses me off. | ā |
– Claude to Laila [2]
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Chapter 39: The Value of a Life
Chandra is in disbelief
(1) Chandra suddenly appears, shouting that they need to go to Atera immediately. She tells him that she is aware of Brilith's condition, and that she will dream track her. She cannot promise success, but the least she can do is try. The god is surprised by her positive attitude, but he worries that she might die if they teleport. Laila reassures him that she believes in him enough to survive.
She offers him her hand, and Chandra stares at it in disbelieve. Laila yells at him to hurry up and violently grabs his wrist. Chandra hesitantly agrees, but clarifies that he does not take responsibility if she dies and goes to hell. She requests that he stops scaring her with childish lies about blasphemy and hell. The god seems to notice something. He is shocked for a brief moment, then gets serious. He utters that her insolence has gone too far, she will definitely go to hell, and he will be there for it. They teleport.
At the Women's Magic Suit Fashion Fair
They arrive in Atera safely, although Lailaās clothes are a bit torn. Chandra cannot believe his eyes but half-smiles in satisfaction. Laila asks him if he smiled, but he nervously denies it.
Once in Brilith's room, Laila urges everyone to leave and asks Chandra to secure the door. No one should interrupt the dream tracking because it could be dangerous for her and Brilith. Laila begins the dream tracking and finds herself at the Women's Magic Suit Fashion Fair that was held in Eloth in the first month of N12.
(2) Laila spots Brilith walking alongside a black silhouette. Then she recalls that Brilith went to Eloth to retrieve the staff of Agni, and Asha went to gather the signature of the AA magicians (Saha, Claude, and Lorraine) to access the Human Search System.[35] When Saha denied his signature, Asha asked Lorraine to use the system on her behalf. She deduces that the person with Brilith must be Asha, and she came to the fair to see Lorraine.
Saha On
Laila follows the pair. She notices that Brilith has collected a package from a stand and so she asks the seller what was in it. The man replies that those were magician clothes and a fur cloak by Lorraine. She realizes that Asha must have already met with Lorraine. The landscape does not change despite Brilith abandoning the place. Laila questions if this is Brilith's dream. She can see the Human Search System, although Brilith has never used it. Suddenly, someone asks her why she is in town without wearing her mask, she turns around and faces Saha On, who she can see clearly unlike all the dark silhouettes. She finds it strange. Saha asks her if she is there to use the system. She affirms this, considering that this should be the most effective way how to discover what is up with this dream.
The Human Search System
(3) Once inside, Laila logs into the system. The level of accuracy with which Brilith recreated the system leaves her speechless. From outside, Saha prompts her to conduct her search quickly. Laila thinks to herself that she will stop dream tracking if a problem occurs, and decides that she will first search for the name Kubera. The screen displays the location of 25 people, Laila assumes this data must correspond to the data from N12 which was shown during the investigation of Ashaās trial in N16 and Brilith would have been able to read it. When she realizes that the data does not match the reports presented in Aeroplateau, the screen turns red, the system starts reporting errors over and over, and the place begins to disintegrate. Laila shouts at Saha what is happening.
She is unable to open the exit door, and contemplates abandoning the dream, but changes her mind at the thought that Brilith's condition is severe, and re-entering later might be impossible. There is a loud sound on the other side of the exit, abruptly Saha forces the door open. As blood begins to pour from his mouth and body, he urges her to go save Brilith.
A crowd of enemys
(4) Once outside, Saha warns Laila that things will become a nightmare from this point on. She notices his wounds, but as he tells her not to worry about it, a black silhouette rushes towards him to attack him. Saha grabs a nearby pole and pulverizes it. He subsequently explains that his wounds show the amount of time he has left, as if he is returning to the time of his death. He suggests Laila should pay attention since there will be multiple obstacles on the way to Brilith. More black silhouettes appear, carrying pointed weapons.
Laila finishes off many silhouettes when a newspaper page drifts by. She grabs it. The date is N12.7.11 and includes news on Asha's first trial. Laila realizes that many months might have passed when she was in the Human Search System. Saha informs her that it is currently N12.11.21. After this day's nightmare, the dream goes back to early N12 because Brilith is reliving that year non-stop to reinterpret the Asha she thought she knew in light of the facts. The process is extremely painful for Brilith.
The site of a multiple crime
At night, they arrive at the farm in which Asha committed her last murders in N12: the three unsolved cases.[36] He instructs Laila to stop Asha and wake up Brilith at any cost to prevent the dream loop. He cannot aid her as he is going to disappear soon. Laila asks how that is possible if he is just a dream, then realizes that maybe he is not, since she has never heard of a defined and independent entity like him during dream tracking. Saha states that he had suspicions, but now he is certain. He says that she has not learned enough about dream tracking. Laila does not grasp what he means.
In the Temple of Death, Claude sleeps profoundly. A couple of staff members try waking him up, but give up when they notice that he took his pills to sleep. It is almost impossible to wake him up.
Give it your best shot!
Back in the dream, Saha confirms he is not a dream, but suggests that Claude is. He tells Claude that he cannot fool him with bhavati yama. It is revealed that the Laila standing before Saha is in fact Claude. Saha asks him if he feels responsible for his death since it was Claude who prevented Asha from killing Laila.[37] Claude stammers nervously that it was not what he intended since he thought that Asha would go after Leez. Saha inquires him if Leezās life is worth any less. Claude only bites his lower lip in response. Saha states that Claude does not care about anything but Laila's life, but it is fortunate that he at least takes action for her. Saha does not like it, but he will trust in Claude's only positive quality. He asks him what he thinks he needs to do to earn Laila's understanding and advises him to think about it carefully. Claude stares at Saha in silence until a scream coming from the farm captures his attention.
(5) Claude, masked as Laila, storms into the place screaming for Brilith, and finds what seems to be a crime scene. A black silhouette stands next to two black silhouettes lying on the floor. He deduces they must be Asha and the people she murdered. Brilith tries to explain that she secretly followed Asha here in order to give her a birthday present. She pleads for Asha to stop saying strange things, surely she would not do something like this. Claude finds it odd that Brillith could follow Asha without getting noticed. But this is a dream, and many things are possible for the dream's owner. He reassures himself it is just a dream as he glances at Saha in the distance.
Hoti Indra
Claude yells at Brilith to wake up, that this is a dream and it is N23 in the real world, but his efforts are futile. He wonders what else he can do when the black silhouette attacks him from behind with a pointed weapon. He stops it by grabbing the silhouette by the arm. He considers that this proves that it is only a dream, because if it was the real Asha, she would have used Indra magic with the vajra. He then witnesses how the silhouette and weapon become visible. It is Asha with the vajra. Asha casts the spell hoti Indra.
As a result of the spell, Claudeās form is now revealed behind Lailaās. Claude leans on a rock in pain and ponders why Asha appears real and can use magic. Claude is shocked when Asha asks him if he is wondering if this is a dream. Asha adopts a threatening stance, states that he should have not involved himself in this and that she could have killed him long ago. Then Brilith grabs the vajra asking Asha to stop acting so uncharacteristic. Asha releases the weapon causing Brilith to fall back, landing her head on a rock and losing consciousness.
Child Claude and Laila
Asha's attention is back on Claude. She says that Claude only wants to wake up Brilith because if Agni returns to the God realm, Laila will bear a heavier burden. She offers to let Claude abandon the dream and live to see Laila again. A speechless Claude wonders how a dream character can read his mind and make such an offer. Then he recalls a conversation he had with Laila when he was a child. Laila asked him if when he uses bhavati Yama, it feels like a dream. Claude realizes what he did not understand about dream tracking. He knows what to do to save Brilith, but he is hesitant to do it. His body starts losing its shape since he has decided to abandon the dream. Asha approves of his decision and starts walking away.
Bhavati Indra
Claude remembers Saha's words about what he has to do to earn Laila's understanding. He clenches his teeth and right fist, stands up and charges towards Asha. He hits her on the face. An upset Asha calls him a fool and asks him if he thinks he can defeat her. He shouts that she can stop bluffing, she needs to use at least bhavati Indra to kill him. In reaction, Asha casts the spell, and Claude ends up in intense agony.
(6) An unconscious Claude lays on the ground with his clothes a bit torn and visibly carbonized skin.
The lightning shock made Brilith accept the truth about Asha. She has learnt to use silent magic and she burns Asha with a rain of fireballs. Outside the dream, Brilith wakes up.
In Brilith's room, Laila suddenly collapses to the ground. Chandra rushes to her and mutters that Claude at least could have brought her back safe and sound. Laila awakens in time to hear him say, "bring her back", she asks what he meant. Chandra is surprised she heard him but quickly comes up with a lie, he explains he meant bringing Brilith back and finishing the dream tracking. Laila is more confused. The god explains she wanted to dream track Brilith's dream. Laila realizes that Claude used bhavati yama on her and came to Atera in her place. She asks Chandra how could he have not noticed when it should have been obvious with insight. He responds that he does not use insight on her all the time because of how she constantly insults him. Laila stares at him for a moment and then asks where Brilith had gone to, since her bed is now empty.
Ripped clothes
A shocked Chandra runs outside the room to ask about the location of the staff of Agni. When he learns that only Brilith knows where it is, he tells Laila that they are going to Kalibloom. Laila hesitates, but Chandra reassures her that they can teleport safely. When they arrive in Kalibloom, Laila contemplates about her torn clothes and states that it would take more than a few kicks to forgive Claude. The god says that Claude will not be in a state to be kicked considering how Brilith woke up. Laila sees Brilith standing alone on a cliff holding the staff and observing a horde of taraka suras coming out from a taraka portal looming above the city. She wonders if Brilith arrived in the city on her own. Chandra confirms it, and he voices hope that Brilith still believes in protecting the city.
(8) Brilith is slaughtering the suras with hoti Agni. Laila is concerned about Brilith and wants to approach her, but Chandra thinks it is a bad idea because they cannot be certain of her reaction. He believes it is better to let Brilith kill as many taraka suras as possible before those open their eyes, and he will aid her by amplifying her attacks. He suggests Laila takes shelter in the Temple of Earth.
Jibril Ajes
Laila utters that she was friends with Brilith's mother, Jibril Ajes. Jibril mastered silent magic to the point that her mind was so deteriorated that she could not distinguish between a living being and an inanimate thing.
Laila states that Jibril expressed regrets about having learned silent magic, and she hoped for her daughter to never learn it. Chandra shares with her that when Jibril died, her last remaining memory was of her daughter. Laila is surprised and asks if he met her in paradise. As Jibril dedicated her whole life to serving Atera, that is where she must be. Chandra expresses surprise that after what she said about gods and paradise,[32] she still believes he can exist within there. He affirms that the doors of paradise are only open to those who uphold the most important value of all. Even suras can access if they meet the requirement, and gods may be barred from it. He leaves, and Laila stays there reflecting on his words.
| ā | The gates of heaven open only to those who have upheld the most important value of all. That is the only criterion. Even an inferior sura may pass through the gates, and even the highest gods may remain barred from them. | ā |
– Chandra about paradise [38]
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Chapter 40: Twisted Bird
Laila in the Temple of Earth
(1) Laila arrives in the Temple of Earth and hastily asks Siera about Agni's whereabouts. Siera responds that Agni is in the barrier stone room talking with the half that, Chandra recently put in a jail that prevents surafication.[2] Laila makes a rational conclusion based on all the information Siera communicated her, and surmises that the half must be the nastika that attack the city 7 years ago. Siera appears to be terrified by her idea.
(5) A crowd (Laila and Siera among them) observes the continuing fight. Suddenly, they see Kasak Rajof crossing through the Taraka portal. The turrets of the Temple of Earth were inexplicably unresponsive towards the attacking Taraka suras. Nonetheless, they abruptly start firing at Kasak. Laila rushes Siera to take over the barrier stone to stop the turrets.
It was Claude!
(6) The taraka portal closed right after Kasak crossed. The battle is over. Brilith and Leez Haias, who arrived with Kasak, enter the Temple; Laila greets Brilith expressing relief that she is safe. She whispers to Brilithās ear that it was Claude who did the dream tracking, not her. Laila asks her if she recalls what Claude did at the end of the dream. Brilith apologizes and promises to avenge him. Laila is left confused.
Brilith requests Siera to call together a meeting since Agni wishes to talk to the magicians. Siera tells Laila that he feels as though there is something different about Brilith. Laila agrees with him and suggests that something may have gone wrong during the dream tracking.
(7) The theme of the meeting is the Taraka clan, Agni says they need a plan regarding them. Leez discloses that Yuta is the real king of the clan and details the intense connection he has with them. Laila asks her if all the clan will perish if the king dies or if a weaker sura will ascend the throne. Leez denies it, explaining that Yuta will resurrect as a true monster without memories.
(8) After the meeting, Laila gathers with Brilith, Teo, and Siera to share opinions. Siera tells Laila that her questions about Yuta were quite insensitive, but Brilith and Teo do not agree with him.
Chapter 41: Your Seven Years
Airi needs to go to Kalibloom
(2) As a result of getting hit by a magic spell inside Brilith's dream, Claude suffered mental damage to the point to induce him in a coma.[27] Chandra transported Airi from Atera to visit him. However, her visit is brief, and she wishes to leave for Kalibloom immediately.
Laila recommends for Airi to stay in Rindhallow because of what Lutz said about the risk of many people with a high transcendental value gathering in Kalibloom.[8] Chandra states that he and Agni will be present during the fragment experiment; therefore, Airi will not make a difference compared to the combined transcendental value of two 5th-zen Gods. Chandra agrees to transport her and asks Laila to notify those who received a letter to participate in the experiment and have not left for Kalibloom yet to stay in their cities.[32] Laila asks him if the candidate to undergo the experiment is already present in the city. Chandra confirms it.
Ran hiding from halfs
(3) Laila and Chandra bump into Ran Sairofe in the Temple of Earth. When Ran tells them that Shess brought him to Kalibloom, Laila infers Agwen must have shared that Shess is a rakshasa with him. Suddenly, Siera joins them and faces Chandra, confirming that he will be the candidate for the experiment since Leez returned the bracelet to him.[39] [40]
(5) On the day of chaos at midnight, Siera arrives at the Temple of Chaos for the fragment experiment. Chandra and Laila are expecting him. Chandra tells him they are waiting for one more person before they proceed with the experiment.
(6) Later Agni arrives with Shess. Chandra tells him that he was about to start without him. Agni jokes that Chandra does not have the power to do it alone and Laila agrees with him, which makes Chandra angry.
Agni and Siera
The objectives of the fragment experiment are for Siera to access the mental world of the Tarakas and attempt to subdue a major node. Once Siera is inside, he will be constantly receiving commands to act like a Taraka, and resisting these commands will be extremely painful. Should Siera fail, the Gods will stop him, and Shess is to make sure Siera has enough vigor for the regeneration transcendental of the bracelet to kick in.
Chandra adds that there is one more objective: should the experiment succeed, they will replicate it to subdue all the nodes and neutralize the entire clan. Laila points out that it is not a goal of this experiment, and Sieraās role ends when he proves this method works. Chandra gets upset with her again and complains that she always agrees with Agni and disagrees with him. Laila thinks it is not always.
| ā | Are you my summoner or not? Why do you always nod when Agni says something and contradict whatever I say? | ā |
– Chandra to Laila [10]
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Princess carry
(7) Siera gets taken over by a strong Taraka sura. The experiment is a failure. The Taraka takes sura form and has its eyes open, which forbids everyone from using most transcendentals and magic. It goes on a rampage and destroys the Temple of Chaos. Chandra carries Laila out of the crumbling temple in his arms. Agni urges him to transport Laila to the Temple of Earth and deactivate the turrets. The god of fire and Shess will stop the Taraka.
Chapter 42: Crossroads
Shocked Chandra
(1) Laila observes the fight from a window in the barrier stone room of the Temple of Earth. She sees pink flames and asks Chandra if they are immune to the effects of the tarakas eyes. The god explains those are Paradisial Flare, they are immune because, unlike other gods, Agni summons them directly from paradise, which he can enter. Laila is surprised to hear that Agni can access paradise. She asks Chandra if Agni telling her that she would not see him after her death means she will not be going to paradise. He responds that Agni says this to people who most likely will not go to hell because he spends more time there than in paradise.
Next, she asks if this means she is not going to hell. Chandra is shocked by her question. She walks towards him, pointing out that it is strange that he has been consistently telling her the opposite. While meeting his gaze, she asks him if the sin of blasphemy truly exists. Chandra nervously changes the topic.
| ā | I'm not going to hell? That's odd. Didn't you always say I was going to hell for the sin of blasphemy? As I thought, there's no such thing as blasphemy. Is there? | ā |
– Laila questioning Chandra [41]
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(2) Agni took Gandharva out of jail to let him see the Taraka, who turned out to be Shakuntala, expecting him to finally accept the death of his daughter. However, seeing his Tarakafied daughter, the nastika decides she is alive, and decides to protect her.
Laila and Chandra see a big blue blast. The god expresses surprise that Gandharva can use Frozen Tear despite the Taraka eyes blocking transcendentals. Laila wonders if this is similar to how he was able to take sura form seven years ago. Chandra denies it, claiming that the Taraka is allowing Gandharva to use his transcendentals. When Laila asks if such a thing is possible, Chandra explains that Kali too could selectively allow the use of transcendentals. Laila does not quite understand what a Goddess who disappeared hundreds of years ago has to do with this ordinary sura. Chandra stays in silence.
Agni and Shess
(3) Agni brings an unconscious Shess to Laila and Chandra and requests that they take care of him. Laila asks why Gandharva attacked the rakshasa when he recently allied himself with them. Chandra says it is highly likely that Gandharva went off with his head because he could not accept the truth, which is unsurprising because he has been an immature tyrant since the beginning of the universe.
Laila expresses surprise that they allied with someone like him. Chandra snitches that it was Agni's idea. When she asks Agni about it, he replies that Gandharva is needed for the best possible future. Promptly, Chandra clarifies that Agni is the only god who still has hope in this future, the other gods have given up, even the primeval god who made the prophecy. Agni warns Chandra that he is saying too much, but the god of darkness says it does not matter because Laila cannot share this with anyone else and will forget it when she dies. Agni insists that this is not the point. Laila stands respectfully in silence during the gods' confrontation.
(8) Shess lays in bed, Laila sees that he is suffering and asks Chandra if dream tracking could help the rakshasa. The god believes it would be useless because if the root of his problem is a nastika, which is likely, Laila might get trapped in his dream. It worries her to leave Shess like that but Chandra assures her that he will be fine and will wake up soon.
Unexpected bed partners
Agni arrives, carrying an unconscious Siera in his arms, and accompanied by a depressed Gandharva. The two gods discuss the outcomes of the experiment. Although it was a failure, they hope Siera will be able to disclose some information when he wakes up. Agni divulges that in the end, Gandharva killed the Shakuntala Taraka, which greatly surprises Chandra.
Chandra finds the convenience of the stacking up events too much to be a coincidence. They ask Gandharva for the reason for his actions, but he is unable to satisfactorily respond. Chandra implies that the series of events obviously benefits Kali, who would be able to decide which sura gets summoned, to nullify transcendentals, and to persuade even a nastika. She would gain the most by deterring the gods from trying. Agni appears unconvinced.
The discussion is interrupted by a loud sound from outside - Leez Haias can be seen attempting to behead a Garuda clan rakshasa.
Chapter 44: The Meaning of Revenge
(1) The next day, the gods and magicians had another meeting about the Taraka clan. Teo Rakan was extremely frustrated because Chandra did not allow her to speak.
Visiting Siera
Laila and Chandra are on their way to visit Siera. Laila tells Chandra that he acted inappropriately with Teo, but the god replies that Teo kept talking about irrelevant things. Laila believes Teo had a point because the only reason she was not a candidate is her resurrection. Chandra shuts her up and asks her to report on the status of the patients.
They arrive at Siera's room; the priest is sitting and reading a book. Laila states that Shess has not woken up yet. Siera goes through his usual routine, but he does not talk with anyone and keeps a blank expression all the time. Chandra cannot see anything with insight. Laila inquires if she should dream track Siera, but Chandra brings up that Claude also needs dream tracking to wake up. They must prioritize one over the other because the process could take much time. She asks which one should be first. The god picks Claude because they can learn information about his oracle. Laila accepts and asks him to take her to Claude once their business in Kalibloom finishes.
A cloak for Ran
(8) The gods are putting together an expedition to the planet Konchez, intending to find clues to stop the Taraka clan. The members of the expedition team are Ran Sairofe, Leez Haias, Maruna, and Yuta. Laila gives Ran a dark blue cloak that has a storage function (among other things) and adds that the cloak already contains one ton of food and water.
Chapter 45: Crime and Punishment
Laila with Leez and Ran
(3) Laila also gives Ran a red dagger provided by Brilith. The dagger used to get passed down among the priests of destruction. She explains that any living being, no matter what it is, that is pierced by the dagger, will be stopped for a while. It has, however, two flaws: First, it cannot be thrown, but must be held when stabbing the target for it to work; second, it can only be used once every three days. Laila advises him to use it wisely.
Chapter 46: Soul
Dead end
(1) In Rindhallow, Laila is dream tracking Claude without success. She has spent quite some time wandering through wastelands which led to dead ends. Laila is amazed that Claude's mind can create such dreams. Chandra advises her to take it easy, all she needs to do is find Claude's consciousness somewhere in the maze.
Laila gives up
(5) Laila is dream-tracking Claude one more time. She slashes her way through many obstacles, noting that the time she has experienced, which feels like decades, is too long, and the outside world seems less clear; she will be in danger if this goes much longer. But since this dream has lasted so long, she may find something if she keeps going. She suddenly spots child-Claude, who sees her and runs away. She chases after him for what feels like months through several different landscapes. Laila is exhausted and thinks she cannot continue. She collapses on the sand while cursing Claude for making her suffer even in dreams.
Mysterious figure
Before long, someone approaches her, and advises her to stand up because if she sleeps there, she and Claude will die. Laila is shocked and suspects another enemy of Claude's creation. She jumps to her feet and swings her dream weapon, but the opponent effortlessly stops it with one finger. This individual wears a cloak and a hood; its identity is fully concealed. The hooded figure states that her silent magic is remarkable and uncommon even among the ancient humans.
Laila concludes by their tone that they are the God who gave the oracle to Claude, and that she would be unable to defeat, such a construct created by Claude's mind; consequently, she lowers her weapon. The hooded god praises her judgment and tells her to follow them if she wants to find Claude. She realizes that they would be worth talking to in order to gain information, so she asks them point-blank if they are the god that gave an oracle to Claude, and if they are Yama, the god of Death.[39] They ask if Claude said that. She denies it, but considers that Yama is the only one capable of reviving Claude's sister five years after her death [39], and Claude has triple death attributes. The hooded god begins to speak of how Death is Yama's jurisdiction, and that he makes most of the final decisions himself, so outside interference would be difficult, and only someone he trusts very much could accomplish it. Laila takes note that he speaks of Yama in third person.
Kidnaped Claude
As soon as Laila finds Claude, the hooded god captures him and holds him from her reach. A surprised Laila demands to know what they are doing, but in response, the hooded god asks her if she is there for Claude or information. If it is the former, they will return the child to her, and Lailaās search will end without any more information. Laila then asks what would happen if she came for information. In that case, they will tell her what she seeks to know, and once their conversation has finished they will return Claude's lifespan to its original length since it was lengthened in the first place for the oracle, but he is of no use any longer.[39] Laila glances at Claude while contemplating the answer.
| ā | For a modern human being, you have great skill in silent magic. Such skill was uncommon even among those of the ancient human race. It is not easy to fight on alone through long years of experienced time. | ā |
– Brahma praising Laila [14]
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(6) Laila replies that in that case, she will take Claude. The hooded god seems surprised that she answered without hesitation, and assures her that she will not get any information once Claude is awake. Laila reveals that Chandra asked her to use dream tracking to extract information while Claude was unconscious. The hooded good then asks if she is going against the will of her god, and she replies that she is not one who lives according to the will of a god.
Face revealed
They are not convinced, and state that her actions were done because of belief in an oracle, and that she also took on the alias Laila at Chandra's behest. [25] Laila then asks them why they think she follows the oracle. Does she have feelings for the god who killed her mentor, is she scared of him, or does she feel that he is truly in the right? A god would know where her heart lies. The hooded god asks if Chandra is aware of those feelings; Laila recalls Chandra speaking about some people who have yet to make their minds about their feelings, such as whether she really hates him.[32] She then replies that she thinks he knows, but he seems to want to deny it.
A pink gift for Laila
The hooded god comments that although Chandra aspires to cold rationality, he still falls headlong into anything that interests him, and they remark that Chandra resembles their old friend in this respect and that it may be the very reason the friend loses each time. The god says they will return Claude, and since Laila's answer has pleased them, they also gift her with a pink spear. They comment that Laila dies in the future they see because Chandra will fail to protect her. Laila then asks if this item can stop her death. They state that no solution is perfect when fighting those who exist beyond time, but it should open up new possibilities and whether they become real will depend on her and those around her. Laila stays in silence.
As the space in the dream begins to crumble, the hooded god says they will take back the oracle they gave to Claude as well as the darkness in his mind. A desperate Laila asks for a final piece of advice; the god reluctantly agrees because they will not meet again. They tell her not to forget the part of her that chose to save Claude over information.
Laila demands respect
When Laila wakes up, Chandra excitedly starts asking about what happened, noting that the dream was far longer than the previous ones. As Claude opens his eyes, Laila points out that she succeeded in waking him. Claude calls Laila by her name, which upsets Chandra; the god slaps him for addressing her casually. She asks the god to stop because Claude is ill. Chandra states he is not, then notices something is wrong and shouts what she did, that he told her to prioritize getting information.
Laila invites him to use insight to learn what happened. When she realizes he cannot, she explains she had to choose between the information and Claude's life. Once Chandra grasps the implication of Claude being alive, he starts screaming again, criticizing her. He then stretches his hand towards her, and Laila summons the pink spear and thrusts it between them. She is displeased with his hostile attitude and expresses hope that they could have a calm discussion. Chandra is frightened by the spear.
| ā | The will of a god does not determine my life. Have you considered why I follow the oracle? Because I like the god who caused my teacher to die? Or because I fear him? Or perhaps because I think he is in the right? If you are really a god, you should know instantly where my heart truly lies. | ā |
– Laila about her beliefs [12]
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| ā | What moved me today was your decision to save Claude instead of seeking information. You should not forget that part of you. | ā |
– Brahma's advice to Laila [12]
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Claude is a guinea pig
(7) Chandra demands to know where Laila got her weapon but instead, she asks Claude to touch it; he suffers no damage. She determines that touching it has no effect and wonders why Chandra seems to be so frightened of it.
Laila raises the spear at Chandra to examine his reaction once more, the god flinches. She then says that the spear is for her protection, and declares that she will continue performing her duties as a priestess and as a summoner as well as respect him in public, but she will cease to do activities that are not part of her job, like assisting him in his bath time.[42] She leaves the rooms and thinks that the spear resembles paradisial flare,[41] so she decides to ask Agni about it.
Chapter 47: Words Than Never Reach You
(1) Laila goes check if Agni responded to the message she sent about the recent events in Rindhallow and particularly about the pink spear. She finds it odd that there has been no reaction from either him or Brilith Ruin yet. Laila was sure they would care about the news of Claude waking up even if not about the spear. She wonders what could be preventing them from answering.[14]
Subsequently, she visits Claude in his room. Laila wants to know if he has written to Airi in their exchange diary since he woke up. He confirms it while sobbing because his sister has not answered in an entire day. He adds that this is something she would only do back in her university days when she was busy. Laila wonders what could be keeping Airi busy in Kalibloom. Claude is perplexed as he was unaware that she left Atera. He wonders what she would be doing in Kalibloom instead of being by his side when he was unconscious. Laila assures him that Airi indeed visited him, but went to Kalibloom after she read a document Claude left for her. [39] Claude retains no recollection of doing that. Laila then recalls the hooded god's words and concludes that Claude's memory loss is the result of the divinity taking the oracle and the darkness in his mind away. [14] She also believes that the god made her their new pawn, and they hope to achieve through her what they expected to accomplish with Claude before.
Laila asks Chandra for support
(4) Laila goes to see Chandra while he is bathing. The god accuses Laila of being selfish and wanting a relationship that is only convenient for her. Laila expresses certainty that Chandra would help her because that way he may win against Time, and she is a valuable card he cannot lose. Chandra remarks that this card he drew was crappy and he was at a disadvantage from the beginning, but concedes to help.
| ā | I am your summoner, and one who bears the name of "Kubera". A card you cannot afford to lose. If you do not help me, I will walk into the jaws of death alone. | ā |
– Laila to Chandra [43]
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Blue flames
(6) Laila and Chandra prepare to teleport from Rindhallow. Claude approaches them, asking Laila if she is going on a forced date with the god, and brings up the bath issue. Laila denies it, and states that the bath it is not like he imagines it. Suddenly, Claude notices something in the sky; Laila recognizes that those are blue flames, but they seem to be far away. She suggests to Chandra that they should go to see Agni.
Brilith Ruin teleported to Mistyshore with the intent of transporting Leny to Kalibloom. [44] She encountered Ran Sairofe, who was taking Leny and three of his children outside the city, and she harbored doubt regarding his identity. [43] They fought, and Agni arrived to immobilize her by draining all her vigor with the blue flames transcendental. Ran claims that he tried to take the children away in order to protect them from someone who will come to kidnap them because of their souls. [45]
In the Temple of Water, Chandra is upset with Agni; he calls the god of fire an idiot because, in his opinion, Agni should have restrained Brilith in a way that allows her to keep her vigor. Laila hears the fuss Chandra is making from outside the room, and she closes the door to not hear him anymore. Kan and Tan Sairofe were also watching the scene, they are shocked to hear that Agni is an idiot. Promptly, Laila tells the boys that they should not repeat that because Agni will punish them for the sin of blasphemy; they agree to forget it.
Eline and Laila
Eline Haias praises Laila for her successful tactic, although she must be aware that no such sin exists. Laila responds that it is a convenient way to control children. She next asks Eline about the god who resurrected Airi Yui; she explains she met the divinity while dream-tracking Claude. [12] Eline answers that she could not discern the godās identity because the cloak wholly concealed it, and their voice sounded as if a man and a woman were speaking in unison. [39] She adds that she used to believe that a soul is only a power source, but seeing how three of her grandchildren are in danger for their souls, she is reconsidering. Eline speculates that the children must have been born with the soul of someone important who died in N15-N16; Laila can solely think of two people.
Suddenly, Chandra appears, asking for Leny's whereabouts; he needs to take her to Kalibloom immediately and Laila will go too. Laila asks for the reason, the god explains that Shess is rampaging over there, and he had to knock him out. Chandra spots Ran and orders him to join them as well since he wants to keep an eye on Ran. Laila is confused why, since Agni proved Ran's innocence. Chandra claims that there have been exceptions to the verity of Agni's insight, although it is usually correct.
Surya thrashing Chandra
The four of them gather outside to teleport, and Agni appears and promises Ran to protect his children. Laila then takes the opportunity to ask Agni if her pink spear is similar to Paradisial flare. The god explains that it is Surya's god-level item and deals damage based on the guilt a being feels for its sins. He recommends her to ask Chandra for more information because he comprehends how it works as someone who has experienced it in flesh.
(7) They arrive in Kalibloom and go to check on Shess, who is lying unconscious in his sura form. Ran leaves while Chandra brings Gandharva to help Shess. Chandra believes that Shess was a specific target of the Taraka clan and that the real reason behind Gandharva using Frozen Tear against him could have been that the Tarakas needed Shess for something. Laila wonders if they planned to use Shess to kill Kasak; the god believes it is quite possible.
Gandharva says he might be able to wake up Shess, but since the rakshasa is resistant to psychological transcendentals, he will need a medium to access Shess' mind. Chandra informs Leny that she will be the medium since she is the only person that Shess cares about. Laila inquires why they did not do this sooner if it is an effective method. The god explains that usually the medium is destroyed in the process; he prefers keeping the girl alive, but if Shess will remain in this state and keep losing control, it is better to wake him up.
Laila is disturbed by this and speaks about Leny's consent. Will he proceed without consent like he did with her mentor? The god then asks Leny to decide quickly, but she should keep in mind that if she refuses, he will kill Shess. The half nervously agrees; she thinks it is better if she dies rather than Shess. Laila is shocked.
| ā | The medium is a living being! What about her consent? Was it not enough to sacrifice my teacher without consent? | ā |
– Laila to Chandra [11]
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Heated argument
(14) Shess has successfully woken up, and Leny is unharmed. Laila asks Chandra if he saw Leny's future and knew she would succeed; he replies that no, he saw her past that anticipated her future, but since Shess did not change, things did not go as expected.
This matter being solved, Chandra moves on to the next issue and proceeds to question Ran and Leez Haias. When Leez vocally voices disagreement with the gods allying with Gandharva, Chandra gets irritated with Leezās constant hateful attitude and claims that she has accomplished nothing since she returned from the Sura realm. Ran defends Leez, but the God cuts him off and criticizes him for using the Eye of Perishment carelessly. When an angry Ran emphasizes how everyone did their best on Konchez, [46] [47] Chandra points out how suspicious Leez has been acting and makes Ran doubt whether to defend her. Ran stays in silence, and Chandra orders Laila to put Leez in a prison of silence.
(15) Having taken Leez to jail, Laila informs her that the cell nullifies magic, though a fighter can escape using transcendentals. Leez assures Laila that she will stay put as she is innocent. Laila tells her that Chandra is aware of that and his reasoning behind incarcerating Leez is an excuse to manipulate her. If Asha Rahiro or the Ananta clan try to kill one more Kubera, he intends to sacrifice Leez to keep his summoner alive, and Leez will comply to prove her innocence.
Leez is in disbelief, but Laila supports her point by saying that Chandra was readily willing to sacrifice a half to allow a rakshasa to develop, and he was disappointed when it did not happen. She states that Chandra is an egotistical god who behaves with no consideration for other people's lives; to him, everyone is a tool.
Chandra being cruel
Laila shares the story of how her mentor died with Leez. Her mentor was the Priestess of Darkness who summoned Chandra during the Cataclysm to protect Rindhallow. [6] The god overused his powers and consumed his summonerās remaining lifespan. Laila believes Chandra could have defended the city without causing the death of her mentor. Laila was present when her mentor died and witnessed as the god uttered cruel words on behalf of his summoner and blamed Laila for the priestessās death because Laila should have been the one to summon him. As Laila hatefully stared at him, the god stated that she will have no alternative but to call him soon either for her survival or for the city's protection. He also promised that Laila would not die like her mentor.
Thankful smile
Laila speaks of Chandra's arrogance and declares that he can be like that because humans are stuck relying on the power of the gods, and to no longer need them, they need to become more powerful than them. Leez suddenly smirks, and the Priestess asks her if she finds her opinion funny. Leez clarifies that recently she turned down the possibility of becoming powerful. She wonders if she made the right decision, and if not, it must be because she is human after all. Laila states that humans live short lives, but they can improve themselves in a few days unlike long-lived beings, who can take many thousands of years to accomplish the same thing. She recommends Leez to waste no time on regrets; she must move forward. That is how Laila has coped with Chandra for years.
The last Kuberas
Laila then reveals that she told the guards that she would stay there until midnight, but says she will leave before that. Leez thanks Laila, and suggests that they, as the final two Kuberas, survive until the end, so that gods like Chandra can no longer ridicule them.
| ā | Weak, short-lived... what a good for nothing summoner. You're the perfect summoner ācompetent and with a long remaining life. When suras were besieging the city, you should have been the one to summon me. Why did stand there helpless while your teacher died? | ā |
– Chandra to a grieving Laila [1]
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(19) Airi Yui visits Laila in the Temple of Earth and shows a message in her exchange diary stating that Rindhallow is under attack. Airi suggests that Laila and Chandra should go to Rindhallow to eliminate the enemies. Laila is suspicious because there are no Kuberas or soul candidates in that city, plus Claude has forgotten everything about his oracle. Suddenly, a staff member brings an official letter from Rindhallow. Laila replies that she is aware of the content of the letter and is considering what to do. Then, two more staff members come with letters from Atera and Aeroplateau. All three cities are under attack.
Chapter 48: Separation
(3) As Kalibloom gets attacked, Laila and Airi Yui discuss that the barrier would not hold much longer. Laila heads to the barrier stone and Airi decides to wake up Kasak Rajof.
(6) Laila, standing near the Earth barrier stone with a group of other magicians, notices Teo Rakan entering the chamber. (7) Teo starts mocking Laila for protecting herself in the temple and putting her own life above those who are dying in the city.
One will die
(9) The present magicians close the door at Teo's command, so that it can only be opened from the inside. Then Teo taunts Laila to fight her, pointing out that their last fight, during the Fighter's Championship of N19, was rigged. Laila refuses to succumb to the taunts and warns Teo that she is acting like a threat to the city.
Both draw their weapons and Teo attacks, stating that one of the two has to disappear on this day, yet she has not chosen which.
| ā | Assaulting the priestess and priest candidates in the barrier room while the city is under attack. You have declared yourself to be a threat to this city, Teo Rakan. | ā |
– Laila to Teo [20]
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Tough fight
(10) As Laila and Teo fight, a group of magicians attempts to reach the door of the barrier stone room. Teo slashes her sword at them and injures them. Laila prompts the magicians to use recovery magic, but they hesitate.
Teo suggests that the reason for their hesitation is that they do not want to waste their magic on someone else in case they get injured themselves. And in a similarly selfish attempt at self-preservation, Laila had sent the other Kubera outside of the barrier hoping she would get killed and Laila would be the final survivor.[1] Teo continues that saving a universe where the only survivors are those who trample over others, is not worth it.
Laila asks if Teo got these strange ideas from Siera Sies. Teo asks Laila to kill her, stating that otherwise Ananta will be resurrected using her soul and her despair will lead to the end of the universe. Then she switches gears and says that she must become Ananta and she is not the one who should go. It would be better to kill the gods and the primeval gods in her stead.
Laila spears Teo
Teo screams for Laila to kill her and launches an attack on the magicians. Laila thinks back to how the hooded figure in Claude's dream told her not to forget that saving lives matters more than information. Laila then shields the magicians with Hoti Brahma and runs Teo through with her spear. Teo crumbles to the floor.
| ā | Kill me... kill me, Laila. Ananta will be resurrected. My soul will be the raw material for it, and my despair will become fury at the universe. A rotten soul such as mine must not be allowed to become Ananta. | ā |
– Teo begging for death [48]
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(21) When Rana Reimia fails to wake up Teo with regeneration magic, another magician points out that Laila has become unresponsive. (25) People are calling Laila's name when she opens her eyes and displays surprise at what everyone is doing there. Airi Yui explains that they are standing in line for the barrier stone. Laila asks about Chandra, but the connection with Atera had been cut off after the news of Taraka clan suras above the city, so no one knew what happened to him.
At this point, Mirha Simon and Ruche Seiran enter, saying that they received news from the Brimo Department Store in Atera. Two thousand people survived in Riche's bunker, other survivors are unknown. Then Ruche reveals that the one attacking Atera is none other than Chandra. Most magicians and fighters agree that Laila must stop giving Chandra vigor. Airi points out that that would mean Laila's lifespan would get cut. Laila agrees that she must not aid a god who has turned his back on humanity and implies that she knows of a way to unsummon the god.
Suddenly, a loud noise shakes the temple, everyone gathers at the window to watch. (26) Meanwhile, Laila takes off her mask and uses Hoti Vayu Hoti Chandra to teleport far from the city.
Calling for Chandra
She then thinks back to how Claude told her that a god's highest priority is the safety of their summoner.[2] She stabs herself with her spear, wondering how long it will take for Chandra to appear. Thinking that if she feels guilty that the god she summoned destroyed a city, she will die. In this way, she is testing both herself and her god.
A tarakafied Chandra appears in front of her.
| ā | The people of Atera died because of the god that I summoned. If I feel guilty as a human being, I might die by this spear... I take a gamble on testing myself here and testing you. | ā |
– Laila to herself [18]
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(27) Laila comments that Chandra showed up as expected and that the Taraka fragment experiment must have failed. She continues that she has no intention of going down with him or sacrificing herself, she will stay alive as the last Kubera.
Laila kills Chandra
Chandra opens his eyes and Laila lunges her spear through his neck. Laila asks why Chandra did not evade. He answers that he is aware the look in her eyes will not ever change, but he lied when he said he got rotten cards.[43] Laila was a remarkable card and her chances of winning have improved now that she has the backing of a stronger god. He asks her not to lose to the cards of Visnu and Kali, and to summon him again once she obtains the ultimate power. Chandra disappears and Laila states she would do so even if he did not ask her to.
| ā | A summoner who commits suicide to stop a god from going berserk... It will be remembered as a sacred sacrifice. But I won't do such a thing. I don't have the slightest intention of sacrificing myself for someone like you. So watch me survive as the last "Kubera." | ā |
– Laila to a tarakafied Chandra[18]
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Chapter 49: The Golden Knight
The aftermath
(6) Later in the Temple of Earth, Ruche Seiran and Rana Reimia are giving Laila a status report. They inform her that Kalibloom is practically undamaged because the barrier never broke, they tell her that Atera is in ruins and also that there was an explosion at the Prison for magic criminals in Aeroplateau.
Ruche continues by speaking about how to deal with the rumor that Chandra attacked Atera [49] and asks Laila if she has any news of him. Instead of answering, Laila asks for the cloak that Ran borrowed when going to Konchez,[50] claiming that it is Chandra's item and the god asked for it.
Special Episode 8 - The South Pole Expedition
(1) In N22, Laila informs the seven individuals chosen by Chandra to collect Taraka fragments that they can choose between going to the South Pole, the Land of Neverending Winter, and personally telling Chandra to bug off. She also lends earmuffs and a scarf to Siera because she feels sorry for him.
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Dangerous gifts
(2) Laila is present when Ran brings the fragment he had collected from the Land of Neverending Winter. The gods deduce that the small size of the fragment must mean that there is a strong sura in the South Pole and Agni sets off to save the members of the expedition that headed there. When Ran wonders how Agni would get there, Laila explains that the scarf she lent to Siera will catch fire when he runs out of vigor, which will allow Agni to teleport.
Upon the safe return of the expedition, Siera is upset with Laila for having given him such a dangerous scarf. Unmoved, she tells him that he is lucky that there was no need for the earmuffs to be used. In her thoughts, she explains that these items were made at Agni's request, though this is not something that should be revealed.
References
- ā 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 115: Words That Never Reached You (15)
- ā 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 25: Devastation (6)
- ā 3.0 3.1 Currygom's blog, Kubera 10 Year Anniversary Q&A
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 106: Words That Never Reached You (6)
- ā Currygom's blog, Season 3 Episode 16: Threat (3)
- ā 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Kubera, Season 2 Episode 112: Last Resort (6)
- ā 7.0 7.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 147: Separation (27)
- ā 8.0 8.1 8.2 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 24: Devastation (5)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 155: Your Justice and Mine (21)
- ā 10.0 10.1 10.2 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 51: Your Seven Years (6)
- ā 11.0 11.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 107: Words That Never Reached You (7)
- ā 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 95: Soul (6)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 60: Crossroads (8)
- ā 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 94: Soul (5)
- ā 15.0 15.1 Kubera, Season 2 Episode 53: Grudge (3)
- ā 16.0 16.1 Kubera, Season 2 Episode 148: Your Justice and Mine (14)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 157: Your Justice and Mine (23)
- ā 18.0 18.1 18.2 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 146: Separation (26)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 26: The Value of a Life (1)
- ā 20.0 20.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 129: Separation (9)
- ā Kubera, Season 1 Episode 13: The Sorrow of Loss (2)
- ā Currygom's blog, Season 3 Episode 96: Soul (7)
- ā Currygom's blog, Season 3 Episode 104: Words That Never Reached You (4)
- ā Kubera, Season 1 Episode 78: The Night it Rained Fire (15)
- ā 25.0 25.1 Kubera, Season 2 Episode 142: Your Justice and Mine (8)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 7: Another Beginning (2)
- ā 27.0 27.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 31: The Value of a Life (6)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 30: The Value of a Life (5)
- ā Kubera, Season 1 Episode 24: AAA Magician (4)
- ā Currygom's blog, Season 2 Episode 152: Your Justice and Mine (18)
- ā 31.0 31.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 8: Another Beginning (3)
- ā 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 16: Threat (3)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 22: Devastation (3)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 158: Your Justice and Mine (24)
- ā Kubera, Season 1 Episode 25: AAA Magician (5)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 131: Falling Petals (5)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 153: Your Justice and Mine (19)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 33: The Value of a Life (8)
- ā 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 47: Your Seven Years (2)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 48: Your Seven Years (3)
- ā 41.0 41.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 53: Crossroads (1)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 4: Return (4)
- ā 43.0 43.1 43.2 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 104: Words That Never Reached You (4)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 103: Words That Never Reached You (3)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 105: Words That Never Reached You (5)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 76: Crime and Punishment (3)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 78: Crime and Punishment (5)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 130: Separation (10)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 144: Separation (24)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 73: The Meaning of Revenge (8)