Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

After the meeting with the council, Edric made his way toward Amanda's room which was on the third floor.

The things he heard during the meeting were kind of unexpected. It was related to some kind of tournament and the preparation for it. They never told him why these preparations were required. But just that, he was a part of it.

Edric was forbidden to talk about it to anyone and wait until the summit which would happen the day after tomorrow. During the summit, it would be discussed and announced to every three Major Kingdom representatives.

'Why do I feel this is something more grave than they are presenting as?' Not all the important figures of Grimland would have involved themselves in this if the situation wasn't serious.

First, the changes in the method of internship, and now this...

'Haah~why can't this world remain at peace?' With those thoughts, he arrived before the room where his lover rested.

*Knock* *Knock*

Edric heard the faint footsteps from the other side, before the doors were parted, only to reveal a pretty green-haired girl standing there.

"Ed-"

"If you don't show surprise, I am so gonna get sad."

There was a pause before Amanda's eyes widened as she covered her mouth and shouted,

"Edric! You are here!"

There was a brief pause before both teenagers chuckled.

Amanda invited him inside, before closing the door behind her back.

Edric looked at her room and found it was as big as the one he got in the Steelhound's residence.

The faint scent of incense made him feel comfortable as he sat down on the bed, and found his lover taking the seat beside him.

She hugged his arm, and rested her head on his shoulder, "When did you arrive?"

"Just an hour at most. I wanted to meet you right away...more so when I heard from Cela that you haven't left your room since morning."

Amanda's expression didn't shift as she kept her eyes closed and allowed her heart to attain some much-needed peace.

It was strange that the comfort one might expect from their family members was something Amanda received from her lover. Edric was not only her boyfriend but also her friend and family. But naturally admitting it was quite embarrassing.

"I didn't want to face her..." Amanda whispered and she knew Edric didn't have to ask who this 'her' was.

Edric heaved a sigh; he was quite aware of their situation. Amanda hasn't hidden anything from Edric, so he is aware of the reason why Amanda dislikes her sister.

He couldn't ask her to forgive her elder sister, however,

"If she approaches you, can you please not push her away?" Edric didn't want Amanda to possess this grudge against her sister. He knew how much she missed Sarah and how much she resented her.

However, if there was even the slightest chance to repair their relationship, Edric wanted Amanda to not let go of that chance.

And it wasn't for anyone else's sake but for Amanda's peace of mind.

Amanda looked at her dearest before she asked in a mocking tone, "Do you think she would even remember me-"

*Knock*

Suddenly someone knocked on the door, startling Amanda.

"Who?" Amanda asked, in slight nervousness that her father might have returned. However,Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I-It's me..."

Amanda's body froze, and for a couple of seconds, she forgot that a human needs to breathe to stay alive.

Edric guessed who it could be ..not because of the voice—he had never heard the Saintess' voice—but rather because of Amanda's reaction.

He got up from the bed, when suddenly Amanda clung to his arm, almost like stopping him from opening the door.

Edric fondly smiled at her and said, "Don't run away from it, love."

He gently removed her hands and walked towards the door.

*CLINK*

Swiftly, he opened the door, and for a moment, he also forgot to breathe upon gazing at the lady standing outside.

He looked at her, his mouth agape, earning a giggle from the woman as she said, "You must be Edric."

"Pervert Edric, you should say."

Edric glared at the guy who emerged out of nowhere before complaining, "What pervert? Is it a crime to appreciate beauty?"

Suddenly someone pinched his waist, making Edric yelp before he glared at his girlfriend accusingly,

"Why is that for?"

Amanda didn't respond to him and turned towards the woman whom she was meeting after years.

There was a sudden tension in the air as the two ladies faced each other.

Alex heaved a sigh, pulled Edric out of the room, and pushed Sasha inside the room before closing the doors.

*Thak*

Edric was surprised, "When did you get closer to the Saintess?" He realized now that Alex was casually roaming around the Holiness.

"We are now close acquaintances, but don't tell anyone about it," Alex informed, knowing well that the idiot won't stop asking until he doesn't provide an answer.

Naturally, Alex couldn't tell the world about his relationship with Sarah since that would attract a lot of unnecessary attention. That's why they have decided to keep their relationship secret for the time being until Alex becomes a figure necessary for humanity.

When he suggested having a secret relationship, the expression on the Saintess' face was unsettling.

The things she was muttering, about meeting in secret and doing things behind the world's back, were quite....

"Damn man, making women fall here and there and all of them being so rich," Edric commented.

Alex raised his brows, "Do I need to tell Amanda that you are being jealous of me?"

"I was summoned by the King just now," Edric muttered in a serious voice and did his best to change the topic as fluently as he could.

Alex scoffed at the attempt but didn't pursue the matter anymore before asking, "Is it about the special selection thingy?"

Edric was surprised, "You knew?"

Alex shrugged, "I have been meeting some important people these days. Naturally, I would be aware of these things."

Edric thought he was talking about the Saintess but Alex received the information from Liam.

....

Inside the room, Amanda was standing by the window, her arms crossed as she heard Sarah's story about what happened that day.

"I had no other choice, Amy...if I hadn't left, numerous people in the elven region would have died that year. I received a message from someone I cannot defy."

It wasn't like Amanda didn't understand the urgency of the matter and in that situation, even Amanda would have left her family to save innocent lives.

However, "Why did you look so indifferent?"

Hearing her words, Sarah was left speechless.

It was true; at that time when she received her memories, she wasn't able to accept Amanda and the others as a part of her life.

However, slowly, when the Sarah of this world and the one who died in a car accident became one, the Saintess realized how important her family was to her.

She wanted to return and apologize to them, but her duty and goal to prepare a platform for Ceaser never gave her the time to return.

After a brief pause, the Saintess told her, "Because I knew...if I restraint my emotions, I won't be able to separate from you."

A lie but a necessary one.

Amanda flinched before turning toward her. Her eyes were filled with tears as she said,

"Don't lie to me! You were just tired of my childishness and wanted to get rid of me!"

Sarah got up from the bed and approached her. But before she could rest her hand on her little sister's shoulder, Amanda slapped her hand away,

"Don't touch me! You are no longer my sister!"

Sarah didn't feel offended and cupped her cheeks despite her resistance.

Looking into her eyes, the Saintess told her, "Your childishness...your laughter...your pranks...when I started living in the church I missed all of them since those were the things which made me feel alive."

Wiping her tears softly, Sarah added, "I can never get tired of my family...of you, Amy. I had to leave since if I had let them die despite knowing I could have saved them...I might not have been able to look into the eyes of that person who admired me so much."

Amanda's soft sobbing turned silent as she stared at her sister's warm eyes, trying to find any deceit. But she found nothing, urging Amanda to let go of all her restraint and step forward to hug her.

"I hate you...I hate you so much...." While silently weeping, Amanda clung to Sarah like a little child complaining to their parents.

Sarah softly smiled and held back the little one fondly.

While caressing her back she whispered,

"I know."

This second life not only gave her another chance to spend her life with her beloved but also gifted her with a loving family. Explore more stories at empire

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Don't forget to drop a comment to share your thoughts.