I cried my heart out.

I think an entire lifetime of tears came out.

My head feels fuzzy from crying so much, but I can feel the cold pond water around me. Lumere is still hugging me.

"Thank you, I apologize for showing such an appearance after waking you up," I get out in a hoarse voice.

Lumere finally pulls back and then nods. It stands at attention again as it did before I started crying.

I can't help but to give a weak smile at its polite behavior as it seems to try to let me save face.

I bow before it. I have two questions to ask Lumere before it would make its request in return.

"I wish to know why the gods in this land are all asleep."

When I used sense I was only looking for Lumere, but all the other gods were asleep as well. For a bountiful area as this, it was unusual. All the gods had looked quite powerful. Even the smallest ones were actually averagely bigger than the ones from home.

Lumere made a mirror like form from the surface of the water and in a second it filled with the colorful reflection of faeries using magic.

"Ugh." I heard a sound from where the faeries were watching. They're apparently paying attention, but have hid themselves away in the bushes. I guess they figured that if I could see Lumere then I can probably see them as well.

They aren't wrong.

I nod and bow to thank Lumere for its answer.

Still, because of the faeries? What did they do that made all the gods fall asleep?

"I would like to know how you attain your power."

My guess was that the people of the land prayed to the elements... since they seemed to specifically target the faeries I hypothesized that some of the leftover energy probably goes to the gods.

The official religion only has a single god, but that hasn't stopped people before.

The water mirror's reflection changes. Beasts I had never seen before were shown, and the cycle of life. Then, by the end it showed the gods wrapping themselves around the dead beasts and then the growth of those gods.

I don't really understand why eating these weird looking beasts would do anything though... is it because of mana perhaps?

I bow again to thank it for its answer and then straighten up to let it make its request.

Lumere changes the reflection again while its knight form moves to where the stream meets the outer wall. The reflection shows a large rock stuck in front of the bars that lead outside to the lake.

It is simpler than I expected, and a very standard request. Water gods are gods of journeys and enjoy the movement, so they would often request that you move obstacles.

---*---

I got up and began to take off the stupidly expensive dress. You'd be surprised to find out how much struggle it took to get the horrid thing off, but if I wore it into the water I'd end up drowning. As for being mostly undressed?

There is only the stupid faeries nearby anyway, and they seem to have gotten awfully quiet since Lumere woke up.

When I finally manage to get it off, it leaves me in my long white frilly knickers and a short white chemise. I'm sure this would have been more fun for peepers if I'd been 10 years older, but right now there wasn't really anything worth seeing.

I follow the edge of the pond to the stream and then stop where it hits the outer wall. It is pretty deep for my small size. I step out into the water boldly and end up curling my toes together as a shiver charges up my spine.

"Iiiiiiih," escaped me.

I decided to ignore Lumere's knightly shoulders shaking at the voice that slipped out of me.

I give a shudder and rub my arms a bit while looking for the stone. I can see the stone quite clearly, but it is pretty big. It is as long as my lower arm, and to get it I'd have to kneel down... the water would be over my head height... Well, it would probably be okay. Water makes things lighter after all.

I take a deep breath and noted the location of the stone one last time before, in a most uncharmingly manner, squatting down and grasping the rock tightly. I dig my fingers into the soft sand underneath it and then push off with my legs like a heavy-lifter and in one swift movement my small body stretched like a spring, as I let out a roar like Kiai.

My legs are firmly planted on the ground. My pose steady. The rock is over my head.

Now what?

I glanced to the grass by the side of the stream and made it a goal.

I put spring in my thin thighs, and as I did I felt a strength that wasn't mine, and I am sure my eyes lit up in that moment. The weight of the stone lightened, but only I held it. Still, I felt warm and filled with energy, and my mind became clear.

I roared again as I tossed the rock as far as I could.

Thunk.

I am soaked to the bone.

I am cold.

I am a mess from crying.

But I am happy. The knot of darkness in my chest lightens just a bit and for the first time since I woke up here I feel... relaxed.

Lumere looks happy as well.

My eyes must have sparkled.

This energy I felt was the blessing of the gods of water.

I made the decision that I would go visit Lumere as often as possible.

---*---

I picked up my dress from the pond side and bowed to Lumere and thanked it for its help, then darted off inside. I couldn't have been in a better mood.

Unknown to me Lumere lost its shape and followed me inside.

A little unexpectedly, it did so with a physical form... so when my personal maid saw Lumere... well... she screamed like a struck swine.

"D-d-demon!"

Of course I turned around and saw a snake like blob of water floating mid-air.

"Lumere-sama?"

No, while gods once in a while went out of their way to observe people... this was a bit excessive...

Lumere snaked its watery body around me to create a reflective surface and surround me in a bubble of water.

My maid took off with another scream.

Lumere's surface shifted to a reflection of me walking, and Lumere's knight form next to me. Then the passing of time. It tried to show what it expected what I would look like when I got older... but... as I walked, even while being older, Lumere's shape was by my side.

Lumere was offering to stay by my side.

My eyes rounded in shock as I stared at the water all around me. I dropped the wet dress on the floor and let my hand move to the surface of the water.

"Lumere-sama, are you really okay with this?"

A knightly reflection formed in the water in front of me, and a hand of water took mine. The reflection knelt down in front of me like a knight that swore loyalty.

"Lumere-sama..." I must nearly have teared up again.

"It would be the highest honor for me, I am not worthy," I choked out.

Lumere stood up and then made a motion as if to kiss my hand. In that instant all but a small portion of Lumere retracted from the mansion, and on the back of my hand was a palm top sized knight.

"Lily!" Father's voice echoed through the hallway and made me jolt.

"Hai!" I squeaked out as a response.

"Where is the demon beast?!"

I stared up at my father's tall figure. He was carrying a sword by his side and he was watching the surroundings cautiously.

Oh~ as expected of a trained soldier.

Father, you are wasted on mother.

Ah, no time for this.

"There's no demon beasts..." I replied with a certain amount of hesitance. Elemental gods like Lumere weren't really... known... in this land...

My father turned his stare down at me and then finally noticed Lumere, that gave him a polite bow.

Father stared at Lumere quietly, then glanced to the side for a moment like he heard something... and then stared back at Lumere.

"You have received a protection?"

I glanced down to Lumere. I know what father meant, but Lumere wasn't exactly a fairy... but... if the condition was that Lumere would let me use magic and protect me then...

"Yes, father."

I looked back up at my father.

"...Good. Get changed."

He walked off with just those words.

Father, save a bit of your work eloquence for your children!

---*---

As I got down to dinner Lumere had changed shape to a fish instead and calmly floated around my head as it watched everything curiously.

Furthermore... the heroine's mother, my mother's personal maid, reported that mother would not be joining us for dinner.

The next morning once again the heroine's mother declared that mother would not be joining us. I hope this isn't a bad omen.