Friendly talk

"Alright, where to begin," Reo began, "After settling into a meditative state and closing my eyes, I found myself standing in a forest with towering trees. It was almost as if they were reaching skyward. The area was shrouded in darkness, and with no clear path or direction, I chose to follow the moon. As I traced its path, I unexpectedly found myself in water when I heard a telltale splashing sound. Intriguing," Alice remarked.

"As I ventured deeper into the water," Reo continued, "I saw a hand rising from the depths, gesturing for me to move forward. With no other guidance in the oppressive darkness, I followed the hand's suggestion. But I had to halt when the water hit shoulder level as I can't swim. "That sounds unsettling," Alice exclaimed whilst Reo proceeded to detail his experience.

Suddenly, the hand retreated into the water and I was overwhelmed by fear and panic. I hastily fled the scene. When I dared to open my eyes again, there was a woman seated on a wooden chair, floating mysteriously on the water. She introduced herself with the title of the Apostle of the Darkness Elemental God, Crystella. Suddenly, Amelia interrupted, saying, "So they do exist!" Reo, in agreement, responded with a simple, "Yes, they do."

In exchange for revealing my destiny, she asked me to answer seven questions, as she claimed to be the Apostle of Fate. Curiously, one of my questions involved discerning the difference between the direct apostles of the elemental gods and the typical apostles of the elemental god. Reo provided elaborate explanations to all the questions I presented to Crystella, as well as the responses she imparted to him.

She responded sarcastically, "How astonishing that my father, the King, has somehow been implicated or connected to the demise of the Michael family. How could I have possibly been unaware?"

Maintaining a deadpan expression, she continued, "It is indeed a difficult fact to absorb that elemental gods are existent, or that the entity named Valdesa is a reality." She took a pause to sip her tea and went on, "I am appreciative of your provided insight but would advise you to keep a cautious approach towards my father. If he becomes aware of your knowledge regarding the existence of elemental Gods, your dissolution might follow subsequently, in the wake of such disclosure."

"Why would you provide me with information potentially harmful to your father?" queried Reo. Alice responded by saying, "Even if he is my father and holds the position of a monarch, he often fails to uphold the roles of both. His demeanor is intimidating, as if we are insignificant to him. Moreover, he doesn't view my brother and me as parts of a family, but as mere tools to maintain his benevolent façade as a ruler. It's crucial to point out that the information won't cause any damage to him. With a simple command, he could trace your whole family and you."

After discussing the book, Alice expressed her doubts about securing similarly vital information in the future. However, she clarified, she could certainly share the means by which she had garnered such news.

"So how did you gather information on the king's situation regarding the nightly prayers?" Reo inquired. Alice explained that since her childhood, she had possessed a unique ability to channel her elemental energy into her ears, thereby enabling her to hear from great distances. She had kept this ability a secret, and it proved instrumental in her information collection activities.

Reo found this intriguing. Amelia also chimed in, revealing that she could focus her elemental energy into her eyes, thereby permitting her to see from considerable distances.

"That's all," Alice concluded, standing upright. Seeing the clock above the front desk and noticing the late hour, Reo wished Alice a good night. Alice returned the sentiment and, after re-shelving her book, made her exit.