Chapter 12: In the Kingdom of Elenoir

After some conversations in which I was unable to participate, my parents decided to live together with the Helstea family about four months ago. Reynolds began working as head guard at Helstea's auction house, and Alice, not wanting to sit around, offered to help with the housekeeping. However, because she was pregnant, she was not permitted to do so. She pouted all day, but in the end it was an immovable decision.

Jasmine continued to train me despite the fact that she had started working as an adventurer again and went out to the Beast Glades on occasion. She would sweep the floor with me, but only for the sake of endurance. I was confident I could win if my core was at the same stage as hers.

These were hectic months. I had to take care of a pregnant and sentimental Alice. But overall, everything was fine

My core eagerly absorbed the mana. My mind was wandering with the results of my research while I was refining it and passing it through my body.

The cloud chamber I built with alcohol and dry ice took a long time to find results because not all of the time particles collided, creating a charge that ionized the alcohol and left a visible spectrum. It was more of a chance and time experiment, which I didn't like, but so far the results have been positive.

Small hurried footsteps down the corridor were followed by the creak of the door opening.

"Kiyo!" I opened one eye to see Lilia strutting around me, her hands behind her back. When she noticed that I was looking at her, she came to a halt and tilted her head prettily. "Do you want to play?"

I sighed, she always came when I was making progress on refining my core; I thought I was close to solid red, but if she kept interrupting me, I'd never get there.

"Can we play later? My new instructor is coming today, and I need to practice to impress him."

I hadn't had an instructor until now, partly because we were getting used to Arthur's absence, but also because I couldn't just have anyone as my teacher. It's not every day that a three-year-old awakens their core.

Vincent yelled when he found out I had awakened my core at that age. "We must contact the director of Xyrus Academy!"

However, I was not at comfortable with the idea, at least not right now. The last thing I needed was someone so powerful standing behind me. I had suffered as a result of someone with power discovering my potential. I would not repeat the same error now that I was aware of it. So I did what I could, and in the end, I was able to persuade him to drop the idea.

Lilia, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind and pouted. "Moh! But I want now!"

In an attempt to appease her, I smoothed her brown hair. "Be a good girl." I then grabbed her shoulders and made her sit up. "Why don't you practice like I told you?"

She grumbled as she closed her eyes. "But it's boring, and those little shiny bits won't listen to me."

"Be patient."

We meditated for about 30 minutes. Lilia moved around in her seat, occasionally opening her eyes, but mostly she listened and tried to piece together her core by herself. I still helped her, but not as much as I did at first.

"Kiyo!" my mother shouted from downstairs. "Your instructor is here!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

Things quickly add up.

(***)

Arthur's point of view:

Tess seemed to sense something after a week-long exhausting journey. Her elongated ears twitched slightly, which only made me smile because she was so focused on something. It was a welcome change from the sad, lonely little girl I rescued from slave traders after meeting Grandma Sylvia.

I leaned against one of the Elenoir forest's leafy trees, rubbing the multicolored stone in my pocket. It was my only recollection of the months I spent with her, how she spoke to me lovingly despite knowing my history and even gave me a gift. My fist tightened. I had no idea who had hurt her and then captured her, but I felt powerless in the face of that imposing figure with horns and armor as black as night. I despised that sensation.

Revenge grew in my chest, but I repressed it, recalling Sylvia's final words to me through her beast will in my core. I didn't want to lose myself in vengeance, so I took a deep breath and protectively wrapped the rock in my hand.

"I think it's here." Tess's voice jolted me out of my reverie.

I smiled back, but I felt a prick in my core. It was painful, but bearable. However, it had been happening to me since Sylvia gave me her beast will. According to what I'd read about wills, this was unusual. Was it due to the fact that she was a dragon?

Tessia seemed to notice my distressed expression and became concerned. "Are you okay?"

I smiled reassuringly at the silver-haired girl and waved my hand. "Yes, yes, don't be concerned." She looked at me with her emerald eyes, but I kept talking before she could. "So, what exactly are we doing here?"

Tess shrugged after a few more seconds of staring at me. "Just wait a second!" she exclaimed, sprinting over to a tree and placing her hands on it.

Tessia murmured a sort of chant, and when she was done, the Elenoir forest mist seemed to be absorbed by the tree itself as it opened with the crackle of its old bark. We were greeted by a glowing door, similar to the one Sylvia had made to send me here.

Tess laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door with an infectious little laugh that made me smile.

I opened my eyes after a dizzying sensation to find myself in a pristine city. We were on a gray road that wound through houses that appeared to be made of jade, reflecting the light coming through the treetops that acted as a false sky, creating strange figures on the ground. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. Elenoir, the elven city, lived up to its reputation.

My admiration was short-lived, as several figures in black appeared out of nowhere in front of us. I braced myself, ready to strike if necessary, but was only confused when they all knelt in front of Tess.

"Welcome Princess Tessia."

Tess gripped my hand tightly when I tried to let go after learning of her estatus. Even as the guards stared at us, especially me, she seemed to refuse to let me go.

"You may stand." Tessia spoke, but her voice was cold and distant, which surprised me. Nothing like how she had behaved on our journey since I had rescued her from the slave traders.

The guards rose gracefully, and I found myself unconsciously wrapping my hand around the stone Sylvia had given me and concealing it. She had stated that people may be drawn to its aura. The last thing I wanted was to lose my grandmother's only memory.

"Princess Tessia." They said, and I was still trying to make the connection between that shy but energetic little girl and the now cold princess next to me. "Your parents..."

Before the guards finished. "Tessia! My baby!" A stunningly beautiful woman dashed toward us.

Her elegant gray ensemble highlighted her light blue eyes and pink lips. Despite her age, nothing dulled her beauty, and the tiara on her head made her appear even more unattainable.

The crowned man following her, holding back tears, was equally appealing. Is that how all elves are? I was surprised, but I pushed Tess's back slightly toward her parents, suppressing my curiosity.

They then began to cry and hug each other.

I became aware of a stinging sensation in my eyes. With Tessia and her parents' emotional reunion, I couldn't help but miss my family. My loving mother, my stupid father, and my serious brother were all missed. I'd lost count of the number of times I questioned what they were doing.

I suppressed my tears and gave Tess and their reunion a sad smile, not wanting to ruin their mood.

I also noticed an old man and a young girl my age walking slowly in the distance. She was looking at me with her dark green eyes, but when she looked at Tess, her face brightened with a small smile. Her hair was darker, and her eyes were darker, but she clearly resembled Tess. Her sister? She hadn't mentioned having a sister, so she could just be a friend.

They were both approaching. The little girl walked quietly and hugged Tess as well. The old man gave me a sidelong glance before shrugging his shoulders and concentrating on his meeting.

The elfin man pulled himself together and cleared his throat after a period of tearful greetings, during which I only stood awkwardly to the side. "I apologize for my anti-aesthetic stance, but we were concerned about our daughter." His voice was proud and refined as he spoke. "My name is Alduin Eralith, and I am the king of Elenoir. Please allow me to take this conversation to the castle so that I can know more about what has occurred, and thank you for bringing our daughter home."

Despite the fact that his prayer was created as a request, it sounded more like a command.

"I would be honored." I said, trying to be as polite as possible.

The king nodded and started walking. His wife joined him, as did the old man. I stayed behind, escorted by the guards, as they appeared to be discussing something. We walked under the curious gaze of a confused crowd, and as I considered my next move, Tess approached with the girl from before. Tessia grabbed her hand and dragged her along with enthusiasm.

"Meet my best friend, Aeris" Tess pointed to the girl who was staring at her with amusement.

I gave the girl a quick glance and noticed that her robes were almost as luxurious as those of the kings, so I quickly deduced that she was some sort of noble, and I gave her a polite bow and a friendly smile. "My name is Arthur Leywin, and I'm delighted to meet you."

Aeris, the girl, narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. "Oh~ Nice to meet you, Arthur." She used the hem of her dress to create an extremely precise bow, which is unusual for a girl her age. "Aeris Edevane."

We continued walking after the introductions. The streets were stunning, and my tour guide, Tess, enthusiastically narrated everything she saw, and Aeris only smiled slightly at her enthusiasm. Finally, a huge tree could be seen in the distance, bigger than any I'd ever seen, and it surprised me even more when I realized it was the city's castle, according to Tessia's narration.

When I entered through the massive double tree doors, I was expecting something more rustic, like a spiral staircase leading to some hammocks or something. However, the interior was absolutely incredible; formality combined with extravagance in a magnificent way, and as a former king, I couldn't help but admire the exquisiteness of the details.

The king offered to let me rest, but I insisted on telling them everything all at once. He agreed, and after climbing a few marble-looking stairs, we arrived in a room. The King sit down, with his wife and Tess beside him. The old man and the other girl sat on the opposite side, both looking at me with interest.

The king asked, his hands clasped. "What did you say your name was, child?"

I bowed in a formal curtsy, one hand on my chest and the other on my back. "My name is Arthur Leywin, and I am from the remote village of Ashber in the kingdom of Sapin. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I recounted my entire journey since I fell off the cliff about four months ago after the king introduced his wife, Merelith Eralith, and the old man as Virion Eralith.

I tried to be as vague as possible about how I survived a seemingly fatal fall. I didn't want to tell anyone that Sylvia, a thousand-year-old dragon, had rescued me and given me her beast will.

The royal family raised their eyebrows when I mentioned being a mage, and the guards looked at me incredulously.

"Another mage so young?" whispered one of the guards, but not as low as he thought because a glance from the king stiffened him like a board.

I didn't ask what he meant by 'Another,' instead focusing on the old man, who seemed to be taking an interest and leaned forward in his chair with a smile, propped himself up with his hands. "So a little human mage alone defeated six slave traders?"

"As difficult as it is to believe," I shrugged before proceeding. "Most were sleeping, and the rest were clueless; it wasn't that difficult."

The king continued after the old man gave a brief acknowledgement hum. "What do you want as a reward, Arthur?"

That's what I've been hoping for. "I want to see my family again. I haven't seen them in a long time, so I'd appreciate it if you could provide me with transportation to Sapin."

"Are you leaving already, Art?" tessia exclaimed from her seat, stunned.

I only gave her a small smile and did not answer her question. I waited for the king's response with bated breath, but when he told me that the teleportation doors couldn't be opened for a few years due to an agreement, my shoulders slumped.

My shoulders slumped even more when Alduin suggested a carriage ride across half the continent to Sapin. I couldn't expect to see my family anytime soon because the journey would be extremely long. I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself.

"Thank you very much for your kindness." I bowed despite my sour mood.

The king made a snapping motion with his fingers, and a brown-haired elf maid led me to my room. It was luxurious, but it didn't do much to lift my mood, so after thanking the maid for the clothes, I went to the bathroom to take a nice hot shower.

I tried to move forward with my core after finishing bathing and dressing in the silky clothes, holding the stone wrapped in Sylvia's feather in my hand as motivation, but a knock on my door jolted me out of my meditation.

I walked across the gray carpet of the room to the door, and as soon as I opened it, a silver missile shot into my chest. This missile was surprisingly delicate, resembling a young girl of about five years old.

"Art! Why do you have to go?" Tessia sobbed into my shirt, her voice muffled. "I've made a new friend... and he's leaving so fast."

I caressed her silver hair with a smile, feeling her silky hair in my hand as she sobbed all over my new clothes. "Tess, I miss my family." I spoke softly. But, knowing that it wouldn't improve the mood, I tried to change the subject. "Why don't you take me to see the castle? After all, I won't be able to see it never again."

I realized my error when she stiffened in my embrace.

"N-Never again?"

Tessia was about to burst into tears again when a new figure appeared in the hallway. Aeris appeared to understand the situation at a glance, and she approached Tessia gracefully under my grateful gaze.

Aeris grabbed Tess's trembling shoulders and began to walk out of the room. "Come on, let's show Arthur around the garden."

"B-But he's going!" She mumbled as she rubbed her eyes with her hands.

"Why don't you make the most of the time then, little Tess?" Aeris suggested, and after a couple more words, Tessia finally relented.

"Fine..." She said crestfallen. "But don't call me that." She grumbled, sounding mildly annoyed.

"What do you mean, little Tess?" scoffed Aeris.

"Don't call me that!" Tessia pouted.

I caught up to them as they walked down the aisle, laughing myself. "Aeris, it is not proper to refer to her highness in that manner," I defended her, and when Tessia puffed out her chest because I defended her, I continued. "Even if you're correct, it's not proper."

"Art!" Tessia squealed, and Aeris and I laughed at her adorable pouting.

After a while, Tessia walked ahead of us, happily humming as she led us down the corridor towards the gardens, leaving me alone with Aeris, who walked slowly, leaving even more space between Tessia and us. I decided to strike up a conversation with the strangely mature girl after clearing my throat to draw her attention to me.

"Have you been friends with Tessia for a long time?"

"As far back as I can remember." She said simply, and just when I thought there would be an awkward silence, she spoke. "How is your family?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me about them."

I gave her a sidelong glance, but she continued to look straight ahead toward Tessia with no change in expression, so I shrugged. "My mother is loving, my father...he tries, and my brother is serious, deadly serious, but also intelligent."

This piqued her interest, and she inquired with a contemplative hum. "What is the name of your brother?"

"Kiyotaka."

Aeris came to a halt. Her once-softly smiling face was wide-eyed with shock. She turned to look into my eyes, her piercing green eyes searching for something more in mine, and after a while, she softly smiled again, her earlier surprise fading as if it had been an illusion.

"Are you all okay?" I asked in confusion.

Tessia had only just arrived in the garden, and she didn't seem to notice the strange atmosphere that surrounded Aeris. The moonlight fell like a waterfall on the small figure of the girl as night fell. Her small frame appeared frail, but her smile was sly; she resembled a fairy.

Aeris laughed softly. "Fufu~ Couldn't be better." After that, she continued. "Tell me a little bit more about your brother, Kiyotaka."