66 Of the distant past

The narrations of the ancient times. The long-forgotten tales of the distant past. Ian recounted them in a smooth voice, a soft face, and a gentle tone as if telling a child their bedtime story. 

"...Where did you... read this from?"

It took Amelia a few seconds to collect herself and finally ask the most curious question. Ian however, shrugged his shoulders, expression remaining the same. "Somewhere."

Once he opened his eyes, he could see the two elves half standing up. Their previous enraged expressions gone, replaced by a wary and somewhat cautious one. It was to be expected, as a human who suddenly showed up was recounting their long lost, or rather, deeply hidden secrets.

"Those are-"

"Well hidden by the rulers of each generation, I suppose." Ian didn't allow the girl to finish her words. "Who could have guessed the reason why elves are so hell-bent on protecting this jungle? An oath originated from their guilt? Is that story even real, or did they make it up to hide something even crueler? Maybe it were these people who brought Evergreen her anihilation."

"...." 

Ian's smile widened upon seeing both their trembling fists. 

"Are the village chiefs tricking this race into staying and protecting this land, or are they also bound by the same shackles that keep the elves inside the jungle." A finger crossed his lips. "Too afraid, too powerless. All of you, up till now."

What would happen if one of the village chiefs told their race that the Evergreen that they kept praying to was probably dead? That it was because they abandoned her? That they were forced to protect this land because of an oath their ancestors had made? Would these people believe them, or would they drag down the village chief to their grave out of rage?

It wasn't clear, since no one ever tried it. All were either too scared to tell the truth or decided not to believe the things they'd read.

And what if elves left the jungle? Would they be punished? By a God that didn't exist any longer? 

So were they confined to this jungle all these years out of fear of something that never existed?

"Huuuu... Now, what do you want to do? Is this a threat?"

Amelia managed to regain her calm after a few seconds. She couldn't understand how the topic suddenly shifted to this unrelated subject. 

"Elementals were born out of the Evergreen's spilled blood." Ian paused for no apparent reason. "They are created out of Nature and Aether." Another fact that one could only understand if they'd read through the ancient books of the distant past. "And they were corrupted because their Aether was lost."

Ian walked back to the table and tapped the same map from before.

"Their Aether was stolen. Stolen by them."

Tap. 

Where his finger tapped was the center of The Empire. The capital. 

"The Church of The Sun."

"What?"

"It's them. All and everything. And they haven't stopped yet and will not stop until their goal is achieved. Even if I return the elementals their lost Light back and purify the whole jungle, the same tragedy is bound to happen again if the church isn't stopped." He stopped in between his words, a brow raised up as if mocking the people in front of him, "I believe the elves are the protectors of the jungle? Isn't it only natural to help the downfall of those targeting your hometown? Or maybe you'll once again run and leave behind your home!"

Ian shrugged, then leisurely strolled back and plopped down on his chair, waiting for the elves to give him a response. 

"...And how can we trust you are telling the truth? Do you have anything to proof your words? That all this disaster is caused by The Church of The Sun? Why, and how can they do such a thing?"

To those questions, Ian didn't respond.

Silence coated the whole room. 

Knock knock

Breaking the silence, the door knocked before opening without waiting for a response, and Claus walked inside, carrying a bunch of stuff in his arms. There were various stuff that Ian had requested in the presented documents. 

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Claus too, lowered his head in silence.

"Emma, wasn't it?" Just then, Ian touched his chin, deep in thought. " That girl I mean, the one that ran away." He then faced Claus, "Am I right?"

"...." 

Tap

Bomm

The box he was holding abruptly fell to the ground. The young elf gasped, face flushed red.

"Th-th-that- How-!" Claus snapped his head towards the village chief. "Amelia!"

BANG

The girl shut up from her seat. 

"I-I didn't say anything! I swear!"

"Then HOW?"

Narrowing his eyes at their strange behavior, the Elder also got up from his seat.

"What are you guys talking about? Who is Emma?"

"N-No one father-"

Ian raised his hand. 

"They had a thing or two among each other, I guess!"

"What?"

"Youth being young, I suppose!"

POFFF

In an instance movement, Claus threw himself to the ground, kneeling with his head bowed down. 

"I-I swear in my father's name I've ever seen or known I don't have anything to do with any girl I swear Elder I'll jump in a fire if it means my innocence is proven!"

"I testify! I testify!"

"...Uh?"

The Elder's confused face switched between the two, who seemed to be on the verge of tears. Instead of asking them any questions, he turned back to Ian who was watching this scene with a smile on his face. Seeing this, Ian's smile widened. 

"There is this thing about arranged marriages, hmm... But fear not Elder, everything is safe now since the girl is far away."

"Gasp!"

"Gasp!"

The two youths distanced themselves from both Ian and the Elder, covering their mouths in shock. 

"You've met her?"

"Nope!"

"Liar!"

Ian got up from his seat once again, "Or maybe... Hmm, what about you give me the those rings in the elves treasury? They're pretty much to my style."

"...."

"...."

"...."

Before the question of 'How do you know about them?' could be asked, Ian clasped his eyes in front of his face, a gentle expression emerging on his face. 

"God's grace is boundless."