Episode 324. Side Story (2): Traces of Memory
“Would you care to make a bet with me?”
“A bet… you say?”
“Yes. As an elf, there isn’t much time left for me. At best, only 50 years remain. But for you, hundreds of years still lie ahead.”
Within arm’s reach of each other, they could have touched if they stretched out their hands.
But between the two elves, sharp ice bars blocked any such act, forbidding it.
Within the bars was Elpuris, the former elder of the White Elves.
“I stake my entire life on it and assert that on the day your lifespan ends, and your eyes close, this world will perish.”
His words were more a curse than a bet.
“Do you have a reason to be so certain?”
“Do you know why this world needs order?”
She shook her head.
“In the beginning, the concept of order did not exist for living creatures. They were full of desires led not by reason but by instinct. But as time went on and they accumulated experiences, they based order on those experiences, and thus, the world we know was formed.”
Without arguing, she quietly listened to Elpuris’ story.
“I wanted this order to persist into the future. That’s why I followed the will of Lumendel.”
Elpuris talked about the importance of order while expressing his wishes.
“A world without such order will only be filled with chaos. Humans will pursue their desires much more than before. How would they be any different from the uncontrolled Dark Elves?
“…”
“A world where such primitive beings reign will not last long.”
Even after the gods departed and everything ended, Elpuris remained unyielding in his view.
She understood his feelings, but,
“Do you really think the world has continued this far solely because of order?”
For the first time, she posed a question in return.
“I believe that experience plays a more crucial role.”
“Experience?”
“Yes. I think we can design a newer and better future based on reflection and experience from the past.”
“Do you trust humans?”
Instead of answering, she simply nodded.
“Then watch closely. Though it may seem free now, before long, you’ll realize how precious the fence called order was to you.”
Elpuris’s gaze was firm until the end.
“Heed my words, Hastia.”
“I will remember them.”
With that, Elpuris closed his eyes in silence.
This signaled that he had no more desire to talk.
Realizing this, Hastia quietly left the cave.
“Your look has darkened compared to when you arrived.”
Marian, who had been waiting outside, greeted Hastia.
A year ago, after being overpowered by the resurrected Anastasia, Marian had suffered significant injuries, but fortunately, she had now fully recovered.
“What did Elpuris say?”
“He said the world would end on the day I close my eyes.”
“Do you believe that?”
Hastia hesitated slightly before answering.
“I’m not sure…”
It wasn’t evasion; her face genuinely showed uncertainty.
“That’s the right answer.”
Marian surprisingly agreed, suggesting that it was the correct response.
“This world can’t be predicted by anyone. Elpuris knows that too. He just wants to believe that the path he has walked was not wrong.”
“Is that so…”
“Look at the departed gods. Even they, who claimed to be supreme beings, couldn’t foresee their own future, could they? Did they ever imagine that the owner of the cloak you’re wearing would drive them from their celestial position?”
Hastia clutched her cloak tightly at those words.
“I’ve been wearing it every day for a year now; one might think I’d get sick of it…”
“I do wash it often!”
“It’s not like you especially like the cloak, is it?”
“That, that’s…”
Embarrassed by Marian’s teasing question, Hastia’s face flushed red.
“Lady Marian! Hastia!”
While she was flustered, a cheerful voice came from the direction of the blowing wind.
“A welcome guest has arrived.”
Hastia’s face soon brightened upon recognizing the visitor.
“Lady Elis!”
* * *
On the ice cliff overlooking the vista of Pruiena, despite the cutting wind, the two women were too absorbed in their long-overdue conversation to care.
“So, Lady Elis, you’ve decided to follow your family’s will?”
“I have no one else to do it now, anyway. Besides, I’m okay with it. I wanted this from the very beginning, and I’ve decided to do it.”
Someone had to carry on the will with the protectors gone from the continent.
Elis had resolved to continue the will her father, Willerius, left in place of Bert.
Some even called for Elis to be appointed the chief in charge of representing the knights on the battlefield.
However, knowing her abilities were still lacking, Elis refused all titles offered by the imperial palace, declaring her intention to work her way up from the bottom.
“Lady Elis, I’m sure you’ll do great!”
Hastia showed her respect for Elis’s decision and sincerely supported her.
“Thank you. Honestly, I never dreamed I’d be having such heart-to-heart talks with Hastia like this. It feels awkward.”
“Truthfully, it’s the same for me. After all this time, I’m still not fluent in speaking…”
With the gods gone, the divine protection that had been guarding her ceased to exist. No longer suppressed by her inner constraints, Hastia could now speak freely like everyone else.
“But you’re still wearing that cloak? It reminds me of a year ago!”
“What, what?!”
Heat rushed to Hastia’s cheeks again.
“Your cheeks so red, trembling, as you shyly said, ‘Lord Xian’s cloak! May I have it as a parting gift?’ I still remember how adorable you were!”
“Stop teasing me!”
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Hastia hid her face with her hands.
“Sorry. Come to think of it, haven’t you seen Xian since then?”
“Yes. I’ve been here in Pruiena all along…”
“Surprising? I thought he might have visited you at least once or twice. Don’t you miss Xian?”
“Of course I miss him. But still…”
Hastia sighed deeply.
“I wonder if Lord Xian misses me too.”
“Why would you say that? It’s not like Xian hates you.”
“I don’t see why he would like me either. All I did was follow him around, causing trouble without ever being of any help. Who would like someone who’s nothing but trouble and useless? Even I would dislike myself.”
Hastia held deep remorse for her poor judgment, which had left Xian trapped in his memories.
“That’s not true. If Xian really disliked you, he wouldn’t have given you that cloak.”
Elis countered Hastia’s sullen mood.
“Come on! You know Xian is straightforward. If he doesn’t like something, he’s clear about it.”
“Is that so?”
Hastia asked with slight skepticism.
“Of course! Xian entered the memory of the Arbor Tree to save you from being sacrificed. Not many show kindness to those they dislike.”
As Elis put it, that seemed to make sense.
“But that doesn’t mean he’ll come visit me here…”
“Xian is an emotional person. Once he decides someone belongs in his domain, he will guard them to the end. Perhaps he might visit soon? You better prepare yourself.”
“That would be nice…”
Though comforted somewhat by Elis, Hastia’s anxiety didn’t completely dissipate.
Then, as if she had thought of something, Hastia rummaged through her pocket.
It was yet another memento of her times with Xian – the Soul Stone.
“Is that a Soul Stone?”
“Yes. It’s the same stone I gave to Lord Xian before getting it back.”
Instead of simply returning the stone, Xian had infused a portion of the Mist’s power into it, leaving his mark.
A swirling black mist sometimes allowed her to check on Xian’s situation, but the Soul Stone now bore no mist at all.
“Of course, now it’s just an ordinary stone with no power… Huh?”
As she inspected the stone despondently, Hastia’s eyes suddenly widened.
-Ssssss
The black mist which had disappeared after the gods vanished was once again rising from the stone.
“Black mist on the stone?”
“Black mist? That can’t be! The god of the black mist should no longer exist in this world?”
Elis was also unable to hide her shock.
“Maybe Lord Xian is nearby!”
Energized, Hastia sprang up and dashed off into an unknown direction.
“Wait, Hastia!”
Despite Elis’s call, Hastia did not stop.
-Sss
“The mist is fading!”
But having perhaps chosen the wrong direction, the mist now seemed fainter than before.
“Is it not this way?”
As she tried to quickly change direction,
“…!”
Hastia stumbled and fell forward.
To make matters worse, she dropped the Soul Stone.
“No!”
The stone tumbled away and eventually fell off the edge of the slope.
“Are you okay, Hastia?”
Elis, who had followed belatedly, helped her up.
“The Soul Stone fell down there!”
“It’s dangerous to go down there yourself! The path is slippery, and a fall could lead to serious injury!”
“But, but…”
“Just wait a moment. I’ll go down and look for it. If I can’t find it, we’ll ask Lady Marian for help.”
Reluctantly, Hastia nodded in agreement.
Elis immediately went down another path, and Hastia, left alone, stared down the slope in a daze.
“Idiot…”
Knowing the stone’s value, and yet to have lost it so senselessly, she felt foolish.
Overwhelmed with frustration, she sat down and lowered her head.
‘Lord Xian…’
Dejectedly, she found herself calling his name.
-Trudge, trudge
Too stupefied to notice, someone unfamiliar approached from behind her.
“…!”
It was only when she belatedly realized that someone was there that she turned her head.
“Wha…?”
At first, she thought it was Elis returning quickly, but the visitor was not Elis.
Seated, Hastia turned her head and found herself face to face with the Soul Stone,
Resting in a rough and rugged hand and held out towards her,
Engulfed in a thick black mist.
“What are you doing by yourself?”
“…!”
Hastia’s face instantly lit up with joy and delight.
(To be continued)
