Camus’s POV

  The Blessed Springs weren’t as blessed as they used to be.

  I exhaled slowly, letting the wind tell me what my eyes never could.

  I turned my head around, and a grimace caught up my face almost instantly—surveying the battlefield that was once a serene, untouched sanctuary—just how the hell did this happen?

  The air here used to hum with a serene pulse—steady, clean. Now it was ragged, fractured. Each breeze carried the memory of chaos, torn from the stillness that once lived here. The wind no longer danced freely; it limped, dragging itself across ruptured ground and through broken trees, creating gaps that I felt like a part of me.

  I moved closer to one, the ancient tree bore deep scars, its trunk splintered and torn, as if nature itself had been dragged into an unending war. I tilted my head slightly. The scent of scorched bark lingered. The earth, beneath the soles of my boots, felt uneven—cracked in places, softer in others, as if too much mana had churned the land beneath it. I could feel the echoes of impact where strikes had split open soil and splintered roots. The vibrations were faint now, but I could tell just how much violence they had endured.

  I rubbed my temple in an almost exasperated manner. “I’ve let that kid run rampant for the last few months in his training.”

  I stepped forward. Each movement pressed against the currents, the way a stone disturbs a stream. The wind told me stories—tiny fractures in tree bark, displaced air shifting around ruptured branches, the long groan of a wind-scarred glade trying to settle.

  If the trees could talk, they’d be filing complaints by now, and I’ll be here consoling every single one of them to no end.

  Then, I felt him.

  At the heart of this devastation, Jiwoo moved like a phantom—fluid, controlled, precise and rhythmic. The wind curved around him, reacting with reverence, drawn into the ebb and pull of his movements.

  I could feel the small flutter caused by his long hair, as he shifted mid-step. There was a quiet intensity to him, the kind that only came from absolute focus. Every pivot, every flick of his fingers, every twist of his form resonated and warped the mana around him, just enough for me to follow—like a river finding its natural course. The energy rippled from his very being, reacting to even the subtlest twitch of his muscles.

  I folded my arms, watching for a few moments, letting the sensation of his training wash over me, before finally breaking the silence.

  “You know, kid, at this rate, I’m going to have to start charging you for property damage.”

  His momentum slowed, just long enough for a chuckle to ripple across the wind. “Well, sorry to mess up your backyard.”

  I snorted, shaking my head. “Backyard? This place is a national treasure. You? You’re a natural disaster.”

  I could feel him shrug, feeling the movement of the air shift. “But well, you were the one to bring such a disaster here in the first place?” He tilted his head and I could see his expression turn more smug—even if I couldn’t physically.

  He resumed his movements. The wind snapped tight as he turned again—sharper this time, more focused. I could feel it like a wire being pulled taut.

  I exhaled, half-annoyed, half-impressed. This kid was going to be the death of me.

  And still, part of me couldn’t help but admire it. That control, that attunement...it was maddening, but it was also something to behold.

  In just six months, he had regained all of his lost strength and gotten far stronger than before.

  Out of all the students that I’d trained—which could easily be counted on a single hand’s fingers, Jiwoo was by far the most talented and extraordinary individual I’d come to train.

  Each day was something new for me. I learned something new through him. His ability to bend the atmospheric mana, how it reacted to his commands, almost reverent to his chants.

  Eventually, the turbulence eased. Jiwoo’s presence settled and I felt the air and vibrations around me calm, but I pulled my body a step forward, straightening my back as I pivoted and took Jiwoo’s hand which he had aimed at me.

  Following his strike, I moved with ease, feeling the wind shift as it guided me through the landscape and I slammed the boy into a patch of wild grass in front of me.

  A quiet moan screeched through the air, as Jiwoo stayed on the uneven ground, looking at me.

  “A good try, nonetheless, but it’s still too early for you to sneak up on me.” I said, sinking down to his level. “Your ability to mask your presence through your mana and using the wind attribute around you has increased, but it’s still not enough.”

  Jiwoo straightened, sighing in an almost exaggerated tone. “Do you honestly have eyes on the back of your head, Gramps?”

  I chuckled, hitting his forehead with my middle finger, enough to make it hurt a little. Jiwoo winced slightly, as I spoke.

  “I may be born blind, but that doesn’t mean I am deaf.” I said, feeling the vibrations around me—hearing the sounds and their frequency—as Jiwoo rose to his feet.

  “Yeah, yeah, the old story how you were born blind, but with your extraordinary talent and genius you were able to supplicate your blindness through the use of the wind attribute, making you feel everything around you just through the vibrations caused in the air.” He shrugged again, I almost felt his brows move in an amusing way.

  He adverted his gaze from me for a moment, then less than a split second had passed as he lunged at me, his fist brawling square at my face, but with a twist, I avoided the incoming attack and struck back, our fists collided, Jiwoo was pushed back, my own feet skidded motionlessly over the ground, taking advantage of the terrain.

  With a pivot, I rotated and struck his leg, disturbing his balance as he stumbled to take hold of his posture.

  “And, if you had know before, that was I blind, would you’ve gone easy on me in any of our fights?” I probed, feeling the wind shift from around me, Jiwoo cocked his arm back, the mana in the air charged as I felt the atmosphere from around me burn with energy.

  “No way in hell.” He remarked, his tone serious, the hint of a wry smile I sensed from him. “Even if you’re blind, it doesn’t change the fact that you beat me up in almost all of our sparing sessions. And, even after knowing about your handicap, you didn’t give me a single moment to go easy on you. Every single time you were out for my throat.”

  I chuckled, feigning ignorance of having ever done that to him, a shrug rolled off my shoulders, avoiding Jiwoo’s strike and turning his own motion against him as he went crashing into the mud.

  “Come on, it hardly ever happens, that I’m inclined or even mildly interested to fight a person.” I mused. “But, you may have achieved the mystic stage, but don’t forget that I am on the integration stage already.” A smirk graced my lips, narrowing my eyes just enough to annoy him. “You may possess some otherworldly abilities, but, a gap in strength can’t be overcome that easily. And, you know that better than anyone, cause you fought a Seraphim, kid.”

  Jiwoo stilled, his breathing even. The pressure in the air around him softened, like a storm settling into a breeze. I could sense his stance shift—weight to one leg, hand brushing hair from his face, his mana quiet now but ready to flare again.

  “So, what’s up?” He asked suddenly. “It’s been two months since you left me all alone to wrap up my training. So?” He waited expectantly, “there must something on your mind now that you’re here.”

  I stretched my neck with a quiet sigh. “I think it’s enough. By now, your mana channels should be perfectly stitched and healed. And, by the way you responded to my movements, your body has fully recovered. I think it’s time we head back to the castle and take care of the leftover business.”

  He didn’t answer right away. I sensed his attention waver, like a gust pulled his focus somewhere else—off to the side, upward, far. There was a subtle twitch in the air, like the echo of a whisper I couldn’t quite catch.

  “Mordian says he’s going to join us at the hut shortly.”

  I raised an eyebrow instinctively. “Well, isn’t that nice? You will finally get to meet your dragon bond after six months of intense training.”

  He smirked, but the wind carried no further explanation.

  I rolled my shoulders, listening to the current move above the tree line. “Well, it’s been six months…I’m kind of excited to see how much Lord Astrionyx has changed.”

  There was a shift in Jiwoo’s tone. “We’ll have to see for ourselves.”

  Something in his tone carried a weight beyond simple curiosity. I didn’t press him on it—at least, not yet. If six months of tearing through the Blessed Springs had taught me anything, it was that Jiwoo didn’t speak lightly about things that mattered.

  In just six months, I’d come to learn so many fascinating facts about this human boy, about some powers that not even I’d heard about before. His existence itself seemed like a mystery shrouded in fog.

  I turned toward the path, familiar in the way the wind moved between the trees, even if their roots had been scarred. “Let’s get moving before you get the urge to destroy more of my sacred land.”

  Jiwoo laughed. The sound carried light on the breeze, echoing off the broken bark and battered soil like it belonged there.

  ***

  Seo Jiwoo

  I threaded along the old path, the greenery just as vibrant and serene as I remembered, the weak, but soothing breeze still making the environment as refreshing as possible. Sunlight filtered through the gaps of the leaves as I followed Gramps from behind, his broad back moving casually as I soon saw the cliff in the distance where the hut was situated.

  ‘It’s been a while since I came back here.’ I thought, reminiscing about the first time I’d set foot into the blessed springs.

  These were some six months. But, now that I look back on them, the process was more fulfilling than I’d first thought.

  I had my doubts, nonetheless, but the ardours treatment had been fruitful, and I was able to learn to control my mana in a more finer way, acquiring some new spells by training with Gramps.

  All I’d been doing was training, meditating and testing my skills, spells and the keystones.

  I wasn’t able to make much progress with the keystones, but, I think I’d gotten slightly closer to unlocking and understanding what the trial inside the keystone realm required from me.

  It was still a ardours process ahead, to unravel the keystones, and according to the remnants, I needed to understand what the keystones were trying to teach me, then to force my own assumptions on to it. But, I knew that in time, I will be able to do it.

  I walked closer to the steep cliff, leading above to the hill top, I stepped in sync with Gramps as I felt my boots press into the soft mud.

  Just as we reached the hilltop, a knowing smile bloomed over my features as I saw Mordian leaning against the door frame of the hut.

  I couldn’t hold back my joy of finally seeing my bond again after six month. We had been in contact with each other through our mental link, but seeing him in person eased my mind.

  I slowly walked closer to Mordian, his wheat-blonde locks softly swayed in the quiet breeze which whisked away. I observed his appearance, the same length of hair he had when we’d parted ways, gently touching past his shoulders, his black robes which draped his form, even his golden eyes which resembled two burning suns. There was nothing different about him...no, there was.

  His mana...I felt it even without having to take notice. His mana had gotten more potent in its capacity, plus the way his body assimilated with the atmospheric energies around him seemed almost instinctive, even more than before.

  “You haven’t changed a bit, Mordian,” I smirked. “Appearance wise that is.” My lips parted slightly, seeing Mordian straighten, his robes flowed slightly, his demeanour as noble and awestriking as ever.

  His left lip rose a fraction of an inch, something barely perceived as a smile. “On the other hand, you seem to have changed quite a bit. Both appearance wise and in other aspects. Your hair is longer; whiter.” He remarked, his voice wry but playful.

  From the side, Camus stepped forward and greeted Mordian, his hand over his chest as he bowed slightly. “Lord Mordian, it’s pleasant to see you are in good health.” Gramps straightened and Mordian nodded curtly, he fetched something from the inside of his sleeve and handed it to Camus.

  He pointed the folded sheet of old parchment at him, and Camus looked at it for a fleeting moment. But he didn’t hesitant to take the parchment from him. Gramps fixed his bangs, his eyes covered by the veil as he stored the map of the blessed springs in his dimensional artifact.

  “Was the map useful in your endeavours?” He asked, curious whether Mordian had found use in the item he had provided.

  My bond nodded and Camus seemed to sigh in relief for a moment.

  “Yes,” Mordian spoke, his voice just as detached as I last remembered. “With the map, I was able to cover some of the important areas which were helpful in my journey. And, I have also made some adjustments in the map, of certain areas that were previously unexplored—simply making the map more interact of areas in the depths of the springs.”

  Gramps nodded in acknowledgement, his expression declaring his appreciation, the silence that followed started to bear down at us, before Gramps broke it and pointed out the reason we had gathered here.

  He empowered the ring over his thumb with mana and fetched an anchor like device with a dome like edge on its upper side, curved and smooth, as he placed it over the ground. “I have already informed the others about our arrival this afternoon.”

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  Gramps followed through, his hand moved and he set up the compass, its magic rippled through the air, the artifact shimmered with the ancient magic embedded in its core, the space above the compass shifted in an instant, colours ran dark like on a raw canvas, the space warped and an oval portal shimmered to existence as it rippled once and stabilised.

  “And kid,” Camus pointed his gaze at me. I met his gaze and heard his next words in all seriousness. “I passed along your request to Ramus when I returned to the castle a few weeks back,” Gramps said calmly. “But he insisted on discussing the matter with you directly—when you returned.”

  I nodded in understanding. It was only right that Ramus demanded an appearance when the matter of such importance was brought up. While, I had predicted this long ago, when it was finally happening, I wasn’t going to let such an important chance slip by me so easily.

  While Neil was the king of the elves, he did hold authority over many military, political and social rules, but from the way I see it, Elder Ramus had been the previous king, and someone who was very well-versed among the elves to this day.

  So, if I wanted to get a word in with someone, Ramus was my best choice. And truth be told, I really didn’t want to associate with Neil any more than I had to.

  I was someone who had placed his daughter’s life in danger, and with how he looked at me when we had first met in the throne room, like I was some bandit who would kidnap the princess of the elves given a single moment.

  I was getting a headache just thinking about what I would need to go through if Neil and I met again. Honestly, I wanted to avoid the guy as much as I could. The less I had to deal with Neil, the better.

  Without any further ado, we walked into the portal, Camus was first, Mordian right on his tail and I stepped in last. The world around me twisted, all colour had been washed back, an abstruse sense of mystery just observing his splitting sensation, the next moment, I touched solid ground, my feet grounded for a moment as I exited on to the other side.

  The moment I left the portal, the transition was subtle, the air shifting as we emerged, I saw myself standing inside a wide chamber, I turned to look at Mordian, he had already arrived, his figure already down the dais on which I stood alone.

  But, my gaze immediately jumped to the additional presence in the room, I instantly recognised the mana, but looking at the man himself, I walked down the dais in slow steps, the portal shimmered out of existence as the compass turned lifeless.

  “Elder Ramus,” I said, bowing slightly as I was greeted by the previous king of the elves. “Thank you for taking time to welcome us back.”

  For a second, I could see Camus turn his face in wry amusement, raising a brow. “Are you really the same rude brat that cursed every time you were grumpy from not making any progress.”

  I could see Ramus chuckle, I shot Gramps a dry look, clearly unamused. Raising a brow. “Well, if anyone other than me had been alone with you in that healing jungle, then, I can bet all my money, they would gone insane right after the first day. It’s a miracle that I was able to retain my sanity for a little over six months—don’t know how many brain cells I lost though.” I shrugged.

  Camus shrugged crossing his arms, pretending like he didn’t care about my remark. “Well, says the Messiah of implosions. Or wait—near-implosions. Impressive…if we’re counting near misses. Gotta give credit where almost-credit’s due.”

  We both shared a glare and Ramus stepped between us as a mediator, his hand slightly drawn out as Gramps and I stepped back.

  He turned to me, and with a quiet smile, his wrinkles looked more detailed and stretched since the last time I’d seen him—perhaps, due to all of the politics he had dealt whilst taking care of the negotiations with the orcen world after the war. It must have taken a toll over the old elf.

  “Jiwoo, it seems your training was far more fruitful then even I first had in mind. I can feel you have recovered your strength—or perhaps grown even stronger.” Ramus muttered, his eyes examining me for a quick moment. “It seems the blessed springs have fulfilled their purpose.”

  “It was thanks to all of you,” I showed my appreciation with an honest smile of gratitude. I clenched my hand, feeling the mana coursing through my veins, reinforcing my bones and tendons. The feeling was instinctive, like I had finally regained a lost part of my body.

  Gramps took a step back and retrieved the compass from the floor.

  Ramus turned without a word, the fabric of his robes gliding with effortless grace. With just a signal, we began to follow him, we nodded and started walking beside or behind him. We left the chamber and entered a long hallway, illuminated by the afternoon light of the sun outside, brightening the inside majestically.

  The same walls of silver-grey stone I remembered last I was here, polished so smooth they reflected the rays of the sun like water. Verdant ivy crawled across the stones surface, laced with luminescent veins of light, making the display magical and aesthetic to the eyes.

  The windows were slightly ajar, allowing a soft breeze to hum and sway the curtain hung near them. Their gold-scarlet eminence shrouding the environment in a subtle beauty.

  Ramus started a steady flow of conversation with me, asking about my experience in the springs, how my training went, if Gramps had been too insufferable. I chuckled at the remake, forming one of my own as I saw Gramps grunt from behind us.

  Mordian remained silent, we trailed deeper into the castle corridors. I remembered about the first time I’d been here, so broken, so weak, walking in these same halls.

  Just six months ago, I was helpless, but now, I had grown back to my old strength—perhaps stronger. All thanks to Gramps and Mordian’s help.

  Soon, we entered a grand hall, one where Ariem had brought me when I’d came here the first time—sequentially remembering my little quarrel with Neil.

  Remembering about it now, it seemed to make me embarrassed over my past actions. I was tired and wounded, and Neil had grated over my injuries like salt.

  I sighed as I stepped in sync with Ramus. The space stretched far and wide, its ceilings so high they vanished into a soft haze of golden light.

  Trees of subsequent sizes grew along the vast hallways, their trunks ancient and their branches reaching upward like the arms of worshippers.

  Leaves glowed faintly, casting soft light against the walls as they swayed lazily. The air was perfumed with a faint scent of fresh earth and blossoms just as I’d remembered.

  But, right in that moment, I felt everything I’d left behind coming back.

  And the one thing that came to the forefront of my mind was...Aurora.

  I looked at Ramus, walking beside me, right behind us in line, Camus and Mordian didn’t utter a word—quiet as a shadow in the dark.

  “How is Aurora? Does she know we have arrived back?” I said, somehow I felt conflicted. I had a lot of time to think over these matters in the last six months, but even after all that time, I couldn’t quite find an answer that would satisfy my growing desires.

  I felt ashamed and guilty, not knowing what’s right. I didn’t understand, truth be told. It was like, I thought of the most rational and logical explanation to give light to my actions, but, at the same time, I felt something else entirely whenever I gave my full attention to the topic.

  Ramus moved his jaw toward me, his wrinkled smile calm and understanding. “Yes, I told her of your arrival a few days back. And they are waiting for us.”

  I titled my head in question. “Who?”

  Ramus moved his head away with a wry smile, and I didn’t get a good feeling from this. We took a sharp right at the end of the corridor and entered a clean and shiny hall, the tiles were glimmering under the luminescence, as I saw the gardens outside the windows, trees lining the ground, a forest like garden, kissed by patches of sunlight filtering through a canopy of perfectly aligned trees. They stood like sentinels, their branches intertwined in such a way that they seemed more a work of art than nature.

  But, the thing which caught my attention were the decorations that were being hung over them, a number of elves were hard at work, my eyes followed a female elf, draped in a work gown shouting orders at the others, helping them set the decorations.

  I raised a brow, slightly curious about what they were doing.

  Ramus saw my curiosity palpably written across my face, the elder slowed his pace, tucking his hair back, as he looked out the window and spoke. “They are preparing for the verdant moon festival. It’s a traditional celebration of renewal and harmony, held beneath the first full moon of spring, where offerings are made to honour nature’s spirit and the turning of the seasons. The festival has been a significant part of our history and is enjoyed as a public holiday.”

  I nodded, looking out once again, seeing an elf fixing a long ribbon design by the trees, throwing it and stumbling over his feet.

  The others rushed to his help, but, the head lady elf shouted at them to finish their task.

  With another glance, we left and followed Ramus, walking a little more before Gramps spoke from behind. “If I remember correctly, it will be Aurora’s seventeenth birthday on the eve of the verdant moon festival.” He said, more in passing then as a question.

  I turned to Camus, my face slightly surprised on the fact. I calmed myself down and asked in passing. “That’s quite the curve ball, honestly.”

  Gramps grinned from behind, Mordian still remained silent.

  Elder Ramus spoke from beside me, explaining where Gramps had left off.

  “Actually, Jiwoo, Aurora was born on the eve of the Verdant Moon Festival, only hours before—a time when the world itself breathes anew. Her birth was radiant and full of promise, it stirred such joy in the hearts of the elves on the birth of their princess, that they entwined her arrival with the festival itself.” He said, I felt his joy through each word. “Since then, the celebration has spanned seven days, honouring not just the renewal of nature, but the joy she brought for the entire elven race.”

  I nodded once, already knowing that I would have missed a chance to buy her a present if Gramps hadn’t mouthed off like he usually did. I guess, I gotta give him credit where its due. “So, when will the festival be held exactly? Human, remember. Don’t know the seasonal changes that happen around here.” I pointed my thumb at myself.

  Ramus nodded in thought, his eyes gleamed with understanding. “Yes, in three days time will be the first full moon of spring. We are just making the final preparations for the upcoming celebrations.”

  I gave a slight nod, letting his words settle in. My fingers tapped against my side as I scanned the corridor. My gaze drifted ahead, tilting my head, eyes narrowing at the junction, my pace slowed as I spotted the doorframe where the halls converged.

  A flick of my eyes caught the subtle shift of movement—two elven guards outside, unmoving yet aware.

  Both of them gave me a longer look than intended, but with a single gaze from Elder Ramus, they stepped aside, opening the doors as we walked in effortlessly.

  The inside was just as glamorous as the outside. The marbled ivory slabs painted the dinning room in colours of magnificence, a long table placed in the middle of the hall, with several high back seats pawned with a little distance to one another.

  Another step, and I registered four individuals inside, their laughter evident, they shared similar streaks of silver hair, pointy ears, their faces seemed to be the epitome of beauty itself.

  But, my eyes immediately caught attention of the elven king, the man sat carelessly at the far end—at the seat of honour—his posture nonchalant for a moment until our eyes met.

  His face remained the same. Indifferent, young in its handsome sternness. No wrinkles of old age, long ears, his blue eyes glowed with the same authority I’d tackled before. He didn’t wear his crown or overly assertive robes right now, only a slightly less ostentatious ornament which still loudly shouted that I was ‘king’, and comfortable garments to relax.

  His postured appeared firm and rigid as his eyes moved above at me, but this time, there was no glare, only awkwardness and a way of trying to avoid me.

  I moved my gaze immediately away from Neil. I guess he has learned his lesson. Wouldn’t wanna be subject to Ariem’s wrath.

  Just as Mordian became visible in the room, all of them stood up, catching the sight of the dragon walk past the elders.

  They greeted him, and Mordian nodded to their hospitality, crossing his arm as he stood to the side, letting the others meet.

  “Jiwoo, it’s truly a pleasure to see you again, dear.” I heard a more polished and older voice reverberate inside the big hall, Lady Ariem, Aurora’s grandmother and Neil’s mother, standing by her seat, her moss ivory robes accentuating her mature vibe.

  She walked closer to us, and placed a hand over my shoulder, bringing her lips closer to the my ear. “That Lunatic didn’t give you hard time, did he? I suppose, you being sane is proof of that.”

  I raised both brows, making an obvious expression as I whispered back. “Well, the first few months were hell, but I guess even I can adapt to something like that. Luckily, I didn’t go insane.”

  She chuckled, “I guess, the old fool grew on you,” patting my back firmly as I went forward, my eyes immediately locked with the same teal ones I’d grown fond of.

  I had thought about her so many times during training that I couldn’t even remember the count. Maybe because of my early conversation with Camus about how he had brought up Aurora having feelings for me, and I had to admit, after thinking about it...

  She sat beside her mother, queen Anastasia, both of them looked like the very image of youth and beauty incarnate.

  Her soft milky skin capturing the light, her teal coloured eyes flickered with warmth, her silver gunmetal hair cascaded like a stream, bound by a tie and ornaments which looked out of picture on her, but nonetheless adorned her natural beauty.

  Together, they both looked like sisters, no older than a few years apart. I guess, six months is enough to change anyone, and Aurora looked more mature than I last remembered—so was her mana, it was more potent.

  Queen Anastasia offered me a kind smile, I slightly bowed my head to greet her and King Neil—him only out of formality—and he replied back with an awkward and almost rigid nod. That was kind of funny actually, but I barely able to hold back my smug.

  Aurora was awfully quiet since the moment we had stepped inside the hall. Knowing her, she would have sprawled both Mordian and I into a bear hug, and started to shout at us for leaving without saying a damn word.

  I could already image that happening, but it didn’t, and that kind of shocked me. She looked like a calm and quiet sea, nothing like the storm I’d braced myself for.

  She stood up, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. Her dress shimmered under the hall light, like starlight had been spun into silk just for her. Each step she took made the fabric ripple and glow, catching gold and silver in ways I couldn’t look away from. It wasn’t just the dress, though. It was her. The way she moved, like the world had slowed down just to watch her pass...I couldn’t help but stare.

  She stopped right in front of me, her nape exposed, her hair tied behind her back. Her bangs were parted like clouds giving way to the moon, eyes looking up at me in an almost amused way, and I finally remembered that this mature looking princess was once my friend Neil, who had sabotaged me in a way I couldn’t be mad about any longer. Plus, all the shenanigans we had pulled on each other.

  I placed my hand on my nape, almost awkwardly. She titled her head, her amusement growing as her eyes locked on to me. “What’s wrong? Do I look too beautiful for the great protégé of Camus Silverlight to loss his tongue?” She remarked, her rosy lips pulled with a mischievous smile. “Go on. I’m waiting for your humorous remark.” She said, giving me a toothy grin, quite unbecoming of a princess.

  I breathed slowly, looking back at her, spellbound. “Yeah...You look stunning.” I admitted, and I could see Aurora pause for a heartbeat—probably not the reply she was expecting—, her own face growing still, her milky cheeks overcome by a slight blush. She tried to found a reply to ease the atmosphere, but failed.

  “Yeah, yeah, we get it. Young love—been there—, the hormones in the air tell us everything. But, can you save it? You can catch up on all the time you guys have been apart later.” Camus stated from the side and Aurora and I turned to him in an almost flushed state, grunting at him.

  We both looked back, and a chuckle escaped us.

  I noticed Neil on the far end of the table, gritting his teeth and I couldn’t be sure if he was conjuring some spell to blast me out of the hall any moment now. But, I saw queen Anastasia holding his clenched hand, looking at her husband with a calm and almost detached smile.

  After the awkward atmosphere settled, we took our seats. Camus went to sit with Aurora, poking fun at her, and Aurora quite enjoyed her great-uncle’s company, and Ramus took the seat beside lady Ariem, Mordian and I took the seats beside them, settling into them as I leaned into the soft couches.

  I saw Neil clearing his throat, straightening as he spoke. “Lord Astrionyx, it is a pleasure that we could welcome you back, along with your bond.” Neil glanced at me for a quick second, but turned his gaze away almost immediately.

  Mordian’s golden eyes, full of wisdom and detachment bore over the elven king. “It is rare for time to be kind to kingdoms…I’m glad to see yours hasn’t faced any issues in the last six months.”

  I heard my bond’s remark, understanding the inclination. Even if we were gone for six months, Gramps had been kind enough to let us know about what was going on back at the castle, it was actually in passing for the first few months, but we had heard that the elves had ambushed the demons and their contractees’ trying to launch any attack on the elven world.

  The orcs had finally started to stabilise, with the help from the elves and dwarves. With everything falling into piece now, it’s only a matter of time when the orcs can finally stand on their own feet, independent of the other races’ help to at least be able to repel the demons if they attacked again.

  “I suppose such talks can be done later, under better circumstances. For now, let us enjoy this moment,” Elder Ramus said with a smile.

  The subject dropped with quiet ease, and almost on cue, the tall double doors swung open. The scent hit me first—roasted herbs, something sweet and spiced, and the unmistakable aroma of freshly seared meat. A pair of elven maids glided in, silent as moonlight, wheeling in a cart that gleamed under silver trays and crystal decanters.

  One by one, the dishes were laid before us with care: thick slices of fire-kissed venison, resting in a bath of wild berry glaze; golden herb-roasted pheasant, stuffed with pine nuts and sun-dried blossoms; a large platter of moon-leaf salad, the translucent greens drizzled with citrus oil and decorated with glimmering pearls of dew-fruit.

  There was a basket of warm stone-baked bread, infused with lavender and garlic, next to small bowls of whipped ash-root butter. Another dish—seared river trout, maybe caught fresh from the Sylmaril Stream, sprinkled with crystal salt and wrapped in vine leaves.

  Crystal goblets were filled with amberwine, aged in hollowed elderwood, its scent soft and floral, with just a touch of spice that lingered at the back of my tongue. Somewhere between mouthfuls, I spotted a delicate tray of starpetal tarts, their surfaces glossy with sugared glaze, glowing faintly under the hall’s warm light.

  I didn’t say much—I was too busy eating, savouring every bite. Elves had a way with their cooking, and for the first time in months, I actually let myself enjoy it.

  Gramps had taught me much about the elven cuisines during our time we were free, we took shifts cooking, mostly myself, being bossed around by the old timer more often than I could remember—Camus would write me down some recipe and provide the supplies to cook. I had added quite a lot of new recipes original to the elven world to my cookbook.

  The afternoon trailed off, Mordian too indulged himself, taking a bite of the fresh pheasant, taking a sip of the elven wine which tasted good to the taste buds and didn’t intoxicate the one consuming it much.

  Like I could even get drunk in the first place. I forced a sigh back, taking another sip of the aged wine.