Chapter 102 - Surprise

Chapter 102: 102 - Surprise

Adrien looked at Vael. The old elf genuinely seemed to have no idea what had happened to them, and that became even clearer on the walk back.

Vael took them through Elyndor toward the Edevane residence.

Adrien started explaining before they were even inside.

"It seems you forgot to mention one fairly important detail about what was down there. There was an Ancient Tree. Or at least, that’s what Amelia called it."

Vael stopped immediately and turned toward him, genuine surprise appearing on his face.

"An Ancient Tree? How did the three of you come back alive after meeting one? A mature Ancient Tree is usually somewhere between Six and Seven Stars at minimum. There aren’t many left in the world, but finding one in a place like that is incredibly bad luck."

He frowned before continuing.

"I had no idea one had taken root down there."

"This one was only Three Stars," Adrien said. "Almost Four, judging by its strength."

Vael’s expression eased slightly as he opened the door to the house and let them enter first.

"Then it was young. A sapling, relatively speaking. It probably found the ruins and settled there because the underground mana suited it. Ancient Trees aren’t usually hostile once they mature, but a young one establishing its territory is another matter. You entered its domain, so it attacked."

Amelia gave her grandfather a long look. Vael noticed immediately and let out a tired sigh.

"Yes, yes. Amelia, forgive your grandfather. With everything that has happened recently, apparently I’ve started sending my granddaughter into underground ruins without knowing what lives at the bottom of them."

Lucien looked at him for a moment before pointing at himself.

"What about me?"

Vael glanced over.

"You’re alive and walking."

Lucien nodded slowly.

"Right. I can really feel the concern."

"You also smell terrible."

Lucien looked down at the dried blood still covering large parts of his clothes before smelling his own sleeve and immediately pulling it away.

"I was going to take a shower."

"You’d be doing everyone in this house a favour."

Lucien stared at him for a second.

"Grumpy old man."

He disappeared down the corridor before Vael could answer. The old elf watched him leave with the smallest hint of amusement before turning back toward the other two.

That left Adrien, Amelia and Vael alone in the main room. Adrien dropped into one of the chairs, glad to finally sit somewhere that wasn’t ancient stone or the floor of a ruined city, while Amelia took the seat beside him.

Vael remained standing.

"So, how did you kill it?"

Adrien looked up, but before he could answer, Vael raised one hand.

"Actually, let me correct the question. How did you kill it, Adrien?"

That got his attention. Adrien studied the old elf for a moment, wondering exactly how much he had already worked out.

"How do you know I was the one who killed it?"

Vael gave him a flat look.

"It isn’t difficult to add one and one together, is it? I can sense your strength, and you’re also the one carrying most of the damage. Amelia is a Healer, while Lucien came back looking as though someone had tried to fold him in half."

Amelia looked between the two of them while Vael folded his arms.

"And I already know the story about you having one SSS talent is bullshit. Then there’s your physique. I’ve lived a long time, boy. You aren’t going to fool me simply by keeping quiet whenever I ask the right question."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"I’m quite good at reading people."

Adrien leaned back in the chair and gave a small sigh.

"Yeah. It seems that doesn’t work very well with you."

"It doesn’t."

Adrien stayed quiet for a moment. Amelia already knew, his family had seen enough by now that they probably suspected far more than he had ever admitted, and Vael clearly wasn’t going to stop digging.

There was also the simple fact that Adrien trusted him.

"Vael. Do you know what a Unique Path is?"

The old elf’s expression changed immediately. His eyes widened enough that Adrien almost laughed.

Vael had lived long enough that surprising him seemed difficult.

Apparently, those two words had managed it.

"Of course I know what a Unique Path is." Vael stared at him. "Don’t tell me yours is one."

Adrien nodded.

For several seconds, Vael said nothing. He simply looked at Adrien before slowly leaning back.

"A Unique Path, on top of an SSS talent and that physique."

"Three."

Vael frowned.

"Three what?"

"Three SSS talents. Not one."

The room went quiet. Vael stared at him without moving before very slowly pulling out the chair opposite Adrien and sitting down.

"You have three SSS talents."

"Yes."

"And a Unique Path."

"Yes."

"And the Draconic Physique."

Adrien nodded again. Vael rubbed one hand over his face before looking back at him.

"You haven’t told anyone else, have you? I hope you are not that dumb."

"Amelia knows everything now." Adrien glanced toward her. "She’s the only person I’ve directly told. My family doesn’t know the exact details, but I’m fairly sure they suspect something. Ariane especially. There are only so many different Affinities I can use before people start asking questions."

Vael looked toward his granddaughter.

"You knew?"

"Since recently."

"And you decided not to tell me."

Amelia smiled slightly. When he turned back toward Adrien, the amusement had disappeared from his expression.

"Keep it that way."

"I planned to."

"I mean it. An SSS talent is enough to make kingdoms remember your name. Three of them would make people do considerably more than remember it, and a Unique Path is something most scholars spend their entire lives arguing about without ever seeing one."

Vael tapped two fingers against the table.

"There are people who would want to study you, people who would want to use you, and others who would simply decide you were too dangerous to leave alone."

"That sounds about right."

"It is."

Vael pushed himself up from the chair and gestured for Adrien to follow.

"Come with me. We can continue talking while I repair the barrier. You brought back the Heartroot Crystals, so I may as well make sure this trip nearly killing all three of you was worth something."

Adrien stood as well. Vael then looked toward Amelia, who was already watching the two of them.

"You can come too, if you want."

"I’m coming."

Vael headed toward the concealed entrance leading beneath the residence, with Amelia following behind him. Adrien joined them a moment later.

Judging by Vael’s expression, this conversation was nowhere near finished.