Chapter 1175: Cloak Of Evernight

Kneeling down with a complicated look in his eyes, Tristan glanced up at the moon and sighed.

How many times had it been?

How long since his goddess last responded to his prayers.

Though it was only a matter of time considering how... cold he had been towards her approaches.

She may be a goddess however... She also seemed like an ordinary girl at times.

Perhaps it may be arrogant for him to think so, but maybe Lumiria found comfort by his presence.

That she could act however she wanted and drop her guard.

And yet because of his constant rejections, she closed herself up once more.

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

The fact that Lumiria hadn’t taken back her blessings were rather... surprising.

Regardless, he had a bad feeling about her silence.

Guilt?

’Maybe...’ He thought inwardly as he stood up and tidied up the shrine he had prepared.

Distance makes the heart grow fond. Perhaps that’s what he’s feeling right now.

She used to bother him so much, tease him even when she caught him in an awkward moment. No that she was gone, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness.

"Did big brother get ghosted again?" A small voice rang out from behind the door as Tristan almost choked on his saliva.

Arwen knew about the lack of communication between him and the Goddess.

After all, every now and then, Lumiria would greet Arwen as well. Teasing and playing around with her.

"Where did you even learn that term from?" Tristan smiled helplessly as he opened the door.

Seeing this, Arwen took it as permission to enter as she skipped into the room and sat on the bed.

"Hehe~ The customers told me about it when I mentioned big brother wasn’t getting responses from a girl he talked to often." Arwen smiled happily.

Describing the Goddess of the Moon as a ’girl’ he talked to often was certainly one way to put things.

"They were saying something like brother taking too long to reel in the catch. Or how she must’ve found someone more interesting than brother." Arwen kicked her legs back and forth.

"If she found someone more interesting than me then it’s for the best." Tristan ignored the first line as it felt like blasphemy against his Goddess.

How could they describe the goddess as a catch? She wasn’t someone who would fall for a man like himself. She simply found him interesting rather than ’love’ him.

Tristan was half right yet half wrong. Lumiria had indeed found herself ’loving’ him. Though it was more akin to an owner loving a pet rather than love between man and woman. She would never dedicate herself to such an extent after all.

Her ego refused to allow it.

Though he was inexperienced, Tristan’s instincts allowed him to understand that Lumiria was merely amused by him.

So he did not overstep his boundaries and kept himself from misunderstanding.

"Maybe you should get her flowers and curry her favour again?" Arwen suggestion.

By this point, Tristan’s smile couldn’t help but twitch as this girl had been picking up all sorts of lingo from the customers.

Of course, he was happy that she could now talk to them. Ever since Alice had fixed her voice, Arwen became more cheerful than ever. And as her big brother, Tristan was grateful.

The customers liked Arwen as well, treating her as someone that had to be protected. Her cute smile had them all smitten.

While there were the occasional... rotten egg, the other customers and himself taught them a lesson while Arwen wasn’t looking.

"I don’t think the Goddess would find much interest in the flowers I bring. But I suppose a gift is needed." Tristan folded his arms.

"Setting aside the fact that big brother is cold to her, do you think she’s maybe busy with the things happening in the west?" Arwen leaned back.

"Big sis is a goddess after all. She must be busy with divine duties and looking after a lot of people. With what people are saying, it seems like Extalia is dangerous right now."

Tristan tapped his fingers.

Indeed, he’s also gotten a couple of call to actions regarding what’s been happening in the west. But Lumiria had given him a warning previously.

Stepping foot into that land would enter him into a contract with a new expanding realm called the Nightmare.

It would make it so that every couple of days, he would be dragged into this dreamscape of sorts that would allow him to gain abilities similar to Sigil powers. However, at the same time, the scent of a Hunter wrapped in dreams would also call forth Nightmare Beasts to his location when he wasn’t dreaming.

With Arwen next to him most of the time, he didn’t want to risk her safety.

It was also what Lumiria had suggested. For him to stay put for now while the incident gets resolved.

But if the Goddess herself was now occupied, how dangerous must it be in the west?

As the Cardinal of the Moon, it was his duty to make sure civilians are protected. He could not afford to sit around doing nothing.

While he also understood that a Cardinal of his calibre must wait for orders in case of an emergency, this had now reached a national level.

It wasn’t a danger that could simply be shrugged off as someone else will deal with it.

But...

Leaving Arwen alone...

Everyone else had been called to action. He was the only one helping Arwen with the store. They had the occasional part timer but in terms of power, he was the only one that could keep troublemakers at bay.

If they were to take the chance while he was away to cause trouble... he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.

It may be overprotective but he’s seen the kind of things that people are willing to do. Arwen no longer had the ability to charm but her own natural charm was enough or him to worry.

Not only that, but this was a port city. There would always be new commers who didn’t know any better. People who tempted fate without knowing that a Cardinal was keeping watch over the store.

"Big brother is overthinking things again."

A pair of small hands grabbed him by the cheeks and tried to knead them. But him there was a lack of baby fat on his face, all Arwen did was pull his skin back and forth.

"You’re worried about me again right?" Arwen asked as Tristan could only nod truthfully.

They only recently had another incident when he dropped his guard slightly.

"I think it’s about time we take a small holiday. So if I come with big brother, you should be able to keep your heart at ease right?" Arwen offered but Tristan immediately frowned and shook his head.

"Absolutely not. I might be a Cardinal but my powers aren’t strong enough to walk around without care. If a Lord appeared, I won’t be able to protect you."

"But brother can’t help but worry about what’s happening right? It’s okay, I have just the thing for this. Big sis Lumiria gave me something last time when I told her how worried I was." Arwen grinned as she jumped from the bed and ran to her own room.

After a couple moments of rummaging and things falling over, she came back with a hooded cloak over her own body.

"Tada~" Arwen spun, allowing the cloak to flutter.

"Behold the Cloak of Evernight. Hehe~ The Goddess said that this cloak will allow me to hide in darkness, making it hard for even Lords to see my outline. It works even better where there is moonlight."

As if to demonstrate the effectiveness of her cloak, Arwen skipped into the corner of the room and wrapped herself fully with the cloak.

Despite looking directly at her, Tristan couldn’t help but gasp when her complete outline disappeared from his notice.

If he wasn’t sensitive to the blessing of the Moon, he wouldn’t even think something was in that corner.

"See? Useful right? And if a Lord appeared, this should be hard enough for them to notice in the midst of battle." Arwen gave him a double peace sigh while squatting.

Seeing her cheerful smile, Tristan couldn’t help but sigh.

This girl knew full well the dangers a Lord posed and yet she was still acting in this manner.

However... He had to admit that this cloak was indeed a useful item for her to accompany him on his journey.

It’ll save him the worry regarding her safety.

"Alright fine. But you must never, under any circumstances, remove that cloak okay?" Tristan sighed.

If he didn’t say yes now, Arwen would find out more ways to try and convince him.

"That eas- I mean yay you’re the best brother!" Arwen blinked before quickly coughing and jumping up to hug him.

"I’ll get a sign ready so that our regulars know about things. Same with the workers. I wouldn’t want them to come here despite not being open. They would’ve wasted some time they couldn’t take back." Arwen was about to leave when Tristan grabbed her by the cloak and lifted her up, leaving her legs dangling in the air.

"That’s nice and all but before any of that, maybe you should tell me how many more of these Goodies that you have kept that the Goddess gave you."

Her earlier words didn’t escape his notice. This item was simply her first option, there were fall back options that Lumiria had given Arwen that he didn’t know about.

Coughing awkwardly, Arwen poked her fingers together.

"Erm... big sis gave me about... ten artifacts to use."

". . ."