Chapter 157 : Chapter 157

Chapter 157. The One Forgotten by Time

Eli ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍sat on the bed, digesting this distant story that had crossed more than five hundred years. His mind was shaken.

Shadow ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Demon… a wager from five hundred years ago… guarding ten generations…

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hesitated for a moment, then asked, “So… one day, you will leave?”

Sebastian’s ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍unruffled eyes seemed to move slightly, but his tone remained steady.

“I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍am a Shadow Demon, Young Master. Creating a shadow clone is not difficult for me.

If ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you need me, I… I will always stay by your side.”

A shadow clone?

Eli’s expression instantly became somewhat strange. He nodded lightly and felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

“As for that power,” Sebastian continued explaining,

“it comes from the power of a Shadow Demon. It is dark and corrosive, with a slight attribute of destruction.

With your current physique, forcibly bearing it will overdraw a great deal of physical strength and mental energy. Falling unconscious is inevitable. Aside from that, there are no other side effects.”

“Then I can rest assured.” Eli rubbed his arm, which was still somewhat sore and swollen. Although that power was violent, it could indeed save his life at a critical moment.

As long as there was no hidden effect that corrupted his mind, a side effect like overdrawing his physical strength was completely acceptable.

He remembered the proper matter and instructed, “Right, I probably will not be able to free myself for the next few days… There are too many miscellaneous matters.

You should return to Obsidian Territory ahead of me and keep an eye on the territory’s situation on my behalf. I feel more at ease with you there.”

Sebastian bowed slightly, offering no objection. “Yes, Young Master. I will ensure that everything remains as usual in Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City.”

He paused, as though suddenly remembering something.

“Young Master, are you very familiar with the one in the La Roche Library… Reeves?”

“Uh… I have interacted with him for a while. Why?” Eli thought of that gaunt old man who was always curled up in a chair.

“His true name is Talilar Semi.”

“His origins are very… extraordinary. If you are interested in the ancient matters of this land, perhaps you can ask him about them.”

Eli’s eyes instantly lit up. As expected! That old man really was a hidden master in plain sight!

“I understand.” Eli nodded solemnly, committing this information to memory.

Sebastian said nothing more and bowed again. “If there are no other instructions, this old servant will go prepare for the journey.”

“Go. Be careful on the road.”

Watching the old butler soundlessly withdraw from the room, Eli let out a long breath and lay back down on the soft bed.

There really are so many people I have to meet…

The white-robed bishop, Tim; Lucius; the nobles who came to ask after him; and now Reeves as well.

He rubbed the space between his brows. He had to hurry and settle the matters here in Thorne City, then return to Obsidian Territory as soon as possible.

That was his foundation.

Moreover, the Defense of Thorne had nearly consumed more than half of the Federation remnants’ living strength.

The lost territories in the Western Frontier that had previously been occupied were now empty of defenders.

They were practically merit waiting to be picked up for free. Preparations to recover the lost territories had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

After figuring out his next course of action, Eli’s heart settled considerably.

At dusk, Lynn came again. This time, what she brought was still that carefully simmered spirit lamb soup, only in a larger portion.

This time, Eli did not let her feed him again. He took the bowl himself and finished it cleanly in a few gulps.

Warmth once again filled his limbs, and the effect was remarkable.

He got out of bed and moved his body a little. Although his muscles still ached, he could already walk normally and perform light movements.

Even he himself was somewhat surprised by this recovery speed.

He did not know whether it was the effect of that meat soup or whether his own constitution was indeed special.

He walked to the window and pushed it open. The cool evening wind brushed against his face.

Outside, the sky had already completely darkened. Night was like deep-blue velvet, adorned with cold points of starlight, and a crescent moon hung slanted at the edge of the sky.

It was clearly not very appropriate to go see Lucius at this hour.

After thinking briefly, Eli decided to use this free time to visit Reeves.

Moreover, after hearing the old butler’s account, he found that he had indeed developed a strong interest in these ancient matters buried beneath dust.

Eli left the room, passed through the dimly lit corridors of La Roche Fortress, and walked toward the library deep within.

Before he drew close, a light and melodious instrumental sound drifted over along the corridor.

Eli slowed his steps and quietly arrived before the heavy door of the library.

The door was ajar, and dim candlelight seeped out through the gap.

He gently pushed the door open, and the scene he saw was not much different from usual.

Reeves was still curled up entirely in that broad chair, just as he had been every time Eli saw him.

Only, at this moment, he was holding a slender, ancient-looking harmonica in his hands, bringing it to his lips and gently playing it.

That cheerful tune, faintly carrying a trace of ethereal sorrow, came from it.

Eli did not make a sound to interrupt him. He lightened his steps and walked to a distance that was neither too near nor too far, quietly listening.

He had never heard this melody before. Its rhythm was light, as though it depicted play and dance within a forest.

But for some reason, deep within those leaping notes, he keenly caught a wisp of… sorrow.

At last, the final note gently faded into the air, leaving a lingering aftersound.

Reeves slowly lowered the harmonica in his hand, seeming to have known of Eli’s arrival long ago.

“Hehe… Did you become entranced listening to it, little sparrow…? This is a melody often used by the elves of Nightsong Forest… hehe… when offering rites to the Goddess of Life…”

“Mm, it sounds very good…” Eli subconsciously nodded in agreement, then abruptly reacted.

“Hm? Elves? Offering rites to the Goddess of Life?”

“You… are an elf?”

No wonder! Some time ago at the sanctuary, Irene had once said that he was stained with the aura of elves. Back then, he had been puzzled.

Now that he thought about it, it was very likely that he had accidentally picked it up during his previous visits to the library and contact with Reeves.

Reeves showed not the slightest intention of denying it after Eli pointed out his identity.

“Hehehe… It seems little Seb told you everything… hehe…”

“Little Seb?” Eli’s eyes widened, and his expression became extremely colorful.

Little Seb? You call an old monster who has lived for at least five hundred years and whose strength is unfathomable little Seb?!

Reeves—or rather, Talilar Semi—seemed very satisfied with Eli’s shocked appearance, and his laughter became even more carefree.

“Hehe… That is right. My name is Talilar, and I am indeed an elf. Hehe…”

As he spoke, he slowly raised his withered hand and removed the gray hood.

A face covered in deep wrinkles, yet still faintly showing the handsome outline of its younger days, was revealed.

His skin showed a pallor born from long years without sunlight.

But what drew the most attention was his long silver hair, as though woven from moonlight, and the long pointed ears clearly protruding from that silver hair!

“Hehe… Look.”

Talilar even playfully tilted his head slightly so that Eli could see more clearly.

“These are my pointed ears… absolutely genuine.”

Eli thought of the history between the La Roche Family and the elves, and could not help asking,

“But I heard… between the elves and the La Roche Family… why are you here?”

“Hatred? Estrangement? A feud to the death?”

Talilar continued for him. “On the surface… it is indeed so. His Majesty Roderick’s betrayal is an indelible fact.”

“On the surface?” Eli keenly caught those words. “Is there a deeper reason?”

But Talilar slowly shook his head and put the hood back on.

“Hehe… Some truths will bring you no benefit even if you know them… at least, not now… hehe…”

His tone shifted, and he once again turned the topic back to Eli, his tone carrying obvious teasing.

“Hehe… Your courage… truly is not ordinary… hehe… What a diligent little sparrow…”

“Hm?” Eli did not react for a moment.

“It is not good to have one foot in two boats… hehehe…” Talilar’s laughter carried the mockery of someone who saw through everything.

“On one side is Her Highness Princess Lynn, who carries the blood of both La Roche and Aurora.

On the other… is the jewel of our Nightsong Forest, Her Highness Irene… hehe… hahahaha.”

Eli instantly stiffened in place. “Uh… uh… That was an accident!”

He hurriedly defended himself, and his face rarely showed embarrassment and a trace of panic. “You even know about that?!”

“Hehehe… I know everything.”

“I am… one forgotten… by time. I watch, I record, but I rarely intervene.”

He looked at Eli’s flustered and helpless appearance and seemed extremely happy.

After laughing for quite a while, he gradually stopped.

“This is your fate, Eli. Entanglement, collision, bringing variables… I will not interfere, nor can I interfere.”

“Fate?” Eli frowned, instinctively somewhat resistant to this mysterious way of speaking.

“So you also knew Thorne City would be attacked? If I had not obtained that intelligence and had not rushed over in advance to warn them, would you have acted?”

Talilar first nodded, then slowly shook his head.

“I told you, Eli. Fate has long since arranged everyone’s role, and naturally, that includes you.

You would obtain the intelligence. You would rush here. You would participate in defending the city. All of this was inevitable.

Time is a cycle… From the first time I saw you… it made me even more certain of this… hehehe…”

“The first time you saw me?” Eli was completely confused by his words and could not make sense of them at all.

Talilar did not intend to explain further. He merely slowly extended one withered hand.

In the next moment, a thick book with an ancient cover appeared out of thin air above his palm.

“So… this is also something granted to you under the guidance of fate…”

Then he extended his other hand. The exquisite harmonica carved from dark wood that he had been holding just now quietly floated above it.

In addition, there was also a pair of exquisite rings.

“Hehe… As for this,” his tone regained some of its previous teasing,

“consider it a personal gift from me… perhaps?”

Eli looked at the items before him. After hesitating for a moment, he still reached out and accepted them.

Talilar looked at him with a smile, then suddenly leaned a little closer and lowered his voice.

“Hehe… Oh! Right! Since you respected me so much before, I will teach you a little serenade used by elves specifically for courtship…

I guarantee that it is melodious and moving, striking straight at the heart, making it easier for you to win our Her Highness Irene’s affection…”

Eli looked at this old elf before him, whose style had suddenly changed, and the corner of his mouth twitched fiercely.

“Get lost.”

Talilar froze for a moment, then burst into even louder laughter.

“Hehehehehe—!! Interesting! Truly interesting! Little sparrow, you are even more interesting than I imagined! Hehehe…”

Holding the book and the harmonica, Eli helplessly looked at this old elf, who was laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath.

He began to seriously suspect that Butler Sebastian had some kind of misunderstanding about the phrase “extraordinary.”

“Hehehe… So, do you want to learn it?”

“I will.”