Chapter 870: Welcome back...

Eira's trembling fingers clawed at the wall, and she took deep breaths, feeling the sting on her ass cheeks.

Sweat beaded along her hairline as green strands of her hair were plastered to flushed cheeks and the delicate curve of her pointed ears.

Zhao Tian's hands settled on her hips once more, and he squeezed her reddened ass cheeks firmly, feeling the plush flesh yield and spring back beneath the robe.

Plap.

He gave a softer slap this time, cupping his palm on the curve rather than striking hard.

"Nngh~!" Her thighs trembled faintly, feeling his slap.

Zhao Tian's fingers kneaded deeper, and he gave another gentle squeeze, then a lighter *plap*.

"Mng~"Eira's spine arched involuntarily, and her hips canted back a bit before she caught herself.

A low, broken whimper escaped her lips, muffled against the wall as she pressed her forehead to the stone.

Sighing in his heart, he gave one final squeeze and stepped back.

The sudden absence of his warmth left cool air kissing the fevered silk, drawing a shiver that raced from her shoulders to her calves.

Eira remained bent a moment longer, her breath fogging the air a bit.

With trembling arms, she pushed herself upright, using the wall as leverage.

Her knees wobbled, and as the robe slipped lower, the fabric brushed the raw handprints, sending fresh sparks of sensation through her.

"Haa..."

She leaned back against the wall, and green hair spilled over one shoulder, damp strands clinging to her collarbone and the swell of her breasts.

Her thighs remained pressed tightly together, and she looked up at him with quivering eyelashes "No more of... slapping my ass. Please... Haaa."

Hearing her apology, he sighed faintly, as he also knew he had gone overboard with her "Mhm, I will stop the tease. Also don't worry... I won't tell anyone about what happened in the lake."

Looking at him, she nodded her head "Then... I will take my leave."

She slowly limped away from there, and Zhao Tian just watched her as she disappeared around the corner.

Stretching his hands, he returned back to his room.

...

"What? Honoured One helped you?"

Sitting in Freya's room, Sylmeria whispered in utter shock.

With a chuckle, Freya placed her hand on her chest and replied "Yes, from the book I got from Honoured One's artifact... I finally found out the reason for my soul corruption and also cured it."

"That's why I returned to the star... If not, I would have never returned."

(A/n: If you have forgotten about that, review chapters 222-230 and 303)

Upon hearing her daughter's words, Sylmeria smiled tenderly "As always... Honoured One is helping the Elves, no matter how many years pass."

Looking at her mother, Freya asked "Mother, are you planning to tell everyone in the star about Honoured One's arrival?"

Sylmeria's fingers tightened around the armrest of her chair and her gaze flickered to the night lamp in the corner "If the word spreads it could become… complicated. Even dangerous."

Freya tilted her head, frowning slightly "Dangerous? But… the elves would never harm him."

Sylmeria sighed, "Not intentionally. But reverence can be as perilous as hostility. You know how our people are, Freya."

"The Honoured One is not a mere figure to them... he is divinity reborn. Once they know he has returned, the entire Star will be in upheaval. Everyone will seek his presence, to touch his hand, to offer prayers, and to beg blessings. It will disrupt everything."

Her gaze softened, "And beyond that… there are powers outside this Star who seeks him."

Freya fell quiet, understanding dawning in her eyes "I agree, even a whisper of his presence might draw attention."

Sylmeria nodded faintly "Exactly. If anyone beyond this star were to learn that the Honoured One has returned in the flesh… those who once sought to destroy the 'Honoured One' would move again. The Age of Silence could repeat itself."

Freya smiled gently, as if to ease her mother's burden "Mother… our entire population numbers barely fifteen hundred. We are like one great family."

"The elves of this Star are united, bound by the legacy of the First Honoured One. None would dare betray him. And because of his barrier, no message can leave the Star anyway. Everything that happens here stays here."

Sylmeria's gaze lingered on her daughter for a moment before softening.

Her gaze dropped to the shimmering tabletop as she tapped her slender fingers lightly upon it, deep in thought "Maybe it would be best to begin carefully… to inform only the Council first."

She sighed softly. "For now, only a handful should know the truth, you, me, and Eira. Along with my most trusted maids."

Freya nodded slowly "And the guards who escorted him?"

Sylmeria shook her head "They only know that he is a guest, an outsider traveling under my protection. Nothing more."

Sylmeria leaned back on her chair "Until I can be certain the revelation won't shake the balance of our society, we will keep his identity a secret. The Honoured One deserves peace, not worshipful chaos."

Freya smiled faintly, "Always the careful one, Mother."

Sylmeria gave a small laugh, "Someone has to be."

Her gaze softened again, "He already bears so many things on his shoulder. He should not have to carry ours too…"

Freya stood and bowed to her mother. "I will trust your judgment, as always."

Sylmeria smiled gently and asked "Also check on your sister. She was acting quite strange earlier..."

"Tell her that she needs to respect Honoured One and to never provoke him."

"Yes, Mother."

...

Meanwhile…

Far from the serene beauty of the Elven Star, in a realm, a dark chamber pulsed faintly.

The air shimmered with heat as waves of flames rolled off the molten floor.

Pillars of black stone that glowed faintly red rose into the skies above, disappearing into a ceiling veiled by smoke.

At the very center of this dark sanctum, a woman floated in the air.

Her long black hair cascaded down her, with its ends flickering with traces of ember-red energy.

With her eyes closed, she sat cross-legged in a state of deep meditation, with her aura forming a massive vortex of red flame that circled her.

But then she frowned faintly and opened her eyes, revealing the red irises.

From the entrance, a smaller figure stepped forward and fell to one knee.

Her body trembled under the pressure that radiated from the meditating woman, like standing before an erupting sun.

The kneeling woman's face is half-hidden by her long black hair, but her eyes glowed faintly in a violet color marking her as a high-ranking attendant of the 'Organization'.

"Report," the floating woman muttered softly.

The attendant pressed her forehead to the floor, her "My Lady… our sources confirm it. The Honoured One has appeared… on the Elven Star."

Huh? The woman's eyes shrank in horror upon hearing this.. but then a slow smile appeared on her lips.

"…The Honoured One?" she murmured, tasting the words like fine wine.

Her voice resonated through the chamber, and the flames around her began to churn and twist higher, swirling into pillars.

"Interesting…" she breathed. "What a divine piece of news indeed."

She lifted her gaze toward the distant ceiling "Welcome back… Honoured One. Let us see if you are still worthy of the title you inherited."

---------------------------------------------------

I hope you guys liked this chapter!