Chapter 308: Forgiveness

"Mr. Soren?"

"Yes, it’s me." Soren nodded as Nuelia turned around to face him. Her eyes widened for a moment before relief flooded her expression. "I heard you were looking for me."

"Y-Yes!" Nuelia nodded enthusiastically. "I was so worried when you suddenly disappeared. Your state was... really bad. You had so much blood and so many injuries on you." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Are you alright now?"

She didn’t wait for an answer and quickly pulled out a few vials, extending them to him.

"Please, drink these. They will help with your recovery."

Soren looked at the bottles, then back at her anxious expression. "Thank you, but I’m really fine now. I’ve already been treated." He paused. "Still, I appreciate the thought."

"P-Please, just take it," Nuelia insisted, pushing the bottle closer. "It will also help restore the vitality you lost during the fight. Even if you’re healed, your body still needs to recover its strength."

Soren let out a soft sigh. There was no winning against that earnest look. He reached out and accepted the bottle. "Alright. Thank you."

The moment he took it, Nuelia lowered her head and bowed deeply.

"I’m sorry."

Soren blinked. "What for?"

"For everything," she said, her voice shaking. "Because of me, you and your wife were dragged into this. If I had been more careful... if I hadn’t been so naive... none of this would have happened." She kept her head down, her hands clenched at her sides. "I put you in danger. I put everyone in danger. And I... I don’t know how to make up for that."

"..." Soren looked at her, realizing the betrayal must have cut deeper than she was letting show. "...I accept your apology, so please raise your head."

Nuelia hesitated before slowly straightening. Her eyes were glossy, but she held back the tears.

Soren met her gaze. "But you really didn’t need to apologize, Miss Nuelia. You didn’t do anything wrong." His voice softened. "If anyone should apologize, it’s your subordinates who attacked us without confirming the situation first. And of course, the Outcasts who caused all of this."

"!" Nuelia froze. ’I... I almost forgot about that!’

"U-Umm... I... I apologize for that too!" She shouted as she bowed deeply once more, her eyes squeezed shut in shame. "I-I heard everything earlier and have already scolded them for it! They should never have done that. It was reckless and rude, and they had no right to treat you and your wife that way."

She kept her head lowered, her voice growing smaller. "I know an apology from me won’t erase what happened, but I promise I’ll make sure they reflect on their actions properly."

"...I’m sorry, but I can’t forgive them," Soren replied coldly, making Nuelia’s heart sink. "They didn’t just threaten me. They pointed their blades at my wife and said things they had no right to say." He paused, his tone darkening even further. "Furthermore, they never bothered to apologize themselves. Despite the time that had passed since the incident, not a single one of them has come forward to admit their mistake... If they can’t even do that, then they don’t deserve forgiveness."

"..." Nuelia’s head lowered even further, her hands still trembling at her sides.

"..." She opened her mouth to defend them, but no word came out. Because she knew he was right. Her people neither apologized nor tried to make amends till now. Even if they did later, it would only be because she forced them to, not because they truly understood what they had done wrong.

That thought made her chest tighten with a mixture of shame and frustration.

"I... I’m... really sorry..."

"...Sigh." Soren let out a long breath, his cold expression softening just a little. "Don’t think too much about it. I know you’re a good person, and that’s enough for me."

He paused, studying her for a moment before continuing. "As for the others, let’s just consider this matter closed. I won’t hold a grudge against all elves because of a few fools."

Then his tone turned more serious. "But even if it might sound presumptuous of me, since I’m an outsider, I’d still advise you to teach them properly. Or... replace them entirely if necessary."

Nuelia looked up at him in surprise.

"Not everyone is as patient as I am," Soren explained, meeting her gaze evenly. "If they offend the wrong person, the consequences won’t be so light. They might even end up staining the reputation of the whole elven race, or worse... get themselves and you killed."

Nuelia’s breath hitched, her fingers curling into fists. She knew he wasn’t saying it to scare her or insult them. He was saying it out of concern for her and perhaps for the elves. And that made the weight of his words sink even deeper.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "Thank you. I will keep everything you said in my mind. And..." She paused as she straightened her posture, and though the guilt still lingered in her eyes, there was a resolve in them now. "I will make sure they receive the punishment they deserve."

Soren didn’t comment on it and just smiled.

"...However," Noelia added after hesitating for a moment. "I still don’t feel right leaving things like this. You and your wife went through so much because of me, and I haven’t done anything to repay you."

"I told you-" Before Soren could finish his words, her eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled something out from her ring. It was an intricately carved wooden pendant.

"Please, take this," she said, holding it out to him. "It’s an artifact that can protect the wearer from spirits. It’s not as powerful as some of the greater relics, but it can block up to three attacks from a Spirit King. It should give one enough time to escape or counterattack."

She pressed it into his hand before he could even think of refusing. Not that he would, considering its nature and how much time he had been looking for such an item.

"...I know it’s not much compared to what you’ve done, but I hope it can be some help to you or your wife in the future." Nuelia finished, her hands clasped in front of her.

"..." Soren looked at the pendant in his hand, quickly analyzing it. He then looked up at her and nodded. "Then I will gratefully accept it."

"!" Nuelia’s eyes lit up, her expression brightening in an instant. "Thank you!"