lina couldn't believe it. Had Alistair really kept the skill? But why? It had caused him so much trouble and nightmares. He looked quite eager to get rid of it before. What changed his mind?
"I'm sorry, Elowen, but would it be possible for and Alistair to discuss matters among ourselves?" lina said, peering at Elowen.
The elf didn't look pleased by the request in the slightest, narrowing his eyes and staring at lina and Alistair in turn. "If it pertains to these visions, then I'd like to remain."
"It's not about that. It's… a private matter," she insisted. She knew that Elowen was curious by nature, and it was natural that he wanted to know more about the visions he was seeing. Being honest and open would be the best way to gain his trust, but she needed to know what exactly happened with Alistair.
"Elowen, you intend to remain in Sunglow for at least a short while, right?" Alistair asked.
"My goal is rely to learn about these visions. If possible, I wouldn't want to linger here too long."
"But surely you don't intend to rush back to Euroa this evening?" Alistair said.
"No, I suppose not," he conceded.
"Then could you wait for us to settle matters among ourselves first? After all, you are still a stranger to lina. She must feel apprehensive about opening up to you, especially since you already know her secret about being a System user."
Elowen looked torn, but finally nodded. "Very well. But I hope you'll explain if you've seen any visions of a similar nature."
"I promise that I will. It's just all very… sudden. I need a mont to understand it all," lina said sincerely, hoping that Elowen would be understanding.
The elf regarded her for a mont longer, then finally nodded. "Very well. I understand. I shall give you so ti to think on the matter. I hope we'll be able to discuss it in more detail soon."
"Shall I guide you to the inn or perhaps the Guild? Many elves work as adventurers there," Alistair offered.
"Thank you, but it's alright. I'll get acquainted with the town and talk with so of my brethren. I want to know what kind of lives they lead in a human town," Elowen said, and got up, ready to leave.
"Oh, before you go, wait a mont," lina stopped him and hurried into the kitchen. She grabbed a few leftover pastries from the morning—lamb pastry bundle, two pear rolls, and a regular cream puff–and put them in a small cardboard box. "Here."
"What is this?" Elowen looked suspiciously.
"Just so pastries. I thought you might be hungry," she said, extending the box towards the elf. "Take it as an apology for my apprehensiveness."
Elowen took the box and nodded. "Very well. Thank you. Have a nice day!"
lina watched him leave and released a sigh of relief as she saw him head back into town. "I was not ready for that."
"I'm sorry, but he refused to leave my side until I brought him to you. Understand that he has been plagued by visions just as I have," Alistair explained.
lina nodded, but internally, she was preparing for another battle. Alistair had realized that she was the one who wrote the letter. She had suspected that he might—after all, she'd coded it in a way only sobody who knew him very well could do. She'd have to explain everything to him.
"It's alright. I just need so ti to gather my thoughts…"
"Bullies, the two of you," Gilbert suddenly hobbled into the living room.
"Bullies?" Alistair blinked, stupefied.
Gilbert put a hand on lina's shoulder. "Two grown n co and gang up on a girl. Rather shaless."
"Master, nobody is ganging up on , and I'm not a child. I can take care of myself."
"You'll always be a child in my eyes," he scoffed.
"lina, I apologize if I put you in a tough spot. If this is too much, then I can leave and we can talk so other ti."
"No, there are things I'd like to ask you," lina said, although she knew that she would have so explaining to do herself. But this conversation couldn't be avoided. "Let's go talk upstairs, so Master Gilbert doesn't feel like he needs to interfere on my behalf."
"Sure, sure…" Gilbert drawled out, giving her a knowing look.
lina cleared her throat, doing her best to hide her flushing cheeks. "Let's go upstairs."
Alistair nodded, and lina quickly prepared so tea and pastries. This might take a while. Once they were both seated by the tiny table in lina's room, each with a teacup in hand, the air grew rather heavy. Where could she even begin?
"How was your trip?" lina asked after a prolonged silence.
"It was… eventful and rather difficult. I'm honestly surprised that I was able to find the Architect in the end. You hid the information rather well," he said, eyeing her carefully. "It was you who wrote the letter, wasn't it?"
"I…" She paused, then sighed. "Yes, it was . I didn't an to deceive you, but things are rather… complicated at the mont."
"I'd say," he chuckled. "Visions of the past that are actually predictions of the future, beings that are able to control the System itself, the Monster Realm, and at the very center of it all seems to be one person."
lina looked away. Was he angry because of how secretive she had been? He certainly had a right to be. She could have helped directly a long ti ago if she had been more honest.
"How much do you rember?" He asked after a mont of silence.
She contemplated how much to reveal. Should she pretend to only have glimpses of mory like Alistair and Elowen had? Should she lie and say that she rembered just a little bit more? lina looked Alistair in the eyes. He didn't look mad, only curious. There was no resentnt in his eyes.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
"Before I answer that, could I ask exactly what happened with the Architect?"
"Of course," Alistair nodded, and then retold the events of his trip. What he had to go through to get to the Architect's hidden paradise. She felt a little bit guilty that it had turned out to be so difficult, but, on the other hand, she couldn't have made it easier either. People should not know how to access that location. lina had to be sure that even if sobody intercepted the instructions, they would not be able to find the way.
"At the very end, the Architect insisted that I should see a vision before I made my decision on whether to delete
User Comments
0 comments from readers