Year 3988, 22nd Day of the 8th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

ELISE HAD not caught a glimpse of Aricson's shadow since their meeting at the library. She had decided to personally apologize but she was occupied dividing her time with Erkhan in the morning and with Orin for the rest of the day.

During sword practice, Erkhan shed off his flippant personality. The smile that was forever pasted on his lips became subdued as his eyes gleamed with alertness while he went all out on her. Orin was also a great mentor. He sternly drilled all knowledge on her with such high expectations.

It was only two days yet the exhaustion was palpable. She could not skip reading and had been sleeping late. She was back in her workaholic mode but the pressure was gradually becoming heavy on her shoulders. It was as if she returned to her college years when she had no choice but to multitask everything.

"It was a good thing the Rei made you stay here. Or else, I would not have such a good apprentice. I cannot even imagine you lost your memories," Orin stated.

She flinched from his words and quickly admonished herself for being an overachiever. Her cover was doomed to be blown if she kept on going like this.

Elise cleared her throat and replied, "Thank you, Master Orin. I'm gr—"

A sudden glare from the window flashed in her eyes. She got up after taking the mortar in her hands and changed locations, walking away from the warm light emitted by the setting sun. They had been grinding the moment she stepped inside and it had been a few hours since then.

Orin was going to create a pill that was only exclusively made by those people with magic and they needed a lot of ingredients. With that said, manual labor was still needed before magic was applied.

"I am truly grateful they let me stay here, Master. I am a stranger yet they welcomed me," she continued right after she sat again.

"Naturally. The siblings may be known as reserved for those who don't know them but they are indeed good people. I have been taking care of them and have seen each of them grow. They are kind and generous like their father," Orin gleefully shared, his eyes dancing with doting every time he spoke about the siblings. Which, he had been doing most of the time. 

If he didn't discourse about medicine, he would talk about the siblings. She could not help the pang in her heart as she was reminded of her dad. He always gushed over her and her siblings' achievements. He was their number one supporter together with their mom.

She bit back a sigh and inquired instead. "How are you related to them, Lord Orin?"

They did call him 'uncle' but there was no semblance between any of the siblings and him except for the red hair.

"You could say I'm their great-great-granduncle if it was based on the blood ties but if we refer to our relationship, alone, I was the younger brother of the previous Rei."

"How old does that make you?" she probed, her hand stilled as her eyes widened.

"I stopped counting but I think I'm nearing the 300s already."

Her eyeballs almost flew from their sockets after hearing the number while Orin just chuckled at her apparent expression.

"No need to be so shocked. I'm just a decade older than Aciel."

"Who?"

"Aciel is the previous Rei and the father of the children."

By 'children', he probably meant the rest of the Flamion Clan. Elise knew that Dryann was in her sixties and she was positive that Aricson was older but she still could not grasp the idea of calling them children when they were far from one based on age alone. Nonetheless, Orin had a right to since he was centuries older.

"Are you all immortal?" she asked the one question that had been bothering her.

"No. We, humans, eventually die but our lifespans depend on our kind and, of course, our job."

"So, all of you have a different life expectancy?"

"Life expectancy?"

"I mean, lifespan," she corrected. It was a modern term so perhaps he had no inkling about it based on his questioning tone.

Orin inclined his head. "Mundrans, the humans who had no magic could only live up to a hundred years at most if they were lucky. The same goes for Enchanters but they age slowly once their elemental flow is unlocked. While Emperor's Lineage, like me, can live up to a few hundred years."

There were some words she didn't understand. She had been telling herself that she would check some history books but it never happened. All her plans to research how to leave this world went down the drain and she could only concentrate on reading their medical books. She undoubtedly needed to read some history as soon as possible.

"Does that also apply to Aricson and his siblings?" she questioned after a while.

"They are a special case. They are considered Emperor's Lineage but their race is Half-breeds. They had longer lifespans but since they descended from the fairies. they will forever remain their youthful appearance."

"Half-breeds?"

"They are mixed races. You can say that humans may be the weakest but they are compatible with every race and can only reap an advantage if they partnered with other races. However, all the races were never on good terms. In short, Half-breeds like them are rare. Come to think of it, you're a Half-breed fairy but it's odd how I don't feel any elemental flow from you."

"Aricson said it is due to poison that it hasn't returned yet." That was the reason they came up to if anyone would ask about her elemental flow.

"It must be a profound poison to be able to seal all your magic. Are you cursed?"

She shook her head and racked her brain to avoid the conversation. She needed to delve into another subject or else she might slip. The less she talked, the fewer lies she would spout.

"Not that I thought of it, Master Orin, aren't you bored with such a long life you have?" she prodded, letting her curiosity take over.

She could not imagine living for so long. She already attained many things at a young age and nothing interested her anymore unless it was about medicine. Nevertheless, even she, herself, was not sure if she could still fuel her passion after several decades.

"We don't have the luxury of feeling bored from the unending wars and attacks of the Ravids. Only the powerful can stay alive. No ma—"

A soft knock ended their discussion.

"Come in," Master Orin said.

Gerald entered and gave a polite greeting.

"Rei is asking for Miss Elise at his study, my lord," he informed them, an amiable smile spreading on his lips.

"I'm still not done for today," she muttered.

They weren't even half of the amount they needed. Nonetheless, Orin gave his permission so she got up and followed the steward to the study.

GERALD KNOCKED the moment they appeared in front of a wooden double door and they waited for Aricson's response.

"Enter."

The old man opened the door for her. She stepped inside alone as he silently closed the door.

She was taken in by the view of Aricson sitting comfortably while reading some papers. It was the first time she saw him with glasses and he actually looked more handsome. She calmed her heart right away when she remembered their sudden feud the other day.

She walked silently toward him before talking. "Is there anything you need?"

"We're going to leave three days from now. Orin is a lot stricter in terms of medicine and he had nothing but praises for you. It seems like you're ready for the Healer Qualification," Aricson said without glancing at her.

She thought that this was the perfect moment to apologize but he was acting like normal. Though, if she were, to be honest, she was just nervous to do so. She was never one to apologize easily because of her proud attitude. The first one took a lot of courage and stuttering and she was reluctant to do it again.

To add, things always became awkward or upsetting afterward every time they chatted.

"Okay," she agreed and decided to leave.

"I'm sorry."

It was lower than his usual pitch yet it was loud and clear for her. She swerved back and his red eyes were on her.

'What the heck?' She didn't understand why he was apologizing.

"I might have said something rude and didn't realize it again," he continued.

Aricson was beyond different from what Elise had expected. From the stories of Orin, she realized how great his status was. In this world, she was nothing. Apologizing certainly was not his expertise since the people around him bowed at him yet this was the second time he did.

"No, no, no. It should be me asking for forgiveness. I am the insensitive one. They told me you always felt guilty about your youngest sister and you felt responsible for her but I still belittled you." She was chattering fast, obviously flustered from the unexpected situation.

Deep lines formed on his forehead as his gaze transfixed on her. "My siblings told you about Ivorynn?"

"Yes," she answered right away.

"If that's the case, come with me," Aricson said and got up, leaving the room with her trailing behind him.

THE TWO of them headed towards the garden but they went on the opposite side of where Elise and Hadrien had tea. Tall bushes covered the numerous tombs slowly making their way into her sight.

All variations of pure white floras grew in hedges bound the area. The scent of flowers was carried gently by the cool breeze. The serene surroundings uplifted the sentiments that lay within this place where rotten skeletons were buried underground in the gravestones.

"These are the members of the Flamion Ancient Clan. It is our honor to be buried in our home that is why we have allotted space for the dead," he explained as they traipsed the area.

They went farther until they came to a pause.

"These are my parents and Ivorynn's," came his curt statement as he picked some flowers nearby and placed one on each of them.

She took some too and offered her greetings.

"Who told you about it?"

"It was Hadrien and Erkhan," she replied.

"Hadrien was just a child back then. We were complete after a long time and only Ivorynn was missing since she was with our parents. We were gathered in the Blue Room while we waited for their arrival. I was hailed as a Magus and that time. It was not even my first win but we still celebrated and they rushed home."

She simply listened, realizing he was opening up his past to her.

"They were late but we did not pay any attention. It was already midnight yet they did not arrive. We thought they were just delayed but there was panic inside of me. My father is a punctual person. He is carefree but hates being late. He promised to come before evening but they were still not there. Morning came and we received the news."

He paused and his normally calm face distorted. His lips made a thin line as he took several intakes of breath. His eyes became out of focus before he continued to explain.

"They were declared dead. I was never scared of battles yet it was my first time feeling fear. We lost three at once. They were the strongest people I know but they were gone in an instant. We went to the place where they were seen." His voice cracked by the time he finished.

"I think we should stop here," she tried halting him but he did not. She assumed it was just self-blame but he appeared as someone who had suffered trauma and recalled it.

Aricson swallowed hard before speaking. "I could not recognize them. My once beautiful mother was unidentifiable. My father was nothing but shreds. The little sister I treasured was turned to dust. It was extremely brutal. That day, I vowed to myself that nothing like that would happen again. As long as I am the Rei, no one can touch my people and die a gruesome death."

His eyes locked with hers. The wretched look on his face made her heartache. Her hand slowly reached his shoulder. She caressed the broad expanse covered with soft cotton, trying to offer solace to the dismal man whose voice was becoming lower the longer he spoke.

"You are right. I am someone who held myself in high regard and overestimates my capability. I even tried to help you when in truth I had no idea myself."

She should be troubled by the hopelessness of his words. The probability of her going back was closer to zero but she was more worried about the anguish that laced his statement. 

"It's fine. I am sure we can do something about it. Two heads are better than one, right Nonetheless, I am already thankful for your help and for believing in me yet I could not stop my mouth. I guess this time, we're in a truce for real?"

She pulled back her hand and offered it to him. His gaze followed it, staring for several seconds before their eyes met. Perfectly arched brows with crystal clear red eyes that were heard to read and lips that only knew how to speak that seldom curved in directions. His usual face returned as if the emotions that passed his face a while ago were a dream. 

Aricson accepted her hand and agreed, "Truce."