CHAPTER 182: SPIRIT CORE [3]

[Capital City, Krivos Kingdom.]

[Vyavan family mansion]

Akamir leaned on his chair as he stared at the fairy the size of a hand sitting opposite to him.

The previous wariness that Lili had for him was nowhere to be found as she looked around the place curiously.

Saia sat close to Lili as they both were sitting on the same chair.

"So, this is where you live, huh?" Lili said, turning to fully look at him. "It’s nice."

"How did you contact Saia?" Akamir asked, looking at her suspiciously. "And I don’t think I ever told you where I live."

Lili blinked innocently as she looked at him and then at Saia.

"Oh, us Fairies have unique connections," she replied, smiling. "We can locate and talk with our queen telepathically no matter the distance."

Akamir narrowed his eyes even further as he kept on staring at her.

"She isn’t lying," Nayomi said, floating beside him. "Fairies can’t lie anyway."

Akamir frowned as he slowly nodded his head.

’There is no need to be rude to her now.’

Taking in a deep breath, he let himself smile.

"So, what brings you here?" Akamir asked, looking at her. "It hasn’t been long since we last saw each other."

Lili blinked as her expression slowly turned serious.

"Before we talk, I would like to inform you of something," Lili said, her voice serious unlike her size. "You know, Sephrina and I have a really deep connection."

Akamir gave her a small nod as she pointed towards her own eyes.

"Right now," she said, her voice soft. "What I see, feel, and hear can all be experienced by Sephrina herself."

Akamir leaned forward slightly, his brows knitting together.

"So she’s listening in right now?" he asked.

Lili gave a quiet nod, folding her hands on her lap.

"Then I should probably watch what I say," Akamir muttered, glancing away for a moment.

Saia chuckled softly, her tiny arms crossed as she leaned against the back of the chair. "Don’t worry, she won’t bite. Well... not unless you give her a reason to."

Akamir gave her a look, unamused. "Whose side are you on?"

Saia’s smile immediately faded as her wings lowered down. "...Sorry."

"Don’t worry," Akamir said, smiling. "I am not mad."

Lili fluttered her wings once, shifting her posture a bit. "I’m here to deliver a message. From Sephrina."

Akamir tilted his head. "Did something happen?"

Lili hesitated, then nodded. "We checked the town you mentioned." She drew in a deep breath. "....You were right, things were not good there."

Akamir didn’t say anything as he placed his chin on his palm.

"The people are dying there," Lili said, her body trembling violently. "I saw things that I could never forget."

A tear fell from her eyes that landed on her lap.

Lili quickly began to clear her face, leaving Akamir in confusion.

"Fairies are really sensitive to life," Nayomi informed him softly. "They always feel sad when they see the malice of mortal beings."

Akamir nodded softly as he let Lili get a hold of herself.

Lili sniffled softly and wiped her cheeks again, trying her best to smile despite the shake in her hands.

"Sorry... I didn’t mean to cry."

"It’s fine," Akamir said, his voice calm. "You don’t need to force yourself."

Saia reached over and gently placed a hand on Lili’s tiny back, rubbing it in slow circles. "You did good."

Lili gave her a thankful look before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"We tried to ask Lewin and other guards about the situation," Lili said softly. "They all lied, telling us everything is alright."

"..."

Akamir nodded as he had already expected something like this beforehand.

’Sure enough they are using Sephrina as a puppet ruler.’

"Right now, in the entire elven kingdom, there is no one we can trust," Lili said, her voice sounding hurtful now.

Akamir leaned forward as he looked dead into her eyes.

He made sure that she wasn’t looking away before he asked, "Why tell me all this?"

Lili drew in a deep breath, her tiny body floated up in the air.

She bowed slightly towards him. "The Empress of the Elven Kingdom would like to hire you as a mercenary."

Akamir blinked, caught off guard for a moment.

Then, he leaned back in his chair, arms folded as he looked at the tiny fairy floating before him.

"Mercenary, huh?" he muttered. "You mean Sephrina wants to officially involve me?"

Lili nodded. "Yes. She doesn’t want this to be a favor. She will pay an appropriate price for your service."

Akamir gave her a curious look. "What can the Elven Empress give me that I already don’t have?"

Lili looked at him with a smile.

"Don’t you humans only have low-level Artifacts?" she asked. "We can provide higher-grade ones."

"..."

Akamir didn’t say anything for a while. Then he smiled. "That’s too low," he said. "I won’t risk my life for only a few Artifacts."

Lili tilted her head. "Then do you want lands?"

Akamir shook his head. "Nope."

Lili blinked, clearly confused. "Then... what do you want?"

Akamir leaned back in his chair again, his eyes half-closed, as if he were thinking deeply.

’What do I want, huh....?’

Akamir remained still like that for a long while.

Finally, he let out a sigh as he stood up.

"Can you give me some time?" Akamir said, looking at her. "I will tell you before sunset."

Lili blinked and shook her head. "I can’t maintain my body till then," she informed. "I don’t have enough spirit energy—."

"I can provide you with it," Saia interrupted her. "You can stay here as long as you want."

"Well, I believe your problem is solved then," Akamir said, looking at Lili. "Then, Saia and you can go roam around the human kingdom."

Saia beamed at his words. "Really?"

"Sure," Akamir said, smiling.

She nodded as she grabbed Lili’s hands. "Let’s go!"

"But—."

Lili’s words halted abruptly as she looked in a trance.

’It seems she is talking with Sephrina.’

Akamir keenly noticed as Lili sighed.

She looked at him. "Tell me your answer before nightfall."

Akamir nodded and immediately both the fairies rushed out from the window.

He glanced at Nayomi who floated beside him. "How come Saia can see you but Lili can’t?"

"Only those can see me whom I allow to," Nayomi replied, her voice arrogant. "Lili is special but not special enough."

Akamir rolled his eyes as he walked out of the room.

Zia was standing right in the main hall waiting for him.

His maid smiled brightly as she bowed slightly. "Would you like something, my Lord?"

Her way of addressing him also has changed since he took over the dukedom.

"Nothing," Akamir replied, shaking his head. "How did things go without me?"

Zia straightened, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

"Surprisingly smooth, Master," she said with a gentle smile. "There were no major disturbances. Your stand-in handled things well."

Akamir raised an eyebrow. "Raden didn’t mess anything up?"

Zia shook her head. "Not at all. In fact, some of the senior staff say he’s... scarily efficient."

Akamir chuckled.

’Well, he is a mimicker. They’re good at adapting.’

He started walking through the hall, and Zia followed a step behind.

"But still," she continued softly, "not everyone was happy with you leaving the dukedom."

"Let them be," Akamir replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I can’t please everyone."

Zia nodded with a warm smile. "You don’t have to."

Nayomi hovered beside him, arms crossed as she glanced back at Zia.

"She’s sweet," she muttered. "But she’s also watching you closely."

Akamir looked at her.

"What, did you forget how strong she is?" Nayomi said. "I would never believe she is taking care of you without any reason."

Akamir sighed as he didn’t respond to her.

’Still, she isn’t wrong...I know almost nothing about Zia.’

Akamir walked out of the house as he looked at the afternoon sky. ’Hmm, I still have a lot of time, huh?’

Zia stood by his side as he looked at one of the soldiers. "Call a carriage."

The soldier bowed as he rushed to call one.

"Is there something you want to say?" Akamir asked, looking at the conflicted face of Zia.

"Well, when you weren’t here, someone always came looking for you every day."

Zia informed him with an awkward smile.

Akamir frowned. "Who?"

"Your second fiancée."

Akamir blinked twice.

’...Zaina.’