CHAPTER 45: THE TRUTH ABOUT ELVEN PROPHECY AND PLAN TO VISIT ELF SETTLEMENT

After class ended, Ard immediately pulled Eva and Patricia out of the classroom, leaving the others behind, although everyone was wondering where the three of them were going. Ard took Eva and Patricia to the lake in the forest, located between the path to the dragon stables and the horse stables—the place where he first met Patricia in her Pyria form, bathing in the lake. When they arrived, Ard positioned himself on a rock by the lake that was big enough to sit on, across from Eva and Patricia.

"Okay, now we’re safe," Ard said, relieved.

"But why here? Isn’t this that place from before?" Patricia asked.

"Exactly. It’s quiet here, and besides, only you and I know about it," Ard replied.

"Hah! Only you and Patricia know about it?" Eva asked, annoyed, staring intensely at Ard.

"Oh... not like that. I mean it’s a safe place, hahaha," Ard countered, holding up both hands, palms facing out.

"Fine. What is it that we need to talk about here?" Eva asked.

Ard immediately became silent and serious. Without any more small talk, he immediately told Eva and Patricia the dream he had last night. Eva’s and Patricia’s faces, which had initially looked normal, slowly turned tense and eventually into total shock after Ard finished telling his story. After that, the three of them fell silent. The atmosphere was quiet, with only the sound of leaves on the trees being blown by the wind.

"What about it, Pyria? I clearly remember several elves carrying me away when I stabbed my own heart with Exgrandal and died. I’m sure they heard my exact words to the second emperor of the Orthus Empire, which were eventually polished into a prophecy," Ard said.

Patricia remained silent but appeared to be thinking, while Eva, who still looked shocked, turned to look at Patricia next to her, waiting for Patricia’s answer.

"Yes, you’re right, Ard. The prophecy among the elves is that you and Eva will return, and then you will change the order of this world by killing the goddess Ophelia. That’s why the elven tribe has been tasked with guarding the world for the last 1,000 years and why we have to protect you both from birth until you’re grown. I apologize for following the prophecy in the Orthus Empire and the Fredonia Kingdom that said you would kill the Demon God Malekh, The reason I said that is because the true prophecy is an elven tribe secret," Patricia said.

"So after I died when I was still Evelina, you actually went to the elven tribe’s location and then to the seal’s location to open the seal?" Eva asked, staring at Ard.

"That’s what happened in my dream, but apparently I was blocked by the second emperor of the Orthus Empire," Ard replied.

"But why? The Orthus Empire shouldn’t have been hostile toward demons anymore when I was the emperor, and we had already made peace... I don’t understand at all," Eva muttered.

"I don’t know about that, but if I may ask, why did you go to the Fredonia Kingdom back then? The timing seems a little strange because in Fredonia at the time there was a revolution, and you arrived at the perfect moment, which ultimately led to your death," Ard countered.

"I... don’t remember, but for some reason, I felt something was wrong, and that’s why I wanted to propose cooperation with the Fredonia Kingdom and bind myself to you," Eva said, holding her head.

"Maybe if we meet the elven elder who is over 3,000 years old in my village, we can find out what really happened, because he was a companion of Ashton and Esmeralda 3,000 years ago when they set out to seal the Demon God Malekh," Patricia said.

Ard and Eva immediately stared at Patricia, who was sitting in front of and beside them, then they turned to look at each other.

"Malekh and Ophelia... a pair of gods and goddesses who are opposites... if you think about it, it’s just like... Ace and Edith... Ashton and Esmeralda... Azroth and Evelina... and me and you," Ard said, looking at Eva.

"Yes, that’s true," Eva replied, smiling and looking down.

Ard and Eva immediately fell silent. Patricia, seeing Ard and Eva looking a little dispirited, immediately stood up and changed her appearance back to Pyria.

"Hey, what’s with the long faces? Come on, cheer up," Pyria said.

"Sorry, Pyria. Even though I had that dream last night, I still don’t understand why I did it. I could feel the deep sadness from Azroth or Ashton at the time... I really don’t get it," Ard muttered.

"I’m confused myself about why I went to Fredonia at that time. Did I want to save Ashton or Azroth? I don’t know, I just felt a deep longing and... sadness," Eva added.

"Hey, what’s wrong with you two? The prophecy among the elves is that Azroth and Evelina return, then change the order of the world by killing the goddess Ophelia. Just look at the world now: it looks peaceful on the outside, but what about the inside? It’s rotten, isn’t it? There’s a lot of slavery, a lot of revolutionary movements in the kingdoms, a lot of injustice in this world, many nobles who don’t think human lives are valuable, and many more things, right?" Pyria asked.

"So that’s the elves’ view of the world?" Ard asked.

"Yes, that’s why we isolated ourselves in the forest and hid our village. That’s also why I’m in disguise. I didn’t want to be caught and turned into a pleasure slave for the nobles," Pyria replied.

"But is killing the god Malekh or the goddess Ophelia really the solution?" Eva asked.

"That... I don’t know myself... but the Elder once said that back then, Ashton and Esmeralda were full of dilemmas in carrying out their duty and that’s why the god Malekh was sealed, not killed... sorry, I don’t know too clearly. I rarely meet the Elder myself because he has shut himself off from the world," Pyria replied.

The atmosphere returned to silence as the three fell quiet again. Ard raised both hands, then opened his palms. "Whoosh," a ball of black light enveloped Ard’s left hand, and a ball of white light enveloped Ard’s right hand. Eva and Pyria turned to watch Ard, who was using his magic. Eva smiled, then she raised both hands, and "Whoosh," a ball of white light enveloped her left hand, and a ball of black light enveloped her right hand. Ard smiled when he saw Eva using her magic, then he looked back at his hands and grew quiet again.

After a moment, "Pyaash," Ard clenched both his hands, and the two balls of light disappeared. Then he stood up.

"I don’t care anymore. Whether it’s Malekh or Ophelia, if they need to be killed for this world to become peaceful and comfortable to live in, I’ll do it. I am Ard... Arden Larsen Fredonia, the third prince of Fredonia. I live according to my own will, and no god or goddess can control me," Ard stated firmly.

"You’re right, Ard. I, Evangeline Juliana Orthus, the second princess of the Orthus Empire, will also live according to my own will. I don’t want to be bound to any god or goddess anymore... I want to be with the person I love, and if they stand in the way of my will, I will end them," Eva added firmly as she stood up.

Ard and Eva looked at each other, both smiling. Then both stepped forward and embraced. "Smoooch," they immediately kissed passionately.

"Whoaaa... hey... hey... hey... don’t forget I’m right here," Pyria shouted, covering her eyes, her ears turning red.

"Hahaha... sorry," Ard replied, breaking the kiss and turning to look at Pyria with a smile.

"Sorry about that... and please keep it a secret, or I’ll kill you," Eva said with a smile.

"Hee... don’t be scary, Princess," Pyria replied, smiling.

"Okay, the next plan: during our summer break, we’re going to visit the elf village. I want to meet your Elder," Ard said to Pyria.

"I’m coming too," Eva added.

"I’ll gladly take you," Pyria replied, smiling and standing up.

"We’re coming too,"

Shocked, Ard, Eva, and Pyria immediately turned to look at the bushes. They were stunned to see Alicia standing behind the bushes with a red and clearly angry face, glaring at Eva and Ard.

"Heeey... get down, Alicia!" yelled Milia, who stood up and pulled Alicia back into the bushes.

Then, sounds of an argument could be heard from behind the bushes. Ard approached the bushes and peeked behind them. It turned out that not only Alicia and Milia were there. Beatrice, Rosalind, Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin were also there. Ard’s face immediately turned red.

"Since when have you guys been there?" Ard asked.

"Since the beginning, and we just saw that passionate kiss," they all answered in unison, with expressions ranging from angry to embarrassed.

Eva immediately turned around, squatted down, and covered her red face with both hands, while Ard just turned with a red face and looked down at his shoes, which certainly wouldn’t look back at him. After things calmed down and the questions started flying, Ard and Eva finally told everything to their entire group of classmates, who seemed half-believing but ultimately intended to help them with all their hearts, even if it went against their own beliefs.