Value is determined by the buyer. At least that much should be obvious.

Knowledge has value that many buyers should seek, but many don't know how to look.

Many yet know the warnings of the ancients. The Edonai's true function. It's simply used as a tool for pain and war.

I listlessly read the notes I was so graciously allowed to keep while in this damp cell. All things considered, it's not a bad arrangement, we are fed properly and we are in the capital city, so funding isn't an issue. Unlike the old man's prison where he tried to make it as humane as possible, there just wasn't enough money to properly feed the prisoners decent food. Somehow, he managed, but there were those days…

The biggest issue is isolation. I'm fine with it, but constantly separating Eclaire from people she cares about has to have some unspoken toll on her mind and body. Her mind has been tremendously damaged ever since Emma… Therefore, I only have a limited amount of time to think of a solution. There will be a hearing; I'm carrying a name on me that must be counted for something.

However, what even are the appropriate terms to request for the both of us…?

Civil work?

I hardly know the state of affairs of a country I haven't been in for years. They wouldn't be keen on an outsider managing their affairs, anyway.

Manual labor?

That's not ideal either; we'd still be separated and taken advantage of.

Becoming spies for this country?

Don’t make me laugh. They'd be planning to have us eliminated. Also, while doing petty things like inner-politics. There's something serious brewing in the future.

Eclaire made her way to me, but an even bigger rift may appear.

As I was lost in thought, I heard a big clang coming from Eclaire's cell. I shook off any doubts I had at the moment and stood up as the bars opened in front of me. Covered head-to-toe, the soldier in front pushed me along.

"Hurry up, the King would like to have a word with you."

"Wow~ Lucky me."

As I said that, he hit my lower back with the pommel of his sword.

Since I didn't react, he hit me again. What good manners he had.

I have more pressing matters to think about then your petty pride. Once Eclaire looked at me, her face became brighter and less pale. We weren't treated particularly awful, and we were fed, but I'm sure everything up until now has not been easy for her. I don't think I made anything better either. I didn't realize how far gone we had left her.

Our Edonai were confiscated. We were left with little; the clothes on our backs, all so we could look presentable enough before this King. This meant our hands were also free, which is a terrible mistake on their part, should things go south.

Value. What makes us valuable? We're to be appraised as cattle for milk or meat. How would one escape the slaughterhouse?

Those thoughts lingered in my head as we entered his chambers.

A regal man with a bronze complexion. His exquisite clothing fit his muscular build. I thought all kings were fat tyrants. His facial hair framed his broad face and the scar over his eyes went from the circlet on his head down to his chin.

Truly the King Above Verdant Wolves.

I kneeled in respect and signaled Eclaire to do the same. A part of me is worried about how rash she might be during this conversation, but I trust her to make the correct judgments when it's matters of life and death, or I'd hope, if only in this moment.

The King's hoarse voice spoke down to us.

“Rise. I was told you may have services to offer. Speak now.”

I look the man in the face and I can tell. This might be a problem. He'd be able to see through any lies I might give. The sharp eyes he had, the experience his face revealed; there's little to be done against such an opponent. The wolf above wolves.

“Why, of course, fair King. Although it may not seem like much from the trinkets that were confiscated from me earlier, I am a man of education.”

“What it seems to me, is a runaway pig from Mysmegal and a wild mutt who abandoned her country.”

“Yes, well, that's an understandable assumption. If I may?”

“I'm not stopping you pig, but you may be best to act accordingly.”

This man is going to be difficult to talk to. I could feel the wrath growing in Eclaire. I gave a theatrical bow to gesture my obedience, but it was really so I can wave the hand behind my back to gesture to Eclaire. I don't want her to blow up into rage or anything during this time at all. At least, not this early. I don't expect much from this little hearing.

“With all respect, I’ll put it in simple terms. You know nothing of the Edonai. If you did, maybe the war effort would have amounted to more than a stalemate at Eisenbar.”

“Oh?”

I need to make myself the answer to the problems. I have to make not just my knowledge invaluable, but my abilities to find the solutions invaluable. Once I'm in a position to make demands, then I can get Eclaire to be with me. Of course this is all a bluff, the Edonai is a tool, not a miracle, even at its true function.

“If it wasn’t for the war escalating in the last three years, I would have been recognized as a scholar by the country and allowed free passage regardless of any political allegiances. There's much to this world my King, and to top it off… There's much to lose.”

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“Is that a threat, pig?”

“A threat? No. A premonition. While you and King Storgi are play fighting, there's something more dangerous going on.”

"You trample on the sacrifices of my kinsman and expect a positive outcome of this?"

"Of course not, a positive would be redundant, like I mentioned, I am a man of education. I seek answers that are not always so pretty. Doing something with those answers however, is what I strive for."

Even if the results are hopeless, it's even more of a waste of effort to stir in despair. Not me. I have to be methodical, I have to be efficient, but I have to throw myself full force for my own solutions. Not anyone else's.

Making use of the situation I was in led me to my current self, but expecting a problem to solve itself led Eclaire to be who she is right now.

Is there a right answer? Clearly not, we can't go back, we don't live multiple lives, the dead can't come back to life, matters of the heart can't be solved with facts and logic.

I fell to the path of education, catered to by my mother, and my personal ideal to help my family.

Eclaire fell to the path of bloodlust, forced onto her by the mental strain recklessly made by us.

The King finished assessing me and continued to talk.

"So what? Pretty words resolve debates and papers, but they do not end wars."

"The war is of no consequence to me."

"What did you just say?!"

His soldiers prepare to draw their weapons out of reflex.

I appear to have had Eclaire rub off on me a little.

The bones in my right arm crackle and tear. Electricity courses through my veins.

Efficiently, like a tree branch of light coursing through my veins.

Hema so tarisai shi sahhe riu fumaka ya rokoeu

"Heed the lightning that becomes the angel’s wings"

The King shouts in surprise.

"What?! They confiscated your Edonai, what's the meaning of this?!"

I step forward in front of the King and extend my arm towards his face like a blade.

Crackle–

The pain in my arm is amplified with every repetition the electricity makes. I was never supposed to be able to use magic. At the same time…

I learnt how pointless the affinity check was. At least in regards to actually using magic. There are many heights I’ll never achieve due to it.

"As I mentioned, King Walder of Elkysti, you know nothing of the Edonai."

Seeing how close I am to their King, the guards in front of me freeze as their King's life is being threatened. When I look behind me, in the chaos, Eclaire stole the two guards' swords behind me and has them pressed against their neck.

The electricity formed in Galvanic Drive is not nearly strong enough to harm anyone. Only combined with my sword and allowing myself the time to build it up can it be terrifying.

Calling my bluff, the King smirks.

I knew it.

In response to my bold actions, King Regius Walder stands up in response to my blasphemy. He takes a brief glance at my electrified arm and speaks.

“Language of The Ancients and magic with no Edonai… Speak your terms and I may have something of a duty for you.”

Thankfully since Galvanic Drive is not supposed to be used on anything other than metals, it quickly disperses and I speak with him. After the electricity disappears, he signals everyone to place down their weapons. They all listen, well except for Eclaire who is on edge.

“Give me a space I can work, and make sure she's with me. Give me that, and my knowledge is yours– No… Everyones.”

“You wish to publicize everything you find? Are you mad? You’ll be of no benefit to me then–”

“Information is only important to those who find it. I’m a man of education. I have to share my information or it dies with me. Do you honestly think Mysmegal would listen to information shared by your country?”

The King bursts into an abrupt laugh and quells it just as quickly.

“Haha, well then… I may not look it, but I too am someone of a heavy educational background. In fact, I couldn’t have kept this country from tipping over if I didn’t bother to read Mysmegalian Scholar’s works on their ecology…”

“Then–”

“Yes. I’ll accept your terms Gilbert Argevald– No… Lord Argevald.”

“Lord…?”

“Well, let's make it sting for them shall we? Publicized from not just a traitor of their country, but he shall be exalted here as well.”

That suits me just fine. It doesn’t matter to me if everyone believes what I find, or if many people are going to seek the information I document. I do the work that he wants, and I do what I want. However, if he gives me respect, someone who ran away from his country, then no normal person would believe the ravings of a traitor.

“That’s a bit conniving, isn’t it, oh righteous King?”

“Oh…? Are you saying that of all things? Let me make this clear, Lord Argevald. You are no pig, but you certainly are not a proud wolf of this country. That little girl may be, though. You’re not more than a mere, lowly fox. Biding your time for your hunt.”

“I’ll accept that as a compliment with honor, sire.”

“As you should.”

When I turn to Eclaire, she finally eases her shoulders and runs to me. I’m sure she has a million questions, and honestly… I wish I could give them.

I want to be happy that we’re not just together again and we will probably have some semblance of freedom, but I can’t. There is always something preventing us from living our lives in peace.

Go through the possibilities.

I don’t care about this war. I’ll be getting a status that benefits me from keeping it going. Additionally, this only prevents me from going to Mysmegal. I know the old man was taken here, so I can figure it out later.

I don’t care about vengeance. I don’t like the trauma that Shanen El’gant has done to Eclaire, but if I never see him again, it doesn’t matter. We can take it one step at a time in order to help her.

I don’t care about status. Honestly, living our lives struggling as no-names would have been fine too. If we were on the run, I’d make it work.

However…

There is more to this world. There is more to these things the elves give to use known as The Edonai. There is more that can separate us from each other.

I’ll rip out that truth this world is hiding.

I won’t let any of my precious memories end up as a puddle of crimson.

Emma, I'm going to live on in this world.

Mother, we’re going to survive.