The Earl was no longer a problem. But, the situation of the current world that Kael discovered was an even more pressing matter. And so, Kael planned to talk about it to Elalios, hoping that the servant of the Earl will help him in any way.

“Kael”, Elalios called. He was with Seqina who was commanded by the Earl to stay for the time being.

Kael was a bit surprised, as Seqina hugged him immediately after getting inside the house of worship. The lady was smiling, teary-eyed seeing the child once again. She insisted to check Kael’s wellbeing, which was a difficult request to reject for Elalios.

Seqina spent so much time with Kael, unable to sense the situation that she put Kael in. Kael was looking at Elalios, trying to communicate with his eyes, but even if Elalios knew the message, he couldn’t think of any words to say. All they can do was to wait for Seqina to leave in her own volition.

It was almost night time when Seqina decided to scout around the village to make sure that there were no demons lurking around. She apologized for forgetting the danger that could be around, which Kael accepted.

“Finally,”, Elalios said, looking at Seqina who was closing the doors of the house of worship.

Kael saw the cheerful smile that Seqina showed before she completely closed the doors. He felt relieved that the lady didn’t suspect that he escaped from the castle on his own. He waited for Elalios to sit near him, and was about to speak. But Elalios spoke first.

“What was that?”

“Wh–what do you mean?”, Kael asked in return.

“I heard your voice in my head. I’m sure I didn’t imagine it”, Elalios said, pressuring Kael to answer him. “Did you do that?”

“You left with the Earl for too long”

“I knew it, I wasn’t out of my mind”, Elalios sighed. “But that’s terrifying. For you to get to my head like that”

“I apologize”

“No need. I knew you didn’t mean any harm”, Elalios paused. “Just, next time, say something beforehand that you can do terrifying magic like that”

Kael nodded at him. Elalios rest his back to his chair, and faced the altar of the house.

“So, there’s something you want to tell me?”

Kael was a little surprised. “Yes”, Kael paused for a while, checking if there’s any prying ears outside. “About the demons”

Elalios looked at Kael, his back still rested to the chair. “What of them? Don’t worry, the Earl will take care of them”

“I thought I killed all of them”

Hearing Kael, Elalios was reminded again of who he was talking to. He prepared himself, then explained the situation in the current world.

While Elalios revealed the large presence of demons in the world, Kael felt frustrated. He thought he eliminated all the darkness for good, but he failed in his mission. He wondered if his efforts to unite the world failed as well. And so, he couldn’t resist to ask.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Can I ask a question?”

“As long as I can answer it”, Elalios replied.

“Then, what do you think of elves?”

“Where did that came from?”

“I’m just asking”

Elalios was a bit shocked, but Kael’s silence begged him to answer the strange question.

“Well, they hate us, that’s why we’re at war against them”

“War!?”

“Y–yes”, Elalios was surprised, seeing Kael’s reaction. “It’s far from here, but it’s happening”

Kael stopped asking. He was distraught, hearing from Elalios that his works didn’t do anything.

‘Nothing changed.. what I tried preventing happened still’

Elalios saw the sadness in Kael’s eyes. He expressed his sympathy by letting the child ponder in silence. There’s a moment of silence inside the house, but then, Seqina returned inside.

Seqina was a breath of calm for them. She was able to distract Kael from the regrets he feel at the moment. She invited Kael and Elalios for the evening meal to which the two accepted.

----------------------------------------

The Earl arrived at Cleron after several days of travel. He ordered Cadell to investigate around town. However, his command was not to find the demons’ whereabouts. He intended to be alone, as he knew, the demons will come to him.

“Gideon..”, a voice was heard coming from the Earl’s room window. There’s no one outside. Instead, two demons appear near the door of the room. It was the pitiful Osbert who didn’t have any limbs anymore along with the red-eyed demon.

“Why are you here?”, the Earl asked.

“I got curious”, the red-eyed demon said. “Life is coming back to your face”

The Earl looked at the demon, visibly enraged.

“Did you replace your son?”, the demon sneered at the Earl.

[Burn]

The demon was engulfed in flames. Not a trace was left, but dark mist clustered to his position, reconstructing his body.

“You should finish your obligation so that you can actually kill me”

“Get out”

The Earl sat on his chair, shifting his glance to the papers on his table.

“Did you like my present?”

The Earl didn’t pay attention.

“I helped him escape”

The Earl paused, the demon smiled at him. But, just as quick as the demon smiled, it changed its face to annoyance.

“You’re taking care of a monster”, the red-eyed demon said, but the Earl continued his writing.

The demon voiced that Kael is an abnormality, manipulating his speeches to convince the Earl to let the child go. It couldn’t hide his worry about Kael being an uncertain factor to his plan. However, the evident distraught that the demon showed was received by the Earl as mere facade, much to the demon’s anger.

“Why would you not believe me?”

The Earl paused again. He looked at the red-eyed demon, disgusted as before.

“Why would I trust a sly demon?”, the Earl returned to his stoic demeanor. “Get out”

The demon was frustrated, leaving the Earl alone after hours of failed attempt to manipulate his enemy. But, in a way, his words did affect the Earl.

Without his awareness, Earl Gideon was starting to doubt Kael.