Chapter 178 - Elanor
<Hooded elf POV>
‘Tsk, I failed, I need to report to his majesty.’ The hooded elf sat on a nearby building still watching over the group.
Pulling out the piece of paper he received, he activated the magic circle that was on it and a connection was created.
“They made contact with Elanor.” The elf got straight to the point, hoping that he wouldn’t be exiled himself.
“Good, Now keep watch. I couldn’t say it before because of the old man’s magic that encases the castle, but I wanted them to meet.” Raiu informed the hooded elf that it was a good thing they met, but this confused him as it was a complete contrast to his orders from last night.
“I am currently out doing errands, hence I can talk about it, but I want my daughter back so I hope our visitors can bring her along. Now continue your observation and report to me when they are close to entering the palace grounds.” Raiu cut off the connection, leaving the hooded elf shocked about the news.
‘Well this is an interesting twist, but the king’s orders are absolute.’ The elf was relieved as he didn’t lose his position and seemingly did the right thing in just abandoning Elanor.
‘I just hope I don’t get involved even further than I already am.’ The elf who was a normal soldier for the king could tell this issue was very personal, so for his own safety hoped that this is all he has to do.
*
<Back Alley>
“Shaman?” Elanor said Shaman’s name out loud as it was the name she was told and hoped it was her.
“Hmm? You know my name? Silver did you tell her my name?” Shaman turned to Silver who was looking up into the sky, pretending that he did nothing.
*Sigh* “Whatever, Are you okay?” Shaman examined Elanor’s body and came to the realisation she had quite the proportions.
‘Damn, where are mine?’ Feeling a little envious of Elanor, Shaman once again prayed her next evolution will bear results for her body.
“Y-yes, he didn’t hurt me.” Elanor, still shaking from the experience, found it hard to calm down.
“Good. Hey Kiruya, should we take her back home or to our room?” Turning to Kiruya who sat up against the building wall, thought about it for a moment.
“Hmm we will take her back to ours for safety and escort her home after we’ve assessed the situation.” Kiruya got up from the ground with the help of Clara and grabbed her weapons that were lodged into the ground.
“Alright, come with us, we will get you somewhere safe.” Shaman helped Elanor up and, feeling that her legs were still shaking, Shaman used herself as support for Elanor.
‘Calm down, we are just helping.’ Elysia took deep breaths and was digging her nails into her own hands trying to calm down. As her blood trickled down, the coldness of her blood caused her to snap out of it. Quickly bringing her hand to her mouth Elysia tried to lick it off to hide that she hurt herself.
‘This is so frustrating, I wish I could get over this already.’ Elysia was getting angry at herself for not being able to control her feelings as it was bluntly obvious they were only helping.
“Elysia? Your hand… are you okay?” Clara saw the blood on Elysia’s hand and knew something was wrong. Reminded again that Elysia needed help, Clara resolved herself to get closer to Elysia for Shaman’s sake.
‘This is my chance.’ Although Clara wasn’t aware of the plans Shaman had, Clara herself figured out on her own that she needed to close the gap between them.
“O-oh I’m fine.” Elysia turned her head, as Clara was the last person she wanted to tell about her problems, especially since they indirectly involved her.
“Here.” Clara gently grabbed Elysia’s hand and pulled out bandages to stop the bleeding.
Elysia’s core shook as the switch inside her was almost flipped, but the gentle touch of Clara was oddly soothing. This was enough of a distraction for Elysia to not allow herself to go crazy.
Clara felt a sudden burst of hatred and disgust, but then it suddenly disappeared. Looking up nervously while patching Elysia’s hand, she saw her face blush slightly.
‘What the hell is going on?’ Clara wasn’t sure what to make of the reaction, but she continued what she was doing which seemed to work.
“All done.” Clara, not wanting to ruin the moment, cheerfully spoke and smiled despite her confusion.
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“T-thank you.” Once Clara was done, Elysia was able to breathe again as she no longer felt her other side coming out.
“Come on you two, we need to leave.” Kiruya saw everything happen and, since she was aware of the circumstances, let things play out until they had to leave.
“Oh yes coming.” Clara panicked for a moment and blushed a little as it was rare for her and Elysia to be seen together.
‘Why did my heart suddenly race?’ Elysia felt her head spinning while Clara was touching her hand and felt a familiar feeling to what she had with Shaman. When Shaman saved Elysia and was taking care of her, she felt for the first time this genuine care. It didn’t matter to Shaman who Elysia was. Such unconditional care which was something she lacked for many years.
‘No, no, no that can’t be happening.’ Elysia did not want to continue the thought as there was no way she could come to like Clara.
Elysia, needing more time to sort out her thoughts, stayed at the back, holding her head, trying to understand her own emotions while following the group.
**
Returning back to their inn, Shaman sat Elanor down in a chair and planned to ask her some questions.
“Do you know why you were targeted?” Shaman assumed Elanor was someone popular as the rather expensive green dress and looks suggested she was well off.
“It could have been the debt collectors, they have been getting more aggressive about taking my body as payment.” Elanor’s first thought was the noble debt collectors that were insistent on using her body and were now taking extreme measures.
Shaman was speechless as it was a horrible situation to be in. She couldn’t believe someone like Elanor was going through such circumstances.
“Then may I ask where you come from?” Shaman wanted more background knowledge and hearing Elanor had to pay some kind of debt, she wondered if there was a way they could help.
“I-I umm.” Elanor wasn’t sure if she should say that she was from the royal family and since they were outsiders it would look bad for her father’s reputation.
“If you don’t want to say it’s okay, we all have our secrets about our identities.” Shaman, seeing Elanor fidget upon hearing her questions, decided to not push and switched to asking about something else.
However, Shaman’s words affected Elanor differently and made her feel more comfortable about disclosing who she was.
‘Looks like they are not the type of people to care.’ While initially worried she would be discriminated against, Elanor was now hopeful that they could help since they are adventurers.
“I am the exiled daughter of king Raiu.” Taking a deep breath, she realised how silly it sounded, as if she was doing some kind of roleplay.
“I knew it!” Kiruya who was leaning up against the wall had a feeling it was royalty as the last time she went to the palace, she saw a little black-haired girl and Elanor had the same face as that girl.
“Huh?” Elanor looked over to Kiruya and was surprised to hear that someone potentially knew who she was.
“Wait, why are you exiled?” Shaman was surprised by the reveal and now had more questions about how the hell she ended up where she is.
“Hold on Shaman, let me quickly jump in.” Kiruya now knowing who Elanor was, intended to give a bit of background knowledge to help Shaman understand.
‘Correct me if I’m wrong at any point, Elanor.” Kiruya then cleared her throat before beginning to explain a bit about royalty.
“Now as you see Elanor has black hair and not the usual blonde which signifies royal blood. The last time I visited, which was many years ago, this one here was barely a teenager. Now for the issue as you may have guessed, Elanor has no sign of royalty on her and I can assume the old ruler who is still around didn’t quite like the so-called impurity in her.” Kiruya paused for a moment and, seeing Elanor bite her lip, guessed that so far everything she said was correct.
“I don’t know if this was the only issue, but since a defining trait is a super important part of their culture, especially to the older elves, they used this as an excuse to forcefully exile Elanor from the family. Adding insult to injury, to restrict her movement they even forced her into debt.” Kiruya finished leaving everyone speechless.
“S-she is right, my great grandfather couldn’t stand the sight of me and since he still has more authority over the kingdom than my father, grandfather forced him to kick me out. I have been trying to get back, but every time I get close, the guards turn me away.” Elanor knew of the secret entrance to the palace that avoided the dungeon, but every time she would be denied.
“Hmm, we can sneak you in when we go to the dungeon since we are here to visit.” Shaman, thinking aloud on a whim, saw no harm in helping, seeing that Elanor was in a very unfair situation. She also considered the fact Elanor was royalty. Worst case, they could “pretend” Elanor snuck in with them to get to the palace.
“Really?!” A glimmer of hope appeared in Elanor’s eyes as she looked at Shaman, hopeful she wasn’t just hearing things.