"I-I can't believe it! All this time… it was that obvious…" Ezesinachi fell to the ground on all fours, frustrated with how foolish he was in the past. "And I thought…I'm one of his loyal devotees, yet I can't even remember such basic of his teaching…"
"Hmm… the Pretender's charisma attribute must be quite high if he can trick the four of you." Dov rubbed his bear jaw while continuing to analyze every second of the scene on the river. "To make it worse, two of you are religious leaders."
"Charisma? Wait, are you saying the Pretender used some kind of skill? Like illusion or—"
"Shapeshift." Dov finished the Chief's hesitant sentence.
"Right… that means they're an adventurer right? Does anyone come to mind?" Ezesinachi then asked.
"A couple. Although… most shapeshifters I know are humans or their allies (like demons and lycans). But if we're talking about illusion… isn't dark elf supposed to be the best at it?" Dov questioned.
"We are. It's just… I don't think there's any of us who's brave enough to scheme against a race as powerful as human." The Chief went back on his feet. "I'm sure you're already aware, but my people aren't the only ones partaking in this plan."
"Correct."
"We're quite an introverted race. There's no way any of us would do something like asking for help from any other race. Even if they're another elf." Ezesinachi crossed his hand with a troubled face. "Angel and merfolk are also good with illusion if you're interested."
"Let's just continue watching your memories, the brokers will handle the information screening."
"Wise enough."
The two went on watching all the scenes between Ezesinachi and the Pretender. The other dark elves seemed to also get rejoiced every time the Pretender came to visit. And seeing how their noses move, it seems the Pretender also mimicked All-father's scent.
With each month passed the shrine continue to thrive and grow prosperous. Their corps filled more fields, their animals grew bigger and more numerous, and their wealth skyrocketed.
"Now that I know that the Pretender isn't the All-father, I'm actually amazed by how they single-handedly made the shrine this advance." Ezesinachi couldn't help but praised them.
"They're intelligent, that's for sure."
The stream of memories then flowed until came a scene from one month ago. The Pretender and the whole dark elves' leader were in the same room discussing something.
"Ahh… I think this was when it officially began. Where the Pretender invited us to destroy humanity." Ezesinachi glared at the scene, filled with the feeling of regret and hatred.
"You looked pretty thrilled by the idea." Dov commented.
"How can I not!?" The Chief stared at Dov with a face full of wrath. "Human is what made you demons so strong because you have incubi and succubi! Come to think of it… you're an incubus aren't you?" His voice came out hoarse.
"If that's what you think of me, Sure." Dov still played secretive, even to the dead.
"Ever since conflict broke between our races, demons always have the upper hand, and butchered us like rabbits! Even after we became their servants, you shitheads still endlessly send my people to their death!" The Chief snapped. "If humanity perish, and dark elves continue to flourish, you bastards can no longer bother us! We can finally have the peaceful life we deserve…"
"Alas… it's only but a dream." Dov sent the memories away from them. Now the streams just circled around those two like a whirlpool.
"Yes— a dream." Ezensinachi fell limp to the floor, sitting there feeling weak, regretting every choice he made as a Chief. "Now that I think of it… shouldn't the humans who survived the Siege of Drakenvale be insanely strong? Even if the alliance somehow manages to win the war we'll still be losing a lot of our number. This scheme… it's so unbaked, so full of holes…"
"I mean look at me! I'm the strongest in the shrine, yet I'm struggling to just keep the fight between us at a stalemate! And both of us were somewhat on the same level." The Chief hid his face behind his legs and arms. He couldn't handle how stupid his life was.
"Speaking of power, my lord." As Dov said it, Ezesinachi lifted his face up and stared at him with his forlorn gaze. "There was never a heated battle between us."
"Huh? What do you mean?" The Chief asked in confusion.
"I'm simply stalling, stalling for the right moment."
"Right moment…? For what?"
"You know as a Hunter, I have really sharp senses. I sense everything going on around me, I sense everything that came at me."
Hearing Dov said that, Ezesinachi went silent for a moment. He tried to remember how the fight went, and how it ended. Suddenly his eyes went wide open as realization finally struck.
"You— you did it on purpose! You killed my mother on purpose! You piece of shit! Why!?" The elf stood and snapped, screaming at Dov in anger.
"Your people are too much of a coward, I need them to be courageous, so they would fight us to the death." Dov just stared at the Chief's tantrum with his enchanted blue eyes.
"For what!? What benefit would you have by them fighting back, huh!? Are you mad!?"
"For your information, my lord. My only target for this mission was you. Hunter isn't allowed to kill a non-objective individual if they don't possess threat or danger to the Hunter."
"You— you wanted to kill us all! You evil! What is wrong with you!?" The Chief jumped as close as he could to Dov's face and growled at him with resentment and hatred. He clenched the collar of his clothes, yet he can't do anything since he's but a soul. "Why!? What did my people ever do to you!?
"Sorry." That's the most unsincere word Dov ever uttered to the Chief. "But every threat to humanity's existence must be eliminated."
"They're just too important to perish."
As Dov said that, all the river of memories began to fade, a clear sign that he was about to end the meeting between those two.
"You— how could you!? Monster! Evil! My mother cared about you…" The Chief couldn't hold back his tears from all the mixed feelings he felt.
"When you suffered enough lost, my lord. You'll learn to choose which love to cherish, and which love… you should throw away." Dov turned his back, he was ready to leave this meeting.
"I'll… fucking find you… you hear me you piece of shit! I'll fucking hunt you down in the next life, even to the depth of hell!" The Chief swore in anger. "I'll make you regret every second of your existence!"
"It's incredibly sad for me to say this my lord but… I won't be alive by the time you reincarnate. All-father told me that a soul needs at least 100 years to be reborn." Dov said. "And in my next life, you won't find me as a Hunter, you don't even know who I am behind this mask. Just enjoy the afterlife, forget about all your worries in life."
"Don't worry, I'll send your people to accompany you. Including your fiancée."
"Bastard! I hope you suffer, Night Bear—" As fragments of light Ezesinachi left the Stream of Memories. However, his departure didn't leave Dov alone, there was also another person that he ate with the Devourer.
"Do you resent me for this… Emilohi?"
And that person was the Prioress.
"Nope. I just hope whatever your decisions are, you won't regret them later." She smiled at him, as motherly as she ever was.
"Don't worry, I've learned to live passed it." Dov turned his gaze to look at her face.
"You've experienced death, haven't you?"
"Multiple times, most people in the afterlife probably know me already."
"Is that so?" Emilohi walked closer toward him to finally wrapped him around her arms. "What's your first name, Dov?"
". . ." Dov went silent for a moment, he know it was his real name she asked for. "Luther." But his name on his first life.
"Luther? I see…" The Prioress closed her eyes and let comfort coat her for the last time. "Let's meet again in the next life, Luther."
"But this time… as a friend—"
Like Ezesinachi, the Prioress turned into fragments of light, fading away from the Stream of Memories. Now, Dov is finally truly alone.
"Yeah… that would be nice."