I felt a gaze on me.
Looking beside us, I saw Natsuki looking at us with a curious expression.
"Wtf, .... Goddess you need to learn some manners and knock before coming."
Seriously, are Gods so uncultured now?
"Ahem, I didn't mean to disturb you two, but the people outside asked me to inform you that it is time for departure."
Is it already dawn?
"Honestly...why am I doing this?" She muttered to herself briefly and teleported back.
I turned to Ellen for opinion. "..Give me a minute."
"Okay."
...
"Has everyone arrived?"
"Nope, Leon and Ellen are remaini-"
"Yo, guys" I greeted them casually.
From how long are they waiting for us? And why have even they assembled here?
"Speak of the Devil," Noir said.
"Did something happen? what is this sudden gathering for now?"
"??" Noir and others stared at me with a face likely saying 'what is he talking about.'
Did I ask something so obvious?
Lux asked me with a dubious expression. "You seriously, don't know." Even Austin was looking at me questioningly.
What is it??
I shook my head in response.
"Tha-"
"It's a Custom."
Ellen's voice sounded from behind me.
"Custom?"
"Yeah, it's customary, whenever we go to perform a mission which has an extremely low probability of success, all the surviving members exchange souvenirs of the journey between each other."
"It symbolises hope and faith that even after darkest time there is light and you can kinda consider it like as a friendship token."
"Brothers in Arms... Interesting." Not bad.
I darted my eyes once, everyone was holding few articles.
Hmm... If I had known this earlier, I would have also found something.
Arthur noticed the issue. "You don't need to mind it if you don't have anything to exchange. Take this, it's just a custom regardless."
Ellen followed him. " Yea, take this it's from me."
"It's from me." "From me." ""It's mine ""
"Thank you."
"Nevermind, it's a culture, said it."
Similarly, I got gifts from everyone, let's take a look, ...a stone, gem, pendent, seeds perhaps of a rare plant, seed again but of different variety and a Flower... It is identical to one inside the Cursed forest.
Doesn't look that special. Did they just randomly choose anything out?
Inexpensive and easy way to recollections of memories.
Have to agree it's actually a good idea and whoever started it deserves a reward.
Maybe I could make something.
"Hmm...guys, wait here, I will be coming back soon."
Ellen frowned. "Where are you going now?"
"Just nearby, will be back in a minute."
Even before Ellen can say anything I disappeared.
Ellen shook her head in defeat and sighed. "Controlling this guy is impossible."
"I would rather not try to control him." Edger stepped next to her.
"What do you mean?" She frowned slightly and narrowed her eyes at him. On a closer look they were isolated by a sound barrier. [Why is he behaving weird today]
Edger put on a serious expression and spoke with a sincere tone. "He is dangerous, not just in power level but overall, look around him, a God is observing him and I refuse to believe she is just free to wander around him needlessly. All his spells are something which we have never heard or seen."
"He is like an explosive which can blast anytime, my instincts are telling, wherever he goes, trouble will follow him and to the people near him."
"It's my duty as your past caretaker and guardian to warn you if you don't want to ruin your life stay away from him and reconsider your decision. He is a boon and a curse at the same time.
Ellen observed him for quite a bit before she chuckled slightly and smiled.
"Dangerous is it..." She glimpsed at him briefly before turning around.
"You know Edger, when did I first meet him? ... It was the moment when I was being chased by dozens of Cursed beasts.
"How much time do you think he took to eliminate them all ...Few minutes? or a single minute?... It was only a single second and boom everything turned into ashes." Ellen's eyes shone with excitement. She can never forget that rainy night and those radiant flames which saved her...
She turned around and glanced back at Edger. "I know him better than you and how Dangerous he is and... can be."
"Then why are you still?" Edger looked at her in surprise.
It doesn't make any sense if we are already aware of danger shouldn't we normally stay away from it.
Ellen lifted up her lips and smiled gracefully. "Why I am still deciding to be with him right?" She heaved a short sigh and continued. "... I don't exactly know myself, but I have taken my choice and now, regardless of the outcome I am going to follow it till the end."
Edger feel silent, shortly after he shook his head helplessly and sighed. "I see... But what if it doesn't turn out the way you think."
Ellen smiled. "Isn't that life? We can't have everything the way we want. We can not just control everything and sometimes we just go with the flow... Did you forget this Edger, didn't you taught me this yourself."
"... It is alright if it doesn't work out. I am not weak enough to not being able to handle that, but I would rather try than not try."
There was an awkward silence between them.
Edger took a deep breath. "...You have grown."
"Everyone has to, ... let's go finish the goodbyes, they are waiting." Ellen stated briefly and stepped out of the barrier.
Edger stared at the receding back of Ellen and sighed with emotion.
He whispered to himself in melancholy. " I wasn't able to save your daughter Albert, but, you should be proud, your granddaughters have truly grown and they have gone upon you, I don't think they need my further protection..."
"To think that one day, I would get taught by a girl less than half of my age." He mumbled.
"Sigh, I must be getting old."
"Hey, old man. What are you mumbling here alone for?" I noticed Edger standing alone. What is he doing here?
Don't tell me he suffering from emotional distress?
"Old man, huh...." Edger shook his head disappointed.
"What??"
What happened to him now?
"Leon, you are back, where were you," Lux shouted.
"Just a round-trip to Cursed Forest," I replied briefly and moved towards the centre.
Everyone looked at me in curiosity.
I snapped my fingers. A portal opened, five gems floated out of it.
Each was of a different shade and colour. One was sky blue, while another was indigo both glided in the air as they make their way towards Lux and Noir respectively.
"What's this!?" "??"
Next was green in colour it made its way towards Arthur and another one was Yellow it floated to Edger.
Finally, the last one was blazing red, it flew directly into Ellen's hand.
"What's this??"
I smiled. "This is a gift from me to everyone. It is a type of protective equipment that can guard you against an attack of demigod level spell in an emergency, I customised them accordingly to increase the stability of your elements as well."
... It should also help me to track them, when needed.
"Why does it sound like a description of National treasure?" Noir spoke in a half-joking manner.
Arthur nodded. "It's doesn't only 'sound' but actually is"
"Where did you get this," Ellen asked with curiosity.
I smirked proudly."Just killed few beasts, refined their souls, enchant them and that's it, done."
Lux spoke in an uncertain tone. "Did you make this all in just a few mins?... And wait how did you find the souls." Later he regretted asking it.
"Just killed some beasts," I replied casually.
"Yeah about that, where did you find them." He got the attention of others as well, they looked towards me for an answer.
"In the Cursed Forest, where else can I?" I shrugged and calmly spoke not bothered by their looks.
"..." "..." "..."
They gawked at me with an expressionless face, as to verify whether it was a joke or not.
Lux sighed in defeat. "I forgot, he is not in the category of humans anymore."
"Why don't you try selling it, Merchants will go insane over this, even royalties." Good idea but not interested right now.
"Not short on money." I shrugged indifferently.
"Yeah, yeah big people."
Doesn't matter think as you want. Suddenly, I noticed something.
"Wait!" I shouted at Ellen.
Ellen, who was going to hang the gem as a necklace, stopped abruptly.
" What?!" She turned toward me in confusion.
Instead of answering her, I opened another space next to me, but this time a small one. A ring floated out of it.
"Try this It will be better." I transferred her the ring.
It is just a random ring from the treasury of Quentin house, though it's better than hanging it.
She wore the ring after replacing the random stone on the ring with the Gem.
... At that point nobody noticed Edger looking at the stone with a frown over his face.
"Not bad" I nodded in approval.
Ellen rotated her hands, examining it, she gasped with a charmed expression. "Beautiful..." Even with a simplistic design, it emits an ancient atmosphere.
The impression it gives is sacred and holy. Maybe due to spells used by me.
"What about me." Austin pointed to himself.
I said in an apologetic manner. "Hmm....about you" I displayed him a piece of shining black coloured gem.
"This will take some time in completion, your elements are a little tricky and unique ones."
"Okay." He replied in a dejected voice.
"Hey, what are you depressed about, aren't you going to travel with me, why do you even need protection in the first place."
Ellen furrowed at my behaviour. "Can't you talk to him properly. Sigh, ...take this one instead, think it as compensation." She handed over a locket to Austin.
"This was given to me by the adventurer who saved me back then, from that day my new life started."
"Think this as the start of your new life."
"...new life." Austin whispered.
I stepped near Ellen, admiring her. "Good, good but ain't that important to you."
"Isn't all that your fault, I have to bear your responsibility now." She shot me a grudge full look.
"??"
Eh, How is it my fault?
She shook her head tired and cast a soundproofing barrier nearby, insulating us.
She moved near me and whispered after a brief silence."...Don't forget you are partially responsible for his father death."