Shun scrutinized Elysia Eukanorn closely. Despite her youthful appearance, which seemed unsettlingly young for someone of Sirius Xshasi's era, her eyes betrayed an ancient depth filled with memories and emotions. Those eyes convinced him that she indeed held the truths of history. King Eldran, standing nearby, did not glance back at her; his face was shadowed by a deep, unspoken remorse.
"Would you like to accompany me to my home?" Elysia asked softly. "I can answer your questions on the way."
Shun responded with a flat, emotionless, "Sure," though his mistrust lingered. Yet, he moved to stand beside Elysia, knowing she was the only one privy to the mysteries surrounding his enigmatic grandfather.
With that, the selection ceremony neared its end. King Eldran quickly addressed the assembly, "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for your bold and thoughtful decisions. May your futures shine like stars in the darkest night."
His words, though simple, carried profound meaning. The other complete ethereal warriors exchanged a variety of glances before engaging in private conversations with their chosen apprentices. Elysia, however, merely waved at the King. "We'll be on our way, then!" she announced cheerfully, not waiting for a reply. She took off with youthful energy, pulling Shun along with her.
As they walked, Elysia spoke, her voice tinged with regret. "Shun, I must apologize for not being there during your childhood. Instructor Xshasi's identity is one that, if discovered, would have brought nothing but discrimination and hatred."
"Yeah, it didn't," Shun muttered, bitterness lacing his words. "But that didn't make my childhood any better."
"I'm truly sorry," Elysia said, her pace slowing, the sincerity in her voice palpable. "Your parents died in an accident, and I lost all traces of you."
Shun had no recollection of how his parents died; his early years were a foggy haze, a dream that had slipped away, leaving him alone and adrift.
"But now, you've been found me," Elysia continued, her tone brightening. "You have someone to call family."
Shun's gaze remained distant. "It doesn't really matter anymore. All I care about now is uncovering the truth about my ancestors and the real history."
Elysia forced a smile. "I'll tell you everything at my place. But before that, is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
Shun raised an eyebrow, "How old are you?"
Elysia sighed, a playful glint in her eyes. "Has no one ever told you not to ask a woman her age? I've lost track, but I'd say I'm around 90 or so."
"Your ethereal arm preserves your youth?"
"Yes," she nodded. "My ethereal arm is the weakest in the complete class, its ability is merely to reject the misfortunes of my body—aging, disease, pain. I've rejected them all. But death... I don't think even that can be rejected."
"Perhaps to a god, death is a blessing rather than a misfortune."
Shun's eyebrow arched again. "Who is this god, anyway? The Three Champions received their abilities from a god, right?"
"That's part of the story," Elysia replied. "I wasn't there when the Tyrant was defeated, but according to your grandfather, the story is fairly accurate."
"But no one truly knows who 'god' is. After the Tyrant's fall, ethereal arms, Eternal Dynasty art scrolls, and Luca Azoria's immortal army simply materialized in the sky. Humanity, in its fear of the unknown, labeled it all as 'an act of the gods.'"
Shun's perception of Elysia shifted after this brief conversation. She wasn't just knowledgeable—she was someone he might even trust.
"You are wise, Elysia."
"I'm not wise," she laughed softly. "I've just lived through what happened." Her chuckle was light, unexpected, a small joy at hearing such words from the normally cold and emotionless descendant of her old instructor.
They walked in silence until they reached Elysia's residence, a large, old-fashioned house devoid of decorations. Its simplicity was starkly at odds with Elysia's lively personality.
"This was the instructor's house," Elysia said, her voice neutral. "It stood here long before the crusade against the Tyrant began. I live here now, in his place." Her tone was devoid of sorrow, but her eyes spoke volumes of unhealed wounds.
The interior of the house matched its exterior—spacious, but sparsely furnished. Elysia flung herself onto a sofa with the energy of a teenager, while Shun chose a smaller, equally comfortable seat beside her. He found himself liking the place.
Without further preamble, Elysia cleared her throat and began, her voice steady. Shun listened intently, unwilling to miss a single word.
"History is often dismissed as unimportant, a waste of time. Most people only know the basics, and few bother to teach it."
"Crusader King Nathaniel Heaven had nine commanders, six standard and three supreme, each leading a division of his army."
"The war 73 years ago was both straightforward and devastating. Victory brought peace, but at a steep cost. Two standard commanders and one supreme commander died. Those who survived were granted lordships after the kingdom was established."
"The supreme commander who perished was Alfrick Eldran—King Eldran's father. The others were Sirius Xshasi, who you know well, and Duncan Amnir, the former second complete ethereal warrior."
Shun interrupted, "Amnir? The family that led a rebellion a few years ago?"
Elysia nodded. "Yes, his son, Daniel Amnir, led that rebellion. Though he failed, he succeeded in wiping out the families of two standard commanders—the Cylus and Blunden clans. One of those was Emilia's family."
Shun had always known Emilia came from a noble family that had been destroyed, he couldn't even slightly understand how she survived with such resilience and positivity.
"Now, only three aristocratic clans remain—the Lionheart, Skyland, and Eldran clans."
"And how does this relate to my grandfather?" Shun asked.
"The rebellion wasn't connected to him, but like Daniel Amnir, your grandfather was, as they say, 'corrupted by ambition and greed.'"
"But King Eldran said there was more to it," Shun pressed, his voice rising.
"There was," Elysia affirmed. "After the distrubution of ethereal arms, Instructor Xshasi took me on as an apprentice. He was designated the strongest ethereal warrior, while I received the weakest complete ethereal arm."
"But something changed in him after the war. He became cold, bloodthirsty, his heart consumed by some unknown rage. He remained gentle with me and his wife, but with others, he was ruthless."
"Eventually, he started his own rebellion, creating a formidable soldier with his ability. To this day, only the instructor and I know that soldier's true identity."
Shun's eyes widened. "Who?"
"Glenn Belkarn, the first Grand Head of the Belkarn Clan."