Both Elandar and Kaelan stood speechless for a moment, the weight of Arlon's words sinking in. Elandar cleared his throat, regaining his composure.
"I see. In that case, we really should talk about this," he said, his tone now serious.
The group convened inside Elandar's home, the air heavy with anticipation. Curiosity burned in their eyes, all focused on Arlon, waiting for him to speak.
Arlon drew a deep breath, his expression somber. "The creatures we faced earlier are called the Masters of the Land. Contrary to what we believed, they aren't guardians of the core—they're its prisoners," he began, his tone measured yet heavy with revelation.
A wave of astonishment rippled through the room. Murmurs of disbelief echoed around, but Arlon continued, his gaze unwavering.
"The gods created the Seven Lands, each one reflecting their divine will," Arlon explained. "To maintain harmony, they imbued each land with a core—an extension of their power."
"But the purpose of these cores is not what we thought. They're not here to ensure harmony; they're here to keep the Masters of the Land trapped."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "The gods built duality into these cores. Each land contains both light and dark, creation and destruction. The core embodies the light, while the Masters of the Land represent the dark."
"They are not allies, nor are they aligned in purpose. The core's role is to keep the Masters imprisoned, while the Masters themselves seek only one thing: escape."
I can't let them know the core sees me as a potential key for the Masters of the Land. Revealing that would only incite chaos and make it too dangerous for us to stay.
"..."
The room fell silent as everyone processed this new understanding. Kaelan was the first to break the silence, mumbling, "The Masters of the Land… those monsters we saw earlier."
Elandar nodded, his expression grim. "We thought their hostility was due to us being outsiders. But now, it seems they were looking for a way to escape their prison."
Arlon's gaze swept across the room, noting the shock and realization etched on everyone's faces. He knew this was only the beginning of a much larger truth they had yet to uncover.
"Did the Master of the Land tell you about all this?" Lawrence asked after a moment of thoughtful silence.
Arlon nodded. "Yes, but it wasn't just a casual conversation. It was after us—me and Ace. The reason is…" He hesitated, glancing at Elandar and Kaelan, the weight of his next words hanging heavily in the air.
"I'm the Sky Dragon Soul host. I'm sure you've already seen it," Arlon admitted, referring to the moment he had unleashed the power of the Sky Dragon Soul during the battle.
"Of course they saw it—the power of the Sky Dragon Soul is hard to miss," Ace added, still nestled in Arlon's arms.
Elandar's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of awe crossing his face. "You truly possess its power…" he murmured, the realization settling in.
Kaelan crossed his arms, his tone edged with skepticism. "No wonder you kept your cool during the fight," he remarked, his narrowed eyes betraying his lingering suspicion.
Calm? Arlon thought to himself, suppressing a dry chuckle. I was panicking the entire time for Lawrence's safety. If anything happened to him, the story's plot wouldn't progress as it should. The main character has to fulfill his destiny.
Clearing his throat, Arlon shifted the focus. "Anyway, the Master of the Land won't be attacking the village again. The core is ensuring they can't harm anyone anymore, so there's no need to worry."
The tension in the room eased slightly at his reassurances, though the gravity of what had been revealed still lingered. Everyone exchanged glances, processing the significance of Arlon's words.
Eric tugged at Elandar's sleeve, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Grandfather, are they good monsters now?"
Elandar gave a thoughtful sigh, gently patting Eric's head. "We can't be certain yet. It's too soon to trust them completely. But I hope they won't harm us again."
His gaze shifted to Arlon, his expression serious yet understanding. "Even so, the land has taken notice of you. There's more to your presence here than you might realize."
Arlon's mind raced, processing the elder's words. A nagging feeling told him there was something bigger at play, but he maintained his composure, offering a small nod.
"I suppose staying here too long might cause the land to get too attached to me," he joked lightly, though there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.
Elandar chuckled, the sound breaking some of the tension and lifting the spirits of those around him. The gray skies seemed to brighten slightly, and the wind calmed, as if the land itself had settled back into peaceful slumber.
As Arlon's companions prepared to leave the village, some of the gray wolves guided them to the forest's edge. Unlike their arrival, the woods now felt serene, the earlier hostility replaced by a tranquil stillness.
Rustle—
As they made their way through the tranquil forest, Arlon cast a glance at Ace, who lay unusually quiet in his arms. "Getting comfortable, are we?" Arlon teased, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Try not to fall asleep."
Ace narrowed his golden eyes, clearly annoyed but also slightly embarrassed. With a huff, he leapt onto Arlon's shoulder. "Comfortable? Hardly. The way you walk makes me dizzy. I'd rather sleep on a rag," he grumbled.
Arlon chuckled, ruffling the fur on Ace's head. "Alright, I'll tell Dimitri to prepare a nice rag for you to sleep on."
"No! Don't take it seriously!" Ace snapped, his tail flicking in irritation. "I prefer soft, comfortable cushions!"
Arlon's laughter filled the air, amused as always by Ace's sharp retorts. "Got it, soft cushions it is."
After some time, the group finally reached the edge of the forest, where the path stretched out toward their next destination. Arlon turned to face Elandar and Kaelan, the gray wolves who had guided them.
"We'll take it from here. Thank you for leading us this far," he said sincerely.
Elandar shook his head with a kind smile. "There's no need to thank us. You brought Eric back safely and shared invaluable knowledge about this land. We're the ones in your debt."
Eric stepped forward, looking up at Arlon with bright eyes. "You can still visit us, you know. I'm sure those scary monsters won't attack again."
Arlon offered a warm smile. "We'll see each other again before you know it."
Before they could leave, Ace called out to Eric, his tone playful but firm. "Hey, kid. Make sure you grow stronger by the time we meet again."
Eric nodded enthusiastically, determination shining in his eyes. "I will! I'll protect everyone from danger!"
Arlon turned to Alice and Anthony, his tone softening though tinged with concern. "Are you sure this is where you want to stay?"
Alice and Anthony stood at the edge of the village, their expressions resolute yet thoughtful. After a long discussion, they had decided to stay in the wolf village for the time being.
The village needed help, and the siblings felt a sense of purpose in aiding its recovery and protecting its people.
"We haven't figured out our next destination yet," Alice said, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty. "And maybe… we can help the village while we're here."
Anthony nodded in agreement, his usual stoic demeanor softening slightly. "It feels right to stay for now."
Arlon regarded them with a calm, understanding expression. "If that's your decision, I won't protest. Just remember, you're always welcome in the Empire if you want to see us again."
Internally, Arlon reflected on the shift from what he had expected. In the novel's original path, Alice and Anthony were meant to follow Lawrence to the Empire.
However, Eric's survival had altered the course of events. It didn't trouble Arlon; he knew that the trio would reunite eventually. This time, though, he would remain an observer, watching from a distance rather than being directly involved.
As the farewells concluded, Arlon and Lawrence turned to leave, their footsteps light yet purposeful on the forest path. The siblings watched them go, a mix of gratitude and anticipation in their eyes.
"Take care," Anthony said, his voice firm yet warm.
"We'll meet again," Alice added with a smile.
Arlon nodded, offering a small wave before he and Lawrence disappeared into the trees, following the path that would lead them back to Dimitri, who was waiting in the village ahead.
Rustle— Rustle—
The journey was quiet at first, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the crunch of their boots on the path. Eventually, Arlon broke the silence, his tone thoughtful.
"Lawrence, are you really okay with me sticking around?"
"...!?"
Lawrence was taken aback by the question, glancing at Arlon with a mix of surprise and contemplation. After a moment, he replied earnestly, "I am. You've helped me a lot, and I'm grateful. I promise I'll repay you for everything."
Arlon shifted slightly, his gaze softening. "There's no need to feel pressured to repay me. You're free to do whatever you want. Just as you trust me, I trust you to make your own choices."
Lawrence nodded, the sincerity in Arlon's words settling in his heart. The bond between them felt stronger, grounded in mutual respect and understanding.
Step— Step—
As they continued walking, the gray skies above darkened further, and a light rain began to fall, casting a serene, melancholic atmosphere over the forest. The gentle patter of raindrops accompanied their steps, creating a soothing rhythm.
Drip— Drip—
Arlon's thoughts drifted as the rain fell. He reflected on the journey so far, the unexpected twists and turns, and the uncertain path that lay ahead.
There was still much to uncover, many challenges to face, but for now, he found solace in the quiet companionship of Lawrence and the steady progress they were making toward their next destination.