The Garden of Elia.
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Vargo met Vera there.
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“Are you going now?”
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He said, observing Vera’s appearance.
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His hair, which had been grown out for so long, was now neatly trimmed. He had cast off the ill-fitting clerical robes and was now wearing the far more familiar armor.
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The ashen pupils had regained their lost light, gleaming sharply.
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Vera bowed his head.
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“Yes, I intend to go.”
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Vargo’s eyes shimmered as he watched Vera.
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He realized that the man who had been deteriorating more and more each day for the past year was finally trying to get back on his feet.
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“...Mm, this is far better than to see than you moping around.”
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Though he wished to praise his disciple for finally rising above the pain, his stubborn nature, as always, prevented him from doing so and caused his words to come out blunt.
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Vera smiled bitterly at that.
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“I apologize for worrying you.”
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“As if you mean that.”
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Vargo turned away.
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“Where are you headed?”
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“To where the Saint is.”
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“Do you know where she is and how to get to her?”
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“I don’t, but I know someone who might.”
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A winter wind swept through the garden.
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After surrendering himself to the sensation for a moment, Vargo exhaled deeply and answered.
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“...Since the existence of this land, no one has ever reached the heavens.”
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His words accurately pinpointed Vera’s destination.
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At that, Vera’s eyes widened slightly.
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Was he still so easy to see through?
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Realizing again how profound his master’s insight was, Vera laughed and replied.
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“Then I’ll be the first.”
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“You arrogant punk.”
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Vargo’s low chuckle filled the gardens.
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After turning his back to Vera, he waved his hand and left with the parting words.
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“...Go on then. And if you meet them, tell them to get rid of this bothersome stigma for me.”
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Vargo’s figure faded into the distance.
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Vera watched his back, still seeming so large, for a short while before bowing deeply.
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“Thank you.”
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It was his act of paying respect to his master, who had waited this past year for him to stand again.
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Vera departed from the Holy Kingdom.
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None of the Apostles followed him on this journey.
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They knew he had to accomplish this himself, so they remained to guard the place he would return to and cheered for his departure as he finally began to move forward.
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That went without saying for the ‘Apostles’, of course.
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“The Great Woodlands?”
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A young girl’s voice was heard.
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The owner of the somewhat high-pitched and delinquent tone was none other than Aisha.
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Upon seeing the Great Woodlands looming ahead after following Vera, she tilted her head.
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“Why here?”
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Vera looked at Aisha.
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Over the past year, she had grown rapidly and now resembled her appearance in his memories.
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Vera felt a long overdue sense of guilt.
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It was painful to him, knowing that this young girl also cherished Renee, and yet he neglected her while being consumed in his own grief.
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As he saw Aisha’s expression crumple this way and that way while glaring at the Great Woodlands, Vera smiled slightly and answered.
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“I’m going to meet Aedrin.”
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“The tree? Why?”
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“Is she not the only Ancient Species who hasn’t gone into hiding?”
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Vera gazed at the Great Woodlands.
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To Aedrin, who was waiting at the end.
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‘...Those who may have clues to the heavens are none other than them.’
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Existences from the creation of this world.
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The only beings who had directly communicated with the Gods.
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Surely, they would know something.
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“Can we even get in though? There’s a barrier, right?”
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“There’s no need to break through. They’ll come pick us up.”
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At Vera’s words, Aisha’s eyes lit up after some contemplation.
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“Oh!”
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She belatedly realized something.
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“Friede!”
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What came to mind was whoresided in the Great Woodlands.
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The wait wasn’t long.
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A shadow approached them from among the distant trees.
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The elf who rode the wind and arrived before the two of them smiled.
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“It’s been a long time.”
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Aisha’s expression brightened, and Vera smiled faintly.
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Friede’s smile deepened upon seeing them, then spoke.
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“Come. Mother has been waiting for you.”
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At those words, Vera’s brow furrowed slightly.
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“Mother has been waiting for you since that day. She was overjoyed, saying the time has come for you to finally fulfill your role.”
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Friede said, walking into the depths of the Great Woodlands.
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Aedrin had been waiting for Vera every day since the fall of Alaysia, especially as the moment of his arrival marked the end of all their duties.
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And there was more.
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“It’s not only Mother.”
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It wasn’t just Aedrin, but all the Ancient Species who had been waiting for this day.
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[You’re late.]
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A gloomy voice descended.
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Vera’s eyes widened as he turned his head towards it.
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“...Maleus.”
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At the stump of a tree within the depths, an extravagantly adorned undead was watching him.
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He wasn’t the only one present.
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There was a woman with twelve arms spread in the dark shade when he turned around, and sleeping beside her was a black puppy lying on its stomach.
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When he looked up, there was a massive ice dragon on the tree.
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They were the Ancient Species.
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The moment he confirmed that, the earth shook.
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Rumble—!
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It was a tremor so intense he could barely stand.
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At the end was something that slowly filled his eyes.
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“Terdan...!”
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At the end of the Great Woodlands, a colossal mountain range rose up, taking on a human form. As he stretched and spoke, the entire forest shook.
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[You have come.]
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What chain of events led to this situation?
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As confusion threatened to fill Vera’s expression, Nartania spoke.
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[You’re an awfully lazy child for making us wait so long.]
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[It was not long. In comparison to our eternal lives, this moment amounted to but an instant.]
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[Always arguing. You foolish lizard.]
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Nartania rose to her feet.
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She slithered to Vera and shoved her big, eyeless face right before him.
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[Hmm…]
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It was silent and tense.
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At the end of that, Nartania laughed.
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[I didn’t expect you to keep your promise this way.]
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Vera’s eyes flashed.