Chapter 74: Return (8)

Sylvain, the White Tiger, guardian of the East, ruler of the Great Forest, a being practically worshipped as a god.

Very few beings rivaled her power. Perhaps only the Archangels, the three Goddesses, and the other three Divine Beasts.

Sylvain took pride in her power and her role in protecting the continent during the war 500 years ago. Even now, she stood against the encroaching darkness from beyond the Great Forest. The elves revered her, and she enjoyed their adoration.

“Is this…true? Everything you’ve told me?”
“Probably? Right, Evan?” 

“It’s hard to believe, but… yes.”

“Ha…”

Sylvain couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of shock.

“A dream world?”

All her pride, all her accomplishments, reduced to… a dream.

She had always known the Goddesses were powerful, stronger than her, but she hadn’t realized the extent of their power. Selenoxia, to protect the world, had manipulated her memories, though at the cost of her own consciousness, trapped in an endless slumber.

‘That explains why Khaled and Hongjin lost their minds.’

Khaled, the Azure Dragon of the Western Desert.
And Hongjin, the Vermillion Bird of the Northern Mountains.

Their descent into madness, their destructive rampages, were likely the result of them realizing the truth of this world before she did.

‘At least I’m better off than they are.’

The Demon King was dead.

Avalli’s casual words had eased her fear, the memories of her own brush with death, the only time in her long life that she had truly felt fear, the terror of facing the Demon King.

“…You’ve accomplished something truly remarkable, Avalli.”
“Heeheehee…”

Avalli chuckled, scratching her head, her expression almost… innocent. Sylvain couldn’t sense a single shred of malice from this girl, this being who had slain the Demon King, her greatest fear.

‘The dissonance is almost… dizzying.’

She had dismissed Avalli as a young, inexperienced Transcendent Being, but she had single-handedly defeated the Demon King. And from what she said, the battle hadn’t even been that difficult.

‘She was surprised by his strength, but… that’s all. It wasn’t a life-or-death struggle for her.’

The Demon King had been a being whose advance could only be delayed, not stopped, even by the combined might of the three Goddesses, the four Divine Beasts, and the ten Archangels.

And Avalli had surpassed even him. Despite her age, practically an infant in terms of a Transcendent Being’s lifespan.

‘If there’s a word to describe such a being…’

To mortals, the Goddesses were the ultimate beings of power, deserving of worship.

Sylvain, too, was considered a god by her elven subjects.

They were called Transcendent Beings because they could accomplish feats beyond mortal capabilities.
Then what title befitted Avalli, who could achieve even what was impossible for Transcendent Beings?

“Sylvain?”
“Oh, my apologies. I was… lost in thought.”

“That’s understandable. It was quite a revelation.”

Avalli, the one responsible for that revelation, smiled casually.

“If you don’t mind, could you repeat what you were about to say?”

Sylvain asked, her tone unusually polite.

“Do you still have those… sugared snacks from last time? These are good, but I have a craving for something sweet.”
“…I’ll have them brought immediately. Is there anything else you desire?”
“That’s all. How about you, Evan? Anything you’d like?”

Evan hesitated, then looked at Sylvain.

“That tea you made for me…could I have it again? You promised.”
“…It has been a long time.”

Sylvain smiled faintly at the bittersweet memory.

“It will take a while to prepare. Is that alright?”
“500 years is a long time. I can wait a little longer.”
“Then please be patient. Today, I shall personally serve the Hero who saved our world.”

Sylvain said and then stood up. As she gracefully left the room, Avalli turned to Evan, her green eyes sparkling.

“That tea must be really good.”
“Yes… she promised to make it for me again… when I returned.”
“Were you two… a couple?”

Evan shook her head at Avalli’s question.

“Sylvain isn’t interested in men.”
“A man-hater?”
“No. She just…prefers women.”

Evan’s words made Avalli recall a few things. Sylvain’s… close relationship with Makiera, the priestess, the occasional…intimate gestures.

‘I thought it was just… how elves expressed affection…’

So, that’s how it was.

“She’s more of a… libertine. Even back then, she had a reputation.”
“Should I be worried, then?”
“Don’t worry. She’s not interested in children.”

Avalli pouted slightly at the word ‘children’, annoyed by the fact that she couldn’t grow any taller.

“So, you should be worried, then?”, “Me? Why?” Evan asked, confused, and Avalli poked her chest.

Evan flinched, a jolt running through her body.

“…What are you doing?!”
“Just a friendly warning.”
“Warning about what?!”

Avalli had acted out of spite, annoyed by Evan’s comment, but she quickly rationalized it. Evan had started it.

“You might not want to admit it, but… you’re a woman now.”

“I know that.”

“And unlike me, you’re… well-endowed.”
“Well-en—” Evan sputtered.

But Avalli continued, adding fuel to the fire. “Which means you’re…exactly Sylvain’s type.”
“Her… type?”

“She likes them… like you. Remember Makiera?”
“…Yes.”
“I think they’re… together.”

And Makiera, though not as…voluptuous as Evan, was still…curvaceous.

“…That’s not going to happen.”

Evan said firmly, and Avalli pouted. “Just a warning. You never know.” Perhaps being with Sylvain would be better than…

‘Better than being with a man,’ Avalli mused, taking a bite of a cookie and glancing at Evan, who had a troubled expression on her face. Evan, now a beautiful woman, looked almost like a work of art as she pondered her predicament.

‘Delicious,’ Avalli thought, enjoying both the snack and the view.

A comfortable silence settled over them—

“It’s been a while since I made this, so please forgive me if it’s not to your liking.”

—then Sylvain returned with a tray of fragrant tea and sweets.

“Thank you, Sylvain!”
“There’s plenty more, if you’d like.”
“Yay!”

While Avalli was distracted by the new treats, Sylvain handed Evan a cup of tea.

“…It still smells wonderful.”
“I’m almost out of these leaves. But I’ll get more for you, Evan.”
“Thank you.”

Evan smiled faintly, taking a sip. A subtle, sweet flavor spread through her mouth. Sylvain watched her, a warm smile on her face.

“Heehee… you were just a boy when I first served you this tea.”
“It was after I passed your test.”
“Indeed. But as they say, you never know. I never imagined that boy would become such a… lovely woman.”

Evan flinched at Sylvain’s words.

“I hope you can break that curse. Although… I don’t mind your current form.”
“Don’t even joke about that.”

Evan glared, and Sylvain, missing the context, looked confused. Avalli, watching their exchange, chuckled silently and helped herself to another cookie.

It was a peaceful evening.