Eternal Elysium

Morgana, who was about to leave after her business was done, finally stopped for dinner after several requests.

The dinner table was tense with an unspoken worry.

Elda and Albert's effort to keep the mood free of stress had somehow managed to bear fruit, making the night end without any further drama.

But it was a night I couldn't sleep.

How could I after finding so many things not just about awakeners but about myself as well?

With several thoughts crossing through my mind. I lay motionless on my bed.

My hand touched my heart, where the mark of stars was bestowed upon me.

Without my knowledge it has become a spot of comfort solely for me. A place I could feel warmth in that didn't belong to me.

I wonder if it was also a part of someone's scheme…

A small chuckle escaped my lips as I found myself getting amused by all this.

I closed my eyes and simply muttered for whoever it was to hear.

"Let's keep going."

Even if I lose or may look delusional, I won't go down without a fight!

*****

"You look sleep-deprived." Castor asked, his hands polishing a glass with exceptional dexterity.

I lifted my head from the table and stared at him for a good second.

"It's not that I look sleep-deprived; rather, I truly am sleep-deprived." I said, rubbing my eyes.

"I, I see… Where have you been recently? You didn't even come to spar when that was the first thing you had been doing this whole week."

Caster, caught off guard by Asher, readily changed the subject, not wishing to get involved in his mess.

"Ah, yes, I have been very busy with several things for the past few days. But it's okay now… maybe." I said, scratching the back of my head and leaning back from the counter.

My head was a mess right now; I had a clue how my soul was damaged, but then…

"Tsk." I clicked my tongue shortly after, leaving Castor even more perplexed than before.

"Anyway, why did you call me today?" I asked.

Albert, after coming home last night, had asked me to visit Castor. This led to me coming here this afternoon after visiting the workshop.

"Hmm, actually, Elric is going to make a big move soon, and one merchant supporting him is getting a big shipment this week." Castor said calmly and sat on his chair.

I raised my brow and found myself getting lost in thoughts.

"And what do you want me to do about it?" I asked back.

Castor looked at me in surprise, his eyes wide open and brows raised up in a furrowed manner.

He coughed and let out a deep sigh before asking. "Last time you asked me to inform you of anything related to them… So, I did my job. You can see what needs to be done by yourself."

Castor paused and said in a sarcastic tone. "Are you not going to take someone's side, Asher? Ains had requested you to help him, right?"

I stared at him in silence and shrugged.

"To tell the truth, I don't like both of them… They both give me an eerie feeling, like how you feel after looking at shit. I feel exactly like that."

Castor licked his lips after hearing Asher speak with such disgust. He truly believed that a hotheaded man like Asher not being involved would be the same as the sun not rising tomorrow.

"You sure are not in a very good mood today… Oh, also the money has arrived; you can take it later."

I thought for a moment and then nodded slowly towards him.

"Okay, also… Um, just give information related to that merchant. I will check him out later."

He smiled silently as he gave Asher a gaze of nonchalance before speaking.

"He is a soap merchant; you may not know this, but most people in this city use his stuff. Well, the rich at least; the poor can never hope to use them now, can they?"

I frowned but nodded nonetheless.

The soap here in this city was expensive as hell. I can buy them, but even I hesitate whenever I see their prices.

Expecting the poor from slums to buy them would be nothing but cruel expectations.

"Is that all? What's his reputation like? What kind of crimes does he commit, or, well, things like that…" My words trailed off as I saw Castor make a weird face towards me.

"Why do you expect them to always commit crimes? No, why do you even need to know that?!" He rubbed his forehead and sighed heavily before speaking once again in a somber tone.

"The most I can say is tax evasion, and that's a common problem amongst merchants. What do you plan to do with this info, Asher?"

I fell silent after hearing his words; there was no denying it now.

Castor has also been annoyed by my recent questions.

I pressed my lips and leaned back, my head tilting to the side to look at the bottles kept on shelves behind him.

"I don't know if what I think will work or not, but I might need your help later on." I said and stared at him.

Castor frowned and raised his brows up in question and nodded slowly. He took two steps back and went for the door hidden behind the counter.

"Wait, I will be back in a moment." He said before leaving me behind.

The bar fell silent as I was the only one left here; I was not planning to self-reflect anymore.

So, I decided to laze around for now.

After waiting for a while, the door opened and Castor returned with a box in his hand. He put that in front of me and grinned. His hands tapped it once, making it open immediately with a clicking sound.

A small light reflected in my eyes as I saw gold coins.

Lots of gold coins.

"T-that certainty is a lot of money." I stuttered, making Castor laugh.

"Haha… it's actually less than what we expected. I have taken my cut, so just take it now. I don't want to deal with this anymore." He said.

My lips finally curled up as I grabbed one of the gold coins placed on the small chest. Feeling the tender coldness radiating from it, I felt my mind calm down.

'Money is the best remedy!'

I could feel my mood getting better just by looking at it.

Tossing the coin back, I stored the small box in the bracelet and felt its weight slowly vanish from my hands. I pressed my lips tightly to remind myself that the money was mine to begin with.

Sigh…

Creak—

I stood up and stretched my hands. My body has started to feel lazy and heavy after sleeping nonstop.

I blinked and yawned before saying,.

"I will take my leave then…"

Castor hesitated, then slowly nodded his head.

Saying my goodbyes, I left the bar.

Feeling the sunlight hit my face, I squinted my eyes and raised my right hand to shield myself.

Realizing that there was still some time, I slowly started to walk towards the main market.

The market was as crowded as always; the sheds put above barely contained the sun rays, making me sweat bullets.

I frowned and didn't let my mind wander around.

'Where should I even go?' I stopped and started to look around without any interest.

Most of the business related to Silverwill was being handled by Elda and Albert; there was not much for me to do other than giving some suggestions and providing money.

I was literally a walking bank for them!

"Asher, what are you doing here?"

A voice called from behind; I was aware someone was following me. I slowly crooked my head back, trying to see who it was…

To my surprise, it was Elric.

'I was sure it was someone else.' I quickly hid my frown and nodded towards him with a friendly smile.

"Ah, Lord Elric, nice seeing you here."

Hearing my words, Elric's smile deepened; his eyes held undeniable warmth that was hard to explain. Yet, an eerie feeling crawled on me, making my hair stand on end.

"Yes, it is indeed nice to meet you. I was just having an evening stroll." Elric said with a small smile.

My eyes turned to look at the sky, where the sun doesn't seem to have any plan of setting down till now.

With a soft chuckle, I smiled back at Elric, who now frowned in confusion after seeing my reaction.

"The sunset sure looks good today, doesn't it, Lord Elric?" I asked, pointing towards the sun above us.

Following my finger, he turned his head to look up.

Elric, seeing the sun high up in the sky, felt his lips tremble in embarrassment. He coughed as he turned to face me with a wry smile on his face.

"Haha… I guess I am living ahead of my time." He said and laughed heartily at my words.

I nodded and turned to look around him.

There were no guards present this time, unlike last time. Was he that confident in his safety?

"Well, anyway, how can I help you, Lord Elric?"

Elric shook his head gently before speaking in a soft voice. "No, no, I just saw you after a long time, so I thought I should just ask, how are you doing? How is your business running?"

The question hung in the air, making my smile go wider.

'Goddess Celestia bless me, because I am going to take a profit out of you…' Praying silently in my heart, I faced Elric with a newfound confidence.

"With Goddess blessings, my work is going very well!"

I raised my hands to both sides in an exaggerated manner and told him excitedly.

Elric, upon hearing Asher's words, raised a brow and asked back with his hands crossing over his chest.

"I have noticed it, Asher, but you seem to be a big devotee of Goddess."

I nodded.

"I am just a lamb in her embrace, nothing more, nothing less… Big or small words don't suit me."

"Hooo…. My brother was also a believer in Goddess Celestia, visiting the temple every week with his wife." Elric, as if pulled into some distant past, recalled his own experience, his tone going somber as a small silent smile remained over his lips.

"Ah, I see the previous lord was also a believer like me; from the words I have heard in the market, he must be in the goddess's divine kingdom… And having such a kind younger brother like you must have given him a lot of peace as well." I said, with a sigh of relief, and recited every holy word I knew about.

"I also pray for him every day… But the void he has left is too deep to be filled." Elric paused, his eyes hazy and filled with deep emotions. Then with a sigh he continued.

"Anyway, if we talk about my brother, then it will never end. Did you also meet Ains? I haven't seen you this whole week after all."

His words followed naturally after, initiating a new topic.

I was left impressed at how conveniently he could ask for details and no one would even know about it.

"Young Master Ains, I was asked to not tell this to anyone, but lying to you doesn't feel right, so…" I paused, my voice getting deeper, and pressed my right hand over my heart.

Elric raised an eyebrow over this gesture but didn't comment and waited for Asher to finish.

"I could swear on goddess names, I indeed have met with Ains once."