Edit: I previously mentioned the Elf King's name was Ethan, but I am changing it to Elkarl.
A few moments earlier.
While Althair was blocking Queen Leina's magic spell.
"Hey, Clara!" Althair called from a distance. He approached Clara, who was still holding Carsel.
"Thanks, Al. I'm okay," Clara replied, her cheeks blushing.
"Good."
"Hmm... I'm worried about Carsel. This fight is definitely going to have a lot of explosions. How are we going to keep him safe?" Althair said.
"Try checking the storage ring Emperor Arthur gave you. Are there any other artifacts?" Clara replied, looking into Althair's eyes.
"One moment."
Althair knelt down, looking through the items in the storage ring given to him by his mentor.
Food.
Drinks.
Baby formula.
Honey.
More food.
Baby clothes.
Children's clothes.
More clothes.
"Damn it, where is a potentially useful item," Althair said, gritting his teeth.
Clara knelt beside Althair and placed a palm on his back, calming him down.
A C-grade artifact.
An A-grade artifact.
"Where is the Unique-grade artifact?" Althair said to himself, sweat beading on his forehead. Clara wiped it away.
"Ah... I finally found it," Althair said, showing an artifact to Clara.
It was shaped like a brown door. Just a door. But if you entered, inside was a house, like Doraemon's Anywhere Door.
Temporary House
Description: A mystical house that has been abandoned, forgotten, and cursed.
Active Power: None
Passive Power: None
Tier: Unique
"Why is the description so scary," Althair said after reading the artifact's information.
"Let's go in, Clara," Althair invited.
They opened the door, went inside, and closed it. Inside the door was a magnificent, complete, and tidy space. Everything was here: food, drinks, bedrooms, a living room, and so on.
"Why is there so much food? Does senior want us to get fat?" Althair said, disgusted.
Clara ignored him. She searched and searched, finally finding a baby crib. She placed Carsel there.
"Hey, wouldn't it be safe if we just stayed in here? We wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of getting to that place," Althair said to himself.
"Eh... but what if the door outside is destroyed? We wouldn't be able to get out, then... aishh."
"Then we'd be trapped like in a prison, or maybe if the door outside is destroyed, the inside gets destroyed too," Althair rambled.
"Look, Al, he's so cute," Clara said adoringly, ignoring Althair's rambling.
Althair ignored her back. He looked into his storage ring and searched for the formula for Carsel. Althair walked to the crib, intending to give the formula to Carsel, but Clara took over the task. She wanted to do it. Clara picked Carsel up again and gave him the formula with her own hands.
Althair just watched. Clara looked like a mother holding her own child.
"You'd make a good mother, you know?"
The atmosphere became awkward. Clara's face turned red as a tomato, and her stomach fluttered. Clara lifted her face and looked at Althair. What she saw was Althair's handsome smile.
Awww... Clara monologued. Don't show me that majestic smile... Clara became flustered. For some reason, her chest felt warm. Was this what happens when the person you love gives you a smile?
{I wouldn't know, I don't even have a girlfriend... no, no... I don't even have a close female friend.} -the author's fate
"Why are you smiling?" Clara asked.
"Smiling? Am I not allowed to?" Althair replied, amused.
...
Back to the fight
The door opened, revealing a teenage girl and a teenage boy. The difference was that the baby Clara usually held was no longer with her. Then, Althair put the door into his storage ring, and together with Clara, they rejoined Alicia.
Third-Person Point of View
A 50-meter-deep crater had formed at Althair and his friends' location. But the giant tree still stood firm. The only difference was that the mouth that was there before was now gone—withered.
From the smoke emerged a mature woman—a very old woman, actually, but her skin was still firm like a 20-year-old's. Who else could it be but the Elf Queen, Leina herself. Leina was no longer wearing armor; after all, it had been destroyed. Now, she wore a long white robe that accentuated her curves.
Leina turned back, to where her husband's fight with Alex and Rio was taking place. There were no signs of a battle there. Leina knew that her husband's fight was very far from her location; a moment ago she had sensed it was only 200 meters away, but now the distance was 10 kilometers.
"Why do swordsmen always fight so brutally, taking up so much space, always moving from place to place while fighting," Leina said, exasperated. "I mean, one moment they're here, and suddenly they've moved 5 kilometers from the starting point, and then they move again."
"I mean, can't they just finish the fight at the starting point without moving all over the place?"
"How troublesome."
Leina suddenly turned back and stared at the crater once more. She felt a vibration in the ground. She gritted her teeth.
"That boy!... He changed the direction of the energy I just fired."
"Althair von Kaelvros... I will kill you."
Alicia von Velzy's Point of View
I am the daughter of Count Velzy. Not the first child, but the second—I have an older brother, his name is Lian von Velzy.
I was happy, living a comfortable and safe life. But that didn't mean I just enjoyed my parents' wealth. I always studied, whether it was academics, history, or etiquette. Raised by great parents, loved by a kind older brother. I wanted for nothing more.
I enjoyed my life, not asking for anything more until I met him. Until I wanted something for the first time.
He was Althair von Kaelvros.
...
Every noble has attended social parties, whether lower or upper class. Since I was little, I always attended them. Every time there was an invitation, I was always present. Actually, the first time, I didn't want to go, but my mother invited me with a pleading look on her face. So I agreed. We went as a family, the complete set. I was happy, and I didn't regret agreeing to my mother's request because I got to meet new people, children my age from other noble families, and meet the princes.
But there was one person whose rumors alone surpassed the popularity of the Empire's princes themselves. He was Althair von Kaelvros.
The reason he was so often talked about was because he never came to any of the parties. The only one representing the Kaelvros family was the head of the family himself, Aaron von Kaelvros. Only Aaron. No aide, his wife didn't accompany him, and even his own son didn't come. But the emperor at the time, Tristan von Stellaris, didn't protest. The emperor didn't mention it; he understood. And many were jealous of this. In the past, no one was allowed to refuse an invitation from our Emperor, not even a Grand Duke. But in my generation, the generation of Aaron and Tristan, that rule seemed not to exist.
"As usual... only Grand Duke Aaron came, the others didn't."
"How arrogant. I know the Grand Duke's power is immense, rumors say it can almost rival our Empire. But refusing the Emperor's party invitation multiple times is disrespectful, isn't it?"
"You're right."
Hey, lower your voices. Even if you're whispering, at least know your place. We're in the Emperor's palace, you know. This party is for the Empress's 31st birthday, I monologued.
All the nobles were invited, but just like in previous years, from the Kaelvros family, only Aaron himself attended.
"Hey, have you heard the rumor about Althair?"
"The son of the Grand Duke of the North?"
"Yes, they say he already became a 'Novice' at the age of 5."
"What! Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious."
{Novice is the lowest system tier for the mage role, Tier 7}
That was a sign that the child was a genius. On average, noble children become a Novice at the age of 7.
"I also heard a rumor that the reason the Grand Duchess and her son don't come is supposedly..."
"Supposedly what?"
The women leaned closer and said something I couldn't hear. But I knew what was said. That members of the Grand Duke's family had fallen ill, which was why they never left the northern territory. But Grand Duke Aaron himself never commented or corrected it. He was indifferent, walking around as usual without a care.
Until finally, when I was 8 years old, on the same date but a different year, at the same party for the Empress of the Stellaris Empire's birthday, Althair appeared. But his mother, Aaron's wife, still did not. He debunked the rumors about illness, and many new rumors spread: that the son, the heir of the North, was very handsome.
And I... was also captivated by his looks.
While others danced, he did not. Not even a single noble tried to talk to him because his facial expression was like someone who was angry. That's why people were afraid to get close to him.
Except for him. A Baron's son, his name was Rio von Vandelur. A boy who seemed foolish. And what was most surprising was that Althair responded to him. The two of them talked intimately, even though they hadn't even known each other for a full day. And I—I wanted to talk to him too.
I gathered my courage and walked over to them, trying to start a conversation. And it turned out I was welcomed warmly. From that day on, I, or we, became friends.
And at the Academy, at the age of 12, I learned the reason his mother never appeared was because his father was extremely possessive.
"My father forbids my mother from leaving the palace, not even a little bit. My mother is locked up in the palace by him. He's pathetic. He can't be far from my mother. He's always clinging to her. Even since I was little, I rarely got my mother's attention because of him," Althair told us, annoyed.
"HAHAHA," Rio laughed loudly upon hearing that.
I just listened, not yet thinking of the right words. And finally, I said, "Then why are you also rarely seen at parties?"
"Because I'm not interested in parties."
"Why is it so cold here," Rio said, rubbing his arms. It was subtle sarcasm. "I thought the heir of the North would be as cold as its climate, but it turns out the heir of the North is warm. Tsk tsk tsk, disappointing," Rio said.
"What is he even talking about, guys," Althair replied.
"It's not about saying something important, but the importance of saying something," I answered.
"Hahahaha."
I woke up. My vision was blurry, my body numb.
Come on, wake up. Follow my words, I monologued. Get up, the fight isn't over. Come on, my weak body. Damn it.
I turned to my left and saw Clara on the ground, just like me. Her body was dirty with dust, and she was still unconscious.
Huh, I'm sure the reason we're still alive is because Althair deflected that energy sphere. Instead of being hit by the green energy sphere, we only got hit by its nuclear-level explosion.
I turned to my right, looking for Althair, but he wasn't there. I panicked, but then I heard his voice from behind me.
"A-Alicia..."
Sure enough, Althair had been behind me the whole time. I immediately tried to get up but fell again. And Althair said, "No need to get up. Just lie there," said Althair. He got up, stood, walked past me, and looked ahead, to where Leina was.
"Just watch me finish this bitch," he said confidently.
I knew he couldn't. Althair would only die fighting her. I called out to Clara beside me, and it seemed the gods granted my request. Clara immediately woke up and said, "Come here, you two... I will use up my holy power to heal you. It's not much, but it's enough for you to recover a little," she said weakly.
Carsel and I approached. Wait, Althair. Althair helped me up; he carried me bridal style. I was embarrassed. I told him he didn't have to, but he insisted. So I just stayed quiet, but my face turned red as a tomato. So this is what it feels like to be carried by your crush?
Althair put me down in front of Clara, and Clara healed both me and Althair. While being healed, I thought, I already knew that Clara also loves Althair, and vice versa. But I'm not angry. The choice is in Althair's hands. Whether he chooses Clara or me, I can't be angry. After all, just being near Althair makes me happy.
From a distance, we saw Leina walking towards us.
"Still alive, huh? Then I'll just end it again."
"Where's your arrogant talk from before, heir of the North?" Leina said with a smile on her face.
The sun had set a while ago; it might be around 7 PM now.
It was finally over. Clara had lied; we had fully recovered, as if we were in our prime. But could we defeat her? Moreover, the Elf King, Elkarl, could come here at any moment. And Elkarl was stronger than his wife.
I stood up. Althair also stood up, placing Clara's hand on his shoulder. I said, "You guys go. Leave me, Rio, and Alex. Leave her to me. I will use that transformation."
Althair and Clara were shocked to hear me.
"D-don't u-use that... You'll die," Clara said with worry in her weak tone.
"We fight together, we die together," Althair replied.
"Then what about the others? Alex, Rio, and our Emperor... they've already sacrificed their lives. They believe in us."
"We can't disappoint them. We can't waste their sacrifices."
Althair was silent upon hearing my words. He must be thinking of various scenarios in his head.
"Every meeting must have a farewell." I clenched my fists. "We can't change that."
It's a bitter fact that no matter how great, how smart, or how rich a person is, they cannot escape what is called 'death.'
Clara shed a tear, her body trembling. She wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat.
"What are your last words? Or do you have a request?" Althair replied, understanding me.
"Live well, take care of each other, and raise Carsel well too." Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes. I couldn't cry. I had to be strong. "And tell Carsel that he had very strong parents. Don't forget to tell him about us, okay? Tell him he had a very awesome aunt and uncles." It was actually just small talk.
"Hahahaha," I laughed at my own words.
Althair created a summoning rune on the ground, and his eagle familiar appeared. Its name was Alrathi. The eagle flew up. Leina, seeing this, immediately attacked with her magic. A common-level spell: missiles.
I wanted to block it with an energy projection, but I didn't have my sword. My heart pounded in my chest. But then, a wind bullet collided with the missile. I looked back and saw Althair was still here, but without Clara. A sign that the one on the eagle was Clara.
"Why?"
"You haven't said your last words. You only made requests."
"I..."
"Say it. I will listen."
"I love you, Althair." A simple sentence, but one I had kept hidden for years. It wasn't because I was shy, but because I was protecting myself from pain. I had never been rejected since I was a child. When I asked for something, it was always granted. So I was afraid. I was afraid of being rejected by Althair. I knew that Althair never loved me.
"For a very long time, since we first met, I've liked you, and slowly that feeling turned into love."
"I understand. And I respect your feelings, and thank you for keeping my name in that small heart of yours."
And in the end, it was true. I was rejected. The pain was there, but the burden I had carried for so long was lifted.
"Turn around. Face me. Look at me."
"Alicia."
My heartbeat quickened. I gathered the courage to turn around and face the person I loved. What I saw was a face I didn't recognize because he had a different appearance. But he was still Althair. There were tears in the corners of his eyes too. Was I dreaming? I had never seen Althair cry before.
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have..."
"It's not your fault," Althair said, cutting me off. "Falling in love isn't a mistake. Falling in love is a natural phenomenon in life."
"Maybe we can't be together in this life. Maybe not in the next life either. I can't guarantee that. But know that you are a precious person in my heart."
Even though it wasn't the words 'I love you,' it was better, because the words he spoke were not a lie. Althair was being completely honest when he said that.
"Go. You'll get hurt if you stay close to this fight."
"Accept this."
Althair gave me an A-grade artifact. It was a long but slender sword.
"Defeat that demon in a saint's guise. And die peacefully."
"Because I will definitely succeed in reaching that place."
"Yes... I believe in you."