Chapter 213: [213] The Reason Why
It was well into the night by the time Eliron and Artie left the tavern. The moon was high up in the sky, and around it were the golden stars Eliron had come to love.
These stars were not a constant in this world, but when the conditions were just right, they would paint an artistic piece with the skies as their canvas.
Although Artie had claimed to be perfectly capable of walking, after repeated trial and error, including her nearly getting run over by a speeding carriage— Eliron had decided to carry her.
So now, she was on his back, her warm hands wrapped around his neck, her breath tickling his ears and her face blushed red from utter embarrassment.
If anyone were to see her in this state, then the reputation she had built up for decades would crumble in an instant.
Thankfully, they were very far from Artaris...
"This never happened." Artie’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him from behind.
The drunkenness was yet to fully fade, but her sharp tongue had returned a few minutes ago.
"Why did you let me drink so much?? Gods, I must look like a fool..."
"Nothing foolish about letting your heart out. Your tears were especially touchin—ekkk."
Eliron stifled a breath ad Artie’s grip on his neck tightened. "I... meantt the... music... the music was touching." He managed to squeak out before she lessened her hold.
"Remind me to never give you a piggy back ride..."
"Why do you think I would care? told you, I can walk on my own." She frowned as she stared at the crown of his head.
That was the stance she was putting forward, but secretly, Artie enjoyed the position she was in.
After waking for a bit, Eliron diverted to a less crowded part of town.
"By the way, what made you tell me your story?" He asked, tilting his head slightly to catch a glimpse of her.
Although he was expecting her to tell him about it someday, since it was clearly something that bothered her, Eliron never expected it to be so soon.
Neither did he think it would happen so casually. Admittedly, he expected some sort of life or death situation to make her speak...
Artie was silent at first. She was staring at the road, watching as a few people gave them looks, while others giggled at the corners, stealing glances.
They probably saw them as a couple deeply in love. Tch, as if.
"Alexander’s request..." Artie replied in a calm tone.
"Alex?" Eliron was a little surprised by her answer. "What does he have to do with it?"
Artie shrugged then leaned more on his back, tucking her chin into his shoulder so that their faces were inches apart.
"Years ago, I was unable to save my sister. I chose not to do anything then, and even now, it haunts me."
She paused briefly. It was still hard talking about things like this.
"I know you, Eliron. You are probably worried about us, about Artaris... it is good to always put your people first, that is the quality of a good leader..."
She turned to stare at him from the side, his face was too close to make out what expression he was making.
"But will you be able to live with yourself if the hundreds of thousands of people living here died, knowing you would have done something to stop it?"
Eliron stopped briefly and let out a slow, tired sigh. "You’re right..."
All this time, he had been so concerned about his people that he did not think about his own self.
Yes, getting back to Artaris as quickly as possible was best. But Eliron doubted he would be able to live so freely knowing the deaths he could have prevented.
"You’re right..." he admitted. "Thanks, I know what to do now."
Eliron would assist them, but not at the detriment of his people. Then a small smirk curled up his lips, and of course... they would pay a hefty price for the elven lord’s assistance.
"Now that it is settled." Artie glanced at the area behind her. They were now in an alley. "Is it time we do something about our stalker?"
Eliron nodded. "Yup, there is no one else around so we won’t accidentally injure anyone."
Suddenly, something, or rather, someone broke out of the shadows and dashed towards the exit.
But just as they got there, they were repelled by an invisible force, a gust of wind that sent them flying through the air and landing right at their feet, hard...
"Owwww..." the person groaned, hand shaking as they pushed themself up to their feet.
Now that Eliron had a closer look, he realized that the person was a woman, a rather petite one at that.
He was about to question her, after striking her with a tasty dose of lighting magic of course, when Artie immediately called her by her name.
"Ariel??"
The girl had light blue hair that shimmered under the moonlight and ocean blue eyes that perfectly matched her hair.
She was thin, as though she never had enough to eat and was rather short, only a little bit taller than Delilah.
"Oh..." Artie cocked her head to the side, a vindictive smile appearing on her face. "I gave you an offer back at the tower...."
She placed her hands on Eliron’s shoulders, propping herself a little higher as she glared down at the high elf.
"And yet you refused, if I remember well, you even laughed, didn’t you?"
Ariel flinched at Artie’s harsh rebuttal, she pulled her witch’s hat down a bit to hide her face.
Artie’s glare somehow got harsher, her voice growing cold. "Yet look who came running back to daddy. You were following us around town like a lost pup begging for a new master."
Eliron blinked. ’Heh?’
"I-I’m sorry! I was afraid of Tiberius!" Ariel fell to her knees, her eyes moised with tears.
"Please allow me to serve you, I’ll do anything, anything you want!"
"Prostrate lower!" Artie cautioned. "You are standing before the esteemed lord of elves and you dare keep your head so high?"
Ariel basically glued her head to the ground while trembling, yet Artie still stared at her coldly.
"If it were back in Artaris, we would have—owww!"
She yelled in pain, pausing mid sentence as Eliron pinched her lap and tugged it hard.
While she was nursing the pain, the biggest pout known to mankind on her face, Eliron smiled warmly at Ariel.
"Don’t mind her, she’s had far too many bottles to drink..."
Eliron was seeing many different sides of drunk Artie today, and honestly, he was hoping to see more.
"Now, about your offer..."