Chapter 199 - You’re so interesting
Eden was silent for a long time, watching the phoenix nestle into his palm.
When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "If I leave, what happens to the farm?"
Lumi explained himself again. "We hire someone trustworthy to maintain it. Someone who’ll keep it running until you’re strong enough to come back and protect it yourself."
Eden sighed. "And if I stay?"
Lumi shook his head. "You die. The phoenix probably dies with you. And the farm falls apart anyway because there’s no one left to run it."
Eden closed his eyes. "That’s not much of a choice."
"No," Lumi agreed. "It’s not. But it’s the choice you have."
The boy stood there, holding the phoenix, clearly struggling with the decision. "But... but... who would..." He trembled, deep in thought. Finally, he opened his eyes and looked at Lumi directly. "I suppose I have no choice. You said my ancestor was also a farm boy who left home. You promise that’s true?"
Lumi nodded. "I promise."
Eden continued. "And you’ll teach me everything I need to know? About magic, about phoenixes, about all of it?"
Lumi once again nodded. "Everything I can teach you, yes."
Eden took a deep breath. The phoenix chirped softly in his hand. "Alright. I’ll do it. I’ll be your disciple."
Lumi put his hand on Eden’s shoulder. "You made the right choice." He shifted his body and gazed into the horizon. "There are many things I need to tell you. I suppose Henry will be a good starting point."
"..."
A small silence rang out.
Eden looked confused. "Go on...?"
"Oh." Lumi caught himself. "It’s a pretty long story. I’ll tell you on the way."
"On the way..." Eden repeated, his eyebrow twitching. "You’re so interesting."
"Thanks?" Lumi wasn’t sure what Eden meant.
Eden stood confused. He agreed to become Lumi’s disciple, yet now that he had accepted, he was uncertain. "Wait. On the way, right? What does that actually mean? Do I need to get my things? Am I leaving today?"
He looked around the barn frantically. "What about my animals? The crops? How do you even hire someone to take care of all this?"
His questions came faster. "What happens now? Am I just following you around? Where are we going? What am I supposed to do?"
Lumi held up a hand to slow the barrage. "Good questions. Give me a moment."
He considered the situation carefully. He hadn’t planned this far ahead because he hadn’t expected to take on a disciple today. Everything was being figured out on the spot.
The raid was happening soon. Tomorrow, specifically. Was it appropriate for Eden to join?
His first instinct was no. Obviously Eden couldn’t be put in direct danger. The boy had no combat training, no magical abilities yet, and bringing him into a demon’s realm seemed reckless at best.
But then again, there was the phoenix.
An Imperial Phoenix was extremely special in ways that went beyond raw power. The creatures had unique properties tied to cosmic concepts of balance and justice.
Specifically, they benefited from evil being vanquished.
Now, evil didn’t mean some vague philosophical concept of wrongdoing. There were plenty of murderers, thieves, and criminals whose deaths would mean nothing to an Imperial Phoenix. The creature wouldn’t register their elimination as significant.
No, it had to be deep, pitch black evil. The kind that corrupted reality itself. The kind that represented wrongness.
A demon fit that description perfectly.
Especially the exact demon Lumi was planning to raid. Currway was sealed for a reason. The entity was fundamentally wrong, a being of pure malice and destruction.
If Eden’s phoenix witnessed Currway’s defeat, if it absorbed even a fraction of the energy released when such concentrated evil was destroyed, the growth could be substantial.
It was risky. But the potential benefit was enormous.
However, risks were inherently something he had to take. He already knew the outcome of this world if he took the safe way out and changed nothing.
Destruction.
Therefore, he was already leaning towards bringing Eden. Beyond that, Lumi also contemplated his broader future plans.
He knew natives with potential. People who would become powerful in a few years.
Before, he couldn’t recruit them properly because his name meant nothing. He’d been just another person. Why would anyone ever follow him?
Now, though, things were different.
He was trusted by Aria’s Knights. Merath knew him personally. He had demonstrable feats and accomplishments. He had existing followers in the form of the players who looked up to him. He had all the social status required to recruit people properly.
Back when he’d visited the floating island of Herene, he’d made a point to visit House Windmere. This wasn’t random. He’d gone specifically to get to know Lily Windmere.
In his past life, Lily had become a demigod in just a few short years. His talent was exceptional, he’d been one of the strongest human fighters by the time the invasion reached its peak.
His name was already in Lily’s mind. It was time to not just refresh his mind, but entirely recruit him. Lumi pulled out the crystal communicator House Windmere had given him during his visit. He channeled mana into it, activating the connection.
After a moment, Lord Windmere’s voice came through. "I must congratulate you on your achievements, Lumi. They have been the talk of Herene. Though I assume you didn’t call just to hear my praise. What may I do for you?"
Lumi let out a smile.
That reaction was exactly what he was looking for.
It wasn’t the tone of someone looking at a someone with potential. It wasn’t the tone of looking at an equal. It was fawning.
Lord Windmere was stronger than him, yet he was fawning, for Lumi’s status had reached incredible levels through his connection with Grand Tactician Azir and Empress Aria.
"Nothing’s wrong." Lumi replied. "I’m reaching out because I’m now taking disciples. I wanted to ask if Lily would be interested in studying under me."
There was silence for only a mere second. Then Lord Windmere’s voice returned, shocked and excited. "You want Lily as your disciple?"
Lumi’s voice came through. "Yes. I believe he has exceptional potential."
"This is... we’re honored!" Lord Windmere’s composure cracked with joy. "I need to tell him immediately. Though he’s currently with the knights on duty. I’ll inform him as soon as he returns."
"That’s fine." Lumi said. "Have him contact me when he’s available. We can discuss the details then."
"Of course, of course! Thank you for this opportunity!"
The connection ended. Lumi put the communicator away and turned back to Eden, who had been watching with increasing confusion.
"Money is very, very useful," Lumi explained. "The million Ems I gave you? That’s more than enough to hire excellent caretakers for your farm. People who’ll maintain it properly, keep the animals healthy, tend the crops. Your farm will be taken care of very well."
"I suppose..." Eden slowly nodded.
"That said," Lumi continued. "You won’t have to pay for it. I’ll take care of it."
"T-then..." Eden’s eyebrows twitched, but he didn’t continue his sentence. What he meant was obvious, though. Then why did Lumi bring up the million Ems?
He gestured toward the airship parked outside. "Come with me. We’re going to Elenora. We’ll take care of everything you need there."
Eden blinked. "Elenora?"
Lumi nodded. "Yes."
Eden was hesitant. "B-but... but I’ve never been there. The closest big city to here is Macres. Why would we go all the way to Elenora?"
It was a fair question. In a vacuum, Eden was completely correct.
Why travel to Elenora, a completely different ecosystem with different people, when Macres was much closer? Both had full societies and people that could be hired. In fact, in Macres, they’d find those capable of farm maintenance much easier than they would in Elenora.
The answer was simple. It was for one reason only.
Lumi knew Merath personally. He had players in Elenora who admired him and would help without question. The social infrastructure he’d built there would make this entire process easier.
In Macres, he’d be starting from scratch. In Elenora, he had connections and reputation.
"Trust me," Lumi said. "I have connections in Elenora. Have you heard of a powerful magician called Merath?"
Eden shook his head. "I haven’t." He carefully cradled the phoenix in his arms and followed Lumi to the airship.
They climbed aboard. Eden had never been in an airship before, and his nervousness showed as he gripped the railing tightly. The space was cramped, too cramped. It didn’t matter when it was Lumi and Lena, because Lena sat on his lap.
That was his girlfriend, though. Eden was a man he met today. "Um..." Eden felt incredibly awkward. He hung on to the right railing for deer life as he was being squeezed into the wall. Lumi was also being crushed to the left side.
"This is a bit inconvenient..." Lumi noted, furrowing his brows. "It may be a bit awkward, but get up and sit on my lap."
"Huh!?" Eden turned, shocked.
Lumi shook his head. "There’s no room!"
"That’s." Eden couldn’t find the words. "That’s really weird, man! I don’t-"
The airship lifted in the air. "O-oh damn! Stop this thing, stop it!"
Lumi actually complied, leaving the airship hovering mid-air. "Eden, calm down. If it helps, you can close your eyes."
"I-" Eden almost teared up. What the heck was this!? It was too much for one day. He grumbled something under his breath, and sat down on Lumi’s thighs.
The airship lifted off smoothly. Eden forced himself to watch his farm get smaller and smaller below him, despite the nausea and fear the heights were causing him.
With that, they set off.