Chapter 50 - Old Book
The elf poured him a tea and said. "Drink it. And tell me about your journey, stranger."
Silas looked at the tea cup and picked it up. He smelled the tea and nodded in approval.
"This is high quality tea."
"Of course, I got it from the Ring Finger’s peak." The elf laughed and explained.
"You traded with them?" Silas tilted his head.
"Of course not. Do you think an elf like me has money?"
Silas shook his head, scanning him head to toe. "You don’t seem like the type to carry money. You scream like an old ancient elf."
The elf laughed and clapped his hand, clearly liking Silas’s words. "I like you, stranger. Tell me your name and let’s see if I will remember you."
"I am called Silas Viremont."
The elf rubbed his chin, thinking deeply about certain things. "Viremont? Where did I hear the name?"
A pale blue light appeared beside the elf and nudged him. The elf paused and looked at the blue spirit.
"What is it?"
The blue spirit flew and landed on the old book on the ground, circling on it. The elf nodded in understanding and picked up the book.
The blue spirit didn’t stop and continued pointing out the page.
Silas watched the pair in interest. Roland stood like a statue behind him, waiting for an attack but he never showed the intent outward. It was one of the qualities of the knight, capable of making their intent.
Although, their mask was different from the assassin’s.
"Ah.. so that is where I heard the name, Viremont. Your family must be old." The elf said, peeking up from the book.
Silas tilted his head. "Yes. My family existed at the start of this kingdom."
"No. It is much older than that."
Silas squinted his eyes. "I don’t know. Our family record starts with the kingdom."
"I see. There must be a reason. Like everything in the world, there is always a reason." The elf muttered and closed the book.
"Well then, I will remember your name for your family. Rejoin."
Silas clapped his hand, the corner of his eyes twitched. He was happy with joy. So much euphoria filled him that his heart was dancing wildly in his chest.
’Calm down. Calm down. I don’t think the strongest elf would be this easy to control. With his personality, I can easily read him like a book.’
’But reading and controlling are different. Well, this is at least the first step.’
"What is your name? With all the spirits around you, I don’t think you are a no name person. You must be famous right?" Silas said.
"My name? Yes. I forgot to introduce myself. Pardon me." The elf coughed.
"Eli Von. The name is an inherited name." Eli smiled gently.
"Eli? That is a unique name." Silas praised.
"You know your stuff. It is. Haha. I got the name from this book." Eli smacked the book and laughed.
"Where did you find the book?" Silas asked and immediately waved his hand. "Wait, did you read the book when you were a baby?"
Eli looked at him in a dumbfounded expression.
"No." He said and stopped, looking away feeling embarrassed about his past.
He then let out a long and suffering sigh, contemplating whether or not he should reveal.
Eli frowned as he was caught in a dilemma. He wanted to reveal his past but was too embarrassed to tell the story.
The spirits circled around him and whispered sweet words to him, encouraging him to open up. Eli extended his hand, playing with the spirits.
"You guys really like him?"
Every spirit nodded without a pause. Well, there was one spirit who should have its head. Eli laughed as he knew about that one’s personality.
"Okay. Okay. I will tell him." Eli waved off and met the gazes with Silas.
He coughed again and said. "I don’t have a memory."
"What?"
"It is true. I woke up in a random cave from that place." Eli said, pointing away from the mountain.
Silas followed his finger and noted that the place was much farther away from civilization.
"What you are saying is you woke up alone in the cave and found that book?" Silas said.
"Oh, you are smart. Yes, that is correct. Since I don’t know who I am, I just read the book." Eli said, waving the old book in his hand.
"I see. What is inside the book?"
Eli threw the book in his direction. Silas grabbed it and flipped open. He frowned deeply as he found that he could read the book at all.
The words inside were jumping around, shifting away. Silas sighed.
"I can’t read the book."
"Really? It is strange." Eli shrugged off the reveal. "Anyway, the name I chose sounded good in my ear. I think it is mine."
"Excuse me for my blunt question but why are you here, Eli." Silas asked.
"Just because." Eli answered, laying down on his chair.
"Just because? This is not a convincing reason."
"I don’t need one." Eli declared. "I am not bound by reason or cause. I will do as I wish. As I am the free person in this world. You should try it as well."
Silas smiled. Such a response could only come from someone strong like Eli. Silas smiled and didn’t say a word.
"Forget about me. Tell me why you come here." Eli asked. "Tell me about your journey."
Silas scratched his cheek. "Where should I start?" He caught the glimpse of the sky and muttered out loud.
"Oh, it is night time already. Woah, the sky is more beautiful up here." He exclaimed.
"You have good eyes, Silas. I chose the highest peak in the five mountains." Eli laughed.
"Where should I start?" Silas said, looking at the sky, taking in the starry sky. He wished he had an artistic skill so that he could immortalize the beauty of the sky.
Silas sighed and began to talk about the journey he took. He omitted a few important things.
Eli listened to him with great interest. He nodded enthusiasmly and didn’t interrupt at all. Silas felt that he was about to cry with joy. Eli was a good listener. Unlike Ice-pick who always protested.
’Too bad, he is eyeing on the same treasure as me.’ Silas sighed inwardly.
"You still haven’t told me why you come here?" Eli asked.
Silas was about to lie when his mind struck something. Stop. Stop.
’Rin. How did Rin manage to acquire the treasure when everyone is aiming for this. And why did she seem to have a good term with Eli and a few other elves? It doesn’t make sense.’
’She doesn’t have the information like I do. What is the difference between her and I? Think, Silas. You are forgetting something.’
Eli tilted his head. "Why aren’t you speaking? Did you have ulterior motives?"
Eli lifted up his hand and a wave of pressure descended upon his head, crushing his face to the table.
Silas heard a movement from behind him but it immediately ceased in an instant. Then the pressure dissipated into thin air and an unknown power lifted him up from his neck, choking him.
"Speak truly, Silas. Right now, you are acting like a false person."
Silas glanced at his feet and saw Roland, struggling to get up, the ground beneath him cracked due to immense pressure.
Lie or Truth.
That was why he hated dealing with a strong person. They could change in a flip.