Chapter 28

Startled by Talli, several elves instinctively raised their bows and aimed at her, treating her like a threat. But when they clearly saw the girl’s face, they all gasped in shock.

“She looks exactly like her…”

“I thought Yuriel was exaggerating, but she really does look this similar.”

“She’s practically the reincarnation of the goddess!!”

—

While they were still stunned, Talli quickly ran over and helped the young man off the ground.

“Are you okay?” she asked him softly.

The young man shook his head.

She noticed the nosebleed staining a vivid red patch across his chest.

“Did they hit you?”

One of the elves who had just lowered his bow immediately defended, “It wasn’t us, he ran into it himself!”

The others beside him also put down their bows one after another.

They couldn’t help it—facing that face, they simply couldn’t bring themselves to draw their bows.

The girl’s beautiful eyes glared at them fiercely. “You were being unreasonable from the start—dragging the two of us into your territory and locking us up!”

“That’s because you trespassed into the ruins our people left behind a thousand years ago!”

As the elves said this, the elder had someone bring over the chest that Talli had discovered earlier. He ordered it opened and personally took out the radiant and beautiful crossbow from inside.

“This crossbow was left behind by our goddess when she departed the territory forty years ago.”

The elder stepped closer to her. Talli instinctively stepped back with each of his steps and pushed Deritz behind her.

The elder paused, then continued: “After she left, no one knew where she had hidden this crossbow. No one would’ve guessed she buried it beneath the stone slab of the thousand-year-old temple ruins.”

Talli’s ears twitched at the mention of the word temple.

“After the goddess left the territory, she was gone for forty years. Not a single message or sign ever came back. We were all so worried. Until seven years ago… when we discovered the fruit of life that symbolized her had withered. That’s when we knew—she had already left this world.”

As the elder spoke, his tone grew heavy with sorrow. “…She was chosen by the Tree of Life from birth, and we old folks watched her grow up. Her birth was a spark of hope for the new generation. After the goddess passed away, the Tree of Life hasn’t produced a new life fruit in seven years. The hope of our elven race has slowly faded…”

At this point, he fell silent.

Around them, some of the more emotional elves had even started to sniffle.

One elf stepped forward and used magic to release the vines binding Deritz.

“You all think… I have some connection to your goddess?”

“Yes.”

He stepped forward. “These little spirits flying around you were the ones closest to the goddess in their lifetimes.”

Because of the elder’s approach, the little spirits scattered slightly. Talli reached out her hand, and one of the glowing, fluffball-like spirits landed on her fingertip.

“They were the ones who brought me back,” Talli said.

“They are condensed forms of the natural elements of the world. Unlike our people, they only approach those they consider the most natural and pure,” the elder explained. “Like the goddess born in each generation of the elf race.”

“…But I’m human.”

“You carry the aura of the elves.”

The elder gave Talli a deep look. “…Perhaps, you are the goddess’s bloodline left behind in the mortal world.”

—

When Talli stepped out of the house, a heavy downpour had begun. She gently waved away the little spirits fluttering around her.

Deritz followed her out and stood under the eaves, watching the glowing spirits flicker in and out like stars as they darted through the rain.

Talli opened the umbrella the elder had given her, and Deritz naturally took it from her. The two of them stepped into the curtain of rain, sharing the same umbrella. Talli held onto his sleeve and led him toward the house where they were staying.

Suddenly, she spoke. “Dusk.”

He didn’t respond—whether he heard or not, she couldn’t tell. So she raised her voice slightly and called his name again.

“What is it?” Deritz’ hair, resting at his shoulder, slipped down slightly with his small movement.

“Is your injury okay? Are you hurt?” she asked loudly.

“I’m fine.”

The young man replied a bit absentmindedly. Maybe to him, it wasn’t even worth calling an injury.

“Why didn’t you run away?”

Talli asked again.

The young man didn’t answer. He reached out with his left hand to hold the umbrella and bent his right hand slightly, placing it near his ear.

Talli stood on tiptoe. “Why didn’t you run away?”

This time he heard her clearly.

Deritz let out a soft laugh. His clear voice floated through the pouring rain into Talli’s ears, sounding a bit unreal:

“Didn’t your backpack get taken by them earlier? If I left, you wouldn’t have gotten your stuff back.”

Talli was stunned for a moment.

“That’s the reason?”

“Yes.”

Deritz handed the bag hanging on his arm to her and repeated,

“Just because of this.”

—

After spending a night with the elves, the rain stopped the next day. A bright rainbow appeared on the horizon, the air was fresh, the soil damp, and everything seemed to burst with life.

That morning, after talking with the elven chief at the council hall, Talli returned with two new sets of clothes.

The elves’ clothing suited their style well. When Talli tried them on, the outfit looked fresh and pure, lively and adorable. The white dress with ruffles fluttered in the wind, making her look like a little spirit dancing in the breeze.

Coincidentally, Deritz had also changed clothes and walked out from the inner room. He looked like he hadn’t fully woken up yet—tall, slim, with great proportions—but still carried his usual lazy, relaxed aura, his hair loosely draped over his shoulders.

Talli waved at him. “Come here.”

Deritz seemed a bit reluctant, but still slowly shuffled over.

She pressed him down into a chair, then stood on a toppled bamboo stool in front of the vanity mirror. From her wrist, she pulled off a hair tie and began to tie up his hair.

The young man paused, slightly stunned. He looked into the mirror at the girl with lowered eyes. Her expression was serious, as if she truly saw this as something she ought to do—something that needed to be done.

She gently brushed aside the long hair covering one of his eyes, tucking it behind his ear and revealing his full face. Then, with the borrowed comb, she slowly and softly began to comb his hair.

“Do you want to know what the chief asked me about this morning?”

“What?”

Deritz hadn’t yet moved his gaze away from her reflection in the mirror.

Just then, she looked up and met his eyes through the mirror.

“He asked me if I wanted to stay here and become the clan’s new goddess.”

“Oh.”

“Aren’t you curious how I answered?”

Deritz felt the cool tips of her fingers brush against his scalp and the edge of his ear. The light contact made his skin itch slightly, giving him the urge to shiver.

He said, “Well, you obviously refused.”

“That’s right.”

Talli nodded as she recalled, “But I also think the chief said some things I agree with. At the very least, there must be a significant connection between me and the deceased goddess.”

She paused. “Maybe she’s my birth mother—someone I’ve never met.”

“I told the chief that I had to accompany my companion to the Abyss, and that I had an unavoidable reason for going, so I had to decline his offer.” As she said this, she gathered his hair together, unlooped the purple hair tie from her wrist, and tied his hair up. “After hearing my explanation, he didn’t try to force me to stay. Instead, he said he’d lend me the bow the goddess left behind—it’ll be delivered this afternoon. He also invited me to stay here longer so their people could teach me to refine and improve my archery.”

“Do you want to stay here a while longer?” Deritz asked.

“Mhm.”

Talli gave the hair tie a final tug to secure it, then let go and looked into the mirror. “How does it feel? Doesn’t the high ponytail look more pleasing to the eye?”

Deritz was silent for a moment. He looked at the girl in the mirror and asked, “Why would you give me this kind of hairstyle?”

Talli replied, “I just had this strange feeling… that it really suits you.”

And it did. The high ponytail perfectly showcased the young man’s beauty—sharp and elegant facial features, a refined and striking profile, a long and graceful neck, and broad shoulders.

A knock sounded at the door, and Talli’s reflection disappeared from the mirror. She jumped down from the bamboo stool and ran over to open it.

Outside the door stood the blond elf boy who had captured them and brought them back to the elven territory yesterday.

When he saw that it was Talli opening the door, he looked a bit uneasy. He quickly lifted the tray in his hands in front of him and presented it forward. “The chieftain sent me to deliver the goddess’s crossbow to you!”

On the wooden tray lay a piece of deep red velvet cloth, and on it rested the purple stone crossbow Talli had seen yesterday.

Talli took the crossbow. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

The boy looked serious, as if holding back something he wanted to say. Seeing that Talli was about to close the door, he finally gathered his courage and held the wooden door with his hand.

“…Wait.”

Talli looked puzzled. “Is there something else?”

“Um… yesterday…”

He turned his face aside. “It was my fault—I almost hurt you. I’m here to apologize.”

“You are…”

“Yuriel,” he quickly added. “My name is Yuriel.”

“Yuriel.”

Talli nodded. “It’s alright. I forgive you.”

“Thank you,” the boy said earnestly, face still stiff. “My archery is ranked first in the clan. If you want to practice, you can come find me. I’ll take responsibility for training you.”

“Okay.”

Talli closed the door.

She turned around with the crossbow in her hands. As soon as her fingers brushed lightly over its surface, she felt a chilling, iron-like aura. It was heavy and solid in her grasp.

She looked up and saw the young man propping his chin on one hand. His long blue hair draped down behind him. He turned slightly and watched her with a faint smile on his face. “Don’t you think you were a bit too cold to him?”

Talli blinked. “Cold? Who? That elf?”

“You didn’t even remember his name,”

Deritz pressed two fingers to his cheek and smiled with curved eyes. “If that passionate elven boy heard you say that, imagine how heartbroken he’d be.”

“……”

Talli was nearly too lazy to respond to him. “If he had really shot me dead with that arrow back then, I wouldn’t even have had the chance to feel heartbroken.”

She raised the crossbow in her hand toward him in mock threat. “Actually, I’m pretty petty. You better watch out.”

—

Talli stayed in the elven territory for a while, and during that time, both her physical skills and archery improved significantly. The environment there was nourishing, and even the wounds on her body healed faster than expected.

Her new weapon felt just right in her hands—quick to ready, barely any recoil, and immensely powerful. These days, she went with the elves to the training grounds every day, practicing until dusk before returning. She had grown deeply fond of this crossbow once owned by the Elven Goddess.

Deritz would occasionally accompany her to the training grounds to watch her train.

Although the girl was slim and small, seemingly insignificant among the tall, winged elves, she shone brilliantly the moment she lifted the crossbow and took aim—unmatched and dazzling. It didn’t take long for her archery skills to rival even those of the elves who were born with racial advantages.

“What terrifying talent!”

“A genius in archery—she truly carries the bloodline of the Goddess.”

“When she lifts that stone crossbow, it’s like seeing the Goddess reborn!”

“She completely inherited the Goddess’s grace!”

The elves chattered excitedly, gazes filled with awe and admiration as they looked at her.

After finishing her final training session, Talli said goodbye to the elves and walked toward the stone steps by the training field. She was exhausted today—after all, it was her last day in the elven territory. Tomorrow, they would depart for the Abyss. She had spent the entire day training, and her arms ached terribly.

The young man sat by the stone steps and handed her a water flask.

He smiled and said, “You’re getting more and more popular. Tomorrow we’ll be leaving for the Abyss. So? When we return, have you thought about the chieftain’s proposal?”

Talli sat on the step just below him, gulping down water and wiping the sweat from her forehead. She shook her head. “Not considering it.”

“Eh? Why not?”

Deritz asked, “Even if you return, once you leave this place, the Fred family won’t be welcoming you back with a bright future, will they?”

“You’re right,” Talli tightened the cap and set the flask down. “But the Tree of Life didn’t choose me. I can’t just agree to that proposal just because I resemble the deceased Goddess, can I? The Elven Goddess is the highest faith of the elves—their lifelong object of devotion… not to mention I carry human blood.”

…Besides, her goal wasn’t here at all.

“But really, it’s strange. Back in the human realm, everyone revered Arrogance as their lord. Whether it was mages or royalty, they all believed in Him, honored Him, feared Him,” Talli said, watching the young elves sweating under the fading sunlight. She sighed. “I didn’t expect the elves to worship their own Goddess instead. It’s a tradition from ancient times, carried on for hundreds and thousands of years—and it hasn’t stopped.”

Hearing her words, Deritz leaned forward, rested his face in his hand, and smiled.

“What’s so strange about that? Races like the elves, who publicly claim to worship Arrogance but privately follow their own beliefs—there are plenty of them. Your human race isn’t an exception either.”

Talli thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I’ve never seen it.”

“How could I possibly let you know?” The young man let out a faint chuckle. “If you knew, would it still be called a secret cult? The Arrogant Monarch has only been the common monarch for what, a few decades? There are plenty who don’t submit to Him. Very few actually revere or love Him from the heart. To most people, He’s nothing more than a demonic being—they feel more disgust and fear toward Him than anything else.”

Talli thought for a moment, then nodded earnestly. “You’re right. Just a mere demon.”

Deritz’ red eyes darkened slightly.

He was the one who said it in the first place, but when Talli agreed, he unexpectedly felt a vague, inexplicable sense of displeasure.

However, what he didn’t expect was for Talli to speak again.

“But—who’s to say a mere demon can’t become the faith of this land?”

She recalled the dream she had in the temple, and the words of the Crimson Witch.

Although she could no longer clearly remember the young man’s face or figure, the sharpness of his presence—like a sheathed blade—and the image of blood-soaked edges were still vivid in her mind.

That young man seated on the high throne—there was no doubt that he had the power to become the object of all things’ faith.

And…

“At the very least, He truly wants to end this decaying age of chaos and apocalypse, to unify the old world,” Talli voiced her thoughts. “He opened the era of a new world, established a new set of rules, and maintained peace for over a hundred years. After the gods fell, He really did create a world without war or conflict, without plague or famine. So who’s to say a demon can’t be worthy of faith?”

After a long moment, she finally heard a drawn-out “Mm” from behind her.

She couldn’t quite tell what the tone meant.

Talli lifted her face and looked back.

The girl’s upturned face was pretty and youthful, clean and cute, her gaze as pure as fresh snow on a mountaintop. Her violet eyes met His lowered ones—

—completely unguarded, like a pair of translucent, rippling rubies.

The girl’s eyes shifted slightly. “Dusk.”

The young man moved his gaze just a little and lazily straightened his back, leaning his arm behind him.

He let out a soft hum of curiosity from his nose.

“Sometimes, when I look at you,” Talli said, resting her head against His knee and closing her eyes, “you feel kind of familiar.”

“Oh.”

Deritz looked toward the distant Dusk—just as the sun was setting behind the mountains.

Dusk painted the sky in a hazy layer of rose-colored light, bathing the world in a warm, gentle glow. Birds chirped in the woods, and the air was filled with the scent of fresh grass. Everything slowed down, the moment feeling quiet and peaceful, as if time itself had stretched out.

He said, “Maybe we met in a dream.”