“I understand your concerns, Demoness but this will serves as training for me. And I'll be with the elven royalty, so it shouldn’t be that risky, ” he said, trying to reassure her.
Once back at the farm, Theo hurriedly commanded the Darkreaper's Scythe to harvest all the available matured Nightshade tomatoes, storing them within his golden vault. Afterwards, he headed to his room at Baron’s mansion.
Upon entering the grand hall, he called to Elena, quickly emptying the contents of a spatial ring and filling it with some of the rations he had acquired on his first day at Elwyn city.
“I might leave for a few days and may not get a chance to bid you farewell. If Captain Henry brings any matters up, handle them as you see them right,” he instructed.
Elena appeared momentarily puzzled but soon replied with a gentle smile, “Take care, Master. Remember to eat your meals.”
After bidding her goodbye, he entered the farm once more. He transferred the gold from the bracelet he acquired from Elara into his golden vault and then filled the bracelet with rations, food, and some Duskbloom and Abyssal Delight Berries.
Handing it to Lilith, he explained, “This has a lot of storage space and I have also stored rations and some fruits that you can eat if you get hungry.”
Theo was worried he wouldn’t be able to enter his farm when he was with Lorian and the princesses, ensuring Lilith wouldn’t go hungry he handed her enough food. He also refrained from planting any new crops for the same reason as it would cause chaos if left unharvested.
Gazing at the bracelet, Lilith clutched it. "What to do If I’m craving for you blood?" Seeing his cold glare, she shifted and requested, “Could you put it on for me?”
Theo just placed it in her hand, already turning to leave. “Take care, Demoness” he murmured.
Lilith gazed at his departing figure with a hint of sorrow and longing in her eyes. But soon, she smiled affectionately when her gaze fell on the item in her hand and wore the bracelet.
Once finished with all the important task, Theo made his way to Laeloria's Leafy Lounge, expecting Elara and Aerin to be awaiting his arrival.
When Theo arrived, he noticed Elara sitting in the same spot, but there was no sign of Lorian and Aerin. As she caught sight of him approaching, she stood up, giving him a wave.
“Haven’t they arrived yet?” Theo inquired, halting in front of the table where Elara had been seated.
“They're waiting for you. My sister finished her preparations early, and Lorian is with her,” Elara replied, extending her hand to reveal a ring.
Seeing his questioning expression, she explained, “It contains the remaining funds. Commander Haldir already returned with them.”
Theo took the ring, inspecting its contents. A generous pile of gold was inside, mirroring the amount in the necklace. It appeared Elara had not only met their agreement amount but perhaps even exceeded it.
After keeping the ring to his golden vault, Theo inquired, “Where are they?”
Elara gestured to a distant carriage parked several hundred meters away. It appeared worn and typical of what a commoner might use.
Seeing his expression, Elara explained, “This is a secret mission. Master Rowan insisted we avoid any noticeable soldiers presence. You should head there before my sister loses her patience.”
Theo had assumed royal guards would accompany them for protection, but it seemed the lunatic princess was willing to plunge into danger headfirst. Yet with her formidable master involved, everything should be alright, shouldn’t it?
“Aren’t you joining us?” Theo inquired.
Elara's face lit up with a soft smile. “I'd love to, but my sister insisted I attend my birthday celebration. Once it’s over, I’ll catch up with you all.”
Nodding, Theo wished, “Happy Birthday, and I'll see you soon.”
“Thank you, Mister Theo,” Elara replied warmly.
As Theo made his way to the old, worn-out carriage, he recognized Limen as the driver, despite his unassuming attire. The carriage was drawn by large, ferocious-looking wolves with black fur.
Boarding the carriage was a bit of a challenge for Theo due to its small entrance, but he managed. Inside, Lorian's eyes lit up upon seeing him, while Aerin's expression soured. Theo took a seat opposite them, requiring the entire bench due to his stature.
He noticed that Aerin's attire was unusually plain and aged for a princess: a long white skirt with visible patches and a stained top. She had something covering her head, but none of these could conceal her natural beauty.
Without further delay, Limen set the carriage in motion.
As their journey began, Theo's thoughts were dominated by concerns about their safety. He felt he couldn't place his complete trust in this lunatic princess, especially if she chose to blindly walk into a dangerous situation without any strategy.
“Don’t you fear confronting them without the support of elven soldiers?” Theo inquired, his brow creased with concern about how they'd face an undetermined number of enemies involved in the kidnappings.
Aerin's expression remained unfazed as she responded, “We're not truly alone. Commander Haldir and others are tailing us, shadowing our every move. They'll remain unseen, ready to intervene if we face a direct threat.” Her confidence was reassuring, yet it left Theo pondering the risks they were about to encounter.
Seeking further clarity, Theo continued, “Have you devised any strategy?” His voice conveyed his eagerness for more details, a desire to understand her plan more fully.
Turning her gaze forward, as though visualizing the path ahead, Aerin shared, “We're heading to Silverbrook town, where some of the kidnappers have been spotted.” The destination was set, but the uncertainty of what awaited them enveloped them like a shadow.
Theo nodded, processing the information. It was then that he noticed the inquisitive tilt of Aerin’s head, her eyes narrowing with a hint of curiosity. “Why can't I sense any mana from you?” she asked, her tone laced with a hint of suspicion.
“Because I have none,” Theo responded calmly.
Disbelief painted itself across Aerin's face, her eyes widening as she struggled to grasp the implication of his words. “Then why did you promise Lorian you'd save Neria? Without mana, how can you be of any assistance?”
Theo leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper, as if to share a secret, “Mana isn't everything.” His mysterious words seemed a puzzle yet to be solved.
She looked at him, clearly baffled, seeking an explanation. “What do you mean by that?”
The corners of Theo’s mouth turned up slightly, “You'll come to understand as you grow older,” he replied, leaving the statement deliberately vague.
Her patience frayed, and she huffed, the annoyance clear in her voice. “What do you mean 'grow older'? You think you've figured it all out and I'm still naive? Just how old are you?”
The question seemed to amuse him. “Seventeen. How about you?” he asked.
She puffed up her chest slightly, “I'm eighteen. So don't treat me like a child.”
The lightness returned to Theo’s eyes as he teased, “In that case, should I address you as ‘Grandma’?” The mischief flickered in his tone.
Aerin clenched her fist in frustration, but before she could reply, Lorian chimed in, “Brother, I'm eighteen.” It seemed he was amused to discover he was older than Theo.
This revelation took Theo aback. To discover that Lorian, a boy he had seen as much younger, was actually older than him was surprising.
He was aware that elves aged more slowly, but it was also remarkable to think of these royal siblings as being so young. Especially when Elara, who must be even younger than Aerin, seemed far more mature than her older sister.
He wanted to ask Lorian about Neria's age, but refrained, not wanting to remind the boy of his missing sister. It was commendable how the boy was managing to hold himself together, despite his sister's recent kidnapping.
Theo asked the boy. “Have you eaten anything?”
He shook his head. “They offered, but I'm not hungry,” Lorian replied, gesturing towards the princess beside him. He recognized Aerin’s beauty, but his heart wasn't charmed by her allure, especially remembering that his true affection was reserved for the elder sister who usually accompanied Theo.
Theo retrieved some berries from his golden vault, offering them to Lorian. “Eat these. If you're not at your best, you'll only become a burden,” he instructed, choosing harsh words that seemed to get through to the boy.
After a moment's hesitation, Lorian accepted the berries and began to eat. Their unique taste reminded him of Neria; if she were here, she'd be tasting them too. As he thought about his younger sister, tears began to well up in his eyes.
Aerin observed from the side, recognizing the familiar Duskbloom berries, but also some new ones Theo hadn't shared with them before.
Seeing her longing gaze, Theo extended some berries to her. “Here, take these. If you keep staring like that, he might not able to digest them and feel unwell.” he teased.
Aerin pretended to be disinterested as her pride stung by Theo's words. But when he wasn't looking and gazing at Lorian, she quickly snatched all the Abyssal Delight and Duskbloom Berries and savored them.
Their unique flavor overwhelmed her; she had never tasted anything quite like them before. She wondered silently, 'Does this fellow come from the same place as Teacher?'
As Aerin and Lorian were engrossed with the delicious fruits, his attention drifted to the corner of his eye where an icon of a gavel hovering over a patch of farmland. It was the <Demonic Farm Auction House> option. As he accessed it, he noticed the [Special This Week] section was updated.
“I understand your concerns, Demoness but this will serves as training for me. And I'll be with the elven royalty, so it shouldn’t be that risky, ” he said, trying to reassure her.
Once back at the farm, Theo hurriedly commanded the Darkreaper's Scythe to harvest all the available matured Nightshade tomatoes, storing them within his golden vault. Afterwards, he headed to his room at Baron’s mansion.
Upon entering the grand hall, he called to Elena, quickly emptying the contents of a spatial ring and filling it with some of the rations he had acquired on his first day at Elwyn city.
“I might leave for a few days and may not get a chance to bid you farewell. If Captain Henry brings any matters up, handle them as you see them right,” he instructed.
Elena appeared momentarily puzzled but soon replied with a gentle smile, “Take care, Master. Remember to eat your meals.”
After bidding her goodbye, he entered the farm once more. He transferred the gold from the bracelet he acquired from Elara into his golden vault and then filled the bracelet with rations, food, and some Duskbloom and Abyssal Delight Berries.
Handing it to Lilith, he explained, “This has a lot of storage space and I have also stored rations and some fruits that you can eat if you get hungry.”
Theo was worried he wouldn’t be able to enter his farm when he was with Lorian and the princesses, ensuring Lilith wouldn’t go hungry he handed her enough food. He also refrained from planting any new crops for the same reason as it would cause chaos if left unharvested.
Gazing at the bracelet, Lilith clutched it. "What to do If I’m craving for you blood?" Seeing his cold glare, she shifted and requested, “Could you put it on for me?”
Theo just placed it in her hand, already turning to leave. “Take care, Demoness” he murmured.
Lilith gazed at his departing figure with a hint of sorrow and longing in her eyes. But soon, she smiled affectionately when her gaze fell on the item in her hand and wore the bracelet.
Once finished with all the important task, Theo made his way to Laeloria's Leafy Lounge, expecting Elara and Aerin to be awaiting his arrival.
When Theo arrived, he noticed Elara sitting in the same spot, but there was no sign of Lorian and Aerin. As she caught sight of him approaching, she stood up, giving him a wave.
“Haven’t they arrived yet?” Theo inquired, halting in front of the table where Elara had been seated.
“They're waiting for you. My sister finished her preparations early, and Lorian is with her,” Elara replied, extending her hand to reveal a ring.
Seeing his questioning expression, she explained, “It contains the remaining funds. Commander Haldir already returned with them.”
Theo took the ring, inspecting its contents. A generous pile of gold was inside, mirroring the amount in the necklace. It appeared Elara had not only met their agreement amount but perhaps even exceeded it.
After keeping the ring to his golden vault, Theo inquired, “Where are they?”
Elara gestured to a distant carriage parked several hundred meters away. It appeared worn and typical of what a commoner might use.
Seeing his expression, Elara explained, “This is a secret mission. Master Rowan insisted we avoid any noticeable soldiers presence. You should head there before my sister loses her patience.”
Theo had assumed royal guards would accompany them for protection, but it seemed the lunatic princess was willing to plunge into danger headfirst. Yet with her formidable master involved, everything should be alright, shouldn’t it?
“Aren’t you joining us?” Theo inquired.
Elara's face lit up with a soft smile. “I'd love to, but my sister insisted I attend my birthday celebration. Once it’s over, I’ll catch up with you all.”
Nodding, Theo wished, “Happy Birthday, and I'll see you soon.”
“Thank you, Mister Theo,” Elara replied warmly.
As Theo made his way to the old, worn-out carriage, he recognized Limen as the driver, despite his unassuming attire. The carriage was drawn by large, ferocious-looking wolves with black fur.
Boarding the carriage was a bit of a challenge for Theo due to its small entrance, but he managed. Inside, Lorian's eyes lit up upon seeing him, while Aerin's expression soured. Theo took a seat opposite them, requiring the entire bench due to his stature.
He noticed that Aerin's attire was unusually plain and aged for a princess: a long white skirt with visible patches and a stained top. She had something covering her head, but none of these could conceal her natural beauty.
Without further delay, Limen set the carriage in motion.
As their journey began, Theo's thoughts were dominated by concerns about their safety. He felt he couldn't place his complete trust in this lunatic princess, especially if she chose to blindly walk into a dangerous situation without any strategy.
“Don’t you fear confronting them without the support of elven soldiers?” Theo inquired, his brow creased with concern about how they'd face an undetermined number of enemies involved in the kidnappings.
Aerin's expression remained unfazed as she responded, “We're not truly alone. Commander Haldir and others are tailing us, shadowing our every move. They'll remain unseen, ready to intervene if we face a direct threat.” Her confidence was reassuring, yet it left Theo pondering the risks they were about to encounter.
Seeking further clarity, Theo continued, “Have you devised any strategy?” His voice conveyed his eagerness for more details, a desire to understand her plan more fully.
Turning her gaze forward, as though visualizing the path ahead, Aerin shared, “We're heading to Silverbrook town, where some of the kidnappers have been spotted.” The destination was set, but the uncertainty of what awaited them enveloped them like a shadow.
Theo nodded, processing the information. It was then that he noticed the inquisitive tilt of Aerin’s head, her eyes narrowing with a hint of curiosity. “Why can't I sense any mana from you?” she asked, her tone laced with a hint of suspicion.
“Because I have none,” Theo responded calmly.
Disbelief painted itself across Aerin's face, her eyes widening as she struggled to grasp the implication of his words. “Then why did you promise Lorian you'd save Neria? Without mana, how can you be of any assistance?”
Theo leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper, as if to share a secret, “Mana isn't everything.” His mysterious words seemed a puzzle yet to be solved.
She looked at him, clearly baffled, seeking an explanation. “What do you mean by that?”
The corners of Theo’s mouth turned up slightly, “You'll come to understand as you grow older,” he replied, leaving the statement deliberately vague.
Her patience frayed, and she huffed, the annoyance clear in her voice. “What do you mean 'grow older'? You think you've figured it all out and I'm still naive? Just how old are you?”
The question seemed to amuse him. “Seventeen. How about you?” he asked.
She puffed up her chest slightly, “I'm eighteen. So don't treat me like a child.”
The lightness returned to Theo’s eyes as he teased, “In that case, should I address you as ‘Grandma’?” The mischief flickered in his tone.
Aerin clenched her fist in frustration, but before she could reply, Lorian chimed in, “Brother, I'm eighteen.” It seemed he was amused to discover he was older than Theo.
This revelation took Theo aback. To discover that Lorian, a boy he had seen as much younger, was actually older than him was surprising.
He was aware that elves aged more slowly, but it was also remarkable to think of these royal siblings as being so young. Especially when Elara, who must be even younger than Aerin, seemed far more mature than her older sister.
He wanted to ask Lorian about Neria's age, but refrained, not wanting to remind the boy of his missing sister. It was commendable how the boy was managing to hold himself together, despite his sister's recent kidnapping.
Theo asked the boy. “Have you eaten anything?”
He shook his head. “They offered, but I'm not hungry,” Lorian replied, gesturing towards the princess beside him. He recognized Aerin’s beauty, but his heart wasn't charmed by her allure, especially remembering that his true affection was reserved for the elder sister who usually accompanied Theo.
Theo retrieved some berries from his golden vault, offering them to Lorian. “Eat these. If you're not at your best, you'll only become a burden,” he instructed, choosing harsh words that seemed to get through to the boy.
After a moment's hesitation, Lorian accepted the berries and began to eat. Their unique taste reminded him of Neria; if she were here, she'd be tasting them too. As he thought about his younger sister, tears began to well up in his eyes.
Aerin observed from the side, recognizing the familiar Duskbloom berries, but also some new ones Theo hadn't shared with them before.
Seeing her longing gaze, Theo extended some berries to her. “Here, take these. If you keep staring like that, he might not able to digest them and feel unwell.” he teased.
Aerin pretended to be disinterested as her pride stung by Theo's words. But when he wasn't looking and gazing at Lorian, she quickly snatched all the Abyssal Delight and Duskbloom Berries and savored them.
Their unique flavor overwhelmed her; she had never tasted anything quite like them before. She wondered silently, 'Does this fellow come from the same place as Teacher?'
As Aerin and Lorian were engrossed with the delicious fruits, his attention drifted to the corner of his eye where an icon of a gavel hovering over a patch of farmland. It was the <Demonic Farm Auction House> option. As he accessed it, he noticed the [Special This Week] section was updated.
