‘So it truly is…’
You’er sighed helplessly, a dawning realization washing over him as his gaze fell upon the girl’s delicate elven ears.
Within that very manor, Grand Duke Feira had cruelly murdered a young half-elf boy, a boy who bore a striking resemblance to the girl standing before him.
“Forgive me,” You’er’s voice was a hoarse whisper, “I lacked the strength to save your brother. He was killed by Grand Duke Feira right before my eyes…”
His words were steeped in a potent mix of guilt and powerlessness.
The half-elf maiden shook her head once more, then meticulously traced each word onto You’er’s palm: “I know, but I don’t blame you! On the contrary, I am profoundly grateful! Without you, my brother and all my other ravaged kin would never have found peace!”
“I swore an oath to the Elven Queen that whoever avenges me, I, Noelle Noah, shall serve them for life! Therefore, you are my master, and I shall assist you without a single complaint!”
‘Serve for life… what in the… I merely…’
Having absorbed the message the girl had inscribed, You’er’s mind nearly seized, leaving him speechless for a long moment.
It took considerable effort before he could finally compose himself and speak to her with a serious tone.
“Your name is Noelle, correct? I regret to say that my purpose in killing Grand Duke Feira was also driven by revenge, as he, too, took my loved ones from me. Avenge you was not my original intention.”
Noelle steadfastly wrote in reply, “Whether by intent or by chance, the ultimate outcome is that you have fulfilled my sorrowful wish. Having already sworn an oath to the Elven Queen, I shall never renege on my word.”
“You are my master, and I will exert every ounce of my strength to rescue you!”
You’er remained silent.
He had long heard tales of the elven race, and they were indeed as obstinate as the legends claimed.
Once a decision was made, it would not be swayed, no matter the circumstances.
Even though Noelle, standing before him, was not a pure-blooded elf, her resolve was just as unyielding.
“Do you truly believe you can rescue me then, a man blinded and nearly crippled, from this heavily guarded capital of Eternal Night?”
You’er sought another approach to dissuade Noelle, unwilling to burden the beautiful, kind, yet stubbornly resolute elven maiden before him.
Noelle wrote again, “I will exhaust every possible means to save you, even if the cost is my very life!”
Ultimately, You’er failed to persuade Noelle to abandon her resolve; she was utterly determined to aid his escape.
“I will come every night at this time,” Noelle wrote on his palm, “and the moment the opportunity arises, I will act.”
Having meticulously erased any lingering traces from the ground, Noelle inscribed these words into You’er’s palm before departing.
‘Why must you go to such lengths…’
Watching Noelle’s retreating figure disappear beneath her cloak, You’er’s heart felt a pang of unease.
To have a girl he had only just met selflessly dedicate so much to him…
He resolved to seize the time to cultivate, aiming to achieve an initial grasp of the [Soul Sword Technique] before that day arrived.
Only then would he possess the right to contend with fate.
****
‘Why… why is it still not working!’
You’er had encountered a significant hurdle; the [Soul Sword Technique] proved far more enigmatic than he had anticipated, possessing an extraordinarily high ‘threshold’ for cultivation.
To even begin the [Soul Sword Technique], one first needed to draw a sword—specifically, the ‘Soul Sword.’
Yet, with not a single hint as to its location or method of retrieval, You’er inevitably found himself stymied at the very first step.
Days, perhaps even weeks, slipped by, yet You’er made no discernible progress.
As for the opportune moment Noelle, the half-elf maiden, had spoken of, You’er’s mental perception, heightened by the awakening of his Soul Power, had, through careful observation of his surroundings, gradually pieced together the answer.
Before long, the Eternal Night Empire was slated to embark on a grand expedition.
While its precise target remained unknown from his vantage point, it was clear that on that day, numerous armies and powerful individuals would be withdrawn from the capital city.
And that day, despite You’er’s profound apprehension, ultimately arrived.
“The expeditionary forces have departed,” the half-elf maiden stated, “and the city’s defenses are now significantly weakened.”
Standing on a tall stool, the half-elf maiden faced You’er directly.
As her fingertip rose, blue script spontaneously materialized in the air.
Being an elf, Noelle possessed an innate talent for magic, and since her throat prevented her from speaking, she had chosen to communicate with You’er by conjuring magical text, knowing he could ‘see’ it.
“Noelle, please, you must wait a little longer. As I am now, I cannot…”
*Snap!
The abrupt sound echoed sharply.
Before You’er could even finish his plea, Noelle employed a unique method to shatter the restraints binding him.
She freed him from the crucifix, and disregarding his resistance, pulled him along, slipping past the guards who slept like dead pigs, and fled the plaza without a moment’s hesitation.
Almost simultaneously, the alarm connected to the crucifix in the center of the plaza was triggered, emitting a piercing, high-pitched shriek.