Chapter 394: Little Velmourn.

“…what?”

Jivian couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Did… the Matriarch want him to be a… spy?

But why…?

However, before he could have too big of a breakdown—

“This was not your mistake, Jivian.”

Morvain spoke as she placed her hand over Jivian’s shoulder.

“Neither was it your father’s. I have seen your father work, he was one of the most selfless, hardworking men I knew, even the forge felt his absence for a good few years.”

Morvain spoke as she turned towards Draksis.

The Leader of the Forge nodded.

Jivian’s father was a Forgemaster, and although his position in the forge wasn’t high, his work was still appreciated by many.

“…”

Jivian lowered his head, recalling his father’s memories and everything he did for his family and his people. His father was one of the few Velmourns who were the first to step up every time someone needed help.

In all his life, he had never seen that man eat a full share of his food; most of the time, his share either went to his family or someone who needed it more than him.

“In your mind, you only did what you thought was best for your people. As you said, you didn’t care whether people believed in your God or not; even if they didn’t, you still prayed for them.

That is what I need from my people.”

Morvain spoke. Jivian raised his head, looking at the Matriarch, and she smiled.

“You are an ideal Velmourn, Jivian, just like your father was.

I know you did what you did with your family’s and your people’s best interests in your mind.”

Morvain spoke, showing almost blind faith in him. It was a look that Jivian appreciated, a sight that eased his heavy heart.

He nodded lightly, agreeing with her words as the piled-up pressure began to release, and then—

“And I know what you will do now too, will be in the best interest of the Velmourns.”

Morvain spoke with a meaningful look on her face.

Jivian noticed it as well; he understood the meaning behind Morvain’s words, and with a determined look on his face, he nodded—

“What do you need from me, Matriarch?”

“We still do not know for sure whether the being behind this Slate of yours is a God or a Drakthar man planning our fall.

If it is the first, it is something to be pleased about, but if it is not…

Then it is something even more pleasing.”

Morvain made an odd statement.

“What…?”

Jivian frowned in confusion, and Morvain smiled—

“This gives us an initiative, doesn’t it?”

“Initiative…?”

“If this is truly the source of Drakthar information, then doesn’t it mean we can alter it however we like and use it to our advantage?”

Morvain suggested, and in an instant, the expressions of the people inside the room changed.

“But we still do not know if this is truly…”

Jivian tried to speak, but—

“I am essentially asking you to lie to your God, Jivian.”

Morvain said it directly.

“Your doubts are correct; if these ’talks’ are truly heard by your God, then following my plan would mean you will be lying to your God. It will go against the faith that was instilled in you by your father.

It is a difficult decision, I understand that, but…

I am sure your God would understand it as well.”

Morvain paused as she slowly walked towards Kael and took the Slate he was holding.

“I am sure your God doesn’t need to be ’told’ what your situation is. He would already know, and he would also know why you are doing what you are doing—

It is a necessary sacrifice.”

“…”

Jivian turned silent.

His mind was filled with hundreds of thoughts. He looked at his wife, who seemed as out of it as he was. Even Joan seemed to have realized that the situation was serious and stayed silent, not disturbing the adults.

Morvain once again turned towards Jivian and—

“Of course, I will not force you to go against your faith.”

She spoke.

“This is something you have believed all your life; expecting you to forget about it because of some unsure suspicion is too far-fetched of a request.

But I ask you to understand where I stand as well—

I cannot allow you to keep ’talking’ to your God.”

The Matriarch made the decision.

“Even if it is just a suspicion, it is the strongest lead we have so far, and we are not in a position to take any risk.

So the Elder Hall will be seizing it.”

She spoke, pointing at the Slate.

Silence fell in the room; both Roan and his mother stayed silent, not knowing what to say, but Jivian…

“…When am I supposed to come and write?”

Suddenly, the man questioned.

Morvain turned towards him, a little surprised.

“What?”

She asked him to repeat himself, thinking she had heard wrong.

“The Matriarch wants me to lie to my God, correct? If you are taking this, at what time am I supposed to come and use the Slate?

I have never once failed to talk to Lord Havran, so if I do not write today and—”

The man asked again, and Morvain stared at others around him; the surprise on her face couldn’t be clearer. And she wasn’t alone; even Kael and Lavinia seemed surprised as well.

“Roan has been writing for the past few years, won’t it be suspicious if that suddenly changed?

We could use the celebration as an excuse; I can say Roan was too tired and slept at the celebration itself.”

“Wouldn’t it still be suspicious…?”

Suddenly, Selina, who had been silent for all this while, spoke up.

Jivian turned towards her, and the woman continued,

“I remember you waking Roan when he was sick just to talk to Lord Havran; we two even had a fight regarding the matter.”

“…”

Jivian lowered his head in embarrassment; he didn’t know how he was supposed to react to this.

Selina too seemed a bit awkward. She didn’t wish to put her husband down like this, especially when the Matriarch, Lord Kael, and Lady Lavinia were here, but from the looks of it, this was too important of a matter to continue without thinking.

When Joan was forced to ’talk’ to God when he was sick just so he could maintain the habit of writing every day, him not writing today just because he was asleep didn’t make any sense.

The excuse was too weak.

And not just Jivian, even Kael and others understood it as well.

The very fact that Jivian, for a decent part of his life, did not believe in his God yet still continued to talk to him showed how deeply this habit was ingrained inside him, and because of his faith, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was doing the same with Roan.

The ’God’ behind the Highstone knows it as well; they would definitely find it suspicious if something like this happened, that too, on such a big day like this.

They needed a stronger excuse.

They… they might even need to fake Roan’s death.

Just that… none of the people present in the room could pitch such a ruthless idea.

Too many things were being thrown at Jivian right now; telling him to write about his child’s death on top of all that was… too cruel.

He was being cooperative out of his loyalty for the Velmourns, but if they took it for granted and continued like this, Jivian might break.

“…”

“…”

The room turned silent.

The Elders stared at each other, Morvain stared at Lavinia, while Kael’s children gave their own suggestions in his head.

They had the means to fool the enemy, but to think they didn’t have an exact, believable way to do it…

Do they… really need to just seize the Highstone instead of using this fortunate chance?

It was… quite disappointing.

“I can do it!”

Suddenly, an unexpected person raised his hand.

“I can talk to the fake God!”

It was Roan, who seemed quite excited about all this. His God was already carrying him in his arms; everyone else was a ’fake’ God in his eyes.

And if there was a way for him to help his God, Roan was prepared for it!

“I can tell him what the Dragon God Kael wants me to! I can help!”

He repeated, sounding even more excited about the idea.

“…”

“…”

The room remained silent, but this time, the look on everyone’s face changed. Selina was clearly unsure about this; she didn’t wish to put her child through all this. Jivian, on the other hand—

“You want to do it?”

The father’s eyes brightened up.

“Yes!”

Roan nodded, showing his clenched fists.

Jivian turned towards Morvain, as if pitching the idea, and Morvain couldn’t control herself—

“As I would expect from a Velmourn, not even completely eight yet, but he is willing to work for the betterment of his people.”

The Matriarch grinned proudly, staring at Kael and Lavinia, as if showing off.

“I have no clue how Drakthar survived against the Velmourns all this time.”

Kael shook his head with a chuckle, gently ruffling Roan’s hair.

“We didn’t have an even playing field.”

“Fortunately for them.”

Kael laughed.

“They won’t be fortunate for long.”

Morvain grinned as she then glanced at Roan—

“Then Roan Velmourn, today, I hire you for an important task. Are you up for it?”

She questioned, and with a determined look on his face—

“Yes, Matriarch!”

Little Roan nodded.

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