Chapter 699

【 SONG 】

—

The sound of the wind outside the window grew steadily stronger, howling without pause.

At the center of the house stood a wide stone hearth surrounding a fire basin, its bright yellow flames burning vigorously, crackling as smoke drifted upward.

Cypher sat in front of it, curiously examining the burning material used to fuel the basin. It appeared to be some kind of lard stripped from a monster’s body, which released an odd and unpleasant odor as it burned.

He then shifted his gaze to his surroundings. Dorei’s house, although dilapidated, had been kept meticulously tidy. Only the dark, greasy stains clinging onto the walls made it seem less clean than it truly was.

Numerous shelves were mounted along the walls, each filled with assortment of odd objects. Cypher could vaguely recognize several tools and ornaments that bore a distinctly elven style, along with numerous blackened bones and rows of bottles and jars containing unknown substances.

The floor was covered with clay dishes filled with a viscous black liquid. Each dish held a wick that seemed to be made of insect silk, burning with a bright, flickering flame, much like rows of oil lamps.

The adorable little girl, Estelle, was crouching down, carefully blowing out these “oil lamps” one by one. Afterwards, she would collect the black liquid into a bag, then stacked the clay dishes neatly and placed them into a pile.

At this moment, Cypher finally understood why the light shining from this house’s windows had appeared noticeably brighter than that of the surrounding houses when viewed from outside.

It was clearly the glow of these “oil lamps.”

Aside from Dorei, Estelle, and him, there was no one else in the room, and it was evident that before Dorei returned, his daughter had been alone all along in their home.

Cypher avoided asking about the girl’s mother, not wanting to be rude and unintentionally bring up a sorrowful story behind her absence.

Meanwhile, Dorei sat on the opposite side of the fire basin, methodically processing the spoils he had brought back. Most of them were chunks of blackened meat that gave off a pungent, almost nauseating stench, causing Cypher to frown and instinctively pull back a little.

The older man, however, seemed entirely unfazed as the stoic Frost-Elf sat cross-legged, skillfully slicing the meat with a rusted dagger.

Each cut he made revealed layers of thick, sticky fat, which Dorei carefully shaved off and poured into prepared bottles.

Looking at the thick liquid, Cypher finally realized what was the material used as fuel for both the “oil lamps” and the fire basin.

Estelle soon finished tidying up the lamps.

Then, under Cypher’s curious gaze, the little girl disappeared once more into another room deeper inside the house, where the light was slightly dimmer.

Because Dorei’s body was blocking his view, Cypher could not see what she was doing. He could only hear her light, rhythmic footsteps, the soft hum of a tune, and occasionally the gentle sound of running water.

Judging by the cheerful tone of her humming, the girl seemed to be in a good mood.

After a while, Estelle reappeared in Cypher’s sight. This time, she was carrying a patterned clay pot and three uneven, dented cups.

Like a cheerful butterfly, she fluttered over to the two of them, gently knelt down, and poured a cup of tea for himself, her father, and for herself.

“Dad, honored guest, you must be tired from your journey. Please have some tea.”

Her voice was clear and pleasant, like that of a nightingale song, carrying a warmth that seemed to fill the dim room.

After saying this, she disappeared into the darkened room once again, her light footsteps barely making a sound, bouncing with the energy of a cheerful little rabbit.

What a lovely child…

Cypher could not help thinking to himself.

After walking for so long, he was indeed thirsty, so he reached for the cup she had offered.

However, as he raised it and examined the liquid inside, he hesitated slightly.

The water was murky, with a thin layer of oily residue floating on its surface, which gave off an indescribably fishy odor that made his stomach tighten.

Cypher: “…”

W-What kind of tea is this?

His sense of smell and his body were clearly instinctively rejecting this unknown drink, as if warning him to stop.

When he glanced at Dorei, he discovered that the older man had already lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.

The expression on his taciturn face remained entirely normal, as though he had not been affected in the slightest by the stench of this “tea.”

Cypher: “…”

The corner of his mouth twitched.

From the bottom of his heart, he felt admiration for the older man, who could stomach such a foul drink that made him feel nauseated after just a single sniff.

“Honored guest? Does it not suit your taste?”

At that moment, Estelle’s voice sounded again.

Cypher instinctively looked over and saw the elven girl standing at the doorway of the inner room. She was holding a tray with three clay bowls containing something unknown.

She tilted her head slightly, gazing at Cypher with bright, sparkling eyes.

Looking at those pure innocent eyes, like those of a newborn child, made it very difficult for Cypher to say the word “no.”

“It is the purified juice of an abyssal worm,” Dorei’s hoarse voice interjected at that moment.

After speaking, the man began coughing violently again, clutching his chest and taking several deep, ragged breaths before finally recovering. Cypher noticed with a pang of discomfort that the tumors on Dorei’s face had split open even further, as yellow pus began oozing from each one.

“Daddy!”

Estelle cried out softly as she set down the tray and hurried over to her father. Kneeling before him, the girl took out a strip of cloth and gently wiped the pus from his face, her small fingers trembling slightly.

“Does it hurt…?”

Her voice wavered, filled with genuine concern, and her bright eyes were clouded with worry.

However, Dorei gently pushed her away, speaking in a flustered, almost embarrassed tone.

“Do not… do not touch me. I am filthy.”

Beneath the flickering firelight, Estelle’s delicate profile and tender movements stood in stark contrast to Dorei’s grotesque, marred appearance. The worry etched across the girl’s face mirrored the helplessness lingering in her father’s expression, their emotions intertwining under the warm, uneven glow of the flames.

As Cypher watched the scene, a sudden, inexplicable sting welled up from within him.

He then took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and drained the offered tea in one gulp.

Cypher: “…”

It was foul.

Sour and spicy.

Yet it still paled in comparison to the heaviness now weighing on his heart.

He could not understand why these elves had to endure such suffering and reduced to such a miserable state.

A tea made of abyssal worms…

His eyes suddenly widened, his mind racing.

This place…

—Was it the Abyss?

The flames in the fire basin crackled sharply, and the door rattled violently as the wind outside struck it hard.

Estelle stood up, lifting the tray once more. She hid the worry that flickered across her face and replaced it with a warm smile.

“Dad, honored guest, you must be hungry. I’ve prepared some food. Please eat and fill your stomachs.”

As she spoke, the little girl presented the clay bowls on the tray to the two of them.

Hearing Estelle’s words, Cypher felt a stir of hunger rise within him. However, after enduring the “tea” earlier, he was already mentally bracing himself for what came next.

Lowering his gaze, he looked at the food the girl handed to him.

It consisted of pieces of air-dried meat, dark and blackened. Unlike the delicious jerky he usually carried as rations, this blackened meat emitted a faint, fishy stench that made one feel nauseated.

Alongside the meat were some strange, lumpy objects that appeared to be fungi of some sort, their odd texture and pungent odor equally off-putting.

Cypher no longer wished to think about why the elves in this world had been forced to resort to eating such foul-tasting meat.

He seriously doubted whether consuming such pungent food would cause any illness.

Holding the clay bowl, Cypher hesitated, but Estelle and Dorei had already begun eating.

They lifted their bowls to their chests and gently closed their eyes, adopting calm, reverent expressions. Their lips moved ever so slightly as they began to pray, their voices low and steady, blending with the crackle of the flames in the basin that flickered and popped intermittently.

Their hushed prayers reached Cypher’s keen ears, carrying with it a solemn, almost sacred rhythm.

“Oʼ Merciful and Great Divine Matriarch…”

“You are the Sovereign of life, the Mother of Nature…”

“May you bless us, your lost children, and guide us back to the true light within this darkness…”

Cypher’s mouth fell slightly open, his face filled with astonishment.

Sovereign of Life…

Mother of Nature…

These were precisely the divine titles of the Goddess Evé!

But then… why had the goddess not responded to them?

At this moment, Cypher suddenly felt a twinge of regret.

Although he considered himself a semi-casual player, he had never delved deeply into the background lore of Elven Kingdom.

Could it be…?

Could it be that because this place was the Abyss, the goddess’s powers could not reach here?

He could not help but speculate.

The two elves soon finished their prayers, traced a crooked symbol upon their chests, and began to eat.

They ate slowly, chewing carefully, as if the food in their hands were extremely precious.

At this moment, Cypher suddenly recalled that he seemed to have heard someone mention that during the previous beta tests, the goddess had reformed the Church of Nature into the Church of Life, thus changing various doctrines and practices, including the very symbol of the elven faith itself.

As such, could it be… that because the divine symbol they were using was no longer valid, the goddess had not received their prayers?

Cypher speculated again.

“Honored guest? Does it not suit your taste?”

Just as Cypher’s thoughts were running wild, Estelle’s gentle voice sounded once more.

He looked over and saw the girl gazing at the food he had yet to touch.

He noticed that the clay bowl in her hands had already been emptied at some point.

Cypher felt a bit surprised that such a little girl could ate so quickly.

However, when he glanced at the unfinished pieces of dried meat on Dorei’s side and saw Estelle’s lingering, hesitant expression, realization slowly dawned on him.

It was not that the girl ate quickly. Rather, she likely had very little food to begin with.

Clearly, these provisions had been prepared by Estelle in advance and there was no way she could have known ahead of time that a guest would arrive.

Therefore, she had likely prepared food for only two people, and she had now selflessly given most of her share to him, their sudden guest.

In this place, food was evidently scarce.

In an instant, the ache in Cypher’s chest further deepened.

He took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said,

“No, it tastes very good.”

After speaking, he lifted the clay bowl, held his breath, and hastily devoured the foul meat filled with fungi.

Cypher: “…”

As expected, it was downright unbearable.

Fortunately, he managed to hold back and not vomit.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

But perhaps because he ate too quickly, he began coughing violently.

Soon, however, he felt a small, warm hand patting his back, gently helping him catch his breath.

“Hehe, slow down a bit and be careful not to choke.”

Cypher turned his head and saw the girl’s sweet smile.

Looking at Estelle’s innocent expression, the ache in his heart grew even stronger.

“T-Thank you…”

Cypher said softly.

After a brief pause, he reached into his clothes and retrieved several fruits from his spatial storage, before carefully placing them in front of Estelle and Dorei.

“Th… this is…?”

Seeing the crystal-clear, pale green fruits, native to the Elven Forest, the little girl’s eyes widened with curiosity and wonder.

She could not resist gently poking one, feeling its smooth texture, then closed her eyes and inhaled its fragrant scent.

In an instant, her eyes lit up with delight.

“Oh, it smells so wonderful!”

Dorei also froze slightly.

He instinctively sniffed the air, and an inexplicable trace of intoxication appeared on his face.

“This is a specialty from my homeland, sweet-green fruit. Please accept it as thanks for your hospitality,” Cypher said.

“Sweet-green fruit?”

Estelle repeated the name curiously, swallowed lightly, and asked,

“Um… can this be eaten?”

Facing her gaze, filled with pure innocence, Cypher did not know what to feel.

Back in the Elven Forest, these sweet-green fruits were in fact one of the elves’ favorite foods.

Yet here in this place, these elves did not seemed to recognize them.

To have even forgotten them… Had these elves spent a long time here, years, possibly even centuries…?

“It can be eaten.”

Cypher sighed, picked one up, and took the first bite himself.

Seeing this, the two elves hesitated briefly before carefully bringing the fruit to their mouths.

They each took a small bite, then immediately stiffened at the same time.

Cypher noticed that their expressions instantly softened, melting into pure bliss, as though they were tasting the most delicious food in the entire world.

Then, as if they had not eaten properly in a very long time, they began devouring the fruit eagerly.

“Eat slowly. I still have more with me,” Cypher said gently.

At that moment, Dorei suddenly set the fruit in his hand aside and looked at Cypher with a calm, steady gaze.

Cypher was startled.

However, he quickly realized that the older man’s taciturn expression now seemed much gentler than before.

Dorei pointed to himself and said in a hoarse voice,

“Dorei. Azurefrost.”

Then he pointed at the little girl.

“Estelle. My daughter.”

After that, he looked back at Cypher and spoke in a steady tone.

“Unsullied One… What is your name?”

Cypher paused slightly.

After a moment of silence, he revealed a friendly smile.

“Cypher.”

“My name is Cypher. Cypher Shadowshade.”

༺⟐༻

After the meal, the three of them sat quietly by the fire basin, a subtle sense of familiarity beginning to settle between them.

Dorei remained taciturn as ever, sitting quietly as he processed the spoils of his recent hunt, while coughing softly from time to time.

Estelle, on the other hand, was laying down on the floor, her clear, wide eyes fixed curiously on Cypher as he helped Dorei with his work.

“Brother Cypher, you look so handsome!”

She looked at his fair, unblemished face and spoke with wide-eyed admiration..

Meeting the girl’s bright gaze, Cypher’s expression grew increasingly gentle.

“You as well. You’re very cute too, Estelle.”

The little girl giggled, then glanced again at the splendid armor he was wearing. Filled with anticipation and curiosity, she asked, “Brother Cypher… are you the envoy of the Divine Matriarch?”

“I read in books that the Matriarch’s divine envoys are all as handsome like you!”

“And also… you have that tasty sweet… um, sweet…”

“Sweet-green fruit,” Cypher supplied.

“Yes! Yes! Sweet-green fruit!”

The girl nodded repeatedly, her excitement barely contained.

“T-Then… that fruit must be the legendary fruit, right? right? Did you bring it from our Matriarch’s divine kingdom?”

“I read about it in books! The Sacred Scriptures say that our Matriarch’s divine kingdom is a beautiful and abundant place, like a land flowing with milk and honey…”

“There, warm sunlight shines over a deep blue sky, with many delicious berries growing on every bush, and clear, sweet springwater flows everywhere…”

“There are no worries, no sorrow, no pain, no corruption. Everyone lives happily and joyfully…”

“Brother Cypher! Are you really someone from the Matriarch’s divine kingdom?”

“Have you seen the deep blue sky? The books say there are shining things called stars there, like sparkling gemstones!”

“But those things called gemstones… what do they even look like?”

“Mother said that long ago, my great-great-grandfather’s grandfather once had one.”

“But so much time has passed and it was accidentally lost during the great migration more than two thousand years ago…”

“Have you seen any gemstones?”

Watching Estelle’s overly excited expression, Cypher hesitated, his lips parted as if to answer, but he stopped himself, unsure how to respond.

At the same time, he froze slightly.

—Wait. What?

What did he heard just now?

Two… two thousand years?

Suddenly, waves of beast-like roars erupted from outside the house, cutting off all of Cypher’s thoughts.

Faintly, he could also hear shouts and the clash of battle.

“The Black Tide has arrived,” Dorei said in a low voice.

Cypher’s heart stirred, and he quickly stood and moved toward the door.

Peeking outside, he saw that everything was completely shrouded in gray fog, with only the faint lights of other houses visible in the distance.

The ground trembled subtly, while the intermittent howls of monsters and the clash of swords echoed from the direction of the city walls.

The chaotic sounds were buried by the howling wind, appearing and disappearing like distant echoes.

Frightened, Estelle shrank back and hid behind her father.

At some point, Dorei had set aside his work and picked up an elven harp crafted from an unfamiliar material.

He then began to play softly, and a long, gentle melody emanated from the instrument.

Hearing the tune, Cypher paused, momentarily frozen.

What the older man was playing sounded remarkably similar to a well-known background piece from Elven Kingdom, titled ‘A Morning in Florence.’

The music was calm and tender, tinged with a faint melancholia. Yet beneath the sorrowful melody lay a sense of unyielding persistence and quiet resolve.

Dorei opened his mouth softly, his low, hoarse voice singing along with the melody.

As he sang, Estelle also began to gradually calm down.

She leaned against her father and began to murmur softly.

The weathered, hoarse voice intertwined with the clear, delicate singing. Accompanied by the graceful melody, it passed through the windows and drifted all throughout the city.

Gradually, similar faint chanting rose from all corners of the city outside, joining in the song’s chorus altogether.

“The sky grows alight, the night fades to bright,

Daybreak wakes the sleeping world in gentle light.”

“This soft music rises, flowing melodiously,

Through fields of flowers and every tree.”

“The sun shall rise, and the sun shall set,

Each new day brings hope we won’t forget.”

“This melody drifts on through the morning air,

A bard’s sweet song in Florence’s fair.”

“O’ merciful Matriarch, may you forever shine,

May your light eternal, pure and divine.”

“I am your child, humble and true,

Offering my glory forever to you.”

“O’ merciful Matriarch, may you forever shine,

May your light eternal, pure and divine.”

“We are your children, humble and true,

Offering our glory forever unto you.”

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