Chapter 45: Compensate me

“The forest of the forgotten” Azazel repeated, letting the words roll off his tongue.

It wasn’t a name he recalled and he wasn’t the least bit surprised, since a lot of things didn’t even follow the game script.

Instead he asked.

“I assume the name’s not merely a decorative title, why is it called that?”

Elzar didn’t respond, instead they stared at the tree.

“It’s called the tree of the forgotten because challengers who fail the gods’ trials end up becoming its fruits.”

They took in a deep breath, gold eyes watched, indifferent and calm, then they continued.

“It bears a connection to the plane of the gods—hæven, if you prefer. They craft trials to temper their spawn and worshippers, then pass those trials to the tree to enact.”

Their voice was tranquil, not the kind of Serene grace mortals were capable of, yet not the kind of detachment gods held.

It was something in-between, far ancient, beyond human but not something that could be classified under godhood.

They spoke once more, a flicker of reverence present in their tone.

“I do not know its origins, this tree… is ancient, older than I am and certainly far older than my predecessors were, I only protect it and oversee its trials.”

Azazel fell deep into thought.

’The game never mentioned anything about the tree of the forgotten, Elias found the divine sword in an underground cave where river of souls Avalon and the stream of evermist met.’

His eyes narrowed as he stared at the cloaked guardian.

Another anomaly that didn’t appear in the game was the treasury keeper themself, Elzar’s whole existence was an enigma and Azazel…

Azazel couldn’t help his curiosity.

“Say… as much as I’d like to know more about the boring tree stuff, I’d admit I’m rather more curious about you, why are you parading in a cloak like some sort of vigilante?”

“A preference.” Elzar deadpanned.

“Care to show your face or will the world end if you take the hood off.” Azazel retorted with sarcasm.

Elzar didn’t reply, instead they just stood motionless for a few seconds then sighed audibly.

With a snap of their finger, the cloak disappeared and in its place, a pale figure stood.

Their skin was white as polished alabaster, and golden doe eyes adorned their face.

A cute buttoned nose added to their features, softening their face even further which the soft pink lips complemented.

Their beauty was inhumane, no human could have a skin so flawless it seemed to reflect light, as if it was carved from winter.

Azazel was at a loss for words, he stared at Elzar like they were the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

His gaze then drifted further to their torso lingering at a certain area before moving back up.

His face softened into an expression of pity, his lips quivered while eyes became moist with unshed tears.

“You…”He called. “…Did the gods abandon you?”

Elzar stared at him with confusion.

“What?”

“W-Why would they hinder such perfection with a cruel flaw, the gods truly are vile.”

Elzar followed the line of his gaze then stopped abruptly, an exasperated groan escaped their lips, then with a mildly annoyed tone they replied.

“I’m not a woman.”

“Eh?”

“I’m not a woman.”

Azazel’s face turned pale.

His eyes lowered even further but Elzar stopped him.

“I’m not a man either.”

“Sorry, come again?”

“I don’t have a gender.”

Azazel absolutely had no words, he opened his mouth then closed it, then repeated indefinitely until Elzar snapped.

“Quit it!”

“What exactly do you mean? You are not a man and you are not a woman, what do you mean you’re genderless, are you even human?”

A vein appeared on the side of Elzar’s face, their expression turned cold and distant causing the redhead to shudder.

“Did I ever mention I was human?” Elzar asked calmly.

Azazel froze.

Now that he thought about it, the keeper never once mentioned that it was human, Azazel had only assumed that it was.

His throat suddenly went dry, it felt like the air around them grew colder.

Azazel’s hands shook subtly, his palms moist from cold sweat.

He looked at the keeper then asked.

“If you’re not human then what are you?”

“My race is what’s known as the frost Phoenix but rather what only a few can describe as, rarely has any human encountered us in our true form.” Elzar replied after a moment of hesitation.

Azazel just went silent.

The frost Phoenix was another term he’d never heard in the game, at this point he was slowly going insane.

How was he supposed to correct anything when the world wasn’t even following the script he knew? It was infuriating, so infuriating his hands began to twitch with the urge to smash something.

’Loki… you tricked me! This isn’t what I had in mind for a second life.’

That trickster god hadn’t spoken to him since his transmigration, not that he expected him to.

He knew the god didn’t just offer him a chance just to laze around, he’d suspected that from the day he realized he was rich because in all honesty? Why else would the world have reborn him as the son of an influential figure with near infinite wealth.

The world didn’t love him enough to hand him such a generous life without a cost.

Elzar’s voice sounded again, snapping him out of his reverie.

“Now that that’s settled… let’s not stray off topic.” They said, “What do you intend to do about the weapon?”

Azazel’s reply was fast.

“I’ll keep it.”

Elzar was genuinely surprised by the answer Azazel had given them.

“Are you sure?” The keeper asked with unease.

But Azazel had already made up his mind, he wasn’t planning on severing his bond with Akathartos.

“If you’re fine with it then I suppose I have no cause to interfere.”

They turned around to leave but Azazel stopped them.

His eyes flashed with avarice, his lips curled into a smile as he thought of ways to extort the treasury keeper.

“Elzar.” He called.

The guardian flinched, noticing the repulsive expression on Azazel’s face, their eyes twitched as they forced the words.

“What is it?

Azazel grinned.

“While I succeeded in taming Akathartos it wasn’t by your efforts.” He said softly. “It was your mistake, a flaw in your perception, don’t you think you should at least compensate me? Treasury keeper Elzar Priam.”

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