Chapter 4: Lesson

“Amantuile, humans don’t have mana cores. And thus they can’t wield mana unless they used mana core from outside. Your enchanted sword was not used to its full potential.” Ae Nae analyzed Amantuile’s sword.

“Yeah, but I can’t use it well. I am not a mage,“ Amantuile said. He grabbed the sword and the sword was engulfed in fire. But it soon died off.

“Give me your hand. Now, could you feel this?” Ae Nae poked inside Amantuile to raise his sensitivity to mana. Soon enough his flame sword grew more stable.

“Lotharine, may I see how you used mana?” Ae Zir asked.

“Ugh..” Lotharine used his wand and cast a water shield. The Aelaranthae saw it and gave him pointers. Within a few days Lotharine could cast it faster as he could connect to his wand with better efficiency. The Aelaranthae had opened a path for him. He felt he had improved.

Curious villagers, mostly boys and girls, peeked at the lesson. When they came closer, the Aelaranthae offered them to join. Amantuile and Lotharine taught them how to handle swords and bows.

After two years of studying, Amantuile and Lotharine felt they had reached their limits and soon asked to leave the village. Lotharine wanted to return to the LeAestas to ask his family to move to Aelaranthae Village while Amantuile wanted to repay the Aelaranthae by clearing their reputation.

As soon as Amantuile returned, he found that the world didn’t change. The people did not panic. Very few even recall the tragic loss the empire’s army had against two Aelaranthae. When he returned to his knight order and asked about what happened during the war, his superior answered that they had repelled the demons with heavy losses and they had won. He also added that everyone was banned from visiting the plains and the forest. They all knew it was a lie, but they couldn’t tell the masses the truth. And so, times moved on until a competition for knights and swordsmen was held four years later. Amantuile wasn’t even punished for his disappearance.

Thanks to Nae’s teaching, Amantuile won the competition with flying colors. Amantuile was able to use his enchanted sword no different than proficient mages from tower of mana. His opponent couldn’t lift a finger against him. After his victory, he was ennobled as flame knight for his battle style. As he went up the throne to receive his honor, he spoke to the king and to the nobles in the courtroom.

“Your Highness. I have been to Aelaranthae’s village and they were not demons! They can talk and be reasoned with. The Aelaranthae do not kidnap or eat their villagers like the demons worshiped by the cultists. It was all the fault of Marquis of Lucianne. He instigated us to attack the Aelaranthae for he sought to plunder their wealth!”

The room fell silent. Despite Amantuile’s bold claim, the king’s brow did not even twitch. At that moment, Amantuile knew the king was in on this too. In fact, it was the king who sought the chalice more than anyone else in this room. For a moment, Amantuile feared the worst. Yet, the king did not order for his execution, merely asking questions.

“So, Amantuile. How do you know the Aelaranthae were not eating humans?” The king smirked. He neither feels insulted nor does he feel rage. Merely curious.

“I have lived with them for two years! All they did was hugs. They brought prosperity to the village!”

“Your Highness! That village has staged a rebellion against our noble empire! They did not follow our law! It needed to be extinguished!” The marquis stated.

“Are you saying you have a good relationship with the Aelaranthae?” The king asked after he waved his hand to dismiss the marquis.

“This sword flame technique is something I learned from them, Your highness.”

“Your Highness! This guy has been bribed by the Aelaranthae! You must not trust them!”

“Be silent.” The king waved his hand and the arrogant marquis was escorted outside, he then continued his speech,”I see. Do you know about the chalice of life?”

“Yes. The peddler who sold it to the marquis spoke to me during my stay.”

“Bring me another and you will replace him. All of Lucianne and that village will be your duty.”

“...” With a heavy heart, Amantuile returned back to the Aelaranthae village.

“Esteemed Aelaranthae, could you please grant me a chalice of life?” Amantuile came to the Aelaranthae directly. Amantuile had no other choice. From all of his interactions with the Aelaranthae, he knew the Aelaranthae subtly distanced herself from someone with a corrupted heart. Mulling over how to ask the Aelaranthae for the priceless chalice would get him nowhere. So, he went straight to their house and asked them.

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“Why would you want such a thing? Was your family ill?” Ae Nae asked. The Aelaranthae could feel emotion, not read minds. They knew Amantuile was troubled, but they didn’t know the reason.

“No. The king asked me to ask you for the chalice. He said he was going to give me Lucianne town and this forest if you gave him another chalice of life.” Amantuile answered.

“We don’t need such things. The answer is a no.” she answered. Amantuile was heartbroken.

“If I became the lord of Lucianne. There won’t be any army harassing you.”

“...No.” The Aelaranthae tilted their heads, then after looking at each other, they refused. Amantuile didn’t know that Aelaranthae could use telepathy. In fact, at this very moment, the Aelaranthae were conversing between themselves. Aelaranthae loved peace. So, this offer intrigued Aelaranthae a lot. However, offering one’s blood was not an easy task for the Aelaranthae. They fear Amantuile would ask for more once they gave him some.

“Could I give you gold in exchange for the chalice?”

“No. We do not need such things.”

“...I see. Thank you for at least hearing me.” Amantuile raised himself from his kneeling position. Most people would usually lash out in anger when their wish was not met. Amantuile was disappointed, but he knew he couldn't be forceful. It wouldn’t be a trade otherwise, but extortion. Aelaranthae has no needs. Moreover, they are powerful, and thus, nothing can force them. Amantuile knew when to back down.

“You are welcome. Medicine should be given to the sick. Not for sale.” Amantuile stopped in his tracks as he looked back at the Aelaranthae. Their faces were stoic, frozen in their beauty. Aelaranthae rarely talked. And when they do, it is hard to read their emotions. It was their manner that separated them from children in the village. Children often hopped around, screaming and shouting. Meanwhile, Aelaranthae’s voice was sweet to the ear, like the tune of a song, gentle and happy. However, no expression came with it. It was as if their voices were prepared and did not come from the heart. That behavior gives them mystifying feelings. Enforcing their status as fairies or deities.

“If someone is sick, will you give it to them?”

“If they asked for it nicely.” Amantuile wondered why the king wanted the medicine. His granddaughter was supposed to be healed. All he could think of was that the king wanted to sell it at an enormous price. Amantuile then thought to himself. The king was old. He might have hid some kind of illness himself but couldn’t tell others.

“Thank you. I shall find out why the king wanted the medicine.” Amantuile bowed down but Ae Zir called him back.

“Amantuile, does gold bring you happiness?”

“To some people. It’s better to have it than not.” He answered honestly. He was not greedy, but he has needs. And thus, like other humans, he too adores gold. The Aelaranthae stood up and walked him to the entrance of their tree house.

“We shall give you the water.” The Aelaranthae said.

“Why?”

“You said you will be given a town if we give you the water, right?”

“Umm.. yes.”

“Was the town bigger than this village?”

“Yes.” Amantuile nodded. Right now, the city of Lucianne was definitely bigger than this village. But it was only a matter of time. This village grew so fast it might no longer be called a village, but a town. When he was treated here, this village had less ten thousand people, when he left, this village had over fifteen thousand. In just several more years, this village will definitely surpass Lucianne’s fifty thousand people. But now, Lucianne is still more populous and advanced than Aelaranthae’s village. Amantuile didn’t lie.

“May we visit your town?”

“Of course. You shall be my honored guess. The castle inside Lucianne will be yours. You can even be its governor!” Amantuile said excitedly. But Ae Zir merely commanded a seed to fashion itself into a pot. Then, after she poured water into it, a drop of fuchsia blood was given to it. The translucent rose water was then given to Amantuile..

“This water can cure many ills. Therefore, it should be given only to those who are ailed.”

The Aelaranthae then returned to their own house. Amantuile was dumbfounded. He merely looked at the pot and the Aelaranthae. Their beautiful but emotionless eyes told him nothing. He didn’t know whether the Aelaranthae were offended, Desire something, or investing in him.

Amantuile traveled back to the capital in a daze. Analyzing Aelaranthae's face and their intention all the way to Antheria’s Capital. But, no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t figure out their intention. In the end, he just dismissed it. He knew the Aelaranthae for two years. They should not hold any malice for Lucianne.

The truth is, The Aelaranthae only show emotions only inside their virtual room and when they want to impress other people. The Aelaranthae face did not react even when they were exposed to other emotions. Such is the curse and blessing given by the goddess. Since Amantuile came troubled, the Aelaranthae conversed with each other through telepathy in a self made virtual world. They wondered what he wanted and whether they should give it to him. Amantuile was correct when he thought the Aelaranthae hated talking. After all, talking did not carry sensation, pictures, or videos. Moreover, they had to encode and decode the sound others made to its intended meaning. Most of the time the sound was different, so they had to ‘guess’ whether it was correct or not and they hate the work that came with it. Afterwards, they had to remember the sounds and form a dictionary in their minds to connect the words with their intended meaning. It was a hassle. Telepathy was much faster and carried more information.

The Aelaranthae were young and simpler than Amantuile thought. Big town means more people. If the town is happy, the Aelaranthae would feel even happier than this smaller village. That’s why they were interested in Amantuile’s offer. However, the truth would remain hidden. Something that was as obvious as blue sky to them was like a dense fog in the night to Amantuile and other humans for they have different desires. It was incomprehensible for the greedy humans to think the Aelaranthae wanted the human to prosper without strings attached.

“My king, here. I have brought the liquid.” Amantuile presented the bowl to the king in his gaudy palace. The bowl was different from the chalice the king had. But the bowl was a living plant all the same. The Aelaranthae used a bowl-shaped plant because it can hold more water. But the king and his retinue thought otherwise. The empty chalice of life was presented beside Amantuile’s Bowl of life.

“The Aelaranthae said this water is only to be used for those that ails.” Amantuile said. He was healthy and thus did not dare to drink the water himself. He brought with him three men, one who was paralyzed in his legs, one who was blind, and one who lost his hand. After drinking a cup from the bowl. The paralyzed man and the blind man recovered. But alas, the last man did not regrow his hands.

“Lucianne is yours. If you can keep sending this water.”

“But… the Aelaranthae said it was only this time…” Amantuile panicked.

“Then, Lucianne will go to those who can gift me this water.” The king smirked. Amantuile was shocked at his decree. The king was willing to give the city to anyone who can always give him the water.

His sickly granddaughter was healthy. Right now, there were many suitors who courted her. The old king no longer looked at her not with love, but jealousy. He was old and sick. Everyday, he thought to himself, ‘if only I had that water, I could rule this country forever.’.

to those with wicked hearts, the allure of immortality was too strong to bear. Once it sprouts, it will dig its root deep within one’s heart.

Nevertheless, Though momentary, Amantuile has now become the Marquis of Lucianne. To show his appreciation, He came back to Aelaranthae Town bearing gifts for the Aelaranthae.

Little did everyone know, the chalice of strife has bared his fangs.