Chapter 232: Third Epiphany

"So, what's got my favorite Grandson troubled on his birthday?" Asked Tiana with a slight smile as she looked up at the comedic scene of Elif sitting on her lap.

"Haa, Elaine and I had a fight." Replied Elif with a sigh while shaking his head, his words surprising both Tiana and Tyler.

"A fight? My grandchildren are getting old; to think, just a few years ago, I was explaining cultivation to you." Remarked Tyler with a raised eyebrow as he looked at Elif before setting down his teacup and sighing.

"Isn't that ironic? Shortly after Maria and Marcus made up, you and Elaine got into a small fight. What was it about, Dear?" Said Tiana with a slight smile before shaking her head and curiously looking at Elif, who slightly blushed at her words.

"It's about my pride getting in the way of our love, or more specifically, our ability to make love." Stated Elif with a faint tint of red on his cheeks as he looked at Tiana and Tyler, who were both trying to suppress their laughter, though they only ended up with Elif's blush deepening.

"Hmph, stop laughing; I'd come here for advice, not for my Grandparents to laugh at my predicament!" Yelled Elif with a blush of shame as he clenched his fists while glaring at Tiana and Tyler, who reigned in their laughter and regained their composure.

"Haa, sorry about that, Dear; we didn't, or at least I didn't mean to laugh at your problem; it's just, out of everything I imagined you were troubled by, it was this of all things." Said Tiana as she exhaled a large breath before grabbing Elif's head and embracing him, nearly suffocating him in her breasts.

"However, if you wish us to advise you on what to do, we'll need to know where and how it started." Remarked Tyler lightly with a nod as he looked at Elif, whose face was stuffed in Tiana's breasts, just like she'd done when he was younger.

"I feel like you just want to know so you can laugh at me, Grandfather." Said Elif as he squinted his eyes and glared at Tyler, who didn't bother responding.

"Well, that fool Tyler may laugh at your misfortune, Dear, but your Grandmother will always be here to help you." Declared Tiana with a motherly smile as she kissed Elif on the cheek, slightly improving his mood.

"Thanks, Grandmother; you were always my favorite Grandparent for a reason." Muttered Elif with a soft smile as he hugged Tiana back before eyeing Tyler with a mischievous smirk, causing him to huff in annoyance and look away.

"So, start from the beginning where things went wrong." Said Tiana seriously as both she and Tyler intently listened while Elif began recounting the events.

"Well, it first started about four years ago, shortly after my first trip out of the Kingdom; Elaine and I were bathing, and she tried to get sexually intimate, but I stopped her and said we should wait until we were of age. I thought what I said was reasonable and would be fine, but Elaine was rather stubborn, and over the years, she constantly tried to push the boundaries I had set for us. However, unlike the other days, it seemed like she'd finally had enough today as she stormed angrily out of our bath." Declared Elif as he looked down and sighed when he finished, causing everyone to descend into silence while Tiana rubbed his back.

"How badly do you wish to become one with Elaine?" Asked Tiana with a thoughtful expression, only that caused Elif's blush to deepen even more at such a question, though he answered truthfully.

"A lot; honestly, whenever I'm with Elaine, that's pretty much all I think about." Replied Elif with crimson cheeks as he looked away from Tiana, who was smiling.

"But not enough to the point where you're willing to go against your word, to go against your pride. Am I right, Elif?" Remarked Tyler seriously as he looked at the embarrassed Elif, who nodded after a slight hesitation.

"I-I already know the problem lies with me; because of what I said during that bath four years ago, my pride won't allow me to return on my word." Said Elif softly as he looked down at his clenched fist in anger.

"Have you apologized to Elaine?" Asked Tiana curiously, though the nod she received from Elif caused her to frown.

"If you've already apologized, and you've recognized the source of the problem, then why did you come to us, Elif? We're powerful and hold wisdom, but we can't magically solve problems for you, especially one like this; this is a problem that only you and Elaine can solve." Stated Tyler with a slight frown as he eyed Elif sitting in Tiana's lap.

"Haa, I just realized that as well; I guess I was just hoping talking about my problem would help me find a solution, but I'm still stumped." Remarked Elif with a nod as he sighed in frustration.

"You've already figured out the solution, Elif; you're just refusing to confront it." Said Tiana with a knowing look as she pointed to Elif's heart.

"I can't, though, Grandmother. My pride won't allow me to; I can't go back on my word." Said Elif with a frown as he glanced at Tiana, only to be lightly smacked in the back of the head.

"Hmph, I can see why Elaine would be upset with you; all you think about is your pride and her; which one do you hold more dear?" Questioned Tiana with an annoyed expression as she glared at Elif, who was rubbing the back of his head.

"Elaine. You should already know that, Grandmother. I was ready to forsake my pride for her. There's nothing I wouldn't do for Elaine." Replied Elif with an ounce of hesitation, causing Tiana to nod.

"I know, I was just making your priorities haven't changed in the past few years. Since Elaine is more important to you than your pride, why are you allowing it to separate you two? If you had promised yourself you'd never talk to Elaine again, would you do that? Would you truly never utter a word to your beloved little sister until the end of time?" Questioned Tiana, her words stumping Elif as he just sat there silently, not knowing how to answer while Tyler calmly sipped some tea.

"I-I do-" Said Elif quietly, though he wasn't able to finish speaking as Tiana hit him on the back of the head again.

"You wouldn't, and while you may not know that right now, you'd go against your word and speak to Elaine after enough time had passed. So tell me, Elif, are you the intelligent and immensely talented Crown Prince and future Emperor of the Elven Empire, or are you just an idiotic fool whose own pride is working against him and clouding his judgment?" Asked Tiana solemnly as she looked up at Elif, who frowned at her words.

"My pride isn't clouding my judgment, Grandmother. My mind is as clear as day." Stated Elif seriously as he looked at Tiana, who didn't seem to believe him.

"I don't have the Immortal Will that you have, Elif, but I do know that you're not the Immortal Will; the Immortal Will is you." Declared Tyler as he took a sip of tea and eyed Elif, who opened his mouth to reply but couldn't since his eyes widened in understanding, and to the shock of Tyler, Tiana, and Illumia, Elif was experiencing a third epiphany.

'I'm not the Immortal Will; the Immortal Will is me! Yes, Grandfather is correct; how could I not see it!? I don't bend to my pride; my pride bends to me! I don't listen to my Immortal Will; it listens to me!' Thought Elif as he sat on Tiana's lap without moving while his comprehension of his Immortal Will increased by leaps and bounds.

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While Elif was having an epiphany on his birthday, Elaine was in her room, deep in her secret lair. She was currently at a table mixing tea, though the wicked smile on her face caused one to assume it wasn't simple tea.

"Hehe, it's okay, Brother; if you're unwilling to do it, I'll do it for us." Muttered Elaine with an obsessed look as she carefully added a pinkish flower petal to the teapot, which dissolved into the tea, turning it from brown to light pink.

Seeing that my concoction was nearly finished, I stood up, walked to my shelf, and grabbed a jar that said: "For Brother". Returning to the table, I poured the contents of the jar into the teapot, causing the pinkish liquid to mix between numerous colors before finally stopping at black. Closing the jar, I set it down and stirred the contents of the tea before putting the lid on the pot.

"Hehe, I apologize in advance, Brother, but it's the only way for us to become one." Muttered Elaine with a crazy look in her eyes as she stared at the teapot before grabbing a small chest on the right of the table that said, "Petal of Endless Lust".

"Now, it should take some time for the effects to start showing, so I should get Brother to drink this as soon as possible. Then and only then will we finally become one; no longer will I be worried about those ugly sluts taking you from me; I'll have you all to myself!" Said Elaine with a grin as she grabbed the tray and stored it in her dimension ring before turning around and leaving the lair.