Shun And Elysia

As Albert Eldran prepared to voice his intentions, he braced himself for the shock and horror he expected to see on Silver and Shun's faces. Yet, reality defied his expectations. Shun merely furrowed his brow in thought, while Silver shrugged slightly as if she had anticipated this outcome from the start.

"It's the right thing to do," Shun finally said, "but I'm not sure if this is the right time. If the princess is assassinated right after your return, even the suspicion alone could be enough to place the blame on you."

Albert nodded, recognizing the thought that had crossed Shun's mind. "That's exactly why I have to do it now," he said, recalling Glynn Belkarn's confident smile as he had laid out the plan. Glynn had crafted it with precision, though he couldn't participate directly due to the Belkarn Clan's need to maintain its positive standing in the Royal Court.

Albert quickly summarized the plan. As Shun listened, his expression shifted from anxious to understanding, and then to surprise. The plan was impeccably detailed, so much so that Shun briefly wondered if Leon Ermy had been involved all along.

"All things considered, this operation is risky," Albert admitted, his voice heavy. "But I understand if you think it's too dangerous. As the prince, I've always known my path would be fraught with thorns, danger, and betrayal."

Shun shook his head. Assisting Albert in this plan wouldn't hinder his own goals; in fact, it could only be beneficial. After asking a few clarifying questions, to which Albert provided satisfying answers, Shun turned to Silver.

"Do you have any questions to add?"

Silver smiled gently. "Not at all. The plan is perfect. We'll succeed for sure."

…

The assassination was scheduled for the night, so Shun decided to continue with his original plan and visit Elysia. He had more questions for her, particularly about the other ethereal arms—knowledge he needed before recklessly confronting his targets. As a seasoned complete ethereal warrior and the former apprentice of Shun's grandfather, Elysia might have insights that no one else could provide.

Shun knocked on the door. "Elysia, it's me." His tone was much friendlier than during their first encounter. Perhaps it was his bloodline, but he felt a connection with the older yet energetic woman.

There was no response. Shun gently pushed the door open, finding the room dark and quiet, with no sign of movement. A sense of caution washed over him as he ascended the stairs. The house had many rooms, but most doors looked as if they hadn't been opened in decades. This puzzled Shun; Elysia had told him she would be home all day, and he could visit anytime if he had more questions. He continued down the corridor, choosing the path on the right until he reached a clean and well-maintained door. This had to be the master bedroom.

Without much thought, Shun pushed the door open.

Despite the dim lighting, he could make out a figure on the bed. The sight was unusual, but the realization hit him immediately. Embarrassed, Shun quickly shut the door and smacked his forehead.

In his defense, he hadn't expected Elysia to still be in bed at 1 p.m.—the one possibility he hadn't considered.

Shun hurried back downstairs and flopped onto the sofa, his face a mix of embarrassment and amusement. Elysia's sleeping posture, like her demeanor, was oddly childlike.

The noise didn't seem to wake her, so Shun wandered through the house, taking in the simplicity of his grandfather's old home. He was surprised that the strongest ethereal warrior in the kingdom had lived in such modest surroundings. The house was only slightly larger and more comfortable than an ordinary home in Haven, and its simple decorations added a sense of serenity and peace. No one would guess that its former owner had plotted the assassination of the Crusader King. Elysia had said his grandfather had always been loyal and friendly toward the king, she didn't fully understand the reasons behind Sirius's betrayal.

The story of history was reliable, but Elysia hadn't witnessed the entire sequence of Sirius's actions. Perhaps Shun's grandfather had been falsely accused or used as a scapegoat for the kingdom's benefit. Or maybe he hadn't been involved in the assassination at all—someone else could have acted under his name. The truth was a mystery, one that neither Shun nor Elysia could unravel, and no one in the current generation knew the answer.

Before long, Elysia stumbled down from the second floor, her face still sleepy and tired. She showed no surprise at seeing Shun there. Shun waved, and she nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Before she could speak, Shun interrupted. "Alright, first question: When did you sleep last night?"

Elysia waved her hand dismissively, like a playful child. "I reject to answer that! I'm old, and I need as much sleep as I can get!"

Shun sighed, laughing softly. "If you consider yourself old, then maybe you should act like it." Despite his words, he preferred Elysia to stay just as she was.

Elysia made a face at Shun as she settled into her usual spot, patiently waiting for him to begin the conversation. Understanding her cue, Shun started.

"Last time, you mentioned that Duncan Amnir was the second complete ethereal warrior at that time. Why did Nathaniel Heaven give the young Alfred Eldran a higher-class ethereal arm than one of the supreme generals?"

Elysia replied lazily, "I don't know. Probably because he wanted someone reliable that he could tutor all the way through to be the next ruler of the Kingdom."

"What does King Eldran's ethereal arm do, anyway?"

"The first complete ethereal arm, Manipulator, allows its owner full control over his body."

Shun tilted his head slightly, not understanding why such a simple ability would be considered the first complete ethereal arm.

Elysia slowly shook her head. "By 'full control,' I mean he can change his body into literally anything he wants, even something completely imaginary. As long as he believes in it, he can transform his body into anything."

Seeing the doubt in Shun's eyes, she added, "This is 100% factual. I've seen it happen with my own eyes. It's something I've witnessed in my memory—words may be wrong, but memories never lie."

"Another question before I move on," Shun said after a moment of thought. "You mentioned that Nathaniel Heaven didn't give himself an ethereal arm. Does he have any other specific abilities besides distributing ethereal arms?"

Elysia shook her head expressionlessly. "Nothing specific, except maybe something that's common knowledge to you—Nathaniel Heaven can use every single ethereal arm without limitation."

Shun froze, his breath catching in his throat. He asked, his voice trembling, "Is he the only one who can do that?"

Elysia looked puzzled by Shun's reaction but nodded gently. "Yes, no one else can use anyone else's ethereal arm except Nathaniel."