Chapter 638 First Impressions
"She brings shame upon us!"
"Misleading the Young Ones… what in the world was she thinking?"
"The worst part is that those people venture here before everyone. Everyone saw it! How do we explain this?"
The Esteemed Elders were speaking among themselves as they analyzed Gratiana's actions, and the sins she committed as a result of her thoughtless decision.
They completely ignored the penitent-looking Elf before them and discussed very harshly about her—going as far as already talking about potential punishments that could be inflicted on her due to her actions.
In Elven Culture, it was trite that the Young Ones were hardly punished for their actions. They would always be forgiven and corrected for any act they performed. However, Elders were thrust with full responsibility based on any of their actions. They had reached the age of accountability, after all.
As such, Gratiana was currently facing the scrutiny of the Esteemed Elders whose presence she was in. The only one who showed her some semblance of compassion at that moment was Aurora.
'I now know how you felt back then, sister…' Gratiana thought to herself as she saw Aurora's empathetic smile greet her.
Even though Gratiana had explained the whole thing to the Elders—including her suspicion that the man was no ordinary human—none of them bothered to properly hear her out.
Instead, they dug deeper into their biases and kept criticizing her.
"Even though the man didn't stink, his human partner reeked. You brought such filth here…"
"Right? And then there's that Half Elf…"
"Why does she bear such a striking resemblance to 'her'? It makes no sense. Or could it be…?"
"Say no more of it!" The High Elder suddenly raised her voice as she deepened her frown, causing all of the Elders to keep quiet almost instantly.
"The Half Elf is an abomination that deserves death. That is all there is to know about her, and all she will be known for."
As the High Elder rose from her seat once more, she walked to the kneeling Gratiana, her eyes a mix of compassion and sheer sadness.
"You, as an Elder, have committed one of the gravest offenses in the history of our people. You must be aware that your punishment will fit the severity of your crime."
"I… understand." Gratiana responded with a gulp.
Despite understanding all of this, she wondered why there was no regret in her heart. Even though these Esteemed Elders berated Rey and his allies, she didn't feel the same as them in the slightest.
She didn't regret bringing them to this place—or helping them in any regard.
Somehow, Gratiana was even taking their side in her mind whenever the Elders berated them.
'Esme… is more than just a filthy Half Elf. Rey is… nothing like what they call him. And as for Kara, she is a mere human, but she taught us a few things about the forest that will definitely be useful for avoiding predators without wasting Mana on Skills. She's a brilliant one…'
Yes, Gratiana still had her biases and considered Elves to be a superior race, but… she just couldn't think of the three acquaintances that she had just made to be filthy.
She… couldn't do it.
"Do you have any last words in your defense?"
Gratiana had a lot to say, including her current train of thoughts. She was still confused, due to the nature of her cognitive dissonance, and she so desperately wanted her sisters to understand it all.
But there was no point.
Just as she didn't bother listening to Aurora's reason for her offense all those months ago, no one would listen to hers.
'There's no point.' Gratiana thought as she closed her eyes and parted her lips.
"I do not—"
"Alright. I think I've been patient enough." A rather distinct voice echoed across the room as someone emerged from seemingly out of nowhere.
The eyes of all the Elves widened as the individual made himself known in the Esteemed Hall of the Elders—a place that no male had ever set foot in.
A place considered sanctified by the Elves.
Yet, in just the blink of an eye, a human male casually stood there, right beside Gratiana, as he smiled at all the Elves who watched in shock and horror.
"I don't believe I've introduced myself to you all. My name is Rey Skylar, and I come in pea—"
"Filthy human! How dare you!"
"You dare set your foot on these holy grounds? Ahh… how dare you, you pig!"
"Nature's punishment be upon you, filthy heathen!"
"Stay out of this, you beast!"
"Know your place and return to your site of solitude! You ugly creature!"
That last statement struck a slight nerve in Rey's heart, but it wasn't like it showed on his face. Instead, he maintained his calm composure and pretended to ignore the Elves and the insults they hurled at him.
Even Aurora was pissed off at this point and was yelling at him—though with slightly less insults than the rest.
"R-Rey… you can't be here…" Gratiana croaked as she looked at the figure beside her.
His hand was on her shoulder, offering her the support that none of her sisters could grant her in such a turbulent period of her life.
Some would blame Rey for her current predicament, but Gratiana knew she was the one who agreed to the bet. Hence, she naturally bore all the brunt of her actions and their consequences. Still… 'Having him here, by my side… is assuring.' She thought to herself with a slight smile.
As soon as the High Elder noticed this, she shrieked and began hurling more insults and curses—especially towards Rey.
'Having him here, by my side… is assuring.' She thought to herself with a slight smile.
As soon as the High Elder noticed this, she shrieked and began hurling more insults and curses—especially towards Rey.
"Was this you? Did you seduce her innocent soul? Curse be upon you! Nature's punishment descend upon you, filthy heathen! Beastly worm! Child of wrath!"
At this point, due to all the shouts and screams, Rey could no longer take it.
"Huu…" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, ensuring he maintained his calm facade through it all.
Then—
~SHUUUUUUU~
—He undid his Spatial Layers.