689 So, it really is Kyle?
Inside a study room, before a round table scattered with papers, the elven Queen, dressed in a beautiful, elegant robe, stood. She was scrutinizing the papers on the table one by one. Her gaze lingered on a sheet filled with symbols she had been trying to decipher when suddenly, another female figure materialized behind her.
"What happened?"
The Queen didn't turn around since she recognized the presence behind her. It was her shadow. The white-haired woman behind her moved closer.
"I saw a new face with the group."
The Queen's hand paused, and she glanced back with a calm expression.
"A new face with Yue's group? Is he the nature's favorite, the one who killed the third shadow general?"
However, the white-haired woman shook her head with a sigh.
"I'm not sure since I couldn't see his face because he left the area with Yue. But his hair was dark, not silver. I can't confirm if he is Kyle, the one who took the fruit of fate."
The Queen nodded. She had ascertained that the nature's favorite and the individual who took the fruit of fate were one and the same from Ronan's description of Kyle.
"Leave it. We will figure out if the new face is Kyle or not when Ronan and Wesley get in touch with me or return to the planet. My only concern is that if that person is indeed Kyle, his presence might attract the dark side's attention towards us."
The white-haired woman nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
The Queen glanced at the papers strewn across the table and disappeared from the study. She reappeared under the dark sky to look at the Tree of Fate. Her eyes narrowed as she detected a trace of joy in the air surrounding the tree branches.
"So, it really is Kyle. Otherwise, why would you be so joyful? Why do you even favor him? Is it because he's unique?"
All she got in return was silence. She glanced down to observe the people of her race. It was peaceful, too peaceful.
Nearly every elf under the Tree of Fate was reveling in the joyous atmosphere, and the area was vibrant with festivities.
But she couldn't shake the feeling of unease, like it was the quiet before a storm, and she felt her shadow had also picked up on something major coming, something that could threaten her race.
"He is the source of your joy, but it would be better if he and those associated with him leave this planet as soon as possible."
.....
At the same time, beneath the Tree of Fate, amidst a cluster of small wooden houses, Kyle stood before Yue, holding her hands.
His deep gaze locked onto hers as he rested his forehead against hers.
"So, now it's just us. Let's pick up from where we left off."
She giggled. The branches of the Tree of Fate swayed around them, and suddenly, tiny flowers made of spiritual energy began to bloom around them. Kyle glanced at the soft brightness twinkling around them. A hint of speechlessness crossed his eyes when he saw the bright spiritual energy behind Yue forming words in the air.
["Don't forget I am here."]
"..."
He stepped back with furrowed brows. He really should have uprooted this tree after he took the Fruit of Fate. As if sensing his thoughts, the spiritual energy behind Yue began to form words once more.
["Ungrateful, aren't we?"]
Yue caught the sudden shift in Kyle's demeanor. She advanced towards him and tilted her head slightly, unaware that the Tree of Fate was conversing with Kyle.
"Why are you stepping back? You don't want to marry me anymore?"
She said teasingly, but her eyes crinkled when Kyle responded instantly.
"No, that's not it!"
She raised a brow.
"Oh, really?"
Kyle let out an indulgent sigh. He could sense Yue was enjoying herself from the smile on her face, so he just gestured towards the writing behind her.
He wasn't sure why the Tree of Fate had suddenly become so enthusiastic. The last time, it didn't chat with him until he reached the Fruit of Fate, but now it was actively trying to communicate with him.
This made him wonder if the Tree of Fate had regained all its strength after he purified the dark energy within it.
Yue glanced back, but the bright writing in the air had already vanished, so she didn't see anything. Suddenly, she released Kyle's hands and called out for the person who had been secretly watching them.
"Mom, you can come out now."
Her face flushed with embarrassment. She had actually brought Kyle to this location. It was close to the restaurant and also where she, Mia, and everyone else were given a house to live by the elven race.
Her mother hadn't joined them at the restaurant because she wasn't feeling well, but now Yue was embarrassed to be seen in such a state by her.
Kyle glanced at the middle-aged woman who stepped out from the wooden house directly behind them. Her hair color was similar to Yue's, and he easily recognized her since he had met her before when he was searching for Yue.
Iva glanced at her daughter with a smile and then at the familiar young man beside Yue before she cleared her throat.
"I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just about to step out of the house for a walk... when I saw you two. Don't mind me. You two just keep doing your thing. I will head back in to make something delicious for you both."
Yue's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what her mother was saying!
"Mom!"
However, to her mortification, Kyle bowed slightly towards her mother.
"Thank you, aunty."
Iva waved her hand at Kyle with a chuckle, ignoring Yue's growing red face.
"I overheard your conversation. So you better start calling me mother, or I might not give you my daughter."
Kyle's eyes flashed with a hint of a smile when he heard the word 'mother'. Yue had informed him that his biological mother had passed away a long time ago. But he had forgotten his past, so he wasn't sad; rather, he didn't feel anything.
Iva, who had just said what she said to lighten the mood, was a bit surprised when Kyle actually referred to her as mother.
"Yes, mother."
She burst into laughter when Yue smacked Kyle's shoulder with a red face. Kyle hissed, hamming it up, and blinked at the woman beside him with a hurt look in his eyes.
"What was that for? If she's your mother, it's only fair for me to call her mother too now that we're both getting married."
Yue rolled her eyes.
"But I don't recall saying yes yet!"
Kyle shook his head shamelessly.
"Nope, you sealed the deal when we were talking on the communication crystal."
His words earned him another smack on the shoulder, and Yue stomped her foot on the ground before she turned around and swiftly entered the wooden house, leaving both Kyle and her mother outside.
Iva glanced at Kyle.
"I think you really ticked her off this time... so you better go after her."
Kyle nodded. He remembered being pretty rude to Yue's mother when they first met on the elven planet, and he even brutally killed Glacia in front of her. But despite all that, the woman remained surprisingly calm towards him. With a smile, he spoke up.
"I apologize for my past behavior. I hope you can trust me. I will take care of Yue and make sure she's always safe."
Iva let out a sigh. She walked toward him and softly patted his shoulder.
"Just don't make her sad. That's the only thing I want from you because my daughter is strong. She can protect herself. Now, go."
Kyle quickly headed towards the wooden house but then abruptly halted in his tracks. Iva noticed his sudden pause.
"What happened?"
He scratched his chin.
"Nothing, I just feel like I am forgetting something very important."
He shook his head and pushed the thought to the back of his mind. Then quickly went after Yue.
Iva gazed at his back for a while and released a melancholic sigh.
"Yue has grown up so fast..."
She glanced at the huge tree above her, feeling a bit sad that she had to give her daughter away to another. But she was happy that Yue had found her partner.
After strolling around for a bit, she also entered the house to prepare a good meal for the couple and have a chat with Yue.
The next day, the elves were all surprised when a massive flying ship appeared in the sky out of nowhere. Their cheers echoed loudly when they spotted the familiar insignia of the elven race on the ship.
The ship landed on a grassy field beneath the Tree of Fate, and Ronan and Wesley's disheveled figures staggered out of it.
They were cursing Kyle, that bastard who had left his bonded beast in their ship! The fact that they were still on their feet after Bia transformed into her phoenix form in the flying ship and caused a commotion was already a miracle!
The elves gathered around Ronan and Wesley's ship to welcome them, all quickly moved back with startled expressions when behind the duo, a huge phoenix surrounded in golden flames flew out of the ship.
Bia's blazing eyes scanned every single person around her to find Kyle.
-"You jerk! Where the hell are you? This time I want a proper one-on-one to teach you a lesson! How dare you leave me behind!"