Elia was appalled when she heard Jacob's harsh words and saw how casually he was taking her away from her father as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
However, when he revealed the truth behind her condition and also thought about what Jacob said was true about her father, tears flowed from her eyes, but she didn't make any sound.
She knew what Jacob casually presumed about what was going to happen was most likely true, and his prediction about her father was even more true. He had always been worried about her, and maybe he had not shown it. He was living a life of anxiety and despair all because of her.
Furthermore, since Jacob didn't hide his act of kidnapping her, she believed that he was also telling the truth about giving her father enough wealth to live lavishly. She knew it would've been so easy as her father was very protective of her, and he might be searching for her right
now.
'But he'll only be sad for a little while before he gives up on me and settles down. Maybe, as he told me, it's far better than giving him long-term suffering, and he also knew that I was alive somewhere. He'll accept it eventually...B-but can I trust his words? Why do I want to believe his words? It's all this cruse fault!'
More tears streamed down her cheeks as she mulled over Jacob's words. It may look like Elia was only around eight years old, but her actual age was in her early twenties. It's just that elves had much longer lifecycles than common species, so their growth phase was different from other species, like other races with longer natural lifespans.
Furthermore, because of her condition and suffering from pain all her life, she didn't have a kid's mind, so she didn't completely break down upon hearing Jacob's harsh words despite her uncontrollable tears.
In the end, she wiped away her tears, but her body was still shaking as she looked at the giant with a hint of indignation but also deeply resolved.
"I...If I c-choose to become your aa... apprentice, I can't see my dad... fo-forever?" Her voice choked as she asked.
However, despite the little girl's sad and painful appearance, which could cause anyone heartache, Jacob felt nothing as he replied curtly, "Indeed, that's my only condition to take you under my wing. Soon, you'll realize just how broad the world is when we leave the Unique Plains for a much higher place. You two belonged to different worlds, and this separation is a bond to happen, so why not now, then later?"
Elia was again shocked by Jacob's subtle words. Although she didn't know what Jacob meant by those words, she could guess that he was planning on going somewhere far away from this place.
Furthermore, she also felt calmer after hearing this reason since it now made more sense. She thought that Jacob was being harsh on the outside but kind on the inside.
But she still felt somewhat unwilling, as she asked again, "Can I see him one last time? I...I just want to see if he's...he's doing fine." Unknowingly, tears started to gush from her eyes again.
"No." Jacob shook his head without hesitation.
Although he knew if he agreed to her, things would be simpler, and Elia would have no misgivings about following him. However, with the current situation of the Unique Plains, he can't take that risk since her father might've already been dead if he was unfortunate enough to be caught up in the war.
This would only create more complications, which he didn't want with Elia. He had to make this girl give up on her past, even if it meant she held a grudge against him, but he didn't care since she needed to be completely focused on what was to come.
Elia bit her lips as she didn't know if this guy had some kind of grudge against her or if he was simply too cruel, and the little goodwill she had for Jacob vanished again.
Nonetheless, after thinking for a while, she clenched her little fist, and with rageful determination, she nodded, "Alright! I agree to follow you, T-teacher!"
Jacob's lips rose slightly when Elia chose to follow him. After all, he had already expected it since even if she was willing to die, she didn't want to see her father in pain because of her.
"Correct choice." Jacob uttered, "You'll understand soon enough that you are meant to do things far greater than you can ever imagine, and once you walk on this path, you'll come to realize how fragile the bonds called family are. You are born different from your kind, and trust me if they had known what you are, even your own race would've sold you or, most likely, discarded you the moment you were born because you are completely different from your origin."
Elia clearly did not believe Jacob's words and felt angry, but Jacob wasn't done. He continued, "If you don't believe me, decide again after you hear the truth behind this 'curse' on her neck. You are born with a Zodiac Constitution, an extremely rare body..."
Jacob then explained to her about the Zodiac Constitution and how rare it was. It was important to her that she knew what she had and how lucky she was. Little Elia was shocked the more she heard about the Zodiac Constitution because she always thought that she was cursed, but it turned out she was blessed.
Once Jacob was done explaining the Zodiac Constitution, he became silent and let the little elf absorb all the information, which was mind-blowing for someone like her.
After Elia snapped out of her stupor, she doubtfully looked at Jacob and asked, "If...if it's true, then why would I die? Isn't it a good thing?" she started to think that Jacob had tricked her, but she wanted to hear more before she decided.
"Heh, indeed, it's a good thing, but the world or the Zodiac Plains we live in is extremely cruel. Although you are blessed by it with extreme talent that could put anyone to shame, it didn't come without a cost. In fact, what I have concluded after living in this place is that nothing is free here, and everything has a price.
"Just like you are blessed with a Zodiac Constitution, you can't utilize it without paying a steep price. Anyone blessed with a Zodiac Constitution will only live for 50 years unless they can find a scripture..." Jacob patiently explained to her the reason for her impending doom.
Although Elia didn't know what a 'Legendary Rank' universal scripture represents, she knew about the ranks of species because of her father, so she paled when she realized why she was condemned to die.
Even her father can't complete this condition no matter what he does, and she finally understood why she was drawn to Jacob as well because it was her own body leading her to him because he really had something that could save her.
Now, she also no longer feels blessed. In fact, she resents the world for cursing her in the guise of a blessing, and Jacob is just doing her a huge favor by saving her.
Just as he said, everything has a price, and Jacob wanted someone from her for his help as well. It was a fair exchange for what he wanted, but she knew he wasn't strong enough to give
it to him.
"Lastly, your constitution is also related to an abstract concept called 'Curses.' There are fourteen absolute curses in total, and your constitution is affiliated with the Curse of Pride, an extremely rare constitution.
"As for why you are drawn to me, it's because not only am I proficient in curses, but I also happened to have an aura of something that you need the most." Jacob ambiguously stated while inwardly still feeling dread when he heard this reason for Elia's attraction to him from Immortika!
The next moment, without waiting for Elia's reply, he waved his sleeve, and beside him, a pristine crimson book with inky borders appeared. On the cover of this book was etched the face of a devil with an empty grove over the devil's forehead.
It was the same book he had found with the Cursed Path Glory Gem!