Chapter 507: Fair Trade
Northern, confused as to what the sudden change in the man's attitude was for, responded with a slight stutter.
"Yes... the lady Eisha..." He had a slight frown, birthed from the bowels of confusion, etched on his brows.
'Why the sudden change in expression?' Northern mused, of course, keeping a calm and indifferent look, expressing only slight shock.
"Did you say she is your mother?"
Northern nodded, "Yes, she is my mother."
He silently observed the man, who seemed to be thrown out of his skin for some reason.
And all this started the moment Eisha was mentioned.
Northern waited till the headmaster looked like he was ready to talk. Then he said:
"I suppose you are familiar, preferably acquainted with my mother."
The man slowly regained his composure, closing his eyes and breathing in silence even after Northern had said his piece.
He raised a hand to interrupt Northern, who was about to make another statement, and let loose a heavy sigh.
"Several things are not adding up. First of all, how is Eisha a mother? Unless it's the seed of an elf, she's a Royalty, designated to never carry a blooded being except if it's of royal blood."
Northern's expression grew grim. "And if they do?"
The man touched his head, exhaling to relieve himself of a seemingly heavy headache. His gaze rode back to Northern.
"Eisha has blonde hair and golden eyes; you look nothing like her. You are her adopted child, I presume."
Northern folded his arms and frowned. "So, you wouldn't answer the question?"
"Should that be your concern right now?" The man washed his face with his palms. Despite this, he still looked strangled by worry.
Northern could not piece the puzzle as of yet. All he did was stare in blatant curiosity.
Why did this young man seem so shaken by Eisha's news?
He believed he was about to know in the next few seconds.
"Since it seems that you are in need as much as I am, why don't we make this a trade?"
'Of course...' A small smile left Northern's face, prompting his response after a short silence.
"I guess that makes a lot of sense. How about you start by telling me why you know my mother?"
"And you will tell me what you know about us elves... and how you know about the underworld?"
Northern contorted his lips with disgust. "No way! I'm not about to trade you my most valuable information for that?"
"Then you'd better choose an equally valuable question." The man's gaze was resolute, like an impregnable fortress of heavy metal.
Northern felt like no kind of underhanded tactics would break into his fortress.
He wasn't one to employ such tactics, but as much as he hated to admit it, he felt outwitted by the person sitting before him.
He was an elf to begin with, and much definitely on the platter of information, he had the upper hand.
In a way, Northern could consider himself a rude kid with guts.
'I'm sure that's how he sees me... Not that I care or anything. I don't need his
acknowledgment; I just need him to help me find my mother.'
If he was going to trade the one piece of information he had as leverage, then it better be for something they were here for in the first place.
He exhaled and looked directly into the eyes of the headmaster, his reflecting a deep, unending well of darkness.
"I need you to tell me who could have kidnapped my mother and where they are right now."
The headmaster evaluated Northern with keen eyes, his expression deadpan and darkly focused, making the quiet air somehow heavy.
If there was a third subject in the scene, any less weaker in resolve than these two, they would have choked to death under the fierce air of resolution.
The headmaster sighed.
"While it seems obvious that you are a kid, your eyes carry a deep and bothersome experience. I wonder, is that the reason for the astute sharpness I feel around you, or is there more to your being than I am seeing right now?"
"Is that a question? Would you like to add another slot?"
"No, it's barely been ten minutes since meeting you, and I feel like my life is beginning to turn around for the worse."
"Thank you for the compliment."
The man stared at him with an expression of helplessness. Afterwards, he heaved a sigh and spoke.
"I can't be too sure, but if your mother was kidnapped, the only people that would care enough to do so are the Cults of Vitan."
"A cult?" Northern's voice was tinged with derision.
"For your sake, do not underestimate them. These ones are nothing like the human cults dedicated to worshiping constellations with a twisted belief that they shall one day descend into the world."
"I see, you're not a religious fellow."
"Both the established and unestablished cults have a belief system that does not hold water when you think about it..."
He paused for a moment. 'Am I seriously about to discuss religion with a kid?' Then he sighed and casually returned to his former statement.
"The followers of Vitan are a bunch of insanely strong religious elves that believe that royalties exist for the sole purpose of carrying fragments of Vitan's blood until it all comes
together and he is reborn again."
Northern quickly inputted, "And I presume all of this is in the underworld..."
The headmaster looked at him, not uttering a word, and just continued casually, "However, they may have leaked into the upperworld."
Northern folded his arms as he leaned back. "So, these people are pursuing my mother? For what and why?"
"As for where they are right now? I am not entirely sure, but I will put my resources into finding out. Since I will be going out of my way to do that, you will be adding one on your
slot."
Northern clicked his tongue in irritation. 'Cunning as hell.'
The man relaxed forward, leaning his elbows on his thighs as he crossed his fingers and rested
his chin on them.
"So, your turn, my friend. How do you know about us and the underworld?"