Chapter 58: A date

Adan sat atop a sturdy branch, high above the forest floor. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow around him.

The branch beneath him was wide and solid, covered in a soft moss that cushioned his seat. Above, the sky was a deep indigo, speckled with twinkling stars that seemed to shimmer in rhythm with the quiet rustling of the leaves.

In front of him stood a striking figure, a woman with cascading golden hair that glowed like spun sunlight even in the dim light of the night. Her pointed elf ears peeked through her hair, adding an ethereal elegance to her appearance.

She stood with a grace that seemed almost supernatural, her posture poised and confident. Her eyes, a brilliant shade of gold, seemed to glow softly, reflecting the moonlight and creating an otherworldly luminescence.

The woman gazed at Adan with an expression of genuine interest, her eyes locked onto his. There was a calm curiosity in her gaze, a silent invitation for him to share more. The night around them was still and tranquil, the usual nocturnal sounds of the forest muted as if respecting the intimate moment they shared.

The gentle chirping of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl added to the serene atmosphere, making the night feel alive yet peaceful.

Adan, feeling the warmth of her gaze, felt his heart lighten. Her presence had a calming effect on him, and he found it easy to talk.

"Yeah, that's how I met those guys," he continued, his voice soft and steady, "but you've got to meet them."

He couldn't help but smile, his thoughts momentarily drifting back to the encounters he had described. The golden light in her eyes seemed to brighten, reflecting the sincerity and enthusiasm in his words.

The woman's lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes never leaving his. The connection between them felt almost tangible, a delicate thread woven through their shared experiences and mutual respect.

The air was cool and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of the forest, and the gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of wildflowers, adding to the magical quality of the night.

In this moment, amidst the tranquil beauty of the forest and under the watchful gaze of the stars, Adan and the golden-haired elf shared a bond that transcended words. It was a quiet understanding, a promise of adventures and discoveries yet to come, wrapped in the soft glow of the moonlit night.

Considering something, she spoke, "Why not? And if they're leaving soon, how about we leave with them?"

"We!" Adan thought, then inquired, "Why the sudden change of mind?"

"At first, I couldn't go with you, but if we use your new friends as a reason, my butler won't have anything to complain about," she explained.

Adan pondered this. "He already asked me if I could go with them, so I don't think that would be a problem," he agreed, though he didn't like using them this way.

She smiled, excitement in her voice, "Then bring your friends here tomorrow. If they can really tame an Intermediate Tier beast, then if he just sees that, I don't think he will complain." She held Adan's hands and said, "We can finally be together."

Adan just smiled, still uncomfortable but resigned. He sighed and kissed the girl in front of him, then spoke, "Okay, I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow." He jumped off, landing quietly before waving his hand and disappearing from sight.

She smiled and stared into the sky, "I hate using him, you know," she spoke to a shadow behind her that remained silent.

---

The next day.

Elijah was walking in the busy street with Julia beside him. She was doing something strange with her hand whenever someone came close. "Oh, so are you saying this because your sister is more beautiful?"

"No." Julia pouted, adding, "But have you ever met any girl our age who is more beautiful?"

"I guess not," Elijah thought, remembering the red-haired girl who had appeared at the manor some time ago. She was beautiful, but if he had to rank them,

Julia would be number one and her number two—that's just how beautiful Julia was. But compared to Ava and Amy, she was still lacking. 'Thinking about it, I'm surrounded by beautiful women and girls,' he laughed inwardly.

"You see." Julia smiled.

'Damn, she has an ego.' Elijah smiled. "Yeah, if that beautiful girl is a thieving, ape-like beast with a short temper."

Veins popped on her head as she glared at Elijah, who just laughed. "That reaction is pretty cute."

"Ape-like, huh?" Seeing that calming her down by complimenting wasn't working, Elijah asked, "What is that technique you're using to steal people's coins anyway?"

Julia glared daggers at him, then sighed before saying, "It's the Water Thief Movement Technique."

"That's a really useful skill if you think about it," Elijah observed, watching her use it to steal another person's coins without even looking. He then asked, "Can you use it on me?"

Julia nodded and did it. Elijah focused intently but didn't feel anything when she took something from his pockets. 'Wow, that is amazing,' he thought, even considering Julia to be a master thief or something.

Staring at her own hands, Julia saw gloves that had runes on them, and a curious expression appeared. "Gloves?" She couldn't fully understand the runes but knew they were around Tier 4 or 5.

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot. Miss Ava gave these to me." Elijah took the gloves with a wondering expression.

"What are they for?" Julia inquired.

"Hmm, I'm not sure." Elijah said, putting them on. Suddenly, he felt his powers coming under control. The chaos that had been happening with his power had calmed down, which was unexpected for him. That was also the reason he had promised not to use his yin and yang form now that his bloodline was awakened.

Elijah felt like he could better control his power now and could master his elements without much difficulty. 'Thanks, Ava,' he thought.

"They could help me better control my powers," Elijah briefly explained.

Julia didn't ask much and just nodded.

Soon, they came to a stop at a weapon shop. "This is surprising," Julia remarked.

"???" Elijah looked puzzled.

"Never thought you would like to use a weapon," Julia said.

"Why did you think so?" Elijah asked, staring at the weapons and nodding at the shopkeeper.

"Really… You always use your hands in fights and I've never seen you holding a weapon," Julia replied.

"That's true, but I have learned the basics of almost all weapons," Elijah said, holding an axe. He added, "Amy always said it's better to be knowledgeable about everything but a master of one thing."

Julia agreed and asked, "So you want to be the master of hand-to-hand combat but still know how to use other weapons?

"Yeah," Elijah said, then added, "Can I have some money?"

"No," Julia replied quickly and without hesitation.

"OOH, then do you want me to tell everyone who you steal from…" Elijah smirked.

Julia glared at him. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me," Elijah challenged.

Julia's glare didn't disappear as she threw a pouch filled with coins. Elijah enjoyed his victory, knowing he would pay for it in the future. He didn't think much about it and took the two axes before moving toward the counter.

Julia thought, 'I should start practicing putting runes on weapons.' She took all the weapons she could. After paying for the items, they went out, storing them in their storage devices.

As the afternoon approached, Elijah and Julia rested on a tree. "Living alone in a forest is pretty lonely, huh?" Julia inquired.

Thinking about it as he lay on the ground, staring at the sky, Elijah replied, "At times, yes, but most of the time I just trained and hunted beasts. So, I didn't really think much about it."

Julia stared at him without saying a word before Elijah inquired, "How about you?"

"My life, huh." Julia stared away and thought before explaining, "Well, I have two sisters—one little and one older. I've told you about the older one. Me and my little sister are close, but with my big sister, it's not like that.

It's not like we hate each other but… I don't know. I love her and I know she loves me, but there's a bridge between us that stops us from connecting further, you know?" She sighed.

"How about just talking to her?" Elijah suggested, his calm eyes staring at the blue sky.

"It's not that easy, you know," Julia retorted.

"Someone told me that the easy way is mostly the best," he said, stopping to stare at Julia. "Because if you complicate things, you will never do anything."

Julia agreed with Elijah, but she didn't know what to do. "Aren't you going to ask me about my parents?"

"Why should I?" He opened his eyes and said, "You didn't mention them because you didn't want to, so why should I force you?"

Julia smiled and remained silent as quietness surrounded them. The singing of birds, the beautiful village not too far away, and the beauty of the forest enveloped them.

"Are you guys enjoying your date?" Adan appeared with a smile, staring at the two.

"Where were you?" Elijah inquired with a smile.

"Just doing something." Elijah just nodded without asking further and stared at Julia, who didn't react. 'I thought she would have reacted or something.'

"So, what brings you here?" Elijah asked.

"Oh, I told a friend of mine about you guys, and she seems interested," Adan said, adding, "I was wondering if you're free to meet her."

"We weren't planning much, so why not." He then stared at Julia. "Do you want to come?" She just nodded, deep in thought.