The next morning, the first rays of dawn had only just begun to break.
While most people were still fast asleep in their dreams, two figures had already packed their things and slipped out of town.
They chatted as they walked, mostly with the young woman sharing tales of her various adventures with the young man.
Xia De didn't find it tedious at all; instead, he listened with great interest.
Together, they walked out of the town, crossed the fields, and passed a lush, vibrant meadow.
Eventually, they reached a fork in the road.
Hilia fell silent, knowing that the time for departure had come.
She was dressed just as she had been when they first met: brown short boots showcasing her legs that looked as if they were sculpted from jade, a classic adventurer's outfit, and a green cloak draped over her shoulders.
Yet, there was a slight difference.
Today, she wasn't wearing the emerald necklace formed from her blessing around her neck.
“Well, this is where we part ways,” Xia De said, stopping in his tracks as he looked at the fork ahead.
“Yeah,” Hilia replied, stopping alongside him.
Her emerald eyes gazed deeply at Xia De, as if trying to engrave his features into her mind, her gaze filled with reluctance to leave.
Xia De turned his head slightly, shielding his face with his hand to block her intense gaze.
“Don't look at me like that. Anyone watching would think we're parting forever.”
“But I really don't want to leave, and there's no point in hiding it.”
Pouting, Hilia unhappily brushed Xia De's hand away.
“Think about it. Who knows when we'll see each other again after this? I know you won't stay in Toka City forever; you have your own journey. I'm afraid that by the time I resolve the issues with the elves, you won't be there anymore. Besides, we don't even know what's happening with my tribe right now. Anything involving the Demon God Cult is bound to be dangerous and troublesome. I'm just afraid...”
As she spoke, Hilia's voice grew softer and softer, inevitably laced with worry by the end.
Faced with a somewhat downcast Hilia, Xia De reached out and patted her head.
Her pale gold hair was as silky as milk. The smooth texture felt so good that he couldn't help but stroke it a couple of times.
“Don't be afraid. We will definitely meet again. You know my plan has always been to travel the entire continent, and the Elven Forest is one of my destinations.
“So, as my friend, don't be sad or afraid. If you run into danger, remember to protect yourself first.
“If you're still there when I make my way to the Elven Forest, I'll help you resolve the elves' troubles.”
Feeling the warmth radiating from Xia De's palm onto her head, the anxiety in Hilia's heart gradually dissolved.
Then her expression shifted, her face flushing red as she mumbled softly,
“I know how to protect myself. I'm your adventurer senior, you know.
“Don't treat me like a child.”
Though she said that, her body was honest, and she made no move to push his hand off her head.
Finally, she gave Xia De one last deep look, her eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance.
Gently pulling away from his hand, she said resolutely,
“We will definitely meet again.
“Even if you've already left, once I'm done with the elves' matters, I will definitely come looking for you.
“I will find you, no matter what!”
Her voice was firm and powerful, as if she were making a solemn vow.
Without waiting for Xia De's reaction, she pulled up her hood to cover her face and walked silently down one of the forks.
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to bring herself to leave.
Xia De stood there dazed, watching her retreating back before looking down at his right hand, which had just been stroking her head.
The smooth sensation still lingered, and he could even catch a faint whiff of her hair's fragrance.
Shaking his head helplessly, he laughed.
“What was that all about? Walking away so dramatically.
“And saying something like a solemn vow at the very end... She has no shame. Why does her affection feel a bit heavy?”
He reached back and patted Starfall on his back, producing two dull thuds.
“It must be Starfall's fault. This gravity control of yours is really rubbing off on people. When we first met, that elf was crying her eyes out, looking like a fragile little girl.”
With that, he stopped watching Hilia's fading figure and started walking down the other fork.
Though a smile played on his lips, his eyes were completely calm.
There was no sorrow of parting, nor any anticipation of a future reunion.
Just as he had said before, he never placed expectations on anyone.
In this world, he was the most important person to himself. If anyone stood in his way, he would do whatever it took to eliminate them first.
Little did he know just how heavy Hilia's promise to find him would be.
It would become a vow that crossed worlds, transcended time, and held more weight than life itself.
“Oh right, I need to return this to her.”
As he walked, Xia De raised his right hand, and an exquisite emerald necklace appeared in his palm.
It was indeed Hilia's necklace.
Hilia had slipped it to him last night as a parting gift, a token of her feelings.
She had thought about how they didn't know when they would meet again.
She wanted to convey her feelings properly so Xia De wouldn't forget her.
And when it came to expressing one's feelings, nothing was better than an elven companion item.
So, while helping Xia De pack his clothes, she had secretly cast a stealth magic on the necklace and tucked it into his garments.
However, trying to pull this off in front of Xia De—who possessed All-Attribute Elemental Magic and maxed-out perception—was like trying to show off in front of a master.
But he hadn't exposed Hilia, especially after learning the significance of the necklace; he wanted to call her out even less.
Because doing so would mean facing a territory he was neither good at nor wished to deal with.
And that was romantic feelings.
So, returning the necklace after they parted would save him from having to address the issue.
“Well, even though I can't return your feelings...
“...I'm not one to run away either. I'll let you have your way this time and leave you a little present.”
With a flash of pale blue light in his hand, the necklace vanished.
Meanwhile, Hilia, who was making her way down her path, immediately felt the necklace reappear around her neck.
She held the emerald in her hand, stroking it repeatedly as if feeling his lingering warmth.
Then, circulating her magic power, she began to examine the gemstone necklace.
She “saw” a message constructed from magic power within the necklace.
“Don't do this next time. I left you a little gift.
“Three Tier Nine attack spells, three Tier Nine defense spells, a small magic-gathering formation, and a small area-of-effect gravity control formation.”
Seeing this, a joyful smile bloomed on her delicate face, her eyes curving into crescents.
It wasn't because she had received these precious spells, but simply because she had received a gift from him.
Of course she knew Xia De would discover her little trick and choose not to expose her.
She also knew he wouldn't accept her kindness right now and would secretly return the necklace.
This had merely been a small test of hers—a test to see where she stood in Xia De's heart.
Just as she understood Xia De, Xia De understood her just as well, and he would definitely catch her drift.
So, if he returned it with a gift attached, it meant she had, to some degree, deepened his affection for her.
If there was nothing, then unfortunately, it would mean she was still just an acquaintance to him.
Now that she saw Xia De's gifts, she felt like she was about to fly with excitement. This proved that Xia De truly didn't view her as some unrelated stranger.
This discovery made her wish she could resolve the elves' issues immediately so she could return to Xia De's side as soon as possible.
Humming a cheerful tune as she walked, a flash of playfulness flickered in her eyes.
Sorry, but a maiden in love can be quite scheming.
Thinking of the real gift she had left for Xia De, she smiled with a bit of embarrassment.
A rosy blush quickly spread across her delicate, milky-white face.
Rate on N.U.
