After I felt satisfied from drinking two whole jars of Elaine's nectar, I took a quick bath and spent the next few days studying the improvements I had made with my Royal Elf's Palm. Afterward, I returned to the Aether Realms Dimensional Rift as I wanted to check upon Elaine, but I couldn't bring myself to enter that realm ever again, so I simply called her using the crystal ball; after all, I knew she wasn't in any sort of danger so I wasn't worried.
"Everything is good, Elaine?" "Hehe, yep, everything is wonderful. Oh, and your two servants are still alive, Brother." Said Elif and Elaine, respectively, as the latter proudly smiled and nodded while the former's expression worsened.
"Two servants? Elaine, I had three." Said Elif with furrowed brows as he eyed Elaine's projection, causing her to suddenly frown with a thoughtful expression.
"Three? Oh, that is right, I knew that Phoenix was out of place flying through the Aether Realm. Oops, sorry, Brother. But two of three are still alive, so it's not all bad." Said Elaine with an embarrassed expression as she cutely knocked the side of her head while Elif just blankly looked at her, causing her to chuckle.
"Hehehe, I'm just joking, Brother; Ember is alive, and everything is fine." Added Elaine with a faint smile as she looked at Elif, who heaved a sigh of relief while lightly rubbing his head.
"You know, it's funny, Elaine, because a part of me thinks you're not joking." Said Elif lightly with a skeptical gaze as he glanced at Elaine, who flashed a smile while wickedly chuckling.
"Hehehe, that's exactly how I like it, Brother." Said Elaine, her words causing Elif to shake his head while she smiled.
"Oh, I would love to talk, Brother, but Idonea found a town so I can finally start trading with the Realms residents." Added Elaine excitedly as she briefly looked away before glancing at Elif, who nodded only to suspiciously raise an eyebrow.
"You've been in there more than a month and have only now found a town, Elaine? What else have you been doing?" Asked Elif with a deep gaze as he stared at Elaine, who flashed a smile before her projection suddenly disappeared.
Seeing Elaine end our call, I was somewhat tempted to call back, but before I could, my crystal ball faintly trembled, causing me to frown as the projection of Father appeared in the air.
"Oh, it's you, Father. I was wondering who kept bothering me for the past five minutes." Muttered Elif lightly as he gazed at Marcus, who was silently staring at him in annoyance.
"I had been calling you for five minutes, Elif… Care to explain why it took so long to answer my call?" Asked Marcus in annoyance as he folded his arms and eyed Elif, who calmly leaned back against the couch while propping his feet on the table.
"I was speaking with Elaine, Father." "Tsk, well, that makes sense." Said Elif and Marcus, respectively, as the former smirked while the latter clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Anyway, I was calling to inform you that the Scholarly Demon's Hidden abode has vanished." Said Marcus solemnly, his words causing Elif and Illumia, who were silently standing by the door, to furrow their brows.
"The Scholarly Demon has chosen a successor… Do you know who it is, Father?" Asked Elif with a slight frown as he looked at Marcus, who nodded.
"Yes, and that is why I'm calling you Elif. We'll need you to deal with the successor." Replied Marcus seriously while Elif raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, only for him to flick his hair behind his ear.
"Hah, I see; if you're calling me Father, that must mean this successor is a powerful, independent cultivator, and you need me to seduce this person: Haa, the responsibilities of being born gorgeous. Don't worry, Father, I'll turn them into my slave without raising a single fist." Remarked Elif narcissistically as he smirked while raising his head, causing Illumia and Marcus to blankly look at him with twitching expressions.
"No. The successor is someone from the younger generation, Elif. You've had a few encounters with him previously. Lucifer, the Angel." Stated Marcus with a shake of his head while Elif rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on, Father, I assumed that was the case, but can't you have a little fun? That is why I like Mother more. Though I'm surprised, it's Lucifer… I'm fine with that; he is rather peaceful." Said Elif blandly as he glanced at Marcus with a skeptical gaze, only to shake his head while shifting his focus to Lucifer.
"You say that as if it's supposed to annoy me, Elif, but you'll say I'm your favorite when you're annoyed with Maria." Remarked Marcus blandly as he folded his arms and eyed Elif, who simply nodded.
"Yes, you're correct. I have no true favorite parent. My favorite is decided upon how I'm currently feeling, and currently, I like Mother more." Said Elif earnestly, his words causing Marcus to sigh while softly shaking his head.
"Well, anyway, I see you're not in the Aether Realm. Have you two and Elaine not yet visited?" Asked Marcus curiously as he glanced at Elif, who sported an ugly expression, confusing him.
"Ugh, please, Father, do not mention that heavenless Realm. I would rather experience another mortal punishment than ever visit that realm. Matter of fact, once Elaine returns, we should wipe it from existence; it isn't needed." Declared Elif sternly as he spat on the ground in disgust before glancing at Marcus, who furrowed his brows in confusion while slowly nodding.
"I see… Anyway, your Mother and I will pay a visit in a couple of years, so until then." Said Marcus with a nod as he bid farewell before his projection vanished, prompting Elif to store his crystal ball in his dimension ring.
"What will you do, Your Highness?" Asked Illumia as she approached Elif, who glanced at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I see you continue to refuse to call me by my name. Why is that?" Asked Elif as he lay on the couch while glancing at Illumia, who furrowed her brows.
"With our relationship ending, I cannot speak your name without honorifics. I'm merely a servant, after all." Stated Illumia as she calmly glanced at Elif, who sighed while shaking his head.
"Someone is annoyed with me." "Annoyed would be putting it lightly, your Highness." Said Elif and Illumia, respectively, as the former faintly smirked while the latter blankly glanced at him.
Chuckling at her words, I sat upright and pulled Illumia into my embrace as she sat on my lap.
"Tell me what it will take for you to forgive me?" "Something you can't do." Remarked Elif and Illumia, respectively, as the latter shook her head while the former rested his head on her shoulder.
"Let me guess, become my secret Concubine?" Asked Elif lightly as he glanced at Illumia, who nodded, causing him to chuckle while flashing a faint smile.
"You know, Illumia, although I would call you and Sarah my concubines, you two never really were. You were both my mistresses at most; after all, a concubine is an official status, one that must be accepted by the Emperor and Empress, which never happened." Stated Elif lightly as he playfully pinched Illumia's nose, causing her to furrow her brows in slight confusion.
"What are you trying to say, Your Highness?" "That is for you to figure out. Though, maybe I'm not even saying anything worthwhile." Stated Illumia and Elif, respectively, as the former narrowed her eyes at the latter, who mischievously smirked.
Before Illumia could continue asking questions, I pushed her off me as I laid back down.
"Lucifer will come here soon. Inform me when he does, and I'll talk with him. Once he learns the truth about the perfected Chaotic Scripture, he won't keep the information of the Chaos Lord's hidden abode a secret." Ordered Elif calmly as he closed his eyes, causing Illumia to nod as she turned around and walked away, prompting him to peek at her.
After an eyeful treat of Illumia walking away, I closed my eyes, furrowing my brows in concern at the Scholarly Demon.
'Seeing how petty he is, I hope he hasn't prohibited Lucifer from telling me.' Thought Elif solemnly as he rubbed his chin, only to sigh while shaking his head.
There was only so much to be done right now, so once Illumia returned, I began cultivating above my bed like always, yet it was barely able to last five minutes before I felt the entire residence tremble, followed by a powerful and familiar roar.
"GET OUT HERE YOU BASTARD, ELIF! I'LL KILL YOU!" Yelled Tiamat furiously as she swiped her claws at the Elven Empire's residency, only for Mandy to block every attack.
Opening my eyes in slight anger, I gently lowered myself to my bed as I took my sweet time exiting my residence; anywhere else, I would've ignored her since I had no idea why she was even mad at me. Especially considering we've both been here for over a month, and neither of us has interacted with each other, and now, for some reason, she's upset with me.
'Tsk, I sense foul play. Good job, Aurora, wherever you're at.' Thought Elif in annoyance as he exited his residence, only to see Mandy floating in the air, blocking Tiamat's every attack.