Fairies inherently possess a mysterious aura and their powers are generally far superior to humans. However, Altoria had been weak since childhood, neither physically outstanding nor strong in magic power. Even at the age of 16, she had not demonstrated any remarkable abilities, which gradually led the villagers of Tintagel to doubt her true identity as the child of prophecy.
Just a few days ago, the fairies in the village, to test whether Altoria was truly the prophesied child, sent her here to kill Ecter.
Naively, they believed that if Altoria could manage to kill Ecter, a Forging Master feared by many fairies, she would most likely be the prophesied child.
Altoria arrived but did not lay hands on Ecter, instead fleeing the scene.
Consequently, the fairies of Tintagel grew furious, deeming a failure to eliminate a mere blacksmith proof that Altoria could not possibly overthrow the queen, cementing their belief that she was an impostor.
Thus, Altoria was imprisoned by the villagers in a dungeon, and they prepared to hand her over to the execution squad arriving the next day.
The execution squad, under the queen’s command and comprised of executioners, was always in search of the prophesied child. Whether Altoria was the true or false child of prophecy, she would be executed once handed over.
Naturally, Altoria did not wish to die.
Therefore, she planned to find an opportunity to escape from the dungeon.
Upon learning this news, Ecter first helped Altoria steal the Chosen Rod, then planned to rescue her from the dungeon before the execution squad arrived the next day, allowing her to leave the village and embark on a pilgrimage.
Unbeknownst, at this critical moment, Reiger suddenly appeared out of nowhere and rescued Altoria from the dungeon without harm.
Ecter, unaware of the specifics, but seeing Reiger and Altoria, who was supposed to be in the dungeon, together, could roughly guess what had happened.
"I wasn’t going to ask you why you rescued this girl from the dungeon," Ecter stared at Reiger and said, "but now it seems, you didn’t save her to send the prophesied child on a pilgrimage."
That was quite evident.
"Why should I save her just to send her on a pilgrimage?" Reiger said with a smirk, "To save Fairy Country? Or to overthrow the queen?"
"...Let’s set aside the former, but isn’t the latter exactly your purpose?" Ecter frowned and said, "The queen’s tyranny frustrated many fairies. She issued the decree to strictly control the human population. Whether fairy or human, there are those who wish to overthrow her regime and liberate this country."
"Aren’t you one of them?"
Ecter’s questioning only received an indifferent response from Reiger.
"Let me speak frankly then." Reiger said calmly and indifferently, "This country isn’t worth saving."
Upon hearing this, both Altoria and Ecter were instantly taken aback.
Altoria looked at Reiger, astonished.
Ecter’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze at Reiger initially filled with hostility which then vanished, replaced by a thick complexity as if he had realized something.
Reiger paid no attention to these reactions, but instead spoke to Ecter.
"Let’s not talk about that now. Wouldn’t you rather consider your current predicament?" Reiger said coldly, "Now that Altoria has escaped from the dungeon, no matter where she decides to go next, if you continue to stay here, those foolish fairies will inevitably take their anger out on you."
"Take their anger out?"
Altoria was successfully distracted by this shift in topic.
"...Indeed." Ecter regained his composure and said solemnly, "Those fools are well aware I’ve had dealings with this young girl. If they continue to find no one, they’ll definitely suspect it was I who rescued and hid her."
"Then you must come with us!" Altoria hastily said, "Don’t stay here any longer, or the village’s fairies will never leave you alone!"
"I do need to leave." Ecter nodded, then shook his head and said, "But I won’t leave with you."
Before Altoria could anxiously ask why, Ecter made it clear.
"I have no desire to accompany you on any pilgrimage. That journey, you must undertake alone."
His words rendered Altoria speechless instantly.
Reiger, however, was unsparing.
"Reluctant yourself, yet you ask others to go, making talks of mission and fate. It seems you’re more disappointing than I thought, old man."
Ecter did not rebut Reiger’s words.
"I’m tired, but this young girl still needs to go once. Otherwise, she might never know the history of Fairy Country, the truth about Fairy Country."
Ecter sighed, sounding somewhat listless as he spoke.
"As a Paradise Fairy, at least, she needs to understand what she’s doing before deciding whether or not to proceed."
Leaving these words behind, it seemed Ecter no longer wished to waste more words, as he began to shoo them away.
"Alright, what needed to be said has been said, and whom needed to be seen has been seen. What you do next is up to you young ones to figure out."
"Don’t worry about this old man; at least, I’m not dying yet."
"Go on, do what you need to do, go where you need to go."