Author: M_W Cancer 

Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

"If that wasn't the reason, then why exactly are you making a map of my territory, in particular the center region, which is my home?" Neldrac went to ask the same question again. 

"I am guessing that you know already about the war against the Naughty Elves organization that had just ended not so long ago," Elvis assumed since it seems like Neldrac knows a lot about the Emerald Tree Kingdom. Probably, it has been paying some attention to its neighbor. 

"I do," Neldrac nodded, before adding, "It was such a pity that the third generation King of the Emerald Tree Kingdom had died. But it can't be helped, since the Naughty Elves organization was more capable than them,"

"Oh, wait, I now remember that there was a really capable Cartographer helping the Naughty Elves organization at that time. Do you happen to know who this person is? Since you both have the same profession," Neldrac can't help but ask. 

Hearing Neldrac's question, Elvis' forehead instantly begun sweating profusely in anxiousness. In his mind, he is thinking of what will happen to him if he admits the truth. Will Neldrac kill him since he was once a member of the Naughty Elves organization, or at least an indirect member since he was completely oblivious about anything until it was already too late? 

Even though Elvis knew that he had already repaid his crimes by helping King Elfin the Fourth retake the Emerald Tree Kingdom, it still doesn't erase anything that he had done. And no matter what he does, he will have to live his entire life shouldering the deaths of all those people that the Naughty Elves organization killed.

Neldrac sensed the sudden change of Elvis expression and immediately learned of the answer to its question, "It turns out that capable Cartographer was  also you,"

Elvis smiled wryly upon realizing that his secret was easily discovered by Neldrac. He replied, "I am indeed that person..."

Contrary to what Elvis thought that Neldrac would do to him once it finds out the truth, Neldrac instead smiled and muttered, "But I wonder, why is there a very strong remorseful feeling I sense deep inside of your soul?"

Instantly, Elvis's eyes widen as he turned his head and looked straight at Neldrac's golden-colored eyes, "I..."

Elvis doesn't know whether Neldrac would really believe what he would say, especially considering all that he had done. For him, he is now someone whose words shouldn't be trusted. So, he is hesitating whether he should explain or not. 

"Don't worry. I was already a bit interested in that person long before we have met. What I just didn't expect was for that person to actually turned out to be you, hahaha!" Neldrac let out a carefree chuckle. 

"You were interested in me?" Elvis asked in disbelief. He continued, "Heh, how strange of you, sir Neldrac. What I did before was an unforgivable act, and I can't even refrain myself from believing that I shouldn't have existed from the start. In such a way, the Emerald Tree Kingdom wouldn't have been destroyed, none of the people that were killed should have died, and everything would have been alright..."

Neldrac didn't interrupt Elvis as he continued listening to his self-deprecating lines. 

"All of those times, I was really foolish, as I didn't realize that all of the maps and blueprints that I have created was what helped the Naughty Elves organization the most to easily win every battle they have fought. And when I finally realized it, it was already too late because King Elfin the Third had already died,"

"What's, even more, worst was, even though I know the truth, I still went up on the stage to stand in front of everyone, heads up and proud, full of appreciation in my eyes, as I received the reward from Darius for my best performance during the war," Elvis paused to let out brief laughter of self-mockery, "Yeah... Best performance, since I perfectly acted all according to the scripts that Darius wanted me to perform. It was as if I was one of those actors in the theater shows who's going to be rewarded for making the audience enjoy my really good performance on the stage. The only difference between those actors and me is the fact that I didn't even know that there was a script and that after finding out about it, the show was long already over, and all the actors are now lining up on stage with all the audience clapping at us,"

"What a great performance I did, indeed," Elvis ended while forming a grin on his face that hides the pain deep inside of him. 

As soon as Elvis finished speaking, Neldrac suddenly whistle loudly in cheer before saying, "Tch! What a real pity that I only watched when the show was already close to its end. If only I watched it right from the start, then I would definitely support and long already became one of your fans. After all, that part of your life was like the back story of how one of the villains had turned to become one of the greatest heroes to save the day at the end of the show!"

"Why?" Elvis really doesn't understand why Neldrac didn't think badly of him after what he had done. It would have been slightly fine if only he had killed a few people, but he had caused millions of deaths and even nearly destroyed the once peaceful Emerald Tree Kingdom. 

"Don't you see? Although you have indeed nearly destroyed the Emerald Tree Kingdom because of being totally oblivious to the fact that all of your maps and blueprints were being used to cause destruction and deaths by the Naughty Elves organization. In the end, you also helped the Emerald Tree Kingdom to have a new beginning, give them new hope, and make them rise back from the ashes. In other words, you have saved everyone and help bring back peace," Neldrac used the tip of one of his claws to softly and carefully tap on Elvis's shoulder. 

At this moment, Elvis has already lowered his head while crying. His hands were hastily wiping his eyes as if not wanting anyone to see his tears that represent his weakness. Despite that, though, the tears still continued falling down on the ground. 

Strangely, from where Elvis' tears had landed, small sprouts started to grow from the ground. As more and more tears landed, the plants started growing and eventually covered the entirety of the small empty patch of land before with vibrant grasses. Not long after that, a small unknown white-colored flower slowly grew, and soon after, it spread its petals and bloomed beautifully. 

Seeing the flower, Neldrac laughed while saying, "Hahaha! Look, even my garden deemed you as someone pure and innocent despite what you have done," 

"Your garden?" Elvis holds down his tears as he curiously followed where Neldrac was looking at. To his surprise, he found a white-colored flower on the ground where his tears were landing onto. 

"Yes, my garden, or which is also more commonly known by all of you people as the Garden of Truth. Well, honestly speaking, this Garden of Truth's real name is actually the Garden of Eden. In this place, you can never hide anything as your Mana will reveal all of your secrets, shallow or deepest. And this white-colored flower exactly represents purity and innocence. So, Elvis, raise your head up and be proud of yourself because you are not what you believe you are!" Neldrac said while slowly pushing Elvis's chin up. 

"Thank you... Without your words, I would have still not have forgiven myself. I might have remained stuck on the part where I kept on blaming myself for everything," Elvis expressed his appreciation to Neldrac. While in his mind, he had decided to carve this memory to the deepest part of his soul and never forget this memory for the rest of his life, or even after he dies. 

"It seems like it was Fate that had brought you into this place in order to find peace in your mind," Neldrac slowly formed its jaw into a smile. Then, he suddenly changed the topic as he remembered something, "Oh, yeah, before this, what was your reason for going to my home?"

Elvis wiped the remaining tears on his eyes before replying, "As of now, the Emerald Tree Kingdom is still in the process of rebuilding back the damage that the Naughty Elves organization had caused. We are in dire need of more resources in order for us to achieve this. But of course, we will not expand the territory. Rather, we merely need to find some locations where we can gather the resources that we needed. Like for example, ancient ruins like the Phoenix Taming Tower, source of Magical resources like mines, or territories of some particular Magical Beasts," 

"Sounds fair to me," Neldrac didn't hesitate to believe Elvis, especially considering the fact that the Garden of Eden had already deemed him as a trustworthy person. But..., "I can also see clearly that such a reason isn't actually your own personal reason for really doing this,"

"Yeah, because now I have found my peace," Elvis smiled delightfully. 

Neldrac nodded his head in acknowledgment. He then asked, "So, what are you going to do next?"

"I don't know yet, since I have just found my peace. But perhaps it would be to look for a new path and my purpose of existence," Elvis said in uncertainty.

"Oh, then I hope that you will not have any regrets like now in the path that you are going to walk in the future. May Fate be in your side," After saying this, Neldrac's figure suddenly disappeared as if it didn't exist from the start. 

"Neldrac? Neldrac!" Elvis began calling out for Neldrac's name. But after spending an hour or so calling out for Neldrac's name, there were still no signs of it appearing again. 

Wanting to see Neldrac again as he hasn't yet fully expressed all of his appreciation for what it had done to him, Elvis continued looking for it every single day. However, days turned into a week, weeks turned into a month, and months turned into a year. In spite of that, he still didn't find Neldrac again. 

Realizing that Neldrac will not show itself again to him anytime soon, Elvis decided to leave and begin looking for his new path to walk and the purpose of his existence. Maybe by then, he would meet Neldrac again...