The Author's POV

Elven tear.

Some might call it a miracle drug. The item was something that the elves were highly famous for. It could practically heal all diseases regardless of their seriousness.

It could even bring back someone from the brink of death. That was how effective the elven tears were.

But of course, just like the name suggested, it could only be created by the elves, and even then, it wasn't like they could easily make them.

In fact, it was quite hard for them to make. Perhaps in the past, back when they still had the world tree at their disposal, creating miraculous elixirs like the elven tears might have been easy. But that was then, and this was now.

Times had changed, and each elven tear was incredibly valuable.

So valuable that it had created great havoc in the human domain once upon a time when someone managed to get their hands on one elven tear and decided to sell it.

At that time, it was sold to an anonymous bidder for a tremendous price of 2 billion U.

"I need it."

Sitting on his bed, Hein leaned forward and rested both of his arms on his legs.

'I need to get that elixir at all cost.'

A determined looked flashed across his handsome face as his fists clenched tightly.

Remembering the troubles his father had gone through while he was injured while trying to provide for both him and his siblings, an inexplicable feeling arose within Hein, prompting him to clench his fists even more tightly.

"According to what Ren said, the top ten winners will have the possibility of requesting any reward."

The prize didn't necessarily have to be the elven tears. There were many other items that were more valuable than the tears up for grabs for the winners, but for Hein, the tears were priceless.

He couldn't care less for the other prizes.

'Can I do it?'

Worry flashed across his eyes as he thought about the upcoming tournament.

He knew his limits, and he knew that he wasn't strong enough to be first. If Ren participated, he may as well kiss the chances of getting first place goodbye.

But tenth?

'I have to do it.'

After all the training that he had done in Henlour, Hein had confidence in his abilities. He no longer thought that the others were as scary as he once thought.

"Hm?"

Blinking a couple of times, Hein suddenly turned his head towards the right side of the room.

"Oh no."

Standing up from his bed, he rushed towards a particular wooden desk where a shield rested on top. A small black smudge appeared by the side of the shield.

"How did you get dirty again?"

Taking out a handkerchief from his dimensional space, Hein wiped the small smudge that was on top of his shield.

This clean freak attitude was something that he had developed back in Henlour when he was scolded by Malvil for not being careful enough with his shield.

'If I ever see a smudge on that shield, I will not give you a shield! Treat it as if it's your most prized possession! It's fine if it breaks from fighting a lot, but if you show me just how much you don't care about your shield, why should you bother asking to have one made for you?'

Those words deeply resonated with Hein, who understood the intent behind Malvil's words.

As such, from that point on, Hein literally did as Malvil said and treated his shield as though it was his baby.

And just like now, whenever the shield got dirty, Hein would immediately stop whatever he was doing and clean the shield.

His behavior annoyed Ava quite a bit as she would look at him the same way Angelica would look at Ren.

Hein just couldn't

one

to the side, Hein wiped another

***

"Are you okay?"

not. I called my own

Emma after Kevin revealed to her the possibility of her

That could also not be your

"What do you mean?"

to raise both hands to try to calm her

group where your father came from. But, I wasn't lying when

"…Okay."

head, Emma thought of

"I don't understand."

from the opposite side, Kevin didn't

trying to say. If that was her father, why didn't

but

increase

at the tranquil, blue sky, Kevin's eyes

here, he should also be here. Emma

the group, he must be aware

had not revealed himself yet, it meant that he was planning something. As such,

now. If the opportunity presented itself, he was definitely going to

how much stronger you've become ever since the last time

those lines, Kevin's lips

are you

who had recovered somewhat

eyes, Kevin shook

"Nothing to worry about."

a smile on his face, he extended

say we

his head and checking his watch,

a couple of hours

a

and grabbing Kevin's, Emma slowly

***

but once we managed to get back to our residences, his previous

oversized wooden chair, in a beautiful green garden that overlooked the entirety of the city from above, I took a

'This is nice.'

the air

of your friends. Why didn't you go greet

also gazed into the distance

me, you didn't need to

head, Waylan crossed his

yourself back from seeing

"I'm not."

hand over my face and removing the mask off of

that I don't want to meet them,

"Couldn't?"

"Mhm."

really did want to go

just one

Aaron.

was in

myself going crazy at the

the same could be said

there was one thing I was sure about, it was the fact that the anger inside

the same time, the feelings of

he would either prepare some sort of scheme to try to kill me again or

doing anything to him would become

allow that