Chương 61: Chapter 60 - Trusting a Friend

Astra listened attentively, and without interrupting, although at some point in the tale she did grab Eli's hand, holding it and giving a comforting squeeze when the tale grew disturbing. She held her peace, and let Eli finish his tale in his own time, but the startled gasps at the nature of the river, the hiss through gritted teeth at his rebirth, and the bewildered sharp intake of breath at his first encounter with Vael all told a story of her own feelings on the matter.

As his tale wound to a close, she gripped his hand tightly while looking at the river for a moment before wiping her face and turning back to Eli. He was startled to see the remains of dried tears on her face, and was touched, he was so absorbed in reliving his story that he had failed to notice, but he couldn't remember the last time anyone had shed tears for him of all people. She gave him a soft smile, " Oh Eli, I'm so sorry you had to suffer through all that. Do you remember much about the river?"

He shook his head, " Outside of what I told you, it was such a struggle just to hold onto my mind that it all blurred together." He looked towards the river as he rubbed a thumb across the back of her hand." Although I guess we have our answer about the Godstouched question."" Do you think they all went through the same thing?" Astra snorted in amusement as a wry smile crossed her lips."

Do you mean drifting through a river that was trying to dissolve their soul, having their bodies reconstituted in an explosion of viscera, or having tea with one of the ancient gods while lost somewhere in the vault of the stars far beyond the sky?" She shook her head and laughed, " Nay, at least not in any of the tales I've heard, although it would explain the ones who went mad. You do not do things by half measures, do you Eli?" Eli chuckled before shrugging, " I guess not, although it wasn't much by choice."

Astra sighed, turning to face the river with Eli, but not releasing his hand, " No I guess not."" Still, what do you think of this Vael? I believe I should be grateful personally, as if he had never brought you to this world, you never would have come to my rescue, and we would never have met." She looked up at the stars, " They deserve my thanks for that at the very least."

A warm comforting breath of wind from the deeper forest softly blew by, swirling around the pair for a moment before drifting downstream, rippling the grass in its wake. Eli thought for a moment, " Yeah, a new chance at life in a world full of magic and wonder?" He gave her hand a soft squeeze for a moment, " One full of beauty and new friends? The chance to meet you? Yeah I'm pretty grateful for that too."

Astra gave a happy hum and leaned her head down and rested it on his shoulder as he continued, " I mean, the way he made it sound, it was going to cost him something, whatever that might mean for a god. That sounds weird to say, but I don't know what else you would call him. He said it would normally require an exchange of some kind but he was willing to pay the price up front and put his trust in me, I think he deserves some trust."

Astra nodded against his shoulder, her hair brushing his neck, " Do you think you will meet him again?" Eli nodded, " I think so, here look at these." He scrolled back through his notification history and showed her a copy of the very first messages he received, he flipped through some of the errors to show the relevant ones. Ding [OVERRIDE: Admin user V has provided temporary permission to exceed normal parameters] Ding [OVERRIDE: Admin user V has reinitialized achievement recording, please standby..] Ding [Congratulations! Your prior experiences and achievements have been recorded.] Ding [Welcome to the Aetherion Expanse] Ding [Congratulations! You have completed a full resurrection prior class assignment. Your achievement has been recorded] Ding [Congratulations! You survived contact with a being in a tier far above your own prior to class assignment. Your achievement has been recorded] Ding [Congratulations! You have initiated an accord with a deity tier entity prior class assignment. Your achievement has been recorded] This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. Ding [ERROR: System contracts can not be initiated prior to class assignment. System contract will be reinitialized after first evolution] Astra sat upright and leaned forward as if it would make the messages more clear, squinting at them, " Eli."" I have never even heard of anything like this! You think this Admin user V is Vael?""

I've never seen it before, it must be something from your translation magic." Eli had learned during Mira's lessons that the system would display differently to different people but always in a way they understood.

It would use the individuals most familiar language, or speak out loud if they were illiterate, and with familiars that were born with a reduced mental capacity before later developing sapience, in their recalled the memories the system would implant knowledge directly or manipulate their instincts to provide understanding. Eli nodded, " The term is familiar from my world, it indicates someone who has the ability to change the fundamental structure of a system.

It did call him a deity tier entity, which is a word for a god in my homeland. Plus it seems to indicate the contract would start over once I evolved to the second tier, I imagine I will hear from him then?"" Plus he did say he wanted me to check on some people, and if we can't talk that would be a little difficult to do." Astra buzzed with excitement at the prospect, " Do you think it would be like with Tia, could you ask him questions for me?"" Could you imagine Eli?

To be the first in ages to talk to the gods, I have so many questions!" Eli laughed, giving her hand a squeeze, his earlier melancholy mood forgotten as he basked in the glow of her smile." No idea, but I promise I will ask every single one if I can. Thank you Astra." She wriggled in excitement for a moment before turning to look at him, " You are welcome, but whatever for?" Eli shook his head, " I don't know everything, just for being you I guess."" Well, and for being such a great friend."

She beamed at him before settling her head on his shoulder once more, " Of course Eli, I will always be here when you need me." As they sat for a while in companionable silence, a warmth filled his chest, as his senses were enveloped in the scent of sunshine and wildflowers, his heart was wrapped in peace and comfort, the memory of his prior anxiety forgotten and set adrift like dust in the wind.

Elias felt as if he would be content to sit by the river with Astra for the rest of his life if he could, but as time drifted by it was not to be. She gave a large yawn that triggered one of his own, and she stood with a sigh, " It is a shame as this has been lovely, but if I am going to be of any use tomorrow I will need to rest soon." Eli gave her a wry smile and stood too, " Yeah, time and tides waits for no man." Astra smiled wrinkling her brow for a moment, " Oh, I like that one."

As Eli turned to head back to camp she tugged on his arm, and looked into his eyes with a soft smile when he turned back, " Thank you for trusting me Elias. I can see how this must have weighed on you, and it means a great deal to me that I was the one you would turn too. Come here." She drew him into a gentle embrace, hugging him tightly for a moment, tightly enough that their armor creaked gently, before releasing him with a sigh, " Let us return."

As the pair strolled back towards camp Eli felt an urge to hold her hand again, but reminded himself he still knew very little of her culture, and he should take things slow, even if the hints she seemed to be throwing his way seemed to indicate she was interested in him too. We have time to figure things out, there's no rush. Astra broke the silence, " I take if you have not told anyone else?" Eli shook his head, before remembering with a snort, " Except for Tia.

Although she was only really interested in what the tea tasted like and if he had any snacks." Astra giggled and bumped shoulders with him, " Oh that is so like her, I am not surprised at all, death to all birds or a dragon's hoard of fruit and nothing in between."" Don't sell yourself short, she loves your flames plenty, she keeps asking when you will be able to teach her." Eli glanced over, Astra gave a snort of her own as she rolled her eyes, " I know. She will need to unlock the system first.

Beasts unlock very young, but she will need to grow a little first, no way to know without knowing her age. Maybe a month? I'll have to ask Mira." Astra was quiet for a moment before speaking, " Did you want to talk to Mira about this?" Eli grunted, remembering an ice cold blade to his throat, " I'm really not sure Astra. Not many things bother me, but when she thought I might have been a changeling? There was nothing I could do if she wanted to kill me."

He held up a placating hand, " I don't hold it against her, she thought she was protecting you, and I would never be mad about that. You are important to me too, I like that she is always looking out for you." He sighed, " I just don't feel comfortable with it." He snuck a glance at Astra and was relieved to see a smile still on her face, " I understand, Eli. She is my friend and mentor, so I do not like keeping secrets from her, but I can absolutely understand this is an unusual circumstance."

She drew herself upright, " You have my word, this stays between us." A tension that he did not realize was there flowed out of Eli's shoulders, " Thanks Astra, I mean it, you're the best." She gave him a smug smile, " Aye, and you better never forget it." Her smile grew mischievous and she gave him a wink before turning back towards camp." Besides, you are important to me too."