Elias exchanged glances with Margo as he heard Marius' request, "In private? Why not here?" He asked
"It is a private matter to me, I mean no disrespect to the young lady—"
"Margo" Margo corrected Marius firmly
"I mean no disrespect to Margo, but I don't want her hearing this," He continued, correcting himself
Margo shrugged, "It's fine, I don't mind. As far as whatever you two talk about doesn't make us travel any further it is not my business," She said
"All right, lead the way then," Elias said to Marius
As Marius led the way to the cave exit, Elias looked back, and he saw Margo, "No favors," She mouthed. Elias' brow furrowed and he turned around.
"That cave is beautiful, but nothing beats fresh air and the view of the Highlands from here," Marius said, taking a deep breath
Elias stood at the precipice, his gaze sweeping across the vast expanse before him. On one side, the rugged Rocky Mountains loomed large, their jagged peaks reaching toward the heavens, casting deep shadows over the land. The canyons below them wound like ancient scars carved into the earth, stretching endlessly into the horizon.
The raw, untamed beauty of the rocky landscape was awe-inspiring, a testament to the relentless power of nature. Turning his gaze to the other side, Elias was met with a starkly different scene. There, the mountains were cloaked in dense forests, their green canopies swaying gently in the breeze.
Valleys dipped gracefully between the forested peaks, cradling rivers that glistened like silver threads under the sunlight. These rivers meandered through the hills, cutting paths that eventually spilled out into the plains, where the tall grasses swayed like waves on a tranquil sea. It was nature's way of defining contrast and it was truly beautiful.
"It is a beautiful view, but that's not why we are here," Elias said
"No, it is not," Marius chuckled, "This plan of yours sounds like a good one. The king can't reject the chosen child of light when he proposes a better solution, it goes quite well...as a plan.
"As you said, Carius has tried, and he failed woefully. I don't mean to make you feel guilty, but he would not have failed if it were not for you.
The conditions are perfect; the elite and most dangerous soldiers of Elodoria, the Griffin riders are away, the sages have not interfered with the past battles, and they wouldn't interfere now.
The king sent away his Archmages on various missions, too; the time is now. This window of opportunity will never open again if it closes," Marius said, pausing to study Elias' expression, but Elias' face remained the same: unreadable.
So Marius continued, "If you join us, help us with this; we will forever be in your debt. You're the child of light, the savior, our savior. So save us...please," He pleaded
Elias looked at the man, 'So this is what Margo meant,"
"Our first plan will not fail, the king will have no choice but to accept the crystal solution, and then you can rally your people and leave. There will be no need for a rebellion," Elias said
He walked back into the cave, leaving Marius alone with a disappointed expression, "What if it doesn't work? Will you stand by and watch the king enslave innocent people? You are the child of light!" He said, his calm demeanor faded off. He sounded desperate
Elias stopped, "It won't fail," He said as he walked back to the cave
The group spent most of the night harvesting the crystals, Elias mined the most due to the mining skill he purchased from the store.
After getting the required amount, they rested. Margo moved closer to Elias, .net
"So what's the catch?" She asked
"He wants me to help the Flares rebel against King Alaric,"
"Why am I not surprised, so what are you going to do?" She asked
"I don't know, let's just get some rest for now. Tomorrow we'll finish up and return to Eldoria," Elias said as he turned over to sleep