Chapter 91: Talk Gone Wrong! II
"I know who I am, Grandpa. I am just an exiled elf who has no status or power in the elven territory. It doesn't matter to anyone who I am friends with!" Vivian stood up from the chair abruptly, pushing it back a few metres.
"Sigh, let's calm down, alright?" Ronan offered, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He didn't want to open any old wounds that would strain their already soured relationship.
"Why are you so worried about me? It's not like you! I mean, you barely come here nowadays. Why the sudden care and concern?" Vivian's voice was tinged with suspicion as she sat back on the chair.
Ronan opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, his mind contemplating whether to reveal certain information to her. For a moment, the silence ensued between the duo as neither of them was willing to talk and simply stared at each other.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ronan spoke, his visage appearing aged and tired than ever:
"I am scared, Vivian. Things are going to change very soon and I am scared of what will become of our people. The youngsters who are supposed to be the future pillars of our society are succumbing to the temptation of cheap pleasure brought out by some powdered elixir…"
"What do you mean, Grandpa?" Vivian asked curiously.
"Several elders came to me complaining about the new drug that has been circulating amongst the youngsters of their families. 'Rave Spirit' they call it.
"It loosens their mind allowing them to live in their own world, it seems. Continuous usage leaves a lasting damage to the brain and turns them into idiots in the long run."
"Well, if they were taking this elixir then they are idiots to begin with!" Vivian retorted.
"Indeed, they are idiots, my dear," Ronan let out a hollow chuckle. "They're idiots. But, that doesn't mean we have to give up on them!"
"What the hell is Celes doing? Is she holled up in her sacred chamber?" Vivian spat, her face grimacing as she uttered her rival's name.
"Among all the nuisance I have to deal with, she worries me the most, Vivi. She is not how you used to remember. She has grown obsessive over the years, too lost in her own thoughts."
"Are you sure she is not taking that elixir you mentioned?" Vivian japed.
"Vivian, don't joke about the High Priestess like that! You may have been friends with her before but that doesn't give you the leeway to make those remarks at her!" Ronan chastised.
The elders pretty much hated his granddaughter's existence. If they heard her talking bad about the High Priestess then they wouldn't hesitate to demand her head as a punishment. His name could only deter them so far.
"Tch, fine! You never believed me when I said there was something wrong with her head. What is she obsessed with now? Is it about her lord coming to save us from this mortal world?"
"..."
Vivian said coolly not putting much thought into her words but the deafening silence she received from her grandfather spoke volumes about how accurate she was.
"What? Don't tell me, she still believes that? That bitch has gone crazy!" Her eyes widened in shock.
She had known Celestia from a young age. There was always something odd about her friend cum rival. It was as if she wasn't looking at the person when she was talking with someone. Her gaze would often appear as if it was peering into the soul of whoever she was talking with.
And she would often blabber some incoherent nonsense about a god appearing among men and he would retake the home that was stolen from them.
Vivian would ignore her words whenever she started talking about those things. It had caused her severe headache the last time she had tried to comprehend her friend's words.
Ronan gulped audibly. He hadn't considered Vivian's warnings seriously back then. Maybe his granddaughter had been correct. The High Priestess was mentally unstable!
He decided to keep those thoughts to himself. If he spoke to his fellow elders about it, they would lock him up in a cold cell. She was chosen by the World Tree to lead them. Questioning her abilities would be going against their ancient tree.
His granddaughter would be left alone to weather the storm if he were to lose his freedom.
No!
He would have to tread carefully. Maybe the priestess wasn't crazy. He had witnessed the brat's powers for himself when he had divined his fortune in one of the Capitals of humans.
Whatever it was, the future was full of uncertainties that he had no control over. He could only make sure that his granddaughter stayed away from all these troubles.
That brat was in the centre of it all. He could deduce that much from what his priestess had said. Vivian was better off not knowing him.
"Vivi, let's not talk about the priestess. How about you come with me on a trip to the human domain? I am willing to take you with me this time, how about it?"
Vivian narrowed her eyes at her grandfather as if coming to a realisation.
"Grandpa, tell me honestly. Why did you come here today? Is it to check whether I am taking that elixir you mentioned?"
"Cough! That….that's not true, Vivi—"
"It is! Isn't it? Warning me about some random guy was all a ruse to make sure I am not addicted to this 'Rave Spirit' isn't it?" She asked, her voice threateningly low.
"Uhm, it's not that….I am genuinely worried about you knowing him and I also…wanted to make sure that—"
"Get Out!"
"What?"
"I said get out, Grandpa," Vivian fumed with the ferocity of a lion. "How can you even think that I would fall so low as to find pleasure in some cheap drugs?"
Ronan jumped to his feet. Her voice sounded eerily closer to his deceased wife that he feared so much. He ran towards the door and unlocked it quickly.
"Vivi, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Since you are living alone and depressed most of the time, I thought…you would…"
"GET OUT!"
Vivian screeched like a banshee and threw the bowl of soup towards her grandfather. Fortunately for Ronan, he was able to close the door in time and avoid getting hit by the steaming soup.
'She is just being rebellious. She will listen to her grandpa and stay away from that brat.' He tried to console himself and walked towards the village, unaware of the shadow that moved away from the cabin to follow him back.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone