Eliron was in a whole world of his own, ignoring the chattering of nobles as he focused on the screen in front of him.

[Calculating rewards...]

[You have received 1x Ichor of enlightenment]

[Your stats will be boosted significantly...]

[System Notification: You have reached a significant milestone in your stats. As such, all starts will be further boosted!]

’Just what the hell is going on?’ Eliron’s thoughts, his eyes wide. Why was his luck insanely good today?

Eliron suddenly felt a wave of strength flow into him. It was as though every nerve in his body was set on fire. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins freely, as though they had expanded, allowing better blood flow.

But those were not the only vessels that had strengthened... he could tell his mana veins had also gotten more efficient.

He took in a sharp breath, trying his best not to alert the lords in the room...

[Papa? What is wrong?]

’Just a headache...’ Eliron replied mentally just as his vision blurred, his muscles contracting and retracting in rhythmic waves.

His skin seemed to thicken, before relaxing, and then finally, the sensation vanished and he heaved a breath.

"Are you alright?" Alexander asked when he sensed something was off.

Eliron smiled smugly. "I’ve never felt better..."

And then his stat screen appeared before him, stunning him even further.

[][][][][]

|[Status Window]|

Name: Eliron Traquil

Affinity: Auro, Tiris, Lightning, Hydro, Ice, Light, Lifae.

Favourite skills: [Swordsmanship talent], [Dwarf’s thumb], [Primordial Blaze], [Luck], [Phantom Flame], [Spatial Distortion], [Phoenix Blade], [Grand Illusionary Magic]

Skills: SYNTAX ERROR (Skills are too many to display. Please open the primordial collection to view)

Revelation: Undiscovered

Attributes:

Vitality: 27 ~> 79

Strength: 35 ~> 103

Agility: 36 ~> 112

Mana Capacity: 45 ~> 180

Potency (Build/Def): 33 ~> 78

Inventory: Infinity Pouch, Ichor of Enlightenment

<<Territory Stats>>

Region: Sentric Forest

Percentage of land under control: 15%

City advancement: 10% ~> Poor

Treasury: Good

Reputation: "The House Of Dragons"

Army strength: 10% ~> 35% ~> Fair

Human Development Index: 11% ~> 20% ~> Fair

[Levels are arranged thus:

Poor - Fair - Good - Very Good - Excellent - Extraordinary - Conqueror]

EP: 40

Quests:

— — - 「Act Two」 - — —

[Title: What A Bountiful Harvest!]

~> Objective: Fix Artaris’ farming issue and harvest your very first crop in the marshlands.

「Rewards」

◆ +30 Stat Points

◆ +20 EP

=======

When Eliron read through his stats, his mouth nearly dropped open. He already knew that stats naturally increased over time, and that he had just gotten a boost, but still...

’This is crazy.’

Compared to how he was just a month ago, he was on a whole other level.

’I wonder how I rank up in comparison to one of the titans...’ Eliron couldn’t help but wonder. Sure some of them were more than ten thousand years old, but there had to be a limit to their strength right?

His eyes then moved to another part of the system.

— EP: 40

EP... it was a unique currency the system had awarded him. With EP, Eliron was able to upgrade his elves, supernaturally push them to the next level of strength.

It was a cheat, one that allowed his elves to also directly benefit from his system.

But at the same time, EP could be poison...

Which brings us to the downside of EP. What would happen if after working for so long, some mystical cheat surpassed all their efforts by a mile?

It was like giving a bottle of steroids to a child athlete... if they were not careful, addiction was sure to follow.

Unlike him, who had a multitude of cheats from the system, there was no telling how many times he could evolve a specific elf.

And even if he could evolve them multiple times, considering how rare and valuable it was, Eliron had to conserve his EP for other elves, rather than pouring it all on a few...

That was what made EP so dangerous. Even if they tried to fight the creeping thoughts, it would still affect them one way or the other, if not severely damage their morale.

That was why Eliron had waited so long, allowing them to naturally grow stronger on their own.

Not only had his elves now grown mentally, they had also physically advanced so much that they now had faith in their training and in themselves.

It was finally time...

Eliron smirked, it was time for the Elven Evolution.

"You must be really happy to have signed that deal..." Alex muttered, interrupting his thoughts. "Judging by that wide grin on your face..."

Eliron quickly cleared his throat and frowned. I don’t know what you are talking about..."

That was when he noticed that the room was now empty, there was not a single noble in sight.

"Hmm? Where did everyone go?"

Alex sighed. then slowly shook his head. "They left while you were spacing out, there is a lot to do you know? We are marching to Kasket soon..."

Eliron frowned. Marching to Kasket... who in his right mind had given the castle such a morbid name?

"I see..." Eliron hummed.

The prince walked up to the door and opened it, but he did not step out, instead, he held it open.

"Now that we are officially allies..." His voice grew grave, something dark nestling in his eyes. "There is something I would like you to see..."

<•••>

Ciera stared at her brother, watching the light that danced on features very similar to hers, his tousled hair that was resting gently on the pillow, and his chest as it gently rose and fell...

It had taken her an hour to adapt to seeing him this way, without feeling light headed... All her life, despite their bickering, he was her rock, he had been from the moment they lost their parents...

She had kept every single letter he sent her during their time apart, stacked them up in her room, going through them when she missed him, cursing at them when he made her angry.

To see him in such a state... she stifled a breath, her fingers squeezing the cloth she was holding tightly.

He was alive...

Ciera wiped her misty eyes, sniffling as she stared at him. He was alive and that was enough.

After Lady Yen treated him, every ounce of the curse had vanished from his body. She said it would take him some time to recover, but he was no longer in any immediate danger.

’I have to thank her later...’ she thought as she dipped the rag in a bowl of water, pulled it out, then squeezed out the excess.

Gently, as though afraid of hurting him even further, Ciera ran the rag over his arms, cleaning him.

"Wake up soon brother." She leaned in and kissed his forehead. "I m-miss you..." she breathed, her voice a quiet whisper.

At the sound of the door, Ciera sat straight, running her fingers under her eyes, just in case there was any trace of tears left.

The only ones authorised to enter the room were the healer, Yennefer and the prince. Considering that the healer had no business being here at the moment, Ciera immediately knew who it was.

She loathed the thought of Alex seeing her cry, of seeing her vulnerable. There was always a look he had on his face when he did, one that she could never fully understand.

"How are you doing, Cici?"

She couldn’t even gather enough anger to retort. "I’m fine..."

Beside him was Eliron who nodded when their eyes met. Ciera appreciated that he did not tell him how sorry he ,was or offer her any condolences.

She could see it in his eyes, she could read it from the softness in his gaze. It was unlike the others who told them how sorry they were, but secretly, they wanted her brother gone.

Despite being cured, they saw him as a hazard...

"Sorry to request this of you Ciera, but may we be alone with him? Even for just a bit."

She got up from her seat and nodded, before slowly walking out of the room.

When she was gone, Alex glanced at Eliron. "Can you prevent any one from listening in on our conversation?"

Eliron nodded and silently casted the spell. ’What does he want to discuss that is so covert that he sent Ciera out?’ He thought as he glanced at Alex.

Then he turned his gaze to the man in front of him. It looked like a lot had happened during his little retreat...

Eliron had no idea who the man lying on the bed was, but he was no doubt someone important to Ciera... he stole a glance at the prince... and maybe Alex?

Alex heaved a sigh. "Early this morning, one of the guards..."

He informed Eliron of everything that happened, his face growing sour with each word, his senses flaring with warning.

He had been on the wall when it was attacked, and yet he had survived this long? Eliron doubted the leader of the undead was only interested in causing them grief, or had suddenly grown merciful over night.

There had to be something else...

This man... he might very well doom this castle. And yet, here they were, casually standing in the same room as him...