Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Epilogue

The days went by in a flash. Ever since the war ended, Caspian had barely had any time to himself. He was too busy supporting Elincia as she helped Sylvia begin the rebuilding process.

While the dark elf occupation of Cassadinia did not result in the damage of its infrastructure, it had damaged the people. Many humans had been abducted and used as the plaything of the dark elves. Not only had they located several abandoned mansions that had been used as prison cells for slaves, they also discovered that several humans had been shipped to Elysium, which was still occupied by dark elves.

"We'll need to coordinate with the other nations to reclaim Elysium from the dark elves," Sylvia announced to him and Elincia as they stood beside her office. Christo was standing behind her, but he seemed to be paying more attention to his snazzy new armor than he was her words. Caspian did have to admit that her armor was super shiny. "Elincia, I'd like you to work with Aakasharka and Aakarshana on this."

"I understand," Elincia said.

"Of course, you won't have to worry about this right now," Sylvia added. "Aakasharka and Aakarshana won't even be here for another month, and before that, we need to have the signing of the peace treaty between humanity and the elves. Please be sure to speak with them some time after the signing ceremony."

"I will."

As Caspian listened to Sylvia discuss the various matters they would need to attend to, he noticed how the woman's eyes were sparkling while she talked. It really made him think.

She seems much more passionate than she used to be.

"You've noticed that too?" Elincia said, hearing his thoughts. On the outside, nothing had changed. Elincia was still nodding along as she listened to Sylvia. "I feel like she's been a lot more emotional lately. I wonder if something happened while she was infiltrating Cassadinia during the dark elf occupation."

"Maybe she rediscovered herself."

"Could be..."

"Are you two listening to me?" asked Sylvia through narrowed eyes.

"O-of course we are," Elincia said.

"Why wouldn't we be listening?" asked Caspian.

Neither of them could look at Sylvia directly, which caused the woman to narrow her eyes.

"If you two are done holding private conversations while I'm talking, I would appreciate it if you paid more attention," she said.

Caspian and Elincia could do nothing except look guiltily at the floor. Neither of them had any idea how Sylvia knew they were talking to each other via telepathy, but they now realized that their stealthy conversations weren't nearly as stealthy as they thought.

"Busted," Christo said with a snicker.

"You two, Christo," Sylvia added. "You haven't been listening to a single word I've said, and you don't even have the excuse of being telepathically linked to another person."

"I-I have been paying attention!" Christo shouted.

"Then what did I just say?"

"Er..." Christo scrunched up his face and scratched his head. "Something about... Aakasharka and Aakarshana... and Elysium... and stuff."

Upon hearing his words, Caspian, Elincia, and Sylvia sighed.

***

It seemed as if the entire continent had come to watch the signing. There must have been millions of people packed into this place, the grand platform that had been built right before the city of Cassadinia for the express purpose of this signing ceremony. Aside from the mountains and forests far, far off in the distance, all Caspian could see was a sea of people.