The light faded, and Phaestus was no longer standing in the back courtyard of his estate but inside what looked to be a tree.

"Ah, good, I was able to teleport you here." A soothing voice came from behind him.

Phaestus turned sharply, summoning forth his blades, Shiva and Ifrit.

"Oh! Please wait! I mean you no harm. I am sorry for bringing you here, but it is an emergency, and we need your assistance." The person before panicked waving his hands in surrender.

In front of Phaestus was a thin but beautiful looking man with light green hair, green eyes, light skin, and a simple white robe.

"Pointed ears? Are you an elf?" Phaestus asked, still on guard.

"Yes, I am. Thank you for noticing. My name is Luffia, a pleasure to finally meet you, Duke Hephaestus." Luffia bowed to him.

"You know who I am?" He asked, keeping his weapons at the ready.

"Oh, of course! You are the true hero of our world! Her majesty is your biggest fan!" Luffia said with a kind smile.

"One second, please. I need to notify my family. [Call]." Phaestus connected his mind to his family.

"ERIC, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" Micah's voice boomed in his head.

"Ouch. Yes. I am fine. Luna, can the elves be trusted?" He asked Luna.

"Whoa! The elves teleported you!? Yes, you can trust them. They are devout believers of the true god of the world, Lystmour. Their goal has always been to stop the curse and assist in its purification. I think their queen might work for Lystmour." Luna explained.

"Well, that is good to hear. Micah, Ruby, Rorroco, Luna, I will check with them on what they need help with and get back to you. Thanks for the info, Luna."

"You're welcome!" Her voice came back cheerily.

"We'll take care of contacting the allied kingdoms." Micah said.

Phaestus thanked her and ended his spell, returning his swords to storage.

"Okay. Let's talk." Phaestus said to a relieved-looking Luffia.

Luffia led Phaestus outside. He looked back to see that he was inside a large tree that seemed to be carved out. Phaestus wondered if they dug it out or did something else.

"We form them with nature magic." Luffia said, answering Phaestus' curiosity.

"Oh, okay. Is that how all your buildings are made?" Phaestus walked a step behind Luffia.

Luffia nodded in affirmation. "Yes. Most of our things are made from wood. Though we use metal and gems for things as well. We use little stone in construction." He commented happily.

Phaestus looked about, seeing that many elves were coming out to get a glimpse at their visitor.

"Is that him!?" "My, he is handsome." "How can a human look so good?" "The great hero!" "I heard he is married to a dark elf. I wonder if he would consider an elf too?"

Phaestus began getting slightly uncomfortable with their comments as they shifted more and more toward their relationship desires.

"Huh?" Phaestus then noticed something and asked Luffia.

"Hey, uh, I don't see many males around."

"Ah, well, that is because of elven biology. Males are usually born in one out of four ratios. So we tend to have more females than males. Please do not mind their comments. To them, you are like the second coming of our lord, Lystmour."

So they see me as a god? I don't know if I should be worried they might jump me or flattered… I just jump into the Haven if they try.

After twenty minutes of walking and having to deal with carnal stares, they arrived. "Here is where her majesty awaits you. Please take your time." Luffia motioned his hand toward the door.

Phaestus entered the tree through the beautifully designed doors.

Inside was simply decorated with shelves, a desk, and a table in the back. At the table was where a baby with short, shimmering green hair awaited him in robes too big for her.

"Great hero, I have awaited your coming. Please come hither and sit with me." She called out to him, her young squeaky sounding voice being too mature.

Uh… Is this a prank? Phaestus thought as he sat down at the table, glancing around for a mirror that could be seen through or magic cameras.

"I see'th your query. I must beg forgiveness. I am in the midst of a rebirth cycle, currently in my infant state." She said.

"Rebirth cycle?" He asked in surprise.

"A unique skill, bestowed upon myself by our great lord, Lystmour. Tis so the truth of the curse may never be forgotten to time." She was having trouble sitting up with her lack of strength.

"Pardon me, your majesty, let me help you." Phaestus stood and moved over to her. He moved around several of the pillows to make it easier for her to sit up.

"Ah. I thank thee for this boon." She said as he sat her into place and returned to where he was.

"No problem. I would do this for my son back home. He loved it." He smiled, fondly remembering his son.

"I see. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Queen Amerilladen. You may call me what you wish." She heavily bowed her head before it settled back onto the pillow.

"Uh, alright. Then, Queen Ami?" He asked pensively.

Queen Ami paused for a moment before laughing.

"Kakaka. Very good! I approve!" She said with a smile.

"So then, Luffia mentioned that you needed help?" Phaestus asked, relaxing a bit.

"Ah, he must not have been clear enough. Tis, not us dost need your assistance, but our neighbor." She clarified.

"Moona?"

"Correct. The Church of Light hast worked long and hard to get where'th they be now. They control the king with means I cannot see. Soon, they will finish off the remaining dissenters amongst their nobles, solidifying their control over the kingdom. Their people will be enslaved, turned to mindless drones to be sent to the slaughter. This cannot be allowed to happen." She stated, her cherub-like face looking more like she was pouting than being grave.

"I see. Well, this works out since I was going to be coming here anyway." Phaestus replied with a chuckle raising his hands in an ironic shrug.

"What dost thou mean?" She asked, surprised.

Phaestus answered her question, updating her on the current plans of the church and his own actions impeding them.

"Gahahahahahahah!" She laughed hysterically, losing her regal-like speech.

"Um?" Phaestus was confused.

"Ah, hehe, my sincerest apologies for my unbecoming behavior. It was, snicker, nice to hear that fool getting the carpet pulled from beneath his tainted feet." Queen Ami continued to giggle and snicker.

"You know the Pope?" He asked.

Queen Ami's mirth quickly faded, turning to forlorn. "Yes. I know him. Tell me, dost thou know the legend of the curse?" She asked.

"A bit, something about a powerful and evil summoner making a deal with a being of Tartarus?" He replied.

"Correct. That summoner was... my father, an elf. This occurred nearly two thousand years ago…" She began her story.

"Our lord is here!" An elven girl cried out as many of them ran off in the same direction.

A young elven girl turned to an elven man next to her.

"Oh! Father! Please, may I go see him! Please?" She begged the man, who chuckled.

"Now, now, did you finish your chores?" He asked.

She smiled triumphantly, "I have! I even started on some of tomorrow!"

He laughed once more. "Such a diligent girl. Very well. You may go see him, Amerilladen."

She cheered, hugged him, and ran off along with the others.

A large group of elves was gathered around the square where, in the center, a large man with dark, tan skin, and wild, unkempt hair, clean-shaven, sat in the middle.

"How is everyone today?" The man said with a smile.

Many of them called out that they were happy about his visit.

"Ahahah, thank you, thank you. But I am curious if there have been any issues lately."

No one really spoke up, but Amerilladen stepped forward.

"Um, Lord Lystmour, I was curious if you could check my mother? She has not been feeling well lately." She asked the man sheepishly.

"Oh, that is not good. I would be more than happy to check her health." He said with a comforting smile.

Some of the other children also mentioned their own confirmation of Amerilladen's mother's condition. Lord Lystmour stood and walked with Amerilladen back to her home.

"Huh?! My lord! What brings you here?" The father asked in a panic.

"Hello, Lucasi. I was told Milla was not feeling well?" Lystmour said with a smile.

"Oh, Amerilladen, it was unnecessary for you to get his lordship involved." Lucasi said to her, holding his head in a hand.

"But, it has been weeks, and she hasn't been getting better. She gets better some days but then gets worse on others." She said, looking toward the ground.

"Hmm. Is that true, Lucasi?" Lystmour asked in a relaxed tone.

"Ah... yes, she is feeling a bit weak today, so she is resting inside." Lucasi sighed.

"Please, allow me to check on her." Lystmour said with concern.

Lucasi gave in to his request and invited him inside.

Amerilladen was sitting in a chair in the main room while her father and Lystmour were in the bedroom with her mother. She was swinging her legs as she waited to hear the news. It was then she heard her father do something she had never heard him do.

"What do you mean?! You are our god! You have to be able to do something!" His shouts could be heard through the door.

"Father?" She asked worriedly.

"I don't care for your excuses! Get out! GET OUT, YOU USELESS GOD!"

The door to the room opened, and Lystmour stepped out with a crestfallen face.

"Lord Lystmour! What is happening?!" Amerilladen asked in a panic.

"Amerilladen! You do not speak to him!" Lucasi yelled at her.

She looked over to see her father with a maddened, furious face. Her mother looked upon him worriedly from her position on the bed.

"I'm... sorry." Lystmour said as he left their home.

Amerilladen was scared. Her father had never looked the way he did now.

"Amerilladen, please close the door. I would like to speak to your father, please." Her mother asked calmly, not wanting to scare their daughter.

She complied with her mother's request and closed the door.

After several minutes, the door swung open, and her father left home in a fury, not even glancing at Amerilladen.

"M-mother?" Amerilladen she approached and called inside the room.

"Come in sunflower, mommy needs to talk to you." Milla said with a strained smile, looking as if she just wiped away some tears.

Amerilladen climbed into the bed along with her mother, hugging tightly to her. Her mother was beautiful with a unique hair color amongst elves, silver. She was said to be the most beautiful amongst them, and Lucasi loved her with all of his being.

"Mother, father, he... I'm scared." Amerilladen shook in her mother's embrace.

Her mother hugged her closely.

"I am sorry you had to see that. Your father loves mommy very much. He is just confused. I know that he is just really sad." Milla replied to her daughter, stroking the back of her daughter's head lovingly.

"Sad?" She asked, looking up into her mother's sky blue eyes.

"Yes. Lord Lystmour gave us some sad news. I... don't have much longer to live." She replied sadly.

"W-what?! No! No mommy! You can't die!" Amerilladen looked up into her mother's face in a panic but began to relax at the look on her mother's face.

"Mommy?"

Her mother had a peaceful smile, one that fully accepted her end, looking kindly down at Amerilladen.

"All life comes to an end, Amerilladen. Some live longer than others, like us in comparison to humans. There was nothing Lord Lystmour could do for me. I could see the immense sadness on his face when he realized the truth of my condition. Lord Lystmour was hurting just as much as daddy." She caressed the side of Amerilladen tear ridden face.

"Condition?"

"Yes. It is a, oh what did say, a genetic disease? It is something that if he changed it, it would instantly kill me. He did, though, make it so that I would feel no pain for it. That way, I will be able to spend more time with you and daddy." Milla kissed the forehead of Amerilladen.

"But, but for how long?" She asked shakily.

"Two months, two days from now."

Amerilladen shut her eyes really tightly before opening them a few seconds later, a look of commitment and determination in her young eyes.

"Then we have to plan! There is so much I want to show and do with you! Ah! There are festival events that I wanted to do with you too, but that is not for six months from now…." Amerilladen fell into thought, trying to think of a way to have the festival sooner.

"Ami."

She looked up at her mother's face.

"Could you get the elder for me, please?" She asked with a warm smile.

Amerilladen nodded and ran off with all the speed her legs could carry her to the elder's home.

The elder left their home after their long conversation with Milla.

"I am so happy the elder agreed to hold a farewell festival for you, mother." Amerilladen flopped onto her mother, hugging her tightly.

"I am too. Now we will be able to do those things you wanted." Milla said as she began tickling her daughter.

"Ahahahah! That tickles! Mom!"

They enjoyed a happy moment that day. Amerilladen spent the day with her mother, making sure to list out everything they planned to do. Night came eventually, but Lucasi did not return.

The whole village worked hard together, helping Amerilladen and Milla to fulfill their list of desired activities. The entire time, everyone became increasingly concerned over the absence of Lucasi as the days passed. Some of the elves went about trying to find him but were unable to.

As for Amerilladen and Milla, the two of them began checking off their planned activities. They rode about on large birds that flew through the forest. Swam deep into the ocean, even meeting the great sea dragon Yvenfragallia, who invited them to her palace deep within the seas. Yvenfragallia introduced them to the great forest and mountain giants. They prayed at the great Sacred Mountain, where the mother of all winged dragons rested. The dragon gifted Milla a powerful robe that would make moving about much easier for her, so she could keep up with her energetic daughter. The end of Milla's time was fast approaching.

The final week of the two months, the festival was in full swing, with Milla being the guest of honor. The elves planned to celebrate her life to the fullest extent that they could.

"Mother." Milla was helping Amerilladen get dressed in her ceremonial robe.

"Yes?"

"Do you think, dad will come back?"

She could see the sadness on her mother's face.

"I... hope so. I do wish to see your father and spend these remaining days with both of you." Milla sighed heavily.

She turned Amerilladen around and hugged her lovingly.

"Thank you, my little sunflower. Thanks to you, I will be able to leave this world happily, knowing I got to enjoy so much of this world, meeting so many great beings. I am so proud of you, my little sunflower."

Amerilladen teared up and hugged her mother back.

"I'm, sob, so glad I got to, sniff, do all those things with you! I love you, mother! I love you so much! I will miss you so much! Waaaaaaah!" Amerilladen broke down into sobs.

The strong front she kept up the near two months finally crumbled, leaving her heart to bear to the world.

"I love you too, Amerilladen, with all of my being and soul."

They continued to hug and cry together sometime before heading out to enjoy the festival to their fullest.

The happy days passed smoothly until it was the festival's final day, the day Milla would pass on. Lystmour was present as well. He looked haggard as if he had not slept or taken a break for months.

"Your lordship." Milla bowed her head to him.

"Please, do not bow to me. I am a failure. I could not find a single path to saving you. I am sorry, Milla." He bowed to her on his knees.

"My lord! Please! I do not blame you! Please stand for me?" She requested, tears forming in her eyes. They were not tears of sadness, but tears of happiness, learning that Lystmour never stopped trying to find a way to save her.

Lystmour stood before her, a great weight on his shoulders.

"Pfft, you look terrible, my lord." Milla commented with a giggle.

"Ah, well, I uh, um, yeah…." Lystmour laughed awkwardly.

He looked about, "Where is Lucasi? Why is he not here?"

Amerilladen sputtered to try to answer. "F-father, he uh, um…."

"He left that day and has yet to return." Milla finished sadness in her voice.

"Oh. I am sorry." Lystmour replied.

"Could you join us, my lord?" Milla asked, a peaceful smile on her face.

He seemed a bit apprehensive but gave in. Milla and Amerilladen enjoyed several games together and ate until their stomachs were near bursting. They laughed until their cheeks hurt. Any on-looker who did not know Milla's condition would swear she was in the prime of her life.

"Come on, mother! Just one more game! Huh? Mother?"

Amerilladen turned to see her mother was lagging a bit behind, seemingly tired.

"Mother!" She ran to her, hugging her tightly.

"Amerilladen, please, help me to the center. I believe my time has come. I wish to say some parting words to the village and you."

She nodded, tears building in her eyes.

A special seat was prepared just for Milla. The elves gathered around the dais where she sat. Lystmour used his power to help project her weakening voice to all of them.

"Everyone. Thank you so much for these past two months. I could not be happier. I was able to spend so much time enjoying my life to the fullest with my beloved daughter. Though I wish deeply, with all of my heart, Lucasi was here as well. He is still missing. I ask that if he returns, please forgive him. I am sure he was looking just as hard as Lord Lystmour for a way to save me. But this is my fate. It may have been two months, but these were the happiest moments in my life. Amerilladen, my little sunflower, you are so smart and capable. You made all of this happen. You made me the happiest mother of all." She hugged the, struggling not to cry, Amerilladen as tightly as she could with her fading strength.

"I am sure that you will-." Milla began.

"I HAVE RETURNED!" A loud voice called out.

Lucasi strutted up toward the dais, followed by two humans, with dead looks in their eyes and strange markings on their foreheads.

"Lucasi, you have returned, just in time, soon I will-." Milla started, but Lucasi interrupted her.

"You will not be dying today, my love. Do it." He said to one of the people with him.

The person performed a rapid chant and cast their spell. "[Life transfer]."

A flash of light left the woman and entered Milla, whose body spasmed, as the woman fell to the ground dead.

"Lucasi?! What, what have you done?! This feeling, it's... so sickening…." Milla turned and vomited on the ground, falling from the seat.

"Mother!" Amerilladen rushed over to her mother, helping her.

"Lucasi! What have you done?!" Lystmour demanded to know.

"Check her." Lucasi ordered the other.

The other did a quick chant and cast their spell, "[Life Check]. Her life will expire in thirty-four minutes."

"Damn, not worth much that one. Oh well. Necromancy it is, I guess." Lucasi shrugged his shoulders.

"NO!" Lystmour's voice boomed, and he stepped between them.

"You will not pervert her any further! You wish to raise her as an undead?! I will not allow it! Who is that person?!" Lystmour demanded, an angry aura emitting from him.

Lucasi scoffed at the god. "Pfft, failure. Fine, this is my slave, bearing my mark, summoned from another world."

"What? Summoning from another world is not possible! I did not allow that option in this world!" Lystmour was bewildered by Lucasi's actions.

"Yes, well, I found a stronger power, one stronger than you. They promised me that they could give me the power to save Milla. That I could be with her forever. Once I place my special mark is on her..." He paused a moment, letting his words sink in. "Her soul with be permanently linked with mine, as it should be."

"No. You didn't! You fool! Denizens of Tartarus are not benevolent! What you bear is not a blessing but a curse! What have you done, Lucasi!? You may have doomed this world to destruction!" Lystmour cried out.

Lucasi laughed manically in the god's face.

"HAHAHA! THIS WORLD BE DAMNED! I am willing to sacrifice a thousand worlds to have my Milla!" Lucasi's face twisted with insanity.

"You have gone mad. The curse has twisted your heart." Lystmour said in disbelief.

"Now then, would you kindly move?" Lucasi waved his hand forward.

The person next to Lucasi cast a spell that knocked Lystmour away.

"What? Where is she!? Where have you taken her?!" Lucasi demanded to know.

Milla and Amerilladen were gone.

"Y-you, bastards! You dare keep her from me?!" Lucasi quickly chanted and summoned more people from another world and quickly enslaved them.

"Kill them all my servants! Leave none of them alive! Rip them! Tear them! Find her for me! She belongs to me!" Lucasi roared in sheer madness.

The enslaved charged forward, their emotions gone, attacking the elves. Lystmour recovered and summoned forth a mighty staff to his hand. He began fending off the enslaved while rallying the elves to him.

After summoning forth weapons for them, the elves and Lystmour were able to fight Lucasi and his enslaved off. In the end, more than half of their people were dead, their homes destroyed, unsure if they were still in danger of Lucasi's return. Lystmour would move the elves deep into the forest north of their home and create a safe place for them. He erected a powerful barrier for them to live in peace until the return of their future queen.

The giant bird carried the two of them far to the southern shore of their island. Milla began coughing and hacking.

"Mother!" Amerilladen hugged her mother, trying to keep her stable on the bird.

"Don't stop Amerilladen. We must make the shoreline." Milla's health was rapidly declining.

The giant bird landed on the beach, and she helped her mother off the bird.

"Blow the horn into the water, sunflower."

Amerilladen nodded and did as she was told. She pulled out an ornate horn, dipped the top into the water, and blew as hard as she could as if trying to blow away the terrifying sight of her father.

Minutes later, Yvenfragallia came out of the water.

"You called… Milla! What happened?!" Yven rushed to her assistance.

"It, it was father, he, he came back, he did such bad things!" Amerilladen cried.

"Yven, my friend, I need you to bring us to your palace. We, we cannot let him find me." She began coughing again.

"What twisted magic... Let's get that out of you." Yvenfragallia cast a spell that expelled the life force that was forced on her.

"Ah, thank you." Her body calmed down and relaxed, her eyes becoming heavy.

"Mom…"

"My little sunflower. That, man. That was not your kind and caring father. I think those... denizens of Tartarus Lord Lystmour mentioned... killed and replaced him with that thing. He must... never get to me. You understand?"

"Mm." She quietly nodded, her body shaking, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I love you so much, Amerilladen. Please, Yven, look after her."

"I promise." Yven replied, holding her hand.

Milla's eyes closed for the final time, a peaceful smile on her face.

Phaestus swallowed hard at the conclusion, tears welling up in his eyes.

Cruel… Too cruel…

"Ah, I thank thee for thy tears. But I have moved on from such sadness. Now I just remember my mother fondly." Queen Ami commented with a warm smile.

"I'm... sorry." He choked out, wiping his eyes.

Queen Ami smiled warmly at his kindness.

"So, what happened afterward? You went to the Yven's palace?" He asked.

"I did. I learned much there. Though during that time, that man wreaked havoc on the world until he was slain by the great giants. But that was not the end of him. You see, his soul did not pass on as it should have. It would wander about until it found a newborn it could latch onto like a parasite. Then, around puberty, his soul would awaken and take over the owner's body, overwriting them completely."

"Wait! So you're saying that the Pope is the same person?!" He asked in shock.

"Correct. Once I came of age and returned to my ruined village. I gathered the remaining elves, received my blessing from Lord Lystmour, and have been fighting him each time he returns for nearly two millennia." She sighed heavily.

"So he is very powerful then…." Phaestus said with great concern.

"And knows much in the ways of magic and combat. He has become quite the monster." Queen Ami clenched her tiny fists.

"Do you know of a way to fight against his words?" He asked.

"Hmm? Oh, you mean his magic-laced words. Yes, I have an object I developed a millennia ago. But I had little use for it with our lord's protection. It is on the shelf over there in the box." She pointed at a bookshelf.

Upon it was a fancy box. Phaestus opened the box, and within was a green medallion on a mithril chain. Closer inspection showed that there were hundreds, if not thousands of runic circuits carved into it.

"Wow, how, how did you make this?!" Phaestus asked in surprise.

"Kakaka. Making something like that took me nearly six hundred years to perfect." She said proudly.

I could probably replicate this easily with the god anvil… better keep that to myself. I think it would hurt her if I said something so insensitive…

"I don't think I could make something so small. Maybe something bigger? Does this have an area effect, or does it only affect the wearer?" He asked her.

"Hmm? It would take little to adjust to affect an area. Did you have something in mind?"

Phaestus smiled and explained his plan to her.