Chapter 533: The Veil of Envy

"Of course, that is still only a possibility," Queen Proserpine clarified, setting her teacup down. "We have no concrete evidence that the Deathless King intended to use the royal bloodline’s Crimson Magic to restore his life. It is merely the explanation that best fits the information available to us."

Adam folded his arms, considering her words.

"Possibility or not, it could still happen. Until we know what he was planning, I’d rather not dismiss any theory."

"That is a reasonable approach." Proserpine nodded thoughtfully before seeming to recall something. "There is another detail I nearly forgot. The Deathless King possessed an artifact known as the Veil of Envious Eternity."

Adam’s expression changed.

"The Veil of Envious Eternity?"

The name alone was enough to catch his attention. Proserpine noticed his reaction and continued.

"It is one of the Seven Deadly Sins Artifacts, associated with Envy. I do not know its complete abilities, but I remember encountering references to it in some of our older records. Its power is said to be connected to desire, resentment, and the longing to possess what belongs to others."

Adam didn’t expect to get information about one of the 7 sins artifacts here.

Then he let out a quiet breath.

"So he really had one of those artifacts."

His hand unconsciously moved toward the Crown of the Hollow Glutton, though it was not physically visible at the moment.

He knew better than most how dangerous these artifacts could be. The Crown was not merely a container for souls or a source of extraordinary power. It had its own nature, its own peculiar authority, and consequences that could not always be measured by ordinary standards.

If the Crown of the Hollow Glutton represented an insatiable desire to consume, then an artifact embodying Envy would naturally be tied to an equally destructive obsession: the desire to possess what one lacked, even if obtaining it meant destroying everything around oneself.

Adam recalled the Deathless King’s actions, his relentless pursuit of power, and his apparent refusal to accept the limitations of undeath.

’No wonder he was so obsessed with the living.’

Perhaps the lich had not merely wanted power. Perhaps he had spent centuries staring at the lives he could no longer experience, coveting the warmth, vitality, and freedom that had been taken from him.

The thought was unpleasantly understandable.

Adam knew what it meant to exist in a form that separated him from the ordinary world. Although his circumstances were different, he could imagine how an immortal being trapped in undeath might gradually become consumed by resentment toward those who still possessed what he had lost.

"Now his obsession makes a little more sense," Adam muttered. "If he carried an artifact of Envy, his desire to reclaim life might have become even more twisted. He wouldn’t simply want to live again. He might have become incapable of accepting that others could enjoy something he couldn’t."

"That’s certainly possible," Proserpine replied. "However, we should be careful not to attribute every one of his actions to the artifact. We cannot know how much it influenced him, or whether his obsession existed long before he obtained it."

"Fair enough. I wouldn’t want to blame a magical object for every terrible decision someone makes. That would make things far too convenient."

Azrynn, who had been listening quietly, finally leaned forward.

"Then, if we want to learn more about the Deathless King and the history of my people, is there somewhere we can investigate? Somewhere that might contain actual evidence rather than speculation?"

Proserpine regarded the dark elf for a moment before nodding.

"There may be a place worth visiting. Near the Kingdom of Ferrund, there is an ancient temple that has stood for a very long time. According to the records I have seen, a small number of dark elves once sought refuge there."

Azrynn’s eyes widened.

"Dark elves? You mean my people?"

"Most likely. The records are incomplete, and I cannot guarantee that they belonged to your ancestors. Nevertheless, the temple may contain information about their movements, their beliefs, or what happened after they disappeared from the public record."

For the first time since their conversation began, Azrynn looked genuinely hopeful.

"Then there might still be traces of them left behind?"

"I would not rule that out," Proserpine answered. "Old temples often preserve things that the outside world has long forgotten. If your ancestors left behind written records, relics, or even inscriptions, they could provide valuable clues."

Azrynn clasped her hands together, struggling to contain her excitement.

"Do you think there might even be survivors?"

Proserpine’s expression softened, though her answer was less encouraging.

"Survivors? I’m afraid that is unlikely."

Azrynn’s shoulders stiffened.

"The temple dates back to an era long past. Even the oldest records mention those dark elves only briefly. No one has reported seeing them in the surrounding region for generations, and their traces gradually vanished from our records. That is one of the reasons we eventually came to believe your race had become extinct."

The hope in Azrynn’s eyes dimmed, but it did not disappear entirely.

"Still, if they lived there, I want to see it for myself," she said. "Even if all that remains are ruins, I want to know what happened to them."

"I understand." Proserpine gave her a small, approving smile. "And I will help you find the information you need, as far as my authority allows."

She paused before tilting her head slightly.

"However, I realize I have been speaking with you for quite some time without properly asking about your own circumstances. Would you mind telling me your name and how you came to be here?"

Azrynn straightened in her seat.

"My name is Azrynn Nocturne, and this is my companion, Adam Smith."

Adam raised a hand in greeting. "A pleasure to meet you. Though, considering how we ended up here, I suppose we’re a little late with the introductions."

A faint smile appeared on Proserpine’s face. "Indeed. You did arrive rather unexpectedly."

Azrynn then briefly explained her circumstances, describing how she came from a dark elf village in the Wasteland, where her people had lived in isolation for generations. The harsh environment and their separation from the outside world had made their future increasingly uncertain, and she hoped to find a way for them to live beyond the Wasteland without constantly fearing persecution.

Proserpine listened attentively before turning her gaze toward Adam.

"And you have agreed to accompany her on this journey?"

"Of course," Adam answered without hesitation.

His response was so immediate that Azrynn turned to look at him.

Adam met Proserpine’s gaze, his expression more serious than before. "Azrynn isn’t just trying to satisfy her curiosity. She wants to give her people a chance to live freely in the outside world. If uncovering the truth about their past can help her achieve that, then I’ll do whatever I can to help."

He paused briefly before adding, "Besides, I want to know what really happened, too. If an entire race was driven into isolation because of a misunderstanding, then I don’t think we should leave the truth buried forever."

Azrynn’s expression softened slightly. She had known Adam was willing to help her, but hearing him explain his reasons so openly still warmed her heart.

"Thank you, Adam," she said quietly.

He gave her a small smile. "You don’t have to thank me. We’re in this together, aren’t we?"

Sylphy, who had been listening nearby, snickered at their exchange, only to quickly pretend to be fascinated by a nearby pastry when Adam glanced in her direction.

Proserpine chuckled softly before returning to the matter at hand.

"Regardless, your goals seem to align. The temple near Ferrund may offer a starting point, though I must warn you that the journey will not necessarily be simple. The region has changed considerably over the centuries, and the temple may no longer be accessible as the old records describe."

"That’s fine," Azrynn replied without hesitation. "Even if we have to search through every corner of the ruins, I’ll find whatever remains."