Chapter 85: 85: Under the Moonlight
Elvis still had his eyes closed. He didn’t bother replying to whatever Eden said. He supposed he wasn’t bothering himself with trying to stop them.
He had warmed them so he was going to let them do whatever they wanted while hoping that nothing went wrong.
Eden sat there, hugging both his legs while staring into the night sky. It might not be a bliss sleeping out in the woods tonight, but at least the sight of the starry night was something worth it.
He and Lysander had their eyes glued to the sky while Elvis laid there, eyes shut. The two admired the sky quietly.
"It’s pretty" Eden muttered. He wasn’t one to stargaze. But in a situation like this when he didn’t have anything better to do, he supposed that was the last thing left to do.
"Yes, it is" Lysander replied. Eyes on Eden.
"Do you think the sky is this beautiful in all dimensions?" Eden casually asked, eyes in the sky.
He had suddenly missed home. Missed not only his work and his ordinary life at home. But he had also missed his friends back home whom he hasn’t seen in life forever.
"Huh?" Lysander was confused by the question. But he had to present an answer nevertheless "Mmhm. Yes I think..." Eyes still on Eden.
They sat there quietly for a few minutes, staring into the night sky. Quietly admiring its beauty while Eden wondered how the hell he was going to fall asleep out here.
While he thought about that, his stomach suddenly groaned.
Eden hated that. He hated when his stomach did the talking, especially when he was around people. He found it embarrassing.
"Are you hungry?" Lysander asked.
Eden was mute for a while. He was. But it was embarrassing how his stomach had just sold him out.
Lysander guessed he didn’t need him to respond. He had reached out into his bag and pulled out a pizza neatly wrapped up. "Brought this...."
Eden stared at it. His eyes lit. He couldn’t believe he forgot to bring any "Oh, It’s the pizza.." he said with a smile "Isn’t it yours? Is it okay if I have it?"
"Don’t worry. I have more" Lysander assured him.
Eden smiled as he accepted the pizza. "Thank you" He took a bite. He felt good again. He knew Lysander was a considerate type considering how he came with some leftovers.
As Eden enjoyed the pizza, Lysander simply smiled while watching him eat it.
Elvis on the other hand was still in the same position. Leaning backwards with both eyes shut and hands almost folded.
"You’re so good at cooking... Where did you learn it from?" Lysander asked. Eden guessed he was somewhat impressed that a wizard had known how to cook well.
He was probably wondering when he had the time to learn to cook when he was too busy destroying the world or something.
Eden hesitated, enjoying the bites he was taking from the pizza. He thought for a while, eyes on the starry sky as he replied "My mum taught me"
It was a quick reply that had triggered some thoughts from Eden. He could have said something else but he said the truth anyways.
It was truly his mum who taught him how to cook. His mum was a chef who worked at a restaurant. And so she had superb cooking skills. Eden admired her and always did enjoy the meal.
So naturally he had learnt some skills from her while growing up.
"Your mum...?" Lysander repeated. Eden was certain that he was shocked to learn that he had a mother. He probably believed that wizards didn’t have any of those.
"Yes"
Lysander hesitated. "Your parents... Where are they now? Are they close by or far off? Don’t you miss them... Don’t you want to see them again...?"
"They’re dead" Eden was dropping facts as though they were nothing. But he also guessed he’d have to spill them as though they were nothing to truly get over it.
Lysander paused, staring at him. He felt immense pity while staring at him having heard what he said.
"You’re an orphan..." Lysander stated the obvious.
Eden took another bite off the pizza "Yes. I have been for years now. It’s not a big deal anymore I guess"
Elvis had his eyes open now. Staring into the fire burning In front of them while listening to Eden’s words
It was Eden’s second time saying those words. At first Elvis had completely brushed it off as lies told to get his way.
But having heard it from him the second time, Elvis wondered if there were some truths to it. Was Eden really an orphan or was he just lying?
He sat there, listening.
Lysander hesitated for a while, looking for at least considerable words to use in such situations. "Don’t worry, you have me from now on..."
Eden stared at him and smiled "I guess" he stared into the starry night again.
Another silence befell them as Lysander asked again after a while of thoughts "You’re different from what they say..."
"Huh?" Eden stared at him.
"You’re different from what they all say about you, the wizard of EL. They say you’re ruthless, evil, murderous, heartless... and everything bad. That’s what they all say but..."
Lysander now stared at him, their eyes locking "Since we’ve met, you’re pretty much the opposite of everything"
Eden wasn’t sure why he brought that up. He didn’t know if he was supposed to treat it as a question or declaration.
"How sure are you?" He asked Lysander "You don’t know much about it though"
"At least I know you’re nice" He said "Very nice"
Elvis still had his eyes opened, arms folded while
he listened to the exact words he too agreed to. Eden being the opposite of what he expected him to be.
Or at least the opposite of who he initially met and knew about.
The Wizard of EL he had met and fought with was evil, ruthless, murderous and a true devil incarnate. But this one he witnessed after having sealed his powers was rather... nice.