Reincarnated Into A World Of Elves As The Only Man-Chapter 73: The Bargain

The shadows receded gradually, like a reluctant tide drawing back from shore. As Eren’s vision adjusted, he found himself in a chamber drastically different from the throne room they had left. Gone were the high ceilings and imposing thrones of polished wood. The air here felt older, charged with an energy that made the fine hairs on his arms stand on end.

They stood in a circular room with walls of polished obsidian that reflected their images in distorted, shifting patterns. Eren studied these reflections with wary fascination—his own face stretched and compressed as if viewed through rippling water, Kaida’s form seeming to shimmer between solid and spectral.

Seven alcoves were carved into the walls at equal distances, each containing a small pedestal that glowed with a different colored light. The chamber felt ancient, as if it had existed long before the palace above had been built—perhaps even before the mountain itself had taken its current form.

Eren walked slowly around the perimeter, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. His senses registered the fourteen elements that existed in their realm represented among the pedestals. The precise arrangement stirred memories of Thornvale Kingdom, where he had performed his first TUNA ceremony, though this place felt more primal, more connected to the raw forces of nature than those carefully controlled environments.

"Beautiful, isn’t it?" Kaida asked, watching him explore with those strange kaleidoscope eyes. "I designed this chamber myself, millennia ago, when the boundaries between elements were still fluid, still malleable to those who understood their true nature."

She moved to the center of the room, her gown flowing around her like liquid shadow. The light from the alcoves cast her in alternating hues—crimson, azure, emerald, violet—each color seeming to draw different aspects from her countenance.

"Each of my top seven possesses a different element," she explained, her voice taking on a rhythmic quality that seemed to harmonize with the pulsing lights. "You will perform TUNA with each of them, and their element will be transferred to you."

Eren stood perfectly still, absorbing this information while maintaining a neutral expression. The torches along the wall seemed to flicker in response to his subtle shift in emotion.

"How is that even possible?" he finally asked, his voice echoing in the chamber. "There are no queens or commanders here to officiate the transfer."

Kaida smiled enigmatically and began to circle him slowly. Her movements were fluid and precise, like a predator assessing its prey—or perhaps an artist examining a canvas. The soft rustle of her gown against the stone floor created a whispered counterpoint to their conversation.

"The traditional ways are just that—traditions," she replied. "But the fundamental forces that govern our world have always been more... flexible... than most elves understand."

She completed her circle and stood before him again. The chamber seemed to hold its breath as she reached out and placed a slender hand against his chest, directly over his heart—and over the hidden humic. The tiny creature went completely still beneath his skin, as if frozen by her proximity.

"I found a way," she said simply, her fingertips pressing lightly as if testing the texture of his energy. Her touch was cool but not cold, firm but not invasive. Still, Eren felt exposed, as if those kaleidoscope eyes could see through flesh and bone to the very essence of his being.

"Your Veilwalker signature is... extraordinary," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of genuine wonder. "I can sense the earth element and illusion abilities within you already, along with your birth-water element. Three elements in one vessel—impressive."

Her head tilted slightly as she studied him, her eyes shifting through countless colors in their depths. "But there’s something more—something uniquely yours that makes the transfer possible in ways that shouldn’t be."

Eren remained still under her touch, but his mind raced through implications and possibilities. The TUNA was a sacred ritual, closely guarded by the rulers of the Seven Kingdoms. Its protocols and requirements had been explained to him in great detail during his journey through the kingdoms—the specific conditions that needed to be met, the precise timing that had to be observed, the delicate balance that had to be maintained.

"Explain," he said after a long moment, his voice betraying none of the turmoil within. "The TUNA requires specific conditions."

Kaida’s hand left his chest, but the sensation of her touch lingered like a cold brand against his skin. The humic beneath began to move again, though more cautiously than before, as if still wary of the Eternal’s presence.

She turned and glided toward the nearest alcove—the one bathed in crimson light. The glow painted her pale features in shades of blood and fire as she traced the glowing runes etched into its surface with long, elegant fingers. The symbols seemed to respond to her touch, brightening momentarily before settling back to their steady pulse.

"The TUNA you know," she began, her voice carrying that same strange duality he had noticed before—ancient wisdom wrapped in youthful cadence, "is but a shadow of what it once was. A simplified version, passed down through generations that gradually lost understanding of its true nature."

She turned back to face him, the crimson light behind her creating a halo effect around her silhouette. "Unlike your previous experiences, when it comes to my top seven, you perform a TUNA with each one, but you will feel nothing—the energy will be transferred already without your notice, Veilwalker."

Eren’s silver eyes narrowed slightly. The claim contradicted everything he had learned about the fundamental laws of their world.

"That’s not possible," he countered, his voice even but firm.

Kaida’s lips curved into a smile that held centuries of secrets. She moved away from the alcove, the chamber’s light shifting across her features as she returned to the center of the room.

"For others, yes," she acknowledged with a slight inclination of her head. "But you are a Veilwalker. And I..." Her smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed just slightly too perfect, too white. "I am Kaida, the First Eternal. The rules that bind others do not apply to us."

She made a sweeping gesture toward the seven alcoves, each glowing with its own distinct light. The movement caused ripples in the air, as if the very atmosphere responded to her command.

"My chosen seven have prepared for this moment for centuries," she explained, her voice taking on a quality almost like pride. "They’ve learned to hold their elements differently—to contain and nurture them in ways that make them transferable without the usual... complications."

Eren watched the shifting lights reflect off the obsidian walls. Each color seemed to call to him in its own way—the crimson promising power, the azure offering wisdom, the emerald whispering of growth. He found himself wondering about these seven individuals who had pledged themselves to Kaida’s service, who had spent centuries preparing for his arrival.

"And after I perform TUNA with each of your top seven?" Eren asked, bringing his focus back to the matter at hand. He walked slowly around the perimeter of the room, studying each alcove more closely. "What then?"

Kaida watched him move with those strange, ever-changing eyes. When she spoke, her voice carried an undercurrent of anticipation that hadn’t been present before.

"Then you come to me," she said, her kaleidoscope eyes gleaming with an inner light that matched none of the alcoves, yet somehow contained aspects of them all. "After you and I perform the final TUNA, the transformation will be complete."

The chamber seemed to grow momentarily warmer at her words, the lights pulsing once in unison before returning to their individual rhythms.

Eren paused in his circuit of the room, his mind caught on the scope of the task before him. He turned to face Kaida directly, silver eyes meeting kaleidoscope ones across the chamber.

"Wait," he said, brow furrowing as he calculated. "If we’re seeking to control all fourteen elements, and your seven warriors each possess one... how do I intend to gain all fourteen? The math doesn’t add up."

"You already possess three—earth, illusion, and your birth-water," Kaida said, counting on her elegant fingers. "I possess three as well." She smiled cryptically. "Though let’s say just two additional ones, as I already command illusion like yourself."

Eren couldn’t hide his shock. "That’s impossible. No elf can possess more than one element. It’s the fundamental law of our world."

"Everything is possible when you understand the true nature of the elements," Kaida interrupted, her voice soft but firm. "They are not separate forces but aspects of a single power—a power I have spent millennia learning to master."

"But even with your three and my three, that’s only..." Eren calculated quickly, "...seven elements accounted for, including the duplicate illusion. What about the remaining?"

Kaida’s lips curved into a confident smile. "The remaining elements are not a problem. We can acquire them from the Vylonia kingdom easily. Their security is... lax in comparison to their elemental wealth."

The humic against Eren’s chest vibrated with what felt like agitation. The tiny creature had been his constant companion, its reactions to danger saving his life more than once.

"Why did you involve my mother?" Eren asked, his voice hardening as he remembered the true reason for his journey. "Why have Kiran bind her to that curse?"

Something flashed in Kaida’s eyes—a brief ripple of emotion too quick to identify.

"All I did, Veilwalker, was to make you strong," she replied, her tone softening to something almost maternal. "Love ones can weaken one’s strength, perhaps even derail one’s goals. All I did was to make you stronger—to ensure you would seek the power you needed rather than wallowing in domesticity."

"And will my mother be freed from Kiran’s binding magic when this is done?" Eren pressed, his silver eyes glinting dangerously. "Will whatever happens to her stop happening to my mother?"

"Of course," Kaida said smoothly. "Once our work is complete, such small matters will be trivial to remedy."

Eren studied her face, searching for deception. "You still haven’t explained how you intend to stop people from using the elements. Even if I somehow gain control of all fourteen, how does that prevent others from accessing their natural abilities?"

Kaida moved to the center of the chamber again, her hands weaving complicated patterns in the air. In response, the light from the alcoves streamed toward her fingers, forming a miniature model of the Seven Elven Kingdoms floating above her palms.

"The elements are connected through the ancient nexus points scattered across the realms," she explained. "When you possess all fourteen elements, strengthened by my power, you’ll be able to seal these nexus points. Without them, elemental energy cannot flow freely between the natural world and elven vessels."

The model shifted, showing tiny elven figures losing their ability to command the elements. Some fell to their knees in apparent confusion, while others looked upward with expressions of relief.

"Those who currently possess elements will retain some diminished ability," Kaida continued, "but no new elemental users will be born. Within a generation, the knowledge will fade to legend."

’A world without elements,’ Eren thought, watching the model with conflicted emotions. ’No more elven children accidentally burning their homes when their abilities manifest. No more villages flooded by an inexperienced water wielder’s mistake.’

The concept was beguilingly simple: remove the tools of destruction, and people would have no choice but find peaceful solutions to their conflicts. Without elemental advantages, the strong could no longer subjugate the weak through superior power.

Yet something in Kaida’s explanation rang false. The elements weren’t merely tools—they were integral to the world’s functioning. Fire elements helped farmers with controlled burns to enrich soil. Water elements ensured clean drinking supplies and irrigation. Earth elements stabilized buildings and prevented landslides.

’Would people truly be better off without this connection to the natural world?’ Eren wondered. ’Or is Kaida offering a solution that creates more problems than it solves?’

The humic trembled against his skin again, its agitation growing more pronounced. The creature had always seemed to possess an intuitive understanding of elemental forces that surpassed even Eren’s training.

"You’re asking me to believe that your motivation is purely altruistic," Eren said carefully. "That you’ve spent millennia developing this plan solely to bring peace to the realms."

Kaida’s smile remained unchanged, but something flickered behind her eyes—a calculation, perhaps, or an adjustment to her approach.

"I have witnessed countless wars, Veilwalker," she said softly. "I have seen civilizations rise and fall, each believing they would be the ones to master the elements without being corrupted by their power. All have failed." She looked down at the model still hovering above her hands. "Yes, there are benefits to elemental abilities, but they are far outweighed by the destruction they enable."

She closed her hands, and the model disappeared in a shower of multicolored sparks. "I offer a chance to break this cycle—to create a world where people must rely on their wits and wisdom rather than inherited power."

Eren remained silent, weighing her words against his instincts. The humic’s distress suggested there was more to Kaida’s plan than she revealed, yet her vision aligned with thoughts he’d had himself during the darkest days of his travels.

’A world without elemental wars,’ he thought again, the idea burrowing deeper into his consciousness. ’No more children orphaned by battles between kingdoms. No more innocent bystanders caught in elemental crossfire.’

But something else nagged at him—the expressions he’d seen on Kaida’s warriors. The fanatical devotion in Kiran’s eyes. The absolute obedience displayed by the numbered elves. The way they called her "master" rather than "leader" or even "queen."

’What does power do to those who hold it too long?’ he wondered. ’And what would it do to me if I helped her claim even more?’

"I need time to consider," he said finally, his voice level. "What you’re proposing would change the fundamental nature of our world. That’s not a decision to be made hastily."

Kaida nodded, seemingly unsurprised by his response. "Of course, Veilwalker. Contemplation befits one of your station." She gestured toward one of the doorways leading from the chamber. "You’ll find comfortable quarters prepared for you. Rest, reflect. My warriors will guide you when you’re ready to proceed."

As Eren turned to leave, Kaida added, "Remember, Veilwalker—time may be infinite for beings like me, but your mother’s suffering continues with each passing moment. Choose wisely, but choose soon."

The reminder of his mother’s condition sent a spike of cold rage through Eren’s chest, but he masked it behind a respectful nod before following the silent guard who had appeared to escort him.

’I’ll play your game for now, Kaida,’ he thought as they moved through shadowed corridors. ’But don’t mistake caution for compliance. I’ve faced manipulators before—and they all underestimated what a Veilwalker can do when cornered.’

The humic against his chest finally relaxed slightly, as if approving of his internal resolve.