Heart of Eternity (Part One)

The sorrow in Eleiks's eyes gradually turned icy. "Do you think I betrayed the faith of light merely because Floro betrayed me? You're wrong. If that were all, it wouldn't have been enough to change me like this. Long Haochen, you are also a Child of Light. You should understand how steadfast our hearts are as those chosen by the Goddess of Light. But it wasn't only Princess Floro who betrayed me—it was the entire world."

"Using the Scroll of Vanishing, I escaped their encirclement and slaughter. At the time, all I felt was an icy chill in my heart. Every beautiful thing within me seemed to have vanished along with Floro's betrayal. Yet even then, I did not hate her. I loved her deeply. No matter what happened, I was willing to think the best of her. The Black-Clad Man who appeared at the end made me suspect that perhaps Floro had been coerced into doing it. Although I knew perfectly well that she was a princess, and that no one could possibly force her hand, I was still willing to believe that. Back then, I was truly too foolish."

"Floro's stab struck my left chest. But she did not know that, unlike ordinary people, my heart was on the right side. Thus, although her poisoned dagger gravely wounded me, it was not fatal. Enduring the pain, I found a hollow tree to recover in. Using the medicinal pills I had obtained during my travels, I first stabilized the deadly poison within me, then gradually purged it with my own pure Light Element."

"The process was agonizing and long. But I knew clearly that even if I wanted to find Floro and demand an explanation, I had to wait until my body had fully recovered. More than once, I