As a Third Level priest, Iver was keenly aware of the Queen's physical condition.
Ligeia and Yanis, both veteran Fifth Level Transcendents, could sense their old friend's weak vitality even more clearly.
After falling asleep this time, Queen Sofia probably would not remain unconscious forever... but she most likely would never wake up again.
In other words, the last and most precious period of consciousness in her life had not been used to leave any final words, make arrangements for Isabel, or even exchange a few private words with her own granddaughter. She had not spent it reminiscing alone about her youth... Instead, she had given it to chatting idly with Iver and the others about ordinary matters that served no real purpose.
Yanis looked up at Iver.
Among the three of them, only one had never chatted so naturally and relaxedly with his relatives or elders.
As Meg, Ligeia was not an orphan either. She had parents. Not only that, she had once had a first love, a companion in the form of a griffin, and a spouse. As a Pure-Blood Elf born in the Theocracy, Yanis had enjoyed a happy childhood.
Only Iver had not.
He had never chatted so intimately with a female elder, and had never had the chance to act spoiled in front of an elder. He had never been lost, nor had he dared to be lost; he had never been willful, nor had he ever had the chance to be.
Perhaps...
Sofia had felt sorry for him.
That was what Yanis thought.
"Will you choose a gentler approach?"
The elven painter spoke, asking Iver softly.
She did not state the matter directly. But everyone present knew what she meant.
—The people spreading "rumors" and intending to target Iver.
"No."
Iver answered without hesitation.