The Elf Journey In The Western Fantasy World-Chapter 96: Threads of Fate

"Little guy, your words are not wrong. In fact, from a certain perspective, they’re quite reasonable—very much on point," Sage Miletus said, visibly pleased with Illiya’s answer. "The future is inherently uncertain. What we divine is merely a possible branch, or one among many potential outcomes. If the future were fixed and unchangeable, then what would be the point of hard work?"

"What would those who struggle against the heavens, who resist the fates imposed upon them, even be then?"

"There are always people who place their hopes on the vague and elusive idea of fate. Sometimes, it’s downright pitiful."

Sage Miletus didn’t know who he was thinking of, but his expression suddenly softened with a kind of pity. Looking closer, there was also a faint trace of mockery in his eyes—perhaps a sneer directed at whoever or whatever he had remembered.

"And those people are all fools," Sage Miletus scoffed.

Illiya wisely closed his mouth at that moment.

Now was not the time for him to speak. Smart people always knew when to speak and when not to. And right now was definitely not the time.

Not long after, Sage Miletus emerged from his own thoughts. He glanced at the golden-haired elf standing beside him with his head slightly lowered, a look of mild distaste in his eyes.

Still clearly just a juvenile elf, yet already so smooth and tactful in his behavior? He should act his age, have the kind of temperament appropriate for his stage of life. Who taught him to be like this?

Sage Miletus silently grumbled in his heart, cursing his two lifelong rivals under his breath with a hint of sarcastic resentment. But after all this, the knot that had been stuck in his chest finally began to loosen.

Seizing the moment while the little elf’s attention was elsewhere, he quietly pulled out a small black notebook from his space bracelet. He flipped quickly to a page in the middle, scanning it to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything important.

His eyes swept over the page at lightning speed, reading ten lines at a glance. When he finished, Sage Miletus let out a sigh of relief—no details had been missed. Confirming that everything had been accounted for, Sage Miletus guiltily put the notebook away and stealing frequent glances toward Illiya to check if the wlf had noticed his movements.

Although Illiya’s movements were small and the sounds he made were barely perceptible, he still felt a lingering sense of fear at being discovered. It was hard not to be reminded of his student days—like secretly reading a novel during the dull and tedious potion classes.

It had been such a thrill.

Sage Miletus cleared his throat twice to draw the attention of the little elf. When he saw Illiya look up, he put on a serious expression and began speaking: "The reason I came to find you this time is to inform you about matters concerning your Book of the Elves. I’ve completed the task entrusted to me, and the rest is no longer my concern."

"So, little elf, it’s time for you to go back. After all, it would be bad if the others tried to wake you up and couldn’t."

Illiya froze for a moment before realizing what was happening. He bowed to Sage Miletus, preparing to take his leave, but before he could say anything, a familiar darkness quickly enveloped him. His eyes instinctively shut, and when he opened them again, a golden-red hue filled his vision.

It was the color of the canopy above his bed.

Illiya stared blankly upward, his gaze unfocused, his entire being seemingly emptied. On the surface, he looked utterly dejected, but in truth, his mind was racing.

His brain unconsciously began replaying everything that had just happened, and this time, he noticed small details that had slipped by him before.

For instance, Sage Miletus never took off his hat from beginning to end, and his gaze never once landed on Illiya. Despite speaking at length, the sage never actually got to the point. He merely said Illiya should continue on his journey without offering any clear direction or guidance.

There had been a moment of silence afterward, during which neither party spoke, yet the faint sound of pages turning could be heard. It was strange—almost as if something was being verified.

Sage Miletus claimed that someone had commissioned him to divine the Book of the Elves. Illiya had a strong feeling he knew exactly who those people were. Aside from his two teachers, he couldn’t think of anyone else.

After all, to fulfill the requirements of "knowing my situation well" and "being able to contact someone of the Sage’s level," only a handful of people in his limited social circle qualified—he could count them on one hand, maybe not even that many.

So the fact that his teachers had specifically asked someone to divine this matter was, in itself, suspicious.

The Book of the Elves that was possessed by the High Priest of the elves, was no ordinary item. In simple terms, it functioned as an encyclopedia. But on a deeper level, it not only stored knowledge—it could also foretell the occurrence of events.

Given that, there was no way his teacher, High Priest Aelric, wouldn’t already know about Illiya’s current state and future. Seeking a divination from Sage Miletus was completely unnecessary.

Which made the act itself worth scrutinizing.

Illiya couldn’t shake the feeling that his teachers were hiding something from him. But for now, there was no way to find out exactly what. Still, if he continued down the path they had laid out, he would learn the truth one day.

He let out a sigh. He had never felt this exhausted before.

Blinking his slightly dry eyes, he slowly closed them. Waves of drowsiness washed over him, and this time, he truly fell asleep—not pulled away by someone else.

...

After sending the golden-haired elf away, Sage Miletus’s once-straight spine slumped, and he looked significantly more worn out, all the previous energy drained from him.