Upon hearing the question, Haruki immediately realized that Yakushi must have told Eran about the past. He paused, and as he looked into Eran's eyes, he saw a deep curiosity burning within them.
After a moment of silence, Haruki replied calmly, "I will tell you everything—but not now."
Eran frowned slightly. "Then when?"
Haruki looked ahead, his expression firm. "When this mission is over."
Eran didn't hesitate. "What if we die on this mission?"
A faint smile crossed Haruki's face. Without answering, he simply turned and continued walking.
After some distance, a massive palace came into view—its grand structure towering under the sky. Armed soldiers stood guard at the entrance, alert and vigilant. As they approached the gates, one of the soldiers recognized Yakushi and immediately lowered his head in respect.
With a commanding voice, Yakushi asked, "Is everything alright here?"
"Yes, sir," one of the soldiers replied, then glanced toward the group. "And who are these people? May I search them?"
Yakushi shook his head. "They are our guests. There's no need."
As they entered the palace grounds, Eran's eyes widened in awe. His mouth fell open as he took in the breathtaking sight before him. Towering statues stood above the grand pathways, and in the distance rose a majestic palace. On either side of the walkway were lush gardens, vibrant with colorful flowers and butterflies dancing through the air.
Yakushi leaned toward Haruki and said quietly, "Not many people here know about the disappearance of Lady Elara and Cassi. That's why there's no panic among them."
Haruki frowned. "But what was the need to build this palace? Since when did the protectors begin living in such luxury? This land was built on equality."
Yakushi nodded solemnly. "The decision was made by Lady Anya."
With that, the three of them—Eran, Yakushi, and Haruki—entered the palace. As they stepped inside, a soldier standing on the upper floor made a subtle hand signal toward Yakushi. Noticing it immediately, Yakushi turned to Haruki and said, "Come with me."
Haruki nodded and followed. Eran, curious but silent, trailed behind them.
As soon as Haruki stepped into the room, Anya saw him. Without a word, she rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. One by one, the other four followed, embracing Haruki with trembling hands and tearful eyes. There was a long silence, heavy with emotion. Each of them had waited for this moment.
For a while, they simply stood together—no words, just the warmth of reunion.
Eran stood at the doorway, speechless. He had never seen anything like this before. His eyes flicked from one to another—flawless skin, luminous eyes, hair like strands of silk. Can someone really be this beautiful? he wondered. It was as if they had stepped out of a dream.
Then Anya finally spoke, her voice soft but filled with emotion. "Why didn't you come even once in all these years?"
Haruki smiled faintly, but his eyes carried the weight of sorrow. Seeing only five of them there pierced his heart. "I'm happy to see you all again… but," he paused, his tone growing serious, "forget all that for now—tell me, when and how did Elara and Cassi disappear?"
Ronan's gaze shifted toward the doorway, where Eran stood silently, still overwhelmed by everything around him. "Who is that boy?" she asked, her voice curious but firm. "Come inside."
Haruki stepped in. "He's my friend—his name is Eran."
Ronan raised an eyebrow. "Such a small boy, your friend?"
Haruki chuckled lightly. "Don't call him a boy. He doesn't like that. Just call him Eran."
Eran gave a small nod and stepped forward, still too stunned by their beauty and presence to speak.
Haruki introduced him to each of the five fairies, one by one. They offered gentle smiles, though Eran could barely meet their eyes.
Everyone then took their seats around a large table at the center of the room. The atmosphere grew more serious.
Anya was the first to speak. "Two weeks ago, something strange happened," she said, her voice heavy with concern. some children from the village went missing. We searched everywhere, but even after two days, we couldn't find a single trace of them. Then one day, while the five of us were out looking in different directions, only Cassi and Elara were present in the palace. That's when a few villagers came and urgently requested their help, insisting they go to the southern border of the village. Since the moment they left, neither of them has been seen again."
Yakushi added, "I later questioned those villagers, and they claimed that the bodies of all the missing children were lying on the ground, with black-colored pillars emerging from them. But when we reached the spot they described… there was nothing there."