Chapter 172: Eirwen

After Aida left, the room fell back into silence, yet Rod’s mind remained restless. He walked over to the bed, gazing at the vast starry sky and feeling the coolness of the night, but his heart was filled with irritation. The more he learned, the more complicated and troublesome the situation seemed. Just his father’s affairs alone left Rod deeply puzzled.
Why had he appeared alone thirty years ago? Why did he later flee from the Source of Darkness? The secrets hidden within were already enormous. Moreover, what secrets lay hidden in the Netherworld? Did the trolls still exist? What were the war faction’s intentions? Aida’s words left Rod with countless doubts and uncertainties.
What exactly had happened inside the Source of Darkness? Was there a great secret waiting to be uncovered bit by bit? Thinking of this, Rod couldn’t help but sigh and stare blankly at the stars. The more he knew, the heavier the burden on his shoulders, the more oppressed he felt. Perhaps, as Aida said, it was better to uncover things gradually—revealing too much at once would only cause greater distress.
“Still up this late?” A melodious voice pulled Rod out of his thoughts.
He turned and asked, “Why haven’t you gone back yet?”
But immediately, he realized something was wrong and his expression changed. “It’s Princess Eirwen. Why haven’t you gone back to rest this late?” He had almost mistaken her for Aida, but upon seeing the color of her clothes, he quickly corrected himself. As Aida said, some things were better kept secret.
Rod didn’t notice, but when she saw him in that state, a barely perceptible expression crossed Eirwen’s face—mixed with confusion, though it was quickly concealed.
“Hehe, I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for a walk. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a cool night. Does Brother Rod have something on his mind?” She walked along the corridor to Rod’s window and smiled as she asked.
She still appeared innocent and pure, giving off an impression of harmless kindness, making it hard to be wary of her.
“Hehe, I’m done practicing, so I’m not sleepy. I’m just enjoying the night view!”
“Brother Rod is really diligent. No wonder you’ve reached such a level at such a young age. It’s admirable.”
“Just luck. There’s nothing to admire!”

“Doesn’t Brother want to invite me in to sit? Leaving me standing here alone seems like something a gentleman wouldn’t do. It’s late, and it’s a bit cold outside. Since everyone can’t sleep, why not talk together?” Glancing toward Rod’s room and pondering for a moment, Eirwen said with a slight blush on her face.

Frowning secretly, Rod felt an uneasy sensation about Eirwen for some reason. If possible, he really didn’t want to be around such a person. Although this was an opportunity everyone dreamed of, Rod wasn’t happy at all.

“What? Does Brother not like Eirwen?” Seeing Rod’s expression, Eirwen put on a pitiful look and said sadly.

“Come in!” With a sigh, since a girl had asked, Rod naturally couldn’t refuse.

After opening the door to let Eirwen in, the two stood by the window together, admiring the night sky. Neither spoke, just staying in silence.

Rod had never denied that he was someone who didn’t know how to please girls and was not good at talking. Moreover, he really didn’t like Eirwen, so he simply remained silent.

“Does Brother have any worries? You might as well tell me; I can help if I can. Although Eirwen doesn’t know much, maybe I can still assist Brother!” Turning to look at the man who remained silent, a hint of displeasure and disappointment flashed in Eirwen’s eyes.

Every man around her bowed down to her, striving to get close to her. She had always been the center of attention, like the moon surrounded by stars. Being ignored by a man now naturally made her feel uncomfortable.

“Nothing. Just thinking about some things. The night is beautiful; I haven’t appreciated it like this in a long time!” Turning to glance at Eirwen casually, Rod replied perfunctorily.

“Brother is very busy; it’s only natural he doesn’t have time. Others only see your achievements but don’t notice how much you’ve sacrificed behind the scenes. Even those with great talent need to endure unbearable hardships and trials to achieve such success at this age—things those people can’t understand! Now that you’re so successful, few will notice the loneliness in Brother’s heart!!”

If it were an ordinary person, they might be deeply moved at this moment, exclaiming that they have finally found a kindred spirit. It must be said that Eirwen has a keen understanding of people’s hearts, knows how to bridge the gap between two people, and even someone like Rod couldn’t help but feel a hint of bitterness after hearing her words.

The time he spent in Blaze City was the most relaxed period of his life. Since then, it seemed he never had any time for himself, always busy with battles and struggles. Indeed, everything he has now is the result of his own hard work.

Noticing Rod’s expression, a glint appeared in Eirwen’s eyes, and a faint smile touched her lips. “Although I’ve only met Brother once, I’ve felt a closeness to him that I’ve never experienced before. Perhaps this is what fate is like. If Brother doesn’t mind, he might as well consider me as a confidant. You can share any worries with me; maybe I can help you get rid of some troubles!”

Rod paused, turned to look at Eirwen, and pondered for a moment. “The pro-war faction is extremely ambitious. They’ve even formed an alliance with the Purple-Winged Thunder Eagles and the Mi Jiao clan, giving them even more strength. The continent might struggle to resist their attacks. Once the continent falls, who do you think will be their next target?”

“Surely it will be the races within my Dark Source. Everyone knows the pro-war faction is ambitious, and now that they’ve formed an alliance, their determination is obvious. Is that what’s bothering Brother?” Eirwen asked, a strange smile on her face.

“Just thinking about it. Heh, the Purple-Winged Thunder Eagles have a mortal feud with me, and the Nash family, being a vassal of the pro-war faction, also has a feud with me. It’s inevitable to overthink things!” Rod said slowly, frowning.

He grew more cautious toward Eirwen. This girl wasn’t simple—she was trying to get information out of him. Of course, Rod wouldn’t let her succeed. Whether out of sincerity or ulterior motives, he definitely wouldn’t reveal anything to her until he understood her fully.

“Brother has the Dragon clan and the Black Phoenix clan backing him. The Purple-Winged Thunder Eagles and the Nash family are nothing but insignificant figures. Brother doesn’t need to worry about them. Right now, they don’t have the strength to deal with the Black Phoenix clan or the Dragon clan. Today, the Black Phoenix clan, the Dragon clan, and our own clan have already formed an alliance. Even if the pro-war faction has something in mind, they’ll have to weigh our strength before acting rashly. Brother can rest assured!”

“What are Brother Rod’s plans next?” After a moment of thought, Eirwen still asked what was on her mind.
Rod gave her a deep look and said, “One step at a time! That’s all we can do!”
The atmosphere grew dull again after his words. Eirwen, however, continued to chat with Rod about everyday matters, laughing and talking nonstop. Anyone who saw them would surely think they were very close. Little did they know that their relationship was merely superficial, with neither knowing what the other was thinking.
“It’s getting late. I should go now, Eirwen. It was great meeting you, Brother. I hope we’ll have more opportunities to talk in the future!” Looking outside, she realized it was already dawn, with the sky tinged with light. After talking all night, Eirwen seemed tired and decided to leave.
As Eirwen left, Rod’s expression darkened. It seemed this girl had been testing him all night. Given Aida’s understanding of him, could it be that Eirwen really knew nothing about him? Did she truly not know or was she trying to use this to get closer to him? But he didn’t seem to have anything worth her exploiting. Could there be some hidden reason?
This girl wasn’t as innocent as she appeared, Rod thought to himself.
On the other hand, after leaving Rod’s room, Eirwen frowned and glanced back at the tightly closed door. “Rod, what kind of person are you? Why did my sister come to see you in the middle of the night? Did you really know each other before? No, I must figure this out!” With that, she walked ahead, her expression now cold and devoid of her earlier smile.
In the distance, Sognar’s door opened. After Eirwen left, he stood at the door, watching her go, then turned his gaze to Rod’s room. “That damned bastard, meeting the princess in the dead of night! Heh, I caught you this time! Watch how you act all high and mighty—no cat stays clean! I can’t let this guy get away unscathed. I need to teach him a lesson!” Glaring at Rod’s door, Sognar muttered to himself in frustration.
Dawn had arrived, and he had planned to go out to train, but seeing this scene made him feel lucky—while also feeling a bit jealous of Rod. He began to gear up, ready to teach Rod a lesson.