At that question, Elias did not answer, but merely blinked her eyes at his question.
"I'm a human as you can see. Now, ask your real question. My patience is not infinite as you may think."
"Miss... Elias what... are you?"
He repeated.
"Ask your question."
Noel realized that something was wrong, but was not entirely sure, as he decided to once more to try pushing his death date earlier. Although he felt he would soon come to regret his indecisive decision, he decided to ask a third time.
"Miss Elias, what are y-"
"Noel."
Elias's long eyelashes moved, her eyes widening.
"Ask. Your. Question"
Looking at her unreadable expression, Noel decided to ask his other question out of the fear of backlash. From what he was able to decipher, asking a fourth time would be her last signature before he got his stamped sheet of passing.
There was nothing that stopped her from killing him right here and now, and in contrary, there were plenty of reasons why she should have killed him until now. Which left two options; either she had an eccentric personality and was amused by his antics, or there was something she desired from him.
So far, it was unconditional that he would be able to judge which one was the correct option, as the variables and factors he faced alone from merely talking to her left him in the abyssmal dark.
"Where exactly am I? What is my purpose?"
He let out the question that had plagued him from the moment he had found himself randomly in this castle, to his current situation.
"You are in Frieztdal's mansion. I thought I had already told you that previously?"
She spoke in a low voice as she looked directly at him.
"No, what I meant is where is this world, what are the rules, who is Frieztdal, and how does that have to do anything with me?"
Standing up while supporting himself, he walked towards a shelf and walked towards a nearby shelf grabbing the first book he found before him.
He flipped the pages of the book rapidly, before tearing out a page, and tossing the book. He walked towards Elias with steady, confident steps, a stage to mask his fear.
"What is this? Does being in Frieztdal's mansion explain what this is?"
He showed her a page that had a complex circle drawn on it, with intricate patterns drawn on it.
Elias merely stared at him. Irritated, he crumpled the paper, and walked towards another shelf, pulling out a book.
He tore out a few pages out of the book before tossing it as well, walking towards Elias, displaying the pages in open view.
"How about this? What is this? What is the creature drawn here? Ah, and this page! What is this about?"
He crumpled the pages once more, and was about to walk to another shelf when he felt an intense gaze directed at his back other than Elias's. Startled he turned suddenly to look at Elias, who raised her eyes in evident surprise.
"Oh my. How surprising. I never thought you could feel it's gaze on you. You seem more interesting than you seem to be. How deceptional of you."
She rubbed her tired eyes as she let out a sigh.
"What was it?" He growled cautiously; irritation laced in his voice.
"Don't ask if you know what is good for you."
Seeing his lack of answer, she sighed.
"You asked what this world was, didn't you? I'll tell you then. But there is a condition. I don't exactly tell you things for free, you see"
".... What is the price... ?" Noel inquired his eyes not leaving Elias's, a firm will.
"You'll know later. But to start off, this worl-"
"I need to know the price before I agree"
"I never gave you a choice. Actually, you have the right to refuse. But...."
"... In the case you refuse to know, I will fashionably take your life you now in the most horrible way possible. I don't think there is something more expensive than your life, is there now, Noel?" She grinned in response.
Expressionless.
Noel's mind gears started working rapidly, calculating the losses and benefits, before making up his mind. It was clear that he had no choice whatsoever.
And true to her words, there was nothing more expensive to Noel than his own life. He did not have anyone close in the first place, so he agreed helplessly.
"Very well then, it seems its story time! Its been a while since I've done something like, so do not mind me" She clapped her hands twice in excitement, her eyes glinting in joy.
"A story? Why a story of all things?" Noel asked dark lines appearing on his forehead in confusion, as he stroked his chin roughly, hiding his mood that was gradually taking a negative turn.
"Indeed, a story that happened long, long ago... A story that goes back to..."
She folded her first, second, third, and fourth finger as if counting something, brushing her lower lip with her thumb as if remembering the memory.
"... Four Epoches ago. It dates back to the day a son of an ordinary farmer was born. Surely you know what a farmer is, right...? I don't think I have the mind to explain to you what a farmer is...."
She said looking troubled, as if considering if she should explain from the very, very, very basics of the difference between a farmer and an aristocrat.
"... I know that much.."
"Excellent! It seems I'll get into the heart of the topic then!"
She clapped her hands, twirling a strand of her hair inwardly.
Noel's eyes flickered to it for a moment before stabilizing and once more looked at her again.
She was in a good mood, which meant that there was something that she liked about the past, unlike most people that despise the past, regrets burdening them and crushing them under its limitless weights.
"Once.... upon-a-time, there existed a farmer in a far away village."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"This farmer was a normal farmer was a man of effort; he grew up in a harsh household. Everyday, he worked from dawn to evening, morning to night, tirelessly, to live.
She crossed her small legs leaning back on her hands as she gently closed her eyes as she recalled the lingering memory.
"One freezing winter, both his parent's passed away. They left him alone in this cold, cruel world alone to fend for himself, along with the job of taking care of his younger siblings as the eldest son."
She paused, making the story sink in gently, like a sinker on a fishing line in a small, yet deep pond.
The story was normal so far, or so Noel thought. He predicted that over time the story would take an odd turn if not something horrifying, but he was incorrect.
"This farmer grew up as a man of effort and honourability despite being a mere farmer who's work would have made a slave throw away his belief of freedom. A commoner who worked with blood and sweat no different than the lowest peasants, yet he held the dignity that even nobles envied."
"The farmer worked every day tirelessly despite being picked upon, and despite his immense strength that rivalled even those of knights that he harbored because of his tireless work, he was what you could say as a true kind man. A man who loved good, and despised evil. 'A man of happiness' as he liked to say. No matter what storm brewed, problems arose, or regrets that lingered, he was able to overcome them all."
"... And what does this have to do with my question?" Noel asked, disinterest well-hidden upon his face as he sat on the chair provided to him, fidgeting as he tucked his robe on the chair and adjusted himself comfortably, crossing his legs comfortably.
She ignored him and went on.
"This farmer helped the weak, fought the strong when necessary, and did not bow to anyone, not even the highest of authorities."
"But that did not go from long. For he was given a trial that no man would have succeeded in, not even if he had the Goddess of Belief's blessing. A trial that, may the devil forgive him, would have even brought a tear to a soldier's eyes."
She paused, her eyes betraying the intensity that was brewing in her pupils, multiple colors blooming from the center of the butterfly in her eye. Tapping her fingertips on the chair's armrest, she hummed.
"... One day while the farmer was working, news came to the village that the King of the country was visiting the villages to give a look at them and provide assistance"