My Free Will System: Transmigrating Into My Favorite Immersion Game

Elias excused himself from the meeting, he stood by one of the castle's high windows, staring out at the bustling city below. The sun was setting, casting long shadows that crept over the kingdom. As he watched the people of Eldoria move about, preparing for the upcoming Festival of Light, his thoughts drifted to the Flarefolk. He hoped they were finding peace and solace in their new home.

Despite everything that had happened, the memory of their pained faces lingered in his mind like a persistent shadow.

Elias's mind replayed the moments after his battle with Acedia, moments that felt as raw as fresh wounds. With King Alaric's possession revealed and the immediate danger averted, Elias had wasted no time. His first thought had been of the Flarefolk—the ones who had been enslaved and exploited under the influence of the collars that forced them to obey against their will.

The air still crackled with the remnants of battle magic when Elias made his way to District Two, the heart of Eldoria's military . The once vibrant district was now marked by destruction, with several buildings bearing scorch marks and others reduced to rubble, courtesy of Lord Thane and Lord Varric..

Despite the damage, a crowd had gathered, curious and concerned about the events that had unfolded.

Elias found the Flarefolk confined within the cells holding areas, their once proud and fiery spirits had been dulled by the oppression they had endured.

With a determined expression, Elias stepped forward and forced open every single collar by forcing his mana into them, the aura of his mana shone like a beacon in the gloom of the cell. The collars around the Flarefolk's necks cracked and shattered, the metal falling away like discarded chains.

Elias could feel the surge of relief and gratitude emanating from the freed Flarefolk, though it was tempered by the residual bitterness of their captivity.

Elias raised his voice, addressing not just the Flarefolk but also the onlookers who had gathered around to witness the event. "These people were wrongfully enslaved," he declared, his voice resonating with authority. "If anyone objects to what I've done here today, step forward and face me."

A heavy silence followed his proclamation. The crowd exchanged glances, but not a single person spoke out against Elias. His power and presence were undeniable, and the righteousness of his actions left no room for dissent. No one stepped forward, and slowly, the soldiers dispersed, leaving Elias and the Flarefolk to themselves.

Loria was amongst the first people he freed, as the collar shattered from her neck, she stumbled forward, her legs weak from the strain of captivity. Elias had caught her instinctively.

Then, without warning, she collapsed into him, her arms wrapped around his shoulders in a tight embrace. Elias could feel the heat of her tears soaking through his tunic as she cried against him, her sobs heavy with the weight of her suffering. He had held her close, his own guilt gnawing at him like a relentless beast

He had tried to tell her about Carius, but she stopped him. She told him that she knew, she heard him in the cells when he first visited. She said for a while she did resent and hate him, but she soon realized that it wasn't Elias' fault. He did what he had to do.

The Queen and the family heads had come soon after, having been alerted to the situation. Queen Seraphina, alongside Lord Varric, Lady Selene, and Lady Isolde, approached the Flarefolk with genuine remorse etched on their faces. The Queen bowed deeply before the newly freed group.

"On behalf of the crown and the people of Eldoria, we offer our deepest apologies," she said, her voice heavy with sincerity. "You were wronged in a way that we can never truly atone for, but we are prepared to offer compensation and do whatever we can to make amends."

A Flarefolk who seemed like their leader, a stoic figure named Elarion, stepped forward. His eyes carried sadness as he regarded the Queen and her council. "We appreciate your words, Your Majesty," Elarion began, his voice tinged with a calm yet unyielding resolve. "But what we want cannot be given by gold or reparations. Explore stories on мѵʟ

All we desire now is to leave this place and be as far from Eldoria as possible."

Queen Seraphina looked visibly shaken by the rejection, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We can understand your desire to leave, but Eldoria is not defined by the actions of a few. We have much to learn and change—"

Elarion held up a hand, silencing her gently. "Your Majesty, the people of Eldoria, save for a few like Elias, stood by and watched as we suffered. Even with the collars binding our will, we were aware of every humiliation, every act of apathy. The chains were not just physical but emotional, binding us in the memories of how little our lives meant to those around us.

We cannot stay in a place that sees us as less than human."

Elias stepped forward, understanding their sentiment all too well. "Then let me help you find somewhere else," he offered. "There's a place I know, far from here, where you can be safe and live freely—a village in the Highlands."

The Flarefolk agreed, and Elias wasted no time, he teleported them away from Eldoria. They were warmly welcomed to the village, tears flowed as they tasted freedom and reconciliation

As Elias returned to Eldoria, he couldn't shake the feeling of Acedia's lingering influence. The demon's schemes had failed to eradicate the Flarefolk, but he had still succeeded in sowing seeds of distrust and division among the kingdom's inhabitants. Elias knew that it would take time—perhaps a long time—for the wounds inflicted upon Eldoria to fully heal.

The Flarefolk's departure was a stark reminder that the consequences of Acedia's actions extended beyond the immediate battle; he  had left a mark on the very soul of the kingdom.

Back in the present, Elias sighed as he turned away from the window. The sunset had dipped below the horizon.He had done what he could to make amends, but he knew that for the Flarefolk, Eldoria would always be a place of pain and betrayal.

"Elias Ashdown," Lady Isolde's voice called out