Chapter 5: Domiya’s Curiosity
While Airael enjoyed her lunch and took a nap, Domiya headed to the Life Temple after finishing her meal.
As Domiya entered the Life Temple, she breezed past the clerics, who all bowed respectfully to her. Domiya gave them a slight smile before passing them by.
Being Airael’s magic teacher was no ordinary feat for Domiya; she was one of the most renowned grandmages among the Elven Race.
Don’t underestimate that “grand” in grandmage—it’s a title coveted by many a mage throughout their lives!
To earn that title, not only must your ability meet the standards, but you also need to make significant contributions to the field of magic.
Navigating the Temple with ease, Domiya opened the door to Linis’s office without knocking.
This was quite a rude move.
Inside the office, Linis, who had just eaten but was still working, not bothering to lift her head, asked, “Domiya, what brings you here?”
Clearly, she was used to such interruptions.
“Who else would I be here for at a time like this?” Domiya shot back, taking a seat in the guest chair in the room without missing a beat.
Linis paused for a moment, then looked up at Domiya and asked,
“What’s wrong with Your Majesty?”
However, Domiya didn’t answer Linis right away; instead, she continued, “Linis, you still haven’t told me where we came across our esteemed queen. As far as I know, the royal bloodline of the Elven Race has been severed for ages, otherwise, it wouldn’t fall to you, the Grand Priestess of the Life Temple, to manage clan matters.”
Domiya had asked Linis this very question before, but Linis had kept mum.
Today, she thought she’d press for an answer during this latest chat, hoping Linis might spill the beans because she was genuinely curious.
Domiya had no doubt about Airael’s royal status.
That immense magical talent spoke volumes, plus she trusted that Linis wouldn’t bluff about something so serious with the Elves.
Was there something truly shameful lurking beneath the surface?
Domiya was genuinely intrigued.
Linis’s expression turned icy. “Domiya, I know it’s normal for a grandmage to be curious, but you could use that energy to focus on your magic, and you’d probably level up in no time!”
“Oh no!”
Domiya shook her head vigorously. “I believe my magical prowess is already quite high! And Linis, don’t try to change the subject. You know the origins of Your Majesty are a significant issue. If that’s left unresolved, it will cause problems for her future rule. You must know those Elven Lords aren’t easy to handle; many of them have long been corrupted by their power. Airael’s governance won’t be good news for them!”
Linis’s expression grew even chillier. “I am well aware of that, but the Elven Race can only emerge from our current predicament under the leadership of Your Majesty.”
“You’re not wrong. Back when the royal family existed, the Elven Race was indeed the pinnacle of the continent, and the glory of the Elven Empire remains the goal of today’s dominant human rulers.”
At this point, a hint of longing appeared on Domiya’s face.
Neither she nor Linis had lived in that era.
But just from historical records, she could imagine how powerful the Elves were back then.
The entire world bowed at the feet of the Elven Race.
Their magic could literally reshape the world—moving mountains and filling seas was a cakewalk!
Alas, all that is now a thing of the past.
A sudden war, with formidable enemies appearing out of nowhere, severed the struggling royal bloodline.
Although the Elven Race eventually triumphed, it was a pyrrhic victory.
Not long after, the Elven Race, having lost their king, fell into infighting.
Those uncontested Elven Lords couldn’t stand each other.
Even the most trivial matters could spark conflicts amongst them.
It was three days of petty battles, then five days of major skirmishes.
In the long run, the Elven Race suffered catastrophic losses from internal strife and lost its dominant status.
Enfeebled, the subservient races seized the opportunity to unite against the Elven Race and drove them off the continent.
Now, the Elven Race could only cower in their old home, completely devoid of the ambition they once had.
Some Elves had even resigned to just “getting by,” showing no interest in cultivation whatsoever.
“Domiya, since you understand all this, you should recognize how important Your Majesty is to the Elven Race. We cannot allow those scoundrels to continue harming our people.”
“But Airael’s origins remain a major issue,” Domiya evidently still planned to press this topic.
Linis fell silent.
Seeing the stoic Linis, Domiya asked, “Is it that the timing just isn’t right for you to tell me?”
Linis didn’t respond.
Not getting an answer, Domiya, feeling a bit down, joked, “It’s not like she was a gift from the Mother Tree, right?”
According to the Elven Race’s historical records, the first Elves were birthed from the Tree of Life.
Because the Tree gave life to the Elves, they affectionately called it the Mother Tree!
Yet that was something from so long ago, and since the Tree has not birthed any more Elves, many of the younger generations no longer pay it much mind.
If it weren’t for the unique life-giving powers of the Life Temple’s inhabitants, some might even doubt if the Mother Tree was simply an ancient tree that grew very old.
In this way, although such an ancient tree is rare, it’s merely that; it might even be less impressive than those sapient Treemen.
“Domiya, that’s crossing the line!”
Linis said coldly.
“Sorry! I misspoke just now.”
Domiya immediately backed down.
She just got carried away for a moment.
It was fine to joke around like this privately with Linis, but this was the Life Temple, a place dedicated to honoring the Mother Tree.
She hoped she wouldn’t face any strange punishments for her slip of the tongue.
With her thoughts racing, Domiya continued, “Let’s put that topic aside for now. But I hope you think about it seriously. I can’t be the only one with intense curiosity about this issue. You can protect our esteemed queen for a time, but you can’t shelter her for her whole life. She’s going to need to stand on her own eventually, right?”
Hearing Domiya say this, Linis sighed inwardly and closed her eyes. “Domiya, give me some time, and I’ll provide you with a satisfactory answer. Right now, your priority is to teach Your Majesty magic properly.”
