Chapter 48 – Origin of Elves (3)
“Elder! Arisa has returned!”
In a deep and rugged forest, where few tread, the usually quiet place had become lively for the first time in a long while. Arisa, a warrior of the clan sent out on a mission, had returned earlier than expected.
After being rescued by Irilia, Arisa headed straight to the village without looking back. The elves, unaware of this fact, gathered one by one, questioning her return.
“Arisa!”
Soon, Arisa returned to the village with the patrol guards. Many elves were relieved to see that she didn’t appear to be injured and discreetly gauged her mood.
She was now the only one aware of the latest happenings from the outside world. Although their clan strictly maintained a separation from outside affairs, the innate curiosity they possessed still lingered.
“What happened, Arisa? What about the priest who was to resolve this?”
“I couldn’t rescue the human priest, but I encountered something even more remarkable, Elder.”
Amidst the commotion, someone hurried towards her. It was Elnar, the elder of the clan, recognizable by his long white beard, a sign of his advanced age.
He was the one who had directed Arisa to venture outside and bring back a human priest.
“What do you mean? More remarkable news?”
Elnar and the other elves around him failed to comprehend Arisa’s words. Given the grim situation caused by the erosion near the village, which had already harmed several residents, it was perplexing that Arisa appeared quite agitated with excitement.
Moreover, she hadn’t brought back the promised solution.
“If you hear whom I met, everyone will be surprised.”
Arisa struggled to contain her excitement and began to recount her experiences. She spoke of her unavoidable contact with the humans, the betrayals she faced among them, and how she ultimately was saved by someone.
Naturally, every word she uttered garnered intense reactions, but the most shocking revelation was when she mentioned being rescued by the High Elf, Irilia.
“That can’t be true!”
Elnar shouted without realizing it. He understood just how implausible the tale Arisa was spinning sounded.
“The High Elves have long since vanished, their lineage severed and completely gone from this world!”
“But it was real. There exist elves unlike us, genuine High Elves who have lived since the distant past.”
As Elnar vocally rejected the notion that a figure he believed to be an ancestor could still be alive, Arisa showed him the strands of hair she received from Irilia.
The silver strands, embedded with a unique mana unlike that of any elf, left Elnar speechless.
‘It can’t be. The High Elves already…’
As he grappled with the disbelief surrounding the existence of a High Elf from ancient times—whose very records were now questioned for their authenticity—Elnar’s eyes twitched involuntarily.
If a High Elf really existed from that era, it would mean that even he, the oldest among the clan, was far inferior in stature.
*
“So, I was ordered to bring her back. I can understand why they would be skeptical.”
“You don’t have to think of it as too daunting. To begin with, we also came to investigate the erosion.”
Arisa, meeting me at the appointed place, detailed the reactions of the villagers when she returned with her account.
Honestly, it was a burdensome reaction I hadn’t hoped for. I had come here solely to help them and had no intention of upending the order and rules they had established.
“The humans accompanying you… will probably be fine. After all, we were at a loss and tried to bring back the human priest.”
Furthermore, Arisa didn’t seem particularly surprised by my companions, who she was seeing for the first time. It appeared she thought it strange for me to be alone.
‘Surely, they shouldn’t worry too much about environmental issues?’
Following Arisa, I stepped deeper into the lush woods. This place, while clearly within the territory of the kingdom established by humans, was a vast forest still untouched by development.
“—!”
At the same time, the spirits gaining strength from this natural environment began to feel quite good. For spirits who loved the forest even if it was near the city, this place was truly paradise.
“It’s a beautiful place.”
I smiled faintly. For someone like me, who didn’t particularly yearn for a natural existence, it was just a desolate forest, but certainly here, the spirits would thrive simply by existing.
“Over there! They’re fellow clansmen!”
At that moment, Arisa pointed ahead. A group of armed elves, wielding bows like her, awaited us.
They were clearly warriors protecting the village.
“Wait, Arisa, what’s going on? Those are outsiders. How could you bring them here?”
“T-These people are my companions!”
That’s where the trouble began. My concern was confirmed; they genuinely regarded my companions with suspicion.
Arisa, who had been so confident, stumbled over her words in confusion.
“Companions of yours?”
“The High Elf’s? Why would someone like that be with humans and beastmen?”
When Arisa mentioned my name, they began to murmur among themselves. It seemed they were aware of my arrival.
“Arisa speaks the truth. They are my people. Is there an issue?”
I sensed that this was the moment to reveal my identity. I pushed Patrick, who was blocking me, to the side, lowered my hood, and showed my face.
“…!”
The elf warriors froze and jumped slightly at the sight of me, much like Arisa had when she first saw me. It wasn’t as urgent as that moment, but my presence, different in both power and appearance while being of the same race, intrigued them.
“Are you… really the High Elf from the history books?”
One young elf, who seemed to be their leader, muttered in a nasal voice, contrasting with his sharply handsome appearance.
It appeared that he was still in disbelief. Indeed, if a person from the Stone Age suddenly appeared claiming to be your ancestor, it would be hard to believe.
“I actually asked Arisa about that. How I could get you to believe me in one go.”
I bitterly smiled, recalling what I had discussed with Arisa during our approach.
If they—my own kin and distant descendants—were unwilling to believe me, I needed to consider what I could do. And if I were recognized as the High Elf, an origin of the elves, I had to contemplate how I should conduct myself.
“This is!”
“The ground is moving!”
I decided to demonstrate my power. Using elemental magic, I showed them how the ground we were standing on began to shift. It was as if a massive surfboard levitating us gradually moved toward them.
Both Lila and Arisa, as well as even Patrick and Rina, who had experienced this before, were taken aback.
“Elemental magic has completely faded among the current elves since the extinction of the High Elves. I assure you, I’m the only one who can communicate with spirits in this world. Isn’t that proof enough?”
While they were stupefied, I took the opportunity to engrave my identity firmly in their minds.
I had no intention of behaving like an elder or an ancestor, but perhaps, as Arisa suggested, it would be beneficial to wield at least a minimal authority to expedite matters.
“Impossible. Can it really be elemental magic…?”
“Is it not part of elf culture to respect and honor elders? Are you going to keep questioning me on this? Or are today’s elves merely cowards hiding in the forest, afraid of a few humans?”
With my arms crossed, I boldly demanded my rights from them, who were staring wide-eyed at what they believed to be an incredible miracle.
I might be scolded for being a cliché elder, but from what I could gather, they seemed to enjoy this kind of exchange.
“N-No, it’s not!”
“Welcome. Oh, Great High Elf. We will take you to the Elder immediately.”
Fortunately, my assertiveness seemed to work; the astounded elves all knelt on one knee, acknowledging me as their superior.
‘This is easier than I expected.’
Until now, I had hesitated to act like an elf who had lived for ten thousand years, but I realized that it was quite comfortable being in a society where age was a currency. I couldn’t help but smirk.
