Chapter 52 – The Elf and Irilia (2)
“Our elves must unite as one, in accordance with our great traditions and customs. Only then can we survive. Remember this, Elnar…”
The previous elder named Elnar as the elder with his dying breath just before he passed away.
The trust that the late elder had shown and the overwhelming responsibility of leading the clan weighed heavily on Elnar. Having lived for nearly hundreds of years with that sense of responsibility, Elnar bit his lip as he watched the rising sun.
“Yes. Everything is for our clan and for the elves. We must unite as one. No one can go against that cause.”
Dressed in a pristine white ceremonial robe adorned with golden thread, he nodded in satisfaction as he admired his impeccable appearance in the mirror.
He has always been strict with himself, which is why no one could bend his will.
A duplicitous attitude that forces others to act without caring about oneself creates nothing but hostility; however, if one is strict with themselves, it can be called a conviction.
“Have you risen, Elder?”
“Yes. As you know, there is an important matter today. Everyone must be aware of it.”
“Of course.”
Other elves were already awake and active. Elnar checked in on those working at the elder council before stepping outside, inhaling the damp but clear and refreshing morning air thanks to the thick fog as he headed somewhere.
“The elder has arrived!”
“Quickly, line up!”
The place he found was where the warriors were preparing to depart today. Including Arisa, many male and female elves were lined up in an orderly manner, armed in the wide training ground.
Knowing Elnar’s personality, who would immediately issue a reprimand if discipline was even slightly relaxed, the warriors maintained their tense posture.
“Everyone seems to be fully prepared.”
Fortunately, Elnar was satisfied with their discipline and nodded. The elven warriors were carefully selected, raised in strict accordance with traditions and customs.
“You all know what will happen today. The High Elf is personally leading, so assist without any shortcomings.”
Today is the day when the elves and Irilia’s group join forces to investigate and eradicate the erosion zone that has caused casualties.
Seeing the warriors ready, Elnar felt good about finally being able to resolve the erosion that they could not solve with their own strength.
“E-Elder! The High Elf is arriving now!”
Irilia also arrived in that place shortly thereafter. Just as the day before, excitement spread wherever Irilia went.
Hearing the announcement, Elnar cleared his throat and turned his body. There had been something slightly unpleasant the day before, but he decided it was something minor he could overlook.
“Welcome, High Elf. We are fully prepared…”
However, the moment he turned to see Irilia, he could not believe his eyes and stood frozen, unable to speak.
*
“Ahem.”
Early in the morning, Elnar had just finished preparing and was heading out. In the elder council’s villa, she had already made her preparations and was waiting for the people inside to come out.
With her long golden hair neatly braided and dressed in the most formal attire, she was Eluria, Elnar’s daughter. She had been dispatched to escort Irilia on her special order.
“It seems they will be coming out soon.”
“R-Really? Then I will wait a bit.”
While she was practically a princess of the clan, even she could not dare to rush. The person inside was someone much more distinguished than her father.
‘It didn’t seem like it from the outside…’
Eluria thought back to Irilia’s face from yesterday and chuckled. When she first heard that a High Elf would be coming, she imagined a grandmother who was stricter and more imposing than her father, but reality was quite different.
The High Elf in the form of a young girl was small and cute, so adorable that Eluria wanted to hug her immediately, and her mannerisms were quite open as well.
It wasn’t just ignorance of the customs and traditions of the present age; the feeling that things could change at any time and be revised was palpable in the surroundings.
It was at that moment that the thought that the traditions of the elves, learned over centuries as absolute, might not be perfect was planted in her subconscious.
“Ah, they are coming out now! B-But…”
Soon Irilia appeared with her companions. Reflexively taking a stiff posture, Eluria lowered her head deeply as soon as she sensed Irilia’s presence.
Only showing the crown of her head to Irilia, she did not understand why the people around her were buzzing with excitement.
“Why is everyone reacting like that?”
Irilia asked, a smile on her face, as if she already knew. Only then did Eluria raise her head, and her eyes widened in surprise.
Irilia, who had not only worn human clothes instead of the elves’ traditional garb but was now dressed in an entirely unthinkable shocking attire.
“H-H-High Elf! What is that shameless outfit…!”
“I didn’t wear it just for fun. I wore it to exert full strength while going into battle. The spirits love this kind of thing.”
As Eluria covered her mouth in rudeness, Irilia shrugged as if to say it was no problem. With nowhere to look, Eluria completely covered her face with her hands.
‘Even so, there will be people who might faint.’
‘Thinking about it, Irilia was always bold.’
In fact, Eliria’s companions were also not quite accustomed to it. Patrick sighed and shook his head while Rina wore a wry smile, holding the cloak Irilia would wear.
Only Lila was unable to take her eyes off her, staring wide-eyed.
“W-What do you mean it’s because of the spirits?”
Eluria had such a reaction, and Elnar could only be worse. Struggling to say something, Elnar glanced back and forth between Irilia and his daughter Eluria.
Overall, the form-fitting dress for women, which covered almost the whole body from neck to ankle, was traditional among the elves.
At some point, exposing skin was considered bad.
In contrast, Irilia now had hair down to her waist covering a larger area of exposed skin.
If it had been another elf instead of Irilia dressed like that, Elnar would have severely punished the elf.
“You don’t understand. The spirits that elves have been bonded with since the beginning prioritize connecting with the Spirit Mages. They believe that real connection requires direct skin contact.”
However, no one, including Elnar, could properly criticize Irilia’s attire.
It was because of the spirits she mentioned. Spirits were indeed sacred beings that shared their origins with the elves, and the elves took pride in being the only race able to communicate with the spirits.
However, not long after the High Elves disappeared, Spirit Mages also vanished among the elves.
The spirits had ultimately become beings of myth, and the contemporary elves had no choice but to feel a sense of indebtedness regarding that fact.
‘What do you mean I don’t understand? Me…?’
Elnar could not refute Irilia’s words as she chuckled. In truth, he knew nothing about the spirits.
“They are still alive in the nature of this world. The primary reason I came here is that the erosion somewhere in this forest is hurting them. Isn’t it only natural for elves to think of and help our friends?”
Irilia gently raised one arm to the sky.
The wind spirits were having fun on that arm, visible only to her eyes; however, the refreshing breeze suddenly blowing from all directions that swept past the spirits wrapped around Irilia’s body was something anyone could feel.
“But does that outfit really matter? Don’t my friends want this?”
The ground shook as the earth she stood on began to rise slowly. At the same time, with the wind wrapped around her, her brilliant silver hair fluttered in a way that captivated everyone’s attention.
“The fog is too thick, so clear it away.”
Irilia asked the spirits to clear away the fog that enveloped the area.
Immediately, the wind spirits darted out, creating a tremendous gust of wind centered around her, blowing away the morning fog that had settled thickly.
‘The power of the spirits is the power of nature.’
Controlling the nature of the area with one’s own strength was a sight that would send chills down anyone’s spine. A miracle impossible with any magic or sorcery in the current age. As the fog cleared and the sunlight began to shine down on her, its sacredness reached its peak.
“O, great one…”
“That is the High Elf. She will surely save us!”
Without anyone commanding them, the elves moved to their knees one by one in awe at the scene.
Flustered, Elnar looked around, but as more and more elves began to kneel, it seemed as if all the elves present were entranced, following suit.
