Chapter 58 – The End Process (3)
“Elder, it seems the guests are arriving.”
“Quickly done. It’s only natural since this matter is of great importance.”
In the Elf village, while Iriliana and her party had briefly left for a nearby city, Elnar prepared to welcome the guests with the other elves. Since it was a matter he had taken the lead on directly with Iriliana, Elnar was particularly attentive. Thanks to this, a magic circle that hadn’t functioned properly for decades began to activate within the city.
Though it wasn’t frequently used, this magic circle, which the elves carefully managed in their most important locations, was a kind of artifact passed down from ancient times that functioned similarly to a spatial leap device. While it wasn’t as fast and convenient as the countless spatial leap devices that modern wizards had improved upon, the elves could still use it to communicate with their kin scattered throughout the continent.
“The device…!”
Soon, the magic circle activated, and a brilliant light burst forth. It was a light that could not be compared to the simple letters normally sent to convey news.
As the shape of a person began to materialize within that light, even those who were already aware of what was coming had no choice but to watch with bated breath.
“Arno!”
Elnar recognized the tallest man who appeared within and shouted. He was a senior elf from another clan and could be considered a friend of Elnar.
“You really came in person.”
“I couldn’t help but confirm the news for myself; every detail matters.”
The fact that the heavy-set elder came in person was no trivial matter, and Elnar couldn’t help but smile. In contrast, Arno did not smile. There was no way he would send such grave news in jest, so it had to be taken very seriously.
“So where is the High Elf now? Is this place really safe?”
“Now that you’ve grown older, don’t rush. That person will return soon. Above all, the other clans have not arrived yet.”
Seeing the impatient Arno, who seemed unwilling to believe, reminded Elnar of his own first sight of Iriliana, and he struggled to suppress his laughter.
“By the way, did you really bring it?”
“I brought it here despite many objections. Can you believe that? The High Elf herself must come. If the legends are true, the only one who can sprout this seed is her.”
Under Elnar’s guidance, Arno stepped out of the room, retrieving a fist-sized seed from a wooden box that the elves had carefully brought along.
The seed, which appeared dead due to its immense age, was still believed by the elves to hold a glimmer of potential. They believed that one day this seed would sprout again, rebuilding the legacy of the great elves and nurturing them.
‘This is the seed of the World Tree, preserved by Arno’s clan, which once tended to the last World Tree.’
Elnar looked at it with trembling eyes and swallowed hard. This was something he had only heard of through rumors, now witnessed firsthand.
“Elder! The device is activating again!”
Meanwhile, other elves continued to arrive one by one via the spatial leap. This was the moment when all the clans left on the continent gathered in one place.
“Is that so? Everyone has arrived?”
“Yes. So I think it’s about time for you to go.”
“Since I was already planning to go, it doesn’t matter.”
While the elves of the continent gathered together for the first time in ages, Iriliana, who had been wandering in the city, reluctantly began to gather her things upon hearing Arisa’s words.
She had already met Ethan and completed everything she needed to do in the city.
“Okay, let’s hurry up. Please.”
Patrick urged the group. He had reasons to hurry, notably the beautiful companions surrounding him.
Rina, Lila, and Arisa all possessed striking looks. In fact, Arisa was an elf.
Although Iriliana and Arisa wore hoods to conceal their faces, Patrick could hardly endure the gazes directed at him as the only man in the group, feeling like he might go mad.
“Unexpected. I thought you would enjoy it.”
“Bragging about getting involved with women is foolish. Such attention is nothing but poison.”
When Iriliana chuckled, he grimaced. Having seen and heard quite a few things, his feelings stemmed from experience. Considering that adventurers, who often stake their lives, tend to indulge in more primal pursuits, Patrick’s demeanor was somewhat unique.
“Well, that’s settled. Let’s leave again.”
As Iriliana laughed, they departed the city and made their way into the forest. They re-entered the deep thicket like the first time they had gone there, meeting the elves before arriving in the city late at night.
“Have all the other elves arrived?”
“Yes, all of them are waiting for Iriliana.”
Upon hearing the news from the elf warriors who had come to greet them, Iriliana’s eyes sparkled. Unless Elnar had called them together with her name and identity, it would have been unlikely for the elf elders to gather in this manner.
“Everyone must have heard plenty of stories, right?”
Having already whispered everything through the gossipy wind spirits, she knew who was where, and without showing signs of anxiety, she swung open the door to the meeting room where the elders had gathered.
In stark contrast to the elders, who were tense and waiting in silence, she burst in with abandon.
“Ah, High Elf…!”
A heavy silence enveloped the conference room. The highest-ranking elders of the clan left the seats of honor empty as they quietly awaited the ‘true elder.’
However, the one who entered amidst the commotion was a young girl, slightly mismatched from the elderly figure they had imagined.
Her shimmering silver hair glinted, and her red eyes sparkled. Dressed in human attire, she also gave off an unsettling vibe. The aura she radiated felt more free-spirited than commanding, not fitting the demeanor of an elder.
‘I told you so. Tsk.’
Elnar had already explained about Iriliana, but he was certain they wouldn’t fully trust his words. Since they were all rigid like him, it seemed the only way to make an impression was to show them directly.
“There’s no need to explain everything one by one as before, right? Elnar must have already explained everything.”
“Of course. I’ve told them everything.”
As the elf elders were taken aback, she smiled as if to say she knew this would happen, briskly walking to the seat of honor and plopping herself down while shooting a glance at Elnar.
Elnar nodded, reminding the dazed kin that he had already conveyed everything.
‘It seems that the elves also extend widely beyond expectations. If things go well, it could become easier.’
Whether she realized the elders’ thoughts or not, Iriliana was currently pondering how to unite and utilize the seemingly robust elf forces at her disposal.
Many others were already working as her subordinates in that fashion. The elves could not escape that radar net either. Moreover, this task was not just for her benefit but also directly related to the lives of the elves themselves.
“I’ve confirmed that the entire continent is in crisis. All the clans living here have painfully felt how catastrophic it is. Although I might not be the one who should be discussing this, I believe now is the time for everyone to come together.”
“The erosion and curse that could lead to the end of the world. If that is true…”
“I think it will be difficult to continue the current way of doing things.”
As the elves began to sense her meaning, she firmly stated that they must change the current system.
It was a call for the elves, as members of this world, to stop isolating themselves in solitude and to cooperate and contribute together.
Naturally, there were those among them who felt an innate aversion to this, just as Elnar had initially. To them, the outside world was a perilous hell, and all non-elven races were enemies to be opposed.
‘I don’t think that’s beneficial. I must eliminate the doctrine of outright hostility towards the outside world.’
Catching onto these thoughts, Iriliana smiled wryly. While she didn’t mind other perspectives, she wanted to change the elves’ harsh viewpoints, if possible.
Through significant incidents, just like Elnar, who now listened to everything Iriliana said.
“That seems to require quite a bit of discussion. But more importantly, High Elf, please take a look at this. This is the last seed left by the World Tree.”
It was at that moment Arno pulled out the seed of the World Tree. All the other elves murmured in surprise.
‘Not yet. It isn’t too late. We just need to check.’
Arno put everything else aside and was desperate to see Iriliana’s power firsthand.
If Iriliana truly demonstrated tremendous authority akin to the legendary High Elf, there would be no reason not to follow her.
