Johan measured liquids and other substances, which was a part of his daily duties as part of the research and development team in the Elven Kingdom. Being able to work in the department was something he greatly enjoyed, considering how much respect others showed him. Growing up, Johan was not well liked by others, who considered him weird and creepy. His mother was often sick and couldn't move around easily, so Johan did his best in taking care of her.

With taking care of his mother and being considered a social outcast, Johan often found himself wishing to study at the Elven Academy of Research and Technology and rise up in the ranks to someone that was respected. Lucky for him, Johan was born with a strong intellect. This allowed him to open his own shop, where he sold tools and gadgets he created. When he wasn't taking care of his mother, he was in the Elven forest finding new materials for his creations. The forest was one of the most resource rich locations in the entire continent, making it a great place for him to experiment.

He remembered the day when he was working at his shop, and a passing teacher at the Academy noticed his products. Realizing the potential that Johan had and understanding the financial difficulties of his situation, the teacher offered to sponsor him. Sponsorships were only provided to those who demonstrated great potential, allowing a student to waive all related expenses in the Academy.

Feeling so happy about being offered with this life-changing event, Johan ran back to his house to tell his mother. "Mother!! I have finally done it! I was given a sponsorship to the Academy! The teacher said that I could take you along! We won't have to struggle every day; I'll be able to provide you with the life you deserved!" He couldn't wait to see his mothers expression at this news.

Racing towards the bed that he mother lay on, Johan stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of his mother's still body. Johan ran towards the bed and tried to wake his mother. "Mother! You need to wake up! Didn't you hear me? I was accepted into the Academy! Everything will be better! No longer will your son be someone that everyone ignores, I'll become someone that you can be proud of!" He shook his mother, trying to get her to open her eyes. The only thing that was reflected off of his face was his mothers peaceful looking face, just like the days when she didn't fall with the sickness.

Johan could feel the tears rolling down his face, as he clenched his teeth feeling the sorrow building up from within. "I was finally going to show my mother the life that she deserved. No longer was I going to be an outcast and my mother was going to see how amazing her son was." He growled through his clenched teeth. "Our neighbors and their bratty kids would know how much better we are compared to them, and they would be the ones tripping over themselves to impress me." The anger and sorrow mixed together in him, and exploded from within. Johan raised his head and roared in anger at the heavens, cursing everyone that caused his mother and him pain.

"Hey, did you hear that they completed the final testing for the new weapon?!" A coworker yelled out to another, pulling Johan out from that painful memory.

"Those people in the secret operations division are truly the elite of the Elven Kingdom! I heard that the Queen might even make an appearance at the lab, in congratulations to the people who worked on the project!" a lab technician said in excitement.

"Nowhere else is there as wonderful a ruler as our Queen!" Another technician agreed.

"What do you think of this news, Johan?" Glaedrisil, a friend of his in the lab asked him.

Placing down the tools he was holding Johan turned to face her. "I think this is a momentous day for our Elven Kingdom. With this new weapon and shield, we will be able to keep our fellow citizens safe during the next Overflow. With the delays, I was worried that we wouldn't be able to make it so this is a relief." He smiled at his friend.

"With rumors of people tampering in the special labs, I was worried that we would fail and cause many of our fellow countrymen to be eaten by those monsters." She said, her voice depressed at the thought. Her expression cheered up as she said, "but now we will be able to hold our head up high. The sacrifices this kingdom has made towards all us will not have been in vain!"

"We should celebrate this news. How about a bunch of us go to that new restaurant that opened up? I heard that the dishes there are very nice." Johan suggested, smiling at her positivity.

Glaedrisil blushed at Johan's offer. "T-that would be nice! I will stop by and change into something more comfortable. I just picked out a new dress." She shyly glanced at Johan. "I hope that it looks nice on me."

"I'm sure that you will look dazzling in it." Johan smiled at her, which made her blush even more.

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Arriving back home after letting the others know when they would meet up to celebrate, Johan looked at the empty room which lacked the warmth from his childhood. Walking into his bedroom, Johan removed his lab uniform and hung it up in the closet. There were multiple uniforms that were hanging up, with only a few casual clothes he would wear when going out or around the house.

Going to his study desk, Johan picked up a portrait that was made when he was a small boy. In the picture, he could see his mother lovingly holding him in her arms with a beautiful smile on her face. This was drawn a year before she was stricken by the illness, causing her health to decline drastically. Johan remembered how she would lay with him in bed, reading his favorite children's story about the Elven Knight who journeyed to save the Princess from the evil demon. He would try to stay awake for the entire story, but listening to his mother's voice would cause him to fall asleep. She would often call him, her little Elven Knight.

"Mother, I know that you wouldn't approve of my actions, but this world did nothing to help us until it was too late. While they were able to live their lives happily, we were forced to fend for ourselves. Not only that, we were treated worse than trash for something we had no control over. I may be selfish and thinking only for myself, but I hope that they will know the pain we went through." Johan quietly said to the image of his mother.

Putting down the portrait, he reached to one of the side drawers and pulled it open. Inside was a crystal disk, with demonic inscriptions on the surface. Placing it in front of him, he poured in his mana into the object. The disk glowed, and an image appeared of a beautiful woman.

"Johan! It is nice to see you again. I hope they are not making you work too hard in that lab of yours." The woman sounded concerned. Though Johan understood that he was being used, this woman made him feel like he had someone who cared for him again. She would never sound annoyed whenever he contacted her and would stay and talk with him as much as he needed. Even when he complained about his work, the woman would patiently listen to his problems and offer comforting words to soothe his pains.

"I'm doing fine, Lady Ash. You honor me with your concerns, too much." He said, already feeling better after hearing her voice.

"Nonsense! Though you have been helping me, I already feel like you are a part of my family. What is a family if not something to rely on when you are feeling down? You are always welcome to contact me, even if you need someone to talk to. I am always here and enjoy hearing about your day." Lady Ash comforted him. She looked at him with curiosity and asked, "Is there something the matter, Johan?"

Johan looked at her and frowned, saying, "Lady Ash, I have information for you. The secret operations division just finished the final testing on the weapon and shield, to use against the Overflow. I have just learned of this and wanted to let you know."

Hearing the information he told her, her face darkened and reflected his own. "This is not good news. After they increased security around the labs, we were unable to gain any additional information." Her face lightened up and looked at Johan. "Thank you for telling me this information. I will be able to inform those who need to know this and we will deal with this. It will be better for you to leave the Elven Kingdom and meet with me."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Nodding his head, Johan said, "Lady Ash, though I understand that I'm only a spy being used to gather information, you have treated me with respect more than what could be said of my fellow countrymen. I understand what needs to be done and will finish the job, so you don't need to dirty your hands." He was slightly saddened by the thought of not being able to talk with her any longer, but understood that loose ends could not be left behind.

"What do you mean, Johan? I am not planning on eliminating you. The fact that you are willing to go to such lengths for me shows that you are one of us. Remember, you are family." Lady Ash looked amused at his misunderstanding.

Johan looked up in surprise at hearing her words. He couldn't fathom such an outcome, and tears began to roll down his face.

"There is no need for tears, my Elven Knight." Lady Ash's soothing voice whispered to him.

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Melidoristria paced back and forth in the receiving chamber, inside of the temple that was built in her honor back when most of the humanoids were barely able to bang rocks together and make tools. Ever since that day, she has not been able to rest with the feeling of defeat running through her body.

She still remembered that boy and his companions, who had the audacity to stand against them when they were freed. Even with the attack from most of them, the boy was able to withstand their power. Eventually, they had to use the trap that imprisoned them to escape a boy and other humanoids. Instead of defeating those weaklings, Melidoristria was complicit with such cowardly actions.

"AARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!" She roared and slammed her fist into the floor, causing it to shatter and leave behind a crater.

"Mistress!!! What is the matter?!" A priest came running into the chamber.

"LEAVE ME!!!" She raged. The priest scurried away in fright.

"Damn Dominaster!! If he were not so incompetent, we would be able to end that boy. Now I have to live with this disgrace for the rest of existence! I should rip his head off!" Thinking of killing her leader gave her a brief sense of joy, distracting her from her shame.

Melidoristria heard the sound of footsteps approaching where she was at. The thought of throwing a fireball at the intruder made her grin. Before she was able to gather her mana together, Melidoristria realized that it was one of her trusted minions.

"Mistress, I hope I have not arrived at an inopportune time?" Lady Ash questioned.

"No. I am just trying to get rid of this repulsive feeling that was forced onto me by another." She growled.

Melidoristria looked at this woman and thought about how long they had been sealed away. She remembered when she first created the Sword of Fire, a loyal group of priests that reported only to her and known to no other members of outside or inside the temple. Even after she was sealed away in that prison, the Sword of Fire continued their duties of making sure that carnage would continue throughout the world. The Council of Ten were responsible for making sure that the Overflow continued as was never stopped so that the inferior beings would continue to worship them.

After returning to her personal temple, she was happy to learn that they were still following the orders she gave. Though the members were different, their loyalty was without question.

Seeing that Melidoristria was in a better mood, Lady Ash bowed her head and informed her, "The Elves have succeeded in testing a weapon and shield, which will allow them to hold off the Overflow. One of my spies has informed me of this, though we were unable to learn more about the items that were created. Unfortunately, the Queen of the Elves had grown smart and figured out that we were interfering with their technological development."

Listening to what Lady Ash had reported, Melidoristria thought about what this would mean. Grinning from the news, which caused the woman to be surprised by this reaction, Melidoristria said, "it seems as though I have gained a perfect opportunity to distract myself from this feeling inside of me."

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Queen Elisognia, the leader of the Elven Kingdom, sat on her throne, trying to hold back the excitement that was bubbling up. She had just learned the news that the weapon and shield they were developing to combat the Overflow had just gone through its final testing. As a leader, her biggest concern was being unable to protect all of her people when the horrific event of the Overflow occurred. She remembered how her parents walked her through the overrun villages so that she could understand what was lost from such an event.

To this day, she remembered holding her mother's hand and listening to her father talk about how many people were killed in that village alone. The smell of the rotting carcasses filled her nose, reminding her that death was all around them.

"Remember Elis, we have the benefit of being protected by the wall surrounding our castle, but the people here have no such luxury. They were waiting, huddling inside their home and holding their children in their arms as the sound of the monsters rushing towards them filled their ears. Those mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, had to watch as their loved ones were eaten. Watching as they screamed in pain and begging for death." Her father looked back at her, understanding how much it hurt his daughter to listen to such things. "Inside our castle, I do not have to worry about seeing you or your mother being eaten. I can rest easy, knowing that we have soldiers ready to defend us. It is for this reason that we must always remember our comfort is bathed in the blood of our people. Never forget the duty you shoulder, to find a way to protect those who rely on us." He looked at her sternly, driving in the message.

"Mother?" A voice called out to her, concern laced throughout.

Looking up, Elisognia saw her daughter approaching the throne. Though Eli was her fourth daughter, Elisognia saw herself inside Eli. This is the reason why she named her Elivionia, the first and last portions being a reference to her own name.

"What is it, my daughter?" Elisognia asked.

"I just thought you looked very sad and was worried about you," Eli told her.

Elisognia gave a weak smile, to try and relieve Eli's concerns. "I am fine. I was just thinking about how we have reached this moment, where our people will no longer have to fear the Overflow. While other Kingdoms and Empires will worry for their people, I will know that my people can sleep soundly holding their children with love and not with fear."

"So it is true?!" Eli looked relieved from hearing her mother confirm the rumors.

Nodding her head, Elisognia said, "Yes. The final testing has been completed, and we can begin mass production of the weapon and shield. We will line our border with the newly developed shield, and the weapon will be able to pass through and destroy those attacking our Kingdom."

Eli clapped her hands together, happy to hear such wonderful news. "You have done it, mother! The dreams of our people are finally realized. We should celebrate this day." Eli looked around for any servants to announce a celebration in the capital city.

Seeing her daughter so happy was both a joy and sadness. When Eli noticed that her mother didn't reflect her excitement, she asked, "What is the matter, mother? The only thing that needs be done is to build everything. There is no need for such a sad expression."

Sighing Elisognia said, "though we have finished this, I worry that news of our success will reach nefarious ears. Until our defenses have been strengthened, I fear for our Kingdom." Seeing her daughter's smile fade away, she tried to lighten the mood. "You have been here for quite some time. I would have thought you would want to return to the Academic City and be with your friends. I think one of them was called Yi?" Elisognia smiled at her daughter coyly.

Eli blushed and shook her head. "Yi is just a friend who helped me out during our adventure. Though he is nice looking, I do not feel that way for him. I wanted to be here with you, while the devices were being developed. I was afraid that someone would come in and ruin all our hard work, despite all the security measures we had put in place."

"Yes. I was also nervous that our new measures would be insufficient to stop our enemies." Elisognia replied. "It would be good if we were to have more powerful allies, to help us against this organization." As she thought about it for a moment, she looked at Eli. "You have talked about how great Yi is, especially how he was able to eliminate that dragon? Do you think he would be willing to live here?"

"I-I do not know. Having Yi be here and helping us did not cross my mind." Eli was surprised by her mother's suggestion.

"I understand that it is an unprecedented idea, I have the feeling that we will need help in the coming times. There is a sense that our true enemy is hiding behind pawns, such as the organization. At some point, they will reveal themselves, and I fear that our strength will be severely lacking." Elisognia felt the burden on her shoulders get slightly heavier. Often, she wonders why she is not permanently hunched over from the weight of her crown.

"We will prevail against those cowards, who only sneak around. I believe in our people to work together. I do not doubt that we will be able to stand against them." Eli's face showed determination, but Elisognia could recognize the doubt in her daughter's eyes. Likely, Eli also wished that the boy named Yi was with them.

------

Eli walked into her bedchamber, taking a seat in front of her mirror. Picking up one of her many brushes, she began her nightly ritual of brushing her hair. Whenever she brushed her purple hair, it reminded her of her mother's beautiful hair of the same color. Whenever anyone told her that she looked very similar to the Queen, Eli would smile. Her mother was a strong and powerful woman, who has consistently led the Elven people on the right path. Eli hoped that someday she, too, could become someone just as strong.

Humming to herself, she enjoyed the feeling of the brush going through her hair. It was a very calming ritual, which she looked forward to every night. A part of her missed the nights when her mother would brush her hair for her, singing Elvish songs that seemed to reflect the peaceful night outside her room.

Placing the brush back where it belonged, Eli got up and headed towards her bed. Sliding underneath the covers, she enjoyed how fluffy the sheets were and thought how fortunate she was. Though she was able to live in such a comfortable place, Eli tried her best not to forget the people who made it possible. Humility was something she strove for, especially with her status as a Princess. She was always disgusted by nobles who thought they were above the ordinary folks, instead of understanding that the people were their responsibilities and not servants.

"Yi, you would come to help us if something were to happen, right?" Eli thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep.

-----

"Princess!! Princess!! Please, wake up, Princess!!" Eli felt herself being shaken awake. Being awakened so suddenly left her feeling confused as to what was happening. Looking at the person who had woken her, Eli saw that it was one of her personal guards.

"Sereneth, why have you woken me? Is mother calling me this late?" Eli tried to make the fog in her mind go away, though she was having a difficult time.

"No, Princess! We have received reports of villages near the border being attacked by a large force! Your mother's personal guards have been notified and are on their way to let the Queen know. We need to take you to a safe place, along with the Queen!" Sereneth answered, urgency and worry in her voice.

"What do you mean? Why would we need to escape so soon? Our armies should be able to hold them off." The longer this conversation went on; the more Eli was feeling confused. Even if an army were invading the Elven Kingdom, the Elvish forces would be able to keep them at bay for weeks. The kingdom had plenty of forests, which gave the elves a superior advantage against any invading forces.

"Unfortunately, nearly all of our forces have been wiped out by the invading forces. It was only through the bravery of some of the soldiers, who informed us of what had happened. The army is composed of beings that we have never seen before. Their power is too great, and have slaughtered all that oppose them. I am afraid that they will be arriving in a matter of hours, so we need to hurry and get you out of the capital city and to someplace safe!" Sereneth's voice was pleading to Eli. "Please, Princess, we need to hurry. Even at the cost of my life, I will protect you as one of the sworn ladies of your personal guards!"

"I will not hear such nonsense from you! You will be with me and not die trying to be a hero!" Eli snapped at her, horrified at the thought of losing such a close friend.

"Yes, Princess," Sereneth answered.

Eli and Sereneth quickly prepared supplies, gathering clothing and other necessities. Once they finished, they rushed out of her room. The other members of her personal guards were waiting outside and set up a perimeter around her, making sure that no one approached her other than the Queen.

Considering how close this invasion was to the news of the weapon and shield completing its final tests, the guards were suspicious about enemy soldiers infiltrating into the palace. It was too much of a coincidence, so appropriate measures were put into place.

Running down the palace hallways, they reached the throne room. Inside the Queen was waiting with her personal guards. Seeing her mother, Eli dashed towards her and hugged her.

"I am so glad to see that you are safe!" Her mother cried, holding Eli as if she were going to disappear.

"Mother, what are we going to do?! I was told that there is an army that is racing towards the capital, and will be here in a matter of hours." Eli asked, trying to wrap her mind around the idea that their kingdom was being destroyed. She could only imagine the number of civilians that were being killed.

"It will be okay. I have ordered our generals to prepare for such a scenario, and they are already waiting with a response force inside of the royal forest." Her mother reassured her, but the sound of her voice betrayed her true thoughts.

Eli held onto her mother, wishing that this was all a dream and she would wake up. Her people would be getting up and preparing for another day, with children happily eating breakfast and playing with their friends.

"Someone! Anyone! Please, help us!" She cried out in her mind, hoping that someone would be able to save them.

"I have noticed that you are in a bit of a bind. Would you guys be interested in my help?" A voice cheerfully asked them, a contrast to the feelings of despair radiating from them.