"Yeah, there's no point in dawdling, let's get on with it." Xopil responded.

The pair went up to the second floor of the inn, and proceeded to the connecting mansion. Xopil and Xiara walked through to the west hallway from the mansion lobby, stopping at the second door in the hallway.

"How much time do I have to solve this world I wonder...?" Xopil firmly grabbed the doorknob, twisted and pushed the door open.

"Not knowing adds to the charm doesn't it?" Xiara asked.

"Adds to the anxiety at least." sighed Xopil.

"Wait, you're concerned about them?"

"I'm not inhuman. Of course I don't want them to suffer," replied Xopil.

Xiara fell silent as she thought about his words, and the two walked through the door. Xopil looked around as his eyes adapted to the change in light. Where they were at, there was nothing but flat lands as far as they eye could see.

"There should be a town here right? Is it invisible?" Xopil asked a bit incredulously.

"No silly. That wouldn't be very fun having the same puzzle twice like that. But, in your observation, you did miss something pretty important." Xiara giggled lightly, and indicated for him to look down.

"An underground city?" Xopil asked and moved off the door leading into the ground.

"Yeah, a pretty sad story behind it actually," replied Xiara.

"Tell me about it," requested Xopil.

"Very well... A long time ago, well... relatively a long time ago, a millenium is the blink of an eye for some races after all. I digress, prior to one thousand years ago there was no city here...above ground or otherwise. Ah, watch your step. This stairwell is full of death traps. So, this city..."

"That's indeed a sad history. So to summarize, the elven kingdom was the target of constant war which they eventually lost in the end, the kingdom was ransacked, the citizens became war spoils who where then scattered to the world and turned into slaves. The descendants of those slaves managed to escape and formed a kingdom far from the prying eyes of the world - right here. Even so, remaining secluded and hidden for a millenium is impressive."

"And for obvious reasons, they don't welcome visitors easily. Also I haven't gotten to the worst of it, but...

Spoiler: Spoiler

some things are better left unsaid, and unseen... well I can say this: even if you managed to gather all the citizens of this city, you wouldn't find an ounce of pure elven blood. Not in all of them combined. Their proud history is but a mockery today.

The term 'almost-animal' may better suit them now than even 'demi-elf'. They were experimented on... in cruel and unimaginable ways the most successful of which made them, ugh 'better' slaves. They were turned into beasts of burden, stronger and more agile than their counterparts, easier to house and care for, also cheaper than keeping say an actual horse. Naturally, this affected their physical bodies as well.

...the worst of all -or the best? depending on how you see it- is they maintained a high level of intelligence through all of it and that allowed the descendents to escape and build this haven."

"...Just hearing that, I know what I must do. I need to prevent that war or change the outcome...there's not much that can be done after the fact."

"Change the history of several millenia?" Xiara asked. Well, it's not like he can't do it...

"...There has to be a way. Let's visit Boris at the inn, maybe he knows something about time travel with that enchanted inn of his." Xopil stated and started running down the staircase. "Whatever problem this city is suffering at present seems trivial to what's happened to the people after the war was lost."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Well maybe there is nothing wrong... relatively speaking... with the city at present and the puzzle is in the past? Or... this city wasn't meant to exist in the first place? Xiara mused as she chased after him.

After stepping on the last stair, Xopil entered the city proper, but it wasn't until Xiara stepped up next to him that the people turned in their direction. An armored spear legion was approaching from the far road and the crowds of people nearby were thinning rapidly as the people made themselves scarce.

The legion approached and stopped in front of Xiara and aimed their spearheads at her. "There should be two intruders. What happened to the other one?"

"For one, this hostile greeting isn't necessary. We're not here to cause trouble. If we were..." Xiara spoke elegantly and subtlely waved her hand as though she were bored. "you'd hardly be an obstacle. Secondly, I was an elven princess, although it was so long ago I bet even time itself forgot when that was. Still, I think I deserve some formality."

Xiara waved her hand again, the entire legion stood at attention, saluted with their spears, and dropped to a knee involuntarily. "That's a much better reception. Thank you for that. Thirdly, the other 'intruder' as you insist we are, is right here next to me."

"Now then... before you start spouting nonsense about how you're going to escort us to the current ruler, here's what you're actually going to do. We're going to the inn. This is much more important, do you understand?"

The members of the legion looked at eachother uncertainly. "Er, what's an inn?"

Xiara shook her head, "Well, that certainly complicates things... fine, fine, lead the way. So much for cutting to the chase."

"Princess Xiara," muttered Xopil, barely a whisper.

"W-what?" Xiara was a bit flustered at suddenly hearing her lost title.

"Oh nothing, I was just seeing how it rolled off the tongue. I like it. But, why didn't you tell me?"

Because you already know... Xiara thought scornfully. "It must have slipped my mind."

"This... is just a regular building? I thought you were taking us to see your leader?" Xiara questioned, while looking at the rather lavish decorations adorning the building.

"Well... there's a bit of history there, and given your little speech earlier, it may be better to just go inside."

Xopil pushed the door open, and Xiara followed behind. "Wow, there was someone with her the whole time...we just couldn't see him."

"You think an elven princess would be a liar?"

"Like you believed her."

"Shut up all of you, back to patrolling."

"I suppose..." Xopil looked at Xiara when the innkeeper strolled into view.

"We should have expected this...?" Xiara looked at Xopil.

"What's yer..." Boris stood slack-jawed.

"So, based on how gaudy this building was on the outside, this is where most of the 'don't ask, don't tell' happens?

"It's against policy to answer that question. Besides, what are ye doing here? Shouldn't ye be out saving the world one city at a time?"

"That's why we're here." Xopil looked coldly at Boris for what he was suggesting. "One question, though. We thought they were taking us to the city's king...mayor...leader, why'd they bring us to you?"

"Ye could say no one here wanted the job. I got voted unanimously in my absence. But enough about that," Boris waved his hand dismissively, "what can I do for ye?"

"Well, this is a bit of a delicate matter... we need to go back in time and prevent the elves from losing the war." Xopil stated.

"Xiara, you didn't..." Boris stopped himself, "back room. Now."

"What?" Xopil was confused at this turn of events.

"Just... wait here, we'll be back in a couple minutes. Only a slight misunderstanding." Xiara smiled softly at Xopil as she walked away.

Xopil watched dumbfounded as they walked into the kitchen area.

"Okay, spill it. I'll make sure you're properly reprimanded later." said Boris.

"It's really not my doing, he came up with this on his own. Was I supposed to change his mind?"

"You may once have been an elven princess, but that was a long time ago and you were since seperated from their fate. This fate could have been changed many times over, so why now? Because he doesn't have his memories, to make him think it was part of the grand puzzle?"

"What if it is part of the grand puzzle and I had only a small part in this turn of events?"

"...Tell me how you relayed the history and we'll go from there."

----------------------------------------

Xopil was fast asleep hunched over the table by the time Xiara and Boris finished their little discussion. Xiara was gently shaking Xopil awake.

"Uhnn... that dream again." Xopil muttered.

"What dream?" Xiara asked giving him her undivided attention, Boris too, stretched an ear to listen.

"Always the same one... I'm running around the castle courtyard while chased by my teachers with my father and mother watching me from the terrace, when I wake it always ends the same... in a fire."

"..." Xiara gave Boris an intense look.

"You... Ye were there?" Boris asked earnestly.

"I think I was, I don't remember much else though."

Boris muttered something to himself, looked at Xiara and gave her a nod.

"Is the dream always the same?"

"For the most part... the fire always happens when I wake up, regardless where in the dream I was."

"Now the most important question..."

"Hm?"

"What's your name in the dream?"

"That... everyone just calls me by the title 'prince'."

"Excuse us Xopil, we need to have another discussion." Xiara spoke quickly, as Boris pulled her back into the kitchen.