“Are we there yet?” [Ryner]
“No.” [Traveler]
“Are we there yet?” [Ryner]
“No, so for the last time, Ryner, stop asking me and just follow along.” [Traveler]
“Yeah, yeah, Ra, Raaa…?” [Ryner]
“You… Did you forget my name? Right after I told you?” [Traveler]
“No, no, I know it. I totally know it.” [Ryner]
“You’re lying.” [Traveler]
“It’s on the tip of my tongue!” [Ryner]
“Just stop.” [Traveler]
“Did it start with an ‘A’ and end with ‘nonymous’?” [Ryner]
“… How’d I get saved by a human like you?” [Traveler]
Guided by one of the elves he had helped out, Ryner went down the giant tree using what would be considered an elevator. However, there were no sliding doors or buttons. After saying where he wanted to go, the floor around his group composed of him, his guide and Mi started to descend. The walls stretched and flexed as the branches underneath them move out of the way to form a vertical shaft.
Once outside of his current residence, Ryner let the Traveler lead the way. Along each side of the bridges, which connected the city’s massive trees, tulips were instantly growing in an orderly line. These flowers were emitting a faint light, lighting the way in place of the red sun that was sinking in the horizon. Ryner watched them pop out of the ground and told Mi not to eat them as he followed his exasperated guide.
“Be honest, did you ever actually mention your name before?” [Ryner]
“Yes, I did.” [Randiriel]
“Pretty sure you refused to tell me when I first found everyone shackled in that basement though.” [Ryner]
“But I did tell you afterwards when we were going back to Hossylei Nac. All of us did.” [Randiriel]
“Oh… Sooo… What was your name again?” [Ryner]
“… It’s Randiriel. Please stop forgetting it.” [Randiriel]
“Hey, I only forgot it one time.” [Ryner]
“So you admit that you DID forget!” [Randiriel]
“No I didn’t.” [Ryner]
“Y-you, you just said it…” [Randiriel]
“Huh? I don’t remember. You sure you’re not making it up?” [Ryner]
“… It is honestly amazing how you can shamelessly lie without batting an eye.” [Randiriel]
“Aw, thanks.” [Ryner]
“It wasn’t a compliment! Don’t look so happy when you don’t mean it!” [Randiriel]
While making small talk with the elven woman who was getting more vexed by the minute, Ryner was being bathed once more in countless stares. As always, the elves he passed by kept their distance and watched him with distrustful, yet intrigued eyes. From what he’d seen and heard, their kind wasn’t fond of other races. Although he didn’t know what they thought of beastmen, but the majority probably hated mankind.
In fact, Randiriel, after falling into slavery, definitely found humans repulsive. At first, Ryner had trouble travelling with the elves since they did their best to never touch him. They would gingerly stretch their hands out whenever he passed them something and grab it with their fingertips.
Strangely enough, there was no hatred directed at Ryner as he walked through the city of trees. Once more, he noticed that, although there were traces of hostility in the gazes pointed at him, the dark emotions hidden behind those emerald green eyes just abruptly abated upon his approach. It was like the elves no longer hated him after he walked passed them, even if they were still wary and cautious. Some eyes even held concern for him. This caused Ryner to stop walking and tilt his head in puzzlement. As he did so, several others that were furtively observing him mimicked his action.
“Ryner?” [Randiriel]
Even Randiriel was doing the same thing after turning around. A group of people silently tilting their heads in confusion had been born for a brief moment.
“Something the matter?” [Randiriel]
“… I’m just gonna come out and say it. Can you guys stop constantly reading how I feel?” [Ryner]
After a bit of pondering, Ryner shrugged his shoulders and decided to bluntly ask his guide.
He had been observing Hossylei Nac for two days, but had grown tired of gathering information through limited means. Watching how the elves lived their lives as well as how they reacted in his presence told him much. Still, it was better to have his hunch solidly confirmed.
That was why he tried to probe his guide about the issue that had been bugging him since their meeting.
Randiriel kept quiet and fixatedly stared at the only human in her city. It appeared that she had expected his question. After all, she was aware of his suspicions during their trip back to Hossylei Nac.
“Elves can’t read minds.” [Randiriel]
So, she flatly delivered the reply that was already wrapped, packaged and prepared for such an occasion.
“I knew that.” [Ryner]
Just as Ryner expected, she didn’t give him a straight answer.
“Good. Because it’s the truth.” [Randiriel]
Randiriel moved to his side, but waiting there was Mi who looked up at her while waving her tail. She couldn’t help but smile and picked her up.
The two began walking side by side instead of one following the other.
“(She’s good at hiding her thoughts.)” [Ryner]
Ryner internally evaluated his guide’s ability to conceal her feelings while making sure that it didn’t show on his face. However, he believed that she already knew what he was thinking, or at least, that he was doubtful of her claim. The reason was because of the subtle changes in her expression when he asked his earlier question. The twitching of her brow, the slight wavering of her eyes and the slackening of her jaw told him that his hunch wasn’t unfounded. Coupled with the fact that her kind could tell whenever he was lying, they definitely possessed a racial trait that allowed them to see inside others’ heads.
As such, Ryner congratulated himself for choosing not to sleep near elves even if it was a detrimental move. After all, whenever he slumbered, unwanted thoughts would rise uninhibited.
If he was a reclusive elf that shunned other races like them, then he would definitely hide this handy skill. That was why he didn’t bother actively asking his hosts about it. However, the main reason was because his goal was to get to their ruins without causing any incident. Constantly probing the elves on topics they didn’t want to talk about could sour their already tense hospitality. Luckily, his guide for today was someone who owed him a huge debt.
As the two walked in silence for a while, a young girl that didn’t appear to have reached ten years of age was energetically running in their direction. But, the moment she saw Ryner, the child’s eyes widened and her body became tense. Tripping over her feet, she stumbled and fell down. Then, while she was shakily picking herself up, teary-eyed, every elf in the vicinity turned their heads towards her. Not only her two parents that came running after their kid, but others approached her while genuinely looking worried.
Ryner and Randiriel, who was carrying Mi, walked passed the commotion. Although the Traveler really wanted to help the little girl, she didn’t change direction and stuck to her job of guiding the guest to the festival. She stole glances of Ryner, who was watching the situation surrounding the little girl with interest. His half-closed eyes were slightly sharper as they keenly observed every detail.
The elven woman’s mouth twitched as if she was hesitating to say something.
“… It’s really useful, you know.” [Randiriel]
But, after a few moments of silence, she made up her mind and began speaking. The child’s sobs along with several voices comforting her could be faintly heard behind them, accompanying her decision.
“My people can stand together, stand as one because of it.” [Randiriel]
“Mmm-hmm.” [Ryner]
Ryner merely hummed indifferently and nodded at her words, looking like he didn’t care about the conversation. But, the Traveler knew that he had shelved away his mild surprise and focused on carefully listening to her. His senses were on alert for any falsehood. There was no preface, no introduction to the topic, but he understood.
Randiriel was revealing information about her kind that he wanted, information that had been troubling him for the last few days. And, just as he suspected, it was information that she most likely wasn’t supposed to talk about from her demeanor.
“We can understand each other without words and help one another. Someone’s pain will not be ignored or go unnoticed, and that’s something you humans seem adept at doing.” [Randiriel]
“What’s that supposed to mean?” [Ryner]
“You’ve already seen our city. We elves prefer to live away from the outside world. Of course, sometimes, there are exceptions. The young and curious ones who wonder what lies beyond the forest. I am… Was, one of these few exceptions. Our people call us ‘Travelers’, a moniker for those who choose to venture outside of Hossylei Nac.” [Randiriel]
While speaking, Randiriel gazed upward. The familiar city-wide dome of branches, leaves and glowing flowers covered the darkening red sky. It was a sight that she had missed and dearly longed for. Something that she had believed she would never see again while trapped in that noble’s basement.
“I saw the world outside of our forest during my travels as I hid my face and race. I saw old men beg for coins on the side of the road and the strong trample the weak to satisfy their greed. I saw how different races chose not to mingle, but rather preferred to look down on one another.” [Randiriel]
She paused in her bitter reminiscence and looked at Ryner.
“I saw why my ancestors chose to live in seclusion, away from humans, beastmen and the rest of the world.” [Randiriel]
Her eyes were cold and her voice had a barely suppressed hostile edge to it, but they weren’t aimed at Ryner. They were aimed at his kind in general.
“And I… Experienced it, myself.” [Randiriel]
The words she uttered in almost a whisper carried the pain and hatred that was cultivated at the hands of her aggressors. Her face twisted from the recollection and her hands tightened their hold on Mi unconsciously, prompting the puppy to bark in protest.
“Riiight… So, why are you suddenly telling me this?” [Ryner]
But, Ryner paid it no mind. He offered no sympathy, pity or comfort. Instead, he dully asked his guide with his usual sleepy-looking expression. However, Randiriel wasn’t incensed by his behavior. Rather, she seemed bewildered because of what was going on under the surface. Instead of sensing indifference like his attitude would suggest, she provoked his boredom.
It wasn’t a sluggish, slothful one that showed up during quiet, eventless days. On the contrary, to the puppy-carrying elf, it felt disappointed, unstable, agitated even. The man’s reaction was something she never expected, let alone experienced before. If she had to compare it to something, it felt a bit like a dark fog, but was closer to being black clouds heralding a great storm.
That was why her answer to his query happened a beat later after she took a breath and regained her thoughts.
“… Oh, um, I’m… Not too sure myself. You probably understand already that this is not something we want to spread. So, the reason why I’m speaking of my own volition is, maybe, because you held your end of the bargain. Brought us back home. Or maybe, it’s because, though I don’t know your reason for coming here, I feel sympathy for you. Out of everyone in Hossylei Nac, you’re probably the one person who’s the most cautious of his surroundings. Also tired and always on edge?” [Randiriel]
The Traveler slowly and hesitantly listed multiple reasons that came to her mind. All of them felt just as right and just as wrong as the previous one.
“Or maybe, I just felt compelled.” [Randiriel]
Because the main reason was simply too abstract to be a reason at all.
“You have a strange charm.” [Randiriel]
“Falling for me?” [Ryner]
“Not that.” [Randiriel]
Randiriel shot him a pointed look, but it was merely in jest, just like his remark.
“What’s the right word in your kind’s language? Right… Aura. ‘Aura’ would fit better. That aura of yours is what made me and my fellow Travelers trust you, despite being a suspicious human that just suddenly appeared in that basement and offered us that untrustworthy deal. It’s what made us put just a bit of faith in you.” [Randiriel]
“… That didn’t make much sense.” [Ryner]
She watched Ryner’s lazy, calm, impassive face and was secretly impressed. Throughout her monologue, his emotions were greatly fluctuating, but his expression didn’t change one bit.
The two locked gazes for about ten seconds before the elven woman looked away first and smirked.
“Well, with how the High Elder favors you for saving his daughter, I know for sure that he’ll spill everything right away if you just ask. So, it doesn’t really matter if I say anything or not.” [Randiriel]
----------------------------------------
“Huh? That? How we can see through lies right away? Of course elves can’t read minds. What we read are emotions.” [Itham]
“(… He seriously did spill everything right away.)” [Ryner]
Itham unhesitatingly spilled it all as he drunk whatever liquid was inside his glass.
Having arrived at the festival’s venue, Ryner was guided to a seat at a round stone table while Randiriel left to sit elsewhere. Sitting next to him was Itham. Ryner had told him about the conversation he had with the Traveler. The High Elder, hearing it all and understanding what his human guest wanted to ask, just bluntly let everything out.
“Actually, how come you’re just asking that now?” [Itham]
“That’s probably because the human knew better than you since IT was supposed to be a SECRET, YOU STUPID HIGH ELDER!!!” [Elder]
Next to Itham was a male elf with short golden blonde hair that was roaring in anger and who happened to be one of the Elders.
“We told you not to reveal so much about our kind to the human, but as always, YOU DON’T LISTEN!!” [Elder]
Moreover, it wasn’t just him. All four Elders were present and similarly furious.
“HAND OVER YOUR POSITION TO YOUR DAUGHTER ALREADY!!!” [Elder]
“GET SUMMONED BY THE SPIRITS ALREADY!!!” [Elder]
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“RETURN TO THE FOREST’S EARTH ALREADY!!!” [Elder]
“… Just die already.” [Elder]
“YOU’RE ALL BASICALLY SAYING THE SAME THING!!! AND THE LAST ONE WAS BRUTALLY HONEST!!!” [Itham]
As the five Elders of Hossylei Nac began yelling at each other, Ryner tactfully decided to wait until they were done.
So, he once more took a look around him to appreciate the festival held by the elves. Besides some magically erected squared houses of stone, there were no buildings. It was an open field under the sky, if one could call it that. Unlike what he originally expected, the festival was located in the middle of the lake, not the middle of the city.
Randiriel had brought him out of Hossylei Nac and onto a floating platform of rock. It was just like the ones used by the elves as boats, except for its circular shape and the fact that it housed a round table as well as chairs where eight individuals could occupy. Its size was large enough that people could lie down next to the table without worrying about falling over. Furthermore, the tables and chairs had also been instantly created thanks to magic. The workmanship of every magical creation was brilliant. The surface was perfectly even and smooth. A large white cloth with green embroidery on the edges was draped over the table and a fluffy cushion was placed on the seat of each chair.
Other platforms surrounded Ryner as more and more people descended from the large tower. These elves glided down gently as they used their magic to control powerful wind currents around them. Moreover, they also brought from the city baskets and bowls containing food as well as cushions and table drapes.
A woman was holding up several steel bowls covered by a lid over her head with one hand using wind magic. A child carried a wooden basket in his arms that contained plates of various fruits and vegetables from which he sneakily took a few grapes, but got found out by his father.
Family, friends and lovers were creating platforms, tables and chairs of varying sizes and numbers so that they could all eat together. Then, they draped the tables with a finely made cloth, placed soft cushions on the chairs and arranged the piping hot food. Multiple balls of fire floated above their heads to light up their surroundings as the sky’s crimson shade faded and night began its descent.
Thanks to all of the sources of light hovering over them, the place was brightly lit, showing everyone’s forms and faces as they set things up. The surface of the gigantic lake that was pitch black at night could also be seen, gently swaying and shimmering because of the platforms and fireballs. Ryner once more noted how easily elves could utilize magic. They were continuously keeping the fireballs in the air and the platforms floating in place, but not one of them seem to be running out of mana. Moreover, they didn’t appear to need to focus to keep the different spells going.
Ryner thought of Itham who was in charge of controlling the water around the platform he was on. Yet, the High Elder didn’t seem to be doing his job and was more preoccupied with yelling at the other four Elders.
While watching his surroundings, Ryner drank his beverage from the beautiful glass cup that was passed to him. The item was a work of art, with detailed engravings of flowers and long, curling grass blades on its clear, transparent surface.
The content was milk. Just like what Ryner had asked for, it was refreshing dairy milk that he liked to drink.
It looked like milk. It tasted like milk. It was definitely milk.
Even so, he couldn’t help but stare at it curiously. The reason for that was happening on the platform floating right next to his. A woman took a similar glass cup and was about to fill it with milk for her little boy. As such, she picked up a fruit that looked like a yellow eggplant and squeezed its base. Milk poured out from the other side of the vegetable that opened up like the petals of a blooming flower. The child happily accepted the cup from his mother and gulped down the content.
Ryner looked at his glass cup again and at the chilled beverage it contained. It was milk, but it came from a yellow eggplant that somehow kept it cold. He wasn’t sure if he should see it as a dairy product, juice or maybe even fruit milk. To him, it was weirder than when he saw the food lined up on the table.
Besides what he could identify as meat, fish and vegetables, there were items that looked like bugs. In fact, they truly were bugs.
On his right was a bowl of pill bugs the size of marbles that resembled black caviar on top of fresh green lettuce. Next to it was a plate that had a single big worm, cut in slices and dripping in a dark brown sauce like meatloaf. In front of the arguing Elders sat a half-eaten bowl of white larvae stir-fried with onions.
Unlike some of the less omnivorous elves Ryner had met in other worlds and who mostly ate fruits and vegetables, the ones in Hossylei Nac apparently ate everything, including insects. Thankfully, he wasn’t taken aback since Itham had already fed him a slug under the pretext of it being for the sake of entering the Forbidden Tomb. Still, it was a good thing that the human had already gotten used to eating bugs many lifetimes ago. Otherwise, he would have been revolted by his elven hosts’ diet.
While drinking milk that came from a chilled, yellow eggplant and munching on pill bugs, Ryner let the time pass. The pill bugs were crispy and tasted a bit like garlic shrimp. When he tried the larvae, the texture was pleasantly chewy and the more he chewed, the deeper the taste became, which was similar to sweet and sour pork. Mi seemed to be enjoying herself too as she single-mindedly devoured a fish behind his seat. She was afraid of the insect cuisine, though.
Meanwhile, more elves came floating down from the large tower along with more food and magically set up their own space. As their numbers increased, so too did the number of platforms and fireballs. The sight felt mystical and soothing. It was like staring at a campfire or a fireplace. The wavering of the softly burning flame had the strange effect of calming one’s mind and the heat it gave off warmed one’s body.
Ryner didn’t understand the point of holding a festival in the middle of a lake where the roars of waterfalls could be constantly heard in the background. Although everyone could easily build their own accommodations, bringing more food once it ran out should be a chore. However, according to Itham, there were temporary food storages for such a case, which were the few squared houses built on huge platforms that dotted the place here and there. Also, it wasn’t difficult to cook up additional dishes on the spot using magic.
Moreover, the main reason for designating the lake as the location was because Itham’s cousins would be fishing and putting on a show very soon. It was supposedly a great opportunity to eat fresh fish that only came out at night.
By the time the sun was no longer visible, darkness had been completely banished by the many fireballs suspended in the air. It was as if, in that area where platforms covered the surface of the lake, daytime still ruled. The only other source of light was Hossylei Nac that sat atop its tower of rock and waterfalls and the stars that twinkled in the dark sky. The chilly bite of the night was gone as the fireballs kept the festival’s venue bright and warm.
“Human.” [Elf]
As Ryner began eating a grilled fish, a man’s voiced came from behind him. Turning around, he saw that three new passengers had silently hopped aboard his “boat”. There was one man and two women. All appeared to be in their twenties and, just like everyone else of their kind, were gorgeous, golden blonde-haired and emerald green-eyed elves.
“Thank you very much.” [Elf]
The elven man spoke again.
“Thanks for saving our daughter.” [Elf]
The pointy-eared woman added.
Once they said their piece with a solemn expression, the two left by jumping from platform to platform. The one remaining sighed tiredly after seeing her parents’ backs move farther away.
“Sorry about that, Ryner.” [Traveler]
The woman was their daughter and one of the seven Travelers Ryner had saved.
“My parents don’t really get that humans need more than a few words to understand. Also, they don’t like humans. But, they really are grateful to you.” [Traveler]
She explained so while sporting an apologetic expression.
“I would also like to officially thank you. For saving us, and bringing us back, thank y-.” [Traveler]
“Those two were your parents!?” [Ryner]
“And you’re not listening to anything I’m saying. Of course.” [Traveler]
The Traveler’s shoulders drooped disappointedly. She put a hand to her forehead and sighed again.
“Right. You were that type of man. Randiriel did say you don’t remember any of our names.” [Traveler]
An exasperated murmur could also be heard.
“You three look like siblings. Hell, now that I think about it, I haven’t seen any old-looking elf yet.” [Ryner]
“We’re not humans who can’t even live for a hundred years, Ryner. Elves have longer lifespans, nearly five hundred years. Children grow slowly and gradually stop aging after reaching adulthood. My father’s 251 years old and my mother’s almost 219. I’m still 173.” [Traveler]
“Ohhh, is that so?” [Ryner]
“… You seem less surprised than when you heard they were my parents.” [Traveler]
“I’d be more surprised if you had blue hair.” [Ryner]
“… No elf has blue hair.” [Traveler]
“Yeeaah, you golden-headed guys are an original bunch.” [Ryner]
Once more, the Traveler sighed tiredly and covered her face with her hand. Before her grateful feelings turned into rude thoughts, she decided to return to where her family was. A few friends along with their families were also present to celebrate her safe return. It wouldn’t do for her to be gone for too long when she was the person that they especially came to see.
“Anyway, I just came to thank you, okay?” [Traveler]
The Traveler, a bit peeved, said as she shook her head to switch her thoughts.
“And my name’s Canna! Make sure you remember it! Same for when everyone else shows up to thank you!” [Canna]
After leaving those parting words, Canna hopped away from platform to platform like her parents.
“Isn’t that nice? Her family came to thank you.” [Itham]
When Ryner turned around, Itham was looking at him, grinning smugly for some reason. The quarreling between Elders had stopped at some point and they had heard the conversation between one of the formerly captured Travelers and their human benefactor.
“You done fighting already? It’s only been around an hour.” [Ryner]
“That’s right! And I won!” [Itham]
The sleepy-looking man’s sarcasm went over the elf’s head and he, while puffing his chest, proudly raised a clenched fist to the sky as the victor. His four opponents seemingly didn’t make a fuss over his behavior, but one of them coughed and said “doting father” in a hushed tone. Another one also murmured “idiot’. Itham heard both insults, but chose to let them slide.
“More importantly, Ryner, if someone says ‘thank you’, then ‘you’re welcome’ should come after. That child’s parents deserved that much.” [Itham]
“What’s with the sudden lecture on manners? Are you my dad? My mom? Hell, you could probably pass for both. Or even my brother.” [Ryner]
“No, liste-.” [Itham]
“Or my sister.” [Ryner]
“List-.” [Itham]
“But it’ll feel really weird telling people we’re siblings and they’ll definitely call me the leftovers. So then I’ll have to tell them that they’re right, that sadly you got all of the looks while I got the brawns, the brains and everything else. Except luck. Seriously. I think it holds a grudge, like I erased the saved file of its Pok-.” [Ryner]
“Stop spouting weird things and listen! This is important! You didn’t really understand those two!” [Itham]
The High Elder interrupted Ryner’s monologue and slammed his hand on the table twice, urging him to pay attention.
“Pretty sure I did. They honestly thanked me for saving their daughter, right?” [Ryner]
“Yes, but just how thankful they were, how much emotion was put in every word, you didn’t see, hear or feel.” [Itham]
Itham pointed at Ryner with his fork, his expression like that of a teacher lecturing his student.
“Emotion, Ryner. That’s what it’s all about for my people. Because we elves can sense the emotions of those around us, words often become unneeded. Just like with that girl’s parents, they did not say a lot nor did they show much on their faces. To a human, that couple might appear curt. But, if you were an elf, you would have understood the weight of their gratitude.” [Itham]
The High Elder straightened his back, crossed his arms on the table and looked at Ryner in the eyes. His serious expression and sharp atmosphere made him feel like a different person since he normally exaggerated his actions and always fretted about his daughter.
“Those two just declared that they are willing to support you, a human. In front of us Elders, at that. That’s the weight of their brief ‘thank you’.” [Itham]
However, although he finally radiated some dignity as the most important person of Hossylei Nac, Ryner wasn’t awed by his presence nor did he feel any respect. He only turned his half-closed eyes of different colors to the other Elders and directed an inquisitive look.
“Is this really alright? He’s telling me about your big secret again. Wasn’t everyone yelling at him to shut up a while ago?” [Ryner]
He asked a valid question and received a fainthearted reply.
“… A bit late to ask that. Our mighty High Elder already told you what we can do.” [Elder]
One of the Elders, the short-haired man that yelled first, said in a tired and bitter voice. Upon closer inspection, all four of them seemed fatigued even though they didn’t move from their seats at all.
“… Arguing with Itham is so damn draining. It’s like, scolding a spoiled child. A big, super spoiled child.” [Elder]
One of them, a woman with her long hair tied up behind her back, helpfully grumbled out the reason. Moreover, she was slumped over the table.
“… Even children aren’t as difficult as him.” [Elder]
The man who was similarly resting his head on the table next to her feebly spoke up. His long hair that was tied into two braids was being used like a pillow.
“… Actually, why was a child like him picked as the High Elder?” [Elder]
The last of the four, a long-haired woman whose distinguishing feature was a mole on the lower left corner of her mouth, asked a very sensible question.
“You fools! I am no child! I am older than all of you at the respectable age of 408!” [Itham]
Itham raised his chin, looked at the sky and spread his arms.
“Show respect to your High Elder!” [Itham]
Then, he demanded in a tone of voice that was lower than how it normally was.
“Human, have you tried the vegetable stew? It’s refreshing.” [Elder]
“Not yet. I’ve mainly been munching on pill bugs.” [Ryner]
“Oh, though that High Elder told us, seeing you eat our dishes without prejudice really is surprising. Then try the stir fried larvae. The onions are still crunchy and a bit spicy. It adds a nice fragrance.” [Elder]
Although Itham was doing his best to appear grander and more majestic than usual, unfortunately, no one was listening to him anymore.
“I recommend the mushrooms. They were roasted with butter and go well with drinks.” [Elder]
“Hold it. If we’re talking about drinks, then fried fish is the way to go.” [Elder]
“I think alcohol goes well with anything, as long as its honey wine. So stop drinking milk and have a glass.” [Elder]
Moreover, everyone was talking harmoniously before he knew it.
“Stop ignoring me!” [Itham]
So Itham broke the peaceful atmosphere as he shouted and pointed at Ryner.
“Ryner! Don’t suddenly get friendly with them! These sorry excuses for Elders set you up to fail! Remember the Blood Trial!? It wouldn’t have been weird if you had died and they were counting on it! These sorry excuses for Elders would have preferred you dead!” [Itham]
“High Elder, you’ve been pretty rude to us lately.” [Elder]
“I’ve been accumulating a lot of stress because of you!” [Itham]
Although Itham was reminding him of some sensible facts, Ryner didn’t seem to share his concerns.
“*Munch munch* Meh, don’t worry about it.” [Ryner]
As he chewed on some roasted mushrooms, he shrugged his shoulders and answered nonchalantly.
“It’s their job not to trust strangers. I don’t like having to wait here, well, except for the food, but I get it. Besides, I’ll enter the ruins eventually.” [Ryner]
He said calmly and confidently to the five highest ranking elves of Hossylei Nac. All of them looked dumbfounded by his lack of ill will and worry.
“Also, that Blood Trial was a lot of fun. Most fun fight I’ve had in a while. So, I’ll let it go. But, don’t do it again or I’ll get mad. Seriously.” [Ryner]
Ryner then added before throwing a roasted mushroom in his mouth. The five men and women watched him in silence and exchanged a few perplexed glances among themselves. Thanks to their elven trait, they had a glimpse of something that the young human didn’t mention in his words. Something that caught their attention.
“Hmm, how peculiar.” [Elder]
One of the Elders decided to speak up, acting as everyone’s representative. It was the man who possessed long hair braided in two.
“Huh? What? Why are you looking at me like that?” [Ryner]
“It’s your feelings towards battles. They are similar to the amazons. But, there’s something else, floating, drifting underneath. Something that feels… Contradicting.” [Elder]
The beautiful man said, mostly to himself, as he tapped his chin and gazed interestingly at the visitor. His compatriots did not say anything or nod in approval, but they all agreed with him. After all, they could feel each other’s emotions. That also included the human’s turmoil at his words. Although that lazy expression didn’t change one bit and Ryner was slowly enjoying his food without a care in the world, nothing was hidden from them. Before the elves, the mask that he had perfectly sculpted as his face, that stood strong like a wall of steel, could not protect anything.
Rubbing his chin and narrowing his eyes, the Elder was about to speak again when sudden clapping interrupted him. All of the elves gathered on the lake were applauding. Knowing what it meant, the Elders and the High Elder joined in as well. They stopped staring at Ryner and looked up at Hossylei Nac, ending the topic there.
“Oh, my cousins are here.” [Itham]
“High Elder, stop calling them that. It’s getting embarrassing.” [Elder]
Itham’s remark got a few Elders to roll their eyes.
A ring of fire was created in the sky and illuminated six objects of stone that weren’t there before. Ten meters long and wide enough for one person to walk on, they were sticking out of the top of the tower and hanging over the edge. To Ryner, they looked like planks, or a pool’s springboards. From these, six humanoid shapes suddenly ran out and jumped headfirst, falling straight into the lake a hundred meters below. Raising a column of water upon crashing, their figures did not rise up again, which would make people wonder if they survived the impact.
Moreover, others followed their lead as more came jumping down from Hossylei Nac six at a time. Ryner watched the barely perceptible humanoid forms crash into the lake. While wondering if he just witnessed divers putting on a show or a group suicide, his surroundings gradually dimmed. The many fireballs around the area of the floating platforms were shrinking in size and moved to hover right on top of their respective creators’ tables. These sources of light, which were like bright lanterns, had become similar to a candle’s softly burning flame.
As the only thing Ryner could clearly see was his own table and the facial outlines of the five other elves sitting with him, another source of brightness caught his vision. Different to the familiar, orange glow of fire, this light was bluish white, soft and rather mysterious.
The reason being was that it was coming from below the lake.
Glowing shapes were moving around slowly, illuminating the water and allowing one to see the various small ripples and waves on the lake’s surface.
“Right on time.” [Itham]
After hearing Itham’s somewhat boastful comment, a column of water suddenly rose in front of Ryner’s eyes. Moreover, it fluidly changed from a pillar standing straight to an arc like a rainbow. Inside of it, glowing entities were freely swimming, entering from one end of the arc and returning to the lake from the other. Straining his eyes, Ryner recognized the forms as fish that possessed luminous, undulating lines on their bodies. That meant that, at the moment, the lake was being lit up by many bioluminescent fish.
Various more structures began to spring up and take shape such as balls of water that floated like bubbles, multiple rings of various sizes that spun slowly in place, and even a tree that was ten meters high. Every form that emerged from the lake had fish swimming inside them and, as a result, they gave off a phantasmal bluish white glow. Abruptly, in the span of a dozen seconds, the venue of floating platforms where everyone ate had become a veritable light show.
Then, while Ryner was enjoying the various magical attractions surrounding him, a half-naked person emerged from the water and landed on his platform. Thanks to all of the magically made structures filled with glowing fish, his physical characteristics could be seen.
It was a handsome man with long pointy ears. From his racial trait, it was obvious that he was an elf. However, unlike everyone else around him, the person had brown skin. Furthermore, his hair was of a silvery white and his eyes were grey-colored.
“High Elder, Elders, here are some night fish.” [Elf]
Speaking in the elven language, the half-naked man, after eyeing Ryner cautiously, tossed a water orb that contained five glowing fish like a ball with a wave of his finger. Chanting a few quick words to activate his magic, Itham stretched his hand out and took control of the liquid sphere, making sure it retained its shape as it floated above his palm.
“Thanks, cousin. We’ll fry these up right away.” [Itham]
“High Elder, please stop calling us that. It’s really getting annoying.” [Elf]
“Why not? It’s not like I’m wrong. Anyway, who brought the cooking set?” [Itham]
“I have it. I’ll take care of cooking the fish.” [Elder]
“Good idea. You are the best cook out of all of us.” [Elder]
“He and his wife always compete with their daughter as judge after all. He’s had lots of training.” [Elder]
“Speaking of which, is your wife still on a losing streak?” [Elder]
“Do you have to ask? I’m unbeatable.” [Elder]
While the five most influential elves were nonchalantly talking, Ryner was examining the one who had brought them some bioluminescent fish. The man didn’t have the identical features of all of the elven inhabitants of Hossylei Nac that Ryner had seen. However, it wasn’t the first time that the human with mismatched colored eyes met someone like him. In fact, he had talked to, fought with and killed many like him before.
Moreover, it wasn’t the first time that he had seen what the brown-skinned elf was wearing. However, whether it’d be his race or his clothes, Ryner couldn’t help but be surprised.
Mostly by his clothes.
“Oh, right. Ryner, this is probably the first time you’ve met one of our cousins since, well, you’ll never see them awake during the day. No wonder you’re surprised.” [Itham]
Thanks to their racial ability, Itham, and all of the other elves on the platform, sensed his bewilderment, but mistook the real, true cause for it.
For the cause was the drenched man’s single article of clothing that was pure white like virgin snow.
“More attuned to water than any of us and a sleepyhead when the sun is up, he’s a-.” [Itham]
So, interrupting the High Elder’s explanation, Ryner pointed at the brown-skinned, silvery white-haired elf, and exclaimed loudly.
“A DARK ELF’S WEARING A SPEEDO!!” [Ryner]