Although Mental Reverie provided a helpful distraction from the constant bouncing, it could do nothing to alleviate the physical discomfort—my abs still ached from her shoulder digging into me. The good news was that the Elf was right, it did not take too much longer to get to where we were going.

When we were within site of the entrance to the city, she finally put me down and I was glad she did. Not only because of the pain her shoulder was causing me, but because of the site that was before me. Two Elves stood on either side of a random opening between two trees. If I was just walking through the forest, I would have never even looked twice at the opening other than for the two Elves.

Both Elves glared at me but said nothing to either of us. Which I was happy for, because the site before me had me speechless. A sprawling city of homes and buildings each built from trees. Some of the larges trees seemed to have been carved out, but I suspect that, based off the other homes, that they were multiple trees grown together.

Multiple homes had trees that were being guided using plants and wiring to have the trees grow together creating the homes. In the crowns of the trees there were will-o-the-wisps floating about to give light to those walking about beneath.

Elves seemed to be moving about here and there, none in too much of a hurry. Even with none in a hurry, every single Elf that saw me glared with disgust and hatred. Some of the older seeming ones even grabbed at their weapons but seeing who I was with they let them go and spit on the ground in my direction.

“I thought that will-o-the-wisps were only found in swamps in the like.” I said to my guide. “Also, can I get your name, I keep referring to you as she or Elf in my head.”

“They usually are, and you can call me whatever you want, Human.” My guide said, sounding less disgusted talking to me than she had before.

I just shook my head deciding to just deal with disgust and anger. I had read that Elves lived much longer lives than humans, to the point that some believed the only reason an Elf died of old age was because it was tired of living.

I also learned that a couple thousand years ago, there was a terrible war between Elves and Humans. Humans had resorted to horrendous acts of torture, such as mutilating ears to resemble human shapes, inserting splinters under fingernails, and other atrocities even more heinous. All in the attempt to expand their boarders and gain control of more resources.

Even though I nor anyone in my family for the last several generations had no possible way of being involved, the Elves hatred of humans had not decreased in the slightest. I accepted that being here now, I would be the target of that hatred.

It did not take long before we arrived at a tree that made the one in the Dungeon look like a sapling. If this world had spaceships, I would not have been surprised that from orbit, you would be more likely to see this singular tree than any of the cities I had ever heard about.

The tree looked similar to an ash tree with smooth dark bark like a younger tree would normally have. The leaves of the tree were also a lot larger than a normal ash tree would have by two or three times the size. The diameter of the tree had to be near fifty feet.

The guards in front of the doors moved with practiced precision, crossing their spears over the entrance in a synchronized motion the moment we approached. Their expressions were stone-cold, and their narrowed eyes locked on me with an intensity that made the air feel heavier. It was as though their disdain could physically push me back, a silent warning to respect the boundary they guarded. They were staring at me with such disgust that I thought I could actually feel it in the air. I stared back at them impassively though, not caring in the least.

I had to admit, my new height was a game-changer. Standing just under six feet tall compared to my previous five-foot-four frame gave my stare an authority it had lacked before. It’s one thing for an adult to maintain an impassive gaze, but imagine a ten-year-old trying to stare you down—how could you feel unnerved?

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“I bring Jace here to seek the council of the elders. His words ring true to nature, but I cannot see how that is the case. If he is a child as he claims, then there is nothing that we can do.”

The guards, having looked at my guide when she started speaking suddenly snapped their eyes toward me with looks of incredulity. Probably also wondering how I was so tall while still being considered a child.

The guard on the left nodded and turned to go inside, I guess to speak to one of the elders and get their advice while the one on the right still barred our entry. My guide did not say anything further and just stood there waiting. I contemplated trying to have a conversation, with one of them however, I knew how that would end.

As we were all standing around just waiting, something came in range of Panoptic Sense. I use the word something because I had no idea how to describe it. It easily stood two stories tall and as it continued to come in our direction, over thirty feet long. Based off the movement lines in Panoptic Sense the creature had so many antlers I couldn’t even count them.

Just due to the size of the creature I turned toward where it was coming from, only for it to almost materialize in front of me. Its nose right against my chest, inhaling deeply as though it was trying to take in every single piece of my sent. I heard gasps from my guide and the guard next to me, but I was to enthralled by the stag before me.

“Greetings Primarch, long has it been since one of your kind has walked these lands. Be in peace and be welcomed in tIQqu'pu' ngem. Though that may be a bit hard to say in the native tongue, so you may refer to it as the Forest of the Primals.”

The creature said in my mind, and judging by the second set of gasps from the Elves beside me, at least they had heard it.

I couldn’t resist the feeling I had when I decided to reach out and place my hand on the stags snout and beautiful white coat, before responding in the creatures mind, “Thank you great one, but you should know that I was not born a Primarch. My talent has let me become one.” With a deep chuckle the creature nuzzled my hand before turning away.

“No one can just become a Primarch, child. If it was offered to you, it is because you are one. Even The System, cannot change that.” It said before just dissolving before me.

That creature knew about my talent, but more than that it knew about The System. I didn’t know if I would ever get the chance to see another creature such as that, but I promised to myself that I would make sure to not allow myself to be so overwhelmed that I didn’t use Identify again.

“Well, I have to admit that I have never seen anything like that before.” I said, changing what I was going to say at the last minute. I did not want to take the chance that calling that creature a big deer would be seen as rude to the Elves.

“Dva’lIn spoke to you. He allowed you to touch him—a privilege unheard of even among our kind. His acknowledgment of you is a rare and profound honor, one that carries great significance in our traditions. For him to grant such welcome, especially to a human, is nothing short of extraordinary. He told all that you were to be welcomed in our home. This might be more unprecedented than a human coming here. I am ta’puqbe’ lIlIya’na laytInghfut, or in your language Princess Lilliana Lightningfoot. I apologize for the rough treatment.” The princess said while bowing her head very slightly.

“Really, a princess went out by herself and was watching a Dungeon all alone?” I replied somewhat rudely. She had used her shoulder as a meat tenderizer to my abs and they still were a little sore.

“Of course not, there were over a hundred guards there with me. Not only that but we had several travelling with us back.” She responded with a smirk.

My mouth dropped open in shock. I was really going to have to work on Panoptic Sense picking up those that were somewhat hidden. I mean the skill was supposed to see movement, so even if someone was invisible the potential energy that they create in their movement should still be seen right?

“I think I like you better when you were mean and quite to me, I get that, Dva’lIn, was it? I get that he said I was welcome but why the sudden change?” I asked. Their reaction was closer to what I would expect if a Deity spoke.

Lilliana giggled before she answered, “Yes, it is Dva’lIn, and the reason for the change in reaction is simple he is one of the four guardians of yIgDraSIyl, who is the god of this forest. We stand before her now. When one of her guards speaks it’s with her voice. Now may I ask a question?”

I looked at her slightly confused, we were in her territory, and she was a princess. Why was she asking my permission for anything. “Sure?” I answered in a somewhat confused and questioning tone.

““What is The System that Dva’lIn mentioned, and what is a Primarch?” she asked, her voice tinged with a curious blend of genuine wonder and cautious intrigue, as though trying to piece together a puzzle while gauging my reaction.

“Oh, you asshole, how could you go telling everyone my business?” I bellowed, only to receive that same deep chuckle as before.