* Date: September 29, 1173

* Time: 9:30 AM

* Location: Valak Forest

''Current altitude is five thousand feet, current heading West of Valak Forest. Cruising at sixty-nine knots. Revising current altitude to two thousand feet.''

Soaring in the air, the Champion of Elvenia flew on his wyvern. For two hours, Adelard searched for an unidentified energy source related to the invader device. The disappearance of the gate and the hero prompted General Eugene to launch several scout parties. Scouring all of Elvenia for the device or the hero, it wouldn't be until reports came from the druids of Valak forest found a clue. An unknown burst of energy disturbed the nearby wildlife of the forest, and the Champion took it upon himself to investigate.

''This is Adelard, Champion of Elvenia. Do you read me, lady Sarroth?''

Utilizing telepathy magic, Adelard communicated, but there would be no response. Hitting another dead end, the Champion continued his heading. It wouldn't be long until he encountered a burnt structure in the distance.

'What is that? Has there been a fire?'

Proceeding forward, Adelard found the burnt ruins of a structure of sorts.

'Hmm, something has happened here. The number of corpses in the area signifies it.'

Spotting elven corpses, Adelard knew that this base was attacked by something. Scanning the area in the air for a few seconds. The Champion would then land on a designated spot and unmount his wyvern.

''Hmm, let's see what happened to you.''

Approaching the torso of an elve, Adelard inspected his clothing and facial features.

''You're a bandit, and your face expresses confusion. You must have been killed by an assassin, but that wouldn't be the case. Your upper and lower half were separated from each other.''

Adelard concluded whoever did this had the strength to slice an elven body in half. The weapon used must've been a great sword. It also seems the blade itself was enchanted.

''I sense that the weapon might be enchanted.''

Standing up, the Champion headed inside the structure to investigate even further. More corpses lay in front of Adelard; they were cut in half or had gaping holes in their stomachs. Furthermore, the structure possessed iron doors and was busted open with punch dents on the doors.

'Hmm, iron doors. This structure must've been a secret base for these bandits...'

'...Opening these doors bare-handed would require immense strength to pull off.'

Proceeding inside the bandit's base, Adelard found more corpses. These bandits had tried to fight and died doing so. The only person the Champion had in mind was the hero.

'Maybe the hero killed these bandits off. That could be a possibility, which means his nearby!'

Reaching the back room of the bandit base. Adelard found nine more bandits dead on the ground. Upon closer inspection, he found holes, and within the bodies were pieces of metal the size of his finger.

''Finally, after hours of searching, I have confirmation that the hero is here in Valak forest. It seems that the hero did not appreciate these bandits...''

''...Bah! Why do I care for them? The hero did us a favor and killed these ingrates for us! Her Majesty wouldn't mind having these degenerates be killed off.''

Having confirmed that the hero was nearby, the Champion took his leave and mounted his wyvern. If the hero was close, he'd likely head west to Ivershine City.

'If the hero was teleported here. Then that means he's headed to Ivershine City to reconnect with Fae. If I fly low and head west, I could spot the hero!'

This gave Adelard the go-ahead to soar toward the sky. After reaching a low altitude, he began to head westward. Continuing his search for the missing hero in Valak forest.

TALE: Hero of Eldrant

Soaring in the air once more, the Champion of Elvenia continued his search. Minutes passed since his investigation with the bandit base. And figure out that the hero was responsible for their demise.

''This is Adelard, Champion of Elvenia. Do you read me, lady Sarroth?''

Utilizing telepathy magic, Adelard communicated and expected no reply from the legendary Blade Spirit. The Champion's patience and hope would be rewarded. Several meters away from his position was the Hero of Eldrant, traveling beside the nobles he rescued.

''Champion, this is Sarroth; do you hear me?''

Adelard's eyes widen. Hearing the former ruler of Elvenia gave him hope. Focusing his magic, he would respond to the hero's servant.

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''Lady Sarroth, it is I! Adelard!''

''Champion of my daughter. I hear you loud and clear. We require transport toward Ivershine City.''

''Of course, milady. I am headed your way.''

Immediately going full speed, he made his way toward Sarroth's position. It wouldn't be long until he saw the enormous silhouette of the Ghost from a distance. Adelard also saw three individuals close to the Ghost. Are they related to the bandits?

'Wait a minute, are those dark elves? Why are they accompanying the hero?'

Landing his wyvern on a patch of grass. Adelard unmounted his wyvern and headed toward the hero. The Champion then realizes that the elves beside the hero were a family.

[Adelard! Good to see you.]

''Likewise, Lady Vee.''

[Great, now that you're here. We need to inform you about the gate.]

''Did the gate teleport to a different location?''

[No...]

[...The Kaynian Lord has it now.]

Adelard's eyes widen, now aware of the invader's possession of the only thing that threatened Eldrant.

* Date: September 29, 1173

* Time: 10:00 AM

* Location: World Alliance Headquarters

Within the confines of the World Alliance headquarters were three of the most influential elves on Eldrant. Queen Gabriella, monarch of the kingdom of Elvenia. King Sebastien, monarch of the kingdom of Xarnoth. Queen Bijou, monarch of the kingdom of Zangratu. The reason for this was two hours ago: Queen Gabriella initiated an em emergency meeting to be assembled with her counterparts.

''King Sebastien. Queen Bijou...''

''...I have called you all here to inform you of a great threat coming.''

The two monarchs wondered. Why did the Queen of Elvenia call them here? The only reason one of them would initiate a meeting is because it concerns the entirety of Eldrant.

''Alright, I'll bite! What is it?''

The King of Xarnoth answered enthusiastically. Although, this was a facade to cover his secret identity as a vigilante. But neither of the two Queens knew about it.

''Yesterday, an unidentified energy source erupted in the countryside of Elvenia.''

''What was the source of the energy?''

''An invader.''

The entire room became silent. The two monarchs couldn't believe what they just heard. An invader was the source of this unidentified energy?

''Please tell me this is a joke, Gabriella.''

''I assure you it is not a joke. There are already casualties reports on a town that was sieged by the invader...''

''...Here, a file containing all the evidence.''

Handing the file over to the other monarch. They scoured through each word and picture of the file. The death of Marie's rider squadron, the battle of Quake Town, and the invader device, the gate.

''This thing, called a gate, is responsible for the invader's arrival?''

''Indeed, Queen Bijou.''

''Where did you receive such information about this, then? For two hundred years, our brightest failed to decode the mystery of invader technology. What did Elvenia do that we couldn't.''

''The information given to me was from the companion of the Hero of Eldrant.''

King Sebastien and Queen Bijou were taken aback. Hero of Eldrant, the prophecy predicted by the former Queen of Elvenia? Trying to wrap their head around Gabriella's logic, they found it laughable.

''Have you lost your sanity, Gabriella?''

''No, I have not Bijou...''

''...Eldrant is under the threat of the invaders once more, and the hero of Eldrant is finally here!''

''It says here on your report a single invader, Gabriella. A single invader sieged a town called Quake Town. Your kingdom can handle that.''

Countered the Queen of Zangratu. Queen Bijou and Gabriella don't get along well with each other. Throughout their time as rulers, they never found something in common between them.

''Well, if you read the description of the gate. It can transport a fleet of a hundred invader warships on Eldrant. And there is currently one such device on Elvenia!''

''On what basis does the Hero of Eldrant's companion have to do with this? For all we know, you could have made this all up!''

Here they were again; the two rulers would once again argue with each other. Only King Sebastien busied himself with reading the entire file. It wouldn't be a matter of time until he had enough of the two Queens arguing with each other.

''Enough!''

The King of the desert shouted. This prompted the two Queens to stop. Sebastien's facial expression spoke of anger and seriousness.

''Have you two know no shame? There is an invader here on Eldrant, and the only thing the two of you would do is argue with each other?''

Pointing out their bickering did the work of shutting the two Queens up. For once in his life, Sebastien was serious, and this was a rare occurrence. The King of the Desert is famous for throwing large parties to mask his vigilante identity, and his freestyle attitude placed an impression on his lavish lifestyle.

''Sebastien, it's just one invader; don't you think summoning us here would matter in the scale of things?''

''Yes, yes it would...''

''...The device you dubbed as a gate. What does it do exactly, Gabriella?''

Regaining her calm and posture. The Queen of Elvenia tried to create a believable statement about the gate. Only Vee can explain the gate's true intentions to her counterparts, but alas, she and the hero were missing.

''From what I have learned. The gate is a device capable of instantaneous star travel throughout the void. The invaders use them as pave roads for their massive warships instead of relying on their vessel's power to traverse the stars.''

''I see. The file mentions the gate possessing stages; care to enlighten us about it?''

''Of course. Stages are the beginning initiations of the gate. They need to be done first before the gate can function. Currently, the gate here on Eldrant is at its second stage.''

''And what is this second stage?''

''It means the gate would teleport randomly; until it reaches the void.''

Taking the word of Queen Gabriella with trust. That could mean that this device can indeed threaten all of them. Sebastien hoped this was the only reason a meeting was called in the first place, but that would be wrong.

''Where is this gate now?''

''Missing, along with the hero.''

''Explain?''

''During the hero's visit to Fae. His companion tried to deactivate the gate. Preventing the invader's entrance into our world. But that has failed, and the gate has teleported outside Fae's confines...''

''...Currently, the gate and the hero are missing. My General has sent out search parties to search for them. While my sister has ordered her subordinates to locate the invader's whereabouts.''

Gabriella stated, and this tipped off the other monarchs. Not only was this gate capable of transporting invader vessels to Eldrant. It was also missing, along with the Hero of Eldrant, which they don't recognize yet.

''You're kidding, right? You entrusted this companion of the hero to meddle with invader technology! Have you truly lost your mind?''

''Tell me, Bijou. What would have been your action? When you are presented with such a threat!''

Suddenly, the door to the meeting chamber was opened. Stepping in were three figures; the first was an enormous armored figure. The second was the famed Champion of Elvenia. The third was a dark elve Sebastien was familiar with.

[Excuse us for our interruption...]

[...But we are here to introduce ourselves to the neighboring kingdoms of Elvenia.]

The Queen of Elvenia eyed the glowing companion of the hero. Finally, with the hero's return, she can convince the others to aid her. Looking at Queen Bijou's direction, Gabriella can finally emphasize the danger of the invaders.

''Cousin?''

''Hello, my king.''

''I thought you were going for a vacation on Elvenia?''

''Yes, my children and I did, but we were ambushed by a group of bandits. If it wasn't for the Hero of Eldrant...''

''...My children would have met an early grave.''

The noblewoman, Josephine, stated to her King. Sebastien's eyes widened upon hearing his cousin had been kidnapped. Luckily, she was alright, and that was all because of the hero.

''I see...''

''...Tell me, what proof do you have for claiming the title of hero?''

Upon hearing the King's demand, Sarroth immediately materialized, facing the current monarchs. The former Queen of Elvenia was disappointed. Hearing the King of Xarnoth question her master about his identity.

''Are you questioning my master's identity, son of Trong?''

Sarroth replied with venom in her voice.

''Lady Sarroth, is that truly you?''

''Yes, but you haven't answered my question, boy.''

Sebastien couldn't believe it. The elve that his father respected was here in front of him. She was angered by his stupidity in questioning the hero.

''Yes, and I humbly apologize for my ignorance, Hero of Eldrant.''

''Your manners have improved in the last hundred years...''

''...Very well, my master forgives you.''

The hero then nodded toward the King. Sitting himself down, if it weren't for the former Queen, Sebastien would need extensive proof to believe that the person in front was the hero. Gabriella seeing her mother scold the King of Xarnoth reminded her of the scolding she and her sister got from their mother.

''Mother, it is good to see you. Hero, lady Vee.''

[Your Majesty, we have important news about the gate.]

''What is it, Lady Vee?''

[Three hours ago, we engaged in combat with the Kaynian Lord for the gates possession...]

[...The worst has happened; the Kaynian has taken the gate to an undisclosed location.]

To Be Continued.