Elaine's P.O.V

In the grand hall illuminated by crystal chandeliers, the air was thick with tension. The elves were gathered in small groups, talking animatedly. Melian had led us to a secluded area where some elves were already deep in discussion, and we sat down, waiting for the meeting to begin.

The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting stories of wars and conquests, with portraits of noble elves watching over the scene with judgmental eyes. The atmosphere was almost surreal, a blend of elegance and hostility. I felt as though I were under scrutiny, every movement of mine being carefully examined.

Lucius began speaking in an authoritative tone. "Welcome, everyone. As you already know, we are here to discuss the future of our community in Mykotos. We have much to do to ensure our prosperity in this land."

I listened attentively as Lucius and the other elves talked about politics. It quickly became clear that they had no interest in Lorein; all they cared about was strengthening their elven community in Mykotos, especially in the wealthier areas like the capital. On one hand, I felt relieved, as this likely meant they were not involved in Umarth's plans. On the other hand, I realized that convincing them to support my cause would be difficult.

I noticed that many of the elves made derogatory comments about humans. An older elf laughed, saying, "Humans are like ants. They scramble to build something only to see it destroyed in an instant." Another added, "They're so weak and fragile, it's a wonder they've survived this long." But these comments weren’t random. No, they were targeted at me, the only one with "human" features.

These remarks annoyed me, but I tried to stay calm. I suspected Hardil had noticed something, but he said nothing. Melian, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. I strongly suspected she knew all too well how much the elves present hated humans, and the only reason she had brought me there was to make me uncomfortable.

This was her way of telling me I wasn't welcome in their club at the academy, since I wasn't like her or Hardil—a pure elf. She couldn't afford to tarnish her academic image by telling me something morally wrong, so she used this vile and dirty method to make sure I couldn't threaten her with accusations of being cast out of their group because of my "origins."

But, of course, her ridiculous plan would never work. Even though I did not share the elves' hatred for humans, I felt indifferent towards them. Moreover, something she didn’t know was that I was actually 100% elf, so it didn't affect me at all. My only concern at that moment was Umarth and my revenge, and once I had achieved my goal, I would gladly leave that stupid group.

Miriel, like Melian, seemed completely at ease, but after getting to know her these past few days, I was certain that she, the idiot, didn't really understand what was happening in this godforsaken place.

The discussions continued for hours, and the more I listened, the more I realized that these elves would not be interested in helping me free Lorein. They were too focused on their affairs in Mykotos, too busy consolidating their power and wealth.

"Our main goal," Lucius continued, "is to ensure our resources are well managed and that our economic power continues to grow. Mykotos offers many opportunities, and we must make the most of them."

Another elf stood up and began speaking. "We have already established a strong presence in the capital's commercial areas, but we need to do more to ensure our operations are not hindered by humans. We must work together to maintain our supremacy."

The elves nodded, approving their companion's words. I realized that even though they were not interested in Lorein, their attitude towards humans was similar to Umarth's. Their disdain for humans was evident, even if masked by seemingly innocuous jokes and comments. This annoyed me greatly because it reminded me of that vile person, but I tried to keep a neutral expression.

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At one point, Miriel turned to me, smiling. "It seems they have grand plans, don't they, Lucy? Who knows, maybe we could learn something from them."

I nodded, trying to hide my discomfort. I couldn't afford to show my true emotions at that moment. I had to stay focused and attentive to everything that was said.

The discussion shifted to economic and commercial issues. They talked about investments, strategic alliances, and how to manipulate markets in their favor. It was clear they were very well-organized and had detailed plans to ensure the elven community in Mykotos thrived.

One of the elves made a comment about how easy it was to deceive humans with empty promises and rigged deals. "Humans are so greedy," he said, "they don't even realize when they're signing their own ruin. It's almost amusing to see how naive they are."

I wondered if these people could ever be my allies in the fight against Umarth. Even if they seemed to have no direct connection with him, their way of thinking was not much different. This worried me, but I couldn't give up. I had to keep looking for allies, wherever I could find them.

When the meeting came to an end, we didnt stay to eat with them. Instead, we decided to return to the academy before anyone discovered our absence in the dormitory.

As we walked down the corridor that would lead us out, I realized that even though they seemed to have nothing to do with what had happened in Lorein, it was too dangerous to stay here. I couldn't trust any of them, not even Melian, who seemed to know much more than her fake expression showed.

But as we headed towards the exit, out of the corner of my eye, I saw three young elves who had set themselves apart. They were different from the others, with an air of rebellion that made them stand out. I noticed they were speaking in hushed tones, and at first, I tried to ignore them.

But then, as we passed by, I heard something. Something that made my ears perk up.

"We can't...like this," one of them said. "If Umarth...Lorein...end for all..."

Those words hit me like a bolt of lightning. I immediately felt shocked, almost paralyzed by what I had heard.

I stopped dead in my tracks, observing them, still incredulous about what I had just heard from those three mysterious figures.

One of them, a young woman, quickly noticed my gaze, and after whispering something to the two men, they moved away, casting several cautious looks at me.

My heart, my instinct, initially told me to follow those three people, to try and find out what they were talking about.

But then rationality quickly took over, deciding it wasn't wise to follow them, as not only did I not know who those people were, but I also didn't know if they could be potential allies or...mortal enemies.

Indeed, after Umarth's "coup", news about Lorein had been distorted throughout Earthland. The newspapers were full of lies, describing a kingdom at peace under my father's rule, while in reality, Umarth had taken control, killing my father and exterminating my family. My disdain for this manipulation of the truth was deep and dark. It made my blood boil to think of how Umarth had deceived the whole world, making them believe everything was fine while the kingdom was plunged into chaos and tyranny.

And for all these reasons, I decided not to approach those guys; it was too strange that someone was talking about Lorein, and the chances that these elves were traitors to the homeland were not low. I needed more information, time to prepare and understand how to approach them safely.

If they turned out to be valuable allies, then things would be fine; otherwise, if they proved to be followers of Umarth, I would kill them myself.

"Lucy...Lucy!" exclaimed Miriel, who, along with Melian and Hardil, had stopped to wait for me. "Did something happen? Suddenly, you stopped and didn't...”

“Everything's fine,” I replied, trying to cut the conversation short in the hope of not arousing any suspicion – "I thought I saw something..."

“Oh...Okay!” exclaimed the girl, pulling me by the arm towards the other two elves, who were waiting for us.

“You seem strange, Elaine. Are you sure you're okay?” Melian asked, with a worried look. But I knew that expression was fake, and that in truth, she hoped her father's and friends' words had destroyed me inside.

“No, I'm fine,” I replied, deciding to approach Melian, who seemed a bit taken aback – “I really enjoyed today. When is the next event?”

Melian was taken aback by such a question, and for the first time since i met her, i could say that she was genuinelly surprised by my question. [I surprised you, didn't I?] I thought mockingly, laughing to myself.

Melian remained silent for a few seconds; perhaps she was trying to figure out what was going through my mind. Then, with an enigmatic smile, she replied, "The next meeting will be in a week, Lucy. You are always welcome here."

[I don't think so...] I slightly frowned, not believing those last words; "Alright, thank you..."

After that quick exchange, we returned to our carriage, which was waiting to take us back to the academy. I returned home empty-handed, but at the same time, inside me, there was something important—hope.

At that moment, despite everything still being uncertain, I had hope that my plan could finally take shape.

END OF CHAPTER 48 – HOPE