Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The elves had a proud and glorious history. They once ruled the whole continent and many alternate dimensions. However, when a few apertures appeared and connected Abyssal Maw to the main material world, and the Demon Lords arrived with their subordinates in a scourge, bringing forth slaughter and destruction, everything became their memories.
In the war, the Elvish Court finally crushed the demonic army and sealed the channels, but the elves suffered brutal casualties, too. Their population plummeted. Because of their low birth rate, they never recovered from the disaster, and they were gradually replaced by other races. They had retreated to the ‘Nature’s Inhabitance sss’ where the few elvish trees were located. One of their habitants was the Stroop forest that was one third the size of Holm.
During the long time, the other forests that had elvish trees were destroyed, occupied and melted into human society one after another, but the Stroop forest, where the court was located, was still dominated by elves thanks to their experts and the Elvish Royal Tree. It was the sanctuary for the Sun Elves, the Moon Elves, the Wood Elves, the Sea Elves and all the other types of elves.
According to the file of the Congress of Magic, more than a hundred thousand elves lived in the Stroop forest. Also, their territory extended all the way into the Boundless Ocean, where they reigned a fairly large area together with the tribe of the Sea Elves. It was hard to for them to expand, but they could easily protect themselves.
“The Elvish Court has six legends. The strongest of them is Queen Aglaea who has half melted with the Elvish Royal Tree. She is at the peak of legendary and good at natural spells.”
Now that Lucien had volunteered to go, Douglas introduced the situation of the Elvish Court for him. “Of the other five legends, three are druids. Grand Druid Malfurion, who came to the Congress before, is one of them. Together with another two non-elvish legendary druids, they established ‘Elder Council of the Druids’ to coordinate the relationship between the non-elvish druids and elves.”
“That is to say, there are only eight legends in the Stroop forest?” Lucien did not know much about elves and druids.
Holding his chin, Brook added for Douglas, “Yes, the remaining two elves are legends similar to legendary knights. They can perform natural spells with the tattoos on their body. They will be half a level stronger when they fight in a forest. The details will be given to you later.”
“As a matter of fact, we planned to ask for their help when we fought the South Church last time. Although they needed to defend themselves, it shouldn’t be a problem for them to spare two to three legends. However, the total war had already ended before we did so…” Said Oliver regretfully. He was interested in the elves who were good at art and history, particularly those who were females. “It’s a shame that I have to go to the World of Souls…”
Knowing that Monster Viken and Pope Viken were mortal enemies, quite a few legendary sorcerers had decided to study the Furnace of Souls and observe the Pathway of Immortality from closer. For them, it wouldn’t be too dangerous as long as they did not encounter the pontiff of the North Church.
That was because the legendary creatures in the World of Souls had suffered heavy losses in the Congress’ first adventure. Even the Primordial Mummy had been killed by Lucien. Half of the intelligent legendary spectres had perished, too!
As for the Realm of Gates, although Monster Viken wouldn’t attack the strangers with full strength, one could easily happen upon the Angel King and the six seraphs. None of the legendary experts except for Douglas, Brook, Fernando and Hathaway were willing to take the risk.
Pondering for a moment, Douglas said, “This will only be a preliminary investigation. Our main purpose is to figure out why the gap of Abyss, which was steady for tens of thousands of years, suddenly went out of control and even corrupted the Elvish Royal Tree… Erica, Atlant, you are demon experts. Which of you will go with Lucien?”
“I’ll go. I happen to need some demons for my research.” Atlant nodded, his eyes closed, but his voice seemed to be echoing in everybody’s heart.
After the candidates were decided, the emergency meeting ended. Most of the members of the Highest Council left in a hurry.
They had some ideas about the future of quantum mechanics after reading Lucien’s recent papers, but they met a lot of difficulties in their actual research, because they needed the support of powerful mathematical tools!
Although mathematics had been flourishing since Nature was established, the improvement was not as significant as the leap in the microscopic domain. Therefore, they had to stop for now and focus on mathematics to build up the foundation.
Due to the limitation of mathematics, the surging tide in the microscopic domain was slowed down, waiting for the next rise.
Douglas led Lucien and Atlant to a room on the thirty-fifth floor. Two blond elves rose and asked earnestly, “Mr. Douglas, have you settled on your candidates? Will the two gentlemen come with us? Well, Lu…”
They were exactly Princess Iristine and Prince Arcelion, Lucien’s old acquaintances, so they blurted out after they saw him. But they soon remembered Lucien’s identity and changed their attitude, “…Mr. Evans.”
After the greeting, Arcelion and Iristine both had complicated feelings. When they met Lucien ten years ago, he was merely a second-circle sorcerer, but after only ten years, he had become a level-two legendary legendary sorcerer. In comparison, they were almost on the same level as they had been ten years before!
For elves, ten years was not a long time, but when they met Lucien again, they suddenly had a feeling that time really flies, which transformed forests into oceans and dried oceans into continents.
“No wonder Lucien Evans stressed that time manifests itself by changes…” Iristine only had a basic understanding about arcana.
They looked almost the same as ten years ago, albeit a bit more mature, and they were still wearing the clean, natural attires. Therefore, Lucien also recognized them. He nodded at them with a smile as a greeting.
“Lucien ‘Atom Controller’ Evans and Atlant ‘Eye of Curse’ Forman will lead part of the senior-rank and middle-rank sorcerers to the forest and provide help for you.” Douglas introduced them officially.
Taking a breath to ease her anxiety, Iristine said, “Your Excellencies, I’ll explain the situation to you briefly…”
According to her, there was a gap that leads to Abyss in the Stroop forest. It was attacked by demons now and now, but since the gap was not large enough, the Will of Abyss and the Prince of Abyss could not arrive. Without their leadership, the Demon Lords tended to attack each other. Therefore, the Elvish Court and the Elder Council of the Druids could defend the place easily.
However, the supposedly stable gap suddenly went out of control and expanded a few months back. Many demons surged in with their lords. Thankfully, it was Malfurion who defended the place back then, and the worst outcomes were avoided.
After a battle, the demons were banished back to Abyss, and the gap was sealed. However, the elvish queen discovered that the elvish tree was contaminated by the air of chaos and slaughter. After that, part of the elves were corrupted and demonized.
“I hope that you can help us find out why the gap went out of control and figure out a way to stabilize it. That’s the only way for us to eliminate the air of Abyss and prevent the spread of corruption. However, whatever happens in the end, you will have the sincerest thanks from the elves.” Iristine was much more polite and better at talking than before.
However, whether or not the contamination and the corruption were related to the gap of Abyss required investigation.
Lucien nodded. “I need to make preparations and summon my assistants.”
Many things could be investigated by the senior-rank or middle-rank sorcerers. It was a way to improve the talents of the Congress, too.
“Alright, Your Excellency.” Arcelion held back his anxiety and said.
He was as brilliant as the sun previously, but what happened recently had upset and exhausted him, making him as lackluster as the sunset.
……
Inside the Atomic Universe…
After asking the Affair Committee to recruit personnel, Lucien went home and told Natasha the situation.
“The Elvish Court? The Stroop forest? Demon invasion?” Natasha’s eyes immediately glittered. Having just become a legendary knight, she seemed to be in dire need of a target to practice her skills.
Seeing her face, Lucien immediately scratched his chin and chuckled, “You want to go?”
Natasha ‘solemnly’ said, “The system of parliament, cabinet and prime minister ensures that nothing will go wrong in the kingdom even if I’m away for a couple of months. You always took adventures on your own, and now I can finally accompany you. This is my wedding vow for you!”
“But I feel that accompanying me is only a secondary reason for you. Well, I can hear your roaring blood and pulse right now.” Lucien made fun of her.
Not embarrassed at all, Natasha declared, “Our minds are truly connected! It’s officially decided then!”
Lucien could only shake his head, smiling in indulgence.
……
At noon the next day, in a room next to the conference room of the Highest Council, Lucien met the sorcerers who had been summoned to join the trip with him.
“Annick? Sprint? Why are you here?” Lucien discovered that his four students were among them.
Heidi smiled, “They have been quite taciturn recently, so I’ve dragged them for a walk. Is it not good for them to complete their mandatory mission under your watch? It’s a pity that it’s Chelly and Layria’s turn to supervise the institution.”
“Alright, this is not bad.” Lucien nodded approvingly. His students could not be weaklings in battles. Nobody knew whether or not a major war would break out later. As for what was on Heidi’s mind, Lucien knew it very clearly, but there was no need to point it out, because she certainly meant well.
Annick and Sprint stood next to them awkwardly, not knowing what they should say.
The member of the Affair Committee to follow Lucien on the grip was also an old friend. He was Jurisian, from the Moonsong League, but he was accompanied by an unexpected member.
“Felipe?” Lucien looked at the sickly-looking man who walked in.
The Eye of Curse, standing next to Felipe, smiled. He is very interested in natural genetics and applied to join us on the journey to the Stroop forest, and I happen to need an assistant. So, I accepted his application.”
“That’s your right.” Lucien did not say anything. Felipe was no longer someone he needed to be cautious about, and Felipe obviously thought so, too. The guy was simply standing next to them, not nearly as aggressive as before, because the gap between them was simply too wide.
……
Hourly news from ‘Arcana Voice’:
“Today, Mr. Lucien Evans, a grand arcanist, a member of the Highest Council and a legendary sorcerer, has left Allyn with Her Majesty Natasha ‘Righteous Sword’ Orvarit for a one-month visit to the elves in the Stroop forest. The delegation also includes Mr. Atlant Forman and Jurisian…”
That was the excuse on the surface.
