Since Embla, the daughter of the clan leader, ascended as Queen alongside King Alfsesfern, the village was reimagined as a monument to power. The fields that once bloomed with gentle Elafindi wildflowers were cleared away, replaced by "Astrallia"—the sacred blossoms that served as the sigil of the pure-blooded Aevanore dynasty.
[ The Nature of Astrallia: Its translucent silver petals overlapped like layers of faceted crystal. By night, they absorbed the moonlight to release a soft, ethereal blue radiance, turning the fields into a shimmering ocean of stars. They emitted a chillingly cold fragrance that sharpened the senses and intimidated visitors with their sheer nobility. ]
The architecture of the village was entirely redesigned, leaving no trace of its humble past. Massive houses of fragrant wood were raised high above the ground, defying the wind and connected by intricate, winding sky-bridges that stretched like a labyrinth in the heavens. The higher the rank, the higher the building ascended, as if to proclaim to the world below that the masters of all Elvenkind now dwelt at the very pinnacle of this wooden paradise.
In the profound silence of the night, deep within the exquisite residence, the playful banter of two noblewomen drifted on the breeze.
"Nives... come here. Come to me quickly, you little rascal."
The voice, clear as a silver bell, belonged to a stunning woman with golden hair as she called for the small snow fox with adorable, wide eyes.
"Sister, stop playing with Nives. I want to know—how did the god Magni die?"
The silver-haired woman stepped forward, scooped the little fox into an embrace, and took a seat firmly on her favorite long bench. This conversation between two high elven beauties sounded simple enough, but for those who knew they were the two most powerful women in the land, every word carried a weight that shifted the world's meaning instantly.
"And what do you know of his death?" the golden-haired beauty asked. She was Enya, the supreme leader of the elven assassins known as "Moon."
"Magni died at your hands, Sister—and by those of Dark Asanee, our new executioner," the silver-haired woman replied, idly scratching the fox's belly. She was Embla, the Queen of all Elves.
"In that case, it's a long story!" Enya replied, still wiggling her fingers to draw Nives' attention.
"Then tell it already," Embla urged, a smile playing on her lips.
"It began with that foolish human prince, Torvin," Enya started with a mocking tone. "I used him as the perfect bait to lure Magni into a trap at the village of Fl?ea. That wandering god had no idea he was walking straight into his grave."
Embla sat still, listening intently while stroking the fox's fur.
"Yet, Magni was still Magni... his strength was unbelievable," Enya chuckled. "Even with me, our finest assassins, and the leader of the Unicorn Witches all ganging up on him, we could barely leave a mark."
"So, that witch made it in time?" Embla asked suggestively. It was she, after all, who had coordinated for Sydra (also known as Sigyn) to join the assassination.
"Indeed. And our 'useless prince' also showed up to join the fray," Enya added, referring to Fenris with utter disdain.
"The boy likely hoped to steal your glory. Hmph... how overconfident," Embla laughed softly.
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"But his subordinate, known as Black Bird, was somewhat useful. She cast a binding spell that froze Magni in place, which helped us immensely in shattering his protective Aura."
"And once he couldn't move, did Dark Asanee simply appear and take his head?" Embla speculated.
"Not yet! When Magni realized he couldn't win, he tried to flee. Do you know what happened next?" Enya teased, letting her sister guess.
"Magni had a dragon—the offspring of the great Vulkanfang—as his mount, didn't he?" Embla asked knowingly, for she too had once been a disciple of Magni.
"Correct! That dragon, Gorfang..." Enya smirked. "In the blink of an eye, just when we thought the god would escape, the dragon sank its fangs into its master's arm! It saw the chance to avenge its father, who died by Magni's axe long ago."
"Truly? Even the mount he trusted most betrayed him?" Embla gasped, surprised by the complexity of the betrayal.
"And in that very moment, Dark Asanee lunged forward and severed the god's head instantly," Enya concluded.
"From what you've told me, it seems every race played a part in Magni's demise—except for the Dwarves," Embla noted.
"Actually... my people brought a rather amusing Dwarf along. So, in truth, every race united to kill Magni," Enya replied with a broad grin.
"How pathetic," Embla said, her eyes flashing with lingering resentment. "Magni spent his life helping and fixing the universe, yet in his final hour, every race turned their blades against him." It was strange, considering she was once his favorite pupil.
"There's one more odd thing. That head witch... when she saw Magni's head fall, she wailed as if her world had ended."
"I can understand her, in a way..." Embla said, her eyes momentarily saddening. She knew that Sydra was the Valkyrie whose marriage to Magni—arranged by Asgard—was rejected by the god. Just as she, a noble Elf, had once been rejected by him as well. This was the true reason her love as a student curdled into the hatred of an enemy, though it had been so long she felt she should have forgotten it by now.
"You understand that woman? You are strange indeed," Enya remarked, unaware of Embla's past with the god.
"Anyway, speaking of witches, I have another funny story," Embla said, reaching under her seat to pull out a wooden box.
"Oh! That's the trick box I bought from a Dwarven peddler in Midgard!" Enya recognized it immediately.
"Yes, the one you used to prank me, making me think Nives had vanished," Embla teased the fox with the box.
"Haha! It's just a double-layered box. You were terrified back then!"
"Well, Sister... I used it to hold golden apples and tricked a witch named Frónza. I told her it was the sacred casket of the goddess Ieunn. Now I have them as allies to attack the Dwarves in Svartalfheim."
"What? They believed you?" Enya asked in disbelief.
"I put ten golden apples inside, showed them five, destroyed them, and then opened it to show five more had 'reappeared'—just like the legend of Ieunn's inexhaustible apples. They fell for it completely."
"They really believed you?" Enya was floored by her sister's cunning.
"And I've even made them swear to convert to the worship of Vidar," Embla added with a cold smile.
Enya doubled over with laughter. "Hahaha! Those witches are absolutely idiotic!" She laughed hysterically, imagining the powerful witches being fooled by a trick box that cost only two silver coins.
Suddenly, the doors swung open, and a young elven girl wearing a crown of flowers burst in.
"Auntie really is back!" Dagnisia cried out in joy, rushing to hug Enya.
"Dagnisia, let go... let go! I'm going to fall!" Enya couldn't withstand the force, and both tumbled to the floor, laughing.
"Dagnisia, it's good you're back. What of the message I sent you to deliver to the Forest Elf?" Embla asked, immediately returning to business.
"Once I told King Blár I'd grant him a high elven noble title, he agreed instantly. He won't be joining the war on Modi's side," Dagnisia reported proudly.
"Forest Elves are all the same," Enya remarked as she sat back up. "They crave recognition from us high-borns. It's truly pathetic."
"So, Modi's army will consist only of Dwarves and Humans from now on," Embla summarized.
"Humans are meaningless—weak and foolish. Only the wizards and witches who know their way around magic are of any use in war," Enya scoffed.
"By the way, Mother, I met a wizard on the road selling an Apple of Ieunn at a night market," Dagnisia shared.
"What? Another Apple of Ieunn?" Enya exclaimed.
"He wanted two thousand gold coins for the apple in his hand," Dagnisia recalled.
"Two thousand gold for a single fruit!" Enya laughed, finding it hilarious that both mother and daughter now had their own 'Apple' stories.
"Yes, he was trying to sell a green apple for two thousand gold," the girl insisted.
"Haha! You're lucky you didn't have the money, or you'd have bought a fake," Enya laughed.
"Why are you so sure it was fake, Auntie?" Dagnisia asked, keeping secret the fact that she had tried to rob the wizard but was stopped by a mysterious archer.
"According to legend, the Apple of Ieunn must be golden and kept in a wooden casket. Your mother knows that story very well," Enya teased, glancing at Embla.
"It has to be gold? Then the green one was definitely a fake," Dagnisia muttered to herself.
"Alright, alright. It's time to rest," Embla said, shifting back into the role of a strict mother.
"Fine. But tonight, I'm taking Nives to sleep with me!" Enya declared, scooping up the fox and heading out, leaving the mother and daughter behind.