Meanwhile, the male knights—aside from Matias—remained outside the house, engaging in light conversation while keeping watch over their surroundings. They were accompanied by Svander and Belinor, though they felt slightly uneasy as several Elves nearby kept their eyes on them.

  “It seems some of your kind are watching us,” Thauvin remarked.

  “That’s alright,” Svander explained. “We rarely receive human guests, so to the others, you appear unfamiliar.”

  “When was the last time humans came here?” Igor asked.

  “Perhaps around forty years ago,” Belinor replied.

  “What… forty years ago?” Igor repeated in mild shock.

  “Yes. At that time, I was thirty years old, and Belinor was ten,” Svander answered.

  “So that means you’re already quite old?” Igor said.

  “In a sense, yes,” Svander replied. “But among the Elves, such an age is still considered very young. Look at our Great Elder—he is six hundred years old.”

  Hearing this left the knights utterly astonished. After a brief silence, Isac Galeon continued the conversation.

  “Then who was the human who came here forty years ago?”

  “If I’m not mistaken, her name was Madam Mad Er. She stayed here for quite some time and trained under the Great Elder to develop her talent.”

  “Madam Mad Er?” Thauvin echoed in confusion.

  “Yes. She arrived after being separated from her group in the Pisvor Valley. I believe she was only ten years old when I found her near the valley.”

  “Why has Madam Mad Er never spoken of this?” Monci wondered aloud.

  “Because the Great Elder forbade her from telling anyone,” Svander explained. “It was necessary to uphold the agreement between humans and Elves.”

  “What kind of agreement?” one of the knights asked. “Could you explain it in detail?”

  “According to the Great Elder,” Svander began, “your people once hunted the sacred beasts of this forest relentlessly, disrupting the balance of nature. Many sacred creatures nearly went extinct. This led to a war between the Elven race and humankind—until both sides agreed to a pact.”

  “Human nature is often filled with greed,” Svander continued. “When they desire something, they will not hesitate to use force to claim dominion over the world.”

  “Forgive us, my friend,” Isac replied. “But such is the nature of rulers.”

  “Not only rulers,” Belinor interjected calmly. “Greed can dwell within any human who strongly desires something.”

  “Look at your king,” he added. “He sacrifices the lives of his own knights merely to satisfy his fleeting ambition to seize VORNAHURD—something that can never truly be obtained.”

  Hearing this, the knights lowered their heads in silence, knowing all too well that Svander and Belinor spoke the truth. They remained quiet for some time until Matias, Lula, Sasa, Elisabeth, and Sveanna emerged from the house.

  Seeing the knights standing silently with Svander and Belinor, Matias suddenly jumped in excitement.

  “Look, my friends! Look, Hersir! I’ve been healed with magic!” he exclaimed joyfully.

  Once again, the knights were left stunned, unable to believe that Matias’s injuries had been healed in mere minutes.

  “Healing magic truly is extraordinary and effective,” Matias said as he ran to hug Breum.

  “Hey, stop acting like a child,” Breum said, glancing at Matias with a faint smile.

  “I’m glad you’re well again, Matias.”

  “Can every Elf living here use magic like this?” Isac asked.

  “Yes, all of us,” Sveanna replied.

  “Like mine—body resistance magic,” Belinor said, demonstrating his ability.

  “And mine as well,” Svander added, summoning a swirling wind that formed a protective barrier.

  “Everyone here possesses a different magical ability, mostly used for self-defense,” Svander explained.

  “From childhood, we are blessed with magic by Mother Earth herself.”

  “Wow… how unique your people are,” Elisabeth said in awe.

  As they spoke, an Elven messenger named Ludius approached them, carrying a message directly from the Great Elder.

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  “Good afternoon, humans. My name is Ludius,” he said politely. “I bring a message from the Great Elder to Miss Elisabeth. Tonight, around seven after the sun has rested beyond the western horizon and the antlers of the stag have begun to glow you are requested to visit the Great Elder, accompanied by Miss Sveanna.”

  Elisabeth responded respectfully,

  “Very well, Sir Ludius. I will heed the message and arrive at the appointed time.”

  Afterward, the knights mingled freely with the Elves around the settlement. They were welcomed with bright smiles and curiosity, asked many questions about Elven life, filling their hearts with warmth and joy.

  That day, there was no distance between the Elves and the knights. They shared stories, worked together, and helped one another.

  As dawn faded into a cold night, warmth still filled the Elven settlement. They gathered around a bonfire, singing and dancing, accompanied by the colorful glow of ancient stag antlers that shattered the silence of the night.

  Elisabeth, who had been sitting amid the merriment, singing and clapping, was reminded by Sveanna of the Great Elder’s message. The two quietly left the crowd and headed toward the Great Elder’s residence—a massive Mushroom House known as the Guild Mushroom.

  Inside, Elisabeth greeted the Great Elder and sat before a prepared table. The atmosphere was warm, illuminated by fireflies housed within lanterns made of moonglass crystals formed from full-moon frost dew. Dark wooden furnishings enhanced the natural feel of the Guild.

  At the Great Elder’s request, Sveanna went to prepare Moonleaf Tea, leaving Elisabeth to converse with him.

  “Elisabeth, I apologize for summoning you privately,” said Great Elder Ulrion.

  “It’s no trouble at all,” Elisabeth replied warmly. “I’m honored to speak with you.”

  “There is something I wish to ask,” Ulrion said. “How is Madam Mad Er? Is she well?”

  “She is well, Great Elder,” Elisabeth answered. “She is now a very important figure in the Kingdom of Normandia, and I serve as one of the priestesses of her Order.”

  “That is good to hear,” Ulrion said, smiling. “When she first came here, she was very young—lost and alone. I took her in and taught her the magic of sight. She was full of enthusiasm when she first gained that power.”

  Elisabeth laughed softly as the Great Elder reminisced.

  “And you, Elisabeth,” Ulrion continued. “Do you wish to train and develop your talent as well?”

  “Yes, I truly do, Great Elder.”

  “But before that,” he said gently, “you must know who you truly are.”

  “I already know,” Elisabeth replied. “I am a priestess of the Holy Cross Order of Normandia.”

  “No,” Ulrion said softly. “You do not yet know who you truly are… nor where you come from.”

  Hearing this, Elisabeth lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers.

  “You are not abandoned,” Ulrion continued. “Your presence in Normandia protects the kingdom itself.”

  “I don’t understand,” Elisabeth whispered.

  “You are destined to guard the Kingdom of Normandia. That is your fate.”

  “I still don’t understand, Great Elder.”

  Smiling gently, he replied, “You will, when we begin your training tomorrow.”

  Though confused, Elisabeth accepted his words. Sveanna soon returned with three cups of Moonleaf Tea, and they shared the drink together.

  Later that night, Elisabeth and Sveanna returned to the Leaf Tower House (Lindorne’), where the knights rested. Unable to sleep, Elisabeth lay awake, pondering her origins and the Great Elder’s words.

  At dawn, as the settlement awakened, the knights prepared to help the Elves with daily tasks. Elisabeth, having received permission to train, went to the Guild Mushroom with Sveanna and Sasa.

  For two days, Elisabeth trained under the Great Elder, learning to connect her subconscious with natural intuition. Repeatedly, she failed and felt frustrated.

  “Be calm, Elisabeth,” the Great Elder reassured her gently. “This is how it begins for everyone.”

  “But… am I truly capable?” she asked, doubtfully.

  “Nothing is impossible,” Sveanna encouraged.

  Later, Sveanna held Elisabeth’s face and said softly,

  “You can do this… because you are the chosen one.”

  Handing her Moonleaf Tea, she added, “This will help you focus and strengthen your energy.”

  After resting, the Great Elder revealed another method.“

  There is another way—but it is harsh,” he warned.

  “I want to try,” Elisabeth said firmly.

  “Very well,” Ulrion replied. “We will begin tomorrow night.”

  Sveanna looked worried but said nothing.

  “For now, rest,” Ulrion concluded. “Prepare yourself.”

  They returned to the Leaf Tower House, where Elisabeth lay awake, knowing her journey was only beginning.