Unfortunately, the elders did not take me up on my offer.
"It is quiet a generous offer, Mr. Maxwell, assuming that you can do what you have said. We are afraid that we have to decline, nevertheless. The longer we are to remain here amongst the living, the longer we must wait until we are allowed to be reunited with our Goddess. She has given us life, and it is only right for us to return it to her when our spirit is judged."
Eliana points out. She seems to be the leader despite being the youngest elf in the room.
The other elders nod in agreement.
I shrug in response.
It isn't like I couldn't get what I wanted another way.
Thefts are not below me, especially when they don't really know what has been stolen. I can duplicate anything with my power, so it isn't really like stealing.
Plus, my power to freeze time allows me to have basically free for me.
"In that case, what do you want to talk to me about?"
I question.
"We only wish to know your intention, Mr. Maxwell. We remain very sceptical of what Elune has told us about you and your world. It is not unheard of for one of us to become a summon to others, but as children of the Goddess herself, we believe that becoming a servant to humankind, regardless of the human is heralded from is a punishment."
Oh. I guess that makes sense. I take note that she specifically refers to humankind.
Elune is a very proud person, I mean elf, so she wouldn't want to be a summon of another, especially a human considering their very long and bloody history.
Our own bloody history indicates what usually happen when we come in contact with other humans, let alone a completely different species.
Furthermore, my time as Emperor of a Galactic Empire confirms that human is xenophobic by nature. It will be hard to change this ingrained perception, but I will take it slowly this time around.
I prefer not to commit genocide on a galactic scale again. Some of those aliens are very capable military commanders, and they are currently waiting for me to come and get them. I hope they all used their knowledge of the future wisely.
Despite not wanting to be a summon to a human, Elune really has no choice in the matter since her Goddess has demanded of her.
By her Goddess, I mean Terra.
The Goddess of Moon is missing in action for the last 5 millennia from what I am told.
I think the Goddess is either dead or imprisoned. I could jump back in time to check, but remembering what happened with the dragon, I rather not until I have the magic and spirit to stand up to an actual Goddess.
Gods and Goddesses should be more powerful than dragons in term of hierarchy. All I have to go on is stuffs I have read back in the prime universe and what Elune tells me.
Elune is not sure of how powerful the Goddess in term of scale that I can comprehend. She just knows the Goddess is powerful since she creates the world and the elves, not just the dark elves, the elves in general.
There are blood elves, night elves, high elves – yeah, basically Warcraft.
Although I can break the contract and set Elune free, I don't want to.
Elune is mine! For now! And for all of time!
I win her by right of combat. I have even asked Elune about the consequences of losing to me before I cut her in half with a laser beam. It is her fault for being too proud to admit to herself that there is a good chance that she might lose.
Besides, it isn't like I have treated Elune badly or anything of the sort.
Even if she resented the fact that she is my servant, in mind, body and soul, she will eventually come around to it.
I just need to know what buttons to push her.
Everyone has some sort of buttons that I can push. Most of the people wants wealth and power. Some just want someone to love them unconditionally like Sandra Bullock.
"My intention is to learn as much as I can about your world and your people. I am an explorer of sort, so I like to learn about new and wonderous thing. Since your people, the dark elves are only myth and legend on my world, it is quite surprising and interesting to me to learn about your people. Also, I am very interested in magic. Elune might have told you that my world doesn't have any."
The elders confirm that Elune did.
We exchange a bit more information, mostly about my world and the magic of science. Although the elders aren't interested in building skyscrapers out of metal and glass since that would definitely hurt the land and mother nature, they are keen on learning about my society and how it has functioned.
"There are billions of people on your world? And they are all humans? How have they not killed each other already?"
Eliana question. She is very surprised by this fact.
Her world, Azula is filled with all manner of fantastical creature.
According to what I know of the geography of this world, there are only about a few thousand of elves living in the forest. Hundreds of thousands of humans in the surrounding Kingdoms and Queendoms.
There are total a few million of people in the entire continent, excluding monsters and subspecies like Goblins and Trolls.
Even adding them all together, the population of the whole continent doesn't even exceed a hundred million, let alone a billion.
I am unsure if there are other continents until I get some satellite in orbit or myself up there. I assume that there are, considering the gravity is close enough to Earth, meaning that the planet size is around the size of Earth.
"Good government and the fear of mutual destruction, I suppose."
I response with a shrug.
There are roughly around 5.3 billion people on Earth right now in 1990s. Around 7.6 billion when I left the original timeline in 2019. My power manifests then, throwing me into the future and then having me nuked repeatedly.
Yeah…
By the dawn of the 31st century, the population exceeded 500 billion. That is on Earth alone.
Adding other planets and moons in the solar system as well as orbital stations and habitable swarms around the sun, the number is several trillions.
Humans do breed a lot. And universe is infinite, so we could never run out of space.
And as long as there are infrastructures in place to support the human population, humanity will grow exponentially. The only reason that this world is not packed with people is because there are just not enough foods to go around.
Even the elves are struggling with this since the forest only provide enough to maintain a population of a few thousands.
Furthermore, their longevity causes their fertility to be very low, so children being born are very rare.
The elves did not question their own biology since they believe in their Goddess to a fault.
But judging of the current political situation with the humans, the elves of this forest will be extinct in the next decade or so, either being killed off or being sold off by the humans.
Well, not really my problem, unless I get something out of it.
There are probably a lot of ways to save them. A bit of their genetics will help me understand why the fertility is so low. It also gives me insight to their natural longevity.
I talk to the elders a bit more, asking them if there is a way for me to cast magic like them.
"Unfortunately, we do not have an answer for you, Mr. Maxwell. Since the Goddess has blessed each of each with magical power from the moment that we open our eyes to her marvellous creation and the world, we never have to worry about being unable to use magic."
Eliana speaks up.
"Perhaps the Arcane Academy in the nearby humans Kingdoms will have information on this. They are not gifted with magic in the beginning. They acquire it through… notorious means. Their magic is very unnatural."
I nod and stash the information in the back of my mind. I will pay a visit to the Arcane Academy later, right after I learn everything I can from the elves.
"Is there a library that I can use, esteem elders?"
"It is remarkable that you have studied our language and even speak it with our tongue. Perhaps you are not like the other humans. I will grant you access to our archive. The books and scrolls there are written in our language. I hope that will not be a problem."
"No problem at all."
I response. I ask about a few more things before excusing myself. Elune is waiting for me outside like she said she would.
"Let's go to the library, shall we? Lead the way, Elune."
I suggest.
The library is not really in one place like I have initially assumed. It is scratted all over the place, so we have to go from tree to tree to get everything I need.
It is a pain in the ass, especially when a bunch of stalking elves constantly talk shit about me, thinking that I couldn't hear them.
Well, technically, I shouldn't be able to hear them, but my keen hearing picks up everything clearly. If this is back on Earth, I would torture them for being disrespectful.
"Do you not wish to spend more time, reading through the books, Master?"
Elune asks when I only spend like a couple of minutes in each section of the library.
That is actually from her perception of time. From my perception, I have spent several days scanning each of the book with my photographic memory.
"No need, Elune."
I response. I manage to get every book copied into my repository within a day. I think a day has passed, but it is hard to tell with the eternal night.
"Is there somewhere I can sleep for a bit."
I actually don't need sleep, but I need to sort all the information in my mind. Selene tells me that a lot of the information I have copied is conflicting or outright wrong. She crosschecks everything with every book, and there are probably like tens of thousands of books.
"Yes, Master. Elder Eliana of Shadowsong has prepared a room for you."
"She did. Alright, take me there."
The room on the outskirt of the forest is quite nice.
There is a comfy bed and table for me to use.
Elune left when I tell her that she could attend to her responsibilities.
She doesn't need to be here unless I want her to be bedwarmer. But I don't think that will go well in making her trust in me explicitly, at least not at the moment.
Elune does not want to fornicate with a human because of her hatred. I don't think any elves would.
Honestly, all the elves are pretty hot. And they barely cover their totally fuckable body.
The skimpy leather armours give them maximum mobility, and their magic protection is far stronger than any heavy armour could. It makes sense to forsake pointless coverups.
"Selene, can you compile all the volumes on magic with every ones I have scanned?"
[There is insufficient information regarding magic above the 1st circle. More information is required, Operator.]
"Hmmm… make a first volume for me then. I want to know about this magic."
[Acknowledge, Operator.]
It takes Selene about half an hour to compile the Heavenly Book on basic magic, which immediately uploaded into my mind and integrated with my memory.
Basic introduction to magic is known as the first circle of magic.
There is a total of ten circles in total, but the tenth circle mage only exist in legend.
Even the 6th circle mage is very rare amongst the people of this world.
7th circle mages are already considered Mystical Heroes.
The circles are referring to the number of runic rings around the magical circle when a spell is cast. As more powerful spell is casted, the amount of magic increases exponentially.
I recall that Terra magic circle has more than ten runic rings.
Most mages are of the first or second circle. There are levels of adeptness at each circle, but a mage can be promoted to higher circle even without masteries of each level as long as they can cast a higher spell.
Mastery of each level increases their magic power and their mana reserve, so no mages in their right mind would want to skip ahead. However, many still do out of ego or pride. It will be harder and harder to them to reach higher circles if they do, though.
I also learn about the basic elements. Fire, Water, Earth, Air and Lightning are the basic elements of magic. Combination will produce compounded element, such as mist, steam, metal and so on.
Most mage are adept at one element or two since learning more takes a lot of time and also cause a conflict in their magical core. Learning Fire and Water to master the steam element is very difficult as Fire is directly opposite of Water.
If two elements compliment each other, it will be much easier, such as combination of Wind and Water to produce Ice.
So, basically Naruto.
As for the abstract element like Time, Space, Void, Chaos and so on, they are unlearnable.
People have to be born with it.
That is all the information on the magic elements from the Heavenly Book Selene complied for me. I read forwards to the type of Elements. There are Materialization, Enhancement, Conjuration –
I open my eyes and look towards the door. It is now locked. I didn't lock it before.
"I thank you for your hospitality, elder Eliana. I suppose it is not for free, so what can I do for you. Oh, your cloaking spell is probably perfect, but I can see everything I need to see."
Eliana is surprised. She drops the spell and remove the hood covering her face and pointy ears.
Her long grey hair falls down to her slender waist as her dark grey eyes match mine. Those eyes have lost their lifeful green as could be seen in Elune.
"Is it true that you can return my youth?"
I smile and sit up straight.
"Do you not wish to see the Goddess and be judged for all the sins you have committed?"
Eliana tenses up.
How did I know that? Oh, I might have tortured the poor woman for several loops for spying on me without my consents and get all the information I needed.
That or I am a seer.
Her magic is only at 3rd circle, which is very powerful, but meaningless in front of my power. Anything she attempts to cast, I could just dispel with a thought.
Her adeptness at magic would make her an Archmage in the human Kingdoms, who is highly respected and feared.
Wow, I can bitch-slap an Archmage without even learning magic.
Looks like this place is going to be a breeze, but still, I should be vigilant.
"I know what I need to know, Eliana. So, what do you offer me in return?"
I question. I tend to call the elves by their first name. They don't have a surname. I don't consider the clan name is a surname.
"Anything you wish, Mr. Maxwell."
Eliana responses. She has a few centuries left in her lifespan. While that sounds like a lot for us human, it isn't for her, an elf, who has lived for so long. And all the things she did in order to retain her position as elders will not go well with the Goddess, assuming what happened when elves died is true.
I doubt it though, but who am I to push my religious belief onto others.
"How about a summon contract? I am in need of an elven sex toy."