[Floria POV]
A month before the interaction...
I, Floria Elfenrie, was ordered to inspect the gate.
"I want you to guard the gate against the greedy humans,"
I keep remembering the words of the elder as I watch my homeland getting farther away as my personal ship depart from the port.
Every thousand years, gate will appear in any location which the goddess stated. We, the elven being, were tasked to guard and guide the outsiders.
It all started exactly a thousand years ago. It was the birth of the elven and also the first ever gate to appear in our world. Our ancestor were tasked to guide those who enter the gate from the other side.
Since it was the goddess' words, they find it divine and thus obeyed it without any hesitation. However, the moment they interact with the outsiders. They were killed. All of them.
The elders were enraged. They blamed each other until their fingers point toward the goddess. And so, they began their conspiracies and tried to eliminate her.
They build high infrastructure that could reach the heaven. It took them hundreds of years, and millions of souls before they finish, only to be struck by the goddess' wrath.
The misunderstanding soon unfold, making the lives of those who sacrifice be wasted. However, the goddess is so kind that a miracle were done. She gave us power that far surpass any living in our world and because of that we were able to control the other race.
We were then called the higher beings. After controlling the other side, we teach them knowledge about magic, we teach them knowledge about the world, and we told them about the goddess.
But, it became a mistake. The lower beings used the knowledge they have gained to conspire against us. They wage wars and had done so many cruel things, until the goddess gave up and left them as is.
We, the elven, also stayed away from the lower being and move far east of the continent.
However, regardless of what we've done. The humans kept waging war and shed blood, Forcing us to cut our ties entirely.
I had learned those knowledge when I was a child. My father, a former leader of Elfenrie tribe, always reminds me about the cruelty of the lower beings.
I despise them, I forsake them. They, who were given a chance to repent themselves. They, who were given a chance to change themselves.
I close my eyes as I feel the fresh air blowing through our sail making our ship run faster than usual. My sailors had estimated that we will arrive at the far west of the continent in a month.
We will secretly sail through the south sea without getting noticed by the humans. It will bring much trouble if they ever found out our doings and might use those to wage wars again. It will certainly be troublesome.
"Lady Floria, your lunch is prepared." One of my servant notify me.
"You don't have to call me like that here you know?" Hearing this, the man only smile as he bow his head.
"Unfortunately, we cannot do that. It is the order from your father, after all." I sigh full of disappointment.
Why should my father interfere with my personal affair? I'm already grown up to do things on my own way.
Regardless of my complaint, I can only comply as my father is stubborn enough to restrain me if he find it necessary.
I dejectedly follow my servant as I enter my room. There, I saw our famous delicacy which made out of fried fish with some tomatoes in it. I happily dig in after sitting and my servant can't help but shake his head seeing the sight of his master.
After eating, I take a rest. I am merely overlooking the mission and will only act upon entering the gate. Though I found it upsetting, it is also necessary for the safety of my fleet.
--
A month had passed since I departed from my homeland. Right now, I am currently standing at the dock of my ship as I look at the direction where the gate lies with shock.
We found it impossible for humans to discover the location of the gate even if it's coincidence. Unless, they manage to venture the entire continent, it is extremely impossible without the goddess' guide.
However, multiple strange ships grow bigger as we get nearer. It far exceed the size of our ship and seems capable enough to destroy any of those who oppose them.
Although, it is quite intimidating. We still have far more ships than them and even if they attack, we will not falter and instead use the power the goddess gave us.
It looks like they spotted us, a certain vessel, slightly bigger than ours, approach us with an unbelievable speed!
Though it is quite surprising, it didn't made us back out and so, with full of confidence, my fleet also approach the moving vessel.
The ship have weird structures. It had no sail in order to move but it was faster than my personal ship with more than four sails. It also has giant looking cannon that triple the size of ours.
"Prepare to be boarded!"
One of my sailors suddenly shout as we are meters away from each other.
No reply was received but it didn't stop my sailor from putting the plank on the other side despite the huge difference in height. And so, I am able to board the other side though full of struggle.
I stare at the guy much shorter than me. A man with a black hair, common among humans. Though they have different feature.
We stare intently at each other as time pass by. I have totally forgotten my duty as I look down upon the man who appears to be struggling to speak.
"Are you the head of this ship?"
I break the awkward silence between us as I ask the man in front of me. Unfortunately, he seems quite hesitant to answer my question.
"I... am not, milady,"
So he's not? Then why is he here? Where's their leader? Did they grow arrogant just because they gain some knowledge and rivaled ours?
"Where is he?"
"He's at the island, he's quite a busy person you see-"
"Can I meet him?
The man stiffen as he heard my question. Certainly, meeting a leader suddenly is out of question since they have this kind of petty ruling games.
"I don't know, but I have already sent a message. It is only up to his decision if he is willing to come."
"..."
I remain silent as an answer of his ridiculous statement. I believe they have seen our flags right after they spotted us so they should've known. Had the humans really grown arrogant from the past hundreds of years?
I waited for awhile, maybe half an hour if according to my sense of time. I am now currently growing impatient as we stare to each other awkwardly.
"Are your leader still not here?" I speak again as I examine the man's movement. I have quite the talent to identify a certain person's intention according to their action.
I see him as he move his body. He can't remain still, which just mean that he's also waiting for something or someone.
"Apologies, but please do be patient."
Did I just hear him correctly? Certainly, he just scold me right?
"Tch"
I click my tongue, loud enough for him to hear as I also begin to click my toe out of impatient. Their leader definitely have some balls to make me wait!
As I glare at the man, his face suddenly turned somewhere. There, I found a seemingly exhausted with a frowning face man walking towards us.