Walking inside the well-decorated room, Lothar couldn't help but marvel at the interior design of the place. As he walked along in wonder, he was briefly stopped by an elven guard moving in front of him with his shield raised high.
Lothar looked at the elf with confused eyes, but then saw Millana sit on the throne as Elora stood below her to the side, her gaze stern and apathetic.
Lothar gulped as he looked at the elf, who then turned around and moved back to his post, while Lothar stood rooted to the spot.
"Lothar Edwin, as the leader and matriarch of this elven village, Afnehona, I welcome you." Millana stated, with her squeaky voice booming through the room. If it wasn't for the fact of the serious atmosphere surrounding us at the moment, Lothar would've chuckled. "Lothar Edwin, step forward."
Entranced by her voice, Lothar took a tiny step forward, before his other foot did the same. He continued for a few more steps before he was stopped at the base of the stairs by an elven guard with his spear, blocking his path.
Lothar looked nervously at the elven guard, but he paid no heed to the anxious human. Knowing not to step past the boundary, Lothar took a few steps back before the elven guard retracted his spear, its butt resting on the ground.
"You must be confused. Not long ago, we were mere strangers who traveled with one destination in mind. I also promised to be your mentor regarding magic because of your latent potential hidden within your core." Millana stared directly into Lothar's eyes, her gaze holding no sort of childlike curiosity she had when she rode on his shoulders, nor the warm appreciation the little elf held for the human. "However, due to your arrival, complications have arisen, as you can see by the elves' baring their hatred against you."
Lothar recalled the moment he entered the village. Most of the elves looked at him like he was some kind of ticking time-bomb ready to happen. He then focused his gaze upon Millana, sitting upon the throne, her gaze still boring into his.
"But alas, as much as my people hate and loath you, Lothar, you are our one and only chance at surviving the incoming attack." Millana stood up from her throne as she descended the stairs, the elven guards and Elora doing nothing as the little elf continued to approach Lothar, who stood stock-still with his eyes wide and jaw hung open. "As such, by my order, with the blood of the founders flowing within my veins, I hereby decree that Lothar Edwin become my personal vassal and servant."
She held her palm forward and it glowed. Following that, her veins then lit up, traveling through her body as it reached her neck, and finally her eyes. Her irises glowing a shiny blue, Millana placed her palms atop the chest of one awed Lothar.
"W-what is happening?" Lothar suddenly asked, but wasn't given a response as the magic in the air began to intensify, the blue light shimmering in the area as all elven guards stood their ground, Elora included.
"I, Millana Qindove, descendant of the Ancient Elven Kings of Qindove, declare that Lothar Edwin, a human touched by the void, be my direct subordinate until death do us part." The magic in the air continued to intensify, until all of it focused on the part where Millana held Lothar.
It coalesced into his chest, and Lothar felt the brunt of the magic flowing into his body as he gasped for air. He dropped to his knees, but Millana still kept her hand on his chest, the contact between the two vanishing.
The magic continued to build up, and Lothar began to feel something pulsing within his core. His arms grew heavy, his legs trembled, and his lungs burned, but the pulsing in his core made the circumstances bearable.
Once the magic in the air all flowed into Lothar, Millana's hand burst, and Lothar was sent flying in the air, his body skidding across the ground as he tumbled into a heap of his own body.
"Elora, bring him to a guest room. Let him rest." Elora nodded and walked towards the downed figure of Lothar, whose vision was steadily beginning to darken.
"M-Millana…" Lothar reached out his hand towards the little elf, only to pass out at the last moment when Elora arrived next to him.
[]
[]
[]
"Lady Millana, was that truly the correct decision?" Elora asked the little elf, who was currently sitting on a chair on the balcony of her home watching the elves of her village going about their day under her watchful gaze.
Taking a sip from her cup, Millana hummed as she laid the cup back down on the table, her eyes glancing at Elora for a moment before she settled back to looking at the elves down below.
"Was it correct or not? I do not know. What I do know is that human, Lothar, has the ability to aid in our survival." Millana stood up, and the maid serving her approached as she took the cup from the table and cleaned up any kind of mess she left behind. "It is detestable... To be using him like this, but drastic problems require drastic solutions."
Millana sighed as she headed back inside, her room clean and spotless, various elegant furniture placed neatly inside the room.
"Once he wakes up, I want you to bring him to me at once. I need to explain his current situation to him... Personally." Elora stood silent for a moment before nodding and leaving the room to leave Millana to her thinking.
"One day, Lothar… One day… Once everything calms down, I will repay you, no matter what you ask of me." Millana got onto her bed as she snuggled between the sheets, her body tired after the impromptu ceremony she had conducted earlier.
Meanwhile, outside, a lone elf maid took off into the forest, making sure none witnessed her escape.