"I didn't think that it would come this soon. I've lived in quietness for too long to overlook this matter."
Neldor stroked his beard and frowned. He was thinking about what he had been preparing and worrying about over the past few decades.
They had been through several great wars over the past hundreds of years. And they can still stand firmly among the strongest kingdoms in the world today. But not so if what prophecy said was coming to be true this time.
"One demon general is dead."
Zoron continued, following in the footsteps of the King from behind.
"The 2nd general confirmed that. Some of their strongest soldiers also died."
If Zoron was the second strongest person, then the 2nd general was the third strongest person in the Vensalor Kingdom. That person was Hagen Loradan, an elf general known as a cold-blooded killer, someone who rarely talked. Even some elves thought he was mute.
Hagen Loradan was one of the important people of the Vensalor Kingdom who were fighting in the front line against the demons.
From his information, it was also how Zoron could know the conditions that occurred on the Demon Continent.
"Any information about who did this?"
"We can't confirm that, your Majesty."
"One demon general tier 7 and dozens of tier 6. If it weren't for a big war, there wouldn't be that many victims."
Zoron nodded his head. He also thought about the possibility that the Demon Lord himself did it. Something that had been worrying him all along, though there was one thing that still felt odd. There was no way the Demon Lord would drop his pride to win the war in such a low manner.
"A tier 7 demon general, it won't be that easy for anyone to defeat him. And if indeed, either the Akrasea Empire or the Drucia Kingdom have done it. And if they also manage to get the Demon Core..."
Neldor stopped his words, swallowed hard, and stared ahead, still strolling down the castle hall.
"The balance in the world will soon collapse."
***
The royal chariot was dominated by white and gold trim, pulled by four white horses. With this exclusive vehicle, Vanya and Elincia will spend their brief time exploring the plains at the edge of the island.
Vanya looked out the window, looking at the vast green plain mixed with a sea of clouds. There were rows of dense green trees leading to the forest from a distance, while visible hills soared into the sky on the other side.
They passed the elves' settlement. Vanya opened the window and waved her hand, throwing smiles. The elves realized the princess was in the carriage, waved back, and cheered.
"They love you so much, princess."
"Enough, El. You tease me so much."
El was Vanya's nickname for Elincia.
The island of elves, the island in the sky, there were many names for the home of the elves. A land floating in the sky, not a small chunk, but a grand island that accommodates half a million total residents of the elves.
A majestic castle stood in the center of the island, a building that seemed to be made of diamonds, dazzling white. The palace where the king and nobles lived.
From a distance, several other chunks of land were seen floating. Small islands separated from the main, where the elves did training, while the other was where an awakening temple was.
"How long do you plan on traveling out there, princess?"
"Hmm, until Dad forces me to come home?"
Vanya answered each of Elincia's questions without looking at her. She supported her chin with both hands, gazing at the scenery outside along their way.
If one wanted to see heaven on earth, it would be appropriate to tell what the home of elves was. An area separated from the ground, where beautiful creatures live.
"Princess?"
Elincia woke Vanya from her reverie.
"Do you know? There is no more beautiful sight than this place?"
"Is that true? Isn't the world out there the same as here? It's just that they stick to the ground."
Vanya turned to Elincia, squinting her eyes with a cheerful smile, showing her rows of small, crystal-white teeth.
"How many times have you been out there, El?"
"A thousand, maybe?"
Elincia replied to Vanya's question with her faint smile, a characteristic attached to her as someone who hardly smiled and rarely showed her emotions.
"The second thing that made me jealous of you."
"Who in this world can compare themselves with you, princess?"
"Your words are too sweet, El. Right now, I'm someone who is under your guidance, ok. Don't you ever call me princess out there."
"Okay, princess. Then what should I call you?"
Vanya bit her lip and looked back out the window, either thinking or lost in thought.
"How do humans call each other? What's a name that looks adorable to a human but still retains elves?"
"Yours is already the most beautiful name the King has given."
"El…"
Vanya tapped Elincia's waist. The general didn't dodge it, acting like it tickled her.
Some time passed, and the horse carriage they were riding halted. Vanya immediately reached out, welcoming a ship before her, known as the hallmark of the elves. A craft made of golden-brown wood. Seven sails stretched wide and high with a leaf-shaped painting as the symbol of the kingdom of Vensalor stood on it.
Elincia came down to follow where Vanya was running. Passing, the elves immediately lowered their heads in response to princess Vanya's presence.
Vanya waved her hand, then gave a smile to every elf who, this time, would also follow their journey.
"Come on, El..."
Vanya stepped up to the ship's deck, climbed the stairs, jogged to the very front, stood up, and enjoyed the gust of wind that made her heart flutter. Her robe waived because of the powerful gust of wind.
Elincia followed, standing close to Vanya.
"Come, El, ask them to make this trip immediately."
Elincia nodded her head, ordered the crew to get ready immediately, and ensured all the equipment they would bring was in place.
A river was wide enough to accommodate dozens of ships flowing and splitting the giant island. A river that separates the islands into two parts. It flows through the mountains in the center of the land and valleys filled with green grass.
A stream delivers and carries the elves from and out of the floating island. A floating river that flows in a spiral leading to the ocean. One more confirming proof that this place was heaven that fell to earth.
The ship crew lifted the anchor, and the sails were also stretched wide. The ship was moving.
The enthusiasm felt by Vanya was seen in her bright eyes that reflected the sunlight. She raised her hand and shouted.
"Yahoo…"
The ship was right on the island's edge, then moved down, passing through the river twice the speed before.
The giant ship moved through the clouds and the rainbow, an exclusive experience that only elves could enjoy. Something that makes their position very special in this world.
"Don't smile at me like that, El!"
Vanya turned to Elincia when she realized the general had been watching her the whole time.
"This is not your first time, isn't it, princess?"
"Sure, but usually I go down and then come back up immediately."
Elincia covered her lips, giving laughing gestures, still with a straight face.
The ships moved faster. They didn't fall, miraculously, more like going through the descent. Everything in this place was mystical, with flying islands and streams of water flowing in the sky.
After some time, finally, the water flow slanted, closing on the ocean's surface. Marked by the sound of dolphins shouting, emerging from the surface with the water, they shoot from their blowhole.