"Do you see that tower in the distance?" Ovana asked pointing towards the obsidian planes.
Looking in the direction the Goddess pointed Lucilla was just barely able to make out a large tower in the distance. It wasn't easy to see since everything seemed to be covered in some sort of red haze the further away it became. She had to squint and dedicate her entire focus just to see the tower. She was feeling a little envious by Ovana's ability to see past this haze.
"I want you to fly over there."
"Is there something in that tower?" Inquired Lucilla, "Is Eldon Vesh there?"
"The tower itself isn't important. It's just a destination for you test out your wings." Ovana explained. "I don't know what's in there, but feel free to explore it if you wish."
"... Do I leave now?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. You can depart whenever you're ready."
Feeling as if this situation was being treated a little to casually, making it feel lackluster, Lucilla walked towards the cliffs edge. Looking down the nearly ninety-degree cliff face to the volcanic glass below, her heart couldn't help but rapidly pound against her chest in nervousness. There would be nothing between her and the ground below the moment she stepped of this cliff.
'Well, it's now or never.' She thought anxiously.
Taking a deep breath Lucilla stepped forward, her foot meeting nothing but air as she started to plumet. She very quickly opened her wings, causing her decent to suddenly slow down, jerking her body violently. To her surprise however she started gliding through the air, adjusting herself as needed almost on instinct. It was like walking, feeling as if she has done this her entire life.
"I'm... flying...." Lucilla was in far too much shock to feel anything but surprise. She used her large wing to flap once, pushing her up slightly as she continued to glide.
She became aware that while her wings seem to help keep her in the air, there seem to be something else making sure she didn't fall. The mana's movement in the air her moved in a particular way around her, making sure she could fly properly. It was a weird sensation.
Even more strange was the fact the air wasn't unpleasant for once. For the first time since she got here, she was able to enjoy the wind brushing up against her gently. Considering her speed the wind should've been hitting her at a much higher speeds, but since it wasn't she chalked it up to magic and decided to ignore it. Her wings must have some special properties to them that Ovana failed to explain to her.
"Sigh, I wish she would just explain things properly." Lucilla grumbled, annoyed by Ovana's flippant attitude.
Either way, she could figure it out later; right now, she just had to focus on flying. She was moving at an incredibly fast pace, far faster than what she was used too. The air around her might've been gently hitting her, but she was sure it would normally be applying great pressure on her body. The large black tower that was once in the distance quickly became clearer every second, and the only other indication of her speed was by looking down at the ground.
Focusing Chi into her eyes imbued with the wind element, the world slowed down around her. She used this same technique when fighting the Hero, which worked. Barley. She wasn't nearly powerful enough at the time to face the Hero when he started getting serious. Even with the hero casually swinging his sword her own power was still far beneath his.
She learned her mistake. She's grown far more powerful in the past three-hundred years here, but that just made the gap between her and the Hero all the more obvious. Was she now capable of fighting him properly? Yes, she was, but she wouldn't win in a fair fight against him. She still had four-hundred years left down here, by time she arrived back in the mortal realm she hoped to have grown just a little bit more.
While lost in her thoughts Lucilla found that she had flown over the great obsidian plane and was now faced with a sea of black grass and purple flowers. In the middle of this black grassy field was the tower, sat atop a large hill overlooking the grounds below. Because of her wings Lucilla didn't notice the change in the air immediately, but when she decided to slow down, whatever protection that surrounded her lessened.
The atmosphere around this area was sickly sweet and her skin burned slightly from just the area around her. She winkled her nose as she could tell the sweet scent didn't come from the air, but the mana. If she had to guess, it probably came from the purple flowers that dotted the landscape, otherwise the air had no scent of to speak of.
She looked down in disgust before as she continued flying. She didn't feel like investigating, and she felt like she'll just bring herself misfortune by going down there. Looking ahead at the looming black tower, standing several stories high, she noticed a lone balcony off to the side. Altering her course, she aimed for the balcony.
Unfamiliar with flying as she was Lucilla's landing was less than graceful. Her foot caught the balconies railing, causing her pitched forward and almost fall on her face. Thankfully she managed to keep herself upright and only stumbled for a few steps. She looked around embarrassed, but sighed in relief when she noticed no one was nearby to see her.
She looked towards the double glass doors that led into the tower. The inside was lit by magical lamps. Not the kind that the general population used, with its yellowish light, but the ones that cast the brighter white light onto its surrounding. The place wasn't dusty either, making clear someone was taking care of the place. The room inside was full of bookshelves lining its walls. The polished dark purple wood holding ancient tombs.
Just as Lucilla was thinking about leaving before the owner came back, she felt cold metal press into her back.
"You seem to be a living person." The distinctly male voice said from behind her. "What business do you have here?"
Lucilla didn't even sense him. Before she knew it, he had somehow got behind her without revealing his presence even a little bit. She couldn't even smell him till he started speaking. His scent was reminiscent of old books like the ones inside the room, and it was strong. The fact he managed to hide himself so thoroughly sent a shiver down her spine.
"I'm not here to cause trouble, I was just trying out these wings." Lucilla answered honestly. She had the feeling that if she were to try and lie, she would be cut down in an instant. Somehow, she could tell that this man was stronger than the current Hero.
"...." The man stayed silent. Lucilla couldn't see his face, and his lack of a response caused her to break out in a cold sweat. Just as she was nearing her limit he spoke once more. "Then how about some tea?"
Suddenly the man's threatening low voice took on a lighter and friendlier tone. Slowly turning around Lucilla was greeted with a tall and handsome Dark Elf. His pale purple skin, crimson eyes, and silver hair made it clear he wasn't just a normal Dark Elf, but a monster variant. Normal dark Elves had gray skin, but when they are born as monsters, they took on a purple hue.
The monster Elf smiled at Lucilla as he gestured for her to follow him into the building. He was handsome and about a full head taller than Lucilla herself, with a stride full of self assured confidence. His black and gold robes brushed against the ground as he walked, the light reflecting off the expensive golden embroidery. Lucilla could tell, after spending so much time here, that the man in front of her wasn't a soul, but a real living person.
Not really sure on how to say no incase that made the Elf angry, Lucilla followed him inside.
___________________
Bewildered as she was, Lucilla still sipped at her sugary tea as she watched the man settle down across from her. They were sitting at a table located in a small kitchen. She glared at the man in suspicion, wondering why he would invite her suddenly without warning. She shifted in her seat as she thought about the possible reason she was brought inside; her wings weren't that comfortable to sit with, she would need to figure out how to put them away.
"Why did you bring me here?" Lucilla eventually asked as the two of them sat in silence.
"Ah, well, I guess boredom?" The Dark Elf answered. "Most people that come here are souls, and they aren't very friendly. I've been here for a very, very, long time and I miss having someone to talk with."
"... How long is very long?"
The Dark Elf smiled. "I've been alive long enough to see civilizations rise and fall multiple times my dear. The last time I was on Zelviea a man going by the name Eldon Vesh had tried recruiting me to help fell the central continent."
"...."
"I said no of course. I've participated in destroying civilization once before an honestly, it's far too much work for such a temporary achievement." The Elf continued, not bothered by Lucilla's silence. "Anyway, he didn't need my help, he already took over the eastern continent when he made that offer."
"... So, you've been here for about three thousand years...?" Lucilla asked the ancient Elf.
"Has it been that long? If you could tell me how much time passed by just saying that young man's name, he must've made himself fairly famous." The Elf smiled fondly as he got lost in his memories.
"Don't Elves only live for two hundred years?" Asked Lucilla wonder just how old this Elf truly was.
"Well that obviously means I have the immortal gene does it not?" The Elf said a little exasperated. "Has the level of education gone down since I've last been there?"
Lucilla felt a little embarrassed for she already knew about the immortal gene, but forgot about it completely, amazed by how long this Elf lived. That is until he spoke his next sentence.
"Well, it's not like I'm alive because I have the gene, but you would typically think that right?"
"Then how are you still alive?" An astonished Lucilla inquired.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" He gave her a cheeky smile before putting on a straight face. "Well Lucilla let's talk."
Lucilla froze. She never gave this man her name, and the sudden shift in his attitude made it all the more menacing. She stared at the man in front of her, his cold crimson eyes seem to look right through her. She suddenly found it hard to breath, unable to tear her eyes away from this ancient being.