[Nar point of view]
"Tough bastard, aren't you?" [Nar]
"Please... Believe me..."
"Oh, I believe you. After all, we got everything we needed. Even the one you didn't spill" [Nar].
"What do you mean?"
"Your base is in the forbidden forest, isn't it? No. Since you're nothing but a lackey, I guess that's just one of your many bases" [Nar].
"But... But... How?"
This special chair that Merlin and Brokkr painstakingly made is really a great interrogation tool. Since Sas and I interrogate them while they're sitting on it, Merlin is able to extract all the information she needs. I guess fear is a strong emotion that can make accessing one's memories easier. From an experimental point of view, this is indeed valuable information.
"I'm sure Little Diana wouldn't be there" [Merlin].
"Agreed. It's highly unlikely that she's there. Your interference is indeed a success, just that evil spirit they used outmanoeuvred both you and Linda" [Sas].
"Spells that use trees as a method of teleportation... I have never heard of it. I wonder how my little brother developed it" [Elegast].
Every race has its own extremist. This time it is an elven one, and the ringleader of such a group is Alagast, the former noble of the elves. Unlike the arrogant noble elves who wanted to preserve the purity they were given by their ancestors, Alagast wanted to go beyond that. Of course, he doesn't want to stain his blood with other races, but according to Elegast, this little brother of his believes that elves can evolve beyond that. Evolve is a strong word. Does he mean evolve as in the beastly transformation that certain beastman and demon races are capable of, or does he mean go even further than an ordinary high elf?
It's been two days since Diana was kidnapped. Looking outside the prison, I can see a number of people waiting to throw rocks and poop at the captured elves. I'm glad they love Diana as much as we do, but this will only cause trouble for the guards.
"Let me torture them! I brought a good torture device from the demon clan!"
"I improvised the dwarf interrogation device. Please use it on them."
"How dare they kidnap our Diana! I can't believe it! We are having fun preparing for the festival!"
"Please calm down everyone" [Randy].
"We understand your concern, we really do, but that wouldn't solve anything" [Akela]
It has gotten so big that we have to call the Adventure Guild for help. Of course, we are able to disperse the crowd when Her Highness and the two princesses arrive and convince everyone.
The prison guards greet the royalties. We do the same. We couldn't possibly bring them into the prison, so a good room is used to inform those present of our findings.
"The elves will certainly be unhappy to see their own taken prisoner in a foreign land. They will surely use this as an example and even twist it into an elven slavery issue" [Elegast].
"Pretend ignorance. That's just like them..." [Apollo]
"I'm sure I don't have to ask this, but what are the chances of them listening to the two of you?" [Akela]
"Fallen noble. Zero" [Elegast]
"Half human, half elf. Zero" [Apollo]
"And they will surely change the topic from the resurrection of the Devil King to this at the upcoming conference" [Sas].
"Sigh... If only I hadn't given her that idea" [Akela]
"What's done is done" [Nar]
"None of us blame you" [Amleth]
For now, all we can do is widen the scope of our search. Considering Diana's a tough girl, I'm sure she'll be fine. I really do. Even Saintess Rumia is asking the Goddess herself, and the Goddess has given her word that she's in good hands. Of course, we believe in her and the Goddess, but the Goddess hasn't even told us where she is. All that has been conveyed is that a special messenger will arrive soon.
"All of you! Listen! In the church... I'm sorry for my rudeness, Your Highnesses!" [Kat]
"It's all right. Speak" [Amleth]
"There is a bird that brings a message from the land of the elves! Diana... Diana is in the Elven Kingdom!" [Kat]
"What!?" [All]
"Anyway, it's easier to see for yourself. Khamisah and Dana are also at the church right now" [Kat]
Without wasting any more time, we all went to church. Is that what the Goddess meant back then?
In the church I see that there are many people, more than usual. They're all attracted to that giant shiny parrot. Yes. Giant parrot. It's the size of a pterodactyl. It's still tame. I never heard of it before. I guess that is what attracted the crowd. It also has a holy aura. Is that how it bypasses the land barrier? It keeps saying, "Message from Diana, Message from World Tree Priestess. It seems to like Saintess Rumia because it says that Saintess Rumia is so much like the World Tree Priestess.
"I am glad. I'm so glad!" [Dana]
"There there." [Saintess Rumia]
"Really... Even I am happy" [Princess Siti]
"Thank goodness" [Khamisah]
"Meow" [Fie]
"Why are you crying so much?" [Nar]
"Sir Nar, this is insensitive of you..." [Kara]
"What?" [Nar]
"It's okay. At a time like this, you should at least give your sister a handkerchief" [Mara]
"You really have a lot to learn" [Jean]
"Right..." (Why... It's just Dana crying with relief...) [Nar]
(I'm glad I wasn't the one getting lectured by kids) [Sas]
There's a special crystal attached to the giant parrot, and if you look closely... It's similar to the Magic Motion Orb, and I can clearly sense Diana's mana. I wanted to touch it, but the parrot got angry and tried to bite me, saying that only a lady can touch it. Why you! Anyway, Saintess Rumia touches the crystal and a message with moving pictures and audio is revealed
"Sister Khamisah and Dana! Brother Nar and Sas! Diana here! I am at Grandma Farhah's house right now!" [Diana]
"Is that the name of your family member? That means they're my grandchildren too!" [Farhah]
"Mother, please let her finish her sentence first" [Farhana]
"Mother!? Farhana!?" [Elegast]
"Anyway, I am safe and sound with Grandma Farhah and Auntie Farhana. I will stay here for a while as I wanted to train a bit and also upgrade my wand with the help of the World Tree itself!" [Diana].
"Too much! You reveal too much! And call me sister! I am still young!" [Farhana]
"Only they will hear Sister Farhana. It's not as if all of Amleth will know" [Diana].
"You are a worrywart, my daughter" [Farhah].
"So should I leave out the part where they tried to throw me into the arena? Well, I did surprise them by taming the young Tyrannosaurus Rex afterward" [Diana].
"Should you? Or maybe even leave out the part where those guys don't really welcome you. Even though your cuteness has won the hearts of the common elves" [Farhah].
"Sigh... Let me handle this" [Farhana].
"Worry wart!" [Diana]
"As Diana said, it's not like the whole Amleth will know" [Farhah]
Sorry to say. All of Amleth knows now.
"Sigh... To the Vars family, I am the daughter of the World Tree Priestess, named after my mother, and one of the highest members of the Elven Council. I gave you my word that your little sister is safe with us. She has decided to stay with us. We will leave for Amleth about a month before the conference with her" [Farhana].
"Yes! I want to leave early as I have to practice with Neloufa for the play and help the succubi with their festival!" [Diana]
"That sounds fun" [Farhah]
"Please let me finish..." [Farhana]
And the message was cut off
"Nar, Sas... Where are you two going?" [Khamisah]
"To war" [Nar]
"They have the nerve to do this to our Diana" [Sas]
"I'll join you! Now that my mind is clear after the crying, how dare they do this to Diana!" [Dana]
"I will help. A mere elf doing something outrageous to my little Diana" [Merlin]
"I must stop you all. It's all right. I will be the one to go. My passport as a Saga should ensure a smooth entry into their kingdom" [Khamisah].
"Then we will follow!" [Nar, Sas, Dana, Merlin]
"Not with that bloodlust... Your Highness, I'll leave tomorrow with Fie as guild representative and I'll borrow Apollo and Myle as Amleth's representatives. The others please stay here" [Khamisah].
"Agreed" [Amleth]
Hard to argue when Her Highness has already given her approval so quickly. The four of us aren't usually hot-tempered (except for Dana), but when it comes to Diana... it helps that our eldest can still think rationally at times like this.