On the way to the main city of Elfior:
Kiyoshi gazed around in awe, his eyes wide as they approached the city. "This place is like a city in a huge forest," he murmured, taking in the towering trees and lush greenery.
Sakura nodded, her tone matter-of-fact but with a hint of pride. "The Elves live in tree houses and trees. There are three huge trees in the center of the city—no, actually, these three great trees are the main city. They're called the Three Great Trees. Some Elves can control, shape, and grow trees. These trees have open areas, and the branches are like floors. It's believed that Elves have a special connection to nature, which is why they can manipulate trees like this. They use the trees as foundations for their homes and shops. Half the shops are inside the trees, and half are outside. The trees are carved into buildings, and there are even hanging shops and bridges connecting the branches."
Kiyoshi's eyes darted around, taking in the sight of countless Elves moving gracefully through the city. The Elf girls are so adorable, he thought, his cheeks flushing slightly.
Sakura shot him a sharp look, as if reading his mind. "I know Elf girls are hot, but don't even think about perverted things. If you do, that'll be your last thought."
Kiyoshi stammered, "I-I'm not like that! How could you consider me a pervert?" But even as he spoke, his eyes lingered on the Elf girls, his thoughts betraying him. Oh, their ears are so cute…
Sakura sighed, rolling her eyes. "I didn't mean it like that."
Kiyoshi quickly changed the subject, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Why are there so few humans here?"
Sakura's expression turned serious. "That's because humans once tried to enslave the Elves. There was a civil war, and the king eventually banned Elf slavery. Now, enslaving an Elf is punishable by death."
After an hour of travel from the port to the main city:
Sakura pointed ahead. "This is the main city. That huge gateway you see is just the end of a root." The entrance gate was a massive inverted U structure, about 150 meters high and 50 meters wide. It looked like a well-civilized forest, with a wide street running through the base of a gigantic tree. The Figon River encircled the entire city, its waters glistening under the sunlight.
Sakura continued, "There are different types of Elves, identified by their hair color. Pink and white hair indicates royalty. Yellow and green are common Elf colors, while dark Elves have darker skin tones. Elves have an average lifespan of 700 years. Common Elves are known for their flexibility and aim, often using wind magic and bows. Dark Elves are stronger and specialize in wood magic. Royals, on the other hand, possess both traits and can perform spirit magic."
Kiyoshi listened intently, his curiosity piqued. "What about their MP? How do they manage it?"
Sakura explained, "Most Elves have low MP, around 50 to 200. They can refill it by drawing energy from living things around them, but it takes time—5 to 10 minutes for common Elves. Spirit users, like the royals, can refill their MP almost instantly, but they need to be in a forest or a place rich in vegetation. In deserts or barren areas, their abilities are limited. Royals have MP levels similar to humans and can also borrow MP from living things."
She went on, "Pure white-haired Elves are the pure-blood royals, but they've evolved into pink-haired Elves, who are slightly weaker. They still have powers similar to common and dark Elves but with MP up to 300. The old stories say that long ago, all Elves had yellow hair. They protected the forest like it was their mother. When humans first invaded and burned the forest, a brave warrior named Jojikan Elfior defended it with his life. The goddess of the forest rewarded him and his people with spiritual powers, changing their hair colors based on their abilities. Jojikan became the first king of the Elves, with the power to summon five forest spirits. Over time, the white Elves evolved into pink-haired ones, losing some of their powers. Some say it's because they displeased the goddess by turning the forest into a city."
Kiyoshi blinked, processing the information. "Okay, I get it. Did you learn all this from a book?"
Sakura smirked. "Some of it. The rest… let's just say I have my ways."
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow. "??????"
Sakura waved him off. "Leave it. Let's focus on delivering the letter to the Elfior family. The witch said if we go through the normal procedure, it'll take a month to meet the viscount. We need to use the secret passage to save time."
Kiyoshi nodded, pulling out the map. "According to this, the passage should be deep in the forest."
Sakura scanned the area. "I see nothing but trees. Are you sure we're in the right place?"
Kiyoshi's eyes lit up as he spotted something. "There must be a door here. Oh, I see! We need to say something like 'amono akono.'"
As soon as he uttered the words, a hidden door in the tree creaked open.
Sakura immediately tensed, her hand moving to her dagger. "Someone's here. Be on guard. Who are you?"
Before they could react, they were shouted at and quickly subdued.
Later, in a grand hall:
Kiyoshi groaned, his head throbbing as he regained consciousness. "Where… where are we?" he mumbled, his vision blurry.
An Elf girl, around 180 cm tall and clad in armor, stood nearby. "My Lord, there were intruders," she reported, her voice firm.
Kiyoshi's eyes adjusted to the opulent surroundings. They were in a large hall, its walls adorned with white, gold, and green decorations. Knights lined both sides of the room, and at the far end sat a lord and his wife on ornate thrones. The lord, who appeared to be in his mid-40s, had long dark pink hair, a pointed nose, and a beard. His sharp eyes bore into Kiyoshi, who shivered under the intensity of his gaze.
"We're not intruders!" Kiyoshi blurted out, bowing his head. "We're adventurers here to deliver a letter. My companion—" He glanced at Sakura, who was still unconscious. "—and I were told to come this way by a witch named Galfi."
Lord Garion's voice was cold and demanding. "Show me proof."
Kiyoshi fumbled for the letter, handing it over with trembling hands. Garion read it, his expression softening slightly. "It seems you're telling the truth. Galfi has vouched for you. Take them to the garden and untie them."
In the garden:
The princess led the way, her pink hair shimmering in the sunlight. She was petite, around 150 cm tall, with a long white and green dress and a gold necklace. Despite her youthful appearance, her tone was firm. "For the record, I'm 104 years old. I'm not a kid. You're the kids here."
Kiyoshi and Sakura exchanged embarrassed glances. "We're really sorry, my lady," Kiyoshi said, bowing his head.
As they walked, Kiyoshi noticed the first princess, Nanime Elfior, training in the distance. She was taller, around 165 cm, with a striking presence and a figure that made Sakura and the second princess seem almost flat in comparison. Nanime wielded two circular blades controlled by thin strings, her movements fluid and precise.
Kiyoshi activated his Eye of Wisdom, his eyes widening. "She's at least A-rank," he whispered.
Sakura nodded, her voice tinged with admiration. "She's an S-ranked assassin and the leader of the Yamogi Gang."