"So you're saying dark elves and light elves can convert into each other?" I felt very amazed. I couldn't help but glance at the dark elf girl again, imagining what she would look like as a light elf.
"In theory, yes. But in reality, it's not so simple because the amount of light or dark essence needed is extremely massive. So generally, few can afford so much resources." Selene didn't completely reject my conjecture either.
"But Nicola is different. As an embodiment of light essence, only an angel like you can effortlessly transform a dark elf into a light elf." As she spoke, she looked at Nicola reverently again and suggested in a very caring tone:
"But in the future, you shouldn't use this method recklessly. Although an angel's light essence is almost immeasurable, consuming large amounts of light essence is still very taxing on the body."
Alright, I noticed Selene's flattery is getting more and more excessive. That said, aren't I an angel too? How come she has never shown such reverence to me?
"So you mean to let her come with us?" Brennan spoke up at this point, having keenly grasped Selene's implication - neither kill nor release, so the only option is to keep her close.
"I disagree! Bringing a dark elf on the road will not just slow us down but also attract a lot of trouble."
"It's not so serious. Elves are still quite accepted by the public, unlike demons and other dark creatures." Adrian mulled for a bit, seeming to disagree and felt it wasn't entirely unfeasible. "Even as a dark elf, as long as she doesn't draw too much attention, there shouldn't be big issues in cities."
"But I think the main thing is to see what she wants."
Saying so, Adrian looked towards the dark elf girl sitting quietly nearby and asked:
"What's your name? Your dark elf clan should all have names right?"
"Irene," she answered softly, seeming significantly less hostile now.
"Irene, so you understand right? You can't go back now. Even if we let you kill Nicola and run back, your former comrades will still shun you. So are you willing to come with us? We should be able to entrust you to the light elf clan."
"I don't believe you! You're all in it together!" Irene couldn't immediately accept this reality. To her, living with her former comrades was almost her entire life, since that's how she grew up.
"We're not deceiving you. You should also realize your own condition now with your weakened powers. And your strength will continue declining to about a normal human's level eventually. By then, even if you become a light elf, all your former comrades will not let you off when they see you." Selene's words completely dashed her last hopes.
"I...I don't know either."
Awakened by this, Irene panicked a little, starting to realize she was now homeless. But still too young, she didn't know what to do for the moment. It was unrealistic to expect her to immediately accept the enemy's goodwill, so we could only take it slowly.
"Think it over yourself first," Adrian said, not pressing her further. Then he turned and asked Selene, "Does your Church know where light elves gather?"
"We do," Selene immediately answered. "In fact, there's a hidden light elf settlement in Norvale, under the Church's management."
"That works well then. We can entrust her to your Church right?"
He seemed to have a good impression of the Church's reputation.
"Of course, the Church is very willing to help races like elves too, since they are skilled in various magics and occasionally help with tasks."
Selene was quite happy to be able to increase the Church's forces.
With everything settled, everyone rested and continued on the road after...
...
"So she came around so quickly?" I asked Vivianne.
Although knowing this was almost inevitable, I still felt a little speechless seeing Irene sticking close by my side as we walked.
"But why is she following me again?"
With Irene's current strength, she was no threat to us anymore, her weapons confiscated. So we didn't tie her up anymore.
"Even if I agree with you all, I don't want to be too close to that stinky angel!"
Before Vivianne could reply, the girl already answered when she heard us talking about her. But her words were still filled with hatred as she glared at Nicola some distance away. Seeing this, Nicola also didn't dare approach my side, and could only awkwardly keep her distance.
"But I'm an angel too..." I whispered to Vivianne. "She won't be shocked later and attack me right?"
"Hehe, possible..." Vivianne's expression of anticipating the show made me very gloomy.
Although held up for some time, everyone still managed to leave the forest before sunset on the second day after meeting Irene.
Coming to this world outside the forest for the first time, I felt quite fresh. Very soon, a small town on the edge of the forest came into view.
The bustling crowds gathered many passersby from outside, looking quite prosperous.
For Nicola and I, it was our first time seeing so many people in this world, so we were extremely excited.
Completely different from Earth's cities, this town still had that medieval style. Muddy roads, narrow streets lined on both sides with all kinds of shops. Occasionally bargaining voices could be heard coming out.
"Finally don't have to camp out!" Vivianne also looked very happy, clearly reluctant about camping in the wild. Actually no one liked it, I only had some novelty at the start, but got sick of it after a while too.
"Let's go to our lodging first," Brennan was also in a good mood, leading everyone through the streets familiarly until a hotel.
"Boss, four rooms!" Still following the previous allocation, Adrian greeted the hotel owner familiarly.
"No, just three rooms." But at this time, Nicola suddenly cut in requesting to stay with me.
"I can share with Feliciana. One room is enough."
"You!" I couldn't help but glare at her. But on second thought, they were paying after all, and Nicola and I had no money. Trying to save on expenses was right. And she knew my identity now, so hopefully wouldn't try anything like that night again.
"Fine..."
So I was overthinking it right? I'm still a man in her eyes after all, unless she had some hidden traits I didn't know about.
"What about Irene then?" Looking at the dark elf girl still sleeping soundly in my arms, I felt awkward. What happened to that supposedly powerful assassin? She was fine on the first day, but started tiring and napping frequently not long into the second day.
According to Selene, this was the weakness and lethargy of the transitional period. But she declined Vivianne and Selene's good intentions, insisting I carry her which was going too far. I did have the strength to easily do so now, but still reluctant to keep holding a girl throughout.
"We'll take her," Vivianne and Selene seemed quite willing to take on this hot potato, one unable to resist cuteness and one not wanting to trouble her respected angel. So I very readily handed Irene over to them.
"Oh right, there are baths here we can soak in. It's been a while since you two bathed right?" Vivianne seemed very familiar with this place, reminding us.
"It's promoted as water is from the Spring of Life in Elara Woodlands, very beneficial for the body, must try!"
"Huh?" Nicola and I were both surprised, exchanging a glance.
"Got it."
Right after Nicola replied, she hurriedly pulled me along to our room.
The hotel was actually quite nice. Smaller than the room in the forest village that night, with just one bed, but still fully furnished and equipped.
"Now...we have a problem," Nicola plopped down on the bed with a grave expression, looking at me pacing around the room. She spoke up first:
"I know, the bath is an issue right?" I nodded, directly voicing my concern.
"Right, the bath is very problematic." Nicola agreed, also seeming very troubled.