Chapter 363: The Snow Elf King's Proposal
The frost forest's snow-covered landscape was a breathtaking sight to behold. As William and his companions approached the snow Elf's residence, they noticed that the surrounding trees had a refined quality to them. Cedar branches and leaves resembled intricate ice sculptures, with Elves gracefully moving among them.
Various types of treehouses, ice structures, ice towers, and tools crafted from cold ice adorned the area. The streets were also covered with ice and snow, but the pathways were intricately designed to provide excellent traction, allowing the Elves to move about effortlessly.
The Elves here had no need for vines or branches to traverse; the sturdy ice snow trees served as natural pathways, creating an intricate network for the Elves to navigate easily.
Snowmen dotted the landscape, and mischievous Elf children engaged in playful snowball fights. Even some mature Elves, who had maintained their youthful innocence, were seen enjoying pattern skiing.
This enchanting ice and snow world slowly unveiled its unique charm as William and his group ventured deeper into it.
The arrival of William and his companions drew the curious gazes of many snow Elves. However, these Elves did not engage in idle gossip; instead, they watched with curiosity while secretly pondering their own thoughts. Politeness and elegance seemed ingrained in their nature, even for snow Elves living in the far north.
Snow Elves typically had long, snow-white hair, blue pupils, and high-bridged noses, aiding in oxygen absorption in their harsh environment. Their skin was not exceedingly pale under direct sunlight, but their beauty was undeniable.
Yet, their stature was taller than that of other pure-blooded Elves. In the far north, strength was an advantage that facilitated survival. Despite having an ample food supply, their living conditions still paled in comparison to those of the black leaf Elves and moonlight Elves, who faced fewer threats.
One of these threats was the Northern Orc Empire, which was a constant menace to the snow Elves. In the dense frost forest, countless creatures, beasts, and even frost dragons lurked among the snow-capped mountains.
Among these threats, the Northern Orc Empire was a prominent concern. With nearly ten million orcs residing in steel cities among the northern mountains, they descended to the lower regions annually to plunder food and hunt Beast and animals to satiate their powerful warriors.
This made the snow Elves some of the most battle-hardened Elves on the Legendary continent. They often skirmished with the human legions of the Northern Duchy, not to expand their territory, but to control the population of the orc empire.
In the far north, the possibility of pure-blooded Elves fighting alongside humans still existed, unlike in other regions where the Elves preferred to keep their distance.
"I didn't expect you to be Princess Anne. I remember when you came here as a child, but I didn't see you accompanying the Elf KING," remarked Elena, the female magician who had initiated a conversation with Annie.
Annie smiled politely and replied, "At first, I was rather naive and pestered my father to bring me along. However, I wore a princess dress and ended up getting frozen into a treehouse when I arrived here. For the following days, I could only watch the snow outside through the window, but I wasn't near my father's side."
Elena found Annie's story amusing and continued to engage in lively conversation. She seemed to have the makings of a skilled diplomat, finding numerous topics that resonated with Annie's interests.
As the women chatted away, William and the other men followed behind at a leisurely pace, taking in the cultural scenery around them.
The landscape became increasingly impressive as they progressed, with more and more towering treehouses appearing on the horizon. This city had no walls but was expansive in size, even surpassing the size of the Black Leaf Elf, Capital City, as nearly ten million snow Elves called it home.
After a full hour of exploration, they reached the pinnacle of their journey, with a colossal ice snow tree stretching over 2000 meters high. Its branches and crystal-like leaves covered the entire sky and earth, a guardian tree of the snow Elves and the ancestor of all trees in the frost forest.
William had a vague understanding of the capabilities possessed by these trees.
First, they were telepathic, meaning these guardian sacred trees possessed wisdom beyond that of mere living creatures.
Second, they held great strength, though not comparable to a Sage. The owner of the Black Iron Tree, among the Black Leaf Elves, boasted combat abilities equivalent to that of a Legendary Professional.
However, these trees could not move, walk, or engage in combat. While tree people existed in the world, none had achieved Legendary status on the Continent.
Thoughts of the World Tree Seedling crossed William's mind. The seedling was likely guarded by many tree people. Without a doubt, it would be vulnerable without the protection of a Sage.
William contemplated the impending challenges. "When will it happen? No, the more pressing question is how to protect the World Tree Seedling. It's a treasure beyond measure, and I'm not in a position to safeguard it."
The Black Leaf Elf KING seemed far from eager to go to war. After all, he possessed a player's panel, and the World Tree held immense value to him. The Water of Life alone was priceless, not to mention its other incredible effects.
Moreover, the World Tree was the origin of all Elves, often referred to as the "World Tree Mother" by Elves. Elves had originated from this tree, making it an irreplaceable entity.
With these thoughts in mind, William couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for its protection.
"Your Highness, I didn't expect you to be Princess Anne. I remember you visited here as a child, but I haven't seen you with the Elf KING." Elena, the female magician, initiated a conversation with Annie, sparking a pleasant exchange.
Annie smiled graciously and replied, "Yes, when I was young, I insisted on accompanying my father. However, I wore a princess gown and ended up getting frozen inside a treehouse when I arrived. I spent the next few days watching the snowfall through the window, though I wasn't by my father's side."
Elena found Annie's story amusing and continued the conversation, displaying her diplomatic prowess by bringing up topics that resonated with Annie.
Meanwhile, William and the other men followed behind at a leisurely pace, taking in the cultural scenery around them.
As they ventured deeper into the snow Elf city, the landscape became increasingly impressive. Tall treehouses dominated the skyline, and the city itself dwarfed the Black Leaf Elf, Capital City in size, with nearly ten million snow Elves calling it home.
After an hour of exploration, they reached the pinnacle of their journey: a colossal ice snow tree that stretched over 2000 meters high. Its branches and crystal-like leaves covered the entire sky and earth, serving as a guardian tree of the snow Elves and the ancestor of all trees in the frost forest.
William had a vague understanding of the capabilities possessed by these guardian trees.
First, they were telepathic, endowing them with wisdom beyond that of mere living creatures.
Second, they held great strength, though not comparable to a Sage. The owner of the Black Iron Tree, among the Black Leaf Elves, boasted combat abilities equivalent to that of a Legendary Professional.
However, these trees could not move, walk, or engage in combat. While tree people existed in the world, none had achieved
Legendary status on the Continent.
Thoughts of the World Tree Seedling crossed William's mind. The seedling was likely guarded by many tree people. Without a doubt, it would be vulnerable without the protection of a Sage.
William contemplated the impending challenges. "When will it happen? No, the more pressing question is how to protect the World Tree Seedling. It's a treasure beyond measure, and I'm not in a position to safeguard it."
The Black Leaf Elf KING seemed far from eager to go to war. After all, he possessed a player's panel, and the World Tree held immense value to him. The Water of Life alone was priceless, not to mention its other incredible effects.
Moreover, the World Tree was the origin of all Elves, often referred to as the "World Tree Mother" by Elves. Elves had originated from this tree, making it an irreplaceable entity.
With these thoughts in mind, William couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for its protection.
Without further delay, William and his group were summoned to meet the Snow Elf King, a revered figure with many titles, including the King of the Far North. His presence commanded respect and admiration from both Elves and humans alike.
Upon entering the hall illuminated by magical lights, William's eyes were immediately drawn to a pair of elegant snow-white legs peeking out from under a long white dress. He respectfully lowered his head and whispered, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Queen's voice was cold yet carried an undeniable authority as she granted permission for him to rise. William raised his head to meet the gaze of the fairy queen. The sight of her slender legs beneath her gown and her full figure was enchanting.
However, William was not misled by the queen's favor toward him. The Snow Elf Queen was married to a Legendary snow Elf warrior, and her reputation was untarnished by any rumors or scandals.
"I heard you have a box to deliver. Hand it over," the queen's cold voice echoed in the hall.
William bowed his head, approached the queen, and presented the box to her. With a wave of her hand and a touch of magic, the queen unsealed the box before William's eyes.
In an instant, a brilliant green light radiated throughout the hall, capturing everyone's attention, including William's.
Inside the box was a piece of paper crafted from the leaves of the World Tree, adorned with elaborate characters in the Elven script. The inscription read: "Covenant of Elves."
William couldn't help but stare at the document, puzzled by its significance. "Your Majesty, what does this mean? Is the Black Leaf Elf KING preparing for war?"
The queen's raised eyebrows indicated her curiosity. She regarded William with her icy-blue eyes and responded, "It is sufficient that you can wield weapons. What matters is that you deliver this covenant to the Black Leaf Elf KING."
William was taken aback by the queen's cryptic response. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
Bernice, the Snow Elf Queen, did not elaborate further. Instead, she rose from her seat and declared in a solemn tone, "Starting tomorrow, all pure-blooded Elves on the Legendary continent shall prepare for war. We will open the portal, establish an alliance for offense and defense, and declare war on the Dark World. Our first step will be to eliminate all their minions, every orc and demon on the Legendary continent."
William's eyes widened in astonishment. The queen's declaration triggered memories of a war that had little to do with players, the war initiated by the pure-blooded Elves. Their objective: to eradicate the orc empire in the far north.
This war had remained relatively obscure to players due to its distance from the novice villages. However, William now realized that The Blue Frost Empire might also become involved in the conflict, given the unaltered state of the Northern Duchy.
The situation had taken an unexpected turn.