Elowen picked up a couple more Sun Peaches, barely half a year old, to notice another group of people coming the way of the spirit tree, picking up on the scent like her.
She squinted her eyes to notice it was actually a group she was familiar with, led by none other than one of her cousins. Unlike her, all of them are elves of pure blood.
Elowen's heart lurched, noticing the look in their eyes when they found Ki Lien—a dark-skinned human—standing idly with a sun peach. Hurriedly, Elowen climbed down the tree before the human could act in some way that might anger them. Some elves possessed a fragile ego. It wasn't simply insecurity, but the way they were brought up.
By the time she climbed down, Ki Lien was already in an argument with the other elves. Not that any of the two parties could understand each other's words. Yet somehow the air between them stilled, as even a spiritually crippled could understand the conflict growing.
"Cousin Maelora," Elowen called, earning the attention of the proud Elven girl leading the group of six. She bowed first, not just at her cousin. She positioned herself in the perfect position that she could greet them all together at once.
Unfortunately, as she imagined, none of them returned the greeting. Gawn, who was a better swordsman than her, nodded, while Elara, who had a long Elven bow on her back, clicked her tongue as if Elowen caused a great distaste in her stomach.
The remaining three were elves Elowen only recognised by face. But since they were the companions of Maelora in the test, they were bound to possess rich abilities in various fields and add something to the group.
A dark auburn-haired girl stood out in the back wearing the white robes of healers. Another youth with golden hair like that of Gawn and Maelora stood with a sword and bow, and the last was an elven girl who seemed to find herself in the role of her cousin's handmaiden—watching the minute change in Maelora's expression to act accordingly.
"Oh, if it isn't Little Elowen," Maelora said, her golden hair swaying along the wind. She raised her eyebrows sharply as she examined Elowen's state, wearing a male's cloth. Elowen was unable to keep her blush from swelling up. "It seems like I was worried about nothing. You found yourself a companion worthy of your station."
Elowen clenched her jaw, hearing her. Worried about me? More like she is worried she didn't manage to harass me yet.
"But a human, Elowen?" Maelora asked, evident contempt in her eyes as she shot Ki Lien a look, who obviously looked odd even by human standards. "Not to mention a simpleton at that. I guess you low blood have no class, but dear cousin, you can do a lot better."
Elara's eyebrows twitched when Maelora finished berating, but instantly the archer's face reverted to its original state as if the talk about low blood didn't rub her the wrong way.
Elowen had a sharp retort in her mind, but she didn't voice it out, worrying it would escalate the matter went out of her hands. While Ki Lien was capable, she didn't see him possessing enough power to overpower a well-rounded group of elves who were a contender of coming victorious in the test.
"I'll give your advice some consideration, cousin," Elowen said, her expression flat and respectful. As if she hadn't thought of asking other people to join her, or even joining them. But none of them had the time or intention of listening to her.
It seemed her polite response wasn't something her cousin was hoping for. Maelora frowned, looking between herself and Ki Lien. And then at the fruits.
"Sun Peach is a great nourishment for the foundation," said her cousin. "You know, Little Elowen, how many of these fruits are wasted on these greedy humans every year? They trespassed into our land to steal those fruits and whatever treasure they could get their hands on. On that note, do you know there were a few groups of these greedy humans roaming in the great woods right now, picking up natural treasures in wild abandon as if their ancestors had left them for them?"
A frown crept up on Elowen's brows.
"Foolish humans believe nobody knows of their crime," Maelora snorted and turned her head to look at others. "Remind me again what are we to do with them if we encounter them?"
Her handmaiden was the first to speak up as she was prepared for it. "One of our tasks for this trial is to capture any of the human trespassers we encounter and deliver them to the elders."
"100 points for each one of them," Elara added, flashing a grin at Ki Lien and her. "The problem is that humans are a slippery bunch. When they discover they cannot win against us, they shamelessly flee using any underhanded method necessary."
Now every one of the group's attention shifted to Ki Lien, and as it turned out, he chose this damnable time to eat the Sun Peach she had thrown at him.
He mainly appeared bored, to be honest, but a spark of spirituality flashed in his eyes as he chewed and gulped down the half-year-old sun peach.
"Good," he told her, showing his thumb finger. Elowen hadn't had enough interaction with humans to know what that gesture meant. But then again, Ki Lien was a weird one.
All six pairs of eyes fixated on them became colder, chilling her spine as Ki Lien continued on chewing the fruit.