Lucian was taken aback by the story, momentarily overwhelmed as he processed everything, his mind racing with thoughts, ideas, and questions that only fueled his curiosity. Eager to know more, he quickly questioned Tetsu about the kingdom.
"So, the entire kingdom was shut down? If that's the case, what happened to the massive mineral reserves there? Were they abandoned too?" Lucian asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Well… not exactly. For years, no one dared enter the cursed land. But over time, others started planning to harvest those resources, determined to get them out no matter what. The first to take that step was the neighboring kingdom of Aetherwing Vale. They were among the first to lend their forces to help exterminate the Void-born and provided significant resources to aid the survivors. Because of their help, King Zephyris Gravesong couldn't deny them permission to attempt harvesting the resources."
"Well, that's fair, I guess. Did any other kingdoms join in the extraction?" Lucian continued.
"Yes, three kingdoms joined forces in total, though many others declined to do so."
'Not too surprising.' Lucian thought. 'What ruler would risk a deadly curse for some resources, especially with an entire kingdom to maintain.', he asked "So, which kingdoms refused the offer?"
"The three who joined were the first to offer aid. Later, others lent support, but one kingdom stood out for refusing, the elven kingdom of Elunara." Before Tetsu could continue, Lucian burst in excitedly.
"Elves? You mean actual elves, like the ones who live deep in forests and talk to the spirits of the forest?" Lucian asked, almost bouncing.
"Spirits of the forest? What's that?" Tetsu replied, confused by Lucian's description of elves.
"Oh, that's not a thing here? Sorry for interrupting. Could you explain what the elves here are like?" Lucian asked, calming himself.
"They're a very proud race, and historically, they didn't see other races as equals. They've built their kingdom over thousands of years, and with their long lifespans, they've ruled their lands with more control and authority than anywhere else. The oldest known elf lived to be 513 years old which was none other than the prior king, Vireo Thornfield. After his death, the throne passed to his son, the second prince, Everest Thornfield," Tetsu explained.
'Racism, huh? Not unexpected, after all there are three things in life that are always guaranteed, taxes, death, and racism.' Lucian thought to himself. "Are the elves still the same as they were in the past, or have they changed?" he asked.
"Well, I don't know too much, but I read that they had an overpopulation problem, which put a strain on their resources and land. To address it, they allowed other races to marry into their kind. This lowered the lifespans of mixed-race elves, depending on the race of their partner, and helped spread elves throughout the world. Beyond that, I couldn't find much information." Tetsu replied.
"Wait, I haven't seen a single elf in this city. If what you're saying is true, why aren't there any elves here?" Lucian asked, puzzled.
"There are elves here, but most are treated like royalty. In our Greenspire city, they're given full protection and even allowed access to the upper levels of the city's library. This helps maintain a good relationship between our Fulvaria kingdom and the kingdom of Elunara." Tetsu explained.
'Oh, that's why I haven't seen any. I hope I can meet one someday.' Lucian thought to himself, hopeful.
"Wait, what about the king? Didn't he have any family?" Lucian asked, realizing something.
"Yes, but the book doesn't provide much detail about them. It just suddenly stops, as if the writer either lost interest or didn't have more information," Tetsu said, equally puzzled.
Lucian flipped through the book and saw Tetsu was right, it ended abruptly. Lucian wondered if the writer had lost interest, lacked further information, or possibly died before finishing.
"Do you know anything about the king's family? Did he have any children?" Lucian asked.
"I asked around after finding no answers in the books here. Apparently, he had three daughters, and one of them became the queen. It seems the king had little connection with his children, as they were sent to grow up in the Night Gladiolus kingdom with their mother." Tetsu said, sharing all he knew.
"Interesting. Did they manage to extract the resources?" Lucian asked.
"Not really. It's said that the three kingdoms are still trying to find a way even now."
"Well, they seem pretty dedicated. Is that all you know?" Lucian asked.
"Yes, unfortunately, there isn't much more information." Tetsu replied apologetically.
"No problem. You've already told me a lot. You can get back to your research now, I'll go pick out a new book." Lucian said, and Tetsu nodded, returning to his reading.
Lucian placed the book back on the shelf and started browsing for another when something interesting caught his eye from the corner of his vision.