Geronimo, the eldest of the elves and the elder elf, had spoken.
He said he went west.
"I don't know why you're searching for his whereabouts."
In an elven forest following the footsteps of the voice, but what they actually found there were not voices, but the footprints of the Sword Master.
The more questions Vlad resolved, the larger mysteries awaited him.
"But if you want to find traces of him, you must first understand him."
"…What should I understand?"
The sword I used was an imperial sword.
So, why does the voice use the imperial sword?
The actions of the voice clearly protected the spirits.
So, why did the voice protect the spirits?
"I mean Frausen, just a man, not the founding king Frausen."
"..."
The questions that followed clearly pointed to a place.
King founder Frausen.
The first Sword Master.
And Frausen, a man who renounced all his glory.
"I want you to read about the concerns of why he did that."
Geronimo, who had grown wiser with age, was able to tell Vlad the direction to take.
To know the end, one must see the beginning.
He probably had to revisit old memories countless times to get these words out of his mouth.
"I'll go west. He said he was going there."
"Is it the west?"
Although everyone praised the glorious beginnings of a man named Frausen, no one spoke of his end.
The footprints of Frausen, who disappeared mysteriously, like in a legendary story.
Perhaps the current Vlad was the person who came closest to the footprints, even though it was not his intention.
"Yes. West. The place where our Mother World Tree once stood."
I walked here not knowing who I was looking for.
However, a faint trace clearly remained, which was probably the struggle of those who tried to protect it.
"Go search for the dwarves there."
The sign placed by the old man pointed the next direction for the young knight.
The west has now become a wasteland.
Towards the dwarves lodged where the Mother World Tree once stood.
"Dwarf..."
A noble silver color remained on Vlad's face as he encountered once again an unknown world.
A ray of light emanated from the silver sword lying there.
The light spread so subtly that Vlad, who was reflecting, could not notice it and stared at Vlad for a long time as if observing him carefully.
***
Alicia could barely maintain her composure as she clung to her racing heart.
"They want to compensate us for our relic?"
A trace of her cherished father and a long-standing family relic.
Giving Vlad the amber stone, which was so precious to Alicia, was not simply because she personally felt drawn to him.
It was a kind of investment.
An investment that foresees the future of Deirmar.
A promising knight named Vlad was clearly a great piece that could compensate for Deirmar's weakest points, and Alicia really wanted that shiny piece.
"That's correct. Lord of the humans. Alicia of Hainal."
The elf who introduced himself as Varadis was treating Alicia politely.
This was completely different from the rumors that people were being ostracized.
The vassals of Hainal simply remained silent, confused as they looked at the elves like this.
"The precious family relic you gave to Vlad was really helpful to us, Ausurin."
There was a letter from the elves that Vlad brought, but it was just a greeting.
The elves decided to offer a reasonable compensation to the human lord who had preserved the precious traces of the Mother World Tree and had also lost them.
"Although it's just a small amount, I hope you like it."
An ancient wooden box began to rise behind Varadis, who politely bowed his head.
It seems that the box alone is worth the price.
Everyone held their breath and looked at the box as it began to open slowly, knowing that just having the Elf name in front would greatly increase its value.
"What is this...?"
Finally, when the box was opened, a subtle aroma wafted out along with it.
It was the kind of aroma that instantly brightened up this place that was filled with somber scents.
"It's saffron. It's a spice we especially love."
Red stalks that looked like dried flower petals.
The aroma it emanated had a clear substance, as if you could catch it with your hand.
"Uh, uh. That's all."
Alicia's voice somehow spoke but could not be brought to an end.
After encountering elven culture for the first time in her life, Alicia was able to recognize immediately that the saffron in front of her was a valuable item.
"Baron Alicia. We would like to take this opportunity to build a strong relationship with the Hainal family."
I don't need to say it again.
Unlike humans who try to profit by hiding their true intentions in their words, the elves simply conveyed the story straightforwardly and correctly.
"Although it's far away, if there are trustworthy people there, there will be nothing to worry about. Please consider our proposal carefully."
The floating aroma is dizzying and the words spoken are sweet.
Alicia's vassals could barely breathe as Varadis' words echoed in their ears.
Is there such a ridiculous opportunity?
Faced with the most difficult moment and the most incredible opportunity, the heads of the vassals naturally turned to Alicia, who was sitting in the lord's seat.
"I... I listened carefully to what you said."
And Alicia Hainal, the only Hainal sitting there.
Her shoulders straightened triumphantly as she looked into the eyes of her servants.
"Welcome. All who came from afar."
Alicia's smile towards the elves brightly lit up the halls of Deirmar.
What lay before Alicia, whose worth she recognized more than anyone, was a gift from Vlad to compensate her for the past years.
***
The conversation with the humans was successful.
Given that the elves were inevitably poor compared to the empire, they had no choice but to live always anxious about them, but a great wind of change was already blowing in the great world they had just faced.
"The rise of the Northern Alliance will definitely be beneficial for us."
"Perhaps it can provide an alternative to the Empire."
It was said that the Northern Orthodox Church, which promotes the Northern Union, clearly has lenient standards for other religions and beliefs.
Not just a standard, but possibilities for you and for me.
This new sect that guarantees this will certainly provide another option for the elves.
"Here."
The Rangers, who managed to understand the world's trends that they had ignored until then, asked Alicia for permission to look inside the Hainal tree on the hill to fulfill their original purpose.
Because this was the most important reason they left Ausurin.
"This is what Vlad said..."
I felt like I could know it without having to check.
A lemon tree that looks old to anyone who looks at it.
The strong scent felt there was clearly similar to the scent of a young World Tree.
"After all, it was a snake."
Although his left eye was not closed, the pentagram in his pupil illuminated Varadis's eyes.
The world of the elves with the World Tree.
In the dark-colored area visible through it, there was a white snake with its tongue greeting them.
"You survived."
"It looks like the lunar mole of Dobrechi we saw before."
Varadis and the elves followed the spirits' tracks as Vlad said.
They left Ausurin and encountered the Dobrechi mole for the first time, and finally they were able to reach Deirmar, where the Mother World Tree was located.
"Could it have survived like this?"
Long ago, the elves had no choice but to flee, taking only the World Tree seeds to survive.
However, even when everything burned down, there were things and traces that someone had secretly spread throughout the world for them.
One of those traces is probably the white snake you see now.
"Lord Varadis, excuse me."
"Mmm?"
Varadis turned his head to follow the finger pointed by his subordinate and soon he could smile cheerfully.
The young ones peeked behind the white snake.
They were clearly the spirits of the young World Tree that had been sent with Vlad's sword.
"You've calmed down."
I walked a long way, but it was worth it.
Because I saw something that was not only alive, but firmly rooted.
Bright smiles began to form on the faces of the elves as they looked at the young spirits born in Ausurin.
"I'll have to ask Lord Hainal for his cooperation so I can stay here for the time being. Maybe there are other traces left."
"Alright."
Small worlds that were left rooted without leaving a trace within an empire that had become one.
However, only now were the elves who had ventured out into the world recognizable.
Yet, there are small worlds that still breathe.
And the traces lined up along the path of the young knight they followed.
It was similar to the actions of the Sword Master who had visited them long ago.
***
In front of the harbor pier, where dusk is gradually falling.
Vlad stood there, silently watching as the ship disappeared over the horizon.
On the boat that departed from Nassau with a creak, many dwarves continued to gaze at the port where Vlad stood.
"Mr. Rutiger probably won't like it."
"...I know."
Vlad nodded silently as he listened to Marcus's words behind him.
"Perhaps so."
Of course Rutiger won't like what I've done.
This job was solely for Joseph's benefit and also related to the brothers' struggle for the family head position.
"You won't regret it, will you?"
Marcus's question spread along with the sound of the waves, reaching Vlad's ears.
You won't regret it, will you?
Deirmar, who took care of you, will definitely be disappointed.
"Regrets... I think I will have them."
Rutiger Bayezid.
The man who killed the dragon with me.
Every moment I spent with him was a moving experience and, looking back, it was a joyful experience.
"But I think I'll regret it even more if I don't do this."
Betraying Rutiger's favor was clearly a painful decision.
But Godin had said.
Start by observing where your feet are now.
"I am Sir Joseph's knight."
"...Yes."
The war with Gaidar was a variable that choked Joseph and at the same time raised Rutiger's value.
If things continue like this, it will become clear that Joseph will end up dying without even being able to shine.
That's why Vlad didn't hesitate to send the dwarves to their hometown.
"I think I've done everything I was supposed to do here."
With Vlad's words, the boat on the horizon became a small dot and disappeared into the twilight.
There are probably still dwarves on the now disappeared boat looking toward the port where Vlad will be.
"I have to go back now."
For Joseph, who pulled me out of the darkness, and for the voice.
Vlad used a dwarf named Vulcan as a pigeon to send a letter to a world he had never seen before.
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