"The elves here are Eladrins," I said, my tone heavy with meaning.
Hina's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open in surprise. There was a long pause before she blinked rapidly, her expression a mixture of shock and curiosity.
"Oh... what's that?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
I sighhhhed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose. "And you want to become the queen of the country? You don't even know who are the people that lives in it." My tone carried the faintest hint of mockery.
"Oye, don't say it like that!" Hina protested, folding her arms. "I'm... still learning and growing, you know." She whistled and glanced away, clearly trying to deflect her embarrassment.
"Yeah, sure. Sure." I shook my head and started walking ahead, my hands casually in my pockets.
"Hey!" she called out, hurrying after me. "Now tell me what this Eladrin thing you mentioned is."
I slowed my pace but didn't stop, my gaze fixed on the path ahead.
"Eladrins are the highest race of elves," I began, my voice steady and informative. "They are the first elves to exist in this world, the purest form of their kind. In their eyes, they are the pinnacle and the peak race that exists on the height of perfection."
"Ooohhhh...I see.." Hina's voice trailed off as her curiosity piqued.
We descended from the rocky ledge we had been standing on, and the scenery opened up before us. A grand waterfall cascaded in the distance, its mist catching the morning sunlight.
The air was filled with the songs of vibrant species of birds, and the lush greenery shimmered with dew. The animals strolled on side as they dip their mouth in the stream to drink water.
Hina gasped audibly, her earlier frustration momentarily forgotten. "This... this is stunning." She spun around, taking it all in, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Yeah, it's beautiful," I admitted, a faint smile touching my lips as I watched her. "But don't get distracted. We've got work to do or our dead bodies will the next thing these cute looking animals will feed upon."
"Yeahhhh....Mr. Booomer.." She whispered to herself.
"You said something?" I asked, in a heavy tone.
She nodded reluctantly and fell into step beside me. "So, these Eladrins," she said, her tone eager. "What makes them so different from regular elves?"
I glanced at her briefly. "To be honest...nothing."
"Ehhh, then why go through so much?" Hina asked with more curiosity."
"Just because they were first ones? Maybe...but as you know, elves are renowned for their long lives and enormous amount of aura. But Eladrins... they consider themselves the purest and first of their kind. That's why they don't mingle with the outside world like the other elves you've met. They've isolated themselves here, preserving their ways and culture."
"Sounds kinda... arrogant," Hina said, wrinkling her nose.
"It's more than arrogance," I continued. "It's a sense of superiority they believe they've earned. Eladrins aren't any stronger than other elves—but their ego and pride maybe is the reason why they all are massively strong. Their aura, their magic, the way they fight...Eldrians were the first courageous ones who went against the Demon Lords of the past."
Hina's eyes widened again, her lips forming a soft 'wow.' "That's insane. Have you... fought with them before?"
I nodded, my gaze distant as memories surfaced. "I fought alongside an Eladrin once, about 2,000 years ago. We were up against an enemy that would have destroyed everything if we hadn't joined forces."
"Woah, that's so cool!" Hina said, her voice tinged with awe. "And damn, you've sure lived a lot."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "Yeah, I've seen more than my share."
As we continued walking, my expression grew more serious. "But something's wrong here," I said, my voice lower. "Eladrins or any elves for the matter...would never ever lose to some seven random ass travelers like this. They're too powerful. Something is making them weak, and that's exactly what we need to find out."
Hina frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. "If they live for thousands of years, shouldn't they recognize you? You've fought with them before, right?"
I shook my head. "This generation is new. They don't know me. But if the Grand Elder is still alive..." I paused, considering. "There's a slim chance—maybe 0.1%—that he might remember me."
"That's not very reassuring," Hina said, crossing her arms. "But I guess it's better than nothing."
We climbed higher, navigating the rocky terrain. When we reached a high vantage point, I closed my eyes briefly, collecting aura in them. As I opened them, the world below came into sharp focus.
"The elves have spread out across the island," I said, my voice calm but focused. "And the two travelers are still with them." My gaze narrowed as I spotted a new person joining the tall man and the girl from earlier. This one was thin, with long hair that flowed behind him like a shadow.
"I can see one more traveler from those seven," I added.
Hina sat down on a nearby rock, resting her chin in her hands. "Only if those elves knew the reality of those travelers..." she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "And Serina is still missing. She could've helped us talk to them."
I sighed, my hands still in my pockets. "Let's go," I said simply, turning away from the view.
"Where are we going now?" Hina asked, standing and brushing off her clothes.
"To meet the Grand Elder Elf of this place," I replied. "The only one who might still be alive from the past."
Hina raised an eyebrow. "You know where he is? You've been here before?"
"Nope," I said, glancing back at her. "The Eladrins isolated themselves here much later, probably to preserve their culture as the modern world grew around them. They see themselves as the best of their species and wanted to keep it that way."
"Then how will you find him?" Hina asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
I smirked faintly, my tone casual. "Because I know the type of places he likes to be in."