Here I am, walking across an unknown road with nothing but a backpack to my name, going to a pce I’ve never seen before that seems to be in a forest-y area. I’m getting some serious deja-vu here. The only thing that would make this even more uncanny, is meeting the person in charge immediately after entering the new country.

  Granted I haven’t reached town yet, plus, maybe I should’ve made myself more presentable while I was back at the capital. I haven’t even gotten a chance to bathe in a while, I probably reek! At least I did clean my clothes from the blood of my fallen enemies, that I might or might not have eaten afterwards.

  *yaaaaaaawn*

  Well... there’s probably still quite a while from here to the country of elves, and the sun is about to rise up, so I don’t have to make time to not get there in a questionable hour. Let me get actually ready and presentable, because first impressions are important.

  Honestly I bme my deadbeat dad, were the stakes not so high, I wouldn’t even bother!

  Let’s start by digging through my backpack clothes, there’s so many different dresses and clothing I used from there, but I know there’s something special here that I haven’t worn yet.

  Hmm, aha! This, I never used it because it seemed a bit too tacky for my taste, but it gives me that ‘ancient etiquette’ kind of vibe, so I’m gonna use it!

  First up, I got on my birthday suit, and used magic to create water to clean my body and hair. Yes I took a bath in the middle of a forest, at least the best I could do without soap and just power wash pressure water jet spells.

  Did it as fast as possible though, I wouldn’t want anyone to see me naked! If they did I would rip their eyes out!

  Nothing happened fortunately, I doubt people use these roads often given the level of disrepair. Not only that but if the elves live in a closed country, obviously there wouldn’t be any travelers trying to enter the country.

  Now for my clothing, a robe ‘ssh’ dress that looks straight out of ancient fairy tales, it’s a greenish-brown color, with golden embroidering on the edges and the pattern on the back. Looking closely at it, it has that same symbol as the silver pendant Celestial is obsessed with.

  Well, I might as well use it as well, what’s the worst that could happen, not the bck one though, and finally a little cloth thing for around my bare shoulders, at least I think that’s what this is, I have no clue how to wear this, at all.

  Screw it, I don’t need this thing, maybe it’s not even part of the same thing, also the little ring I had to put my middle finger into that’s connected to the sleeve is kinda neat, I look myself in the reflection of the water that’s on the floor, and I look good I think!

  Now just my hair, I don’t have a fancy haircut and it’s only my loose hair to the sides, still combing wouldn’t hurt, unfortunately I have no brush in my things at the moment. Although a comb should be easy enough to make, I sliced a chunk off a tree, and then shaped it into the form with magic, so convenient.

  Maybe I’m just leaving splinters in my hair but who-

  That presence!? There’s no mistaking it, more so given the sudden drop in temperature!

  I picked up my backpack once again, and dashed a bit east off the beaten path holding the hem of the dress and hoping to intercept the rapidly approaching object. It seems I was noticed as well since it changed trajectory and it’s going straight towards me as well!

  “Celestial!!”

  It really is her, kinda odd to bump randomly into her like this. For some reason I was really happy but then I got worried, did something happen back home? Is she looking for me for a reason? The feeling got bittersweet but she simply nded on the floor, transforming into her humanoid form midway to greet me.

  “Marisa!? What are you doing here!?”

  “Celestial, I can ask the same! Wh-”

  “That getup!”

  “Oh this? I’m just trying to appear elegant~ that’s not important what happened!?”

  “...”

  “Umm... Celestial? Is there something on my face?”

  Earth to Celestial hello? I’m literally waving at her but she’s not exactly responding, just looking dumbfounded at my image.

  “Celestial! Look alive!”

  “Ah! Umm, yeah, sorry about that, where did you even get that apparel!?”

  “Since forever, I simply haven't used it before, why?”

  “That dress it’s the typical getup for the royal family formal parties or meetings, did Hestia give it to you as well?”

  “Yeah, is it that important?”

  “It’s a bit sacred to them, nobility also uses simir dressing codes but the golden accents are only acceptable for the ruler to wear, and- wait, did you pn on entering Atrille!? With THAT getup!?”

  “Of course! It seems I hit the nail on the head!”

  “You idiot, you’re not the queen, they’ll just get offended by that, change to something different!”

  Hmm... So it's like that, honestly a part of me wants to do as Celestial says since I’m trying to get on their good sides but on the other hand, keeping it helps me assert dominance, so I kinda do not want to get it off!

  ...plus it was a hassle to get into it...

  At any rate, I-

  “That pendant! You got them back!”

  “Yeah, here you go, I know it’s important to you”

  Sure it complimented the looks, but I know how much Celestial wanted it, so I can go without.

  “I also have the bck one if you want, and your ring”

  “No, you should keep them, they are yours at the end of the day...”

  Hmm, I feel like there’s a lot of emotional baggage that Celestial is carrying, for now we both sat down in a tree stump, and caught up with each other. I expined everything about Maldi, his intentions and wants, while Celestial expined to me all that happened back on Welst.

  “...Well, at least the loan sharks are sorted”

  “Yeah, still I don’t think getting this ring for Maldi is a good idea, then again...”

  “Something on your mind?”

  “Hestia mentioned this ring to me a long time ago, if she couldn’t use it, I doubt Maldi can”

  “You say that, but isn’t he super cranked on skill now? Honestly I think it’s a bad idea also, but we kinda have our hands tied at the moment...”

  I for sure can’t beat him in a fight, that much is clear, every fiber of my being told me as much when we met. I need to get stronger first, besides... call it a hunch, but Maldi really seems like he wants to be left alone for the most part.

  “Well if legends are true, He’s the st person in the world that should get his hands on the ring! But what if YOU could use it!”

  “Oh! Well truth be told I thought of that, but I wouldn’t really know until I get my hands on it, you know”

  Celestial pced her fingers on her chin and pondered while humming.

  “I guess you’re right, plus if Hestia locked it down for you specifically, maybe she had a pn or reason, the timing is terrible but, better than never I suppose”

  I’m surprised she’s on board with the pn, this is just to buy us time at the end of the day. As long as Maldi breathes, peace will not exist in this world. He has to die and that is not debatable, the question is how? We really need more information!

  We need to take this one step at a time, and just carry on with what we can do. And that is, at the moment, getting into this ‘Atrille’ pce. Celestial kept arguing with me on the way there about the dress, but I refused to get it off! If it’s us two, our chances of getting in are much higher! And Celestial seems to be back in shape, so we could raze the border if needed probably.

  “Did you have a pn to get inside by the way?”

  “Nope, I was just gonna ask at the border~”

  “Sigh... you know, if you’re going there signaling that you’re their ruler. It would do you good to learn more about them since they’re technically your family!”

  “I mean, being from the same species is not exactly being ‘family’”

  “Marisa, the elves almost went extinct a very long time ago, every single one is descended from 25 members! Although...”

  “Yes?”

  “That was apparently over 10,000 years ago, so maybe you’re right, blood retionships must be thin... then again they almost went extinct again with the war against Maldi, only leaving a couple thousand of them, so thinking about it. They probably hold a grudge against you from the word go...”

  The more you know, I am kinda curious though, since she mentioned something simir before as well.

  “The elves tend to go near extinction often huh?”

  “Well, they’re long lived, and don’t have much offspring, so big changes in popution affect them more than other races”

  Fascinating, I do have to learn more of them it seems, but wait, if they’re so xenophobic?...

  “How did you pn on entering yourself, Celestial?”

  “Ugh...”

  What’s with the sour face!? Did she have something unsavory as a pn?

  “I got this letter requesting access...”

  “A letter?”

  I picked it up from her hand and read the front of it. I didn’t open it of course, it’s rude, but the sender is...

  “Hey this is from Tinka! That’s Rushka’s dad!”

  “Yeah, the dwarves and elves have a long history together, so this should be enough to at least grant me an audience with the person in charge”

  “That’s brilliant! Then why the sour face?”

  “Nothing, it’s nothing...”

  Hmm, Well, I guess it doesn’t matter, she clearly doesn’t want to talk about it, so I won’t push it.

  We continued our idle chat as we walked to Atrille. I must admit Celestial calmed down my nerves ever so slightly with her presence. Plus I missed her so much just like everyone else, I want to be done with this and go back home!

  It didn’t take long for an outpost to be seen in the horizon, it almost looks like a giant wall! There really are elves! They all look young and have the titur long ears! Sure it’s not as impressive as I have them as well, but it means we have finally arrived!

  “THIS IS ATRILLE’S BORDER, STATE YOUR BUSINESS OUTSIDERS!”

  A man yelled to us in the distance, how the hell did we hear his voice so clearly all the way from there!? My senses are pretty sharp, but no way they’re THIS sharp!

  “I-”

  “Marisa, let me be the one to speak”

  Celestial literally pced her hand on my mouth! Who does she think she is!? I’m not gonna screw this up purposefully!

  “I COME IN PEACE, REQUESTING AN AUDIENCE!”

  Celestial yelled to the wind, there’s no way they catched that! We’re really far away and-

  “WE HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR IDENTITY CELESTIAL, YOU AND YOUR COMPANION ARE FREE TO APPROACH THE BORDER! WE WILL DISCUSS THINGS FURTHER ONCE YOU REACH US!”

  “How does this work? Can they hear us?”

  “Absolutely, they have a device that amplifies sound waves over there”

  “And what would happen if they didn’t let us get closer?”

  “They would shoot us on the spot after a warning”

  Yikes...

  You know, I’m not getting a good or friendly vibe from the elves, they look rather... how to put it? Militaristic dystopia-like? Yeah that sounds about right, at least for first impressions...

  ...

  ...

  “Celestial, it’s always a pleasure to have you over, Elder William will be here shortly”

  “Thanks, I appreciate him making time to meet us”

  Everyone’s eyes turned to ptes when taking gnces towards us, but they let us through the checkpoint regardless.

  We’re simply sitting in a, honestly quite good looking waiting room! The walls are marble and pristine. We didn’t do much though, simply sat down, and not long after, a familiar face came out of a room connecting this one.

  “Charlotte!?”

  “...”

  There’s the spider dy from yesterday! She didn’t even acknowledge my existence! Simply continuing her idle chat with the elf that was just behind her.

  “I appreciate the help William, as always thanks for the support”

  “It’s my pleasure, that’s what neighbors are for, and again so sorry for your loss, we will expedite the relief resources as a priority”

  It seems she managed to reach an agreement with the elves, good for her. I still hate her guts, but she’s got the best interests of Meldar in mind, so I can’t hold it against her too much.

  So the guy’s name is William! Hey, he dresses pretty simir to me, except with silver accents instead of gold, plus it’s not as flowery and puffy, and he’s wearing pants. Probably the male version of the attire.

  The man took a look at me, and then made a rather weird assortment of faces, from shocked, to confused, to disgusted...

  “How tasteless”

  He mentioned looking at me, getting hostile from the start huh? Well two can py that game!

  “Said mister-”

  “Nice seeing you William, how’s the kids?”

  I took Celestial’s hand off my face again!

  “Stop that will you!”

  “Celestial, it’s been a long while, they’re all grown up now, thanks for asking”

  “The little ones grow in the blink of an eye huh?”

  “You can say that again, but it seems to me you ended up raising a child of your own”

  Is he talking about me? It certainly seems like it.

  “It’s a long story”

  “I imagined as much, what can we help you with dear?”

  “Well, I doubt you’ll want me to say with so many people around”

  “Ah so it’s like that, come inside, you too usurper”

  “Usurper!?”

  Look, I’m not even gonna retort, all three of us walked into an even fancier room! Not only are the walls chiseled with intricate designs, even the carpet looks amazing and pristine! Other than that, it’s a pretty generic conference room.

  “Here, A letter from Tinka”

  “Hmm? Entrance request... you don’t need something like this Celestial, Atrille will forever be your second home!”

  “Still, I wouldn’t want to break protocols”

  “Well thanks for upholding the rules”

  “Hey, I’m-”

  “I’ll get to you in a minute, let me finish my business with Celestial first ok”

  “You’re getting on my nerves...”

  It’s not very nice to just shush your visitors! I’m accompanying Celestial you know!

  “Don’t be harsh on Marisa, she’s not guilty of her roots”

  “Hmm...”

  “Wasn’t written in the elven ws that every descendent of elves will always be welcomed with open arms?”

  “Yes... look I have nothing against her, promise, it’s just a sensitive topic...”

  “I know, she means no harm, just warm up to her”

  “I’ll try, still, first things first, what can I help you with Celestial?”

  ...

  Well, it just turned into those two talking and me being left aside sitting in the conference room chair. I do have to wonder how many people are just gonna point fingers the moment we meet? It’s really curious and I get the whole family thing or whatever but, I have feelings too you know! If I wasn’t as tough, it would certainly break me down at some point!

  Hmm? The sound of the door opening caught the attention of all 3 of us, walking into the room was a man so old, he looks like a dried raisin given his wrinkles and the fact that he’s just shaking while walking.

  He’s an elf though, his ears are drooping down but they’re there. Moments ter the decrepit old man pointed his finger at me! Ok, it’s figurative, he’s pointing his walking cane towards me but the sentiment is the same.

  “Ah...”

  Easy there old man, you’re gonna fall trying to run towards me. Slow down, is he trying to attack me?

  “Old man, don’t-”

  I wasn’t gonna attack him since it feels like he’ll drop dead with a strong wind current, but it caught me off guard that the thing he did once he approached me was holding me in a hug...

  “What... are you doing?...”

  “Ah, Elise old friend, I’m so gd you’re finally back...”

  “Elder Tim, she’s not who you think she is, is something the matter?”

  The old man let go of me and after lifting his gsses and squinting his eyes, inches away from my face, he finally took a step back to respect my personal space.

  “I’m sorry baby, I mistook you for someone else...”

  “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it”

  “You must be little Hestia’s daughter! I thank the heavens for finally getting to see you again!”

  “Elder Tim, if you knew that Hestia’s daughter was alive, why did you never mention it!?”

  William over there is definitely losing his composure, the tone was rather passive aggressive. But he seems to be trying to remain calm and respectful of the old man in front of us.

  “Lil’ William, the answer is very simple”

  He said, making a long pause with everyone looking at him...

  “I forgot!”

  Heh, I like this old man, the stuck up elf is simply rubbing in between his eyes with his fingers. Anyone that can drive this man up the wall like that and get away with it, is a good person in my books.

  “Ah! Hey, get out, your kind is not welcomed here!”

  He said, lifting his cane once more. Ok, maybe he’s actually senile, is he gonna attack me now? Not really, he approached Celestial and started giving her very light bonks on the head with his cane.

  “I missed you too Elder Timothy, how’s your health doing?”

  “Elder Tim, please. Dragons went extinct millenia ago, and Celestial means no harm, stop this already...”

  “Who are you old man?”

  He’s being referred to as an ‘Elder’ much like the guy in charge here, so I doubt he’s just a random old man. Plus William and Celestial seem to respect him to some level.

  “...”

  He didn’t answer, simply staying in pce.

  “He’s your grandpa Marisa”

  “My grandpa!?”

  “Not quite, 9 generations above, Timothy was the king Atrille, and you’ll respect him or I WILL kick you out!”

  “He was married to Helena, fourth queen of the elves, you two are blood reted though”

  So he’s a very old grandpa then! I didn’t know I had more family that’s still alive besides the deadbeat person ciming to be my father.

  “So he’s family? got it! From how far away!? Nine generations!?”

  “Yes, you’re the thirteenth princess, I think I mentioned it before”

  Maybe, I tend to forget these things, but also, speaking of the old man, he hasn’t moved at all, in fact his head is looking at the floor, and I can’t even see his shaky movements or feel anything coming from him...

  Did he get so exhirated bonking Celestial’s head with his cane that he died!?

  “Hey, umm... I think he just...”

  “Oh, he’s not dead don’t worry about that Marisa”

  “Elder Tim for the love of god, you’re gonna die for real one day, and no one will bother to check your corpse!”

  The old man lifted his head and started giving a maniacal cackle...

  “Did you just pretend to die!? That’s a bit tasteless...”

  “Hahaha! I can’t die yet! I made a promise to my beloved Helena after all!”

  “A promise?”

  The man looked at me once again, and after a long pause, he looked me dead in the eyes with a serious expression.

  “I forgot!”

  “...err… right...”

  Ok, maybe I agree with the sentiment that he’s a bit too far gone. Probably given his age. Wasn’t I born over 4000 years ago, how old is this man!?

  “Oh but this is no pce to catch up baby, come. I’ll ask Serenity to prepare us tea and some treats!”

  “I... ok!”

  No idea what he’s going about, but if he’s letting me enter the country without hesitation then, I don’t mind putting up with this old man for a while.

  “Elder Tim! I have not given clearance for Marisa to enter the country!”

  “That’s fine! I’m giving her permission, don’t be so close minded, things are not as bad as they once were”

  “We don’t even know her intentions! She just walked to our border uninvited!”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time a princess walks through our border with nothing but a backpack to her name. Besides we know what she wants, you’re going to the sacred forest no?”

  “...How do you know, old man?”

  “Ahaha! My eyes are not what they used to be. But my age let’s me see things differently from others”

  How mysterious, I guess wisdom or something like that. Honestly I really can’t compin, he’s on my side at the end of the day. So my best option is to go along with his ramblings. Although it seems like William and Timothy are about to start arguing though...

  “The sacred forest? You’re giving me more of a reason to deny your entrance! You’re after the relic ring aren’t you?”

  “Yes, she is, I wanted to request that she keeps it as well William”

  Celestial answered before I could even retort, and then I was interrupted by Tim again.

  “You are!? How curious”

  “We do not know what you’re pnning, but we can’t let you have something so dangerous just like that! Leave-”

  “It’s fine, keep it!”

  “Timothy! What-”

  “The ring is rightfully hers after all! That ring can’t possibly bring harm to the world”

  “How can you say it with that much confidence?”

  “It’s simple, Elise told me as much! That ring it’s the crystallization of love! And she was far wiser than me, even after all these years”

  “So you know how this ring works then?”

  “Of course!”

  Hold, hold, hold! The old man can use the ring!? This expedites things and gives us a chance against Maldi!

  “How does it work old man!?”

  I asked him excitedly to finally get a lead, but once again he looked me dead in the eyes, pced his free hand on my shoulder, took a deep breath and said.

  “I forgot!”

  ...

  I’m gonna kill this guy! He’s starting to get on my nerves! I’m not even gonna retort to his antics, he literally pyed dead immediately after again! Staying completely still and all!

  “Celestial, what’s wrong with this guy!?”

  “He’s just old Marisa, have patience. He was already old when I was born”

  “You two, respect Elder Tim’s age, it might be unknown, but it’s definitely over 10,000 years!”

  What the hell! He’s a freaking dinosaur! And I thought Maldi and Celestial were old!

  “You lie! I haven’t even reached 1,000 years!”

  “...”

  ...No one believes him, with good reason given how decrepit he looks...

  “Ahem, anyways. I don’t remember whenever you gotten enough power to tell who can or can’t enter the sacred forest William”

  “No, I know that’s your jurisdiction, but I do have the power to deny her entry to the country!”

  “William!”

  The old man stood tall after straightening his back, looking as intimidating as possible against the other elf. They both stood their ground and the tension was so high, it looked like a fight was mere moments away from breaking out.

  “...What was I gonna say again?”

  “Timothy please”

  “It doesn’t matter, come baby, there’s so much I want to talk to you! And so much catching up to do!”

  “Alright then… err, Celestial”

  “Go, I’ll catch up with you once I’m done with William”

  “Ok, let’s go grandpa”

  “How impatient, let’s leave at once then”

  He lifted his cane once again, and after the crystal on top of the pole shined, a portal was open. It’s a normal teleportation spell, nothing too special.

  “Elder Tim! You know unreguted teleportation is illegal! I-”

  “Don’t be so stiff or you won’t reach my age~”

  “...Whatever, you two go! Arguing here is like talking to a wall!”

  “You talk to walls!? You’re already going senile William?”

  “...stubborn geezer”

  “Ahaha!”

  I’m not even gonna keep going with the flow, let’s just hit the portal and see where it takes us. I’m a bit curious to see what the country of elves looks like!

  Joanne_carper