Just being a dark elf in Warhammer

As Saril finished speaking, the space on the other side of Kerillian began to twist. A moment later, an elf with a bare chest and tattoos all over his body appeared there. Every muscle of his was tense, and the lines and patterns seemed to tell an ancient and mysterious story.

"You are here too?" Saril smiled slightly, with a hint of deep meaning in his eyes.

"I have to come, but... you?" The elf who suddenly appeared squatted on the tree trunk with his feet on the ground, his forearms on his knees, looking at Wetir who was still dancing in the open space in the distance. After a moment, he sighed and responded to Saril.

"Witness!"

Kerillian kept turning her head, sometimes looking at Saril, and sometimes looking at the elf who suddenly appeared. She listened to the inexplicable conversation, but she still suppressed the doubts in her heart as she did just now. She knew that the "he" Saril mentioned just now was definitely not the elf in front of her. And after she saw the elf who suddenly appeared, she realized a terrible possibility.

"Witnessing is not just watching, it is understanding, it is an intersection with time, and a dialogue with fate." Salil said slowly, his eyes were still deep and gentle.

"I am here to feel and to remember. Every moment is passing, but every moment is also forging the future." The elf who suddenly appeared nodded, his eyes still fixed on the dancer in the distance.

Countless questions surged in Kerillian's heart. She could feel the deep meaning contained in these words, and every word stirred ripples in her heart. But she knew that this was not the time to ask questions. To be precise, there was no place for her to speak here. She just chose a relatively appropriate place.

"You chose this place because you know deep in your heart that this is the intersection of the future and the place where hope interweaves." Salil turned to Kerillian, his voice soft but with a power that could not be ignored.

"What we are about to face is the torrent of fate, and this is the intersection of fate. Every choice and every action we make will echo here and affect every corner of the future." The elf who suddenly appeared stood up from the tree trunk and turned his eyes to Kerillian.

"I...? Here...?"

Kerillian felt a chill and excitement at the same time. She realized that she seemed to be standing at a critical moment? A moment not only for her, but for the whole world. What happened next?

After Sarir and the elf finished speaking, they looked at each other and communicated silently. Then Sarir nodded slightly and looked into the distance with a firm gaze.

In the clearing, Orion's hooves were still moving. His eyes kept scanning, and then he saw a bunch of relatively unfamiliar but familiar existences.

Like many recorded histories, the things recorded in the chronology are sometimes not so accurate, and there are some details hidden in it that only those who have experienced it know.

When the Great Forest accepted Asur who did not return to Ulthuan, a crucial battle took place, which can be called the battle for the founding of the Asrai. And Leandra, who played a huge role in that battle, was not recorded in history. There is no doubt that Leandra, who has noble blood, is a powerful spellcaster, but she did not become a forest lord or a priest. She lived in the depths of Athel Loren like a hermit, and she would only appear when it was important.

The original Orian was an Asur noble. He knew Leandra. In Ulthuan and in the colonies, they fought side by side in the War of Revenge. The name Leandra has always been hidden in the depths of Orian's memory. In Orian's view now, Leandra is still the same as he knew her at the beginning. Leandra is not as exhausted, haggard, and old as "Night Owl" Zoya, but still a clear and bright beauty.

"Who are you?" After passing the Asur nobles who retreated, Orian nodded to Leandra who was standing there motionless, and roared at the existence beside Leandra.

"I am Finnubar Ruiron, the messenger from Ulthuan. I serve the Phoenix King..."

"You are not welcome here! You should go back to where you came from!" Orion's low roar interrupted Finnubar's words. He ignored the stunned and nervous Finnubar and turned around and roared at the Asrai present, "Athel Loren belongs to the Asrai. It was before! It is now! It will be the same in the future!"

Orion's anger echoed in the open space like thunder. His voice was full of wild power. Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of the elves.

There was no call, no applause, only astonishment and surprise. The Asrai nobles were shocked by this sudden anger. Their eyes were cast on Orion. Some were full of fear, and some showed distrust.

Wetir, who welcomed Orion's arrival, was still dancing there, as if the ceremony had already begun and could not be forced to end. His dance steps were still light, but there was a hint of stiffness and uneasiness in his movements. The veteran warrior and woodland lord "Hookblade" Seonlan still stood there, with a strange expression on his face. He looked at Orion with eyes full of complex emotions, including admiration, but also a hint of uneasiness and doubt.

Aralos, who was standing not far from Seonlan, also looked at Orion, who raised his fists and roared with an inexplicable complex look. His brows were furrowed, and doubts about Orion's leadership surged in his heart. He thought of what Lilith had said to him not long ago, and doubts kept flashing through his mind. Perhaps, as Lilith said, a leader dominated by anger can really lead Asrai to the light. The future?

Orion's anger was burning, and he vowed to turn all distrust and doubt into ashes. His eyes flashed like an animal, his fists were clenched, and his muscles were tense, ready to pounce on anyone who dared oppose him. However, just when his anger was about to explode, a gentle voice sounded in his mind.

"We might as well listen to what they say and make a decision. They can't stop you from being great." Like before, Ariel's voice was like a spring breeze blowing on her face, bringing tranquility. Her words were full of tenderness and soothing. The storm in Orion's heart.

Orion's breathing gradually calmed down, and he closed his eyes, feeling Ariel's comfort. His anger subsided, replaced by a temporary calm. He knew that Ariel's words were the deepest source of strength in his heart, and Ariel's existence allowed him to find his direction in the most violent storm. He took a deep breath, opened his eyes again, and let out a long, low sigh of contentment.

"We will listen to their words, but remember, Athel Loren will always belong to Asrai!" Orion said slowly, his voice still full of majesty, but no longer filled with angry roars.

Orion then turned to look at Artomis, recalling how Artomis had changed him. He strode forward, grabbed Artomis's shoulders, and after a moment's thought, he picked up Artomis's spear.

"My king... king, such a weapon is not worthy of you." Artomis shook his head and stammered.

Orion nodded. He held Artomis' shoulders tightly and stared at Artomis silently. Then he turned his head and noticed a pair of tall, twisted thrones, made of tangled root wood, placed next to the Age Oak.

"You're right." Orion crossed the grass and sat heavily on one of them. He picked up the spear beside him and looked at it. The spear of Kunos, his weapon, is what he should use. arms.

Ariel followed Orion and sat on another empty seat, then she nodded to the gathered crowd, indicating that the ceremony would continue.

A few minutes later the minstrels emerged from the woods, carefully playing their harps and playing their flutes softly. The sun casts mottled light and shadow through the canopy of the trees, and their music intertwined with the light and shadow, seeming to wake up the entire forest. As the music played, some brave Aslai nobles quietly walked forward, trying their best to avoid Orion's thunderous gaze, kneeling at Ariel's feet, offering honey and wild flowers, and hanging exquisite Aslai-style ornaments on the On the armrest of the throne.

After seeing that Orion was no longer angry, more Asrai emerged from the woods and joined in the drumming and singing, and strange and beautiful melodies resounded throughout the countryside. As Ariel's spring-like smile spread, the Asrai nobles became more confident.

Soon, wearing brightly colored robes, they were spinning back and forth on the grass, like flowers in the forest. Their movements were elegant and energetic, blending in with the surrounding nature. The flames reflected the cheerful faces of the Asrais, and music and laughter filled the air as if the forest itself was dancing with it.

When the music reached its climax, Ariel also joined the dance. She waved her hands gently, as if commanding the rhythm of the entire forest. When she turned around, the bard performed even harder. She flapped her wings and came to the center of the clearing, whirling across a carpet of petals, her maids forming a circle around her, holding hands and whirling in opposite directions.

The silver flames of Ariel and the maids flickered, igniting Aslay who tried to get close to them, and igniting the slender faces with awe. To the elves who were still awake, they seemed to be in the presence of stars and comets, and the sky itself was spinning before them on the grass.

Ariel closed her eyes and let her mind wander as she danced. While the others sang and talked, she remained silent, absorbed in her eternal court life. At first, she could hear the flattering words of those Aslay closest to her, but soon her senses turned to the more interesting conversations taking place under the trees. She smiled to herself, knowing that no matter how the seasons changed, small talk would always be the same, until she heard a nobleman boasting about his newly captured child.

"These children will be forever blessed, and their lives will be spent in service to the Asrai nobles. There is so much wisdom in their eyes, I swear, you could almost believe they were born in the forest."

As Ariel listened, a complex emotion emerged in her heart. At this moment, she saw endless reincarnation in this world of beauty and cruelty. Her senses are constantly expanding, with secret conversations, forbidden dates, and shameful, hidden sins. She spins faster in the dance, allowing her mind to expand. As she listened carefully, she heard a less interesting remark, another theme hidden between the flattery and the small talk.

At first, she ignored it, but the same words were repeated so many times that eventually, she started to pay attention.

"A great being has appeared." A deep voice said.

"He told me he's coming."

The conversation came and went, like a whisper on the wind. Ariel's smile faded. She didn't know if the words were from the Asrai or something else, but she realized they were not groundless, and her attention was pulled away from the dance and gradually turned to these vague hints.

"The Great Being?" a voice murmured, with undisguised fear.

"If he really comes, what should we do?" another voice asked, full of anxiety.

Ariel's dance steps became more cheerful with the rhythm of the music, but her thoughts became heavier and her smile gradually faded. She felt the thoughts of the Asrai flowing through her like sunlight through leaves, and she closed her eyes and immersed herself in the dance, all kinds of emotions lifting her heart up, over the treetops, and down into the surrounding valley.

Spring has begun, branches grow on fertile soil, and small green buds are sprouting.

Ariel's mind wandered through the beautiful scene, trying to draw strength and inspiration. She knew the threats and dark shadows outside, but the power of the forest was still under her control, and her rule was as eternal as the stars. Her mind was connected to every corner of the forest, and Orion's rebirth was a powerful symbol, heralding new life and hope. Beside the king, she felt extremely confident, no matter how powerful the threats from the outside world, she believed that she and her kingdom could overcome all challenges.

However... at this moment, Ariel could not feel it. The power that once existed was still there, but it was disconnected from her and deliberately avoided her. The dance spun faster, and the thoughts flew farther. The crown and the dome unfolded in front of her. She tried to feel the power and permanence of the forest, but... this thought made her unable to calm down. She was shocked, but she knew that she could not let fear control her. She had to stay strong.

Ariel opened her eyes and looked at the nobles dancing around her. The faces of the nobles were full of awe and worship. Her existence itself was a kind of power, giving Asrai courage and hope. She knew that she had to keep it all. As the music ended, she stopped spinning, her eyes sweeping across the assembled nobles. She smiled, nodded, and motioned for the ceremony to continue.

"Ridiculous, isn't it? Look at how these so-called Asrai kneel and fawn, degrading themselves like useless trash, Orion in his rage will tear them to pieces, and they can't resist, they can only kneel and beg for mercy. Ariel can hardly remember their names, and they want nothing but obedience." Leandra whispered, not hiding her disgust in front of the Asur delegation.

The Asur delegation watched quietly as Ariel embraced Orion, and Orion's anger seemed to dissipate as the queen and king began to talk.

As the sun slowly rose into the sky, the birds in the forest began to move as if joining in the ceremony, reminding Orion of the warm feeling. For a moment, he watched the dance and ceremony carelessly, and he and Ariel were worshipped as they had for countless centuries before.

The maids came to Ariel's side, the mirror image of Ariel's splendor, bustling around Ariel's limbs, adjusting her hair, whispering secrets to her, causing her silvery laughter to echo across the clearing.

Seeing Orion looking in her direction, Ariel pursed her lips and smiled back at him, as if they were sharing a private joke.

Orion's attention slowly shifted, his eyes lingering on the weapon in his hand, and as he studied the wood grain, a face suddenly floated into the distance. It was a sight that was still fresh in his memory, the face as pale and rough as a birch tree. As the face magnified in his mind, he felt a terrible fear well up from the core of his being. The pale face glared at him with contempt, and the singing voice gradually faded.

Who? Orion thought, who doubted me? As his panic grew, he bent down and grasped the spear so tightly that it began to break.

"Orion, my dear?" Ariel moved her maid aside and leaned against Orion, and her smile faltered at the sight of Orion's expression.

"Who?"

Orion did not hear Ariel's soothing words as before, but kept looking at the spear. A voice suddenly broke out in the noise of the ceremony, a low roar deep in his chest. His keen senses sifted through thousands of words to a single word, and that word released a series of images in his mind. He imagined the creatures he had seen in the pond, all creatures that he found strange and abhorrent.

"There is a dark cloud over his future."

"He is weak."

Orion thought of the blind white snake shrouded in fog, and at this thought he was furious with fear. He also thought of the child with autumn leaves in his hair, the disgusting toad, the stag who ignored him, the white wolf who doubted him, the four-winged phoenix who questioned him, all the lords of the forest, all the barbaric judges who doubted his power to rule. The scornful faces of these lords floated in his mind, and the terrible accusations flooded his ears.

Orion's fear was magnified. If he failed, Ariel's reign would end and his lover would die, he was sure of it. The centuries they had lived together would have been meaningless, their lives would have withered away. He had to prove the creatures wrong, he had to prove his power. Staggering to his feet, his heart pounding and his spear pointed at the crowd, he staggered across the grass, past his maids and nobles.

"Who said that?" Orion's voice echoed in the open space, shaking everyone's heart like thunder.

The still-dancing Wettier stared at Orion, and the bards who sang the never-ending poem stopped reciting. The light in the clearing suddenly dimmed, and the surrounding trees let out a strange groaning sound. The tall oak tree swayed in the breeze, and the light and shadow among the leaves intertwined, as if in response to Orion's anger. The faces of the nobles were full of astonishment and uneasiness. They did not dare to look directly into Orion's eyes and lowered their heads to avoid the king's sight.

Orion's breathing became rapid, his eyes flashed with angry fire, and his chest heaved violently. He felt an invisible force stirring within him, and his spear clenched in his hand, seeming to absorb the rage within him.

"Who is questioning me?" Orion's voice sounded again, with uncontrollable anger.

The nobles remained silent, and no one dared to respond to Orion's question. They knew that in the face of the angry Orion, any words could cause a greater disaster. They could only stand there silently, waiting for the king's next move.

"Who is questioning my rule?"

The nobles' faces became even paler, and they stepped back one after another, for fear of becoming the target of Orion's wrath. The surrounding trees let out a low groan, as if responding to Orion's anger. The light flickered among the treetops, as if the whole forest was shaking with Orion's wrath.

The Thorn Sisters looked at Ariel with confusion and fear, but she did not respond to the Thorn Sisters' gazes, because she was as confused as everyone else present. She leaned forward and opened her lips, but she had not yet When she was about to say something, she was interrupted by Orion's roar.

"Who said that?!" Orion's huge body trembled with anger, and nearby branches broke due to the roar. The light grew dimmer, and a deep, loud rumble came from the earth.

Some experienced Aslays had already reacted. They had retreated to the edge and ran into the woods again as before. Some of the slower runners could only kneel on their knees and stare directly at the ground, trying to avoid looking at their king.

Besides the still-beating Vetir, there was an Aslay standing, not submerged in the clearing, strange shadows bending as they passed over him. It was a stranger, tall and thin, wearing a long black cloak, and he waited silently as the nobles scattered around him, dark and gaunt, like a raven.

Orion focused his gaze on the stranger. His perception seemed to have transcended his limited body. He immediately knew that this stranger did not bleed noble blood, but was just an ordinary being. Shouldn't have been allowed to attend the ceremony, shouldn't have been invited by the Queen. He could feel the stranger's mystery, but he didn't understand why the stranger stood there proudly facing him.

"You?!" Orion's roar roared on the grass, and he pointed the Spear of Kunos at the stranger.

The stranger did not flinch from Orion's roar and coercion, and always maintained his original posture.

"Who are you?" The roar came from Orion's mouth again.

"Me? Fenaval, this is not important. I was not invited, it was Moraygo who asked me to appear here." When Orion came closer, the stranger was still staring, and his voice in response was beyond plain. of indifference.

The Asrais who were hiding in the woods made a small noise after hearing Fenarval's words, and then started talking.

"What happened? They..." Fenubar, who was also in the woods, pointed to Aslay in the distance and asked.

"The religion here no longer evolved as it did in Ulthuan. Mora'ig H'g, the goddess of fate and death, as he said, he was a follower of Mora'ig. They had no purpose. Wandering in the forest, but in fact they follow an instinct that leads them to the location where a death ritual is about to be required." Leandra frowned and whispered, realizing that something seemed to be wrong, although she rarely attended such rituals. , but she knew that followers of Mora'ig should not appear here at this time.

"Ms. Leandra, you mean? Something big is going to happen?" Finubar understood, but he was still a little unsure. He asked questions, and at the same time he thought about the time he came here hundreds of years ago without any news. Assur Mission.

"Yes."

Orion bent down, his face mere centimeters from Fenaval.

"You need my help." Fenavar raised his voice.

"Me?" As Orion roared, he stretched out his hand to hold Fenaval's neck, and lifted Fenaval up on the spot. At first, his voice was low and dangerous, and finally he roared fiercely, and at the same time, he strengthened his grip. The control of Fenaval's throat, "I need your help? I need your help!"

"The celebration has just begun, don't be like this Orion, since he is here, he is a guest." Ariel walked up to Orion, and she put her hand on her lover's arm.

"There are souls in the forest who deny our rule, but don't worry, I will prove myself." Orian loosened his grip on Fenaval's throat, then he raised his chin and looked at Ariel's nose with glowing eyes.

"My dear, what do you mean? The trees are full of spirits, they are part of us just like us, you don't need to prove anything." Ariel seemed to know something, and her smile wavered. (End of this chapter)