Prime Originator

"How did negotiations with the Human Domain go, Supreme Elder?" The Elven King asked after Supreme Elder Haldir and Princess Faelyn stepped onto the large treetop branch using vine manipulation.

Supreme Elder Haldir glanced around before he said, "We can talk about that during the council meeting. For now, there is someone you should meet."

"Oh? Who?"

The Elven King glanced down at the airship hovering not far below and inspected the humans on board, one by one.

"Is it that person?" The Elven King asked while pointing to Leon. "Who is he?"

While Leon did not have the appearance of someone who would like the most important person on board the airship, he did have the most unusual look of the lot.

Supreme Elder Haldir nodded before cautioning Leon.

After Leon received the signal, he held Aria's hand and flew up onto the same treetop branches the elven group was standing on top of.

As soon as he landed, the royal elven guards quickly aimed their bows at him once more. However, the Elf King raised his hand, gesturing for them to lower their weapons immediately.

"Put away your bows! You're being rude to our human guests!" The Elf King commanded with a chiding tone while appearing proud and dignified in front of Leon.

His head was held high.

However, the Elf King was only slightly taller than Leon, causing the grandeur presence he was trying to display to diminish by half.

"Allow me to do the introductions." Supreme Elder Haldir frowned slightly before he gestured towards Leon and said with respect, "Hailing from the Crawford Kingdom—Oh no, I should say Crawford Empire now, this is Prince Leon. By his side is Miss Aria."

"And here, we have the Elven King of Elvengarde, Erendriel Elafaran." Supreme Elder Haldir introduced.

"Well met, Your Majesty, King Erendriel." Leon shortly extended his hand, offering a handshake with the Elf King.

However, King Erendriel simply gave Leon's hand a slight glance before nodding to Aria with a subtle flicker in his eyes.

"Well met, Prince Leon and Miss Aria."

Shortly after, King Erendriel returned his attention to the Supreme Elder Haldir and said with solemness, "I will summon the Elders to the council. Let us convene in the Great Hall. I believe everyone would like to know the gains of your trip to the Human Domain."

Leon smiled stiffly, retracting his extended hand in silence.

His impression of the Elf King plummeted after the blatant disregard. The Elf King did not seem to look favorably upon humans, and he only showed his recognition to Aria due to her Transcendental strength.

Apparently, the Elven Tribe was not united in their opinions as he had anticipated. This trip to the Elven Tribe was bound to be anything but peaceful.

At the same time, Aria's eyes flickered with a cold glint that quickly disappeared like nothing had happened. Only she knew what she was thinking.

"Lyn, why don't you show our guests around the tribe while I am discussing with the Supreme Elder and the other Elders?" King Erendriel suggested shortly after.

His intention was clear.

Leon and Aria were not welcomed to their high council meeting. Hiddenly, he did not want them on the treetop, which was considered the High Elves' residence and holy land either.

"Yes, father." Princess Faelyn answered obediently despite feeling discomforted and uneasy inside her heart.

"Apologies for not being able to entertain you, Prince Leon and Miss Aria. There are urgent matters that require my attention." King Erendriel said coolly before leaving with the royal elven guards following shortly after.

Supreme Elder Haldir looked at Leon apologetically before following King Erendriel to the Great Hall, located in the heart of the Elder Tree's crown.

Sometime later, Supreme Elder Haldir and King Erendriel were gone from sight.

Princess Faelyn approached Leon and said with guilt, "I apologize for the cold reception my father has shown you, Leon. My father… is someone that likes to be obsessively clean and does not like being touched by others."

Leon immediately smiled wryly.

Was that not implying that he was unclean?

Leon knew Princess Faelyn did not actually mean this. Thus, he shook his head ruefully and said, "Don't worry about it."

"Then… I'll show you around the tribe?" Princess Faelyn asked hesitantly, considering it was not really the time for that.

The tribe was under the threat of the rat tide, and the outskirts of the Great Forest was currently on fire, producing vast volumes of smoke.

Even the oblivious citizens will notice something wrong once they spot the conspicuous black smoke blowing past their tribe in the open skies that can be viewed from the center of the tribe.

"We should probably find out the situation on the front lines instead," Leon suggested objectively.

"Mm, Mm. You're totally right, Leon."

Princess Faelyn nodded fervently.

After Leon gave orders for the captain and the rest of the airship's crew to remain on standby, he headed down the spiral vine staircase around the Elder Tree's trunk with Aria and Princess Faelyn, leading to the tribe that lies at the bottom.

…

Elvengarde, ground level.

The elves continued to observe the wonders of the airship floating in their airspace as more tribesmen slowly joined them, gathering into a huge mass.

Suddenly, an elf noticed a glimpse of the black smoke peeking out from over the treetops on the edges of the tribe's central region where the Elder Tree's roots end.

"Everyone, look! There's smoke coming from the distance! The Great Forest is on fire!" The elf exclaimed in alarm.

"What? How can there be a fire in the Great Forest? There's had never been any cases of a forest fire before!"

"I remember the warriors came to collect all the cooking oil in the tribe earlier. The fire must have been deliberately started!" Another elf shouted in realization.

"What! Why would they do that?! Wait, I suddenly remembered the tribe's warriors were all mobilized much earlier as well! What exactly is happening outside the tribe?!"

"Yes! Why hasn't anyone told us what is going on?!"

The elven commoners were confused and began panicking with growing unease, ignorant of the unknown disaster that their tribe could be facing.

However, it was not long before they discovered a group of royal guards escorting the elf general back to the tribe.

'Why was the general being treated like a prisoner?'

All sorts of wild thoughts began running through their elven commoners' minds.