The Elven Race

“Brother, do you not like Aileen?” Aileen asked in a soft voice.

“Of course I do.” Mo Fei replied without hesitation. Two or three years ago, Aileen was already a little beauty, clinging to him every day during their month in Mist City. Mo Fei had always adored this little sister. Back then, she was still young, so nothing seemed out of place, but three years passed, and the little beauty had blossomed into a stunning young woman. To say Mo Fei was unmoved would be impossible. Yet now he was married to Vivian; although it was common for men on this continent to take several wives and concubines, Mo Fei regarded Aileen only as his little sister.

“Then, do you not like holding Aileen?” The young princess loved teasing Mo Fei.

“Ah...” Mo Fei rarely blushed, feeling it was wrong to say he didn’t like it, but saying he did seemed improper. “Aileen, you’re grown now. There are things we must pay attention to. Your brother is married now, has a wife! I believe you will find someone who can bring you happiness in the future!” Mo Fei wasn’t sure how to explain things to Aileen.

“But Aileen only likes brother!”

As they spoke, Mo Fei walked through the city gates, carrying Aileen in his arms. The Elven Queen stood not far behind the gates, smiling as she watched them.

Mo Fei set Aileen down, placed his hand across his chest, bowed slightly at the waist, and offered the continent’s standard knightly greeting. “Mo Fei, Lord of the City of Death, pays respects to Your Majesty the Queen!”

“Did you call her by the wrong name?” Aileen puffed her cheeks in indignation.

Mo Fei froze. Aileen truly knew how to put him in a difficult spot. In front of so many people, Mo Fei had held Aileen close. In their eyes, he was Aileen’s lover. The truth, however, was more complicated. If Mo Fei now explained that he and Aileen were not lovers, only siblings, it might tarnish Aileen’s reputation. Mo Fei was thoroughly embarrassed.

“Why so formal? Can’t you call her the way I do?” Aileen pouted at Mo Fei. Clearly, his earlier words had made no impression on her.

“Child, don’t speak nonsense. You can address her that way later!” The Elven Queen, seeing Mo Fei’s embarrassment, quickly intervened. “You child, always fond of teasing others!”

So, the Elven Queen had accepted Mo Fei and Aileen’s relationship; explanations would not clear things up. All he could do was go with the flow.

“Mama...” In public, Aileen addressed her as ‘mother,’ but in private, she used ‘mama,’ just like any ordinary family on the continent.

“You’re still acting spoiled at your age.” The Elven Queen lovingly stroked Aileen’s cheek. “Come, take your brother Mo Fei inside to rest.”

“Alright.” Aileen moved to Mo Fei’s side, took his arm, and said, “Brother, let your cavalry come in and rest. Our elven guards can patrol outside. Mama, what do you think?”

“Of course. They’re all heroes of our Elven Kingdom; how could they remain outside the city? Mo Fei, let them enter.”

The Elven Queen addressed Mo Fei by name now, no longer as city lord, unmistakably acknowledging him as her future son-in-law.

The group returned to the Elven Queen’s palace. They had barely sat down when an elderly elven officer entered, dropped to his knees before the Queen, and wept, unable to speak.

“General Long, what’s happened?”

“Your Majesty, this time we elves have lost nearly half our warriors. Our people...”

The elves were already few in number, and for the sake of their race’s survival, they chose to live deep in the forest. Now, half their population was gone in an instant; no wonder General Long was grief-stricken.

“They slaughtered even the unarmed and the wounded who couldn’t fight. If not for the princess bringing reinforcements, our casualties would have been even greater.” General Long was heartbroken.

The Elven Queen collapsed into her chair.

“Your Majesty, our royal city is no longer safe. You must pull yourself together! Our elven people need you to lead them through these hardships.”

“General Long, you say this place is unsafe?”

“Lord of the City, the third prince of the Golden Stone Empire died here. They won’t let this go…”

“You mean that? That’s easy to deal with. Don’t rush to leave; I have a solution.” Mo Fei smiled.

“Brother, what solution do you have? Tell us quickly!” The young princess’s face was streaked with tears.

Mo Fei felt a pang seeing Aileen so distraught.

“Go and summon the captain of my cavalry,” Mo Fei instructed a nearby guard.

“Yes, my lord.” The guard acknowledged and left.

The group sat in silence; only Aileen’s soft sobs echoed in the empty palace.

“Lord of the City, your orders.” The cavalry captain entered the palace, immediately sensing the oppressive atmosphere.

“Leave half your cavalry to help defend the Elven Royal City. Take the other half and hurry back to our city. Bring all our elven archers and crossbowmen here to the Elven Royal City. Tell them the Elven Kingdom needs them to return home.”

Mo Fei paused, then continued, “Transport a batch of repeating crossbows from the warehouse and equip the elven archers with them.”

“And after handling matters for the Elven Kingdom, return to take charge of the City of Death’s defenses. Order Cain to lead ten thousand heavy cavalry, ten thousand light infantry, fifty ballistae, and ten thousand dwarven crossbowmen to declare war on the Golden Stone Empire. If manpower is insufficient, arm the reserves immediately.”

“Yes, my lord.” The captain replied, rushing out like the wind. The damned Golden Stone Empire dared to trouble the City of Death’s allies; now, they were doomed.

“Mo Fei… is this really feasible?” The Elven Queen was stunned by Mo Fei’s willingness to challenge an empire with only a city’s strength. She knew he was trying to divert the Golden Stone Empire’s attention. But the City of Death belonged to the Dragonrock Empire; declaring war so rashly might provoke Dragonrock’s displeasure.

“The City of Death is not to be trifled with. To harm the City of Death’s allies is to harm the City of Death itself. When the death cavalry stand at their gates, it shall be their destruction.”

Mo Fei’s words were bold and resolute, a formal affirmation of the alliance with the Elven Kingdom. Everyone knew he was driven by his anger for Princess Aileen.

By noon on the third day, the cavalry captain had brought nearly thirty thousand elven archers and crossbowmen. When he returned to the City of Death, he said only one thing to the elves: “The Elven Kingdom needs you to return home.”

The elves needed no further explanation. Over the years, nearly sixty thousand elves had gathered; at Elder Warton’s command, thirty thousand were immediately armed as archers and crossbowmen. These thirty thousand set out for the Elven Royal City, and the captain relayed Mo Fei’s orders to Cain before returning to defend the City of Death. The day he returned would be the day Cain marched out.

Vivian, princess of the Dragonrock Empire, chose to support Mo Fei unconditionally. She knew Mo Fei’s decision was partly for Princess Aileen, but after three years together, she understood his character well. If you love someone, you should support them without reservation.

Seeing thirty thousand well-equipped elven crossbowmen brought tears to the Elven Queen’s eyes.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!” The unified voices rekindled the elves’ spirit. Quickly, the thirty thousand elite archers took up their posts on the city defenses, and the two thousand repeating crossbows they brought equipped the original elven archers with new weapons. For elves, natural sharpshooters, a brief adjustment was all it took to master the new equipment.

“Lord of the City.” The cavalry captain approached Mo Fei. “The Lady of the City also sent twenty giant ballistae for the city’s defense, and asked me to tell you: help the Elven Kingdom without worry, she will await your triumphant return!”

“Good, I nearly forgot about those. Take your men and install them on the walls; the thirty thousand elven crossbowmen can use them. When you’re done, hand them over.” Mo Fei was certainly moved by Vivian’s words. For her unconditional support and trust, he would never allow himself to disappoint her.

“Yes, my lord.” The captain replied and went to install the giant ballistae.

Mo Fei approached the Elven Queen, hesitated, then spoke frankly. “Your Majesty, there is something I must tell you honestly. I already have a wife whom I love deeply. I apologize for your misunderstanding regarding Aileen and me. Though Aileen likes me, and I like her, I cannot give her a complete love; it would be unfair to her.”

“Brother Mo Fei, Aileen doesn’t mind. As long as I can be with you, I am willing to accept anything. Besides, Sister Vivian is so kind; I believe we will get along well!” Aileen looked at Mo Fei with loving eyes.

“Ah, you young people sort it out yourselves. As long as you treat Aileen well, as her mother, I only want my daughter to be happy.” The Elven Queen sighed, seeing Aileen’s tear-stained face.

“Mama, please allow me to address you thus. I love Aileen, and as long as she does not leave me, I will be with her always.” Mo Fei pledged to the Elven Queen.

Aileen, overjoyed, threw her arms around Mo Fei.

……

“Though the Elven Royal City now has thirty thousand elite archers, the city itself is built too simply. Even with the giant ballistae installed, it’s not very promising. I think…” Mo Fei examined the city’s defenses atop the wall.

“Child, just say it. We elves used to rely on the forest’s protection, so the city was never built grandly. Now, it seems that was a mistake. What do you want to say?”

“I mean, if something like this happens again, it’s better to retreat than to make a last stand; the cost to the elves would be too great. Head east—two days’ journey at most—and you’ll reach the City of Death. Our warriors can support you there.”

“I’ve just remembered,” Mo Fei thought to himself. “Our city is right beside the Death Forest. Mama, you can move into the Death Forest! Our two cities could support each other, and no one would dare trouble us again.”

“But isn’t the Death Forest known as the Capital of Death? I’ve heard that those who enter never return,” the Elven Queen said.

“That’s because of the poisonous mists. I have an antidote for it. After staying a while, you won’t even need the medicine. The mist is only dangerous to those exposed for the first time; with time, you become immune.”

“Really?” The Elven Queen was skeptical.

“Of course. All the magical beasts my cavalry ride were captured in that forest. Most of our city’s people now come and go freely through the Death Forest.”

“But we elves don’t have enough gold to build a city,” the Queen said helplessly.

“That’s no problem. The City of Death was built mainly by dwarves and berserkers, later joined by several thousand wandering elves. Our dwarf masters are born builders, and all the materials are on hand. I’ll send them to build you a city as grand as ours.”

……

“You are my mama too. Please don’t speak words of thanks. Gathered together, we can look after each other. Don’t refuse.”

“Mama,” Aileen said, eyes wide.

“Alright! This place is no longer safe. For the future of the elves, I’ve decided: we’ll move into the Death Forest.”

Thus, at Mo Fei’s command, the giant ballistae the captain had just installed were dismantled, and the thirty thousand elven crossbowmen became movers.

The Elven Royal City’s warriors, after this battle, had suffered nearly half casualties. With the migration order issued, the elves who arrived gradually gathered together, numbering less than a hundred thousand. But combined with the City of Death’s sixty thousand elves, the elves became a major clan in the City of Death. Over the years, despite many berserkers and dwarves joining, the dwarves now numbered only over two hundred thousand, and the berserkers, originally nearly a hundred thousand, had only grown by forty thousand.

When the elven army reached the City of Death in grand procession, Mo Fei’s retaliation began.

The declaration of war was delivered to the capital of the Golden Stone Empire, Goldstone City, three days later.