46. The Return of the Elves

After spending about half a month in Longyan City, Mo Fei and his two companions once again set out on their journey across the continent.

“Brother, when will we reach the Flying Dragon Empire? If we travel one more day, will we arrive at its border?” Eileen couldn’t help but ask. The three of them had already been on the road for three days, and today, passing through a small frontier town, they decided to stay for the night.

“No need to hurry, Eileen,” Mo Fei replied. “Look at this border town—it's beautiful. See the people here, the mountains and the rivers—everything flows with a sense of beauty. Perhaps those who live here have long since become numb to it, but as newcomers, we’re able to see so much more.”

“Their lives are so peaceful. Such tranquility isn’t found everywhere. It's only here, at the border with the Flying Dragon Empire, that we find such calm. None of the other borders of our own empire are like this,” Vivian remarked as she gazed upon the residents living in this small border town.

“Yes, it’s like our Elven Kingdom,” Eileen sighed. “It really is a remnant from a long, long time ago. By our generation, it’s little more than a great clan with its own army. The Elven Kingdom in its prime is long gone. That’s why we’re forced to live deep in the forests, to prevent the few of our people who remain from being caught up in war and suffering further losses. But those despicable slave masters set their sights on our Elven villages…”

As she recalled the hardships her people had endured, Eileen’s mood darkened.

“Eileen, that won’t happen again,” Mo Fei said gently. “When we return home this time, let’s have Mother issue the Elven Royal Decree, summoning all elves from every empire to return. Whether we carve out a small empire or gather everyone in the Forest of Death, the revival of the Elven Kingdom will no longer be impossible.”

“But will those empires really allow the elves living among them to return home?” Eileen asked uncertainly.

“Don’t forget, we still have the City of Death! Our two families are one now,” Mo Fei replied with a smile. “I’ll see if there are any of our people from the City of Death here. I’ll have them send word back, and Kain will bring men to the border to receive any elves who wish to return home. If any empire refuses to let them go, Kain won’t wait for my command—he’ll charge in and fight. His army has never been quiet in the city; they've grown tired of training in the martial yard day after day. He’d never pass up an opportunity for a real fight.”

“Kain is a good man,” Eileen said. “He may look frightening, but I know he’s kind. He’s always been very good to me.”

Indeed, everyone in the City of Death adored this lovely and gentle little elf. Mischievous at times, her presence had filled the formerly somber Misty City with laughter. Besides, she was now the beloved of their most respected city lord.

As the three talked, a small elf entered from the inn’s doorway. He carried a little bow on his back, and two plump hares hung from his slender waist. Walking up to the counter, he tossed the hares onto it and said, “Boss, the usual.”

“How many hares did you catch today, Little Otto?” the innkeeper asked as he packed up the boy’s requested goods.

“Only three today. I gave one to my mother,” Otto replied. He was a boy of few words, but his appearance was quite endearing.

“Little Otto, could you take me to meet your mother?” At Mo Fei’s signal, Eileen approached him.

Otto was about to refuse, but upon seeing that Eileen was an elf like himself, he asked, “Are you coming to our tribe, Sister? Did someone bully you? Tell Otto, and I’ll shoot them with an arrow.”

Eileen’s appearance stirred a protective instinct in the young elf.

“No, it’s not that,” Eileen replied. “I’m a princess of the Elven Kingdom. I’ve come to find our people. We’re too scattered—if we gather together, we won’t have to fear being bullied. Don’t you think so?”

“Alright, I’ll take Sister home later.” Otto gathered his things, and seeing Mo Fei and Vivian following, he asked, “Sister, are these your friends? Are they coming too?”

“Yes, they're not only my friends, but friends of the Elven Kingdom.”

“That’s fine then. This brother and the pretty lady don’t look like bad people. Let’s go together. I don't think mother will scold me when she sees them.”

“Your mother doesn’t allow you to bring strangers home?” Eileen asked.

“There used to be bad people around here. They would often capture elves who came out to buy things. So mother wouldn’t let me bring anyone back. But it’s been a long time, and those bad people haven’t been seen since. That’s why I dared go out to trade,” Otto explained.

The “bad people” he mentioned were likely the slave masters’ hunting parties. Those heartless men had been dealt with by the assassination squads; even the few who escaped dared not show themselves again.

The four of them made their way toward the elven settlement on this border. What began as a leisurely journey had taken on a new purpose for Mo Fei—encouraging the scattered elves to return to the royal city, so that the kingdom might rise again.

Otto’s home was deep in the forest. Guided by the boy, they soon arrived at the settlement.

“Mother, I’m back!” Otto called out, running toward a simple grass hut.

An elven woman, hearing his voice, came quickly to the door. Seeing her son had brought three guests—one of them an elf—her expression immediately changed. By now, many elves had gathered, surrounding the group. Mo Fei and his companions were the first outsiders ever to enter this elven settlement. The young elves showed little hostility, but the older ones watched them with guarded, unfriendly eyes.

Suddenly, the oldest elder of the tribe parted the crowd and dropped to his knees before Eileen. Seeing their sole elder kneel, the rest of the elves also knelt in respect.

“Elder, please rise,” Eileen said, recognizing the staff in his hand, which marked his identity. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at her people.

“I never thought…I never thought…” As the others looked on in confusion, the old elf’s face was wet with tears. “I never imagined that before I died, I would see the princess of the Elven royal family again.”

“Princess?”

“Your Highness, have you come to bring your people home?” the elder asked.

“Yes, yes,” Eileen choked out. “We’ve found a good place for the Elven Kingdom, and a powerful ally to support us. Her Majesty the Queen will soon issue a summons for all to return and rebuild our kingdom.”

“That’s wonderful—truly wonderful. To see the Elven Kingdom revived in my lifetime…” the elder wept with joy.

“Elder, please rise, and have everyone stand,” Eileen said, wiping her tears and helping him up. “Elder, how did you recognize me?” she asked, surprised that the old elf had known her identity.

“Your Highness, anyone of the royal line shows certain changes—in their clothing, their skin—when the Elven Kingdom rises. For example, your collar and that bracelet,” he replied.

Mo Fei glanced at Eileen’s collar and saw nothing unusual but some patterns. But when Eileen pulled down her collar, she was stunned—there were no patterns before. Looking at her bracelet, she saw it was faintly glowing.

“When the kingdom fell, these markings vanished, to protect the royal family from harm. But now, as the kingdom rises again, they awaken, marking the royal line,” the elder explained, holding up his staff. “Look, Your Highness.”

Eileen saw the totem on his staff seemed almost alive, and the golden orb that symbolized the elder’s authority was radiating light.

“Are you saying the Elven Kingdom is truly being restored?” Eileen asked, excitement in her voice.

“Yes, the revival of our kingdom will come in the reign of the Queen and the Princess,” the elder replied, tears of joy in his eyes.

At that moment, far away in the Forest of Death, the royal city of the Elven Kingdom was finally completed. As the Elven Queen, surrounded by her guards, ascended the high throne, a miracle occurred.

Suddenly, countless dark elves appeared in the hall and knelt before the Queen. Before she could react, the entire royal city seemed to come alive—its walls surged upward, growing several meters taller. The plants went wild, spreading until they covered the whole city, and only then did they come to rest.