“Me? That’s it?”
Amir raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
She flicked her wrist, casually hoisting the jet-black greatsword that had been resting against the queen’s neck back onto her shoulder, then shrugged at Fuleiyasi with a flippant motion.
“I thought the so-called favorites of the Deity, the Elves, were all supposed to be too proud for their own good, ready to sacrifice everything for their faith.”
Faced with Amir’s sharp taunt, Fuleiyasi didn’t seem offended.
She simply shook her head gently.
“Our elven race is indeed proud by nature, but that doesn’t mean we’re stubborn.”
The Elf Queen fixed her pale green eyes on Amir’s gaze, then let out a soft sigh.
“I’m well aware of the gap in strength between us. If even I can’t stand against you for a single blow, then even if I summoned every guard in this forest to attack together, they’d only end up as dirt beneath your feet.”
“Numbers mean nothing in the face of absolute power. If you truly desire it, then this Holy Grail of Life will be taken by you today with ease.”
As she spoke, Fuleiyasi paused briefly.
She turned her gaze to the massive tree outside the window, which was emitting a faint golden glow, then continued in that ethereal, quiet tone.
“If this is the fate the Elven Sacred Tree has decreed for our people, then I have no choice but to accept it.”
With that, Fuleiyasi turned around gracefully, thrust her right hand into the white-hued orb of light behind her, and withdrew the golden chalice that had long since grown dim, no longer flowing with any spring water.
“By the way, Hero of the Unified Kingdom, esteemed Lady Amir. There is something you may wish to know.”
“Hm?”
Amir, who had already been about to take the Holy Grail of Life, furrowed her brow impatiently and cast a cold glance at Fuleiyasi.
“Regarding you, and the Sacred Tree Leaf your companion is holding in her mouth.”
Fuleiyasi bowed slightly to Amir, her tone gentle.
“Indeed, with it, the traps and plants at the edge of the Elven Forest will lose their hostility toward you, and other Elves will find it difficult to detect the foreign aura you’ve concealed.”
“However, in return, the Sacred Tree Leaf carries a trace of the sacred tree’s spiritual energy. When you hold it in your mouth and walk through the Elven Forest, your soul will form a faint connection with the Elven Sacred Tree.”
Fuleiyasi raised her hand, pointing to the crown woven from emerald branches atop her head.
“And I, as a branch of the Elven Ancient Tree, have happened to glimpse a fragment of your memories.”
The moment she heard those words, Amir’s pupils constricted sharply.
A murderous intent, one that had never surfaced even when facing the Demon King, suddenly radiated from her.
She gritted her teeth and spoke coldly, one word at a time.
“You… what did you see?”
Faced with Amir’s killing intent, Fuleiyasi did not retreat.
Instead, she stepped forward calmly.
“Don’t worry. Just some vague fragments.”
Ignoring the heavy pressure emanating from the girl before her, she bent down gently and placed the dull, lusterless Holy Grail of Life in front of Amir.
Then, with those pale green eyes, she gazed tenderly at the human girl before her.
“…Poor child. I sincerely hope that on this long journey, you will find what your heart truly seeks and attain the peace that belongs to you.”
Hearing that well-meaning blessing, Amir tightened her grip on the sword hilt, her body tensing for an instant.
But soon, she returned to her cold, indifferent expression.
Without hesitation, she spat out the half-piece of Sacred Tree Leaf from her mouth.
After that, she didn’t spare the Elf Queen another glance.
She simply grabbed the golden chalice from the ground, stowing it cleanly into her storage ring.
“Histori, let’s go.”
“Oh, right!”
Still somewhat baffled, Histori nodded blankly, then quickly followed Amir’s lead, leaping with her into the gap beneath the stone brick.
In the blink of an eye, they both vanished into the secret passage that led to the deepest part of the Elven Forest.
Less than a minute after Histori and the others left, a cacophony of clattering, panicked armor rang out as a large group of elven guards, having finally broken through the blockade and rushed in through the main gate of the palace, burst nervously into the pure white hall.
But when they saw the scene before them, everyone gasped.
Then, a surge of extreme anger swelled within them.
The palace floor was littered with fragments of vines shattered by brute force, and the emerald scepter symbolizing elven royal authority lay pathetically on the ground, broken in two.
Most crucially, the fountain pool above was completely empty.
The elven treasure that had always shone with golden light had vanished without a trace.
And their supreme, ordinarily noble and graceful Queen Fuleiyasi was now sitting ungracefully beside the pool.
“…Lady Fuleiyasi! Are you alright?!”
The captain of the guard, eyes wide with fury, gritted his teeth and asked angrily.
“Who did this?! Who’s the intruder?! To dare harm Lady Fuleiyasi in our royal palace and steal our sacred artifact! Unforgivable!”
“All troops, listen! Seal the forest! They must pay!!!”
The agitated elven guards, eyes red with rage, raised their bows, ready to charge out of the palace in pursuit.
But a voice, seemingly weak yet carrying a hint of unyielding authority, suddenly stopped them.
“No.”
Fuleiyasi sighed softly and stood up.
“Do not pursue. Even if you catch up, you will not be able to reclaim the Holy Grail of Life.”
She didn’t waste words explaining to the guards that the sacred artifact had long lost its divine power and become useless.
Instead, dragging her white gown now stained with dust, she slowly walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the corner of the palace.
Outside the window stood the Elven Sacred Tree, which had protected this forest and the elven race since time immemorial.
Its light had existed before the birth of the elven race.
And that light had never faded since.
Yet tonight, its radiance seemed to have dimmed ever so slightly, as if symbolizing something.
Fuleiyasi closed her eyes with a hint of sorrow.
After a moment of silent mourning, she opened them again and turned to face the guards before speaking softly.
“Everyone, from now on, we must learn to walk this world on our own strength, no longer relying on the favor of the Deity.”
The elven guards exchanged bewildered glances.
After a moment, the captain standing at the front of the formation couldn’t help but ask.
“My lady, Fuleiyasi… what do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Fuleiyasi gave a faint smile to the captain, her voice gentle.
“I suppose this is the fate that awaits those blessed by a god.”