Ch.145145. Know Your Place (5)

Before the sun reached its zenith. In the cold dawn, around the time when the dew on the green leaves would all disappear.

Through the slightly opened window, bird chirping and cool breeze gently stirred the translucent silk curtains. The air, not yet warmed, possessed the power to calm our minds and bodies and settle our thoughts.

And in that room filled with the breeze that lightly traversed the world. In one corner stood a full-length mirror reflecting Sione and me.

“My lady, I heard everything well from the head of the family.”

Whether it was fabricated through deception and acting, or truly sincere.

She was beaming with an exceptionally bright smile.

A beautiful smile on the surface. Perhaps an ordinary man like Bronte would fall for it immediately and offer his heart.

But women with rose-like beauty tend to grow pointed ears.

Sione and I couldn’t smile as cheerfully as she did.

“That you would come to the Great Forest directly at our request. We elves will never forget the justice of the lady and the knight.”

It was because our journey to the Great Forest had been decided.

Even though it’s peaceful now, we were essentially being conscripted to a place that would soon become a battlefield. How could she smile so casually?

If I could, I would have twisted one of those ears. It’s truly regrettable that I couldn’t.

“Haha… thank you. When I first heard about the Great Forest situation from my mother, I was so surprised.”

Yes, it was certainly shocking. Thanks to that, my late-night conversation with Ainel stretched longer than expected.

A mother deeply contemplating whether it was right to send her daughter, the second daughter of the Count’s family, to a forest destined to become a sea of flames according to prophecy.

The prophecy that only Sione and I in the entire continent could change the fate of the elves.

Despite Friel swearing by the World Tree, the suspicion that slowly arose from such fortune-teller-like words.

That reasonable doubt consumed most of our time.

And after adjusting various thoughts and emotions that emerged differently for each of us with Ainel, the conclusion was that Sione and I would visit the Great Forest.

‘…Thanks to that, the conversation nearly lasted all night.’

We were finally released, but it was quite late by then.

With Mana, my body could endure well enough. But having sat through that long period where people’s thoughts collided and merged, I ended up mentally exhausted.

‘Well, that’s that.’

Setting aside my momentary thoughts, I observed Sione.

Sione’s cold gaze was transparently capturing Friel Arielt’s smile.

She continued speaking with a clear voice, like a machine performing programmed actions. Obligatorily putting on an empty smile and pretending to be kind.

“The High Elf received such a prophecy… and if we are needed according to the will of the World Tree.”

Her smoothly flowing voice showed no trace of her usual girlish demeanor.

The girl had somehow matured, expressing herself with a clear and powerful woman’s tone.

“As former comrades who fought together in the past war, it’s only right that we gladly help.”

With the impression that Sione was particularly eloquent today.

Their formal conversation went back and forth between them.

Me… and that elf servant of Friel.

‘Her name was definitely… Elisa.’

Elisa just stood blankly behind them, silently listening to their conversation and waiting.

I spent time looking at the scenery outside the window next to Elisa.

Fortunately, Elisa had her eyes closed, just perking up her ears to listen, so I didn’t have to worry about awkwardly making eye contact with her while looking outside.

After a short while.

“Ah, by the way, my lady, have you thought enough about it?”

With Friel’s subtle voice, Elisa’s eyes gently opened.

“By thought, you mean…”

“If it’s not too presumptuous, I could offer some advice on spirit magic to your lady’s attendant. It would surely be a worthwhile time—”

The gazes of the two elves sequentially traveled back and forth between Sione and me.

“What do you think? Since we’ll be seeing each other for a long time on the way to the Great Forest… I could also help with the lady’s archery.”

Friel’s hands, which had been respectfully placed on her knees.

Her right hand gently rested on her chest.

“Although I’ve only lived for about 60 years… I am still an elf. Born into the Arielt family, communing with spirits, and delving deeper into archery than swordsmanship.”

“…”

“It could be quite a good stimulus for both the lady and her attendant.”

At that question, Sione briefly turned her head slightly to glance at me.

She seemed to be looking to follow my lead.

Seeing Friel’s strong determination to observe our archery and spirit magic, evident in her tone and eyes.

I eventually nodded.

‘Even if not for me, it might be a good opportunity for Sione.’

Well, I might not expect profound advice from an elf who’s only 60 years old.

But offering archery advice to Sione, who’s only been holding a bow for about a year. Experiencing various methods from different people rather than just learning from me wouldn’t be a bad attempt.

And if that person is an elf skilled in archery… it would be a more excellent experience than observing some mediocre human archer. I think it would be a good stimulus for Sione.

I gently nodded.

“…Then let’s do that. But as I said before, everything will be with Friel as a guest. All advice given to us is as escorts. Correct?”

“Of course. Don’t worry, my lady. As I said… I have no intention of falling out with you.”

With Friel’s fresh smile, Sione gently acquiesced to her words.

Sione stared at Friel’s face for a moment and then tilted her head slightly.

“But… have you really lived for over 60 years, Friel?”

“Why would I lie about such a thing? Yes, I’m sixty-three this year.”

“Sixty-three… how fascinating.”

“The time of humans and elves is different. Don’t feel burdened by my age. I’m actually around the same age as you in human terms.”

Sione seemed a bit confused upon hearing Friel’s age.

Well, elves are a race that doesn’t easily age in appearance even as they grow older. They often gain tremendous confidence and arrogance in their beauty that doesn’t easily fade with age.

And there’s a reason why most who know their true nature call them the worst old monsters with only youthful exteriors.

“Is it really alright?”

Friel simply nodded once in response to Sione’s question.

“…I’m sorry if bringing up the topic of age suddenly made you uncomfortable.”

“It’s fine. Among us elves, only men past their marriageable age care about age. Right, Elisa?”

All our gazes shifted to Elisa at her words.

Elisa, who had been maintaining a cold expression as if devoid of any emotion.

Her cheeks gradually reddened with an uncharacteristic embarrassment.

Friel looked at Elisa and made a playful expression, as if realizing her mistake.

“Ah, right. I’m sorry, Elisa. Elisa is still—”

“…Friel. I’ve pledged to dedicate my life to the Arielt family—”

Elisa’s trembling gaze and Friel’s gaze full of amusement crossed.

“Haven’t found a marriage partner yet?”

“…I have. Finding a partner for marriage is less important than fulfilling my duties by Friel’s side, which is my happiness—”

“Once everything in the Great Forest is settled, I’ll arrange a blind date for you.”

“…is.”

“What do you think?”

“That… I…”

Elisa finally bowed her head in submission.

“…I would appreciate it.”

Sione and I could only stare blankly at the two of them.

We couldn’t have imagined that Friel would suddenly tease her servant like this.

“Umm…”

Feeling like we were intruding on a very private conversation between the two, Sione let out a sigh.

As Sione and I stared blankly at Friel in the awkward situation, she gave us a playful smile.

“My lady, please relax. As you just saw, we elves also know how to enjoy jokes and banter. Since we’ll be seeing each other for quite a while… I hope you’ll feel comfortable around us.”

Then those playful eyes turned toward me.

Simultaneously, her lips curled up even higher.

“The same goes for you, Spirit Mage.”

Having said that, Friel rose to her feet.

“Well then… as they say, strike while the iron is hot, let’s move on.”

“Move where…”

“First… the archery range. As befits archers. Because archers speak through their bows.”

* * *

Two unexpected guests arrived at the peaceful training ground.

With their appearance, the soldiers who were diligently training to commands and the knights who were refining their auras hoping for skill improvement, all had their attention stolen.

Eventually, even Siabel and Diolia, who were sparring, were distracted.

However, they walked confidently into the archery range as if already accustomed to such attention.

Everyone at the archery range turned their gaze toward us.

It was natural.

Standing at the archery range now were Sione, the genius archer who broke through barriers after just a year of holding a bow, and me, the only man in the continent who could use magic.

And—

“So this is the Count’s archery range.”

With two elves, the epitome of archery, standing proudly.

“Well, shall we start by warming up?”

They forgot even to draw their bowstrings, intent on watching the elves’ archery.