The Necromancer's Servant

Ruya's exquisitely beautiful face, once pure and serene, suddenly displayed a torrent of complex emotions. The stark contrast would make anyone who saw it remember it for a lifetime. After all, it had only happened yesterday. Whenever Asa thought back on it, that expression—twisted with confusion, anger, and disappointment—would immediately surface in his mind.

"When you spoke up publicly to let Grutt keep that dark elf, you didn't just admit to having a relationship with her. More importantly, you implied that you valued a lewd and evil dark elf more than the friendship and recognition of all Turaleone elves. It's no wonder Elder Ruya is angry and disappointed in you. Honestly, it's not just her—I'm a little disappointed as well. Perhaps Sir Theodorus feels the same way."

"You, too?" Asa looked at the wrinkled face of the elf elder in astonishment.

"Of course. The presence of that dark elf somewhat jeopardizes the alliance between Turaleone and Orford, especially since our alliance must remain subtle and cannot be made public. Other elves won't consider the intricacies of the situation; their instincts and biases will guide them. A dark elf, coupled with the kind of magic you wield, is enough to make them wary."

Asa nodded. "No wonder. I was already puzzled as to why Grutt insisted on Jessica's death."

"Grutt could've handled the matter more subtly instead of saying such damning things in front of so many people." Elder Lloyd frowned and gave a bitter smile. "These issues could've been dealt with through more discreet methods. There was no need to let so many elves know you're entangled with a lewd and evil dark elf."

After a moment of thought, Asa said, "He did it on purpose."

"Why?"

"He wanted to force me to make a choice—to either take Jessica's life or forfeit the recognition of the elves. He left me no room for maneuvering or compromise," Asa replied with a bitter smile and shook his head. "That's just the kind of straightforward person he is."

"But ultimately, why did you choose to protect that dark elf? Do you like her a lot?"

"It's not about liking or disliking her." Asa shook his head and gave a strange, bitter smile—a mix of helplessness and stubbornness. "She's just doing her own thing. There's no reason to sacrifice her for something she has absolutely nothing to do with."

"This is your belief?" Elder Lloyd fixed Asa with his gaze, his old, clouded eyes—so unlike other elves'—unwavering.

"Belief? That makes it sound so noble," Asa chuckled, then paused before continuing. "It's just how I feel…"

"Fair enough." Elder Lloyd smiled faintly, an inscrutable expression on his face. "Elder Ruya and the other four elders will secretly depart for Orford tomorrow with the World Tree's leaf. With its power and Elder Ruya's nature magic, the desolate lands on the wild highlands will soon produce enough food and pasture for the beastfolk."

Asa nodded silently. Despite all the mishaps along the way, the goal had ultimately been achieved. He hadn't participated in the meetings between Theodorus and the elven elders, nor had he seen Theodorus since.

According to the plan at the time, Asa, Hilton, the druid, and Jessica were to track and eliminate the bandits who had escaped the forest. Through their deliberate pursuit and ambushes, the once-renowned Shamusi Bandit Group of Alrasia was finally annihilated. However, tracking the bandits for dozens of miles and waiting until they exited the forest to launch an all-out attack was neither quick nor easy. By the time they returned to Turaleone, it was already nightfall, and both Theodorus and Grutt had left.

Elder Lloyd continued, "Sir Theodorus also tasked you with rescuing the elven maidens who were captured by the bandits and sold in Alrasia. After all, it's your plan that led to their predicament, so you bear the responsibility to save them."

Asa was stunned for a moment before nodding. He hadn't expected Theodorus to admit to the elven elders that the bandits had acted under his orders. It was a revelation that left Asa deeply surprised.

But then he realized something was wrong. Elder Lloyd's eyes suddenly gleamed as he asked in a stern voice, "So it really was Theodorus and you behind all this?"

Asa froze, then let out a long sigh of helplessness. Once again, he realized how naive and shallow he was compared to these cunning old men. One careless slip had exposed everything.

After the sigh came a sharp intake of breath as his heart leaped into his throat. The consequences of this blunder could be severe. All the progress they'd painstakingly made might be undone by his impulsive nod.

"I've always found it strange. If the Necromancers' Guild really knew the World Tree's leaf was here, how could they only send petty thieves? Even the paladin and the bishop couldn't breach our barrier without brute force. Unless someone with intimate knowledge of our magical defenses had provided the means, how could they create scrolls capable of silently bypassing them? And that bishop—someone of his intellect and judgment wouldn't make baseless accusations…" Elder Lloyd's eyes flickered with light. "It seems the bishop and the paladin weren't part of your plan. Your original intention was for the bandits to capture some elves and let them leak information about the World Tree's leaf to us, so you could use that as leverage to get our assistance, correct?"

Asa said nothing, stunned by the elder's sharp deductions. He realized that this elf elder was completely unlike any elf he had ever encountered. While other elves were straightforward and stubborn like blocks of wood, this frail old man possessed a mind as sharp and comprehensive as the most seasoned masters of strategy and politics. Even though the plan had gone awry due to his own mistake, the fact that Lloyd could deduce the entire scheme from such sparse clues left Asa deeply astonished.

The elf elder sighed again and nodded reluctantly. "Still, I understand that Orford is Theodorus's life's work, and he must have had no choice. Now that things have reached this point, there's no turning back. We have no choice but to help him now."

"You… still plan to help Theodorus even after learning all this?" Asa asked cautiously.

"Of course. How could we not help?" Elder Lloyd gave a bitter smile. "We have no choice. He offered us terms we cannot refuse. If the Necromancers' Guild or the Church truly comes for the World Tree's leaf, Theodorus and General Grutt have promised to rush to our aid immediately. Although Theodorus helped create this precarious situation, we can't afford to face the Necromancers' methods on our own. While we are confident in our ability to defend against any opponent with this Ancient War Tree, necromancers are far too dangerous. The Whispering Forest is proof of that."

"I'm sorry," Asa said, lowering his head in guilt.

Elder Lloyd sighed and smiled faintly. "There's no need to feel guilty. In fact, we have our own reasons for helping Orford. If the Church manages to crush Orford completely, their next target might very well be Turaleone."

"Why?" Asa frowned. The Turaleone Forest and Celeste had coexisted for decades, and it seemed unlikely that the Church would suddenly turn against the elves.

"For the past twenty years since Pope Magnus's ascension, the Light Church's influence has expanded across the continent at an unprecedented rate. The East Continent's largest nation, the Einfast Empire, along with many countries in the West, now have deeply entrenched Church forces. With recent victories against Nigen, the Pope's focus has shifted toward unifying the continent's faith. His crusades against heretics have intensified," Lloyd explained, glancing at Asa. "The assassination of Bishop Ronis in Einfast by your hand has only bolstered Magnus's resolve to unite the continent."

"Bishop Ronis, though nominally a bishop under Celeste, held an esteemed position in the church. His influence in the Eastern Continent rivaled, if not surpassed, that of Pope Magnus. In fact, due to the isolation caused by the Wild Highlands, many people in the Eastern Continent knew of Ronis but not the Pope. However, Ronis and Magnus were at odds, with clear tensions between them, which indirectly kept Celeste in check. Ronis even openly supported the establishment of Orford. Now, with Ronis dead, the Magic Academy would eventually fall back into the Pope's hands, consolidating almost the entire continent under his control," Elder Lloyd sighed deeply. "It's almost within his grasp but still not fully. That gap is the most tantalizing drive."

"The founding of Orford was, in fact, beneficial to almost every nation, with no disadvantages. Theodorus' plans were impeccable. Yet, it still ended up in a besieged position. While the Necromancer Guild played a role behind the scenes, their interference was merely a catalyst. The true reason lies in Pope Magnus' ambitions. If he easily gains control of Orford, the next to suffer would undoubtedly be other regions that refuse to accept the Divine Radiance of the Glory Fortress. The Turaleone Forest stands as the largest and most prominent target. That's why we must aid Orford."

Asa took a deep breath, feeling a strange illusion that he wasn't conversing with an Elven elder but listening to a master politician and strategist. After a moment of silence, he asked, "If you understand the necessity of aligning with Orford, why not simply form an open alliance with them?"

"I've said it before: we help Orford to use them as a shield, not to become their shield," the elder replied with a cunning smile. "Any assistance we provide to Orford must remain covert. On the surface, we must maintain a neutral stance, avoiding open hostility with Celeste. Theodorus is using us, but why shouldn't we use him in return? I'm sure he's well aware of this dynamic."

"Are you really an elf?" Asa scrutinized the elder, who grinned fox-like, doubting whether this was a cunning human with fake ears—a shrewd merchant or broker in disguise.

"Do you think all elves are fools?" Elder Lloyd shot a sideways glance at Asa.

"Most of them are," Asa admitted bluntly, quickly adding, "Just my opinion."

"If all elves were like you, Turaleone wouldn't need Orford as a shield," the elder retorted. Asa sighed, feeling it was a shame. With the elves' long lifespans, even if only a tenth had the elder's intellect and devoted themselves to magic research and development, perhaps the continent wouldn't now be dominated by Dehya Valley and the church.

Elder Lloyd chuckled lightly and pointed at himself, posing a cryptic question to Asa: "How old do you think I am?"

Asa frowned and studied the elder closely. This elf, distinctly different from his kind, bore a wrinkled face and slightly clouded eyes. Most elves, with lifespans spanning centuries, retained their youthful beauty. For Elder Lloyd to appear this aged and possess such an extraordinary intellect, he must surely belong to the ranks of ancient legends. Asa estimated, "About… a thousand, maybe two thousand years old?"

"Hahaha…" Lloyd laughed heartily, transitioning from laughter to a wry smile. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm only 125 years old. By elven standards, I'm still a young man—or perhaps, a boy."

"A boy?" Asa found it hard to associate the words "young" or "boy" with the wrinkled, wizened figure before him.

"You're probably wondering why I look so different from other elves, aging so quickly despite my youth. It's because I think too much, weigh too many options, and scheme excessively. All this runs counter to the teachings of the great Fahma. My heart has lost its connection with nature, and my vitality has begun to wither."

Asa frowned but remained silent. He found it difficult to believe such a peculiar explanation.

"Come with me. Let me show you something." Elder Lloyd walked to one wall of the treehouse, chanting a spell while gently touching the wooden surface. The ancient tree's trunk seemed to come alive, melting away to reveal a passage.

They descended the path, eventually reaching a secret chamber nestled in the heart of the great tree. The air was rich with natural magic, exuding an aura of warmth and safety that felt like being immersed in life-giving amniotic fluid.

The chamber was modestly sized and sparsely decorated. Soft, gentle light emanated from the ceiling, coming from a small piece of wood seamlessly integrated into the room's structure. Yet Asa's attention was drawn elsewhere—to a magical map on the floor.

It was undoubtedly a masterpiece of magic, its detail so lifelike that Asa struggled to comprehend how it had been crafted. The magical projections were vivid, almost tangible, as if he were gazing at the world from a god-like vantage point. He leaned closer but found no traces of craftsmanship—just an overwhelming sense of authenticity, as though he were soaring miles above the land.

Elder Lloyd pointed at a spot on the map Asa was inspecting. The entire map rippled, zooming in on the area, revealing even the faintest movement of dust-like creatures.

Asa was stunned. Despite his time at the Magic Academy and Theodorus' unparalleled understanding of magic, their abilities paled compared to this map, which seemed to embody an art long lost to the world.

"This is an ancient relic from the Elven Empire. It can survey the entire continent or show the number of trees on a single mountain," Elder Lloyd said wistfully. "Sadly, this may be the last of their creations."

"The Elven Empire?" Asa vaguely recognized the name but couldn't recall the details. It felt like something he had encountered in passing.

"Human histories, spanning only a few thousand years, likely have no record of it. According to elven legends, tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors created a miraculous civilization, building floating cities and waging war with dragons and giants. However, their overuse of wisdom and power ultimately unbalanced the world. When their power spiraled out of control, endless darkness consumed the continent's civilization. Only a small group of elves, protected by Fahma, survived. Their refuge became the Whispering Woods—the origin of all elves on this continent."

"From then on, Fahma taught the surviving elves to forsake wisdom and power, embracing only nature and peace as the true path to survival. This principle became the source of elven vitality. I violated this tenet and lost Fahma's blessing," Elder Lloyd sighed, his muddled eyes reflecting a resolute sadness. "Yet I had no choice. In these chaotic times, someone like me is necessary."

The elder turned to Asa and shifted the topic abruptly: "Just as someone like you is essential in this world. I'm glad the one who possesses the World Tree Leaf is someone like you. That's why I brought you here—to share these truths."

Asa was taken aback. For elves, his consumption of their sacred artifact should have been a cause for outrage. Stranger still, he doubted Theodorus would have revealed this incident to the elves. This time, Asa refrained from making rash remarks, instead furrowing his brow in confusion.

"I had Elder Ruya use a spell to probe the truth. Don't worry—we, or at least I, interpret Fahma's revelations differently than my kin in the Whispering Woods," Lloyd said, addressing Asa's unspoken doubt. His next words left Asa even more perplexed: "You are worthy of wielding Fahma's sacred artifact on our behalf."

Meanwhile, in the distant Dehya Valley...

Deep within the mountain, a meditation chamber was illuminated not by shadows but by the radiant glow of five magical gems. These gems, arranged in a pentagram, emitted a holy white light that filled the chamber with brilliance, revealing every crack and crevice in the stone walls.

The gems' magic resonated with the intricate symbols on the floor, forming a unique spell matrix. At the center stood a figure, utterly still and silent, resembling a stone statue.

Yet anyone with the slightest magical knowledge would know this figure was no mere statue. No one would expend five priceless magical gems to seal an ordinary stone.

The figure remained motionless, without even the faintest breath, standing amidst the radiant light like an eternal image frozen in time.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by faint, distant footsteps echoing through the long corridor. But the figure in the light remained unmoving.

The footsteps were mechanical and monotonous, taking what felt like an eternity to traverse the long passage before reaching the chamber.

The owner of the footsteps was a young man, exuding vitality and energy, his sharp features glowing with confidence.

As soon as he entered, he bowed deeply to the figure in the light and spoke with respect: "Teacher, I bring news."

The figure in the white light moved. Though there was still no breath or sign of life, it turned. Draped in red mage robes, it revealed a face somewhere between a zombie and a skeleton, radiating death and darkness even in the holy white light.

"Teacher, I've seen him—and the World Tree Leaf—with my own eyes," the young man reported reverently.

The skeletal figure didn't speak or move further, but two green flames suddenly ignited in its hollow eye sockets.