Chapter 17: The extraordinary treatment I received when I first met my idol in the Elf Valley was...

The cold blades were pressed against their necks.

Lucas found himself getting used to this, which was not a good sign. He'd been threatened by hunters in the same way back in the tavern.

Elf.

Seven elves.

Their steps were so light that Lucas and Ashlinn didn't even notice their approach. A soft yet cold light emanated from them, making it unnecessary to carry lanterns.

Lucas couldn't help but wonder if the elves ate glowing mushrooms every day so that they could also keep glowing.

This was the first time he had ever seen living elves. Just like in the legends, they were all tall and beautiful, with long, soft hair as pale as moonlight.

The elf threatening him was the shortest and thinnest among them, and he didn't look very old.

She had sharp eyes, a round face, and was not much taller than Ashlin. Her light brown ponytail was neatly tied at the back of her head, and she wore silver earrings on her pointed ears.

"What business do a human witch and a human boy have at the border of Ilovania at midnight?" She spoke in standard Common, with almost no elven accent.

“We mean no harm,” Lucas said, suppressing his excitement, raising his hands. “We are just travelers who have come to visit.”

"Liar!" The elf's sword drew closer to Lucas's throat. "You think we wouldn't know if a giant fire dragon flew over our territory? What kind of 'traveler' would deliberately ride a dragon to Ilovenia?"

“I’m not a dark wizard,” Ashlin clarified. Luckily, she had extinguished the dragonfire earlier, otherwise she would have been unable to defend herself. “We are good friends with that dragon. Things are a bit complicated, but we have come to the elves for help.”

The ponytail fairy snorted.

“One said it was a trip, the other said it was to seek help… As accomplices, your testimonies are completely inconsistent.” She looked them over suspiciously, her gaze lingering on Ashlin. “You’re wearing an elf’s cloak.”

“It was a gift from a friend,” Ashlin said. “Doesn’t that prove we meant no harm?”

The ponytail-wearing elf nodded to the surrounding elves, signaling them to put down their weapons.

Lucas guessed that, apart from Ashlin's elven cloak, she did this probably because the two of them didn't seem very aggressive.

Ashlyn was short, and her hat and cloak were ridiculously large for her, especially since they were all disheveled and stuck with leaves after the flight. She looked more like a lost girl than a dark wizard.

"Come with us, you must go see Her Majesty Melia."

After saying that, the ponytail elf glared at them fiercely, seemingly regretting that she couldn't kill them immediately.

Melia is the Queen of Ilovenia. Lucas's father met with her and signed a peace treaty.

Elves and humans coexist much more harmoniously than dragons and humans, but that doesn't mean humans are welcomed by elves. As far as Lucas knows, elves dislike the outside world and have no affection for other races.

If he revealed that he was actually a prince, the elves would probably become even more wary.

For now, it's wiser to pretend they are just vulnerable, innocent travelers in dire need of help.

The elves thoughtfully bound their hands with chains.

"A magical shackle," the ponytail elf explained. "Even the most powerful wizard cannot cast a spell."

“Wonderful,” Ashlin muttered. “The first time I’ve met the race I admire, I’m being treated this well.”

They passed through a narrow valley, and their view gradually opened up.

A silver-white palace rises from the valley, topped with a deep blue dome, gleaming with a cool light in the night.

Countless towering elven buildings stand on both sides of the valley, following the contours of the mountains.

Dias's architecture was typically straight or pointed, because only the straightest and sharpest roofs could possibly reach the radiance of the sun god; the golden spire of the Helian capital is a prime example. The architects built the spire so high that it seemed to reach into the clouds, and all the faith in the sun god Heliana was concentrated in that small dome, almost leaping out.

Unlike Dias, the elven architecture was built of pure white marble and moonstone, flowing and elegant, with most of its structures in wavy curves, seemingly mimicking the movement of flower stems, with almost no straight lines. Decorative spiral patterns were carved everywhere, like waves in a moonlit sea.

Lucas frowned.

“This is so beautiful.” Ashlin took a deep breath, clearly having completely forgotten their predicament.

The elven guards behind her had to push her a few times before she seemed to remember how to walk.

The air was filled with a captivating floral fragrance, making Lucas drowsy, but the thought of being held captive by powerful elven soldiers brought him back to his senses.

There were almost no other elves on the road; the few that were there only glanced at them quickly and with fear before hurrying home.

In front of the palace is a garden, where seven marble statues stand amidst blooming white roses.

Lucas quickly scanned them: a tailor weaving long robes, a musician playing the harp, a painter depicting landscapes, a poet singing ballads, a dancer gracefully taking a dance, an actor making an exaggerated curtain call, and an architect contemplating structure.

Each sculpture is so lifelike that it seems as if they were simply lives frozen in time.

This is quite different from the city of Helian. If the Helians built statues, it was either to worship gods or to glorify heroes.

The elves of Ilova simply revere art itself.

Lucas stopped in his tracks.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and go." The elf behind us urged.

He didn't move.

The book says that the sacred oak of Ilova is always vibrant and lush, with leaves greener than the most dazzling emerald and branches as strong and powerful as the arms of a giant.

The earliest elves drew power from the forest goddess through the sacred oak tree, thus building their home. The sacred oak tree was the source of the elves' mystical magic and the fertile ground for their artistic power.

But is this oak tree really the one from the legend?

It was pale and withered, with sparse leaves that would fall off with just a little more wind.

Just standing under the tree, I felt endless sadness and despair, as if the world around me was slowly collapsing as it withered.

The sacred oak tree possesses magical powers, unaffected by the seasons. Even in autumn, it shouldn't be so withered and sickly.

"It shouldn't be like this," he muttered to himself.

The ponytail elf pulled him aside: "Indeed, the divine tree has been sick for several months."

"Why?"

"None of your business, human."

At the palace gate, the gatekeeper nodded respectfully to the short, ponytail-wearing elf.

"Sir, you have never seen a human being before?" Lucas asked skeptically.

The gatekeeper's already large eyes widened in disbelief. "A human! My God, Tara, he speaks Elvish! My God!"

Lucas could only guess that the doorman was quite young, given how unsophisticated he was.

“We discovered they were flying illegally in the air, with malicious intent,” Tara said. “It must be reported to the Queen.”

That's really unfair. They were just standing there, and then they were inexplicably surrounded and attacked.

"Her Majesty's mood isn't quite right." The gatekeeper finally turned his gaze away from their faces. "She's still quite agitated about the Magic Flute. Are you sure you want humans to disturb her again?"

"The Magic Flute?" Lucas asked.

“This is none of your business,” Tara said coldly again. “Let us in, Zeran. I’m sure His Majesty would rather deal with all this mess at once.”

The gatekeeper, Zelan, stepped aside. Before they went in, he added, "By the way, Tara! I heard your mother is recovering very quickly; the doctors were quite surprised. Congratulations! It seems she'll be able to attend this year's Star and Moon Gala."

“Yes, thanks to that new medical apprentice, Setil,” Tara said. “His healing skills are superb.”

“Humans… God, it’s been so long since I’ve seen humans…” Zelan muttered to himself.

The interior of the palace maintains the same graceful and curved style as the outer hall. The shape of the gate is reminiscent of the waves at high tide, and the crystal chandelier on the dome looks like a small piece of the Milky Way cut down by the moon goddess and hung in the center of the blue-green white rose pattern.

The white rose is surrounded by layers of intricate patterns that spiral down the marble column, and the connection between the column and the dome, as well as the ground, is shaped like tree roots.

The walls were covered in murals, like books telling one epic story after another, some fictional, some real, like seven comic strips. Lucas had heard each story to some extent, making him feel as if he were walking through legends. The pranks of the sun god and the moon god, the first elves to arrive in the deep valley, the power bestowed upon the elves by the forest god…

Like the sculptures outside the palace, they exude an ancient aura, as if they were a thousand years old. The stories are frozen in the paint, breathing the same air forever.

There was only one story depicted in the painting that Lucas had never seen.

It depicts an elven musician playing a flute, with a young, verdant sacred oak tree before him. Both the figures and trees in the painting are remarkably small, the brushstrokes hazy, making it more like a dream than a mural.

As Lucas walked through the long corridor, his gaze was drawn to the musical instruments displayed on both sides. On the left, in a row, were lutes, organs, and tambourines; on the right, in a vertical row, were harps, solstices, and schom.

Each musical instrument is quietly placed on the white stone shelf, as if to declare: Yes, this is the temple of art.

However, a strange feeling welled up in Lucas's heart.

Sometimes he really hated his sixth sense, which he didn't know where it came from, like that time in the bar.

But generally speaking, they are accurate and traceable.

He only needs to observe calmly and think carefully about what specific thing is making him feel uneasy.

Three musical instruments on the left, and three musical instruments on the right.

It looks perfect, but is it really?

There are seven spirits that captured them. There are seven statues in the garden. The murals tell seven stories.

There are only six musical instruments.

Before Lucas could continue thinking, he was forced to kneel down.

At the far end of the long hall sat Queen Melia. Beside her was a silver-haired elven boy, who was leaning over Melia and whispering something to her, showing her a portrait. The portrait seemed to depict a little girl, but Lucas couldn't make out her features.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” Tara said. “These two humans have been discovered riding dragons and trespassing into elven territory. What should be done?”

Queen Melia's bronze skin shone like pearls, her long silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her elaborate silver crown was studded with dazzling jewels, and her beautiful long dress shone with silver light.

However, beauty was not her greatest characteristic. A melancholy lingered between her brows, as if nothing in the world could bring her joy. Despite being an immortal spirit, fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes.

Melia didn't even look up.

"Lock him in the dungeon first, then execute him later."

That's explosive! Could it be that the contract my father signed back then has become invalid?

"Really, sister?" the elven boy beside Melia said disapprovingly. "They're just two children, there's no need for this. Let them go."

He was agile and had a face as beautiful as Melia's, with silver-white hair braided in a small plait on the right side. His purplish-grey eyes seemed to possess a magical quality, complementing his magnificent pale purple robe. Embroidered on the robe were silver patterns interwoven with musical notes and the moon.

“I don’t have time for this, Aidan,” Melia said.

Aidan?

Lucas's heart skipped a beat when he met Ashlin's surprised gaze.

It seems Ashleigh is also a fan of Aidan.

Lucas grew up listening to the legend of Aidan, the great elven musician, and has memorized all of Aidan's lyrics and melodies.

Is Aidan Queen Melia's brother?

Lucas had no idea about this; indeed, the information about Elf Valley was still too limited.

At that moment, he wished he could kneel down and hug Aidan's leg, begging the great musician to sign his forehead with a quill pen.

However, this was hardly an appropriate occasion, considering that he was about to be executed.

The elves grabbed the two and tried to leave.

“Wait! You have no reason to do this!” Ashlin struggled to say. “What rule have we broken?”

“Ilovenia has long forbade the entry of outsiders, humans,” Tara replied, “except for nobles or other members specially approved by His Majesty.”

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Lucas seized the opportunity, it seemed he had no choice but to reveal his identity. “Your Majesty, I am Lucas de Vere from Helian City. You must know my father, right?”

Melia finally raised her head slightly.

“A Deville?” she said, slightly surprised. “Yes, indeed…”

She put away the parchment, walked down the steps, and the jewels on her body echoed in the hall.

“You look a lot like your father… no.” She paused, “more like your uncle… you look exactly like Lanrit, except for the blue eyes. He was a funny kid, but sadly he died young. That just proves my policy was right.”

"Your policy?"

“What? I’m not!” Ashlin retorted quickly.

Lucas couldn't help but notice the resistance in her tone. Well, maybe he really was that bad.

“You misunderstand. Ashlyn Bailey is my travel companion, and the dragon was merely a means of transportation. It is now far away from Ilovenia and poses no threat to you or your people,” Lucas said. “We have come together to seek your help.”

“Go back and tell your father that I’m afraid I have no time to offer any help to the Deville family.” Melia said, handing the portrait back to Aidan. “Keep the portrait safe, brother. I don’t need it anymore.”

“I think it would be good to hear their request,” Aidan said, rolling up the portrait. “What harm could it do? We haven’t had any contact with humans for years; perhaps now is a good time to solidify our relationship.”

As dawn broke, Lucas saw a strong sense of hope in Aidan.

“Prince Aidan is right, Your Majesty. You may listen first before deciding whether to help,” Lucas said.

Melia gave him a cold glance. "Very good."

Lucas smiled.

As it turned out, he laughed too soon.

His gaze suddenly dropped.

This is truly unfortunate.

In the Elf King's palace, under the watchful eyes of a strange race, I transformed into a little black cat.

The elven soldiers were at a loss; some seemed to be trying hard to suppress their laughter, wanting to laugh but feeling that the timing was wrong.

Neither Melia nor Aidan laughed. In fact, their expressions were quite terrified.

Aidan retreated repeatedly, as if Lucas were some kind of vengeful spirit.

"Meow?" Lucas asked, puzzled.

Then, the greatest musician in the Elf Kingdom sneezed loudly.

A note from the author:

Lucas & Ashley: We're fans of the same brand!