"Your Highness, won't you stay a few more days?"
Charles looked at Maggie, who was dressed neatly and had an elegant and gentle expression, and asked somewhat hesitantly.
"No, the matter has been resolved and things have settled. There's not much point in me staying here."
Maggie shook her head slightly, her tone gentle, but there was no room for negotiation.
The banquet just ended last night, and Maggie is already preparing to leave the next day. For Charles, it is indeed a bit too hasty, but for Nesser, the time is simply too tight.
Considering that the battle for the Forest Spirit seat always takes place at a relatively fixed time, and with the time drawing ever closer, she no longer has time to wait.
"The beast tide has just passed, and there are very few monsters outside, making it the perfect time to set off."
Maggie continued to explain.
"But...aren't you rushing things a bit too much?"
Charles always felt he hadn't treated Maggie well, especially since Maggie had clashed with another legion commander, and for various reasons he hadn't spoken up for her. Just thinking about it made him feel incredibly guilty.
Now that the beast tide is over and Maggie is leaving, he feels even more guilty.
“It wasn’t in a rush; I slept for seven days.”
Maggie smiled and winked at Charles. Charles seemed to understand something, knowing that Maggie's mind was made up, so he didn't say anything more and tried to keep Maggie for a while longer.
"In that case, I can only wish Her Highness a safe journey ahead."
Charles bowed respectfully to Maggie and gestured for her to proceed.
“This is my personal matter, so I will leave the people from the temple here with you for now. When I return, I will take them with me. They can also help you guard the city a little longer.”
Maggie is no longer as cautious as before, and she is not worried that the temple will find out about her 'slacking off'.
On the one hand, she had done Charles such a big favor, so Charles would definitely not 'tell on her,' and on the other hand, her 'teammate,' the Grand Master of Paladins, would also help cover it up.
Even if the priest did find out, he can't control her like he used to.
This is the real reason why Maggie is so fearless.
"Your Highness is too kind. I can only respectfully await your return."
Charles understood and said nothing more.
In his view, no matter how mature Maggie appeared, she was actually just a sixteen-year-old girl, and she certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity to go out and have fun.
The world beyond the border is unknown, enticing people to explore it; even he occasionally fantasizes about what lies beyond.
Unfortunately, he couldn't abandon his post and could only guard this border city, which symbolized protection, day after day, to prevent the monsters from attacking.
Therefore, he completely understood Maggie's behavior.
After exchanging pleasantries, Maggie briefed Charles on the follow-up arrangements for Rabai, then headed straight for the city gate. This gate connected the border to the interior of the temple's territory; once outside of this gate, one was no longer within the temple's protection.
For Maggie, it made no difference.
Whether inside or outside the city, the temple was an inseparable and inescapable constraint for her.
The heavy city gates slowly opened, revealing a vast, lush forest. Maggie relaxed slightly and took a step to leave the city.
This time, only Harlan, Ficklin, Perkin, and Nesser remained with her.
Actually, she didn't want to bring Harlan along, but when she thought of Harlan standing in front of her door with that ambiguous smile and his sarcastic remarks, Maggie had no choice but to bring him along as well.
If Harlan insists on complaining, she'll inevitably face some trouble when she returns to the temple.
Ficklin was completely helpless; Maggie felt it wasn't safe to leave that stupid dragon there.
It's not that he's unsafe, but rather that others...
Especially after Maggie witnessed Ficklin's arrogant and unrestrained attitude when he got into a conflict with someone, Maggie made a quick decision to take him with her.
An arrogant dragon that considers itself superior to all humans is a major problem for any human.
"That's great, I'm getting closer and closer to my hometown."
Nesser hummed a fairy nursery rhyme happily, skipping and hopping ahead as he led the way. Every now and then he would turn back to look at Maggie, his ruby-like eyes sparkling in the sunlight as he looked at her as if she were his whole world.
In fact, without Maggie's help, it would have been very difficult for him to cross such a long distance and leave the border city through legitimate means to return to the Green Forest.
There is a certain mortality rate for underage elves returning to the Green Forest, as they will encounter various dangers along the way.
Aside from elves who are about to reach adulthood and are forced to return to the Green Forest by the call of the Elf Mother Tree, very few adult elves will embark on their journey home again.
Only outstanding elven mages who rank highly in the Forest Spirit Seat Competition can stay for a long time.
Most underage elves will return to the Green Wilderness Forest and, after completing their coming-of-age ceremony, participate in the battle for Forest Spirit Seats. Almost 100% of the elves who obtain Forest Spirit Seats will choose not to go out again.
As for the elves who lose the contest, the Elf Mother Tree will reject and expel them.
Just like a mother cat chases her kittens away after the nursing period is over.
Even if they force themselves to stay, they will be ignored or even ridiculed by the elves who have seats.
Therefore, only a small number of elves can reside permanently in the Green Forest.
The majority of the remaining elves were forced to enter human territory, living in human kingdoms, forming small elven villages, and thriving in remote forests, living a quiet life.
Even so, they still couldn't avoid the invasion of the human race. The human race had always coveted elven slaves, and the high price naturally attracted mercenary groups willing to take the risk.
Of course, there are also very lucky elves whose parents are both excellent magicians, and who are born in the Green Forest. They will most likely compete for a place among the forest spirits.
Maggie didn't know much about these things, but Nesser was very clear that his goal this time was not just the Forest Spirit Seat.
Instead, the first seat in the Forest Spirit Seat is a Spirit Fruit bestowed personally by the Mother Tree, enough to extend a human's lifespan to the same level as that of an elf.
Especially after seeing Maggie covered in blood as she descended from the dragon's back, and experiencing the heartache of not daring to touch her yet also feeling immense worry, Nesser's belief became even stronger.
He wanted Maggie to eat the fairy fruit so that she could have the same status as the fairies.
In this way, Maggie can escape all the troubles she is currently facing and live carefree with him in the Green Forest, as... the lover of an elf.
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