Chapter 238: Capital of Elves

The elven kingdom Zig intended to visit was one of the three great capitals of the elven race, situated in the south-central region of the continent.

It lay at a vast distance from Alastrelle, which was located in the far north, just beyond the St. Anna snowfields and the Endless Sea.

After confirming the feasibility of the alchemical vehicle, Avia immediately set about modifying the prototype, integrating a suspension system and a series of other structural optimizations, before building a second one with Wang Yu’s assistance.

And so, with the alchemical vehicle as their transport, the two humans and two dragons sped all the way toward the elven capital in the heart of the continent.

There were no paved roads in the wilderness, but with the presence of extraordinary power, whether through Wang Yu’s manual road-building or Avia’s magic, the vehicle could traverse any terrain without obstruction.

Even if a breakdown occurred, it mattered little; amidst Zig’s constant exclamations of wonder, Wang Yu would channel the power of his war-chariot to restore the damaged parts to their original state.

Ten days later, having passed through several human kingdoms and an orcish realm by utilizing the unclaimed borderlands intentionally left between the various sapient kingdoms for merchants and travelers, Wang Yu’s party arrived at the forest surrounding the elven capital.

On the map, this was the periphery of the elven capital known as Liaheim, and the forest itself was called the Forest of Origins.

"Whoa!"

Noel, the red dragon girl, poked the massive tree beside her with curiosity, only to be startled when it suddenly writhed, causing her to scramble to Avia’s side.

"You felt that extraordinary life force within the tree, didn't you? That is precisely why this forest is called the 'Origin'."

"The root systems of the trees here mostly plunge deep into the earth, intertwining with the source of this forest—the roots of the Southern Tree of Life at the heart of Liaheim—drawing sustenance from the 'mother' of this woodland."

"This is also why the trees here grow so exceptionally tall and lush; that unique Tree of Life absorbs energy from the sun and the magical moon, as well as the free-floating mana beneath this sky, transforming it all into life force to share with every living thing around it."

Zig explained with a smile as he watched the startled Noel.

"So, that tree that was twisting just now—is it actually a treant?"

Wang Yu extended his perception, surprised to discover that the underground portion of the tree possessed root-like appendages that functioned much like legs, and he voiced his hypothesis.

"Correct. An environment rich in life force not only allows the trees here to thrive, but under the influence of mana, it also makes it easier for magical creatures to be born—treants, for instance. The tree Noel touched was likely a juvenile."

As he spoke, Zig walked over to the "old oak" that had twitched at Noel’s touch, took a magic crystal from his pocket, and pressed it against the trunk.

"These treants are quite friendly. If it's a juvenile, it should... yes, just like that."

A marvelous scene unfolded: an opening appeared automatically in the trunk, drawing the small magic crystal from Zig’s hand into its core.

The treant, having received the crystal, seemed delighted; it swayed its body, leaves and branches rustling in unison, before dropping a plump, emerald-green fruit from above, which Zig caught mid-air.

"Here, have a taste. For juvenile treants, absorbing mana is their greatest challenge when life force is already abundant."

"Magic crystals are much easier for them to absorb than the free-floating mana in the atmosphere, and it aids in the progression of their life form. In return, they offer a gift."

Tossing the green fruit to Wang Yu, who had correctly identified the treant, the professor introduced the unique wonders of this forest.

"This flavor—excellent!"

Wang Yu caught the plump green fruit and found that while it looked like a plum, the outer skin was inedible. The true prize lay beneath the smooth peel: segments of red, orange-like pulp.

He broke off two segments and popped them into his mouth. The moment the pulp burst, a sweet and sour juice flooded his palate; it tasted like a lemon with the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness, exceptionally refreshing.

Moreover, as the juice flowed down his throat, Wang Yu could tangibly feel a surge of vibrant life force. Though small, the fruit was packed with energy.

"Have some, it's delicious."

Wang Yu ate a third and divided the rest between Avia and Noel, encouraging them to try it.

"Oh!"

"So sour!"

Noel and Avia had popped the fruit into their mouths without caution. Noel’s face immediately crunched up as she let out a cute, strange cry, while Avia, sticking out her tongue, explained the reason for Noel’s reaction.

"Haha, the fruit of a juvenile treant doesn't have much life force, but it is the easiest to absorb. And compared to the sweetness of an adult treant's fruit, theirs is quite tart."

Zig chuckled at the sight of the frowning Noel and Avia, not forgetting to impart some obscure but useful knowledge like a true teacher.

"Is it that sour? I think it's just right..."

Wang Yu scratched his head. He found the fruit perfectly suited to his taste and hadn't expected such a strong reaction from the others.

"Hey, you eat it then..."

Avia walked over to Wang Yu, used her fingers to pry open his mouth, and shoved the remaining pulp inside, her expression a mix of helplessness and amusement.

Wang Yu smacked his lips. Hmm, he really didn't find it too sour; it was just right.

Noel followed suit, stuffing the rest of her portion into her brother's mouth.

Zig’s face twitched visibly, though he forced himself to remain composed, refusing to lose his usual composure by grimacing like Noel and Avia.

"That really is quite sour..."

He chuckled inwardly. He hadn't eaten this before either; he knew it was tart, but not to this extent. Once swallowed, the acidity surged from his mouth to his brain like an electric current—a truly stimulating experience.

As for Wang Yu, well, that fellow simply had a penchant for sour things...

"Professor, that bird has been following us for a long time. It shouldn't be a normal magical beast, right?"

Wang Yu’s voice reached Zig, drawing his attention to the bird that had been trailing them since they entered the forest.

The peregrine falcon had been using the cover of the trees to shadow them, but such concealment was virtually meaningless against their combined investigative abilities.

Neither Wang Yu nor Zig felt any malice from the creature, so they had ignored it until now. However, they were about to enter the territory of the elven capital, where they would likely encounter patrolling elven rangers, so it was best to deal with this decidedly abnormal falcon first.

"My friend, is there a reason you’ve been following us? Instead of trailing us in silence, why not come down and have a word? We mean no harm."

Zig spoke in a loud, gentle tone in the common tongue, addressing the spot in the canopy where the falcon was hidden, making his intentions clear.

"Rustle, rustle..."

The branches swayed for a moment, as if the falcon had been startled by Zig’s sudden address, hesitating for a long time before deciding whether to descend.

After a short while, the branches stopped shaking, and a small boy leaped down. Judging by his pointed, slender ears and the delicate features characteristic of the elves, he was undoubtedly one of their kind.

The elven boy appeared to be six or seven years old, which would translate to roughly fifty or sixty in human terms. However, elves generally didn't begin learning magic and combat techniques until they reached their "forties," so this boy’s ability to master shapeshifting suggested he possessed quite remarkable talent.

"Are you outsiders? You don't look like bad people, being able to get so close to the treants. But recently, the forest and the city have been quite unstable, and the elders generally don't welcome strangers. You should leave quickly."

The elven boy looked at Wang Yu’s party and spoke earnestly.

He had followed them the entire way, observing their actions, and had concluded they weren't bad people. That was why, when Zig revealed his presence, he hadn't fled despite being startled.

"Unstable? With the elves here, what could possibly happen?"

Zig asked the hesitant boy with a hint of confusion.

Although the elven race numbered less than a tenth of the human or orc populations, their long lifespans and innate talents made their strength and technology exceptional among the five races.

With individual capabilities second only to the winged folk, they possessed glorious technological wonders and formidable military strength.

Logically, Liaheim, as one of the three great elven capitals, protected by the Tree of Life and the elven guards, should be absolutely impregnable—unlike the royal city of Alastrelle, it was virtually impossible for anything to go wrong.

"This... the elders said this shouldn't be spoken of... In any case, as outsiders, you shouldn't venture any further into the Forest of Origins. It won't do you any good."

The elven boy seemed at a loss when faced with Zig’s question. He opened his mouth to speak, then immediately clamped it shut, as if realizing there were things that could not be said.

"Many thanks for your concern, but we have come to Liaheim to visit an old friend, so we must press on into the Origin Forest; however, if you do not mind, you are welcome to follow us and ensure we do nothing untoward."

Zieg smiled gently, tactfully declining the offer to turn back from the forest.

"This..."

The young elf boy was at a loss for words, and after a moment of thought, he dissolved into a ripple of magic, transforming into a peregrine falcon that circled above their heads, seemingly accepting Zieg's proposal.

"Let us go."

Zieg nodded, leading Wang Yu and the others deeper into the Origin Forest toward the elven capital of Liaheim, nestled within the heart of the woods.

"Hm?"

Having taken only two steps, Wang Yu felt a sudden prickle of intuition; he reached out his right hand and tugged at Zieg’s shoulder, who reacted with lightning speed, halting his stride instantly.

"Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!"

Several wooden arrows, glowing with a faint emerald light, embedded themselves into the earth two meters ahead of Zieg; had Wang Yu not pulled him back, they would have struck exactly where his feet had been—a warning, not an attempt to maim.

"Robin, come here. You have slipped out on your own again; imagine how angry your mother would be if she knew you were putting yourself in such danger."

A calm, resonant male voice drifted from the forest, and an elven ranger, clad in a green-patterned hooded cloak, appeared upon the boughs above, his spring-oak longbow still notched with several arrows.

The peregrine falcon swooped down from behind them, landing on the ranger’s shoulder with a crestfallen air, looking every bit like a child caught in a transgression.

"Outsiders, while you do not appear to harbor malice, Liaheim is not welcoming to strangers of late; I must ask you to turn back, for if you insist on forcing your way, I shall show no mercy."

The ranger’s voice was grave and low, leaving no doubt as to his hostility toward those not of his kin.

Zieg glanced at the oak arrows vibrating with life force on the ground and nodded inwardly, marveling at the formidable power the elves wielded within their domain.

In the vibrant, life-saturated environment of the Origin Forest, these arrows were nearly invisible, and he had failed to detect them; it was only Wang Yu’s uncanny ability to bypass all interference that had sensed them in time.

"We have come to seek an old friend, so we should not be considered total strangers; here is a token, I ask that you examine it, Ranger."

Zieg looked up, producing an object to show the elf perched in the trees, a sight that caused the ranger’s eyes to widen beneath his hood in genuine shock.

"A Golden Maple Leaf... I had no idea you held such status. If this is authentic, then you and your companions are honored guests of the Elven race. My apologies for the discourtesy; please bring the leaf closer so that I may verify its truth."

In Zieg’s hand lay a golden maple leaf, appearing unremarkable at a glance, devoid of magical fluctuations, yet Wang Yu could sense a peculiar aura permeating it, though he could not identify its nature.

Upon seeing the token, the ranger’s demeanor softened instantly, his tone shifting to one of reverence, though he remained vigilant, insisting on the verification.

Zieg stepped forward, closing the distance to within ten meters, and after a few seconds, the ranger nodded, offering a respectful bow.

"It is indeed the Golden Maple Leaf. Honored guests, please follow me; I shall lead you to your acquaintance. Liaheim is somewhat unsettled of late, so please..."

The ranger turned, gesturing for them to follow, but before he could finish his sentence, a thunderous crash erupted nearby.

"Boom! Crash!"

Wang Yu turned toward the source of the noise, witnessing a forest of trees uprooting themselves and fleeing—they were treants, and they were, it seemed, running for their lives.

A colossal figure was tearing massive trees from the earth and hurling them into the sky, where they plummeted to crush vast swathes of the lush canopy.

"An Ancient of War?"

Watching the giant tree-man wreak havoc, Wang Yu searched his memory and identified the name of the gargantuan creature.