Chapter 18: A Wisp of “Life” Power
“Ah, why, could it be that those old guys are angry that I ran out to find sister?”
Seeing Ain’s small face suddenly lift, and the worry in her emerald eyes, Lorintha smiled and gently shook her head, saying:
“That’s not it at all. In the years Ain has been away from home, the Grand Elder and the others have been very worried. If not for the seal of the Sacred Tree, they would have personally come to the human world to find you… If they knew Ain was back, they would definitely be very happy.”
Lorintha dotingly ruffled her little head and smiled gently. “If it were a few years ago, with Lady Lavnos’s contributions, there would be no problem for Ain to borrow the Sacred Spring. However, throughout this past year, not many new springs have been born from the Spring of Life, and it’s already quite strained just supplying the losses on the front lines.”
“Even for Ain, considering what happened before, it’s not as easy to borrow it as it was before.”
Ain’s face suddenly turned red, and she raised her head to argue: “Well, that was when I was little, and it was also for an experiment… Besides, this time it’s not a waste, it’s to help Miss Verafia!”
The wood elf girl’s argumentative voice made Lorintha chuckle. Ig, however, frowned slightly.
Lorintha’s words just now didn’t seem to be just teasing Ain; he heard a note of worry in them.
“Also, Lorintha said that the spring water produced in the Spring of Life is decreasing?”
Ig turned his head to look at the dense night that covered the earth. Not only did it envelop the entire land, but the light of the dark moon hung over the World Tree. Under the gloomy hue, the distant Elven Sacred Tree appeared small and withered.
Although he had just arrived in this elven world, it was obvious that the elves’ current situation was not good… Considering Lorintha’s words, was the decrease in spring water due to the abnormality of the Elven Sacred Tree?
Ig unconsciously thought of the name of the Life Goddess, Selenusil.
Lorintha’s gaze fell on him at this moment, and she suddenly smiled gently.
“However, if Lord Ig needs it, perhaps I can help a little. As a Sacred Domain, I have a certain qualification to use the Sacred Spring of Life each year.”
“What do you need me to do, Miss Lorintha?” Ig asked.
“I said before that Miss Verafia helped Ain, so I should thank her too… Moreover, today I also have Lord Ig to thank.”
Lorintha shook her head, her voice pausing slightly. Her gaze fell on the black-haired young man, her eyes narrowing slightly. “However, there’s a question I’d like to ask you. May I?”
“Please tell me, Miss Lorintha.”
Upon hearing Ig’s reply, Lorintha hesitated slightly. She gently touched the smooth surface of her skirt armor with her fingertips before raising her face.
“Just now, when Miss Verafia was absorbing the power from the spring water, I felt a power of life, like the Goddess’s laws… Can you tell me, is this my illusion?”
Ig’s eyes suddenly shot up.
He knew very well what Lorintha was asking about. Verafia’s phoenix egg was condensed from the divine spark of “Creation.” It was not entirely the same as the divine power of the Life Goddess, but perhaps it was the closest thing.
As a believer and a knight of the Life Goddess, Lorintha likely felt that sliver of overflowing law.
Even Ain felt that the black-haired young man’s expression was a bit off, and her heart tensed.
Ig raised his gaze and looked at the elf girl before him. However, Lorintha’s slightly shimmering gaze didn’t feel demanding; instead, it seemed to convey a hint of pleading.
After a moment of hesitation, Ig said, “Perhaps. But it’s probably just because it’s also the Sacred Spring of Life, and it leaked out when Veer absorbed it, and then you sensed it?”
In fact, Ig didn’t have a bad impression of Lorintha, the knight of the Sacred Tree. However, after all, it concerned the girl in his arms, and Ig couldn’t help but be vigilant.
A true divine spark… even if it was only half of a complete one, if the news were confirmed and leaked, it would attract covetous eyes. If Lorintha truly harbored ill intentions, even now, Ig wasn’t confident in guaranteeing Verafia’s safety in her hands.
Lorintha’s eyes visibly dimmed, and she forced a slight smile.
“You don’t trust me. Ha, that’s understandable… I was too impatient. But please believe me, I have no intention of harming you and Miss Verafia. It’s just…”
The elf girl’s face showed a hint of hesitation again. It was as if she was hesitating whether to tell Ig. “But, please come with us to the Sacred Spring first. At least, let Miss Verafia grow up.”
Not only Ig, but Lorintha’s vague and unclear words also made Ain beside him confused.
Ig looked up at the elf knight who was walking towards the crowd. The dark moon’s cold light touched her back, reflecting a faint sheen on her exquisite silver armor, making her figure appear even more slender and lonely.
“Ig, it was because of Miss Verafia, wasn’t it!”
Ain quickly exclaimed beside him. She was also a bit confused by Lorintha’s words, but she quickly tried to explain for Lorintha.
“Well, I don’t understand, but Ig trusts me. Sister Lorintha is a very good person. She definitely won’t do anything to Miss Verafia.”
“No, I just feel like Miss Lorintha wants to tell me something… but she’s hesitating.”
Ig shook his head and smiled. He had a vague feeling that what Lorintha wanted to say was something of great importance and related to the elves.
However, after all, it was only their first meeting. Just as Ig couldn’t fully trust her, Lorintha would naturally have some reservations about him.
Ig shook his head. He lowered his gaze. The young girl slept peacefully in his arms, a few shimmering water droplets falling on her chubby little face.
He couldn’t help but smile, and Ig reached out to gently stroke her soft hair, then followed Lorintha’s retreating figure towards Ophi and the others.
…
They didn’t rest for long. Under the cover of night, the knight order brought by Lorintha set off again. Ig considered for a moment and decided not to leave, accepting Lorintha’s invitation to go to the Sacred Spring with them.
Verafia needed the energy from the Sacred Spring to grow, and Ig indeed didn’t feel any malice from this elf girl.
Moreover, as he had thought before, Ig planned to ask this elf Sacred Tree knight about many of his conjectures.
As for Gavin and the dwarf warriors he led, they naturally followed along.
They were nominally an envoy from the Dwarf King’s city, but the Dwarf King’s real mission was to protect Ig and the others.
Besides, the Sky City above the Sacred Spring of Life and the Elven Sacred Tree was not far away, so taking a few days didn’t matter much.
Chapter 19: Frodeira
The shadows of the dark moon were gradually covered by golden branches. The sunlight, clear as a thin veil, was sprinkled on the plains and the golden-green fruits, exuding a rich and vibrant vitality, showing no sign that this was land affected by war.
The little golden-haired girl, sitting in his embrace, swayed her white little feet, holding a large green berry in her hands and stuffing it into her mouth. Her pearly white teeth bit down forcefully, tasting the sweet juice. Her big golden eyes curved up like crescent moons with joy.
The swaying little feet slowed down slightly. The girl raised her head, her pair of beautiful golden eyes like magnificent gems, reflecting the light of strands of golden branches and leaves. She leaned her little head on the young man’s shoulder, listening intently.
The one holding her was a black-haired young man. Beside them, there were not only the two of them but also a silver-haired elf and an elf girl with gem-like crystalline dragon horns. Currently, the black-haired young man was conversing with a green-haired elf maiden.
“Ig, Sister Lorintha just said that there is a city fortress next to this small town, and they need to report Mr. Gavin and the others first… so they can’t accompany you temporarily. Let us stop and rest for a while.”
The elf maiden with green hair said, tilting her face. “But Sister said she’ll be back soon, at the latest by tonight.”
“Senior Gavin told me.”
Ig nodded and smiled. At that time, this dwarf Saint Rank warrior was quite conflicted. Their real mission was to protect Ig, but after Ig spoke, he reluctantly agreed.
In fact, as the nominal envoy of this dwarf delegation, Ig should have also gone to that fortress to speak with the lord here. However, the little girl cradled in his arms was unwilling, so Ig parted ways with them for the time being.
Sensing the young man’s gaze, Verafia’s round, tender little face blinked her eyelashes between her big eyes. She suddenly smiled sweetly and affectionately called out in her delicate voice, “Daddy!”
Ig’s expression immediately turned into a helpless smile. Looking into the girl’s bright, clear eyes, he gently stroked the little head beneath her soft hair with his right hand.
Yes, ever since this little phoenix hatched, Ig had tried to correct her address. At that time, Verafia had a very dazed and cute look. After Ig’s explanation, she still understood that the title “Mom” was used for females and shouldn’t be used for him.
… So, this little phoenix dizzily nodded and changed her address to a sickeningly sweet “Daddy.”
At that moment, Ig really wanted to slap his forehead.
What was this all about? Was he raising Veer like a little daughter?
Although he didn’t mind that much, if this girl remembered her past, wouldn’t she be so embarrassed and angry that she’d go crazy… Well, but right now, Veer was still so cute, he had to rub her a lot while he could.
Ig smiled and gently rubbed the girl’s little head. Sitting in his embrace, Verafia’s feet swayed again. Her eyelashes lightly closed, like a little cat. Her beautiful golden eyes narrowed slightly as if she was very comfortable and enjoying herself.
Delicate girlish laughter “chichichi” came.
Ain covered her mouth with her fair hand, trying hard to suppress her laughter. She saw the golden-haired girl open her eyes and look curiously, and quickly explained: “Well, I didn’t expect Miss Verafia to be so cute after turning into a little girl.”
“Hmm?”
Verafia grabbed her hair with her little hands, looking somewhat confused. Suddenly, she handed the fruit she was holding to the wood elf with both hands. “Mmm, here, for you!”
After Ain took it, Verafia yawned slightly. A soft golden demonic energy covered her like a little blanket. She nestled into Ig’s embrace and went to sleep.
“Silly Veer! From now on, I must properly tease her!”
Running up to Ig, Ophi puffed out her fair cheeks, full of resentment. “But, she saw the girl’s tender little face exposed outside, and couldn’t help but reach out her slender finger and carefully touch it.”
“Verafia, who is completely like a child… By the way, Miss Ain, was Little Niya like this before too?”
The fire pigeon perched on the elf girl’s shoulder flapped its wings and chirped happily, very pleased with her statement.
In her memory, Niya often appeared as an exquisite and cute red-haired loli. However, at the Dwarf King’s city, Niya had consumed a lot of energy facing the rebel attack. For nearly half a month, she rarely transformed and remained in her pigeon form, perched on Ain’s shoulder.
Ig’s gaze fell on the girl in his arms.
Speaking of which, at first, Verafia had resisted transforming into a girl. Besides her innate phoenix instincts, was it also because she was too young, and the strain of transformation made her easily fatigued? After all, her original form was the most comfortable and relaxed.
However, Veer now often transformed into her current form and slept in his embrace…
After thinking about it, Ig attributed it to the influence of her being Verafia.
The gentle wind seemed to caress the thin golden sunlight.
Her cloak rustled, revealing an elegant and slender figure. The silver moon elf, holding a staff, stepped forward. She tilted her face up, her beautiful hair blown aside.
“Is that the town called ‘Frodeira’?”
“Frodeira?” Ophi asked, propping up her little head.
“That’s the name of the ‘Windmill Town’ I mentioned to Miss Ophi before. Of course, that’s the common name, this is the official name. Um, in Elvish, it means ‘Dream Garden’.”
Ain’s clear voice explained. “But, do you know about it too, Miss Irene?”
She turned to the silver moon elf and asked with great curiosity.
“In the past, in the era before the dark moon arrived, I once… when I went to pay respects to the Elven Sacred Tree, I passed by this place.”
The silver moon elf revealed a slight smile, her voice melodious, and a hint of reminiscence seemed to be in her silver eyes.
“However, that was a long time ago. That was before Miss Ain was born.”
“Heh heh. Is that so…”
Ain scratched the stray strands of hair that had fallen. Hearing Irene’s explanation, she suddenly seemed to understand.
Before the dark moon, the wood elves and the silver moon elves, although it was said there were some differences, undoubtedly revered the two Goddess Princesses. There would certainly be no shortage of silver moon elves who came to pay respects to the Elven Sacred Tree.
Ig shifted his gaze slightly. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but from the silver moon elf’s voice, he sensed a hint of hesitation.
“When I was very young, Sister Lavnos also took me here to play. I remember it was a very beautiful place. Um, Sister Lorintha told us to wait for her there, let’s hurry!”
