Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 44: Loli, Shirley
Xi Wei pondered for a moment and found that Loli was still comprehending her own strength. He couldn’t help but feel a little strange, as awakening used to not take such a long time for a Sage.
However, Loli looked serene with a stable breath, so he wasn’t too worried. He couldn’t help but start to touch and pinch Loli’s fair and smooth body, her pretty face delicate and charming with a hint of allure.
He finally confirmed one thing: his hands truly had a mind of their own.
Little did Xi Wei know that at the very moment of her awakening, a buried will began to stir deep within Loli’s soul, as if a switch had been flipped.
…
“Where is this place?”
Looking at the lush tropical rainforest surrounding her, Shirley couldn’t help but rub her eyes in bewilderment.
Around them was an ocean of trees, a boundless sea of trees connecting with the sky. At the horizon, where the deep blue and dark green met, stood a colossal tree supporting the heavens.
Its crown blotted out the sun, its trunk majestic and spectacular. Clouds drifted amongst its branches, and creatures made their homes on its leaves.
It was the cusp of dawn. The red sun rose in the east, while the dark moon hung in the west, flanking it. Stars twinkled, and the Milky Way formed a ribbon around its trunk.
Golden particles of light occasionally rose from the sea of trees, scattered like the lights of ten thousand homes, making the colossal tree appear incredibly mysterious.
Shirley stared blankly at the grand, sky-connecting giant tree. A feeling of deep affection welled up within her, and she couldn’t help but whisper softly:
“Yggdrasil… Your Majesty…”
“Shirley, what are you doing?”
A Unicorn trotted joyfully towards Loli. Its clear, childlike voice made it impossible to feel any disgust. It affectionately nudged Loli’s soft hand, its large eyes squinting, looking incredibly happy.
“I… I was just looking…”
Shirley shook her head, feeling a little flustered. She felt as if she had forgotten something, yet also as if she hadn’t forgotten anything at all.
She was Shirley, a High Elf, and had lived in the Emerald Forest for several hundred years. Oona was her companion; they had grown up together, inseparable.
There was nothing wrong.
But why was she staring blankly at the World Tree, Your Majesty?
She saw it every day…
“Are you done looking? I want to drink flower dew, Shirley. Shall we go to the flower sea and pick some together?”
“Huh? Flower dew?”
Shirley’s pretty face suddenly flushed, and she instinctively squeezed her slender, fair legs together.
“Yes, what’s wrong? Why are you acting so strange today?”
Oona looked at Loli curiously, her white Unicorn hooves idly tapping on the grass.
The flower sea of the Emerald Forest was rich in flower dew, a beverage that all Elves greatly enjoyed. Not only was it sweet, but it was also refreshing. In the human kingdoms, a small bottle could sell for over five hundred gold coins.
“Ah… Is that so?”
Shirley lowered her head, her face red, and nervously smoothed her light-golden long hair from her forehead.
She also felt a bit strange. Why did she react like that? And why did her body tingle all over?
“It’s nothing… Let’s go.”
After thinking for a long time without finding an answer, Shirley forced a smile and shook her head. Yet, a slight pang of pain lingered in her heart. What had she forgotten?
…
Genesis Year 971, Summer.
“The allied forces of Humans and Orcs have attacked. They are also equipped with firearms provided by the Dwarves. The front lines are in a critical state, and it’s time for us to go to battle.”
A messenger High Elf rushed into the forest, shouting anxiously. The High Elves looked at each other, all putting down what they were busy with.
“However, only a few of us have awakened. Our partners who haven’t awakened may find it difficult to survive on the battlefield.”
“Then those who have awakened will go fight, and those who haven’t will stay behind for logistics. We should undertake responsibilities in accordance with our abilities,” a tall and beautiful High Elf said softly as she donned her armor.
It was hard to imagine how she managed to fit her proud cleavage into the cold armor.
“The Treants will take good care of our kin.”
“All clan members, follow me to battle!”
…
Genesis Year 985, Winter.
Emerald Frontier.
In the midst of a heavy snowfall, Oona was carrying Shirley at full speed. The biting north wind, carrying ice shards, slashed at Oona like cold blades.
Occasionally, a drop of scarlet blood landed on the snow, forming blooming plum blossoms, revealing the waning life of the girl slumped on the Unicorn.
The Elf army had been defeated.
The Treants suffered heavy losses. They were no match for the sheer numbers of Humans and the technology of the Dwarves.
Flanked by a surprise attack from the Orcs, they were caught between two enemies. The proud Elves, in order to preserve their remaining kin, lowered their heads in humiliation.
They endured the humiliation and fled, intending to retreat to the Emerald Forest for the time being, relying on the barrier of the World Tree to block the Human allied forces, and to rescue their captured kin when the opportunity arose.
Shirley was undoubtedly a brave and skilled High Elf, but no matter how powerful, she was still just an Elf. She could tire, make mistakes, and her magic would eventually be depleted. Like the Humans, she was made of ordinary flesh and blood.
When a searing magic arrow instantly pierced her chest with a “bang” and exploded in a spray of blood, it was too late for Oona to save her.
She could only flee with Shirley without looking back.
“Shirley, hold on, we’re almost there…”
Oona roared, her lungs feeling as if they were stuffed with ice, her limbs heavy as lead.
From the meat grinder of the battlefield to the Emerald Frontier, she had run for two full days without rest, despite her severe injuries.
Initially, Shirley could still manage to speak a few words, but now she was barely breathing.
Oona’s white fur was stained with blood, some her own, some Shirley’s, intermingled without distinction.
They passed through the forest sea, crossed precipices, and continued to gallop. The surrounding trees grew increasingly tall and grand. Occasionally, they encountered dispirited Elf soldiers walking with crutches.
They looked silently, with sad expressions, at the panting Unicorn and the girl on its back, who ran like a madwoman with red eyes. Their keen perception told them that the girl was, in fact, already dead.
In a sea of flowers, the running Oona finally stopped. Exhausted, she knelt on the ground. The girl slumped on her back was already motionless.
Her body was as cold as ice.
Oona choked back sobs, large tears falling from her bloodshot eyes, each drop hitting the petals at her feet with a “pitter-patter” sound.
“Shirley… we’re home… There’s so much flower dew here… no one to pick it…”
“We…”
But there was no response. The girl who usually smiled sweetly wasn’t hugging her neck or affectionately nudging her forehead, calling her a glutton.
…
Two days later, Elves returning to the Emerald Forest discovered the bodies of the Unicorn and the High Elf girl while tending to the flowers. They lay nestled together, surrounded by a starry expanse of purple baby’s breath, which bloomed all around them.
