?STRANGE ELVES
This…this…
Nightingale was so surprised that she couldn’t even close her mouth properly.
She still vividly remembered that when she left two days ago, the caverock tribe was still prospering and there was no indication at all of it being reduced to ruins like this…
Is this really the work of that blockhead and his companions?
Deep within her, the answer was already obvious. It just that it’s so unbelievable that her rationale mind simply refused to believe it.
At a slight distance away from her, Nightingale squinted her eyes and perceived some lanky figures as they rummage through the debris scattered around the ruins.
Those appeared to be elves as well, but equipped with far more inferior outfits unlike those worn by the elves that just welcomed Nightingale. Some of them were even wearing simple linen robes and crude wooden armor.
As she continued to observe them, Nightingale noticed that these elves are searching around the ruins, unearthing and lifting debris as if looking for something buried underneath the rubbles…
Occasionally, someone would dig through the rubble, before pulling out some scrap metal and excitedly taking it to a nearby magical array.
Nightingale: “……”
At first, she blinked in confusion, but upon double-checking it more closely, she widened her eyes and vaguely recognized that particular array. Somehow it really resembles the ceremonial circle her clan elders used for divine offerings.
So these elves were offering items to a mysterious entity?
But wait a minute… weren’t the things they were presenting simply just utter garbage with no value whatsoever!?
Oi, Oi, Oi! the thing you put in there was just a rusty half of a broken kitchen knife!
She widened her eyes in abject horror.
T-This…
Oh Dear God Almighty!
Aren’t they afraid of facing the wrath of this mysterious entity!?
However, as the ceremonial circle flashed and let out a burst of illumination, the things offered to it simply vanished afterwards…
Nightingale: “….. ”
U-Uh…huuuh!?
Those garbage…was actually accepted?
Her gaze became somewhat dazed.
Because she was not familiar with some of the ceremonial inscriptions of the World Tree, Nightingale did not recognize that it was actually Eve’s own magical circle.
And those elves collecting trash were actually low-leveled players who missed the opportunity to participate in the battle of the Orc Tribe.
Nevertheless, although these newbies missed the distribution of spoils, they also sneaked over afterwards just to see if they can still pick up items that was somehow overlooked by the earlier looters.
Offering the items they luckily find to the goddess could earn them some meager contribution points so its still a worthwhile endeavor in their opinion.
Nightingale couldn’t help but take a few more glances just to be sure that this mysterious deity isn’t really mad about their blasphemous behavior, before her sightseeing was interrupted by the voice of Little Salty Cat.
“Sister Nightingale, we are ready to go now, let’s finally go to Florence.”
Florence…
Nightingale’s brows narrowed as she became lost in contemplation.
Florence was once widely known as the holy land of the elves.
However, as far as Nightingale could remember, that holy city had already beeen reduced to a mere ruins even way back when her clan had finally decided to leave the Elven Forest.
After hesitating for a moment, she just curtly nodded and followed behind Little Salty Cat along with her younger siblings.
Nightingale was now even more curious about these strange elves…
Vaguely within her heart, she had already starting to believe the words of these weird strangers.
Having the capability to destroy the Caverock Tribe which had the backings of a true god… there must also be another true god behind these elves as well!
But at the same time, she had more doubts within her heart.
Where did these people even come from?
And how come their personalities have become…
How can she put it—although they cannot really be considered as evil, they are also rather peculiar as well.
They are somewhat like humans, with a very human-like cunningness, but without humankind’s deep-seated hypocrisy.
On contrary they felt more genuine instead.
Aside from that blockhead, the majority of them subconsciously wear all their emotions up their sleeve and do not conceal their emotions at all, good or bad unlike the typical elf.
They also have a strange way of walking, and they have the tendency to bounce around, climbing high and low in wild abandon, akin to kids who are just seeing the world for the very first time.
Oh, right! They are also very greedy! Not for money per se, but for all kinds of materials and equipment instead!
Their taste is also a bit odd, as they seem to love shiny weapons and clothes. In any case, Nightingale observed that almost all of them dressed very elegantly.
On the flip side, they can also become very ruthless especially when dealing with their enemies!
But when it comes to their own people, especially when it comes to Nightingale and her siblings, they completely change their behavior, and their friendly demeanor even makes her feel a bit uncomfortable.
And the most puzzling thing about them in her opinion was that, they seem to be very happy!
Truly happy, in a sense that she can even feel their genuine joy even when meeting them for the very first time.
Nightingale swore that she has never encountered such an optimistic and positive elves ever in her life!
What are they so happy about?
Why are they always seem so cheerful…
They are happy when scamming humans, happy when looting and dividing the spoils and even still feeling happy despite killing other people…
Even when they see the ruins of Rivendell, they are still overjoyed, as if they had found some long lost treasure which she cannot fathom.
These strange elves seem to be curious about everything around them, and anything can easily pique their interest.
Even those elves loitering around the caverock ruins, who are scavenging the debris, looked so happy doing such monotonous task!
It’s completely beyond Nightingale’s comprehension…
Where do they get all this energy from?
Don’t they get tired being happy all the time?
Have they been stimulated by something?
Or is it just inherently the way they are?
What exactly are they?
Perhaps she was drawn to that blockhead because his behavior is completely unlike the people around him and it felt more familiar to her.
The more Nightingale thought about it, the more puzzled she became.
With these thoughts weighing down her mind, Nightingale once again crossed another teleportation array and arrived at the legendary ancestral city, Florence.
The surrounding light slowly dissipated, and this time, Nightingale found herself right in the middle of a lively spacious square.
She was slightly taken aback while looking at the newly renovated buildings sprawling around her.
“This… is the holy city of Florence?”
What appeared in front of her was not the ruins she expected, but instead a newly renovated elven city!
Of course, it cannot be said to have been completely renovated, since there’s still some traces of the ruins that can be seen at the distance but the larger area centered upon the main square has already taken on the appearance of a typical city.
But what made Nightingale’s more excited was that she saw some other elves!
Not the strange ones like earlier but a more familiar elves she’s used to see!
Nightingale was assured that these fellow clansmen are what she expect elves should look like!
The elves around her all have the same red coloring upon their hairs with each of their faces filled with contained yet hopeful smiles as they shuttling through the city premises whilst fully engrossed into repairing the structures within the ancient holy city.
Their clothes were not as gorgeous like those worn by the strange elves, but rather, they were simpler yet still retaining some bit of elegance, with elven patterns etched upon the fabric in a nice exquisite fashion.
In addition, their temperament was quite unique and Nightingale could easily distinguish them apart from Boxlunch and his group at a glance.
“Is this… the Rageblaze Clan?”
Nightingale assumed based upon their hair color.
She then looked around and noticed that almost every red-haired elder was surrounded by several younger elves in strange clothing.
They showed great respect for the elder red-haired elves, with a pleasing countenance that felt familiar to Nightingale.
Whenever an elder asked them to do something, the younger ones were delighted to do what they were ordered with enthusiasm.
“Ahh…finally a familiar sight…” Murmured Nightingale as she slightly exhaled a faint breath.
At this moment, an elderly red-haired elf came in front of Nightingale while surrounded by a group of people.
The grey-eyed maiden noticed the patterns embellished upon the other’s clothes, and recognized some runes that represented a clan leader.
This is… the chieftain of the Rageblaze Clan?
Nightingale was moved.
The person who came forward was Philothea, who looked at Nightingale with a cautious yet also curious expression before giving out a small smile.
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen a child from the Darkshade Clan. I am Philothea, the chieftain of the Rageblaze Clan. Welcome home my dear child.”
It really is the Rageblaze Clan…
Nightingale was surprised.
She first made a respectful gesture, and then introduced herself.
“Hello. My name is Nightingale Shade, and these kids besides me are my younger siblings…”
Philothea nodded with her eyes scanning the thin and dirty clothes worn by the young elves before sighing lamentingly.
“You guys…have suffered greatly.”
After speaking, the chieftain’s expression then suddenly changed to a look of reverence.
“But…it’s all over now. The Divine Matriarch has finally returned to us. Welcome home my dear children! Our lives will start anew with her benevolent grace!”
The Rageblaze clan’s leader then turned around and bowed in the direction of the World Tree before solemnly gesturing a tree-shaped symbol upon her chest.
It’s that symbol once again!
Nightingale was shaken a little.
But at this moment, she finally believed that elvenkind’s patron deity have really somehow miraculously returned!
The words of those strange elves might not have much sway, but the confirmation coming from the leader of the Rageblaze Clan definitely hold much more weight for her!
“Miss Nightingale.”
At this moment, Nightingale heard another unfamiliar voice.
She turned around and saw a male raven-haired elf softly smiling at her.
He was wearing a well-presented druid outfit and behaved rather appropriately.
It was Li Mu.
Li Mu made a gesture of respect to Nightingale and said,
“Lady Alice wants to see you.”
“Alice?”
Nightingale was puzzled by this unfamiliar name and her look might’ve clued in the other party about her confusion since he began to elaborate further.
“Alice Galewind. She is the representative of the Great World Tree—the Goddess Yggdrasill, and Nature’s Saintess… she is waiting for you in the temple located within the city of the chosen ones.”
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