"Come on! Tell me how he’s doing!" Eva practically roared, grabbing the collar of Adalric’s shirt and shaking him as if he were a sack of potatoes. Her eyes sparkled with a near-childish excitement, a striking contrast to her fearsome reputation. It was as if she had discovered something that reigned supreme on her list of life’s pleasures.
"HAHAHAHA!" Adalric laughed loudly, allowing himself to be shaken without resistance, only to heighten the theatricality of the scene. Although he usually kept a certain emotional distance from the other Sword Kings, Eva was an exception. He had known her long enough to understand that she was unpredictable, but genuine.
"Calm down, girl, calm down." He held her wrists firmly, gently pushing her away while keeping his smile intact. "We’ll talk about it later, I promise."
Eva narrowed her eyes but released Adalric’s shirt with a dramatic sigh, crossing her arms. "You better not forget," she muttered, still with a spark of uncontrollable excitement in her eyes.
Adalric then turned to Erika and Dagon, his relaxed posture gradually disappearing. The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, and the gleam in Eva’s eyes instantly faded, replaced by a darker expression, like a blade about to be unsheathed.
"Let’s get to the point," he said, his voice now firm and laden with gravity. "After that wedding that united the Dark Elves and the High Elves..."
Adalric paused, his words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Eva tilted her head slightly, her eyes half-closed as the tension around her built up.
"They’ve started doing that again," she murmured, her voice low and poisoned with deep hatred.
Adalric nodded slowly. "Yes. They’re enslaving elves again."
The silence that followed was almost unbearable, heavy as a chain around the necks of everyone in the room. Erika closed her eyes for a moment, her long fingers tracing the blade of her sword as if she needed to remind herself that she still had control.
"They never learn," Dagon finally said, his voice booming like thunder before a storm. He pushed off from the wall, his massive figure making the room feel even more claustrophobic. "How many? Where?"
Adalric crossed his arms, his expression hard as stone. "We don’t know the exact numbers yet, but reports indicate several elven villages being attacked along the borders of the Gray Kingdom. They’re using blood contracts to enforce obedience and selling the souls of those who resist."
Eva huffed, her body trembling with pure indignation. "Blood contracts? They’ve gone back to that archaic, disgusting magic? Those worms..." Her fists clenched so tightly that the sound of her bones cracking echoed in the room.
"And what’s most concerning," Adalric continued, ignoring Eva’s outburst, "is that there are rumors of a new faction behind this. Something big. Something organized."
Erika opened her eyes, her expression as cold as ice. "Organized enough to challenge the alliance of the High and Dark Elves? This isn’t something we can ignore."
"Not just challenge them," Adalric corrected. "Destroy them. They’re trying to eradicate any trace of the union between the elven races. There have been reports of massacres. Entire villages burned to the ground."
The atmosphere became almost suffocating with the gravity of Adalric’s words. Eva walked over to the window, gazing at the horizon with eyes that now seemed like burning flames. "And what will we do?" she asked, her voice laden with deadly determination.
Adalric gave a bitter smile. "What we always do. We find the culprit... and cut the evil at its root."
"And the surviving elves?" Erika asked, her tone neutral but with an underlying hint of concern.
"They’re fleeing to Azalith," Adalric responded. "Many have sought refuge on the outskirts of the city. Most are afraid to report what happened, fearing reprisals. And those who resisted..." He paused, his gaze hardening. "They didn’t live to tell the tale."
Dagon gritted his teeth, his controlled rage turning him into an even more threatening presence. "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s crush them."
"It’s not that simple," Erika interjected, her voice sharp like a blade. "If there’s a new faction behind this, we need more information. Acting impulsively could cost lives. Many lives."
Eva turned from the window, her expression unyielding. "Information? We don’t need a complex plan to deal with trash. I can take care of this on my own."
Adalric raised his hand, interrupting Eva’s momentum before she could continue. His voice was firm, but laced with caution. "You’ll have your chance, Eva. But first, we need to ensure our allies are prepared. We don’t know exactly what we’re facing. This could be much more than just a slave trade."
Erika, always analytical, tilted her head and asked, "How is the Elven Kingdom faring?" Her voice was direct, but there was a hint of concern behind her impeccable posture. "You’re the one leading this meeting, Adalric. I assume you have concrete information."
Adalric sighed and ran his hand through his hair, his tone indicating the weight of the situation. "Ah... it’s complicated," he began. "The main elven kingdom remains secure. No attacks have been recorded within the walls, nor are there reports of disappearances. But... the problem lies with the smaller communities outside the kingdom’s borders."
"And what about progress in the search?" Dagon asked, his deep voice resonating through the room like distant thunder. Experience new stories on freewebnovel
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Adalric crossed his arms, adopting a more serious posture. "With the help of the Dwarven Kingdom, which houses large elven populations, we’ve managed to establish temporary measures to protect the refugees. They’re being hidden in underground areas far from the reach of these malicious factions. But that’s just a temporary solution. It won’t last forever."
He paused, furrowing his brow before continuing. "As for the search for answers... it’s more complicated. The magic used by these groups is highly advanced, making any kind of tracking difficult. We’re literally fighting shadows."
"And the elves found so far?" Erika inquired, leaning slightly forward.
"The soldiers have been instructed to identify and catalog any elves they find outside the safe zones," Adalric replied. "The idea came from the Queen of the Elves. They receive a provisional identity and are protected until the situation is resolved. But even that is far from an ideal solution."
Despite the weight of the debate, Eva seemed distracted, as if the whole situation was merely background noise to a larger concern pressing on her mind. Suddenly, she lifted her gaze, her expression filled with intensity.
"And the princess?" she asked, disregarding the direction of the previous conversation. Her voice was cold, almost cutting, but with evident urgency.
Adalric turned to her with a slight smile, as if he had expected the question. "The little one is safe," he said, his tone reassuring. "She’s already been taken to Azalith. She’s under constant protection and will begin her studies at the Academy in a week, along with the others."
Eva’s face relaxed for a brief moment, but there was a gleam in her eyes—a mixture of relief and determination. "If anyone dares to touch her..." Eva murmured, her voice laced with threat, "there will be no shadow or magic that can save them."
Adalric chuckled lightly, but there was seriousness in his gaze as he looked at the others. "That’s why we need to resolve this before the situation spirals even further. The princess’s safety is a reminder that our enemies have no limits. They’ll do anything to weaken the unity of the elven races."
"Then the plan is simple," Dagon said, uncrossing his arms and staring directly at Adalric. "We find these factions. And we eliminate them."
"Exactly," Adalric nodded, the weight of the mission clear in his tone. "But we need more information. We’ll divide tasks and proceed with caution. If it’s truly a large organization, they’re not just elf traffickers. They could be working on something much bigger."
Eva clenched her fists again, but this time her face showed a controlled expression, like a predator waiting to strike. "I hope this doesn’t take too long. I hate waiting."
Erika gave her a cold look. "Patience is a virtue, Eva."
Eva smirked slightly. "And killing monsters is mine."