95. The Cursed Sevenfold Council Hall. [1]
[Logan's POV]
Honestly, I was aware that Danika had different intentions. The logical arguments I had presented were insufficient to earn her trust.
"It seems these Elves bear deeper wounds than I initially thought." It was natural not to trust someone immediately, but it appeared to me that there was a hidden motive behind all of this.
As we continued our journey, we crossed a river and arrived at our destination. On the northern side of the Darkenwoods stood a majestic mountain, resembling an inactive volcano.
An entrance gate came into view on the front side of this massive mountain. Perhaps there was a welcome sign hanging above it, displaying bold elven letters.
"What does it say?" Lara inquired.
"Ah! The artifact must not have detected it," Sylvia commented. Since our clothes were artifacts that translated Elven language into human comprehension, I assumed the same would apply to the sign on the gate.
"That's ancient Elven language. It says 'the council of the seven stars, the Council Hall'," She explained.
While Sylvia engaged in a conversation with the girls about the history and significance of the Council Hall, I silently observed the mountain.
Something felt amiss. An eerie sensation washed over me in regard to this mountain. I sensed a calling, yet to my surprise, there was no one present.
Moreover, I was the sole individual capable of deciphering the letters. "Ah! It must be due to my demonic traits!" I realized, my eyes widening slightly. Demons were cursed with an inherent understanding of languages. They possessed the ability to comprehend every tongue from birth.
Unlike Lara, Lisa, and Anna, who were later transformed into demons by me, I had been a demon since birth. Consequently, I too was burdened with the knowledge of the world.
Sylvia had earlier mentioned, "The council of the seven stars, the Council Hall." However, what I saw carved on the entrance was "The Cursed Sevenfold Council Hall."
"Why did she lie?" I pondered, carefully observing both Sylvia and the wooden entrance. Her behavior seemed normal, so for the time being, I redirected my attention to the mountain.
It was an immense structure, reaching above the clouds. The wooden entrance gate occupied one-third of the mountain's expanse.
One distinct feature of these Elves was their connection to everything tree-related. Every creation they crafted seemed to bear some association with trees. The wood of the door remained unfamiliar to me. It possessed a plain brown color and nothing particularly extraordinary about it. When viewed from a distance, it would likely blend in with the mountain.
While fixated on the door, I spotted something peculiar. Seven words were intricately carved at the bottom of the entrance. In relation to the door's size, they appeared quite small.
I stumbled upon this detail by chance. Another person might have mistaken them for mere cracks in the wood.
These letters were inscribed in the ancient Elven language. Each word consisted of two letters.
I attempted to memorize those letters, but before I could, Sylvia called out to me.
"Damn this elf!" I cursed silently in my head, then followed her. As the gigantic gates slightly opened, there was a subtle tremor in the surroundings, allowing us passage.
...
As I walked inside the Cursed Council Hall, multiple thoughts raced through my mind. The prospect of regaining my powers made my heart race. If my basic ability was functioning, could I also access my other powers? I tried to sense the miasma, but to no avail. Consequently, I couldn't recall the texts I had encountered earlier.
...
Upon entering the Council Hall, I found nothing particularly captivating. We simply proceeded into a cave illuminated by mana torches on both sides. Although I said it lacked interest, the architecture differed from my expectations after visiting various places with this tomboy. The walls displayed drawings that none of us understood, and even Sylvia admitted she had limited knowledge about them.
Our walk didn't last long as we were promptly greeted by an Elf standing at the end. The cave grew narrower as we progressed. Finally, at the cave's end, we found ourselves facing a pathway covered by a curtain of veins and plants.
"From this point onward, there are seven doors that lead to seven different paths. Your task is simple," Sylvia approached the Elf and whispered something in her ear, reminiscent of an adventurer's guild.
"Do you feel nostalgic?" I asked Lara while Sylvia was away. She merely chuckled and remained silent. During Sylvia's conversation with the Elf, she intermittently glanced at me and exchanged words with Sylvia. Although it didn't bother me, I assumed it was due to my missing limb.
After what felt like an eternity, both of them returned.
...
"Greetings esteemed guests," the Elf standing beside Sylvia welcomed us with a radiant smile.
"The following is a means to assess your strength," she explained.
"Please don't worry," I couldn't help but wonder why she spoke like an NPC welcoming a hero's party.
"There are a total of seven paths that lead to the Council Hall. Your task is simply to walk through one of them," her voice was melodious.
It would be amusing to hear her moan, I thought with a smirk. Although the madness within me had subdued, the demon still lingered.
Ignoring my lascivious gaze, the Elf led us forward.
"Enter one by one," she directed, pointing to the designated path.
Lara, Lisa, and Anna paused and looked at me, entering only after my approval.
"Don't worry, this is solely an assessment of your strength. All you have to do is walk," Sylvia reassured us, waving her hand.
One by one, we entered the designated paths, including myself.
...
As Logan proceeded, he encountered a narrower road within the cave. It continued until he reached the end, where light awaited. Calmly, Logan advanced and emerged from the passage.
Contrary to what the elf had mentioned, Logan didn't come across seven doors. Instead, he found himself in an open field. He sensed that this was some kind of trial and proceeded along the path. Unlike the usual trails, this one was paved. To Logan's surprise, the environment had changed as well.
Birch trees adorned the surroundings, their distinctive white bark standing out. Nuts lay scattered on the ground, adding to the natural ambiance.
While walking, Logan noticed a bird on the ground. It chirped incessantly, its hunger evident. However, there was no one around to feed it. Larger birds circled, preying on the small bird. Logan observed the plight of the helpless creature without displaying any emotion. He watched as the bird attempted various strategies to survive, ultimately finding refuge in a small gap within the Birch tree's bark.
Continuing his journey, Logan proceeded a little further until he encountered one of the most captivating sights he had ever seen. At the edge of his path, a stunning woman with an elegant figure, waist-length white hair, and elongated ears walked gracefully. Imprints of ice footprints trailed behind her. She appeared like a frozen beauty within the Birch garden. Intrigued, Logan decided to deviate from his path and follow her.
Though the woman glanced at Logan from the corner of her eyes, she never halted her stride. Her footsteps carried her forward, and despite the absence of wind, her hair and blue gown fluttered as if caught in a gentle breeze.
"I feel like I've seen you before," Logan spoke up.
"But I haven't," she replied without turning back.
Upon hearing her voice, Logan came to a halt. It possessed an icy coldness.
"Meh. Those old flirting tactics didn't work. Shame on me," Logan exclaimed in exasperation.
"Hm?" she responded.
"I would've said, 'I have seen you in my dreams, oh beautiful fairy!' or something like that."
"Pfft," she chuckled at Logan's dramatic statement.
"So, you can laugh too, huh?" Logan smirked, sensing a tingling sensation in his heart upon hearing her giggle.
Her captivating white hair reminded him of Danika, the Dark Elf Queen, but unlike Danika, this woman possessed pure white hair.
"You have a human side to you as well, huh?" she commented, causing Logan to pause once again and gaze at her slender figure from behind.
She was slender yet not lacking in any aspect. "But I don't know that side of myself. I only know that it was filled with pain and agony," Logan honestly responded, feeling an unbreakable trust in this woman. He sensed that he could never lie to her.
"Hmm. Pain and agony are enduring aspects of life that hold a greater influence than happiness," she nodded in agreement with Logan's words and his underlying philosophy.
"Let's set that aside for now. I don't wish to discuss pain with a beauty like yourself in such lovely weather," he continued, scanning the surroundings. He was certain that he had walked over a kilometer or more.
The Birch trees had long disappeared, and he now found himself surrounded by willow trees. The weather had changed slightly as well, with a gentle rain falling from the sky. The bird from earlier had grown, now flapping its wings with greater strength.
It continued to survive at its own pace, hunting small flies and worms, even as the larger birds persisted in tormenting it. They would snatch its prey or attack it with their wide wings. Once again, Logan showed no noticeable change in expression.
"What is this trial about, anyway?" he muttered to himself.
"To prove your strength, I assume," she replied.
"It doesn't seem like a trial to prove my strength, but rather my worth," Logan smiled and answered.
The woman's pace slowed down slightly, mirroring the deceleration of the non-existent wind that gently stirred her hair and gown.
"Quite an interesting trial, don't you think?" Despite her continuous dialogue, she never turned to face Logan.
Although Logan desired to catch a glimpse of her face, he made sure not to do anything that would hinder his progress with her.
"But what can be the worth of someone who has nothing? Yet they are alive. Aren't they worthless?" Their conversation seemed irrational as Logan spoke whatever came to his mind.
Maintaining a safe distance, Logan followed in the woman's footsteps, matching her speed.
"Worth doesn't necessarily have to be about power," she responded, moving her hand.
"Keeping up with my speed, huh?" she asked with a giggle.
"Very few can manage that," she continued leading the way.
"I'm glad I'm one of them. I'm built differently, after all. Perhaps a bit rusty," Logan laughed at her statement.
"What do you mean by rusty?" Although she didn't turn around, her voice conveyed confusion.
"Hmm... I struggle to be myself. The rust in my mind forces me to think in a single direction. I can't grasp who I am, why I am here, and how I exist. It's like an existential crisis," Logan felt a warm sensation, even amidst the gentle rain, as he conversed with her.
The bird's chirping sounded somewhat different, prompting Logan to look around. To his surprise, the willow trees had been replaced by sturdy oak trees.
"To me, it sounds more like a midlife crisis," she giggled once again as they passed through the dark oak trees.
Logan observed that the bird had now fully matured, becoming a giant soaring through the sky with astonishing speed. However, the weather took a turn for the worse. The once-gray sky unleashed an impromptu downpour, and Logan's calm demeanor crumbled when a bolt of lightning struck the ground.
"Are you scared of lightning?" the woman asked Logan.
"Not scared, but I dislike it when it rains," Logan replied. "It feels hollow, and those gray clouds look melancholic."
"Hmm..." She slowed down a little more, and Logan followed suit.
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