[Alice POV]
As we continued to meander through the thriving residential sector, the pathway widened up to reveal an open clearing, dominated by the majestic silhouette of a massive treehouse. The air was filled with the delightful aromas released from a myriad of food stalls that surrounded the area, where a long line of elves patiently awaited their turn to order.
Laughter and chatter mingled in the enchanting surroundings as customers clustered around the tables and chairs scattered all over the clearing, enjoying their meals.
"Here we are," Cyrene announced proudly. "Now let's get in line if we want free food."
Free food? Wouldn't that be unfair for the food vendors? Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
With that in mind, I nodded and approached one of the lines alongside Cyrene and Elinalise.
While we waited for our turn, I noticed that some of the residents were staring at us, as if our presence bothered them for some reason. But I decided to ignore their gazes, knowing it was our first day being a part of their society.
"So... What are we getting today, Cyrene?" I asked, distracting myself from the stares.
The pink-haired elf glanced over her shoulder and placed a finger under her lips.
"Hmm... let's see," she mumbled. "We usually have mushroom stew, deer skewers, and herbal salad with sweet berry juice on the side."
Hearing her selection of dishes, I couldn't help but wonder about the diet of elves. I observed that despite our relationship with nature, the presence of venison suggested that we're more omnivorous rather than strict herbivores.
Gradually, the line moved forward, prompting us to advance towards one of the stalls serving free food. Once we got to the stall, I was surprised to see the person behind the counter was none other than the Greater Lord Ruhkkadevata herself.
The white-haired elder noticed us approaching and smiled warmly.
"Ah, good morning, you three," she greeted pleasantly.
"Good morning to you too, Your Grace," I responded. "But uh... why are you serving food?"
"Well, providing meals for my fellow residents was one of my responsibilities as an elder," she explained calmly. "It's the least I could do to keep them well-nourished."
I see. She was the type of charity leader who would feed a bunch of hungry people for free.
"What's taking so long? I'm starving here!"
Just then, someone behind the line complained, prompting the others to follow suit.
Ruhkkadevata, hearing their concerns, became flustered and turned to the crowds.
"Ah, sorry for the delay," she apologized sincerely before returning to us. "Let us continue our conversation at another time."
"We understand," I responded respectfully.
Following that, the elder promptly provided three trays of mushroom stew, deer skewers, and herbal salad, as well as wooden cups of sweet berry juice, just as Cyrene had suggested.
"Here you go," Ruhkkadevata declared with a smile. "Please enjoy."
"You're the best, Your Grace," Cyrene remarked enthusiastically, picking up one tray.
I also picked up a tray, smiling back at the elder. "Thank you for the meal."
As Elinalise grabbed the last one, she remained silent and simply nodded at Ruhkkadevata.
After receiving our breakfast, we started looking for a table where we could eat. But because the others were doing the same thing, it took us a while before we finally found a vacant one.
"At last, we can dig in!" Cyrene exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Without hesitation, the pink-haired elf promptly gobbled up her bowl of mushroom stew, as if she hadn't eaten in days.
"Hey, have you heard about the strange blonde elf last night?"
Just as I was about to enjoy my meal, I overheard someone discussing across from us. My elf ears perked up as I tried to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Yeah, I find her expression rather disturbing to look at."
Tell me about it. She was panting heavily and glancing around like a wild beast."
Upon hearing their discussion, I couldn't help but think about what had happened to Elinalise that night. Could it be she was causing trouble to the residents? No, that sounds absurd. She wouldn't do such a thing, would she?
"Alice, are you okay?"
Cyrene's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, prompting me to turn my head.
"Y-yeah, I was just thinking."
In response, the pink-haired elf raised an eyebrow.
"Right... You better eat your food before it gets cold."
With that suggestion, I shook off the rumors and started eating my meal.
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After a few minutes had passed, we had finished with our breakfast, having entirely depleted the food from our tray. With a satisfied burp, I gulped down the remainder of the sweet berry juice in my cup, quenching my throat.
"Ah~ It tastes as good as I remember," Cyrene remarked blissfully before looking at me. "How about you, Alice? How do you feel about the food?"
"Well... I'll give it a 9 out of 10," I rated positively. "The sweet berry juice was rather refreshing than I expected, even though the herbal salad tasted slightly bitter."
"You'll get used to it," Cyrene retorted teasingly before turning to the other side. "What about you, Elinalise? Do you like the food?"
Instead of responding to the question, Elinalise stared blankly at the partially empty bowl she was holding. Just as I was about to call her, she snapped out of her stupor and darted at us.
"Uh... you were saying?" Elinalise asked timidly.
Cyrene took a brief glance at me before returning. "I was asking if you liked the food."
"Ah, it was fine, I guess," she answered hesitantly. "The herbal salad was tasty, but the sweet berry juice was too sugary."
Hang on, I think our food preferences are polar opposites.
Despite Elinalise's delayed response, Cyrene nodded calmly, accepting it regardless.
She then glanced back at me and asked, "So, what do you want us to do next?"
I paused for a moment, considering the activities we could choose. Initially, I opt for resuming our garden. However, I remembered one of the elders advising me to visit the shooting range once we settled down. That one would probably work.
After making up my mind, I turned to face Cyrene and answered, "Visiting the shooting range would be nice."
"Interesting choice," she approved immediately. "Alright then, to the barracks we go."
With that decision made, we arose from our seats and walked away from the eatery, heading for our next destination. Following Cyrene's direction, we maneuvered through the residential sector until we approached the barracks sector.
The moment we arrived at the shooting range, I was surprised to see a huge number of elves gathered at the site. Long rows of archers stood with bows in hand, taking turns firing arrows and shooting distant targets.
Watching these people doing archery stirred a sense of excitement within me.
In my previous life, I was mostly interested in science and literature, but before that, I adored combat sports like fencing, taekwondo, and, in this case, archery. I once planned to take part in archery lessons, but it was overshadowed by academic pursuits and fairytale stories.
"Do you want to give it a try, you two?"
Abruptly, Cyrene's voice snapped me out of my thoughts once again. I glanced up at her and nodded eagerly. Oh, boy. It's finally time for me to experience perfection.
"Of course, I would love to!"
The pink-haired elf smiled at my answer and turned to Elinalise, who quietly nodded as well.
"Alright, let's go get some bows and arrows."
With that instruction, we walked towards a rack of spare bows at the distance. But before we could get one, a familiar disgruntled-looking male elf blocked our way.
"Stop right there!"
The three of us halted in front of Vaelthorn, the vice captain of the watchguards. He scowled at Elinalise and me, then started talking again.
"What are you two outsiders doing in a place like this?"
The moment I heard him calling us outsiders, I immediately snapped at him.
"For your information, we're officially residents of this settlement."
Hearing me speaking in beast god language, Vaelthorn was visibly surprised, but he instantly regained his composure and argued back.
"Well, that doesn't answer my question."
Before I could retort, Cyrene stepped between us.
"Ah, you see, Sir Vaelthorn, they're here to try archery for a change."
At her response, the vice captain scoffed mockingly.
"Archery, these two? Hah! It's not something newcomers should be trying on their first day."
After he said that, I could feel my blood boiling with irritation.
This bastard... He's the second annoying man I encountered in this settlement.
"Is that so? I think you're mistaken."
Just as I was about to give him a piece of my mind, a familiar but fierce voice replied. I turned towards the source and found the Great Lord Shariradevi approaching.
"Archery was supposed to be a gift to all elves and not something exclusive only for veterans of the settlement."
After that speech, Vaelthorn's arrogance evaporated, and he quickly bowed his head.
"I apologize for my lapse of judgment, Your Grace. I won't do it again."
Shariradevi narrowed her gaze at the vice captain before waving her hand dismissively.
"Whatever, just get out of my sight before I smack some sense into you."
Hearing her threat, Vaelthorn trembled and bowed deeper.
"U-Understood."
With that compliance, the vice captain bolted away from the shooting range.
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Once Vaelthorn had departed, Shariradevi turned to face my companions and me.
"Sorry for the trouble that idiot had caused you three," she apologized casually.
I dismissively waved my hand. "No worries, Your Grace, we're alright."
"So... What brings you three to the shooting range?" the elder asked curiously.
"Alice suggested visiting this place," Cyrene explained calmly, "and wanted to try archery."
Upon hearing the reason, Shariradevi's eyes sparkled in excitement, and she laughed so loud that the surrounding elves turned in our direction.
"Really now?" she inquired curiously before turning to me. "Do you have what it takes to draw a bow and shoot arrows decisively?"
"Of course, Your Grace," I answered without hesitation.
With that response, the orange-haired elder nodded in approval and glanced at Elinalise. She paused for a moment, as though she were intending to ask the same question, but she shook her head, realizing that Elinalise couldn't understand the Beast God language.
Deciding to save us the trouble, Shariradevi moved on and made her way towards the nearby rack to grab four bows. She then hurled one each for Cyrene, Elinalise, and me while keeping the fourth for herself. Afterwards, the elder gathered a handful of arrows and glanced at us.
"Follow me," the elder instructed as she walked away.
Obeying her command, we accompanied her until we reached the border that separated the archers and the shooting lanes. Once Shariradevi positioned herself in front of her preferred target, she glanced over her shoulder.
"Now watch and learn," she declared passionately. "I shall teach you the fundamentals of the Bow God style."
"The Bow God style?" I repeated, intrigued with the unfamiliar term. "What's that?"
"It's a unique school of archery," Cyrene explained clearly, "developed by our elven ancestors to dominate adversaries in battle."
After hearing the explanation, I couldn't help but be amazed by the concept.
Wanting to witness it firsthand, I asked, "Will you show it to us, Your Grace?"
"That's exactly the plan," the elder declared, preparing herself.
As Shariradevi picked up three arrows, nearby archers halted what they were doing to watch the spectacle. Then, before everyone could react, the elder began firing in rapid succession, seamlessly notching the arrow, drawing the string, and releasing each shot with ease.
Whoooosh~ Whoooosh~ Whoooosh~
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
With flawless precision, all of the projectiles struck the center of each target.
"Woah! That's our elder!!"
"Amazing shot, Your Grace!"
"What remarkable accuracy!"
Cheers went up from the crowd of spectators, delighted at Shariradevi's display of power.
"Glory to the Bow God!"
When I heard someone referred to the elder with such a dignified title, I became curious. Was she called that because she mastered the pinnacle of the Bow God style?
"Now it's your turn, you three."
Before I could mull over more about that thought, Shariradevi called out to us. I glanced up to see her handing us each an arrow.
"Show everyone what the three of you could do."
With that affirmation, Cyrene and I swiftly took an arrow, while Elinalise hesitated a bit before Shariradevi tossed the last arrow to her, almost dropping it. We were then motioned to stand in each lane, with Cyrene on the left, Elinalise on the right, and me in the middle.
"Alright, notch your arrows and take aim."
Following her instruction, I carefully placed the feathered tip of the arrow at the middle of the bowstring and aimed the weapon at the target in front of me. Glancing to my left, Cyrene had notched her arrow easily, but turning to my right, Elinalise struggled to keep her arrow still.
"Okay, pull your strings, imbue your battle aura on your bow, and release."
Battle aura? What's that? Should I ask what it is? No, I don't think it's the best time to do that, so I'll figure it out myself. Since Aura sounds like energy, I believe it is another term for mana.
With that logic, I tried pouring mana into my bow, allowing me to pull the string further. Then I decided to release my hold, causing the arrow to soar extremely fast.
Fwoooooosh~! THUNK!
When the projectile struck the target, the majority of it pierced the wooden board, slightly off center to be a bull's-eye. How unfortunate.
Thunk! Plop...
Meanwhile, Cyrene's arrow glided smoothly and landed an inch close to the center. Elinalise's arrow, on the other hand, curved weakly and completely missed its mark.
Clap, clap, clap.
Some of the onlookers applauded our performance while others simply watched in silence.
"Nice try, you three," Shariradevi commented fairly. "Let me judge the results."
The orange-haired elder jumped over the border and walked toward each of the targets. She stood there for a brief moment, scrutinizing the outcome, and then she came back to us.
Shariradevi glanced at Cyrene first.
"Pink one, your shot was almost perfect," she pointed out honestly, "but your bow lacked the battle aura to shoot your arrow effectively, so pour some more vigor."
With a cheerful nod, Cyrene took the criticism amiably. Shariradevi then turned to me, raising her brow with satisfaction.
"Alice, your shot was filled to the brim with power," she praised genuinely, "but your accuracy was greatly reduced because of excessive battle aura, so turn it down a notch."
Hearing her assessment, I nodded earnestly and accepted it with dignity. However, when the elder turned to Elinalise, she frowned in displeasure.
"As for the other blonde," she paused, attempting to rate her objectively. "It appears that she didn't even try hard enough, but I suppose that's to be expected of a beginner."
With that judgment, I turned to Elinalise, who lowered her head in shame, most likely thinking she had failed. So, I deliberately cleared my throat to get her attention.
"Ahem—"
In response, Elinalise raised her head slightly.
"You did your best," I reassured with a warm smile.
When she heard this, she smiled back.
Just as the performance concluded, my elf ears heard heavy breathing and footsteps.
"Your Grace, we have an emergency!"
We all turned to see one of the watchguards running towards us.
Shariradevi scowled and asked, "What is it this time?"
"We received another report from residents complaining about strange noises last night," the watchguard briefed anxiously. "Also, Lord Ruhkkadevata needed your help."
Hearing that, the elder clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Not this again," she grumbled and sighed before turning back. "I guess I'll take my leave, but you three should practice more, especially that other blonde."
Cyrene and I nodded resolutely as Shariradevi turned around to walk away from the shooting range with the watchguard. As I watched her depart, my mind drifted back to the rumors and complaints once again, wondering whether Elinalise was involved with these two incidents.
I'm hoping none of these are relevant.
Shaking my head, I pushed the suspicion away and went back to practicing.
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After a long while, Elinalise, Cyrene, and I carried on practicing archery at the shooting range without Shariradevi's guidance. Over time, I improved the consistency of my shots, but some of the arrows still veered off despite controlling the amount of battle aura I used on the bow.
I grumbled at my lapse in accuracy. "My aim sucks."
"Speak for yourself," Cyrene countered in a frustrated tone. "I have terrible strength."
For the past couple of minutes, this pink-haired elf had consistently landed an almost perfect shot, but due to her battle aura shortage, she didn't have enough power to hit a bull's-eye.
"But at least your accuracy is better than mine," I humbly remarked, trying to cheer her up.
Cyrene pouted at me, not convinced. "What good does my precision do if my battle aura isn't as abundant as yours?"
The two of us continued bickering lightheartedly while shooting arrows at our own targets.
"Hggh..."
Meanwhile, Elinalise struggled to make any noteworthy progress at all. Ever since Shariradevi had left us, Cyrene and I have done our best to give her advice and encouragement. But until then, she continued missing her shots more often than not.
Eventually, Cyrene lowered her bow and sighed wearily.
"How about we take a break from archery," she suggested. "If this kept going, Elinalise would become more discouraged than she already was."
"You're right," I concurred, also lowering my bow. "We might as well clean up our mess."
With that suggestion, the three of us moved towards our respective targets and pulled all the arrows out. After that, we walked over to the weapon rack and returned the bow and arrows.
"Now then," Cyrene muttered, turning towards me. "What should we do next?"
Hearing that question, I thought about what our next activity should be. For a brief moment, I couldn't think of anything until I remembered the learning materials Manovidya had promised to give after losing to me yesterday.
I looked at Cyrene and replied, "How about we go to find Lord Manovidya in the Academia?"
"Are you sure about that, Alice?" she asked, frowning worriedly.
I raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Yeah... Is there something wrong?"
The pink-haired elf hesitated, as if she were reluctant to express her concern. But eventually, she decided to speak up.
"You still remember our encounter with the Grand Sage?" Cyrene reminded anxiously.
I nodded again, recalling the scene vividly. "Of course, and he's a real pain in the ass."
"Then you know that going back there isn't a good idea, right?" she argued objectively.
She has a point. That misogynistic bastard could be waiting to take his revenge against me if I set foot in that place. But at the same time, Manovidya had informed us that she considered removing him from his position if he caused problems again.
"Meh, I think we're fine," I dismissed casually.
Cyrene narrowed her eyes and asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, that bastard is pretty close to losing his job," I explained. "If he decides to mess with us again, then he'll be saying goodbye to his title as Grand Sage."
Upon listening to my reasoning, Cyrene paused for a second and thought about it before she finally nodded in understanding.
"I guess you're right," she concurred. "But if the situation gets dicey, let's just leave instead."
Recognizing her concern, I smiled. "Don't worry, I doubt he will get the better of us."
"I hope so," Cyrene responded, somewhat skeptical.
With that conversation concluded, the three of us navigated through the rest of the barracks sector, and we eventually reached the threshold of the academia sector. I looked around and pondered where to look for Manovidya.
"If I were a petite elder, where would I be?" I questioned openly.
Cyrene laughed at my remark. "Lord Manovidya was usually found in the lecture hall teaching magic and stuff to scholars and sages."
"Okay then," I acknowledged. "Let's search there."
As we proceeded towards the colosseum-sized lecture hall in the distance, I noticed that the main entrance was blocked by a crowd of elves facing towards us. In the center of the group stood a familiar, irritating figure with an arrogant expression—Caelreth, the Grand Sage.
Ah, shit, here we go again.
"Look who came back to cause some trouble," he remarked haughtily.
"I should be saying the same thing to you," I shot back. "So, what are you here for this time?"
Caelreth cringed at my response and huffed pompously. "This place is presently restricted to authorized individuals only, so get lost and never come back again."
Hearing his unfair directive, I furrowed my brows in frustration.
"Listen, I don't have the time or patience to deal with your absurd rules," I argued impatiently. "So, if you and your lackeys could step aside, I have to see the elder."
Just as I attempted to force my way through the crowd, someone suddenly shoved me away, causing me to trip backward. Fortunately, Cyrene and Elinalise caught me before I tumbled.
"Are you alright, Alice?" Elinalise asked worriedly.
"I'm fine," I reassured before straightening up and glaring ahead. "Alright, who pushed me?"
In response, a white-haired male elf wearing a blue robe emerged from the crowd.
"That would be me," he admitted, his tone calm but slightly pompous.
I grumbled in frustration at his attitude. "Who are you? And what do you people want?"
"My name is Azar, and I am the apprentice of Grand Sage Caelreth," the white-haired male elf proudly declared. "You said you want to see the elder, but I don't see a permit with you."
The moment those words escaped his mouth, I instantly realized that the number of arrogant men had multiplied. No wonder he had the same attitude as that bastard grand sage.
"Permit? What do we need a permit for?" Cyrene demanded, feeling confused.
Azar confidently folded his arms and slyly smirked. "To verify your claims, of course."
"What if we have nothing to give?" I persisted, challenging the rules. "What are you supposed to do about it?"
In response, the apprentice chuckled mockingly.
"Then we're obligated to kick you out."
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This is outrageous.
I can't believe they'd take advantage of the settlement's system to keep us from reaching our intended destination. What a load of rubbish.
"Alice..."
Suddenly, I heard Elinalise's voice calling out to me, so I turned to see her anxious face.
"I want to leave here," she pleaded anxiously.
"She's right," Cyrene concurred. "Besides, we might confront Lord Manovidya later on."
Hearing my two companions' desire to retreat, I couldn't help but be frustrated by the cruelty of the Grand Sage and his apprentice's dominance. It was so unfair that I want to give them a piece of my mind.
"Fine," I reluctantly gave in. "But mark my words, we will let the elder know of this nonsense."
At that threat, Caelreth sneered in offense. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Oh, I will." My eyes narrowed as I called him out. "In fact, I'll tell her what a pathetic bully you are to us ordinary people, so much so she would likely consider stripping you of your title."
In response to that provocation, the Grand Sage's face contorted in anger.
"Why, you little prick!" Caelreth erupted furiously. "I'll let you know I have the authority to kick you out of this sector if I want to!"
"Master, please calm down," Azar pleaded, restraining the Grand Sage. "They're just trying to get in your head so they can prey on you."
When I saw the apprentice trying to reassure Caelreth, I couldn't help but smirk impishly.
"Oh, how adorable," I teased sarcastically. "It must be nice to have an apprentice who was far more competent and emotionally stable than the master. Makes me wonder why he's still not giving up the title of Grand Sage to a more suitable successor."
The moment those words left my mouth, mutliple veins popped out of Caelreth's forehead as his entire face turned red in fury. He gripped Azar's shoulder and forcefully pushed him aside before sprinting towards me with his hands reaching forward.
"I'LL MAKE YOU EAT THOSE WORDS, YOU BITCH!!"
"Master, stop!!"
As the Grand Sage was about to reach for my neck, someone landed in front of me.
"Wind burst."
At those words, a powerful gust of wind exploded outward, launching Caelreth backwards.
Surprised by what had happened, I looked down and noticed a familiar petite figure with blue hair. It was Greatest Lord, Manovidya.
"Y-your Grace?" Caelreth called out in a nervous tone. "W-what are you doing here? I thought you were busy with lectures."
Manovidya adjusted her sleeves and glanced down at the fallen sage.
"I was busy," she replied in irritation. "But the commotion you made kept bothering my class."
"B-but Your Grace," Caelreth stammered, "I was just trying to maintain order here! It was her who was—"
"Silence…" the little elder cut him off coldly. "I don't want to hear any of your excuses, so pick yourself up and leave. This is your final warning."
With that verdict, the Grand Sage shot a glare at me. Seeing that, I couldn't resist sticking my tongue out at him. He gritted his teeth and struggled to stand up, but Azar assisted him.
"I... understood," he reluctantly conceded. "We'll be taking our leave now."
After declaring that, Caelreth and his entourage stepped away from the lecture hall entrance, leaving the premise immediately.
Once peace returned to the place, Manovidya turned around and glared at me.
"Look what you get yourself into this time," she complained severely. "If this keeps going, the sages will think I am defending a bunch of nobodies."
"Ouch... hurtful," I replied jokingly. "We only wanted to see you, but those jerks stopped us."
The petite elder put a hand to her face and sighed. "Just tell me what you want."
Hearing that, I was surprised by how passive she has become since our previous encounter.
"We're here to pick up the learning materials Alice asked for," Cyrene explained firmly.
After listening to the reason, Manovidya turned to her right and said, "Follow me."
Complying with her instruction, we accompanied the elder towards the massive, ancient tree in the distance. While we were heading there, I observed that the scholars and sages around us were staring at us skeptically. But when Manovidya glared at them, they looked away.
Soon, we reached the front entrance and entered the Academia itself. Once inside, I widened my eyes at the sight before us. The interior comprised a vast cylindrical space that stretched several stories high, and bookshelves were built directly into the carved walls.
Two spiral staircases looped around the chamber in opposing directions, intertwining as they ascended like a giant double helix. Along the outer edges stood more cylindrical bookshelves packed tightly with books, scrolls, and manuscripts.
"Over here, you three," Manovidya urged, walking towards the bookshelf in the center.
As we followed her, I noticed that the center was surprisingly open, with plenty of tables and chairs neatly arranged. Eventually, we stopped at the table in the very middle.
"Stay there," she instructed sternly. "I'll fetch the learning materials."
"Understood," Cyrene replied politely. "Thank you for the consideration, Your Grace."
After that response, she turned around and walked towards one of the spiral staircases.
As soon as she had left, Cyrene and Elinalise quickly sat down and waited quietly. However, I have different plans on my own. I strode towards one of the inner bookshelves and inspected the spine of every book.
A Beginner's Guide to Spirit Summons.
The Principles of Voiceless Invocation.
Fundamentals of Barrier Magic
It's surprising how many interesting titles there are in a single row. I'm not sure if I could bring them all home with me.
"I'm back."
Manovidya's voice rang out as she returned, carrying a small stack of books and three folded fabrics on top. She approached our table and set them down.
"These were all of the Beast God language learning materials I could find," the elder declared calmly. "Read them at your own pace."
"How about the folded fabrics?" I asked curiously, picking one.
"Those are scholar robes," Manovidya answered directly. "Put them on to become part of the Academia's circle."
Following her instruction, the three of us picked one robe and wore it over our clothes.
"Thank you so much, Your Grace," Cyrene ackowledged. "We won't forget your kindness."
"It was nothing," Manovidya responded dismissively, turning away. "If you'll excuse me, I have another class to teach."
Just as the petite elder was about to leave, she glanced back at us.
"Also, I should suggest keeping an eye on your quiet companion," she remarked vaguely. "Her thoughts are rather questionable to read."
And with that, she continued walking towards the main entrance, leaving us to question what she meant in the end.
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Things are getting more complicated than before.
First, there were the rumors of the blond elf acting peculiarly, then the odd noise complaints, and finally, the thoughts Manovidya read in Elinalise's mind were questionable.
Something tells me that what happened that night was grimmer than it seems.
"Alright, Elinalise, you'd say 'Good morning' when greeting someone in the morning."
While I was pondering about the mystery regarding Elinalise, Cyrene was personally teaching her how to communicate using the Beast God language.
"What if you greet someone in the evening?" Elinalise asked curiously.
Cyrene raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Ah, you'd say 'Good evening' if that's the case."
That's weird. Why would she need to greet someone in that specific time?
"How about if you want to apologize to someone?" Elinalise pressed further.
Cyrene tilted her head, somewhat perplexed. "Well... you'd say 'I'm sorry' or 'forgive me.'"
Apologize for what? Something is not right in here. I have to get to the bottom of this.
"I don't mean to be rude," I remarked carefully, "but why would you want to learn these oddly specific phrases, Elinalise?"
The moment she heard my question, she jolted slightly before lowering her head anxiously.
"Uh... You see, I..." Elinalise stammered, her eyes scanning around for answers. "I just thought that maybe I would greet someone visiting us at night or apologize if I did something wrong."
A part of me believes she might have a valid point, but something about it doesn't add up.
"That's alright, Alice," Cyrene affirmed reassuringly. "Elinalise just wanted to be well prepared for any possible scenarios."
With that justification, I lowered my suspicion but not completely.
And so, Cyrene continued to coach Elinalise in the Beast God language. While they were at it, I picked up the books that piqued my interest earlier.
The first one was A Beginner's Guide to Spirit Summons. I read some of its pages, and it was basically a how-to guide on calling upon forest spirits and using them to command elemental magic such as water, air, and earth. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the fire element.
I mean, if there were one, the Great Forest would burn to cinders.
The next book was The Principles of Voiceless Invocation. Upon looking into it, I learned that magic didn't originally have an incantation to invoke it. The text indicated that the high elves, our ancestors, used to communicate with spirits through mental thoughts instead of words.
I supposed that elves weren't very vocal back then.
And the last one was Fundamentals of Barrier Magic. As I flipped through the pages, multiple magic circles were presented on their surface. Some of them were simple, while others were complex. However, you need special ink made of magic crystal powder to draw them.
I wonder where I could get my hands on this. Perhaps Manovidya knows.
Tap... tap... tap...
While reading the third book, I heard footsteps approaching us. So, I looked up and noticed a female elf with long red hair walking forward. She eventually stopped and bowed her head.
"Greetings, scholars," the red-haired elf greeted politely. "My name is Tribios, the overseer of this knowledgeable abode."
"Hello, Miss Tribios," Cyrene responded in kind. "What can we do for you?"
"It's currently closing hours in the Academia," Tribios pointed out kindly. "So please leave the premise and come again tomorrow."
Hearing her request, I nodded in understanding.
"Can we take these books with us?" I requested carefully. "We promise to bring them back."
"Of course," Tribios accepted reasonably. "Just don't damage them in return."
"We understand," I acknowledged, picking up the books we were reading.
After carrying everything, we turned to the librarian once more.
"Thanks again, Miss Tribios," Cyrene declared, expressing her gratitude.
The red-haired elf nodded in response. "You're welcome, dear."
Following that, the three of us walked through the entrance. Just as we were leaving, Tribios' voice rang again.
"See you tomorrow."
With the Academia behind us, we made our way back to the residential sector and arrived at our home. As we approached the treehouse, I gently tapped Cyrene on her arm.
She glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Stick around and hide," I whispered carefully.
Realizing my intention, Cyrene nodded in acknowledgment.
"Goodbye, you two," she muttered, pretending to leave.
With that, Elinalise and I ascended the staircase with the stack of books. Upon arriving at the top, we headed inside and placed down the books on the table.
"Elinalise, I'm going to sleep now," I announced plainly.
She immediately nodded in response. "Alright, goodnight."
As we retreated to our own rooms, I pretended to sleep on my bed and patiently waited. Sure enough, I heard footsteps leaving the living room. I then carefully got off and approached the door, seeing Elinalise walking out the house.
When she was gone, I carefully made my way to the window and saw her moving further into the residential sector. Seeing that, I quickly walked down the stairs and came across Cyrene, who was hiding behind the tree.
"You saw Elinalise leave, right?" Cyrene asked worriedly.
I nodded solemnly in response. "Yeah, let's go after her."
And so, as night drew on, we went out to search for Elinalise.