454 Arriving in Elvengarde

Vroom~!

The airship flew overhead with loud running steam engines and spinning propellers, causing many elven warriors within the Great Forest to turn their heads up and look. 

However, none of the elven warriors near the outskirts could see anything. The towering billows of black smoke obscured their visions from seeing the sky beyond the treetop.

The elf general narrowed his eyes into slits and spoke, "Follow me to take a look. The rest of you continue to hold your ground and contain the spread of fire!"

"Yes, general!"

Shortly after, the elf general and another elf warrior hopped between branches and quickly climbed to the top of the trees to look.

The trees of the Great Forest were very tall, averaging 600fts. Some fell short, while others also exceeded the mark and extended into the sky suppression zone.

The tougher trees remained standing upright, but the weaker ones slightly curved under the gravitational pressure.

"Ugh, I can never get used to this feeling, general." The elf warrior commented with an uncomfortable feeling. The heavy feeling was not bad compared to the pressure weighing down on his organs.

"Get used to it. Enduring the gravitational pressure is a good way of tempering the body." The elf general casually said while staring up at the passing airship.

"This… should be the so-called airship…" The elf general said after some thought.

The elf warrior immediately displayed a confused expression and asked, "What's an airship?"

"In short, an airship is a type of transportation created by humans for traveling. Do not ask any further. I do not know much about it, alright? I've only heard a bit about it when we had human visitors last time." The elf general explained before narrowing his eyes.

"It's heading for our tribe…"

Hearing the general's soft muttering, the elf warrior's eyes suddenly lit up and said excitedly, "Maybe the Supreme Elder and Princess Faelyn have returned from the Human Domain with reinforcements!"

"Perhaps, but it is no longer our concern. If the Supreme Elder had indeed returned, then we should be getting news from the tribe soon. For now, we just need to focus on containing the spread of fire. Let us head back!" The elf general said with a shake of his head.

If only they had a way to see the other side of the fire and observe the movements of the rat tide. It would give them clear understandings of the situation and decide whether to keep the fire burning or extinguish it.

The elf general had to plan carefully.

It would not be easy starting another great forest fire to repel the rat tide should they decide to extinguish it.

After returning to the ground level, the elf warrior whispered, "General, the royal guards are here."

After they spotted the elf general, they quickly made their way over and coldly stated, "The king summons your presence, general. It would be in your best interest to follow us back willingly. Resistance will only increase the severity of your crimes." 

The elven royal guards had all achieved 9-Star Ranked Awakener Realm, the same cultivation as the elf general.

"Understood." 

The elf general sighed with furrowed brows.

Considering the royal guards' attitude towards him, the king will most likely behead him after questioning his decision on burning the forest, regardless of his reasons.

He had anticipated this outcome.

He committed sacrilege against the Great Forest, the home of all elves. It was a crime punishable by death.

Even so, he cannot help but feel disappointed.

…

Elvengarde.

The airship arrived at the heart of the elven tribe and hovered in the skies right under shades of the Elder Tree's crown.

Many elves could be seen exiting their trunk homes at the bottom of the Elder Tree and gathering towards the tribe's square before they observed the foreign airship above curiously. 

On the airship, Leon stored away the altered pendant contraption seeing as it was no longer needed—at least while the airship remained under cover of the Elder Tree.

At the same time, a line of royal guards lined up on the edges of the Elder Tree's crown with bows and nocked arrows aimed at Leon and the rest of the people on board the airship.

"Hmph! Withdraw your bows! Or have you forgotten who I am?!" Supreme Elder Haldir roared at them with displeasure.

Some royal guards were immediately startled and withdrew their bows, while other royal guards continued to aim their nocked arrows—not at the Supreme Elder and Princess Faelyn, but the humans onboard. 

"Hey, didn't you hear the Supreme Elder's order? Pull away your bow!" The royal guards began urging the other stubborn royal guards.

However, the stubborn royal guards asked with indifference, "Are you the Supreme Elder's personal guards, or are you the king's royal guard?"

The question immediately stunned all the royal guards that withdrawn their bows upon the Supreme Elder's words, too speechless to retort. 

The Elven King was disappointed that more than half his royal guards followed the Supreme Elder's orders. It showed where their loyalty lies.

Nevertheless, he quickly hid his true emotions.

Shortly after, the Elven King spoke in a clear and firm voice, "Lower your bows!" 

The remaining royal guards quickly withdrew their bows and nocked arrows away immediately before retreating a few steps and making way for their king.

"Welcome back, Supreme Elder." The Elven King greeted with a warm expression. "You too, my daughter. It's been hard on you."

"Not at all, father. I had fun on this trip." Princess Faelyn said.

Supreme Elder Haldir furrowed his brows slightly but nodded shortly after, hopping off the airship with Princess Faelyn.

Leon could not help but frown in his heart after noticing the slight tension between the Elven King and Supreme Elder. 

This was not a good sign. 

Was someone like the Elven King really willing to live under humans' rule in the Human Domain? He was unsure, but he vaguely sensed the brewing of trouble.