Chapter 119 - One-Hundred-Eight

It doesn't take us long to reach the elven city, Airedale. This was not the one located on the north in Serie Sarnoron and the main ones, but the one with the most prominent trade and human good's; but no humans, they were only allowed until Edovine, and from there the elves could buy and sell things and bring them back here to resell it once more, back and forth.

Airedale main city, like any other elven town, had trees and plants mixed together with the architecture, but two reasons made this city very different from the northern counterparts; the fact that it was still located in a tropical area, much hotter than the north, and that, because of the trade, most buildings were built on the ground with large streets to let the carriages pass side by side and even easily park around.

One may even think that some buildings were abandoned with how plants took over the walls and roofs, things that would only happen with unkempt places, but here they were built so that every place the buildings took from nature could be neutralized to the max, so the roofs and walls were covered in plants. 

Only the streets were made of stones and kept without grass from the constant hit of hooves and shoes.

And frankly, it was easy to tell why humans were so envious of the elves to the point of considering them devils; and why no human was allowed inside such perfect city.

All the elves here seemed to carry an aloof, untouchable beauty, almost like a star or a clear waterfall would have, a fleeing beauty, unreachable, barely able to be contained in one's mind as a memory.

Everywhere I looked my eyes were greeted by such beauty, and as I freely walked with my tail and ears out I had the sensation of coming back home.

And yet something was still amiss, even amongst the elves, who greeted politely and kindly helped giving directions out…

And I learn what the sensation was soon enough.

We finally reach the main building were accommodations for visitors were made and where the elves responsible for the city debated; it could be said that it was the main hall of the city.

And the building that came to view was very stunning and fitting of such title.

It was made from the same white material that the others buildings from the north, but instead of small this one is beyond being just a detailed structured, it was too incredibly high, with sharp roof with grey tiles, like an upside-down V, and beyond the tall glasses windows all around even in between tiles there were some walls made of transparent material, letting a lot of light in and shinning against the sunlight, blindly so.

It was impressive how little wall the place had however, all seemed to be taken by some sort of window, small ones to very high, following the same pattern and somehow harmonically placed around even more as, like a cake, the building had many floors laying on top o each other but growing smaller and smaller, forming a strange and big tower.

As we get closer and enter the gardens surrounding the place we have the view obstructed for a few moments as we pass over a tunnel of trees, the oval structure letting flowers drip over our heads like gr.a.p.es, most purples and whites, but not even the delicate beauty of the flowers could overcome the majesty of the big building once we are able to look at it up close, towering over us.

We reach the big wooden double door at the front that was already open, some silver adorning white stairs leading up, but before moving further my eyes were caught by the garden surrounding the place, but this time not because of their beauty, nor the serenity, but because of the magical creatures that were there, lazing around, drinking water, totally at easy amongst the elves.

There was a green horned wolf to the side being pet by an elf, a white snake chilling on the sun with her tail in the water, an earth brown horse eating on the side, and even a single-horned golden leopard grooming its fur.

It… moved me, this scene, it was like a small piece of paradise, the little heaven I strive to make for my kind, a place where we can live at peace, and the elves were the closest to achieve that.

And the only other race I would fight to the death to defend.

A deer with four huge horns and striped fur walks beside us, his snout far to close as his mouth moved, chewing something, and I can barely dodge when he goes for my hair.

"Oi, oi, calm down there fella." I say, chuckling, reaching out to pet him.

"Seems like you meet Amra." A familiar voice says. "Careful with your ears, she loves chewing fluffy stuff."

At that I hide my pointy ears with my hands, flattening them, and look in the direction of the door, finding a familiar figure descending with small steps.

My heart skips a beat at the view.

Leonel.

He sees me looking at him and stops at the end of the stairs, that little smile of his plastered on his face.

Since this area was hotter than other elven cities the clothes were bound to be different too. Instead of long sleeves and boots like usual, he was only wearing a blue tunic with a V collar that gave me a good view of his collar bone and the beginning of his chest. His arms were exposed but wearing long bracelets that matched his strong big hands, finishing with some puffy pants and sandals.

But beyond that was his marvelous face, his short; yet growing; blond hair, his golden shinning mischievous eyes, his long half-elven ears with round golden earrings at the tip.

He didn't need any of those fancy items to look marvelous, nor the embroiled attires.

"Are you done drooling, or do you want me to turn around to give you a better look?" At that he starts walking again in our direction.

Wait I wasn't done dro-I mean. "O-of course not. Who is drooling? W-hy would I-I, you just look, look very average you know." What the hell was I saying? Stupid mouth, stop blabbering.

That only makes his smile winder as he gets very close to me, raising an eyebrow while looking me up and down slowly, making me straight my back and stare back.

"Well, you… look stunning." He says in a velvet low voice that only I could hear, at the same time passing a sneaky hand on my back and caressing it, giving me goosebumps.

"Humf, I look like always alright."

"Uhm, indeed you do." He says, making me frown. "Stunning as usual, indeed."

At that I roll my eyes to hide the fact I'm blushing.

How does he make me blush more in five seconds of his company then days without him? Sigh…