Chapter 52: Corrupted Forest 4

Boom...!!

An explosion erupted, sending trees hurtling into the sky, and the surrounding landscape was scarred deep black by an attack so corrupted that it erased all life it touched. Blasts of green and black clashed with each other, resulting in colossal explosions.

Finally, the being, once cloaked in a green mana aura, was brought down to her knees, crying. Her once resplendent green hair was now muddied and entwined with dark energy, and her majestic green eyes had lost their vibrant color. Then, a figure of pure madness descended.

With his long white hair and dark, menacing eyes, he exuded terror and fear. The pulsating black veins beneath his pale skin throbbed ominously, enhancing his eerie presence. His massive black claws on his hands were like harbingers of death.

As Elaniel continued to gaze at this nightmarish scene, the being locked eyes with her.

"Huff... huff..."

Elaniel woke up from her recurring nightmare, her bed slightly damp and her eyes filled with tears. She had no time to dwell on her undignified state as waves of fear coursed through her. Every hair on her body stood on end. It was the same nightmare she'd been experiencing every day for the past few weeks, and it had become a torment.

"If only I hadn't looked" Elaniel cursed herself, her grip on her own hair tight as she tried to shake off the lingering horrors of her dream.

Knock! Knock!

Suddenly, a gentle knocking sounded from her door.

"Mother, are you asleep?" inquired a sweet and innocent voice from outside.

Recognizing the voice, Elaniel promptly rose from her bed. Using her magic, she swiftly rectified the damp sheets, composed her face, and then replied telepathically.

"I'm still awake, Iselia"

The door creaked open, revealing her beloved youngest daughter, Iselia Elaris.

"Mother, can I sleep with you tonight?" Iselia inquired, her round, expressive eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and hope. She held her cherished beast companion, a white fluffy dog with distinctive, cross-like glowing irises in its eyes. It was one of the rarest and most formidable magical creatures in the world—a fairy wolf. Although still a pup, its potential as a lifelong companion for her daughter was tremendous.

"Of course, my dear. Come here," Elaniel welcomed warmly.

Iselia beamed with delight upon hearing her mother's response. She leaped onto the bed, her eyes shining brightly with anticipation.

"Yay, Chloe! We get to sleep with Mom tonight" Iselia exclaimed joyfully, hugging her loyal beast companion, Chloe.

Elaniel watched with affection as Iselia playfully climbed onto her bed, her delicate silvery hair cascading like a silken waterfall. In moments like these, the worries and the growing sense of danger that haunted her mind seemed to temporarily subside.

Though she still couldn't ascertain what had unleashed havoc in the forest, she was certain it was a being of unimaginable power—a creature capable of setting the entire forest ablaze. Perhaps, this being was even more perilous than the nightmarish entity known as Kaksan.

Elaniel's thoughts shifted back to the encounter she had witnessed. From what she could gather, the being was undoubtedly human—an unfortunate race, in her perspective. However, based on the horrors she had seen, she harbored doubts about his humanity.

Furthermore, he bore the name of Adrian Vulter Tellus, a member of one of the most influential and powerful families in the empire. The Tellus family held immense sway within the empire, which itself was the most formidable nation on the continent, rivaling only the holy kingdom. Lastly, this enigmatic figure had achieved something no one else had—he had defeated two of the great guardians of Kaksan Forest.

Her gaze returned to her slumbering daughter, Iselia, who clutched her faithful companion, Chloe, in her arms. The sight brought a gentle smile to Elaniel's face, and she silently made a solemn promise to herself.

"Don't worry, Iselia, Elowyn. Your mother will protect you by any means necessary."

Elaniel bent down and placed a tender kiss on Iselia's soft forehead, filled with a mother's love and protection. She wrapped her arms around her daughter, hugging her gently, ensuring that Iselia was safe and content.

With a sense of peace in her heart, she settled into her own bed, pulling the covers close around her. In the comforting embrace of mother and daughter, they drifted into a peaceful slumber.

.....

Elaniel woke up from her peaceful slumber, greeted by the gentle morning light filtering through the windows. She looked to her side, but Iselia was nowhere to be found. A surge of worry coursed through her, and her magical senses immediately activated, searching for her daughter's presence. Her anxiety was replaced with relief as she saw Iselia playing with Chloe in the castle gardens.

Confusion lingered in Elowyn's tone as she questioned her mother's motives, "What's going on, mother?"

"Just guide him to the castle. A being like him should not be allowed to roam freely in the forest." Elaniel's voice conveyed her deep concern.

Elowyn contemplated her mother's instructions and inquired, "Monster? Should I gather the guards to eliminate him?"

Elaniel, in a tone rife with anxiety, pleaded, "No! Just guide him here, please."

She couldn't allow Adrian to freely roam the forest, as she couldn't fathom what sorts of things he'd do if left alone. Though she considered it risky, she had no other option. It would be better to have the ability to monitor him within the safety of the castle walls, where her full army and power would be at her disposal, especially since her powers were amplified the closer she was to the world tree.

Although she had previously considered Adrian a monster based on the scenes she had witnessed, she had also seen glimpses of a side of him that seemed reasonable and communicative.

Elaniel's mind raced as she thought about what she could offer Adrian during their upcoming meeting. She considered the elven treasury, but it mainly held items and relics that only elves could use. In her contemplation, her gaze landed on the mirror before her.

"Haha" a crazed chuckle escaped her lips.

She stared at her own beautiful face and her majestic form, an idea forming in her mind. The most valuable treasure she could offer Adrian was right before her eyes—herself.

"Yes, I'm the only one, hahaha"

The benevolent and wise Queen of the elves was not in her right state of mind right now.

.....

As Elaniel constantly nagged Elowyn about taking precautions in case Adrian does something, her telepathic connection with Elowyn got cut off, she used her Authority and saw that Elowyn manually cut of their connection.

"She cut me off?" The Elf Queen, Elaniel Elaris, couldn't help but be surprised. This was the first time her daughter had cut their telepathic connection.

"Is something wrong, your majesty?" one of her servants asked, concern evident in their tone. The surrounding servants also appeared worried due to her sudden reaction.

"No, I'm fine; it's nothing," she assured them.

As of now, no one in Faerielight knew about the queen and her daughter's telepathic connection. So, occasionally, the servants found it strange when their queen seemed to talk to herself or muttered random words mid-conversation.

Elaniel examined her reflection in the mirror, her exquisite naked body exposed to the world's gaze as she prepared to get dressed in her room.

"Rael, which of these outfits do you think would captivate a man or at least arouse his interest?" she inquired, her tone dead serious.

"Excuse me?" her servant Rael struggled to comprehend the Queen's words, mirroring the confusion of the three other servants present in the room.

Elaniel held up a silky blue dress and a white gown, both meticulously designed to accentuate one's physical attributes. With complete seriousness, she presented the dresses and queried her bewildered servants.

"Between these two, which do you think would be more effective in attracting a human?" Elaniel asked, her tone leaving no room for levity.

Her servants could only stare at their queen, stunned and befuddled. While they harbored numerous questions that begged for answers, the sheer absurdity of what they were hearing from the queen had left them at a loss for words.

Although they trusted their queen with all their hearts, something about her eyes was off-putting, like the eyes of someone who had gone crazy.

.....

The doors in front of her opened, and there she saw her beloved daughter escorting her worst nightmare. Upon closer inspection, he truly seemed like an ordinary human, with nothing of any danger apparent. However, as their eyes met, a sudden fear and memory brought forth in her mind. Even though she only saw Adrian normally in front of her, the nightmarish creature she saw in her nightmares haunted her thoughts.

Elaniel composed her trembling body and extended a welcoming gesture.

"Welcome, Adrian Vulter Tellus. I hope my daughter guided you properly throughout your journey here. My name is Elaniel Elaris, the current queen of Faerielight" she introduced herself with a warm yet seductive smile.