CHAPTER 305: EX 305. WHO ARE YOU?

In the heart of a vast emerald forest so wide that its end could not be seen no matter how far one looked, stood a single colossal tree. Its trunk rose like a mountain of living wood, roots burrowing deep into the earth while its branches pierced the heavens themselves. Compared to it, the other trees appeared like blades of grass, dwarfed by its sheer magnitude.

This was the Great Tree, The sacred heart of the elven race. The forest that surrounded it was known as the Great Forest, home of the elves, those most attuned to the rhythm of nature and the flow of mana.

High above, woven seamlessly among the branches of the Great Tree, stood a magnificent palace sculpted entirely from living wood and elemental magic. Vines intertwined to form towers, leaves shimmered with ethereal light, and soft streams of mana ran like liquid glass along its structure. It was a palace born of harmony, not conquest.

Here resided the Elf Queen.

She stood now on a balcony overlooking her domain, the wind brushing gently against her pale skin. Her long white hair, braided neatly, fell over her shoulder like silver silk. A delicate blindfold, embroidered with runic symbols, covered her eyes, yet she saw far more than any mortal gaze could. Her long, elegant ears were adorned with rings of shimmering green crystal, each faintly glowing with natural energy.

She was the pinnacle of elven grace, timeless, serene, and otherworldly.

But beneath that calm exterior, her thoughts were turbulent.

The message from the Human Emperor, Alexander Arman, still echoed in her mind. A summons to the Racial Council, the one gathering allowed only once every hundred years. For him to use that right now meant something dire.

The Queen’s delicate fingers brushed against the balcony rail as she turned her sightless gaze toward the distant horizon. Her voice, soft yet laced with ancient authority, broke the stillness.

"So... the humans have called upon us."

She paused, her lips curving faintly, not with amusement, but with contemplation. "A cluster destroyed... no, not one, twelve. Creatures that defied annihilation for three long years, wiped away as if they never were."

The air trembled faintly with her mana as she exhaled.

"Why is it," she murmured, "that every era’s greatest upheavals begin with humans? They live such fleeting lives... yet the ripples they leave change the world for centuries."

For a moment, silence reclaimed the balcony. Only the rustling leaves and the hum of mana answered her.

Then came the soft footsteps of an attendant approaching from behind. The elf bowed deeply, her voice respectful and melodic. "My Queen, the carriage is ready."

The Queen inclined her head slightly, her long braid shifting with the motion. "Very well," she said, her tone calm yet resolute.

She turned gracefully, the hem of her gown trailing like mist as she walked through the vine-woven corridor of her palace. With each step, flowers bloomed in her wake, a quiet testament to her bond with the living world.

And as she entered the glowing carriage made of crystal wood and luminous petals, the Great Tree seemed to sigh, its branches swaying gently in farewell.

The Elf Queen of the Great Forest was heading to the Human Domain.

****

With the help of Lieutenant Lancelot, Leon, Adrian, and Racheal finally returned to the capital. The journey back had been swift, Lancelot’s psychic control made long distances vanish beneath them like shifting sand. Leon had completed his assignment, and now it was time to report.

The lieutenant descended into the courtyard of the Imperial Guards Headquarters, his telekinetic hold gently lowering the three trial takers beside him. As the invisible force dispersed, Leon exhaled in relief, stretching his legs a little.

’I really need to learn how to fly,’ he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. The world was far too large to be seen from the ground.

"Let’s not keep the commander waiting," Lancelot said, his tone clipped but calm. He adjusted his uniform and led the way toward the main building.

The courtyard guards froze at the sight. Lieutenant Lancelot, known for his rigid demeanor and no-nonsense attitude, was walking side by side with a group of teenagers. Even more shocking, he was talking to them. Normally, the man would barely acknowledge his own colleagues, yet here he was holding casual conversation with what looked like recruits.

A guard whispered, eyes wide, "Isn’t that the elf girl who came with the lieutenant last time? I thought she was a captive."

"And that’s Adrian Peer, right? The prodigy that kicked up storms for the short time he’s been here. But walking beside the lieutenant like an equal? He’s a Rank Seven professional, for stars’ sake!"

A few others had joined the gossip by now, but one female guard’s eyes were fixed elsewhere. "Who’s that?" she asked, nodding toward Leon.

Her companion gave her a knowing smirk. "Oh, it’s him. You didn’t hear? Yesterday everyone was talking about a handsome stranger around the base. Some said he looked like a Merchant’s son or a noble’s heir. Seems he’s more than that if he’s walking beside the lieutenant."

The first guard blinked in realization. "Ah... that explains a lot."

Leon, meanwhile, walked ahead, utterly unaware, or perhaps simply uninterested, in the whispers spreading behind him. His steps were calm and steady, his coat shifting lightly with the breeze as he turned down the corridor toward the commander’s office.

Still, a faint sigh left his lips. "Curse my handsomeness," he thought, his expression deadpan.

Originus clicked his tongue inside Leon’s mind, his tone dripping with amusement.

’You sound like a peacock who just discovered his reflection.’

Leon smirked faintly but said nothing, keeping his eyes forward. The murmurs of gossip faded behind them as the polished doors of the commander’s office came into view.

****

The smile on Lancelot’s face faded the moment they turned the corner. His usual calm expression tightened, his brows lowering just slightly, a tell that only those who knew him well would notice. Standing in front of the commander’s office was the very reason his good mood evaporated.

"It just had to be him," Lancelot muttered, exhaling as if already exhausted.

Leon followed his gaze, spotting a man with messy dark hair, his lieutenant’s insignia glinting faintly under the hallway lights. The man’s eyes were wide with disbelief, his mouth slightly open as though he’d just witnessed a ghost walk by.

Rachel froze the moment she saw him. ’Oh, great... him again.’ It was the eccentric officer she’d met the day she first arrived at headquarters, while Leon was slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

’Why do I feel insulted?’ Leon suddenly thought.

As for Lieutenant Samuel he blinked once, then twice, before stepping forward with a dramatic gasp. "Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?"