CHAPTER 471: FALL OF ELVEN EMPIRE

Falling asleep with a heart full of questions, the next morning Astrid made time amid her busy schedule to specially visit Elizabeth Academy of Magic.

Although nominally she was still a student of Elizabeth Academy of Magic, fourth-year courses were few and generally not particularly important. Combined with Charlotte’s near-total absence from the capital this entire year, aside from that one time accompanying Amalia to the coronation, Astrid hadn’t set foot here in a long while.

"It’s been quite some time, Princess Astrid."

Inside the library, Professor Evelyn, the linguistics instructor wearing a form-fitting light-blue dress, looked at the silver-haired girl before her. Her long legs, sheathed in sheer stockings, were elegantly pressed together as she smiled gently.

"No, pardon my rudeness... you’re now Her Royal Highness, the Regent."

Hearing Evelyn’s words, Astrid curved her lips into a smile. The sky-blue brooch pinned to her dress shimmered faintly as she moved her legs, replying casually.

"Professor Evelyn looks even more beautiful now, radiating a mature woman’s charm."

They were both teacher and student, and also friends. Using formal titles was merely a playful joke between them.

After all, Astrid even knew exactly where the key to Evelyn’s private chambers was kept, and when the best time to visit was.

"Princess Astrid truly knows how to flatter," Evelyn said, blinking her eyes. Beneath the desk, her silky, shapely legs slowly crossed.

"But what good is beauty? Ever since Charlotte left the imperial capital, Her Highness visits the academy less and less each season. You’ve probably forgotten all about me, your friend."

As her beige high heels tapped against the floor tiles, the woman’s voice carried a hint of melancholy, like a lonely wife pining in solitude. Astrid was accustomed to Evelyn’s manner of speaking and didn’t respond directly, merely suggesting they could have a meal together sometime to catch up.

"So, what brings Her Highness here today?"

Evelyn didn’t believe her charm was enough to draw this Regent, who treated state affairs as more important than the heavens, all the way here just to see her.

If it were Charlotte, perhaps it might have been possible.

Astrid, hearing this, didn’t bother with pretenses. She got straight to the point. "I’d like to research the histories of various intelligent races before and after the Cataclysm. I hope Professor Evelyn can offer me some recommendations."

Evelyn spent most of her time in the library and was undoubtedly familiar with its collection. As a professor of linguistics at Elizabeth, her studies naturally enters understanding the historical contexts in which languages emerge.

After considering it, she was the ideal person to recommend materials.

Evelyn paused briefly in thought, the coquettish expression on her face softening. After a moment, she offered her opinion.

"If you’re interested in elven history, I suggest looking into Mr. Aister’s work, ’The Wreckage of the World Tree and the Origins of Elves’. It contains part of recorded elven history, referencing documents passed down from the Lorin Empire era. It’s considered fairly reliable."

"As for goblin history, the Valeria Empire has no clear records. If you truly wish to learn, I recommend ’Junkos’s Underground Kingdom’. It describes the goblins’ subterranean realm and their past glories on the surface."

"However, its reference value is limited, it reads more like a folkloric adventure novel."

"As for dragons and mermaids, you’d likely have to go to the Royal Library to dig through fragments and damaged scrolls..."

Truly worthy of being a professional professor, her knowledge was impressively broad. Nodding in acknowledgment of Evelyn’s suggestions, Astrid confirmed she had memorized them all.

"Thank you, Professor Evelyn, for the recommendations. I’ll look into them carefully."

"In that case, I’ll take my leave now."

Hearing this, Evelyn pursed her lips, her eyes glistening as if about to well up with tears.

"The Regent truly has a heart of stone, using me and then discarding me just like that..."

Astrid, hearing this, slowed her leaving movement and casually smoothed the fabric of her skirt along her legs.

Thinking about it, they hadn’t seen each other in so long, and she’d come straight here asking for help, then rushed off. That really wasn’t appropriate.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Astrid spoke softly.

"In that case, I might as well stay a bit longer with Professor Evelyn."

"Let’s go together to find those books you mentioned."

Evelyn: ???

So "staying a bit longer" meant she’d now have to fetch every single book she’d just mentioned, all at once, so Astrid wouldn’t have to come back later?

Wasn’t she still just being used as a tool?

The woman’s eyelids twitched, but she still stood straight, moving gracefully with a hint of perfume to stand before Astrid.

"Very well, Your Highness. Let’s go."

Fortunately, she had nothing pressing at the moment. A little walk would do her some good.

Astrid nodded, then left the reading room with Evelyn.

Although on the surface it seemed Astrid was making Evelyn do the work, she naturally didn’t treat her as a mere tool. After obtaining the books, the two spent the entire morning flipping through them, exchanging ideas. Astrid then specially invited Evelyn to dine at the academy cafeteria and gave her a library card granting access to the first two levels of the Royal Library as a token of appreciation.

For someone like Evelyn, who was deeply passionate about linguistic knowledge, a Royal Library card offering access to more books was the perfect gift. As she looked at the woman’s flushed cheeks and grateful gaze, Astrid almost suspected Evelyn might blurt out something like "I’ll give myself to you" the next second.

She was a lesbian, completely different from that likely-joking straight woman.

Besides, a library card was nothing, Astrid, now Regent, could obtain as many as she wanted. And this one only granted access to the first two levels, not involving any state secrets. It was perfectly suited for someone like Evelyn, a scholar who valued culture over magic.

Meanwhile, Amalia, having learned that Astrid wouldn’t be returning for lunch, sat at the dining table with the help of servants, waiting for her meal to be served.

She had just finished reviewing frontline battle reports and elevated the Empire’s urgent magic crystal shortage to her priority agenda. As the newly appointed wartime Empress, successfully winning this war of national defense was the key to securing her future reign.

She had to give it her absolute best.

After lunch, Amalia returned to the imperial bedroom, napped for half an hour, then picked up the Imperial Scepter once more, channeling mental energy to probe for any possible memory fragments inside.

Last night, Astrid had shared many valuable pieces of information from the First Emperor’s memories. Although Amalia didn’t understand Elders Speech, she knew these details could help her sister. If possible, she wanted to search further, perhaps she had missed something.

Of course, aside from those memory fragments, the Imperial Scepter also contained many crystal stones left behind by Hibbort, each potentially holding valuable information.

Sitting on the bed, her golden hair spilling across the pillow, Amalia opened her eyes. On the blanket beside the metallic-gleaming Imperial Scepter lay two transparent gemstones.

Her fingertip lightly tapped one. A thread of mental energy seeped into it, reactivating the recording Barrier. A translucent scene appeared within the Regent’s bedroom.

It was a deep darkness, a bright moon hanging high, illuminating raised fields and wooden houses.

Where... is this?

A flicker of confusion passed through Amalia’s eyes, but she patiently watched the scene unfold, channeling mental energy as magic into the array to accelerate the recording Barrier’s operation.

Half a minute later, she saw Charlotte riding the raging winds, saw Lucas bearing royal appearance, and, under the moonlight, the silver-haired beauty cradled in Lyra’s arms in a princess carry, fragile as glass.

"..."

Her gaze settled on Lyra’s hand supporting Astrid’s legs. The delicate, smooth sheer black stockings wrinkled slightly between Lyra’s fingers, the softness of her thigh clearly visible.

Amalia narrowed her eyes slightly, quickly shifting her gaze and continuing to observe other details.

From the dialogue among Astrid and the others, she roughly understood what this magic crystal had recorded.

The case of the Wales Farm’s land becoming infertile. At that time, she had still been living a monotonous life within the castle. It was Astrid who later mentioned it, allowing Amalia to gain some understanding.

Hearing Charlotte’s words within the recording Barrier, the danger of this incident was clearly far greater than what Astrid had described.

So back then... so much had actually happened?

Watching the recording of Barrier’s one-to-one reenactment, Amalia fluttered her eyelashes, her fingers gently caressing the scepter’s shaft.

And Hibbort had known all about it, going so far as to engrave a crystal recording the entire event.

He had indeed been closely monitoring Lucas’s movements all along.

Although Amalia was reluctant to admit it, this Emperor’s political skill was truly profound.

After finishing viewing this magic crystal, Amalia turned to the next one. This time, the recording Barrier showed a private conversation between Duke Charles and Hibbort regarding border defenses.

Amalia watched intently, only returning the crystal to the Imperial Scepter and sitting up when her lunch break ended. She washed her face, chewed a few cleansing herbs, put on her pure white tights and dress, slipped into her little leather shoes, and left the bedroom.

There were many more such crystals inside the Imperial Scepter. Apparently, Hibbort had recorded everything he considered important.

She still had time. She could examine them one by one the next day to come.

Perhaps she would uncover some unexpected discoveries.

.................

A week had passed since Empress Amalia’s ascension. Under this new Empress’ diligent rule, the capital city had completely transformed.

The patrolling soldiers, once visible every few steps, had mostly been withdrawn, leaving only the city walls and four imperial gates guarded by royal guards. The streets once strewn with petals along the royal procession route were now shaded by lush branches and leaves, blocking the scorching summer sun.

Walking through the streets of the imperial capital, whether in the eastern or western districts, nobles and commoners alike generally wore smiles. Occasionally discuss politics, all celebrate the new Empress’ rise.

Most commoners didn’t fully understand what Amalia’s ascension meant, nor did they know her political stance or how their lives might change in the future. But at least now, they had received grain and ale from the royal household, enjoying the tangible benefits brought by the new Empress.

These visible, palpable gifts were enough to make them truly adore this seemingly delicate and petite Empress from the bottom of their hearts.

That afternoon, at the Royal Library, Astrid, having just finished her tea, arrived at the private reading room and quietly opened the book Evelyn had mentioned, World Tree Wreckage and the Origins of Elves.

Recent affairs have been overwhelming. As Regent, she had to carefully consider each matter to relieve the Empress’ burdens. This makes it difficult for Astrid to thoroughly read the books she’d already acquired.

Given the coming decades of upheaval, understanding the histories of other races was essential.

According to the author’s account, he had ventured deep into the newborn Elven Kingdom, learning of the World Tree’s decline, and personally witnessed the ancient tree’s wreckage and the new branches sprouting from it.

[The Elves’ Fountain of Youth lies west of the World Tree. Legend says it is the origin of all Elves. Its existence forms the foundation for the World Tree’s vitality.]

[But according to Elven historical records, when the Cataclysm arrived, molten magma surged from the bottom of the Fountain, polluting the entire pool. Under intense heat, the Fountain gradually dried up, eventually vanishing completely.]

[Some Elves risked their lives to salvage a portion of the water, but compared to the vast lake, the liquid collected in glass bottles was but a drop in the bucket.]

Astrid lowered her gaze, gently turning the pages. Rough handwriting on aged paper recorded a Chapter of Elven history.

[Within the white mist, a figure engulfed in flames, towering like a giant, approaching the World Tree.]

[It seemed like a physical manifestation of a supreme ruler, or perhaps a formless being spontaneously formed from fire elementals. Each step unleashed waves of scorching heat, consuming millions of lives. The earth cracked, space trembled. These flames, appearing from nowhere, burned the World Tree’s branches, flames even the Fountain’s water could not extinguish.]

[The Elves offered devout prayers to Elven Empress Idrila, but no one answered. The World Tree collapsed. Lingering flames ignited the Elves’ homeland, turning the forests they relied on into fields of black charcoal.]

[The thick smoke from the burning World Tree gathered in the sky, forming rolling black clouds that blotted out the sun. Deprived of sunlight, crops withered and failed to grow. Famine gradually spread.]

[Thus, the once-glorious Elven Empire completely fell.]

Just as Astrid became absorbed in the book’s content, on the other side, Amalia, having concluded her midday meeting, returned to her study to continue examining the crystal stones she had found within the Imperial Scepter.

This time, the recording Barrier unfolded inside the crystal, showing not the study, but that familiar bedroom.

Hibbort lay on his deathbed, barely breathing. Next to him stood an Imperial Princess dressed in black, with silver hair and crimson eyes.