CHAPTER 197: REVISITING ELDRYTH (2)

"Lord Adrian?"

The voice pulled Adrian from the spiraling vortex of his thoughts. He looked up to see Loryn watching him with a concerned expression in his wise eyes. The Elven lord had noticed his focus shrink inward as he processed the chilling implications of Vamir’s words.

Adrian shook his head, pushing the image of his mysterious brother from his mind for the moment.

"It’s nothing," he lied smoothly. "I was merely running through the possibilities. I can’t find any real suspects at the moment."

Loryn sighed and gave a solemn nod. "We understand. It was a long shot, but we had to ask. Please, do not hesitate to share any information if you find something in the future. This shadow looms over all our peoples."

"I will," Adrian promised. "But that leads to another question. Are you aware of how Theron learned of your Queen’s death so quickly? The timing of his invasion was too perfect to be a coincidence."

The High Elves exchanged glances, a flicker of uncertainty passing between them. "We are not," Caelar, the golden-haired elf, admitted. "We assumed his spies had simply been successful."

"They weren’t," Adrian shook his head, "but not in the way you think." He quickly recounted the events of how the message had reached the ears of the King, through a planned deceit and a bit of psychological warfare.

As he finished speaking, Loryn’s eyes widened in sudden, horrified realization. "Which means... the assassin’s plan was to cause a war all along. They used our Queen’s death as a catalyst to probe King Theron’s greed and throw both our kingdoms into chaos."

Adrian nodded. "Exactly. We may not be sure who this assassin is yet, but you must be careful. It could be one of your own. It could be an outside power. Whoever the mastermind of this is, they have a grander goal in mind, and I intend to get to the root of this. Do your best on your end as well."

"We will be vigilant," Vamir stated lowly. "No traitor will find sanctuary in Eldryth."

With the heavy topic of the unknown assassin seemingly concluded for now, Adrian skillfully changed the subject, turning the atmosphere of the room from one of suspicion to one of opportunity.

"On a different matter," he began, "During my last visit, there was some interest expressed in my inventions."

This time it was Caelar, who hadn’t been heavily involved in the previous discussion, who spoke up, his calm demeanor replaced by a keen interest.

"Yes. We were particularly interested in your... Trailblazers. Their capabilities are unlike anything we’ve ever seen. And the communication device you gifted us... it is truly mind-blowing."

Adrian hid a smile. This was exactly what he had expected. By exposing the Elves to a sliver of his technology, he had created a demand, a desire for progress that he was now perfectly positioned to fulfill. If he could form a trade alliance with Eldryth, he could slowly help them modernize, a crucial step before he attempted to unify the entire planet. The situation was very favorable to him.

"I am willing to establish a trade agreement between our kingdoms," Adrian said smoothly. "And not just for Communicators. I have many more devices that could benefit your people. A device that can detect fluctuations in mana, tools that create heat for cooking or cold for preserving food, tools for safe illumination, and many more."

The Elves looked at each other, their minds reeling from the possibilities. It was Caelar who asked excitedly, "What price are we talking about for these magnificent creations of yours?"

After several minutes of explanation and Adrian showcasing a few items he had on hand from his [Inventory], he managed to strike a deal with the Elves.

They reached a conclusion to purchase a variety of his inventions based on his terms. He chose to use the standard price he had been selling for in Zarion; he wasn’t after immense profit from this alliance, but he couldn’t miss a chance to acquire more magic crystals.

The only change he made was to sell the portable Heaters and Coolers for two magic crystals each instead of the former price of one.

"We will need to access our vaults and assess our assets," Loryn concluded, looking pleased with the outcome. "We will communicate our final order within a week. Our carriages will be sent to the border to accept the goods."

"We also offer delivery services," Adrian added casually. "Two hundred magic crystals for each Trailblazer employed to bring your order directly to the palace gates."

Caelar sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Are you still decided on not selling the Trailblazers themselves?"

"Yes," Adrian said firmly. "They are not for sale."

"Alright then," Caelar relented. "We will think about the delivery."

"Fine by me," Adrian replied. His plan to not sell his transport vehicles was a simple one: it would make the Elves more dependent on his logistical network, a strategic advantage that would prove invaluable in the future.

After they wrapped up the details of the trade deal, Loryn stood, signaling the end of the formal meeting. "Before you leave Eldryth, Lord Adrian," he said with a warm smile, "how about my daughter shows you around our kingdom? That is, if you don’t mind."

"Princess Nyra?" Adrian replied politely. "I would be honored."

"Excellent," Loryn said. He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "I must confess, I did not tell her you were coming today. Allow me a minute." He walked over to a small, silver bell on a side table and rang it with a clear, chiming tone.

Some minutes went by before the grand doors to the Sunken Hallow opened again. Princess Nyra entered, her expression one of inquiry, which immediately melted into one of pure, unrestrained delight the moment her eyes locked onto Adrian.

"Adrian! You came back as you promised!" she exclaimed, rushing forward before remembering the formal setting and slowing to a more dignified pace. She stopped before him, her eyes shining. "I hope you didn’t forget our other promise. I will be following you back this time!"

Loryn interrupted her with a gentle cough. "Nyra, before any talk of departure, I have a task for you. Lord Adrian has graciously agreed to an alliance between our peoples. As a sign of our new friendship, I would like for you to give him a personal tour of Eldryth."

Nyra was more than excited by the task handed to her. She was being asked to spend time with him personally. She managed to contain her glee, turning to Adrian with a bright, expectant look.

"So..." she said, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Can we go now?"

Adrian looked at the eager princess, then at her father, who gave a slight, permissive nod. The political maneuvering was done. Now, it seemed, a different kind of diplomacy was about to begin. He found he didn’t mind in the slightest. "Lead the way, Princess Nyra."

With a nod from her father, Nyra’s bright expression bloomed into a radiant smile. She turned to Adrian, her excitement barely contained. "Well then, Your Majesty! There is much to see, and I refuse to let your only impression of Eldryth be a stuffy council chamber." She gave a light, almost playful bow. "If you would follow me."

She led him out of the Sunken Hallow and back up the spiraling staircase into the main palace. The atmosphere immediately shifted from the seriousness of the council to the vibrant, living energy of the Elven capital. As they walked through the magnificent hallways, Nyra became an animated and passionate guide.

"I hope my father and the Elders did not bore you too much with their talk of politics," she said probingly.

She led him to a silent platform of crystal that ascended smoothly through the palace’s core, arriving at the high terraces, a series of breathtaking gardens overlooking the capital.

The air was rich with the scent of a thousand different blossoms, many of which glowed with a soft, internal light. Gnarled trees with silver leaves provided shade, and the gentle sound of wind chimes made from enchanted glass filled the air.

"This is my favorite place in the entire palace!" she announced, spreading her arms wide. "These are the Sunpetal Terraces. We’ve cultivated them for several years. Each plant here has a story and a purpose."

Adrian’s analytical gaze swept across the vibrant flora, far more interested than he would have let on. He had recently purchased knowledge on several ingredients from the System Store, even some of which he hadn’t come across yet.

Such herbs and plants were necessary for creating pills that could work on stronger beings, unlike what he was capable of now.

His attention was captured by a specific flower with delicate, bell-shaped petals that shimmered like captured moonlight. His eyes glowed with [Analysis].

"A Moonpetal Blossom," he said with genuine interest. "I learned that they went extinct in the human kingdoms. Its petals, when ground into a paste under a full moon, form one of the most potent catalysts for healing potions known."

Nyra’s eyes widened in delight and surprise. "You know of them! Most would only see pretty flowers. You see what they truly are! That’s amazing!"

"Usefulness does not diminish beauty," Adrian replied. "It adds to it. A thing that is both beautiful and functional has achieved a higher state of perfection. Your people seem to understand this principle intuitively. This entire garden is a masterpiece of both aesthetics and magical science."

His sincere, analytical praise seemed to resonate with her deeply. "Exactly!" she said with a wide smile. "That is what I’ve always thought. Beauty without purpose is useless, and purpose without beauty is... well, it’s just a machine, isn’t it?"

She looked at him with an open curiosity. "It makes me wonder what you would think of our greatest treasure. You know so much just from reading books."

An idea sparked in her eyes. "Our true knowledge, our history and magic... it’s all gathered in one place!"