Chapter 147 - Volume 2
TL: 5th chapter. Edit: There’s a mistake in which the chapter did not copy over (damned umatrix extension).
Chapter 92 – The kings and the dead (7)
============ ??? POV ============
Am I in a dream?
The Silver Elven Court was as perfect as my memories. The saintly white luster of the walls, ceilings, corridors and fences.
How long ago have I not dreamt of this……
“Sister.”
“What did you address me?” That voice in my dreams became sharp as usual.
[What?]
If there was another mouthful of water in Brendel, he would have spat it out again. He had never heard of substitutes or was there a queue for being entombed?
Amandina had a clearer grasp of the situation. “A replacement in order to save someone? Or to be buried as a sacrifice?”
[What kind of third rate development is this? To think that the ‘noble’ elves would also do something like this, looks like they are no different compared to humans.] Brendel was surprised.
But Medissa shook her head: “I volunteered.”
“Volunteered?” Brendel could not understand how an ordinary citizen was able to replace a royal family member.
She had a faint smile on her face, as though she had recalled a memory to be proud of. “I, volunteered to replace…… my older sister…… No, I came here…… for the sake of the her Royal Princess.”
She was becoming fainter.
“Hold on.” Brendel interrupted her, “Sister? Her Royal Princess, what do you mean by that?”
“My mother, is a craftsman in the Cherau village. My father, is the king of Aavlon. I think, I am half a princess……”
“Does this mean your sister is the Silver Elves Kingdom’s princess?”
She nodded.
“Why did you need to replace her?”
“My noble sister was cursed by the Miirna people. The royal court magicians told me father that a related blood member had to die for her sake, or else she will continue to weaken in her prime until she died.” Medissa slowly explained: “But my noble sister is the best leader within the kingdom. The human allies, the dwarves, our citizens, no one wished to see that happen……”
“In the end, my father chose me.”
Amandina was so indignant that her brows knitted together tightly: “…… He’s your father, how could he have done something like this!”
Brendel could only pat her on her shoulders to calm her down. “During the era of Chaos, the twilight dragon was a force that exceeded the imaginations of the various races. They paid a great price in order to resist that existence, as the king of the Silver Elves, it could only be seen as something normal.”
He stared at Elven girl in silence, before he asked: “Why have you told us about all these?”
“Because…… I wish to ask you for help?”
[Just like a mission.]
“What help do you need?”
“The lizardmen in the forest had stolen my sister’s necklace. I don’t know what they want to do with it, but without that trinklet, my sister’s curse would not be able to focus on me, I’m afraid it would—“
“You’re already about to disappear, why are you still trying to care about someone else!” Amandina interrupted her after listening in dissatisfaction.
Medissa cast a glance at her and smiled.
“Precisely so, I wish….. That my disappearance….. has meaning…..”
Amandina did not know how to refute her.
“But this matter is none of our business. We do have the right to refuse your request.” Brendel spoke quietly. Even though logic told him that he should accept the quest, but he felt a little angry when he looked at the Elven girl who had nothing to do with the cruelties and violence in the world.
Her eyes momentarily turned sad, but was quickly replaced with a touch of slyness: “Messere…… human, you came to seek, for the souls of the Ancestral Elves…… right?”
She was nearly gone.
“You know of our intentions?”
“I was able to listen in, through the gust of wind in the valley……” She closed her eyes. “To gain the acknowledgement of the Ancestral Elves, you would have to gain my acknowledgement……”
She paused for a moment, as though she was too tired to continue speaking. “That is why, I want to make a deal with you.”
[I’m actually being held hostage. And I’m even threatened by a little girl.]
Brendel felt bitter feelings emerging from his heart. Did he had the option to get angry? He turned back to look at everyone, but the girls and even the Nightsong commander nodded their heads.
“Very well, but I have also have my own request. In order to deal with the lizardmen bandits, I would have to gather the help of the Ancestral Elves, otherwise I would not be able to deal with them.”
The girl nodded.
“I acknowledge your presence and you have my permission.”
“Are you not afraid that I will betray you?” Brendel was slightly surprised.
Medissa was silent for a moment. “I am…… worried.”
She started coughing and flecks of blood could be seen spluttering out, before it disappeared into thin air. She raised her head weakly, as tears spilled across her face: “I’m…… worried….. I…… do not wish to disappear……. I still…… have things…… that I want to do. I’m really sorry, can you…… help me….. please?”
A sudden rush of wind blew across the top of the forest, as though it was wailing— while Medissa completely vanished before their eyes.
Everyone was stunned into silence as the heartrending pleadings wormed their way into their hearts. Each word seemed to hang around their ears, and Brendel had an inscrutable expression.