The Mist had been the most mysterious place on the planet. It had been there for the last four thousand years, and now, it was said that the Mist was going to be unveiled and the gate was going to be opened.
The news this ti made all the elves turn quiet in thought. It appeared that Tristan was the only one who did not understand what the opening of the gate ant to the elves. In contrast, Serene, who was standing right behind him, visibly turned sentintal.
Breaking the silence, Castian stood up and began speaking.
"Lord Tristan, if the threat is really as dangerous as you said, then the Mist is our salvation. Because of that, we cannot agree to your plan. Instead of waiting silently in your palace in hiding, I ask you… all of you, join to enter the Mist!"
After stating his purpose, Castian explained how he was planning to enter in a week's ti. He invited all the elves present and even the Arcadian elites to join him. However, knowing that many individuals had yet to return from that place despite how powerful they were, the high elf only permitted those who were at least at saint level to join.
And with those words, he ended the day's gathering, leaving the three groups in the room to discuss the matter among themselves.
Castian's statent brought positive responses from the present elves, especially the elf leaders. After all, the high elves rarely take part in activities such as expeditions. Not to ntion, the ruler of the high elves himself was going to lead the expedition, filling them with hope and confidence.
However, unlike them, Tristan was certainly not a believer. So unlike these elves, he could not find any speck of benefit in entering the Mist. There was also no guarantee that what they would find would be useful for their predicant, or if they would even find anything. On the contrary, they might even suffer losses from whatever was in the Mist and lose so of their fighting power as a result. And that was not all.
In the worst-case scenario, the space knights might co while their most powerful fighters were in the Mist. If that were to happen, their kingdoms would helplessly be burned in flas. Their doom would be inevitable.
Leena, the Queen of Vanyar, however, had a different opinion. She believed that there was no way that the threat of the space knights and the opening of the Mist coming at the sa ti was just a coincidence. For the queen, this timing only proved that the prophecy was coming true, and she voiced her belief.
To resolve this difference in thinking, Tristan turned to the wood elves.
"How about you? What do you think is best for us to do? Should we focus on preparing our defense against the upcoming threat or should we go to the Mist to look for a solution?"
Haladar, the Mirkwood ruler, voiced his opinion first.
"I believe it would be best for us to enter the Mist. As the Queen of Vanyar said, it is impossible for the timing to be a re coincidence. The prophecy is coming true, and we have to act."
Tristan nodded in understanding before turning to the two younger rulers.
Elroth was silent for a brief mont before saying, "I believe it would be better for us to play it safe. We should focus on our defense. If an accident occurs in the process of the expedition, it would be very bad for all of us."
"I think so as well."
When Elroth finished speaking, Tolith of the Ithilien voiced his agreent with a nod.
It was a two by two vote.
Although Tristan thought it would be better for them to focus on their defense as well, there was actually one point that really made Tristan consider entering the Mist.
It was the belief that the Mist was a way to et the elf ancestor. If that was true, wouldn't it an that he would be able to communicate with the elf that had been at war with mankind itself?
The only reason Tristan dared to go against such a strong empire was the fact that the human empire was at war. This ant that they currently had an enemy, and if Tristan could not reason with this human empire, then the best course of action for them would be to ally with those who had the common enemy; the elves.
Unable to co up with a solution, Tristan, who was previously in deep thought, asked one of the other magus in his party, Master Laril.
"What about you, Master? What do you think?"
She was slightly taken aback when Tristan asked her opinion on the matter, but she still voiced her thoughts.
"I believe there is no need for you to rush into your decision. Like I've always taught you in blacksmithing, you need to be patient. Know all your bases before making your decision."
Although it was just a simple piece of advice, her words temporarily lifted the burden on his mind.
"Thank you, Master."
Tristan took a deep breath and decided to get the most out of the current situation.
He first talked to the high elves and received confirmation that they would lend at least two dozen of their flyers to help the Arcadian defense, which would later be led by Theon, one of the younger high elves. That was the most help he would receive from the high elves.
The decision was certainly well-received knowing that all of them were saint-level fighters, but Tristan could not help but be annoyed since there was not even one magus-level fighter among those the high elves sent.
Next, the harder part was to convince the long-ti enemy of Arcadia, the dark elves, to join up in defense together.
But as soon as he thought about approaching the dark elves, he realized that the dark elves had been waiting for him. All five of the magus-level dark elves were standing in front of their wyverns.
Rogar stepped forward as soon as Tristan approached them, but before the dark elf could take another step, Iliana, the elf next to him stopped him with a small gesture of her hand.
From what he just saw, it seed that this silver-hair dark elf was higher in position than all the others, and Tristan quickly understood the reason shortly after.
With a smile, the girl looked him in the eyes.
"You didn't hesitate to hurt your comrade… the high elves love to be given face like that."
Tristan was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward this dark elf in front of him was.
"Not just the high elves, I was defending all elves. What about you, are you impressed?" Tristan casually spoke with a smile.
With her smile deepened, the dark elf replied, "Yes, though not for the sa reason. I like how you can still be ruthless despite them being your close comrades."
Tristan chuckled at her response.
"I'm glad I made a good impression. So, are the dark elves willing to work together with Arcadia?"
"Oh?" Iliana was slightly intrigued by his direct approach. "Tell us, why should we help you, our long-ti enemy?"
"First of all, I am not Callan. Second, we live on the sa planet, so shouldn't it be natural for us to defend our ho planet together?"
The dark elf laughed hearing his reason.
"With that sa logic, why don't you convince the Asgardians then? Their Aesir are very powerful."
Tristan casually replied "I thought about it, but no."
"Why?"
"Because they are human. Since they are the sa, I don't think the space knights would think of them as a threat. But it won't be the sa for us elves."
Tristan's answer had two anings; one was to answer her question by understanding their hate for humans, which was why they needed to work together.
Iliana's smile returned to her face. She liked what she heard.
"I think it will be interesting for us to work together. Unfortunately, for things like this, you need to personally talk to my father, the king. If there's anyone you need to impress to work together with us, it's him. I'm sure he would love to see the legendary blood elf in person."
"That seems to be a good plan. When should I et him?"
Instead of imdiately answering, the woman only gave a teasing smile and hopped onto her wyvern.
"As soon as possible, I believe."
Tristan found it pleasantly interesting that the two were able to speak in the sa frequency. Without much thought, Tristan followed suit and also jumped onto her wyvern, sitting behind her.
"Right now it is."
Tristan's action quickly surprised his companions, especially Serene. But before any of them could say anything, Tristan shouted to them.
"I am going to visit the dark elves' kingdom, wait for my news in the capital!"
Right after he said those words, the dark elves' five wyverns flew from the high elves' mountain, returning to their dark territory at the north.
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