I flew over the city, it’s been two days since we took Tralis and ssages have been sent out by Eissa ordering all remaining Volerian soldiers to surrender. The city has slowly started to return to normal but it is becoming extrely clear that Tralis had a similar idea as the Averlonian Empire. Simply put this war was one that they could not afford. With the Averlonian Empire the problem was gold but for Tralis it was food. They had expended so much food in their campaigns that they were facing famine. Well lucky for them Elysia had one of the most fertile lands in the world. The crops grew strong and tall, the harvest is always good. Feeding this city and the region will definitely help win the people to our side.
As I flew towards this area outside the city I spotted sothing interesting. I looked down and saw the elf from before heading out the gate. I wanted to talk to her before this but I never got the chance. I know she isn’t leaving but if I want her to not turn all the elves against I need to start making a good impression.
With that in mind I shifted course and headed straight for her. I saw her look up warily as I landed next to her. By now she knew I wasn’t going to kill anyone for no good reason. I could tell she was just curious as to why I was even seeking her out.
“Hello elfy.” I said with a grin and she just scowled at .
“What do you want?” the elf asked, her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed.
“Just wanted to chat, I’m surprised you haven’t gone back to your forest or at least back to Averlon. I heard you were from the adventurer guild in Averlon.” I said and I saw her lip curl into a snarl.
“What adventurer guild? I know you are planning to turn the adventurers into a new military unit. There are no more adventurers in Elysia.” the elf replied with scoff.
“Then why are you still here? This place’s adventurer guild isn’t long for this world you know. My hive makes all of you obsolete.” I said and the elf sighed as she looked away for a mont.
“I know, believe I do. The only reason I’m still here is because there’s a famine coming. I checked the food stores which were almost empty and the planting season has gone to hell. I can still hunt and do so good here.” the elf replied as her shoulders slumped.
“What is your na elf?” I asked curiously as I gazed at her. She was certainly a strange one, I heard the elves hated humanity. Viewing them as lesser, so why the hell was she even bothering with all this.
“Minuvae of Clan Eradine.” the elf replied as she ran her hand through her short golden hair in frustration. Her clan looks to be a touchy subject… interesting…
“Not on good terms with your clan? You got exiled or sothing?” I asked and Minuvae visibly flinched at those words.
“I assu that’s why you are even here in the first place. The elves view humans as lesser and here you are serving as an adventurer, even going out of your way to help them. You and I know the score, human life is too short. Before you know it they will all be dead, so what do their lives matter to you who can live a thousand years.” I said and Minuvae slumped as she rubbed her arm.
“Doesn’t that apply to you too? I hear you and the Empress are close friends. Wouldn’t that be the sa for you?” Minuvae asked.
“I have ways around that.” I replied and I saw Minuvae raise an eyebrow at my response.
“Will she have a say in those ways?” Minuvae asked, her voice filled with suspicion.
“Yes she will. So why do you care so much? You aren’t even from around here. You could leave to go sowhere else. Why stay here and fight this famine? What the hell are you going to do? Kill enough random animals to feed the whole city?” I asked and Minuvae scowled in response as her face curled into a snarl.
“None of your business. Why do you even care so much?” Minuvae shot back as she pointed a finger at .
“Just curious…” I began but Minuvae scoffed as she crossed her arms.
“Then get a hobby, there are better things to do than prying into people’s business.” Minuvae spat as she turned around and started to walk away.
“Like running away?” I stated. She flinched before turning around and glared at .
“You think I’m running from you?!” Minuvae shouted, getting steadily angrier and angrier. This girl had a lot of issues…
“Who said anything about running from ?” I asked and she froze.
“You don’t care about this city, you don’t care about the famine. You just want sothing to do, sothing to justify your existence. So vague purpose now that you lost your original one… so why did you get kicked out of the forest?” I asked and Minuvae really lost it now.
“I DIDN’T SAY I GOT EXILED!” Minuvae practically scread as spit flew from her mouth.
“You didn’t deny it either.” I replied calmly and Minuvae froze before seemingly deflating like a balloon. I think I know how to get her on my side now…
“Elven exiles are rare, it’s a massive disgrace in your culture. All of you follow the Great Plan don’t you? So now you aren’t in the plan anymore since you got exiled and you spend your days trying to justify your existence. The whole adventuring thing, this famine crap, it's all to fill that void inside you. I bet you told everyone that you left of your own volition but not that you were kicked out.” I said and Minuvae seemingly shrinked with each word I said.
“What do you want? Do you just enjoy ntally torturing ?” Minuvae asked bitterly.
“No not really, torturing you lot got boring quite awhile ago. But what I can do is offer you sothing.” I said and I watched as she peered at in confusion.
“You want a purpose? I can offer you purpose and I don’t an that you end up as so brainwashed hive creature. I need help building this place into sothing that doesn’t resemble a pile of shit. I could use your help.You don’t have to agree right away, you can stick around either here or in Elysia and see what I plan to do. Consider this an open offer that you can cash in whenever you want.
Also one more thing, don’t bother going out to hunt for the famine. Cecilia already sent out the ravens, we have food shipnts coming to solve the famine problem. This is what I an, if you chase so kind of shallow purpose you will find it all aningless. Because sothing at so point will eventually take over your purpose. You don’t have the luxury of dying after a hundred years.” I said as I peered at her. She was biting her lip and refusing to look at .
“Think about it, just look around. See if I make the world better or worse. Also there is sothing you should know. That fancy tree you have back ho isn’t going to last forever. It wasn’t looking so good last I heard. Not even sure if all of you still live for a thousand years honestly.” I said as I extended my wings and prepared to leave. This conversation was over, I said my piece the rest is up to her. I shouldn’t kill her unless she becos a problem, pissing the elves is not a good idea.
“We don’t live for a thousand years… not anymore.” Minuvae said and I paused as I looked at her.
“Huh… the tree must be doing worse than I thought.” I said as I looked at her who was standing there looking very sorry for herself. Kind of like a cat that just got shaved…
“I might be able to fix it, but that’s hardly relevant now.” I said as I pretended to prepare to leave once again. I knew she was about to make an offer, so I was pretending to leave to give her so urgency.
“If I help you, can you heal the Elder Wood?” Minuvae asked.
Jackpot…
“I can but I won’t do that just for you. If the Elves as a whole were useful to then I might consider it. Anyway this conversation is getting a little old, I’m going to be heading out. You know my offer, think about it…” I said as I spread my wings and took off into the sky.
The main thing I wanted from her was for her to act as an envoy to the elves or at least put in a good word. But if she actively works for an alliance between the elves and the Averlonian Empire then all the better. I plan to improve the lives of the people regardless of what she does because I don’t want to get smited by heaven. So in terms of benefits to the people and benevolence she would see plenty of it. The fact that she even bothered to try and hunt to prepare for the famine ans that to an extent she does care about humans and gave up so of that elven elitism bullshit. Which was all the better for …
Now then with that small little distraction out of the way let’s get onto what I was actually going to do. It wasn’t that interesting but it has to be done so I might as well get on with it… I had to et up with Cecilia before this bagage train left and discuss boring shit for everyone to hear… boring, boring, so boring…
I headed over to this area outside the walls and I saw this massive baggage train waiting in line. It was heavily guarded by Wardens and my hive. I could see Cecilia and Mahaila standing by the side of it speaking.
When I landed I saw Cecilia and Mahaila turn to look at . I shifted my gaze to what looked to be a scribe as she jotted things onto this piece of parchnt that was clipped onto a board of wood.
“Empress?” the scribe asked as she looked up, most likely expecting Cecilia to keep talking. Then she turned to look at and she jolted almost dropping the materials in her hand.
“You could use more spatial awareness.” I said dryly. I know I intentionally didn’t try to kick up too much wind so I didn’t shower Cecilia in dust but I couldn’t completely negate it.
“Friend, I thought you would be here sooner.” Cecilia said as she waved her hand at the scribe who bowed and left us alone in response.
“I bumped into the elf I told you about.” I said as I approached and I looked over at the wagons. They were absolutely laden with gold, silver, jewels and other artifacts.
“Everything go well?” Cecilia asked nonchalantly.
“Yep. Quite the haul, is what you found enough?” I asked as I turned back to face her.
“Yes, it is quite sufficient. About a fifth will go to paying the soldiers as a victory reward. Another fifth will go into paying the people of Port Mari for destroyed and stolen property during the initial invasion. Also I plan to do so infrastructure projects in Port Mari, Averlon needs a better port afterall.” Cecilia said as she turned to look at the wagons.
Port Mari was kind of looted clean during the Volerian invasion. I said “kind of” because the city was evacuated and we told the citizens to take their most valuable things with them. So most didn’t lose much, with this reimbursent they actually end up with more. It’s the good old classic strategy of allowing soone to take sothing away then giving it back to them to earn so free good will.
“I will be spending half on general infrastructure upgrades to the entire Elysian region and the last tenth of the haul will go into upgrading our fleet. We need to improve our naval abilities since we now control such a large coastline. There is much wealth to be earned from eastern Voleria and the Divonia Empire. Perhaps we might even trade with the elves assuming your seed bears fruit.” Cecilia said as she looked at .
“Perhaps, more allies is always good. Honestly I can’t wait to settle all this crap.” I said as I looked around at the massive baggage train just parked by the side of the road. Tralis really did loot most of the stuff around them.
This giant convoy was just the stuff we were bringing back to Averlon. Cecilia will be sending other convoys to Beralis to give them back most of their treasury. Averlin would be getting so too, Tralis didn’t take anything from them; they were just broke. But considering they were about to get this vast swathe of territory they were going to need so money. Averlin and Beralis were also supposed to be a counteracting force to Tralis which would be the most belligerent state in the Empire.
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