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Ember Pov
I dashed through the bushes, holding the bow in my arm and nocking the arrow quickly, I aid at the moving target in front of and released the bowstring. The arrow whizzed through the air making a swoosh sound and pierced the head of the deer, the animal released a painful howl before falling down and dying. I took a deep breath, joyful with the success of my first hunt.
"That was amazing!!", Riveria said as hugged from the behind and started patting my head," I can't believe it! That was your first ti on top of it!", she said with joy, I smiled and replied," Indeed sister! It went better than what I had expected", she looked at with pride and said," Hmm, well you are my little brother, of course you would perform excellent!"
" Indeed, that was spectacular! His Highness not only managed to hit a fast-moving target like deer on his first try, but also did it while maneuvering through the bushes and piercing through deer's head!", Noel said, so other Elves who were with us started clapping as well, singing praises for . I chuckled a bit embarrassed, but I was proud of my skills.
My race indeed has given an advantage when it cos to Archery, but in the end, it was my own hard work that made to perform the kill with such precision. For myself from previous life it would not have been possible, sure one could have expected for to solve problems that would take the entire space of the board to solve in minutes but expecting to do sothing Athletic was a pure fantasy for back then.
With my first successful hunt I didn't stop yet, previously Elven soldiers had discovered a target for , but this ti I used what I had learned to discover targets and kill them, I managed to kill twelve animals, mostly deer, but so huge ass boars and other agile animals were there too. I also only shot fourteen tis to kill the animals, one of my arrows missed, while other wasn't that fatal as I expected.
It did provide experience to but well, others seed impressed." Thirteen! You successfully hunted thirteen animals on your first hunt will using re fifteen arrows! That's it! My brother is an Archery genius!!!", Riveria said from behind as she suddenly grabbed my shoulder with excitent, I laughed awkwardly before I was subjected to a flurry of kissed on my face.
' Sister!! Everyone is watching! What are you doing?!! It is so embarrassing or what I would like to say ', I thought deadpan as I wiped my cheek using a handkerchief while Riveria pouted," Ember! Your actions hurt your poor older sister", she complained, and I thought,' And your actions made embarrass I can think of so rumors already making their way from the royal palace.'
I glanced at other Elves who looked away, with slightly flushed faces pretending to not have seen anything,' These guys ', I clicked my tongue in annoyance. " Well, your Highness you have hunted enough animals for the banquet ", Noel said to as he bowed," Well, I guess Ember, you did hunt so huge animals that are usually hard to hunt even for adept Archers", my sister said agreeing with Noel.
We elves loved nature and trees, Elves did eat at, but they always made sure to only kill animal if they are trying to hurt them, or when they need food. Elves tend to never kill more than unnecessary, but I am a Prince of Alf family, if I want, I can continue with my hunt, and only my elder sister will have power to stop .
" No, it's unnecessary, though instructor Noel, I would like to see the monster hunt", I replied, I have already seen how my archery is, and I can say it was more than enough. I hadn't tested my Swordsmanship skills in real hunting; however, I use to have regular spars with soldiers which had honed my sword skills to a considerable extent, thus I can lay it off from my list for today.
" Ember, I think it is still too early for you- Monsters are very powerful, even a weak one needs a group of Archers and Soldiers to put it down", Riveria said to , nervousness and worry for was visible in her eyes. I smiled and looking at her I replied," Sister, I know you love . But I refuse to remain weak, I know what my position entails, but there are Elves who start fighting monsters as early as they are ten. So how can I cower when I am in the protection of an Elite squad, nonetheless?"
She hesitated," But Ember, it is still dangerous", seeing her hesitation I hugged her much to her surprise and looking in her eyes I said," Sister, I also want to see you in Action! Please let co with you! Pleassseeee?", I tried my best, my shota power has weakened considerably, however I gained an equal amount of Handso boy power, so my attacks are still deadly.
Riveria's ears turned red slightly at their end, and in the end, she nodded," Fine", I smiled and started jumping with happiness, Noel looked at us amused, while other Elves seed to be moved? Weird, their expressions were weird, but I decided to ignore it, after all sotis even I found it difficult to know what is cooking in their mind, never doubt the craziness of fanatics.
Thus, under Riveria's care and Noel's protection I was escorted to a fortress. There we t the Commander of Fortress, upon seeing and Riveria, he and so other soldiers knelt, while the rest of them saluated us. " I greet His Highness and Her Highness", he said with respect and loyalty, Riveria nodded accepting his greeting and so did I, and Noel said," Sir Juriuf, Her Highness is here to join the monster hunt as a Magician, while His Highness is here to observe the bravery and skills of Elven soldiers, archers and mages!!"
The Elf, whom Noel called Juriuf gave a nod," I see, Her Highness does co here often so it wasn't surprising for however for His Highness to co here it was a surprise for all of us... His Highness I promise on my Elven Honor, I would protect you during the hunt!", he said bowing to , I said," Head high, Sir Juriuf, I would like to present my gratitude for you to beco my protector despite my impromptu arrival."
He stood up, and said," Surely you jest, Your Highness, as an Elven soldier it is our duty to protect the Alf Family and the people, not to ntion your life holds much more significance than us, which we will sure to protect with our very lives", I narrowed my eyes hearing his words and sighed inwardly, yes, I totally get the reason why Riveria hated the attitude of Elves, in their eyes, we Royal Elves are the chosen ones to lead their race, to them, our lives matter more than them, sotis even more than their families.
' But I would take this devotion over followers who can betray anyti ', I thought, I wasn't Riveria, and I preferred their attitude, it was my selfishness, but it was what it was. Thus, after so small talk we finally departed under the safety of Elite Elven warriors, I decided to put up a small talk," Sir Juriuf, if I am not wrong fortress like this are built all around the Alf's forest, right?"
" Indeed, your Highness, around three hundred seventy-nine fortresses surround the entirety of Alf's forest stationed with countless Elven soldier, protecting the people from the monster. They don't form a circle; however, they do surround the entire Alf's Royal Forest in a zig-zag manner, on top of that seven great fortresses lie in the outermost periter of the Alf's Royal Forest", he said pausing for bit letting ponder about his words.
I nodded after verifying that everything was as I have read in the book, and so getting my signal he continued," The Outermost Great Fortresses are around an Elfen City and are filled with High Level retired Elf Adventurers, and highly trained soldiers, with countless Elf Mages, they are the first line of defense of Alf's Royal Forest, and kill all the stronger monsters that usually approach the Forest, though many lower level monsters manage to slip through them, and the fortresses like ours in the inner area take care of them."
" Sir Juriuf, I assu this defense also works against invaders?", I asked with interest, while I was sure of the fact, I still asked to broaden my horizons. Juriuf with a nod replied," Indeed, Your Highness, they also work against invading armies, though most of the countries don't dare to attack us."
Yes, who would be foolish to attack a country filled with Magicians and excellent Archers, even if their magic is weaker than Adventurers' due to not having blessing of Falna, a group of well coordinate magicians can still unleash attack equivalent to Level 3s and even Level 4s, although they need a long-ass throat paining chant, the soldiers and Archers easily grant them ti.
Most importantly, Elves are a very united race, at least White Elves are, all Elves respect Alf's Royal family, and if we are in trouble, all White Elves will co flocking back towards us to finish off the invaders, and if Orario's high-level Elves co here, then invading country is pretty much as good as dood.
I again felt how good it is to be a Royal Elf belonging to Alf's family, soon we arrived at our destination and Juriuf said," We have arrived, soldiers take your position!", everyone heeded his command," Sir Juriuf, I will begin with my chant then, Ember please stand away", Riveria said, and they nodded, and I was taken away to stand.
"Efish Vir ru Hshhimi...", Riveria started chanting the spell in Alfen, there were no Magic Circles forming around her, however I could feel the air around her behaving weirdly, she pointed her staff forward and soon a monster was running towards us, it was gravely wounded with several arrows piercing his body, my sister had completed the chant and quickly released the magic through the staff.
A huge beam of fire released out of the tip of the staff and shot the approaching monster blowing it to smithereens, the Elves started praising her as the monster fell dead, and vanished leaving a Magic stone, it was purple in color, and fairly big, I think. " That was amazing as always, Your Highness", praised Juriuf, and Noel nodded.
Riveria though just gave them a nod and looked at with a smirk," How was it Ember? Your Big Sister is amazing right?", she asked, I chuckled seeing her and said," Indeed that was amazing! You annihilated that monster with a single strike!", she giggled hearing my praise, pride appeared on her face. " Your Highness, that wasn't just any monster, it was a Level 2 monster", said Noel from my behind.
" Level 2?", I asked surprised, and Noel said," Indeed your Highness, Her Highness's Magic is indeed exceptional. There are 36 congenital Magics, out of which White Elves can use 12, her Highness has already mastered the strongest spells, I assu that in a little over two decades, her magical prowess will rival a Level 3."
Noel's words made look at Riveria in different way, while she seed to be on cloud nine from all the praise,' Indeed, Riveria is not labelled as the Orario's strongest Magician for nothing ', I thought, while congenital Magic has a big-ass chant, has higher chance of Ignis Fatuus, and overall weaker than a magic used with Falna, it is still impressive to reach the prowess of Level 2 or 3 without Falna and while I have read it in the books, seeing it in real life blows my mind.
Again, that made sense, if that wasn't the case the Elves would have been wiped away long ago when the Ancient Monsters had attacked us, after that we hunted a few more monsters, Riveria wiping away three more with magic before hitting her limit and had to drink a Magic potion to recover, the soldiers skillfully killed five more monsters themselves with no injuries showing their skills.
Finally, we returned ho at late night, after having a bath and dinner, I fell on my bed tired," Today was truly a wonderful day", I said to myself, tomorrow I will be fourteen, and in the celebration of my age coming ceremony a banquet was to be held, I yawned tired and decided to not think about it any further and fell to sleep.
To be continued.
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