Inside the throne room, the Elf Queen couldn't help but smile.
Her gaze remained fixed on the pentagon-shaped crystal in her left hand.
"I never thought I'd actually speak to the Fated One… What a miracle," she murmured, tightening her grip on the crystal.
It had been over two hundred years since she ascended the throne, and all that ti, she had waited for the arrival of the Fated One.
As the figure never appeared, she began to believe the prophecy was wrong—that he wouldn't co in her era.
But unexpectedly, he had appeared.
And to her shock, the one who brought him was Elina—her slly sister who had escaped from the Forest of Eternal Silence a year ago.
Was this what people called destiny?
Without realizing it, her gaze drifted to the large window on her right.
Beyond it stood the towering World Tree.
Once majestic and full of life, the tree now appeared withered and frail, with deep black patches consuming its trunk and leaves.
The Elf Queen clenched her fists, the look in her eyes burning with unwavering resolve.
"Don't worry, Goddess. The Fated One will surely co and heal you."
What she didn't know was that far away, a beautiful woman lay unconscious.
Her eyelids fluttered gently before slowly opening—then her eyes snapped toward the direction of the Elf Queen's palace.
...
The journey Leon and Elina undertook wasn't sothing that could be completed in just two or three days.
It took over a week—ten days and several hours, to be precise.
To keep boredom at bay, the coachman often stopped in cities, allowing the horses ti to rest.
During these breaks, Leon and Elina spent their ti enjoying themselves or simply strolling around the cities they visited.
"Wow! So this is Valemont? It's beautiful!"
Elina's eyes sparkled as she looked around at the lively streets, lined with shops and bustling with passersby.
Unlike Morvhal, Valemont was a small city. It didn't have the sa crowds or noise as Morvhal.
But it had its own charm—ho to skilled artisans who crafted beautiful clothing, bracelets, and eye-catching accessories.
Even Elina couldn't hide her admiration for the craftsmanship.
Seeing her so excited, Leon offered a faint smile. His gaze drifted to the nearby stalls before he said, "Valemont is indeed known for its handicrafts. This tradition goes back a thousand years and has been passed down through generations."
Elina looked at him, visibly surprised.
"A thousand years? That's a long ti! I'm just over a hundred, and my sister's only three hundred."
The corner of Leon's mouth twitched slightly.
Had it not been for Elina's sincere tone, he might have thought she was boasting about the Elves' long lifespan.
"Would you like to buy one of these?" Leon asked, smoothly changing the subject.
"Buy one?" Elina blinked in surprise, then nodded eagerly. "Of course! Let's pick one out!"
Leon smiled and guided her toward one of the nearby stalls.
The stall showcased an assortnt of handcrafted items—wooden bracelets, crystal rings, and other eye-catching accessories.
"Welco, custors," the stall owner greeted warmly.
He was a young man with an unremarkable appearance, but the constant smile on his face gave off a warm and friendly vibe.
Leon returned the greeting with a nod, his gaze scanning the neatly arranged accessories in front of him.
"Are these all handmade?" he asked casually.
Though he already expected the answer, Leon still wanted to be sure. After all, it was possible the seller had sourced the items from elsewhere.
Even if they were handcrafted, the quality wasn't always guaranteed once they'd changed hands.
As if catching Leon's aning, the stall owner patted his chest confidently.
"Don't worry, sir. I swear—every piece here was made by and my sister. We craft them ourselves at ho using high-quality materials."
Leon could sense the sincerity in his voice and gave a satisfied nod. He then turned to Elina and asked, "See anything you like, Elina?"
Elina didn't respond right away. Her eyes slowly road across the display, carefully inspecting each item as if trying to find the perfect one.
"Hmm?" Her gaze was drawn to a beautiful silver necklace.
At its center rested a red crystal that gave off a strangely captivating aura.
"I want that one, Young Master," she said enthusiastically, pointing at the necklace.
The stall owner blinked in surprise, then broke into a wide smile.
"Miss has excellent taste. That necklace was handcrafted by my sister using pure silver. But... I should let you know, it's a bit pricey—about five silver coins."
Leon examined the necklace. Just by looking, he could tell the quality matched the price. The seller didn't seem like the type to take advantage of others.
"Five silver coins? I'm a rich woman now! That's nothing to ," Elina declared proudly, flashing a big grin.
As she reached into her pocket to pull out a gold coin, Leon quickly stopped her hand.
"Keep your money. I'll take care of it," he said gently.
Elina looked surprised and seed ready to protest, but Leon spoke first.
"Alright. We'll take that necklace—and that erald-colored ring as well."
He pointed to the necklace Elina had chosen and a nearby ring displayed to the right.
The stall owner's eyes lit up with joy, his excitent impossible to hide.
"Right away, sir and miss. I'll pack them up for you."
He retrieved two elegant boxes and carefully placed each accessory inside.
"Your total cos to ten silver coins, sir," he said politely, handing over the boxes.
Leon took out a gold coin and handed it over.
"Keep the change."
Without another word, he picked up the two boxes and walked away, leaving the stall owner frozen in place with a stunned expression.
It wasn't until Leon's figure had completely vanished from sight that the stall owner snapped out of his daze.
When he looked down at the gold coin in his hand, his expression shifted instantly to one of pure joy.
"Damn! A gold coin! That guy's definitely loaded!"
...
"This necklace is so beautiful..." Elina murmured, her heart fluttering as she admired the piece now hanging gracefully around her neck.
Since leaving the Forest of Eternal Silence, she had only brought a few useful belongings—leaving behind all the accessories she used to wear in her room.
Leon nodded in agreent as he glanced at the erald ring now resting on his finger.
"Yeah, it looks good."
But his eyes soon drifted toward the darkening sky.
"Looks like we've been out for a while. Let's head back to the inn—we'll continue our journey tomorrow."
Elina offered no protest. She simply nodded quietly.
And with that, the two of them walked side by side toward the inn that had been arranged by the coachman who brought them.
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