Panpan.
Tave did his best to get used to saying that na naturally, to keep his expression relaxed and his tone light. But it wasn’t easy, not even close.
Not because of her status, or her power. But because... co on.
It was like eting a real-life celebrity. That weird combination of awe and disbelief clung to the edges of his thoughts. Anyone in his old world would at least be a little nervous in front of soone that famous, or that beautiful. And Panpan, being part of the Vensalor Kingdom, already carried that larger-than-life aura with her, even without trying.
Especially considering the way Tave had written the Imperial Knights and high-ranking figures from Vensalor. They weren’t just powerful. They were practically unreachable.
But he took another slow breath and forced his shoulders to relax.
The last thing he wanted was to make Panpan feel uncomfortable, especially here, in Deadbay, a place where forest elves always drew attention. Their beauty, their elegance... they stood out, even among crowds.
In fact, in so regions, darker rumors even whispered about trafficking rings targeting rare races, and forest elves were near the top of that list.
Tave couldn’t let his nerves show.
"Yes," he finally said, offering a warm look as he caught her gaze.
"Is there sothing else you need, Tave?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"No... it’s just." he smiled faintly, now fully regaining his composure, "I’ve been waiting for your arrival for a few days now."
"Ah, yes, I’m sorry," she replied with a small bow. "There was a bit of trouble on the way."
And just like that, Tave turned toward the harbor.
And there it was. The ship used by the forest elves to reach Deadbay.
It looked... bad. Really bad.
At a distance, the vessel still carried its majesty. Sleek, towering, built with enchanted wood and reinforced elegance. But now, seen clearly. The sail was completely destroyed, ripped to shreds. Several sections of the hull were cracked or missing entirely. Parts of it looked scorched. Mangled.
Tave’s stomach dropped.
"What... Did you face on the way here?" he asked, voice quiet.
Because one thing was clear. Elincia wasn’t ordinary. If she wanted to, she could flatten Deadbay in a single night.
She was that powerful.
And if she was on that ship... and the ship still ended up looking like this.
Then whatever they encountered... was no small threat.
He turned back to Panpan, her expression calm, but her voice ca quieter now.
"That... a monster," she said softly.
"A monster?" Tave repeated, the word sticking in his throat.
A monster that could damage a ship carrying Elincia? That could only an one thing. A monster of serious tier.
Panpan hesitated for a second, then leaned in slightly and spoke in almost a whisper.
"Tier 8."
Tave froze.
His eyes widened slightly, his thoughts screeching to a halt.
"Tier 8?" he echoed again, slower this ti. Like his brain needed help catching up.
"Yes, Tave," she nodded gently. "But Lady Elincia managed to defeat it. Still... It caused so trouble with our ship. That’s why we were a bit delayed."
TIER 8!
Tave could barely process it. A monster of that level... shouldn’t be anywhere near the surface. Tier 8s were deep-sea horrors, apex predators of forgotten zones, creatures that didn’t just wander near inhabited borders.
Why? How could a Tier 8 monster appear between Deadbay and Vensalor?
His thoughts spun.
It was too much. Too fast. He was just a Gaia Guardian, barely scraping through his own training, and yet the world around him was already unraveling at the seams.
"Are you okay, Tave?" Panpan asked gently.
"Yes. I’m okay," he managed, nodding with a forced exhale. "I’m just... surprised to hear about a monster that powerful. But I’m glad Lady Elincia was there. She must be incredibly strong."
Panpan smiled as if the ntion of Elincia’s strength was simply a given.
To her, it probably was.
"Then, co with ," Tave said calmly, offering a slight smile. "Tell everything you’d like to know about humans. Our food, our people, our way of fighting, martial arts... anything."
"Thanks," Panpan replied, her voice still soft, almost airy. "I just want to walk around the city and see what a human town looks like."
Tave bowed slightly and extended his hand politely, motioning for her to lead the way.
Panpan stepped forward, and Tave walked beside her, to her right, a respectful distance that let her set the pace without making it feel like he was guiding her or hovering.
She stood at around 172 cm (5’8"), though still shorter than Tave. Her height matched the natural build of most forest elves, who generally shared similar proportions to humans. But the subtle difference was in her features. Her pointed ears, elegant and precise, marked her out instantly from any crowd.
As they moved out into the cobbled streets of the city, Tave quickly noticed it. The stares.
Not surprising. He’d seen it before, when walking with Lily. But this ti... it was different.
It wasn’t just the n.
Even the won were turning their heads. So curious, so outright stunned. It wasn’t just Panpan’s beauty. It was her presence. The way she walked. The air around her. As if the city had accidentally been graced by sothing rare, sothing not ant to be seen so casually.
Tave leaned in a bit and spoke low, careful to keep his tone kind.
"Panpan... I think it might be a good idea to pull your robe over your head," he said gently, offering a small smile. "The sun’s a bit strong around this ti. It’ll help keep you comfortable while we walk."
Panpan looked over at him, and without a word of complaint, she nodded once and pulled the hood of her robe up.
It helped. A little.
At least now her golden hair was slightly concealed. But her aura still shone through. Even from a distance, it was impossible not to notice her.
After walking a little further, Tave started to really feel it. The stares. The glances. The silent jealousy from nearly everyone they passed.
And who could bla them?
How many people got the chance to stroll through the city beside a forest elf this stunning?
Exactly.
Keep dreaming from a distance, folks, Tave thought with a smirk. This is the kind of privilege only the son of a Knight Commander gets.
Even if, in reality, he was basically being used as an errand boy. Still... Sothing started to itch at the back of his mind.
How did Elincia know him so easily the mont she arrived?
He hadn’t thought about it at first, but now it hit him. The original Tave must have t her before.
Yet... he had no mory of it.
How pathetically dull the original Tave must’ve been.
And for soone like Elincia, who barely acknowledged anyone outside of Vensalor’s imdiate interests, the fact that she recognized Tave was already a rare kind of miracle.
Maybe... he could use that.
Maybe this tiny advantage could beco a stepping stone toward getting what he really wanted.
He glanced sideways at Panpan.
"Panpan, tell . Are you also joining the Rift Expedition your group is planning?"
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