"Leysha, do you know about the elves and the elven village Ilyana spoke of?"
That was the first question that ca to my mind as Leysha, Cecile, and I were on our way to the residential area around Fort Vermillion.
"Yes, Baron Atreus. These elves live in the forest southeast of Fort Vermillion, about an hour’s of journey. Lord and Lady Vermillion once encountered the elves hiding there, and they made a pact," Leysha said, recalling her past.
"A pact...?"
"A pact to protect the elves in their village. King Victor Dragomir not only hated Dragons and Golems, but he also disliked races other than humans. Many elves villages had been burned down, and their inhabitants brutally slaughtered by Dragomir’s soldiers. The elves village in the forest near Fort Vermillion was one of the hidden villages because Lord Vermillion had placed a secret seal that disguised its location."
"Ah, I see. So King Victor Dragomir’s army couldn’t find Ilyana’s village in that forest, huh..."
"That’s right, Baron."
"Then why did he say that I, sohow, didn’t fulfill my promise? What did I break?"
"If I rember correctly, Lord Vermillion once promised the Azure Crystal to the elves in Ilyana’s village because they needed it to strengthen themselves. But unfortunately, Lord Vermillion passed away before he could fulfill that promise."
"Hmm...as for the Azure Crystal, I can easily fulfill that. If we can create an alliance, it supposed to be not that difficult." I said in my reverie.
"Wait a minute. Is Baron Atreus serious about visiting the elves’ village?" Cecile interrupted suddenly.
"Yes," I replied curtly.
"I’m not sure that’s a wise choice, Baron. She tried to attack you with a powerful and fast dagger. If I couldn’t block it, you could have been seriously injured!" Cecile warn .
I smiled, gently stroking Cecile’s hair.
"I understand your concern, Cecile. But these elves seem to have sothing to do with my parents. I have a lot to ask, and I believe I need to visit their village."
"I’m worried Ilyana will trap you in the village later."
"Trying to trap the most powerful wizard with the Black Star? I don’t think so, Cecile."
Cecilia just sighed at my confidence, and I simply smiled in response.
"...despite her request being quite simple, I wonder why she suddenly beca sad when she ntioned my parents. As if everything was my parents’ fault," I muttered, still confused.
"Sorry, Baron Atreus. I also don’t understand Ilyana’s rather surprising reaction. I looked back through Lord Vermillion’s various records, and there was absolutely no hint of elves. It seems Lord Vermillion is so secretive about these elves that they’re not even included in his records," Leysha explained.
"Heh...even I, as his son, don’t know. Then we’ll have to find out for ourselves. No problem." I said calmly.
Leysha, Cecile, and I continued walking into the residential area near Fort Vermillion, which had beco much more developed since I had Alex bring the Azure Crystal to Fort Vermillion for developnt.
The residential area stretched out in a small circle around a stone plaza at its center, where an Azure Crystal towered two n tall on an old marble altar carved with ancient runes.
I could feel the pulse of the blue magic crystal emitting a soft light, illuminating the rows of thatched-roof wooden houses and stone tiles neatly arranged along the street.
Well, I never imagined the crystal crafters in this residential area could transform it not only into weapons or armor, but also into a source of magical energy for lighting.
"Oh, Lord Atreus Vermillion has arrived...!"
"Lord Atreus Vermillion...!"
The clamor of voices that had initially only co from one or two people I passed now grew to more than ten, then a hundred, then almost everyone in the residential area calling my na excitedly.
I greeted them with a smile and a warm greeting while walking around observing the Crystal Crafters working on the Azure Crystals they held.
But strangely, the Crystal Crafters stopped what they were doing and went out of their way to greet .
"Lord Atreus Vermillion...! I never thought that you would deign to visit my workshop...!" exclaid one of the Crystal Crafters, suddenly enthusiastic upon my arrival.
"Calm down, my friend. I just wanted to watch you work on that Azure Crystal. Just get on with what you’re doing," I said reassuringly.
"Hahaha...! I can continue my work later! I just wanted to thank you for your kindness that put that Azure Crystal here...! I never expected that not only would the Vermillion region’s farms thrive, but the Crystal Crafters here would thrive as well...!"
"Glad you like it. By the way... I have a question. Can the Crystal Crafters here create magical clothing from Azure Crystal?" I asked curiously.
"Magical clothing...? You an beyond armor and the like, my lord...?" the Crystal Crafter asked.
"Yes, more or less like that..."
"That magical clothing doesn’t seem like a human can use it, unless they’re a Wizard, my lord."
"...but can you make it?"
"A-ah... I doubt that the other Crystal Crafters or I can make it. Even the best Crystal Crafters in Victor Dragomir’s kingdom don’t seem to be able to make it. But if you really want it, perhaps we need to explore the knowledge and techniques to develop it into sothing like that..."
Just as I expected.
No human Crystal Crafters have yet been able to create magical clothing that resembles the magical clothing Ilyana wears.
However, Lord Vermillion possesses magical clothing like the Vermillion’s coat and the Invisible’s coat, which don’t seem to be made by humans.
I suspect the elves made them for Lord Vermillion.
Amidst the excitent, I could hear people calling my na from all sides.
Soldiers from Vermillion Fortress also ca to form a protective formation as the crowd grew increasingly eager to et .
I wasn’t used to being escorted by so many soldiers, but seeing the crowds growing to greet , it seed their role was necessary.
"Long live, Lord Atreus Vermillion...!"
"Glory returns, Vermillion family...!"
"We will defeat King Victor Dragomir...!"
The enthusiastic cheers of the crowd sounded firm and sincere.
I simply smiled at these eager people.
My decision to place the Azure Crystal here was correct, even though I knew there were still dangers lurking.
And the source of that danger, for now, might not be King Victor Dragomir, but rather the Elves.
The elves who live in a hidden village in the forest not far from here could beco a new source of chaos if they have malicious intentions to overthrow .
And this morning I had just felt the resentnt and anger of one of the elves who dared to enter my territory undetected despite being protected by nurous soldiers.
Ilyana from Lathiar Village.
Whatever the cost, I had to get there.
Either I had to slaughter her, as she risked becoming a new threat to , or I had to ally with her to help provide magical clothing that could be crafted from the Azure Crystal.
***
After greeting the Crystal Crafters, Leysha, Cecile, and I arrived in front of the forest closest to Vermillion Castle.
The three of us walked through the forest. Following the direction of the magic tracing Cecile had set up.
Ti passed quickly as we walked through the forest, until Leysha finally gave the signal to stop.
She raised her right palm and chanted the spell in a quiet voice.
’WUUUNNGG....!’
The previously transparent magical shield suddenly beca visible.
This black magical shield was the first thing I saw, but with my magic detection ability, I could tell that it wasn’t a protective shield, but rather a disguise.
"Baron Atreus, perhaps you can see it now. This magical shield is a magic manipulation layer created by Lord Vermillion. Those who pass through this magic manipulation layer will not realize they have passed through the path to Lathiar Village. So far, no one has been able to remove this magic manipulation layer," Leysha explained.
"Oh, did you know there was a magic manipulation layer like this?" I asked.
"Lord Vermillion once told because he trusts and knows I don’t have the ability to remove this Layer Manipulation Magic. With the dwindling wizard population on this land, it seems like fewer and fewer people can remove this Layer Manipulation Magic," Leysha replied.
"So...we can’t enter Lathiar Village with this Layer Manipulation Magic...? I an...as you said, Leysha, anyone who passes through this Layer Manipulation Magic will be affected by magical manipulation that obscures the direction to Lathiar Village," Cecile asked curiously.
"Yes, Cecile. Even if we already have Ilyana’s direction with the help of Magic Tracing, this Layer Manipulation Magic can obscure the established direction, making the resulting direction of Magic Tracing useless," Leysha explained further.
"...it turns out this is a tricky and manipulative magic. I wonder if there’s a wizard who can help us with this?" Cecile looked confused.
"Why are you confused? The wizard you’re looking for is right here." I said confidently.
Leysha and Cecile looked at with amused smiles.
I pointed my right palm at the Layer Manipulation Magic, and the Black Star in my palm reacted, trying to detect the power and flow of this manipulation magic more deeply.
Layer Manipulation Magic is a form of Ti and Dinsion spell that focuses on creating illusions.
Well, I know Lord Vermillion’s good intentions in creating this Layer Manipulation Magic were to hide the elves in Lathiar Village from the ambush of Victor Dragomir’s Kingdom troops, but unfortunately, that’s over now.
I focused the power of the Ti and Dinsion spell by generating Dispell Layer Manipulation Magic in front of .
A flash of electricity appeared along the Layer Manipulation Magic, which gradually ford a crack that spread wider.
When I clenched my hand, my Dispell power reached its maximum, and the crack in the Layer Manipulation Magic widened to each side.
CRACK!
The Layer Manipulation Magic shattered, and the illusion of the forest image that obscured the path to Lathiar Village disappeared.
The path to Lathiar Village was open, and I would be the first wizard to set foot in Lathiar Village since Lord Vermillion—
"You have finally co with a bold step, Atreus Vermillion."
A familiar, yet very close, woman’s voice made stop in my tracks.
Leysha and Cecile looked around, searching for the source of the woman’s voice, but it was nowhere to be seen.
In re seconds, I felt two hands, their soft, glowing skin, embrace my shoulders from behind.
Her large, warm breasts pressed against my back, and her fragrant, soft breath tickled my ear.
I saw the elf woman with long, blonde hair smiling down at with her sexy lips, her right palm cupping my chest.
’THUD...!’
Suddenly, I felt her gentle grip on my chest, piercing and stabbing.
It felt like my heart had been squeezed, making scream silently.
"Baron Atreus...!"
Leysha and Cecile called out loudly when they saw screaming in pain.
They both imdiately rushed forward to help , but strangely, their hands that were about to reach simply went straight through .
I felt like my body had lost weight and I was floating.
I saw Cecile and Leysha still trying to reach , but their hands were still going through .
"It’s too late. Atreus Vermillion has beco ’wind’ that has fused with the elves’ bodies."
What the...?
I completely lost control when Ilyana said that.
It felt like my body was no longer flesh and bones, but had transford into wind magic that Ilyana could control.
Leysha and Cecile called out to incessantly as they both moved further and further away from .
In a matter of seconds, everything went black.
I could feel myself in a different place now.
"Welco to the Lathiar Village, Atreus Vermillion..."
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