Free Web NovelChapter 8: The Crown Princess
"My Lord! My Lord! Can you hear me...?" Jansh looked at Rios with concern. Ever since he had asked him for help in saving the City of Light, Rios had stopped moving or making any sound. More than five minutes had already passed without the slightest reaction!
"Yes, I can hear you, old man. But first, tell me what you know about the Immortal Trees," Rios asked Jansh while also questioning the system.
"System, what are the Nine Immortal Trees?"
[....]
"I knew it. I shouldn’t have relied on you." Rios mocked the system’s silence, but he wasn’t angry. He had already expected this outcome.
"Perhaps you mean the Sacred Trees, My Lord?"
"So that’s what you call them? Whatever. What information do you have regarding these trees?"
"To be honest, My Lord, I don’t know much about the Sacred Trees. Most of those secrets are only known by the Queen Mother. Everything I know consists of common information known to everyone, such as the fact that the Sacred Trees are nine great trees that carry the secrets of the universe, and from them the Elf race was born.
The City of Light possesses records regarding three Sacred Trees. The first is the Tree of Cradle, which carried the Elf race and led them into the heavens. The second is the Tree of Life, which protects our race within the City of Light. The third is the Tree of Abyss, just like you, My Lord. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
However, the Tree of Abyss that was born in the past died for mysterious reasons before it could fully mature!"
Old Jansh spoke with a voice filled with fanatic devotion, as if he were recounting the greatest story in the universe.
Rios looked at Jansh for a while as he processed his words. Clearly, this old man didn’t know much about the Nine Immortal Trees. He also seemed to know almost nothing about the Tree of Cradle or the Tree of Abyss.
But he definitely knew a thing or two about the Tree of Life.
"Tell me more about the Tree of Life, old man," Rios said in a regal voice overflowing with arrogance as he looked at Jansh like a king looking down upon a servant.
The moment Jansh heard the question about the Tree of Life, his expression changed from joy and reverence to sadness and despair.
"The Tree of Life died nearly a century ago, My Lord. Otherwise, our people would never have fallen into such weakness!
Fortunately, before the Sacred Tree died, it left behind a sapling. However, that sapling fell into a deep slumber after reaching the second level, and we do not know when it will awaken.
But now you exist, My Lord. If you return with me to the City of Light, you will receive the full support of the city. Then it will only be a matter of time before you reach the peak of the third level and lead us into the heavens just as the Tree of Cradle once did."
Rios looked at the two Elves for a moment before turning his gaze toward the sky.
"It seems things are beginning to move quickly. The system never misses an opportunity to make me stronger.
I wonder... will I ascend to the heavens like the Tree of Cradle, or will I fall as the Tree of Abyss did in the past?"
Rios lost himself in thought for a while before looking back at the pair.
"Lead the way, old man."
The moment the old man and the girl heard those words, their faces immediately filled with overwhelming joy.
"At once, My Lord!"
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Inside a colossal palace that looked like something straight out of legend, countless colorful lights illuminated the halls, while numerous towering statues stood proudly.
Some depicted Elf warriors, while others portrayed mages and scholars.
The most prominent among them was a statue of a gigantic tree beneath which stood a stone throne, occupied by a faceless queen.
Within the palace, inside a massive hall spanning nearly three hundred meters, numerous seats surrounded a long table.
Among them, one seat was larger than all the others and occupied the head of the table.
Seated upon it was a woman with golden hair wearing a semi-transparent white veil that covered her entire face.
She wore a wide white dress decorated with countless golden patterns.
Yet even the loose dress failed to conceal her alluring curves.
This woman was the Crown Princess of the Elf race—
Elena.
At that moment, one of the royal advisors spoke.
"What are we supposed to do now? Our supplies are running out at an alarming rate! If this siege continues much longer, the formation arrays will run out of energy within a month at most! And our food supplies will be exhausted within three weeks!" shouted a royal advisor who appeared to be a middle-aged man with a strong build, green hair, and green eyes.
"And what do you suggest we do?" another man replied, this one possessing white hair and white eyes.
"We created an opportunity by sacrificing many brave soldiers and successfully smuggled out eight warriors to seek aid from the surrounding powers.
Two went to the Falcon race, while the other six went to the three Giants in the neighboring lands. Two were sent to each Giant carrying numerous gifts and monster cores in the hope that they would lend us their assistance.
So tell me, is there anything else we haven’t already done?"
"Why are we even asking those savage Giants for help?" the green-haired man shouted, the veins on his forehead bulging from anger.
"Not to mention they’re merely Masters of the second level! Have you forgotten what they did to our kingdom, our people, and the Royal Guard?"
"Calm down, Gao. No one has forgotten what those savages did to our kingdom, our people, or the Royal Guard in the past.
But you also know we have no other choice.
It’s true that the three Giants are only at Master (2), but thanks to their gigantic bodies and overwhelming strength, they can fight someone at the third level head-on."
This time it was an Elf woman with purple hair who spoke.
"Tsk. That’s assuming our envoys even return alive," Gao sneered, making no effort to hide his dissatisfaction.
"Enough."
The Crown Princess finally spoke.
Her voice was calm, yet commanding, instantly bringing the discussion to an end.
"Oh? Does the Crown Princess have any thoughts?" A strange light appeared in the purple-haired woman’s eyes as she looked at Elena and asked gently.
That look did not escape the other advisors.
In fact, every single one of them carried the same gaze and those same shining eyes.
Ever since the Queen’s death a year ago, there had been many candidates for the throne.
However, the Crown Princess had always been the most outstanding among them.
Before she could officially be recognized as the next queen, every word and action of hers would be observed by the council, who would ultimately decide whether she was worthy of becoming the next ruler.
"Yes..."
The Crown Princess slowly raised her head.
"I saw a prophecy...!"
