Free Web Novel“How should I put this...”
Aislin organized her thoughts for a moment before answering slowly.
“Unlike humans, elves take several hundred years to grow from birth to adulthood. During that long span, we live with our parents, so most elves, once they reach adulthood, can’t wait to leave their parents’ wings and go see the world.”
“Oh, then I get it.”
Vieya suddenly understood, recalling what her daughter had said that night. “You’re the kind of child who’s like a soaring eagle.”
“Eh... that metaphor is a bit strange, but it’s not entirely wrong.”
Aislin paused, then continued.
“I’ve never been able to sit still since I was little. I liked running around, making noise. The forest was my playground, the branches my swings. Flowers, grass, butterflies, and all kinds of little animals could become my friends...”
“Unlike those homebody elves, before I even came of age I’d already played through the entire Elven Royal Court. I knew every hidden path in the Elven Forest—where the flower fields were, where the lakes in the woods were, which moonlit grove was the fairies’ home. I knew them all.”
“I know that!”
Vieya suddenly spoke up, looking at Aislin while suppressing a laugh.
“Your cousin Elliti told me. She said her cousin was super lively as a child, the bravest elf in the entire forest. Before she was even ten, she dared to go into the forest to duel the terrifying Quimu Wolf. Even though she got swatted away with one claw and almost got taken off to be eaten as a little cake... luckily, the Elven Queen saved her.”
“So Elliti even told you that...”
Aislin coughed, only feeling that her cousin really couldn’t keep her mouth shut—she told everything!
Thinking that, she hurriedly changed the subject to cover her embarrassment.
“Ahem, haha, we’re at the task office. Let’s go see if there are any suitable tasks first!”
Her tone was a bit hurried, clearly not wanting to talk about her childhood black history at all.
Even near midnight, the streets still had scattered elves passing by. Some were night-owl-type elves, some were playful types, but most were elves who had just come out of the Star and Moon Grand Rite of the Star Dew Festival.
The Star and Moon Grand Rite was a special ceremony the elves held every year beneath the starlight and moonlight of the Celestial River.
On that night, elves would personally craft “Firefly Lanterns” from moon-white silk and orange firebugs, then release them into the sky at the Elven Royal Court, Vilanors.
In elven belief, the “Firefly Lanterns” released on that day could be received by the Moon Goddess. Thus, the wishes written upon them would also receive the Moon Goddess’s blessing.
“In fact, the Moon Goddess can’t see them, nor receive their wishes.”
Aislin explained softly.
“The ‘Firefly Lanterns’ made of moon-white silk and orange firebugs will also dissipate into white mist the instant they encounter the first ray of sunlight between heaven and earth—along with the elves’ wishes.”
“...”
Lamps that vanish when they see sunlight.
Vieya fell silent. She had just been thinking of buying one to bring back for her daughter to play with tomorrow morning.
Sigh. The shelf life is too short.
Even at midnight, there were still elves on duty at the task office.
But the elf in front of them had heavy dark circles under her eyes, standing behind the duty counter with her head nodding again and again.
Aislin was already very familiar with the place, so she didn’t greet the duty elf. She led Vieya past the empty S-rank task area to the next tier, the A-rank task section.
A-rank tasks: 500 merit reward.
Aislin searched carefully. She didn’t want to take a task too far from the Elven Royal Court at night, so her gaze landed on a commission slip marked with a strange pattern.
The pattern looked very familiar to Vieya—nine sharp fangs, two upright pointed ears, resembling a cat that walked on two legs.
But it wasn’t a cat.
It was a peculiar magical creature Aislin had explained to her not long ago, called a forest fairy.
“These ugly creatures can post tasks here too?” Vieya asked doubtfully.
“Of course they can. They’re also partners of our elven race.” Aislin’s expression turned serious as she spoke to Vieya. “But don’t say the word ‘ugly’ in front of them, or they’ll turn you into a frog.”
Tch. A kiddie ghost story that couldn’t even fool Jasmine.
Vieya nodded perfunctorily and read aloud with mock solemnity, “Ah yes, such terrifying fairies.”
“You...”
Knowing Vieya didn’t believe it anyway, Aislin didn’t bother nagging further. She tore the task slip off the wooden board and turned to find the duty elf to fill out the registration.
“Oh my, Princess, you’re still coming out to do tasks so late—how hard-working. Eh, wait... Princess, did you even bring your partner along? Tsk, don’t blame your big sister for saying this, but it’s only the second day and you’re already dragging them into staying up late working overtime. You’re really treating your little partner like a tool! We elves must be kind-hearted, treat our partners well, not like those humans—”
“Sister Kui!”
Aislin took a deep breath and pushed the filled-out form toward the dark-circled elf. “I’m registered. Please sign your name.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
“Oh dear, the bigger you get, the less lovable you become. I’ve only said a few words and you already don’t like it. I told you humans are not good to be around too much—easy to catch their bad habits...”
The dark-circled elf sighed heavily, but her hands were extremely quick with the paperwork. In no time, she had organized and filed everything, then took out a copy rubbing and handed it to Aislin.
“This is the commission from the fairies. Little Aislin, you should be careful— their evaluation is also very important for your succession to the throne.”
As she spoke, the dark-circled elf yawned and glanced at Vieya, who was poking around here and there inside the task office, a trace of emotion in her eyes.
“In the blink of an eye, dozens of years have passed. Since that incident, Her Majesty the Elven Queen’s power has been steadily declining, and she’s grown more and more strained facing the ever-increasing threats from other races.”
“This morning, those humans living right at our doorstep set a fire in our forest. Fortunately, the Shaman had returned from the Northern Realm—otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable... At the time, although the Elven Queen didn’t show any extra emotion, as her child, you should have felt a trace of her anger.”
“Sister Kui... I should go now...” Aislin gathered the copy from the table and said softly.
“Alright. Go on. Remember to work hard—we’ve all actually been quite optimistic about you.”
“Thank you...”
“Haha, no need for thanks. When you have time, just bring your little partner to my place for a visit and introduce her to everyone. These days, quite a few elves are very interested in the partner you found!”
“...”
Sure enough, as long as an elf was even slightly well-informed, they all knew she had a partner.
But no elf knew that this partner was only temporary. Probably, by the day Vieya left the Elven Forest, those gossip-loving elves would already be spreading all kinds of bizarre rumors—like the princess had fought and broken up, or driven her partner away...
Too terrifying.
Aislin said nothing and dragged Vieya away from the task office as if fleeing.
Behind them, a certain elf’s laughter carried far.
Only after they had ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) gone a good distance from the task office did Aislin slow her pace.
Seeing Aislin’s mouse-seeing-a-cat demeanor, Vieya immediately asked curiously,
“Are you old friends?”
“Yes and no. Sister Kui is from my mother’s generation.”
Aislin shook her head in explanation.
“I should have called her aunt, but she said ‘aunt’ sounded too old and wouldn’t let me, so I can only call her sister. Alright, this task location isn’t far from Vilanors—it’s just outside the city. And fairies are nocturnal creatures; this hour is exactly when they’re active... Let’s go ask them what the task is about.”
As she finished speaking, Aislin continued leading Vieya toward the city gates, handing the task slip to Vieya to look at.
“Commissioning fairies... Nightwish?”
