...Three days later, early December in the year 2513 of the Empire's calendar and the 350th year of Finubar's reign, at the Moon Tower in the Kingdom of Saphery, homeland of the High Elves in Ulthuan.
Ryan exited the Moon Tower, clutching his back, and was greeted by Teclis, the High Loremaster of Hoeth, and Belenar, the second-ranking mage. Teclis had a peculiar expression, looking at Ryan with an odd mix of emotions, though he quickly masked it, motioning for Ryan to step outside.
Belenar, however, treated Ryan with considerable respect, due to his direct experience of Ryan's strength.
Dressed in a light, moon-colored robe, Ryan looked visibly tired and worn. Teclis was curious about what had transpired within the tower, but before he could get a better look, a small hand extended from within the doors and gently closed them.
It seemed that Lilith was equally embarrassed, not quite prepared to face Teclis just yet.
"Lord Teclis, Lord Belenar, do you need something?" Ryan asked, rubbing his aching back as he recalled the previous night.
Lilith, despite her boldness in appearance, had actually been surprisingly shy. She wouldn't come out from under the covers, and it took her sister Sulia quite a bit of coaxing to get her to engage. Finally, after a "warm-up match" with Sulia showing the way, everything had unfolded as planned.
Not long after, Olica had mysteriously joined in, leading to a formidable "three-on-one" with Ryan doing his best to keep up with both of his wives and his loyal maid. After these three days, he was indeed exhausted but exhilarated.
The Lady of the Lake seemed willing to accept Sulia's company, with both sisters agreeing to share Ryan, though they weren't entirely pleased with Olica joining. Somehow, Olica managed to keep the Lady of the Lake at bay with a boldness that bordered on cheeky.
Saphery in December was breathtaking. Rather than snow, it offered a sea of dense forests, rolling mountains, and clear blue rivers and lakes, making it a natural paradise of rustic beauty.
The scenery inspired Ryan, who mused that the region could serve as a beautiful setting for an open-world adventure game. He even thought of a name: Genshin Impact: Breath of the Wild.
As an essential agricultural hub, Saphery's estates near Hoeth Tower could yield 8-12 harvests per year, thanks to ancient enchantments from the Old Ones that bolstered High Elf production, far exceeding the era's norms. A typical Saphery farm could produce an astonishing 25,000-35,000 kilograms of grain per hectare annually—a near-miraculous yield.
In comparison, northern Imperial farmlands produced only 700-1200 kilograms per hectare annually. In the more fertile southern regions, like Averland, top-grade fields might yield around 2000 kilograms per hectare, and Reikland's lands averaged around 1500 kilograms per hectare.
Brittany's soil was the most fertile in the Old World, with most plains producing at least 1500 kilograms per hectare, and some reaching 2000-3000 kilograms (like the fields blessed by the Lady of the Lake near her tower, or the duke-controlled estates in the richest provinces).
Kislev's lands were the harshest, yielding only 300-450 kilograms per hectare due to permafrost and alchemical pollution. Only the rare, blessed lands of the Ice Witches could produce around 1500 kilograms.
A grand waterfall cascaded from the high peaks of the Annuli Mountains, with a clear spring flowing at the base. Teclis and Belenar motioned for Ryan to join them at a small pavilion by the spring.
"How are you feeling?" Teclis finally asked, giving Ryan a sideways look. "You don't look well, Ryan."
"A bit tired," Ryan admitted, feeling unsteady on his feet and musing to himself that a goddess was even harder to handle than a knight or dark elf maid. "But I'm fine. What's on your mind?"
"Sit down." The three of them settled into the pavilion.
Next to the pavilion was a row of cherry blossom trees, whose petals were already falling, although Ryan didn't understand why cherry blossoms in Ulthuan would wither in early December. The region seemed to experience a unique seasonal cycle, influenced by the power of the Great Vortex.
Ryan looked up at the drifting cherry blossoms, watching as pink petals fell into the water. He recalled how, just three days ago, the blossoms had been in full bloom, cascading down in a shower of petals, like a pink waterfall. It was pure poetry in motion.
The cherry blossoms at home had also bloomed.
But in just a few days, they had begun to fall.
Life is fleeting, and one can never step into the same river twice. Ryan gazed at the cherry blossom-strewn spring, closing his eyes as he reflected on his forty-some years in this world. He had accomplished a great deal, but some things remained unfinished—some because circumstances changed, others because he simply hadn't been able to do them.
For now, he was satisfied with what he had achieved.
"Due to the recent Chaos incursion, the cherry blossoms have been affected," Belenar explained, noticing Ryan's preoccupation with the blossoms. "But they'll bloom again soon. Like us Asur, we may face setbacks and challenges, but we hold fast to the hope that one day, we'll restore the glory of the Elven Empire."
"The end of despair brings light, clouds part to reveal the moon, and a life of prosperity is but a fleeting dream," Ryan mused, reflecting on the ephemeral nature of cherry blossoms. "At the moment of departure, we realize that flowers are flowers, and people are people. Lord Teclis, Lord Belenar, if you have something to discuss, please be direct."
Teclis leaned on his Moon Staff and, seeing Ryan return to the present, spoke seriously. "Now that you and Lilith are wed, you're one of us."
Ryan: "???"
What did Teclis mean by that? Was he...?
Belenar noticed Ryan's confusion and quickly clarified, "Teclis means that since you're now married to the goddess Lilith, you are effectively aligned with the Tower of Hoeth and the Magi Council. You understand Lilith's blessings upon us and our support for her, correct?"
"I understand." Ryan nodded. He was aware that his alignment had always been with Hoeth, as Teclis had been his direct sponsor. While he might have had other plans originally, everyone regarded him as Teclis' ally, and he understood that well.
Olica had advised Ryan on this issue: "High Elves may tolerate factions among themselves, but their tolerance for outsiders trying to play both sides is very low. Master, you are already seen as part of Teclis' faction, so it would be unwise to keep hedging your bets."
After some thought, Ryan had agreed with Olica, giving the Dragon Horn to the Lady of the Lake. With his allegiance settled, he decided to fully commit.
"A few matters," Belenar continued, adjusting his mage's robe and pulling out a thick notebook. "First, do you need assistance from our Magi Council—perhaps in solving magical queries or receiving magical support?"
"No, I have my own magical system, but I could use some additional books from Hoeth to expand my library," Ryan replied.
"That's not a problem. We can offer you a complete set of Eight Winds magic books at a discounted price." Belenar then moved to the second point. "Since we are now close allies, it makes sense to strengthen trade relations and reduce tariffs. Is that agreeable? Also, there are some items we urgently need, and perhaps you have your own requirements. Additionally, we should explore the potential for future joint military operations. On embassies and setting up offices, we can make arrangements."
The Magi Council's respect for Ryan had only grown after his recent battle against Slaanesh's greater demon. His strength had earned the admiration of even the proudest Swordmasters of Hoeth.
Ryan agreed, and after some discussion, they reached an understanding.
"For the third matter," Teclis took over, "it seems my brother isn't inclined to let you and Lilith honeymoon in Saphery." He paused, somewhat embarrassed. "Yesterday, during a meeting at the Phoenix Court, he proposed to His Majesty Finubar that, since the current situation has concluded, he will soon lead an army north to face our dark kin. With the dark elves at our doorstep, he suggested you should leave promptly. The Phoenix Court has already prepared a lavish parting gift for you... and set a deadline for your departure."
Feeling conflicted, Teclis offered no resistance to Tyrion's decision. Though he felt apologetic, his expression remained as composed as ever.
Ryan chuckled, glancing at the waterfall and flowing river. Tyrion's excuse wasn't unreasonable; if the High Elves went to war with the dark elves, it could indeed become a dangerous situation for him and his party. Both the Enterprise and the Saint Sophia were out of ammunition, so an early departure was likely for the best. The Phoenix Scroll was now in his possession, and Olica had given the Sunfire Amulet to Fulgrim , who would take it with the Phoenix Scroll to Lustria to try to awaken Saint Gilles and break his curse with the help of the Slaan Mage-Priests.
So, even if Teclis hadn't mentioned it, Ryan was ready to leave. He'd been away
from Brittany for too long.
It was time to go home.
…Returning home…
The Phoenix Court had indeed prepared a lavish parting gift for Ryan and his entourage.
They received crates of luxury goods including ivory, rhino horn, tortoiseshell, gold and silverware, gems, coral, crystals, pearls, agate, and glassware. In addition, there were hundreds of fine swords and three hundred suits of high-quality Asur armor, demonstrating the High Elves' generosity. They also received valuable spices and incense, like ambergris, sandalwood, sumac, and pepper.
Finubar had personally given each of them 10,000 High Elf sovereigns (also known as "Dragon Gold"), equivalent to 500,000 Imperial crowns!
Elves are indeed wealthy.
Finubar also had a private meeting with Ryan, during which they shared a meal. Finubar expressed his regret, saying he wished he could have spent more time with Ryan, feeling they had met too late.
Ryan graciously invited Finubar to visit Brittany, promising him a warm welcome.
Finubar seemed tempted but explained that since Caledor II's expedition to the Old World, which ended with his decapitation at Le-Angoulem and the loss of the Phoenix Crown, no Phoenix King had ever left Ulthuan. Phoenix Kings were now forbidden from leaving due to concerns over safety, a restriction reinforced by Tyrion and Teclis themselves.
"They won't let me leave Ulthuan," Finubar admitted with a wry smile. "But you understand my situation—I don't think I'd survive another assassination attempt by our dark kin. Despite years of training, my strength has its limits."
"We'll find a way," Ryan assured him.
After saying farewell to Finubar, the ironclad Saint Sophia and the Asur escort fleet prepared to depart, with Fulgrim leaving a day earlier than Ryan.
At the port of Lothern, Ryan solemnly addressed his brother. "I leave the task ahead to you."
"As I leave the Old World to you," Fulgrim replied. "When we meet again, it will be that time."
With those words, the two stood in silence for a moment. Their paths set, they both sensed that the end was near, each determined to achieve the same goal but traveling different paths.
Fulgrim would remain in Lustria, while Ryan would be in the Old World.
"When will we see each other again?" Ryan managed a smile.
"If things don't go well, we may never meet again." Fulgrim en offered a dark joke. "I won't let Father down a second time. I mean it."
No feast lasts forever, and even Primarchs must part ways.
Ryan smiled.
Yes, if they failed, they'd never meet again.
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