"Lynch, we elves have many friends from other races, and you are quite a special one," the Empress said. "Nearly a year ago, you entrusted Anna to bring back the defense strategy plans of Salantir. At the time, we didn't pay much attention and merely regarded it as a gift from a friend. But recently, this document helped us fend off a formidable enemy and kept Heather's skies untainted by evil."
Anna, with her head lowered, said somewhat remorsefully, "I also didn't expect this plan from a friend to be of such great help. If I had brought it up earlier, perhaps not so many of our compatriots would have sacrificed their lives."
"No, child, this is not your fault," the Empress said. "Back then, we were too complacent, forgetting the virtue of humility, and that's the price we should have paid. If blame were to be shouldered by someone, as the Empress, it would fall upon me."
