In the difficult journey through the swamp, Leo and Dan's strength was gradually depleted. The mist in the air seemed to have a hallucinatory effect, making their steps heavier and their minds start to drift. Every step felt so hard, as the swamp's water flow and sticky mud made it difficult for them to move forward. They were nearing their limits, and the scene in front of them started to blur. Their fatigued bodies were no longer able to support them. They struggled, but eventually collapsed into the muddy water.
Just as the vines had completely wrapped around them and began tightening, creating a pressure on their internal organs, suddenly, the vines stopped. A clear, playful voice echoed through the air.
"Hahaha, Dan, long time no see! I can't believe even you got caught in the vines, what a surprise!" The voice was light and mischievous. Immediately after, a figure leapt down from a high tree branch, as if carried by the wind, light as a swallow. Her golden hair shone in the sunlight, and her green eyes glimmered with vibrant energy. Her skin was as smooth and white as jade, her posture graceful, and her movements agile—just like the legendary elves.
The elf smiled mischievously and lightly pointed at Dan, "Looks like the 'agile assassin' also has times when he's caught, hahaha!" Her laugh was clear and pleasant, tinged with a hint of recklessness.
Dan didn't respond to her teasing. With a slight curl of his lips, he said irritably, "Vivella, stop laughing and put us down."
Vivella spoke softly to the vines, "These are my friends, let them go." The vines seemed to understand her words, and slowly loosened their hold on Leo and Dan. Leo stood up from the water, his newly regained strength making him slightly unsteady, and he accidentally slipped and fell back into the swamp.
Seeing this, Vivella waved her hand gently, and the surroundings instantly transformed. The damp and cold swamp was replaced by a vibrant green forest. The murky swamp water disappeared, and the trees regained their vitality. Birds' calls echoed in the air. Leo and Dan paused for a moment, feeling an indescribable sense of comfort, as if everything had been a dream.
"Why are you here?" Vivella asked softly, turning her gaze toward Dan, seemingly expecting an explanation.
Dan patted the dirt off his clothes and looked at Leo, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. He clearly knew why Leo had been missing for so many years, but he didn't immediately explain. Instead, he nodded at Vivella and replied, "We need your help with something."
Leo climbed out of the muddy water, wiped his face, stood up, and walked toward Vivella. Politely, he said, "Hello, Vivella. We've come here because we need your help."
Vivella froze. Her gaze moved over Leo, clearly trying to confirm whether this person was truly Leo. It was a name she hadn't heard in many years, and her face was filled with confusion and surprise, as if she couldn't believe that the person standing in front of her was really him. She stared at Leo for a long time, still unsure if everything before her was real.
Her gaze shifted to Dan, seeking confirmation from him. Dan nodded slightly, silently supporting Leo. Although Vivella's expression still seemed somewhat puzzled, she finally nodded and said slowly, "Since it's you, then follow me."
Vivella turned around and walked ahead with light steps. She didn't say anything else, seeming unsure of how to start a conversation. Leo and Dan followed her, and even though the environment had turned green again, there was still an unspoken sense of pressure in the air. Especially for Leo, he could feel that Vivella seemed not entirely friendly toward him, or perhaps, facing his sudden return, her heart was filled with doubt.
"Vivella, why do you seem so unfamiliar with me?" Leo asked quietly, feeling puzzled.
"You disappeared for so many years and suddenly appear in front of me. How can I not doubt?"
Dan replied softly, his gaze showing some concern. "She has her own troubles, you need to understand."
After hearing this, Leo didn't say anything more. He understood what Dan meant and silently followed Vivella.
Along the way, Vivella didn't speak again, and the atmosphere grew heavier. It wasn't until they reached a clearing that they saw a small village adorned with pink peach blossoms. At the entrance of the village stood two wooden pillars carved with elven runes, clearly marking the village as elven territory. Vivella stopped, looked back at Leo and Dan, and softly said, "We've arrived. Welcome to Peach Blossom Village."
Her tone had softened somewhat, but the doubt in her eyes hadn't fully faded.
As the name suggests, Peach Blossom Village was truly a place of beauty. The village was filled with ancient peach trees, their twisted branches interwoven to form a sea of pink blossoms. Whenever the breeze blew, petals fluttered down like a pink rain, and the air was filled with the delicate fragrance of peach blossoms. The elves in the village either lived in wooden houses on the ground or in treehouses perched on the peach trees. The treehouses were scattered across the branches, entwined with one another, creating natural sky bridges connecting them.
Vivella led Leo and Dan through the cobbled streets of the village, and along the way, many elves stopped to watch, their gazes filled with curiosity, doubt, and even a hint of caution. They rarely encountered outsiders, especially humans.
"Alright, now can you tell me what you need help with?" Vivella stopped, turned, and looked at the two of them.
Leo took a step forward, meeting Vivella's green eyes, and spoke earnestly, "We need a drop of the Elf King's blood."
Vivella's expression changed slightly, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she asked, "What do you need the Elf King's blood for?"
Dan spoke in Leo's place, "We're trying to save someone."
Vivella's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, then she sighed softly and said, "The Elf King is currently in a deep slumber, and each slumber lasts for three months. He won't wake up for another three days. You can stay in Peach Blossom Village for now, and we'll figure out what to do after he awakens."
Leo and Dan nodded in understanding.
"Then follow me," Vivella said, leading them to a towering peach tree. Beneath it stood a wooden house, surrounded by a sea of pink blossoms, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
"You can stay here for the next few days," Vivella said. "If you need anything, you can ask the elves in the village."
Leo thanked her, and Dan nodded in acknowledgment. Vivella glanced at Leo one last time, her eyes still filled with complex emotions, before she turned and walked away.
That night, Peach Blossom Village seemed serene and dreamlike under the bright moonlight, with the faint scent of flowers drifting through the air.
Vivella stood at the top of a tall treehouse, gazing at the night sky, her thoughts lingering on the figure from earlier that day.
"Dan, come up," she whispered.
Moments later, a shadow leapt lightly onto the roof of the treehouse—Dan had joined her.
"You wanted to see me?" Dan asked.
Vivella didn't respond immediately. She stared at the wooden house below, her voice laced with hesitation, "Is this really Leo?"
Dan remained silent for a while before nodding slowly, "From every aspect, he is indeed Leo. His memory has been sealed, and his power diminished, but his mannerisms, his fighting style, even the way he thinks, all point to him being the Leo we knew."
Vivella furrowed her brow, still not fully convinced, "But he's human. Why hasn't he changed a bit after all these years? You and I are elves, and our lifespans are long, and even the merfolk live far longer than humans, but Leo..."
Dan shook his head, "I don't know what Leo went through. I only met him in Emerald City, and by then, he had already lost his memory."
Vivella pondered for a moment, then asked, "He wants the Elf King's blood. Who is he trying to save?"
"A mechanical doll girl," Dan replied. "Her name is Luna, and she was severely damaged while protecting Leo."
Dan then explained how Luna had been injured during a battle. After hearing this, Vivella sighed softly, her gaze distant and filled with complex emotions.
"Only when Leo recovers all his memories will we understand what happened when he went through the Ten Gates..."
Although Dan's explanation eased some of Vivella's doubts, she still couldn't fully trust Leo. Her instincts told her that things were far more complicated than they appeared.
And so, three days passed.
On this day, the peach blossoms in the village reached their peak, and the petals danced in the air like a pink curtain, enveloping the entire village in a sea of flowers.
The elves in the village gathered around an ancient peach tree, its trunk carved with intricate runes, emanating a mysterious aura.
Vivella stood beneath the tree, her eyes fixed on it, her expression more serious than usual.
"The Elf King will awaken soon..." she whispered.
Leo and Dan stood among the crowd, holding their breath as they watched the tree.
All the elves fell silent, awaiting the arrival of this sacred moment...