At the base of the lake, Elaris created an ice bridge leading them to the center while Malunes analyzed the entire lake with a sharp gaze. Enrico carefully observed that specific place. The four beasts they would face needed to be defeated for Elaris to gain command of the blessing.
'So that's where we'll find her.'
[Be careful. If she decides to interfere, it's over.]
'She won't interfere. She wants to see how Elaris performs.'
Who they were talking about was obvious—the creature that guarded the lake. Without a doubt, an Eld'Rhaen-level being, the highest level of power the creatures of the Elven Dimension could reach.
[Even so, be careful.]
Among the elves, the existence of that entity was known only through fragmented mentions and incomplete records—only the Kings seemed to truly know of her. Her true name was never spoken. It was said that saying her name was the same as acknowledging her presence—and acknowledging her meant being acknowledged in return. In the oldest texts, she was called by many names, but Enrico preferred one in particular.
'Wandering Guardian of the Blessing.'
Unlike spirits bound to the World Tree, she was not born from the forest, nor from the lake's waters. She was not a product of the earth or the natural cycle. She emerged when the Elven Dimension itself was still unstable, when mana and reality were still learning to coexist.
She was created to watch over the blessing. Truthfully, her loyalty was never to the elves, creatures, or royal families. To her, the blessing came first, and if anyone threatened it in any way, she would undoubtedly interfere.
'I think the best choice for me is to stay a little away from the blessing. If she senses the dark elves, that could be problematic. She distrusts anyone born from a dungeon.'
[The problem is she might be away from the blessing to observe the other three who came with the princess.]
This creature's form was never fixed. Some accounts spoke of a colossal silhouette submerged beneath the waters, too vast to be fully comprehended. Others described horns of light reflected on the lake's surface on windless nights. There were even those who swore they had seen only a living shadow projected at the bottom of the lake, as if something existed between this world and another.
'I have to be careful with her eyes. They can see through me.'
[You have to be careful with many things, but you can relax about that—I can help now with those matters.]
Looking directly at her did not cause fear. It caused inadequacy. It was as if the observer's very existence was being weighed, measured, and judged by criteria beyond morality, power, or intent. That was why Enrico looked at the system with doubt.
'What do you mean you can help?'
[I now have permission to block mental intrusion from up to ninth-circle mages, so you can thank me.]
'Thank God.'
Enrico pointed upward and waved his hand. That was excellent—but he still had to be careful. The system seemed to receive updates over time. Slow and delayed, but they came. That could mean that the further he advanced in the story, the more updates it would receive.
'If that's the case, I need to go further.'
[That's the spirit. Advance more so I can gain more.]
'What an irritating attitude.'
They were nearing the center when, thanks to his bodily instinct, Enrico felt something moving through the water. The moment lasted less than a second. Even so, he decided to continue without changing his expression.
'That's exactly why the creature decided to move away from the current queen.'
When Elithia began using the sacred white stones, the creature did not move. Lúmen'Thyr, though sacred, was only a byproduct of the blessing—crystallized bones of the living earth. As long as the central essence remained intact, the guardian saw no sufficient violation to intervene. But Elithia's actions went beyond using materials.
The indirect corruption of the Elven Dimension, the encouragement of rejected ones driven by resentment, and the forced manipulation of the World Tree. These actions were not merely political—they could ruin the blessing if taken too far. Still, the creature did not rise from the depths to crush her. She did not destroy her followers nor declare war, because she did not protect territory.
She moved only when she realized the original lake was about to be profaned—not physically, but in essence—and made a decision no elf believed possible. She moved the lake overnight without a single sound or rupture of the ground.
Lake Thalanor ceased to exist at that point in the world and began to exist elsewhere. Not as an object relocated, but as a concept reassigned. Ancestral roots bent to accommodate the change. Mana currents rewrote themselves. The surrounding forest died in the process, unable to keep up with the transition. That was why there were no permanent guards from Queen Elithia.
She wanted distance from what threatened the blessing's purity. As long as Elithia continued to exist as a threat to the lake's essence, Thalanor would remain mobile, hidden, selective. Any direct attempt to dominate it could cause the entity to act again.
'And this time, maybe not just by moving the lake.'
[Why did you say that all of a sudden?]
Ten shadows burst from the lake toward the five of them. They fell at maximum speed, targeting Elaris—but with a flick of Enrico's hand, several lines of fire wrapped around all ten figures.
"Kill them all."
With Elaris's cold command, the three moved. Kai swiftly killed three guards, decapitating them cleanly to avoid unnecessary suffering. Valença incinerated two with a compact fire explosion placed at their center. Enrico moved his fingers, tearing apart the rest.
"So you noticed, Elaris."
"Of course. In the Elven Dimension, I can naturally sense any threat directed at me."
Elaris looked upward and saw three hooded figures. It seemed they had taken too long crafting the weapons, giving them time to find the lake. Especially since she had returned, they must have hurried as much as possible. Valença stepped closer, concerned.
"Did they see the elves?"
"No. Both the dead forest and the elves are under a barrier created by Cavirieth. He shaped it so they can't sense what happens inside. Even with the noise you two made, they shouldn't have found us."
Valença looked somewhat relieved as she glanced upward. They must have found the place some other way. But Enrico was certain those three hooded figures were sixth-circle, and they couldn't afford to delay there—or more would arrive.
"Leave it to me. I'll handle the three above."
Turning, the four watched Malunes pull something from her backpack, her expression eager to test a new experiment.
"But—"
"Let's go. She'll win anyway."
Enrico pushed all three of them together with him into the lake, glancing back with a wave. Before they could even look surprised, they were swallowed by a mouth made of water. Malunes adjusted her glasses while taking several stones from her bag. One of the guards descended with a look of disdain.
"You really think you can defeat three sixth-circles? You're at a complete disadvanta—"
"To have someone trust me that much is a very good feeling."
Throwing four stones into the air, several metal monsters fell beside her. The three hooded figures were stunned as they sensed mana equivalent to at least a sixth-circle emanating from each of the four constructs.
"Sorry to say this, but the ones at a disadvantage here are you."