Calling out to Lian wasn't really because she was tired.
It was just that after turning into a girl, she had become shorter too.
Walking on this kind of path was truly difficult;
she just wanted to stop and rest for a moment.
After resting a bit and preparing to walk again…
It still seemed really hard to traverse.
When it came down to it…
Would it really be better to let him carry her?
Buried in her foolish thoughts, she stood rigidly in place, struggling internally.
But before she could reach a decision, an arm swept across her waist.
"Eeek!"
The next moment, Lian lifted her up and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
H-hoisted onto his shoulder!
"L-Lian, sir… I'm going to fall!"
Célia's voice was frantic.
The man had lifted her so high and then just… kept walking forward nonchalantly.
Without any support, her fair, fragrant legs instinctively clamped inward, but when they brushed against his neck, she loosened her grip, opting instead to clutch his hair tightly with her small hands.
Lian was already tall and upright, but now her line of sight was even higher than his.
Her body swayed unsteadily, filled with a sense of weightlessness.
How could she not be afraid?
At this moment, the corner of Lian's mouth held a slight curve – he was clearly doing it on purpose.
After letting the girl struggle on his shoulder for a while, he finally raised his hand, brushed past her skirt hem, and steadied himself by holding her fair leg.
To be honest – where her leg pressed against the back of his neck, Lian felt a soft, sense of pressure, and that…
Now, Célia's posture stabilized considerably, but her small hands still rested on his head, unwilling to let go.
A shimmering tear welled up in the corner of her eye, and her exquisite little face was full of resentment.
"Wuu…"
Once Célia had recovered slightly, she blushed and pressed down on her skirt. She was furious, but too timid to voice a single word of complaint, so she could only hold it in.
Her slender legs dangled in the air, swaying gently with the man's every step.
But, it had to be said, being carried by Lian like this was indeed much less strenuous.
For the rest of the journey, Célia sat steadily on Lian's shoulder.
Being up high, she could finally appreciate the rare scenery along the stream.
Ten minutes later – they crossed the stream and returned to the vicinity of the village.
But the moment she caught sight of a certain figure, her ease vanished instantly.
Her small body stiffened sharply, as if under a paralysis spell.
It was her older brother!
Kaimete was wearing forest-colored hunting attire, with a green silk ribbon tied around his forehead – that ribbon was the symbol of the elves' symbiosis with the forest, as if binding this connection to nature right between his brows.
He was walking forward when, perhaps hearing the noise, he slowly turned his head.
When he clearly saw the girl sitting on Lian's shoulder, his expression changed abruptly.
It was full of surprise, mixed with a bit of delight.
This was his little brother.
Well, little sister now.
Célia's face burned right up to the tips of her ears.
She buried her head deeply, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
She lightly patted the hard shoulder of the man beneath her, hinting for him to put her down.
But he remained unmoved, seemingly without any such intention.
"It's Sir Lian," Kaimete smiled lightly and asked softly, "Taking this path, are you planning to take my sister to see the Eternal Tree?"
"Correct. Mr. Kaimete, care to join us?"
Lian said indifferently, his cool, gray face betraying little expression.
"Thank you, sir. I was planning to head there anyway. We can go together."
After speaking, Kaimete slowed his pace, quickly falling in step beside Lian.
He smiled, tilting his head to look at the girl on Lian's shoulder.
Célia's heart grew even more tense.
Even though she knew her brother was right beside her, given her current situation, she didn't even dare glance at him.
Ultimately, as long as she was with Lian, her greatest fear was running into family members or acquaintances.
Especially while she was in this girlish form and Lian was being so… forcefully intimate.
Being seen like this was the most embarrassing thing.
There was Karl that one time.
Mother that other time.
And now, in front of her brother too…
"Sir Lian, might I have a few words with my sister, Célia?"
"As you wish."
"You hear that? Célia? Célia?"
Kaimete raised his head, trying to see his sister's expression.
"Why are you hiding from me? Lift your head and look at me."
His persuasion held a faint trace of teasing, so he added directly, "Do you dislike your brother now that you have a husband?"
Ever since the matter with Cèxi was resolved, Lian's image in Kaimete's mind had improved dramatically.
Most of his previous prejudice and fear had dissipated.
What older brother wouldn't want his sister to marry a good man?
Especially in a clan with a scarce population, marrying a fifth-tier powerhouse was a good outcome, regardless of whether his sibling was a boy or a girl.
"It's not like that…"
Célia trembled, finally raising her burning face to look at her brother.
"Um… Brother, what are you doing here…"
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum;
without listening carefully, one couldn't make out what she was saying.
"I forgot my staff during training. On my way back, I saw you two. Quite a surprise, huh?"
"Ah, I see…"
This was so awkward.
Talking to her brother while riding on her husband's shoulders…
Just let the world end now!
With her brother joining them, they walked on.
Only later was Célia able to relax a little and chat somewhat freely.
Soon, they reached their destination.
Here stood the place the elven clan had relied on for survival for millennia.
It was called the Eternal Tree.
This towering giant tree cast shade over a hundred-meter radius, an extremely magnificent sight. A large area under the tree was almost entirely enveloped in its shadow.
Before the elves reproduced amongst themselves, the very first elf was a fruit borne by this Eternal Tree.
Subsequently, every five hundred years, it would give birth to the next elf.
The biggest difference between elves born from Eternal Fruits and other oviparous elves was their exceptional innate talent.
They could better absorb natural mana within their bodies, almost merging with the natural spiritual energy.
Once developed, they would reach at least third to fifth tier, securely holding the position of clan leader.
This should have been the hope of the clan – with them, the clan could have had several more fifth-tier powerhouses.
Then, relying on their stacked strength, they could have led the elven race out of their current difficult situation.
But alas, that was just an ideal.
Five hundred years was enough for humanity to change eras.
During such a long period, who knows how many times the Hero would have challenged the Demon King.
With such a long interval, how could they not be discovered?
So… rather than pinning hopes on the next fruiting, the elves chose to rely on themselves, cultivating desperately beneath the tree.
This was the place with the densest natural mana in the entire forest.
The efficiency here was almost double that of cultivating near one's home.
That's why Laige and Kaimete had gone out early instead of choosing to cultivate at home.
"How's the view?"
Lian, walking ahead, asked softly of the warm bundle of an elf girl on his shoulder.
From ahead came the continuous clear sounds of clashing swords and the crackling of staff spells.
About thirty-plus people were scattered in loose formations. Some were practicing magic, others were chatting idly under the shade of the trees.