Chapter 195. The Awakened Elf (3)
The Elf reacts greatly to the magic power of nature.
That is due to a bodily structure different from humans, but the process of recovering his ruined insides through the magic power of nature proves it.
And Verden's magic power is purer than the magic power of nature, far beyond it.
That was why he used Mana Coercion as a sedative.
'Certainly, different from a human Mage.'
Verden recalled the past.
There had been several times when he had subdued a Mage with Mana Coercion. Most of them, when faced with that vast magic power that even Verden himself could not fully comprehend, lost consciousness or were overwhelmed and collapsed.
But the Elf's reaction, though similar, was different.
A body trembling.
Cold sweat pouring without rest.
Though his head was deeply bowed, Verden could see the pupils trembling violently.
By all accounts, it was the look of someone stricken with fear.
Yet it was not the same as one recognizing the gap in magic power and recoiling in horror.
Yes, it was more like…
'When I first laid eyes on a transcendent being.'
That was when he had first entered the magic tower, at eight years old.
It had only been a distance just within his sight, but that feeling of facing the tower master as a child was unforgettable. That presence hidden beyond the human form, beyond cognition.
Well, anyway.
'It seems to have worked better than I thought, that's a relief.'
That meant he could converse a little more smoothly.
Verden sat down on the bed.
Then Blue quietly climbed onto the bed as well, and Edmon watched with Mage-like gleaming eyes.
"What is your name?"
"…Karans."
"I am Asher. Over there is Edmon Rodliner."
"Nice to mee───"
Crack.
Karans clenched his molars, revealing hostility.
Then, noticing Verden's gaze, he forcefully pressed down his emotions. Watching this, Edmon gave an awkward smile.
"Heh heh, it seems you are the only one he can converse with. Regrettably, I shall have to sit back and only observe."
That was no matter.
The mouth that would answer was only one anyway.
Verden looked at Karans and asked,
"I ask you, Karans. What is the last thing you remember?"
"..."
Karans's brows twitched faintly.
Then, recalling, a calm voice flowed out.
"I remember killing the human who was in tatters, and you knocking me unconscious."
So even in a state of lost reason, he retains memory.
"You have a good memory."
"That is what it means to be an Elf."
"Good. Then next, when Spirit Blue… no, Foret and I were ambushed in the forest, do you recall that as well?"
Karans slowly raised his head.
He still could not quite meet Verden's eyes, but he seemed somewhat accustomed now. With a quiet exhale, Karans's gaze shifted to Blue.
"…Before I answer, I wish to ask something."
"About the Spirit, is it?"
"Why are you with Foret?"
Karans is deeply connected with a Spirit by magic power.
Then, one day, an unidentified Mage… to be precise, a court Mage of the Estiria Kingdom, ambushed and kidnapped him.
When he came to, Foret was no longer at his side.
The distance was too great, he could not even feel a speck of magic power. Judging from the kidnapper's strength, perhaps Foret had perished… the latter possibility seemed more likely.
He had mulled over that truth countless times.
And yet, here Foret was now, before his eyes.
The body that once recalled the forest's green had turned blue. Even the very nature of the magic power had changed completely. The sensation of their magic being connected had vanished as well.
Nevertheless, the fact remained unchanged, that they were friends, companions bound by life and death.
Thus, he had to know.
Why Foret was here, why Foret had changed.
"..."
Verden thought for a moment.
Indeed, this was less interrogation and more dialogue, persuasion. Since the Elf's experience was necessary, forcing the matter should be avoided, cooperation was the wise path.
'Avoid clumsily fabricating information.'
The Elf too might be able to glimpse the Spirit's memories, just like Verden.
Mana Coercion alone could not draw forth an accurate testimony.
He had to approach carefully. If Karans deliberately mixed in falsehoods, things would become troublesome. It might even become irreparable.
Verden made his decision.
"I saw the memories from Foret."
"Memories…?"
"From the time you were kidnapped by Leonil… the Mage with the gray beard. Foret wandered after you without rest and drifted into the Kingdom."
Verden revealed the information he knew without holding back.
That they had been ambushed by a Spirit in the deep Sloan Forest and had no choice but to carry out subjugation.
That afterwards, he revived the Spirit through a Spirit Stone, and even prepared safeguards so it would not massacre humans in the city.
And that in the end, it all concluded with Karans's rescue.
Karans, listening quietly, wore an expression that shifted moment by moment.
The mixture of emotions made it hard to guess his inner thoughts, but the expression that remained at the end was neither anger nor fear, but joy.
Soon, water welled up at the corners of Karans's eyes.
"As I thought…"
As he thought?
"You are an Elf…!"
…?
***
At Karans's sudden claim, silence fell around them.
The first to react was Edmon.
"A-Ahser, you are an Elf…?! Certainly, your face could be seen that way, but your ears are not pointed, and your magic is not like the Elves I know…"
"I am human."
Verden dismissed Edmon's words in a single phrase.
He turned his head.
The pale green eyes that had been cast to the floor now looked at Verden's gray eyes. His face was flushed, as if meeting a fellow kin.
"…Why do you say I am an Elf?"
"Because only an Elf can restore another Elf."
Karans clenched and opened his fist.
He was not yet back to normal, but there was clear strength in it. To recover this much in such a short time, only a High Elf could do it.
"A High Elf, you mean?"
"That is none other than a 'Manager'."
The central system of the Elves differs from that of humans.
Instead of a king or emperor as ruler, the World Tree, worshiped by the Elves, is their core, and the 'Managers' who tend the World Tree act as regents.
Through the World Tree, a Manager can share consciousness with other Elves, and even perceive the locations of Elves within a certain range.
And guarding the Manager are Guardian Elves like Karans.
This was information gleaned from Drevus's experiment log.
"To regard me as a Manager just because I restored you seems a hasty judgment."
"There are other reasons as well."
To arbitrarily resurrect a Spirit, that is the authority of a Manager.
In order to secure such a vast amount of nature's magic power, it cannot be done by individual Elves, one must borrow a portion of the World Tree's magic power.
"Of course, Foret's resurrection is different from the usual, that I know. Yet, that does not mean his memory and identity have been tainted. And more than anything…"
A strange light flickered in Karans's eyes.
"From your magic power, I sense the same purity as that of the World Tree, my brother."
Because of these reasons, Karans changed his attitude.
Though he despises other races, when it comes to his own kin, Elves are filled with trust and warmth. It was the trait of their race, their unique group consciousness revealed.
Verden fell silent.
He pointed to his own appearance.
"Even though my ears are not pointed?"
"Elves are different from mere humans. We may take appearance into account, but we are not bound by it."
"And if I insist that I am human?"
"Even so, that does not alter your magic power. From an Elven perspective, you are a noble Elf."
Karans showed no intention of bending his claim, no matter what Verden said.
'From an Elven perspective, he says.'
It was the first time Verden had ever heard such a phrase.
The situation was flowing in a completely unforeseen direction, and Verden closed his eyes.
"Asher, are you alright?"
"Do not dare address my brother, human Mage. Before I rip out your beard."
"…Heh heh, this Elf friend speaks quite harshly."
"Friend? I am no friend of yours."
Edmon and Karans engaged in a war of nerves.
Verden quickly collected his thoughts and put things in order.
"Enough."
"Yes, brother."
"You really do listen to Asher well."
"In any case, Karans, I understand your words. If you truly consider me an Elf… then you can tell me what you saw when you were captured by the kidnappers, can you not?"
Verden decided to accept Karans's belief.
That way, things would proceed more smoothly. After all, Verden had not deceived him, Karans had simply misunderstood on his own.
Correction could wait for later.
Karans nodded.
"Of course. But rather than telling, it will be faster to show."
"Show… you mean your memory?"
"Elves cannot share memory unless through the World Tree. But with the Spirit, with Foret, it is possible."
Flash!
The Spirit, flying through the air, perched upon Karans's shoulder.
He had been left out of the conversation, so being called by name must have delighted him.
"The method?"
"It is simple. By channeling our magic power through Foret as a medium, it can be done."
Indeed, there was nothing difficult about it.
Though Verden had glimpsed the memories of others more than once, this would be the first time to share memory directly. He did not know what kind of variables might occur.
Verden did not let his guard down.
In one corner of his heart, he still held caution toward the Elf.
Then it happened.
Karans faltered and swayed.
Still injured? Verden asked, but Karans bowed his head deeply and spoke quietly.
"My brother… could you perhaps find me something to eat?"
Karans had gone several weeks without food.
Even if he sustained his life with nature's magic power, prolonged fasting left him unable to muster strength.
It was only natural.
Verden rose from his seat.
"We shall postpone viewing the memory. I will fetch something soon, wait a while."
"Thank you, brother."
***
Blue was left at Karans's side.
The entrance of the prison was entrusted to another knight stationed at the safe house. Emerging to the surface, Verden and Edmon conversed.
"Heh, to think Asher, that Elf would regard you as an Elf. This is the first time I have seen an Elf show such kindness to a human. Strange sights indeed."
"I feel the same."
"Tell me in confidence. Might it be that you carry Elven blood?"
Verden was an orphan.
He had never seen his parents' faces, nor even knew their names. Naturally, he had no way of knowing whose blood ran in his veins. Truthfully, he did not even care to know.
Verden gave a small chuckle.
"Could Elves and humans even reproduce in the first place?"
"Of course… they cannot. Their overall appearance may be similar, but they are wholly different races. It is absolutely impossible. But if it did exist, such a being would be called a half-Elf."
Half-Elf. Half-Elf.
Edmon repeated the word a few times, seemingly pleased with the sound.
"Anyway, what will you do about that Elf?"
"What do you mean?"
"To be frank, Elves are dangerous simply by existing. You know it as well, do you not? About the nations that were destroyed for having wronged the Elves."
Elves never abandon their kin, and never forget their grudges.
If news reached the Great Forest that Karans had been captured and tortured by the Kingdom, war between Elves and the Kingdom could erupt.
And in that case, the casualties would far surpass the Undead incident.
"So, you are saying we should kill Karans?"
"As a member of the Marquisate… I believe that would be safest. One life could save countless others. But, if there is another way, I would prefer that. Taking an innocent life is not a pleasant matter."
Edmon's expression grew heavy.
Verden turned his gaze away.
"That can be decided after confirming the memory. For now, let us consider a way for Karans to survive if possible."
"…Thank you."
***
Chomp, chomp.
Karans devoured the food ravenously.
It was a barbaric act devoid of manners, yet thanks to his handsome looks, even that seemed noble. After filling himself with steak, pasta, and bread, he washed it down with fruit juice.
"Are you an Elf, or an Orc in an Elf's skin? How much did you just eat alone?"
Dozens of plates were cleaned spotless.
Glancing at Edmon, Karans bowed his head to Verden.
"I have eaten well, brother."
"I paid for the meal, you know?"
"I have eaten well, brother."
Karans maintained his ignoring stance.
Seeing Edmon's eye twitch, Verden stepped forward.
"Are you now prepared to show me the memory?"
"Yes."
The Elf nodded vigorously.