The elves firmly believe they are the greatest beings created by the gods.
This belief becomes a source of iron will, enabling them to withstand any hardship.
However, at times, it turns into the poison of arrogance, blinding their eyes and ears.
Elenia is one of the few elves who returned after deeply experiencing the dangers of that poison.
It all started with curiosity—perhaps even a desire to showcase the greatness of the elves to humans.
So, she left her hometown village, walking proudly with grand ambitions.
She had once dreamed of a future where humans would revere the elves because of her efforts.
But soon, she realized the vast forest she once thought endless was, in fact, the smallest place in the world.
The humans she had once scorned had evolved beyond comparison.
Their nations had grown powerful, their cities beautiful, their lives abundant, and their strength formidable.
It would have been stranger if she hadn’t been shocked by the sight before her eyes.
“Everyone, we elves must change.”
When Elenia returned to her homeland after many years, she proclaimed this to the village elves.
She asked if they had ever truly seen the world—explaining that the lands beyond the forest were nothing like they imagined.
But her heartfelt cries were only met with accusations that she had been corrupted by humans.
“This one, Elenia! What nonsense are you spouting?”
“She must have completely lost the purity of the forest after mingling with humans.”
“How dare you compare us elves to those mere humans? You’ve fallen—completely fallen.”
“We must banish Elenia! She’ll only corrupt the minds of the young who are still growing!”
Neither neighbors, friends, nor even her parents saw her as a member of the forest’s race anymore.
She became a traitor who fraternized with humans, a fool deceived by their lowly schemes.
Eventually, Elenia was exiled from the village and driven to the edge of the forest.
She tried to continue persuading them, but she was blocked at every turn, powerless to do anything.
It was frustrating.
When had the elves become such arrogant and self-righteous beings?
Things she had never noticed before now stood out too clearly, making her all the more anxious.
But there was nothing she could do.
If she tried to enter again, she would surely clash with the warriors.
She wanted to persuade her kin, not harm them, so conflict had to be avoided.
Should I just leave?
The thought crossed her mind occasionally.
If she turned away and headed in the opposite direction of the forest, the bonds she had formed outside might welcome her.
Perhaps they would greet her more warmly than her kin, asking where she had been all this time.
Though often scorned, humans were rational beings, and she rarely found them lacking compared to elves.
Some days, she thought of leaving.
On others, she thought no, she should wait a little longer.
She alternated between gazing at the forest and looking toward the human world.
“Greetings!”
A young elf, not yet of age, approached her.
*
At first, she thought it was a lost child and tried to send them back.
If they ventured a bit further, they would completely leave the forest, inviting harsh scolding.
But the young elf, who introduced themselves as Tyreal, shook their head vigorously.
“No, I’m not lost. I came to find you.”
“Call me Tyreal, please.”
“…So you came here because you wanted to.”
“Exactly.”
“And the reason is to learn something from me, who has experienced the outside world?”
“That’s correct!”
What was this?
Had this child perhaps eaten overly ripe fruit and gotten intoxicated?
Occasionally, accidents like that happened when some consumed what was meant to be eaten only after their coming-of-age ceremony.
“Go back,” Elenia said as calmly and firmly as she could.
She didn’t know what they had heard, but volunteering for a burden too heavy for youthful curiosity was something she felt obligated to stop as a slightly older peer.
“I don’t know what stories you’ve heard, but learning about the world beyond the forest is strictly forbidden among our kind. If you’re not careful, you might even be exiled from the village. Are you aware of that?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“And you still want this?”
What kind of child was this?
Astonished and baffled, she couldn’t tell if it was courage or sheer recklessness.
She was about to try dissuading them once more when Tyreal declared:
“I want to change the elves!”
Elenia was taken aback by the unexpected answer.
Change the elves?
They wanted to change the people of their forest?
“…What are you trying to say?”
“The world changes every day, but we elves remain the same even after decades. Sometimes, being unchanging is noble and dignified, but I think that change can sometimes be stronger and lead to greater prosperity.”
It was astonishing.
These were words I had never heard before, not from the village elves or even the elders.
What could this young elf, who hadn’t even undergone the coming-of-age ceremony, be thinking to make such a resolution?
Could there be an outcast like me among those around them?
“Our elves need change. I’ve come here to seek guidance for that purpose.”
“I’d like to hear more. What does changing our people have to do with coming to see me? If you truly desire change, how do you plan to accomplish it?”
Tyreal confidently revealed her plan.
“The Bow of the Mother Forest?”
“Yes. During the coming-of-age ceremony, I will draw and string it in front of everyone. If I manage to do that, I’ll gain a social standing that even the elders cannot easily ignore. From there, I can lead more active movements.”
“…..”
Her ambition was bold.
And I quite admired her confidence.
But that was it.
Unfortunately, it seemed she knew one thing but not the other.
“It’s an impossible goal.”
“What?”
“Drawing the Bow of the Mother Forest is impossible.”
It is a treasure of the elves.
Why else would it be reserved exclusively for the coming-of-age ceremony?
If it were meant to signify the one destined to lead the forest clan, wouldn’t all elves devote themselves to magic and spirit arts every day just to draw it?
“What do you mean…?”
“The Bow of the Mother Forest is not something that can be handled. Why else would it be used only once during the coming-of-age ceremony?”
“…..”
“It’s just a reason to further emphasize the importance of magic and spirit arts to young elves.”
Confusion swirled in Tyreal’s eyes.
She was likely very flustered.
She must have set a goal and taken steps toward it, only to find that her efforts were in vain.
Anyone would react that way. Disappointment and despair would soon follow, and then denial of reality.
“Then I’ll just have to try harder.”
“What?”
“If I can’t handle it now, I’ll train until I can.”
“Magic and spirit arts? Give it up. Do you know how many of our people have tried such efforts already?”
Tyreal shook her head as if to say that wasn’t what she meant.
“I’m not talking about magic or spirit arts.”
“Then what?”
This was it.
Tyreal clenched her fist and held it out in front of Elenia.
“I’ve heard that some of our kin who’ve ventured beyond the forest learn martial arts from humans.”
“…That’s true.”
“If it can’t be handled in one way, then I’ll try another.”
At that moment, Elenia involuntarily let out a gasp.
For the first time, an elf was saying they would achieve something with their own body rather than magic or spirit arts.
Could this truly be reality?
Was it not a dream?
Thud!
“Please, I beg you. I’m earnest, sincere, and above all, desperate. I can no longer bear to see our elves regarded not as symbols of nobility but as epitomes of arrogance in the eyes of the world.”
Something even more astonishing happened.
Tyreal knelt.
An elf knelt!
Even Elenia, who had wandered the world for a long time, still found it difficult to bow herself.
It was simply in her blood as a member of the forest clan to instinctively reject such actions.
Yet this young elf was directly challenging that instinct, asserting her will and pursuing her dream.
“Remember my teachings. Learn to distinguish between those who grovel endlessly and are unworthy of association, and those who bow for the sake of something greater.”
Suddenly, Elenia thought of her master, who had once taught her the essence of martial arts.
Elenia saw hope in Tyreal.
Perhaps this young elf might achieve the dream she had subconsciously given up on.
“……How much time is left until the coming-of-age ceremony, Tyreal?”
“Exactly ten years left.”
Ten years.
After a brief moment of thought, Elenia decided.
Taking the hand of the young kin kneeling before her, Tyreal, she helped them stand.
“I don’t know how far Tyreal’s path will go, but I understand your determination.”
“Then…”
“I’ll help you.”
After all, ten years might seem like a fleeting moment for their kin, enough for them to reconsider and accept Tyreal back.
Unlike herself, who had wandered the outside world for decades, Tyreal had only spent a mere ten years at the border of the forest.
Even if this friend decided to return home later, it wouldn’t be a major issue.
That was why Elenia accepted Tyreal’s request.
“To master the bow of Mother Forest, MU? That bold ambition must be acknowledged, Master.”
Even with a brilliant teacher, it had taken Elenia herself decades to walk the path of MU.
Her teaching ability was only half of her master’s, and the time granted to Tyreal was less than half of hers.
Reaching the pinnacle might prove challenging.
Still, she couldn’t let that grand determination crumble meaninglessly.
That little bit of hope, perhaps foolish, was why she made her decision.
And so, a year passed.
…What??
Something felt strange.
Tyreal was surpassing her expectations so greatly that Elenia was at a loss for words.
Could someone really grow this strong so quickly?
No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t make sense.
Four more years passed.
“What do you think, Elenia?!”
“Oh, yes, well… Incredible.”
Tyreal had reached a level that took Elenia over twenty years of dedication to attain, and they had done so in just five years.
Elenia had to doubt her own eyes.
How?
How was this even possible?
*
In their seventh year, one day, Elenia stopped Tyreal in the middle of training.
“Are you sure? Why…”
“Tyreal, have you ever thought about going out into the world with me?”
“Beyond the forest?”
“I’ll be honest. At this point, I can no longer teach you. If you wish to go further, I’ll need to ask my master for help.”
There were still more than three years left until the coming-of-age ceremony.
Wasting that time wasn’t an option.
“It’s fine if you refuse. Staying at the border of the forest and leaving it entirely are two different matters. Whatever decision you make, I’ll respect it.”
“I’d like to ask you, please. If I can see the real world, I’d be grateful.”
“Thank you for saying that. But there’s one thing. My master is… rather peculiar. You might find them hard to understand. Will that be okay?”
“For my goal, I’ll endure anything.”
What a remarkable determination and mindset this friend had. Perhaps her master would like Tyreal too.
“Do not bring useless beings before me. Unless they possess at least the talent of ‘Thousand Martial Arts.'”
“‘Thousand Marial Arts? What does that mean?”
“It means possessing the aptitude to master a thousand martial arts. Without that level of talent, one disciple is more than enough for me, so don’t bother.”
Indeed, her master had been eccentric and unpredictable, as Elenia recalled.
Even so, she wanted to introduce this young kin, Tyreal, to her master.