“I can’t remember either.”
Ayla spoke in a soft, delicate voice.
“Because it wasn’t anything important.”
“Not important?”
“Of course not. Otherwise, how could I forget… Oh, right, I remember you. The first night you came to see me was the third night after the Royal Capital Incident.”
She had wanted to say the day she first received flowers, but truly couldn’t recall and quickly changed to something easier to remember.
“I see.”
Zero’s gentle voice drifted over.
“That’s nice.”
What’s nice about it, I ask?
Ayla grasped the reins of the Dragon Hawk, absentmindedly watching below for any movement, her thoughts drifting back to half a year ago.
Back then, she had just become the Great Thunder Beauty, still carrying some resentment in her heart.
But as a pragmatist, she didn’t fuss over small things. She soon devised a new plan for revenge, determined to have these gifted girls under her control.
Now, this scene—leading the most skilled Human assassins to seek out political enemies for assassination—wasn’t this the very image she had dreamed of half a year ago?
The only issue was, in her original plan, it was supposed to be her personal charm that achieved this.
Though it had come true, it probably wasn’t thanks to her charm.
What kind of charm, she couldn’t say.
“Ayla, look over there.”
Zero reached out and pointed to a patch of low forest.
“The tents on that side are larger than the others. Maybe that’s where their leader is.”
“Is that so.”
Ayla tried to maneuver, making the Dragon Hawk circle a few times.
She noticed that under the trees, the tents were indeed bigger, and the concentration of Blood Demon Tribe soldiers was higher.
Her observation skills were impressive—worthy of a professional assassin.
But discovery was one thing.
This was the Central Military Camp, crowded with people. Lowering altitude even a little would trigger a volley of arrows.
She found an empty spot on the outskirts, landed, hid the Dragon Hawk, and slipped forward with Zero.
***
The flyers were all distributed.
Smooth and easy—a simple task.
The group walked back the opposite way.
“This level of effect is better than nothing, you could say it’s basically doing nothing at all.”
Leah evaluated the operation.
“If it were the Church of Light—like when Ayla and I were in Harbor City—we’d first tailor the slogans to the situation, then incite conflict between Humans and Sea Demons, using Blessings to heal the injured during the chaos, and the results would skyrocket.”
We’re the true professionals.
The Elves just aren’t up to it.
Vina sighed.
“Miss Leah, every time you open your mouth it’s Ayla this, Ayla that. Anyone who doesn’t know might get the wrong idea.”
“I… What do you mean, get the wrong idea? We were spreading the faith in Harbor City properly!”
“Alright, enough. We’re almost there.”
Celes cut off the strange argument between the two.
“Anything else can wait until we get back.”
She wondered why Vina kept hinting at things that didn’t exist. It made it seem like she was implying something.
Ayla already said there was nothing—she believed her.
Cuiniya saw everyone return and asked how it went, then nodded.
“Well done. You’ve completed your mission. Go back and rest.”
Tereka stepped forward.
“Elder, we’re not tired. We can do more—”
“Go. Rest. Now.”
Cuiniya said, enunciating each word.
Her stern gaze swept around.
The young Elves fell silent like quail.
“If you have questions, ask Isadora. She requested it.”
With that, Cuiniya ignored them and returned to the treehouse, leaving the youngsters to simmer in silent indignation.
“Let’s go,”
Celes said.
“I’ll make sure you all get back.”
After leaving Cuiniya’s treehouse and walking for a while, Tereka finally spoke up.
“We just wanted to help for the good of the tribe. How can the Elder be like this?”
She wanted to find another Elder to complain to, but along the way, not only was Elder Isadora missing—even Elder Leitney was nowhere to be found.
“Strange. Where did they go?”
With no one to be found, they had no choice but to return quietly.
At that moment, Isadora and Leitney stood together by a great tree behind the treehouse.
“We’ve found the Demon Army leader’s location and chosen a Brave Warrior squad.”
The female Elf Elder said.
Only the two of them were there, the leaves of the tree rustling in the wind.
Leitney said nothing, unable to understand why the other had made such a decision.
Decapitation?
If it were in the usual Great Forest, perhaps. But this was the Fallen Zone, territory occupied by the Demon Army.
Though called Brave Warriors, in reality, they were a suicide squad, with little chance of completing the mission.
“Elder Leitney, you are a senior I deeply respect and the eldest among the Council of Elders.”
Isadora’s face was expressionless, her voice neither happy nor sad.
“You shouldn’t have much time left, should you?”
Among the Elves, ‘not much time left’ referred to those with less than ten years of life remaining.
Receiving such rude words, Leitney’s expression grew calm.
“Yes. Of those who knew about those things back then, I’m the only one left. As for the squad you selected—are they the descendants of those people?”
Descendants might have heard stories from elders at home, making them potential witnesses.
And now, these people had been gathered into a squad for a mission of certain death.
“The Brave Warrior squad needs a leader.”
Isadora did not deny it.
“Please return to the Forest with honor. Return to the earth.”
“To keep me silent?”
“No, I trust you. But she’s about to awaken. We all know she will come looking for you. I cannot bear to watch you suffer.”
Within the Elf Territory, there was only one dangerous person who might awaken—a girl who had tried to summon an Evil God 1,200 years ago: Xisha.
Hearing this, a trace of understanding appeared on Leitney’s face.
“I only worry about one thing. If I go, you’ll face her alone.”
“It’s alright.”
Isadora recalled the beautiful Human girl with the large chest.
“The aid we invited—Miss Ayla—once successfully stopped the descent of Yiselis.”
Pink hair and Great Thunder—such distinctive features. Leitney remembered her as well.
“Incredible. Such a thing actually happened… In that case, as you wish. Let these old bones fight for the Elves one last time.”
***
To protect her Dragon Hawk, Ayla landed some distance away.
But that was no problem.
This was the Great Forest—trees of all kinds everywhere.
Giant trees blocked the sky, smaller ones formed an endless carpet, creating a perfect path for stealth.
“We’ll move slowly, keep the pace, and not rush. We’ll definitely find him before dark.”
Ayla said as she walked.
“Even if it gets dark, there are plenty of ways to light the Forest.”
But at that moment, Zero suddenly reached out to stop her.
“Wait, something’s up.”
What?
She didn’t need to ask—seconds later, Ayla heard it too.
A rush of footsteps—or perhaps hooves—from the direction they’d come.
Dilu!
She parted the bushes to look.
The sound of deer hooves grew closer and louder.
Soon, a fierce-looking squad appeared.
Vigorous, battle-hardened Elves in their prime, charging toward the Demon Army camp on Dilu.
They weren’t many—only a few dozen—but their momentum was unstoppable.
But why was there an old man among them?