The color of dusk settled… The forest was shrouded in darkness.
In the eyes of the Ranger Corps members, the woods lining the path were now nothing but layered, dark crimson silhouettes, undulating and stretching beneath the first emerging starlight.
“We are nearing the border of the Jingfeng Forest Region. We’ll make camp and rest here today.”
Following the Captain General’s order, the Ranger Corps group set up camp in a grassy clearing with a small stream flowing through it.
Unlike when humans set up camp, the elves of the Ranger Corps used Nature Sprite Summoning to light their campfire.
Moreover, every member, including the Captain General, participated in constructing the summoning ritual and providing Magic Power. Lian seemed rather surprised when she noticed this:
“To light a campfire… you’re summoning an intermediate-level Spirit?”
“The Ranger Corps has always been very serious about using fire within the forest. An elemental Spirit of this rank has absolute control over flames; there won’t even be a hint of a possibility of a forest fire.”
Iyue, who had finished tending to the horses and luggage nearby, explained to her.
After the ritual concluded and the campfire was prepared, the Ranger Corps members scattered to the edges of the clearing—
“Wh-what are they doing? Aren’t they camping on the grass?”
Seeing them nimbly and agilely leap up into the surrounding trees, Lian was dumbfounded.
“It’s a Ranger Corps tradition, little human girl.”
Captain General Alexis walked over and patted her shoulder.
Lian turned her head and saw that only she and the three Small Captains of the Ranger Corps remained by the campfire.
“Elves live in trees, so it’s the same when our Ranger Corps camps. Look.”
Following Alexis’s pointing finger, Lian saw the Ranger Corps members who had climbed the trees begin to arrange special sleeping bags on the branches or tie hammocks between trees.
“But didn’t you set up a campfire? And spent so much Magic Power summoning an intermediate Spirit…”
“The campfire’s role is just to ward off beasts and magical creatures, and to serve as a beacon for members scattered in the forest on night watch.”
“But won’t it be cold—”
“It won’t. Our cloaks are specially made.” Alexis took off the cloak she was wearing and draped it over Lian’s head.
“I really shouldn’t—”
Faced with this sudden kindness from a stranger, Lian initially wanted to politely refuse… but the cloak draped over her truly radiated a peculiar warmth.
“You… are really warm… Thank you…”
While a freshly removed cloak would retain some of its owner’s body heat, it shouldn’t be this warm. Enveloped in this warmth, Lian’s expression gradually relaxed—
“Ahem…!”
Iyue coughed heavily twice, then pulled Lian back to her side from Alexis.
“What’s wrong, Iyue Nairfu? Are you feeling unwell? Do you have a cold?”
Seeing her action, a hint of amusement appeared on Captain General Alexis’s usually indifferent face.
“Take your cloak back.”
Iyue pulled the cloak off Lian’s head and threw it back to her.
“So cold. Since you regard this child as family, doesn’t that make her and me, as a member of the family, family as well? There’s no need for such a big reaction just because I showed her some concern.”
Alexis caught the cloak but didn’t immediately put it back on. She looked at Iyue with a teasing gaze.
“Don’t make me laugh. Since when did the family start recognizing members of a different race?”
“Since when…? Why, since you started, of course? Iyue Nairfu.”
“You…!” Iyue took a step forward… but seeing Lian and the Small Captains around them, including her two disciples, casting puzzled looks their way, she stopped.
“The family wants to bring this up, is that it? If that’s the case, feel free to say it.”
Iyue took a deep breath, trying hard to restore her expression to calm.
“No, you misunderstand me. My personal actions cannot represent the family’s will. As for those questions regarding your status… the family is currently leaving that for you to decide yourself… You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”
Iyue glared at her without a word. Unfazed by her coldness, Alexis shrugged it off.
“Stop making such a face. It’s a rare reunion; let’s get along well.” She was the first to sit down cross-legged by the campfire, then ordered her subordinates:
“Reiya, Se La… go get our canned goods to treat our guests. Lilyia, you take one too, then go take charge of the night watch.”
“Yes.”
Although the atmosphere was somewhat tense, Iyue and Lian eventually sat down across the campfire from Alexis.
A small, spherical Flame Spirit danced playfully within the flames before everyone… It hopped excitedly a couple of times in front of Alexis, its primary summoner.
“Well done… good work.”
A hint of emotion finally appeared in Alexis’s seemingly emotionless pale golden eyes.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she patted the Flame Spirit twice with her palm.
The little spherical Spirit joyfully bounced a few more times, then returned to the campfire.
Just as Lian was gazing intently into the flames searching for its figure, it suddenly bounced towards her.
“Haha… do you want to play with me?”
The sphere bounced up and down in front of Lian… as if responding to her words. Confidently, Lian reached out her hand, wanting to scoop it into her palm—
“Ah… missed.”
Lian opened her hand, finding it empty. But when she turned her hand over, she saw the little sphere, dimming its light, clinging to the back of her hand.
It wasn’t hot at all… because this little fellow could control its own temperature.
And to keep Lian from noticing, it had deliberately adjusted its temperature to be exactly the same as Lian’s body heat.
“What a mischievous little thing… let’s see if I can catch you!”
“…Captain General, we’re back.”
At that moment, the two Small Captains who had been sent to fetch food from the luggage, Reiya and Se La, walked over to the campfire carrying several glass jars.
“Wow… I’ve never seen the Spirit Lord this excited before… you…”
Seeing Lian playing happily with the Spirit, Reiya’s mouth hung wide open, nearly dropping the jar she was holding.
“Sit down.” Alexis ordered casually… but her gaze also lingered on Lian playing with the Spirit.
“To seek out this child first instead of you… this child’s affinity with Spirits actually surpasses yours? Just who is she?”
She scrutinized Lian’s face carefully, then looked at Iyue with a slightly puzzled expression.
“Haven’t I already answered you? She is my family.”
Seeing Iyue repeat her previous answer, Alexis shrugged. She took a jar and utensils from her subordinate and began eating first.
It was a jar of orange marmalade. Iyue looked down and saw she had been given the same.
“…I didn’t expect you to eat things like this too.”
“Because it’s convenient to carry. It’s one of the more valuable things humans brought into the forest… even our Ranger Corps has to spend a lot of money to buy it from them. Eat. You must be hungry too.”
“Yes, Instructor! You should try it!” Seeing Iyue’s hesitant expression, Reiya, who had sat down on her other side, also urged, “It’s really sweet! The Captain General is usually reluctant to bring this out to eat!”
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