"They underestimated the threat, and before they could even realize it, it was too late. However, the chance to rectify that still exists. If the surviving human nations and demi humans join forces, we might just stand a chance".
Be it Jerrel or the high-ranking officials around him, they all looked at Zerina with incredulous eyes.
Even her fellow Holy Knights were no different. They had never known that their fellow comrade had such ambition.
If there was anyone who wasn’t surprised, then it would be Reinhardt. He smiled at Zerina and nodded.
"She is right. Only by doing what our ancestors failed to do we stand a chance to defeat the demons."
Jerrel closed his eyes for a mont. Then, when he opened them again, they were clear and resolute.
"I see, then we’ll find her. My kingdom shelters demi-humans from dozens of tribes. Ancient bloodlines, forgotten clans, lost descendants. If a High Elf still exists in this world, we’ll uncover the path that leads to her."
After understanding the gravity and full details of Reinhardt’s plan, he felt the sa urgency as the latter.
"Yeah, I’ll be counting on you."
The reason why he even bothered to reveal his plan to Jerrel was because he already counted Rune and the Erald Knights as potential allies. He wanted their help in the future to counter the demons.
After their talks, Jerrel personally led them to the village that was now the assigned demi-human settlent in Rune.
.
.
When Jerrel, accompanied by his knights and Reinhardt’s entourage, arrived at the village, they were t with hostile and cautious gazes.
A stark contrast to the environnt of the new Toto Village.
Jerrel stepped forward first and addressed the crowd.
"People of Rune, allow to introduce Lord Reinhardt Arcknight, Governor of Snowpoint and Commander of the Temple of Light. He hails from Solaris, where demi humans live openly among humans, as equals."
He introduced Reinhardt and stated many of his achievents.
"If any among you wish to relocate to Solaris, you will be granted citizenship, land, protection, and work. I will personally guarantee safe passage and settlent."
Finished speaking, Jerrel waited for the demi-humans’ response. However, all he got was skeptical looks and scornful eyes.
If you think about it, it was only natural. After all, these people had lived their entire lives as property, traded, hunted, beaten, and bred like livestock.
Jerrel might have given them freedom, but the scars of fear ran too deep to fade in a single proclamation. For them, promises from humans, no matter how sincere, sounded dangerously similar to lies they had once believed.
It was not just Jerrel and his knights who were subjected to such a gaze; Reinhardt and his entourage were no different.
Suspicion lingered thick in the air.
It was then that two figures stepped forward on their own volition.
The first to move was Zerina, her purple slit eyes held all the demi humans.
"My na is Zerina, forr Elder of the Panther Tribe of Toto Village. My village, for a long ti, was under demon control. Our days were hell, and the future seed bleak. The light that brought us out of that hell was none other than Commander Reinhardt"...
"He destroyed the demons’ control, liberated my people, and rebuilt our village. Today, my tribe lives in freedom, under his protection."
Zerina held back nothing and revealed the truth to everyone.
Seeing one of their own, a mber of the demi-human race, speak so highly of a human and even wear armor and a cape with the sa motif as the knights, it was quite a shock for them.
Then, as if to say that the surprise wasn’t over, Elina stepped forward. She placed her hand over her heart and spoke in fluent ancient elven tongue.
Her words were like a beautiful lody, a sacred song that was passed down through her ancestors.
After reciting her song, she placed her attention on the many demi-human tribes of the village.
"I am Elina Sylverae Lirwen, daughter of the Silverwood Line. Warrior of the Elves and the descendant of Elfenheim."
The crowd fell silent.
Zerina and Elina... rather than hearing it from humans, it was much more believable for the demi-human tribes to hear it from their own people, from fellow demi-humans.
"I follow Lord Reinhardt by my own choice. He saved my people and restored our hope. Today, he ca here seeking your aid. As such, I beg you all to help him."
Saying that, she bowed her head. Delicia did the sa.
The tension that was in the atmosphere previously shifted. Nurous gazes locked onto Reinhardt.
Although it was still filled with doubts and judgntal looks, it was still noticeably better than before, when they were filled with unbridled scorn.
It was a good thing he brought Zerina and Elina with him.
Seeing a therianthrope and an elf beside him smoothened the process, allowing him to skip over the annoying process of winning their trust.
For demi humans, nothing spoke louder than the presence of their own kind standing unchained beside humans.
Slowly, their shoulders relaxed, and the fear that had clung to them for a lifeti loosened, if only slightly.
Reinhardt watched quietly from the rear, leaving the entire process to the two demi-humans. Zerina and Elina were more than capable of acting out his will.
While they spoke with the villagers, listening, questioning, and reassuring them, Reinhardt stood a distance away, sweeping his gaze across the settlent.
He observed the many demi-human races living in the tribe and their hierarchy. The village was far from homogeneous.
There were panther-kin and wolf-kin, foxes and bearfolk, avian tribes with folded wings like harpies, and even a few sylvan bloodlines like the elves living here.
They all carried their own customs and traditions.
.
By the ti Zerina and Elina were done, the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in a deep amber color.
"Commander, there are many willing to relocate. More than I expected. Most have nothing tying them here, no land, no bonds strong enough to keep them rooted."
The two reported their findings to him.
Elina nodded, agreeing. "They believe Solaris may offer them a real future. Especially after hearing about Toto Village."
Reinhardt wasn’t surprised. He knew the kind of allure Solaris represented. Seeing fellow mbers of their demi-human tribe proudly strut around and announce they were official citizens of Solaris was sothing hard to pass by.
After all, hope once glimpsed was difficult to ignore.
That said, although he was content with the decision of the demi-humans to relocate to Solaris, where they were more protected and their livelihood secured, this was not the reason why he was here.
"And the elves? Any trace of royal blood?"
His main objective was to find the High Elf Priestess and secure her safety.
Both won shook their heads.
"No, the few sylvan bloodline families who live here are not descendants of Elfenheim. Their songs and lineage differ from ours." Elina explained with a heavy look.
Zerina folded her arms, her tail and ears dropping down in dejection as well.
"I have questioned the Elders. Although they seed to be aware of Elfenheim, they have no knowledge of surviving high elves."
So that was the case.
Reinhardt sighed and took out the Origin Seed from his [Dinsional Storage].
The seed pulsed gently in his palm, and when he waved it in all directions, he could feel a slight tug of resonance.
The direction it was leading him was westward. Far beyond the borders of Rune.
Still west, huh.
"Looks like she isn’t here," he stated, storing the seed back.
"What should we do now, Lord Reinhardt?" Elina asked, worry evident in her face.
"We continue to search for her. Our journey has only just started."
Reinhardt knew that the search for the High Elf Priestess wouldn’t be easy. His senses that were warning him of trouble had never proved wrong before.
The demi-human settlent, after learning from Jerrel that they could relocate to Solaris without trouble, were in a happy mood.
Reinhardt and the others didn’t stick around for long and prepared to move out. Just then, a hesitant voice called out.
"E-Excuse ."
The sound was soft, barely loud enough to carry. Nevertheless, it stopped the people ahead who were about to depart.
Reinhardt turned around and observed the caller.
An elven girl stood a short distance away, her figure was slender, and her shoulders tense from nervousness. From her slightly droopy, pointed ears and flickering eyes, it was clear that she mustered all her courage just to call out to him.
Zerina and Elina, beside him, also noticed her.
Seeing the young elven girl wearing an oversized sweater and standing before them while trembling slightly, Elina’s gaze softened.
She leaned towards Reinhardt and introduced her. "This is Lirae, from the Silverbloom line. While she might not be a descendant of Elfenheim, long ago her ancestors shared so connection with ours."
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