At the edge of the Elven Holand, near the barrier.
The hot spring Shien used yesterday was still steaming, magic power rising from it.
Unicorns drank from the spring, and other docile monsters gathered, absorbing the magic power.
If this were outside, monsters would fight fiercely for this magic power source, the victor claiming the spoils.
But here, the monsters didn’t interfere with each other, coexisting peacefully and sharing the magic power source. Everything seed so peaceful, warm, and tranquil.
This place was like a paradise.
The Elven Holand was truly a dreamlike place, filled with incredible sights rarely seen in the outside world.
Until a certain mont, the peace here was broken.
“Swish!”
With a whooshing sound, Shien, carrying lika, flickered like an afterimage and landed before the hot spring.
“Whoosh!”
The monsters here were startled. So, timid, scattered in all directions. Others, bolder, watched curiously, seemingly not wary of these sudden intruders.
Shien ignored the monsters and put lika down.
“We should be safe here, right?”
Shien muttered, unsure if he was talking to lika or himself, then exhaled.
“Where… where is this?”
lika, holding her staff, stood there, blushing, relieved to be out of Shien’s arms, yet also a bit regretful and reluctant. Then, captivated by the scenery, she looked at the surrounding monsters and the hot spring-like magic power source, her eyes widening in surprise.
“What? You don’t know this place?”
Shien looked at lika and smiled.
“No, I don’t.” lika shook her head, looking around curiously. “I didn’t know there was such a place in the Elven Holand, or that there was a magic power source here. But why is this magic power source hot?”
It seed lika hadn’t realized that this magic power source was also a hot spring.
Others, like Shien, upon seeing this, would first recognize it as a hot spring, then realize it was a magic power source, and be amazed.
But lika, being an elf, first sensed the natural magic power and realized it was a magic power source, neglecting the fact that it had transford into a hot spring.
As for lika not knowing about this place, that was even easier to understand.
“According to a certain vice-commander, only the Elven Queen and her two legendary confidantes know about this place. The other elves don’t.”
Shien explained.
“Really?”
lika nodded vaguely, seemingly not realizing that this was the Queen’s private bath. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so calm.
“We should be safe from pursuit here, right?” Shien said, then couldn’t help but complain, “lika, your childhood friend is really crazy, unleashing such large-scale, destructive magic in the village. Isn’t she afraid of harming the villagers?”
“Th-that…” lika seed to just realize this and quickly said, “J-Jenom is just a little impulsive. She’s not usually like this!”
This kind elf girl was speaking up for soone else again.
“Fine, it’s not my village, so I don’t care.” Shien rolled his eyes. “But it’s clear that she cares about you a lot.”
“Yes…” lika said, a bit embarrassed, but also frankly. “We’ve always had a good relationship, never separated except for these past two years, truly inseparable. Before I learned magic, it was Jenom who always protected and took care of .”
“Oh?” Shien raised an eyebrow, curious. “Since childhood?”
“Yes.” lika nodded firmly, recalling the past with nostalgia. “Because I’ve always been nervous since I was young, even seeing my own kind sotis made stutter and speechless. It was Jenom who always accompanied , running around the village and talking to everyone, that I was able to fit in and be accepted.”
It seed that lika and Jenom’s roles were that of a clumsy and shy younger sister and a bold and impulsive older sister.
“Perhaps I’m just useless. Since I was young, I’ve always encountered unfortunate things, like losing control of my magic while learning and accidentally burning down a glowing tree, or angering the monsters in the village and being bullied by them.”
lika recounted her past.
“Whenever I encountered trouble, it was Jenom who helped , protected , and took care of , like my family.”
If that was the case, it was understandable why Jenom was so sensitive and worried about lika.
“In her eyes, you’re still the lika who needs her protection, so she’s wary of everything happening around you, and if anything happens, she’ll imdiately take action, right?”
Shien understood.
lika, however, gripped her staff with a determined look.
“But I can’t always be protected by Jenom, living under her wing.” lika said firmly, “Therefore, I wanted to leave the village, travel, beco stronger, and prove to Jenom that I can stand on my own.”
Perhaps this was the real reason why lika wanted to leave the village and travel.
Always living under Jenom’s protection, even lika felt bad, feeling that she shouldn’t be so dependent on her childhood friend, and finally decided to leave the village and seek improvent through a different path.
From lika’s words, Shien could sowhat understand her feelings for Jenom and their past relationship.
“I didn’t expect you to have such determination. Vivian and I underestimated you.”
Shien said with emotion.
In the past, the mbers of Vivian’s squad hadn’t known why lika left the Elven Holand to travel, or what her goals were.
They only thought that lika simply wanted to travel and improve herself, completely unaware that for the Elven Race, traveling wasn’t necessary.
Only after coming to the Elven Holand did Shien learn that lika’s travels weren’t just because she was dissatisfied with her own growth rate, but also because of this hidden reason.
Therefore, Shien was quite moved.
“N-no, it’s nothing like that!” lika quickly waved her hands. “It’s not a big deal, even a bit embarrassing. I’ve never told anyone before.”
Speaking of this, lika’s voice beca a bit dejected.
“Moreover, I haven’t achieved my goal yet. Not only did I make Jenom worry about even more, but I’m also far from being able to stand on my own. If it weren’t for Mr. Shien and everyone in Vivian’s squad taking care of , I don’t know what I would have beco…”
lika was a bit depressed.
Recalling what had happened to her in the past two years, it was understandable why lika felt this way.
After leaving the village, lika had the help of her fellow elves in Larmigion and the protection of Vivian and the others, preventing her from being hard by n with malicious intentions, safely adventuring until now.
After arriving in the capital, lika was also taken care of by Shien, not only living in his mansion for free, but also receiving his help during incidents like those with Magray and Edel.
Looking back, lika realized that she had never truly been independent, always being protected and cared for.
This sotis made lika feel lucky, and sotis useless, making her feel down and depressed.
“For this Peace Festival, I originally wanted to invite everyone and repay them for their care, but Vivian and the others couldn’t co, and Mr. Shien was almost turned away because of unfair treatnt. I’m really useless…”
As she spoke, lika couldn’t help but feel self-reproach, guilt, and sadness.
Seeing lika like this, Shien scratched his head, feeling helpless.
Suddenly, Shien smiled.
“You’re wrong, lika.” Shien said, “Although we’ve been helping you, we also have our own reasons.”
“Reasons?” lika was stunned.
“That’s right.” Shien said nonchalantly, “Like Vivian and the others, they definitely wanted an excellent magician to join their squad and provide support. They protected you not only because you’re a teammate, but also because you have value.”
This was the truth.
If lika wasn’t an elf, an excellent magician, Vivian and the others might have still helped her, but definitely not to the extent of inviting her into their squad and helping her all the ti.
“I’m the sa.” Shien looked directly at lika and said aningfully, “Actually, I’m not a good person. I also have my own motives.”
“Motives?” lika blinked.
“Yes.” Shien grinned.
A wicked grin.
“For example, I want to devour you.”
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