Rui was aware they had a matriarchal society, so he wasn’t exactly surprised. On top of that, the dark tint of Gu that made his body appear more shadowy was also sothing that repelled the nature-loving dark elves away from him.
Perhaps they hoped that if they pretended Amare was the delegate, that actually would end up becoming the case.
"We apologize for the confusion," Veruschia addressed him with a more curt tone. "We were not aware that you were the delegate. Please co this way, the Matriarch Pruschilia wishes to speak with you one more ti before we bring you along to West Genora."
"...Alright, I’d like to speak with her one last ti as well."
It wasn’t long before he found himself seated at a table opposite none other than the elder female dark elf.
"So this is the companion you ntioned," Matriarch Pruschilia murmured as she sized Amare up beside him. "Indeed, this continent does have fine warriors."
"Nice to et you!" Amare cheerily extended a hand forward for a handshake.
Matriarch Pruschilia tilted her head with confusion at the gesture, extending her hand out as she intuitively figured out what the gesture was for.
"You humans have interesting customs for greetings," the matriarch remarked. "I shall oblige since we are presently on the continent that you belong to."
Rui raised an eyebrow at her words.
Her choice of words was telling.
She didn’t say ’your continent,’ she said ’the continent that you belong to.’
Based on the fact that she went out of her way to say sothing that was longer, Rui could surmise that the dark elves likely had a different relationship with Genora than humans had with Panama.
This he had partly confird with the Elder Tree, of course, but he had even more evidence that he was likely going to et a different kind of civilization and society, fundantally speaking.
"However, once you enter Genora, we will expect you to make an effort to adhere to our traditions and customs," the dark elf told him point-blank without beating around the bush. "The continent of Genora and its environnt, we consider it be a part of ourselves and we a part of it. Please keep that in mind."
He didn’t expect anything less from a species that had managed to beco extrely advanced without compromising its bond with nature and instead increasing it.
"I will endeavor to ensure that I adhere to your values and customs while I am a guest in your ho," Rui promised. "You have spent nearly forty days on our continent. Tell , what do you think of it? What are your impressions of a continent that was cut off from the true world for one hundred and eighty-seven thousand years?"
Rui gazed at her with an intrigued expression.
The dark elves were friendly, but not superficially polite.
They harbored genuine goodwill, but did not mince words when it ca to expressing opinions that were perhaps not the nicest thing to say.
Even then, the dark elf matriarch appeared to consider the question carefully.
"We were initially eager to explore this continent because it harbored a great deal of flora according to our outer space flora systems," she began with a thoughtful tone. "When we journeyed from the true world to the Panama Continent, we ca to expect a civilization that has maintained a powerful bond with nature. However, in the days that we have spent ti here, it has beco inevitably clear to us that..."
The air grew a little heavy.
"That human civilization does not have the bond with nature that we were hoping for."
Amare stirred in her seat as she winced at the matriarch’s words.
Rui, on the other hand, remained silent as he gazed at the matriarch with a calm, unchanging expression.
"We have communicated with the local flora on this continent right away upon our arrival," she continued. "We have learned so of the broader strokes of your relationship with nature."
Internally, Rui cursed at the tattletale flora.
It appeared that even if the Elder Tree did its best to try to impart a favorable impression of human civilization to the dark elves, it could not manipulate all the information available in the flora network of the Panama Continent.
"The flora of this continent fears human civilization," the dark elf continued with a displeased tone. "They even regard you with terror. We have learned that the lush, vast expanses of nature that occupy much of this continent are a sowhat recent phenonon and that prior to the retaliation of nature, human civilization unrelentingly conquered nature."
It appeared that they never stood a chance of hiding this simple fact from the dark elves.
"We have learned that you were even at war with nature by one who commanded nature with the Authority of Alpha," the dark elf remarked. "And even when we take a cursory glance at human civilization on this continent, it is clear that you are not a civilization that prizes a bond with nature. Instead, the ’Beast Domain’ and human civilization are like oil and water. They do not mix. It is most disappointing."
She openly expressed her disapproval of human civilization.
Yet, she did get in a candid and sincere manner, rather than with hostile or malicious intent.
"However, we are still optimistic," the dark elf inford him with a gentle smile. "We understand that your great civilization is experiencing an epoch that has put it in a state of flux. Whatever happens in these next years will influence the developnt of human civilization for eons to co. We understand that, and thus we are optimistic about the future. We are optimistic that you can learn to cultivate a relationship with nature, and we will help you understand the benefits of doing so. We will help you integrate with nature and make the very most of it as soon as possible."
Rui found it a little condescending, even if the dark elves had good intentions.
Unfortunately, human civilization desperately needed this friendship and alliance, and they would need to grit their teeth and bear their irreverence, at least until the situation of human civilization was stabilized.
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