《King Renaissance》 Chapter 1: The Song of Forgotten Roots

The Prologue of Ages

Three great races coexisted within the ring of centuries: ¡ª The Elves of Darion, whose crystal-glass towers saw science dance in unison with magic. ¡ª The Dwarves of Kirion, whose underground forges birthed artifacts that made the very earth tremble. ¡ª The Beastkin of Argan, whose chieftains wore the fangs of slain dragons instead of medals. Human tribes came later¡ªstrange guests without ancestral memory. The elves shared their knowledge, the dwarves grumbled but forged their plows, and the beastkin taught them to read the tracks upon stone. Until that fateful day when the ashes of betrayal eclipsed the sun¡­

Chronicles of Annihilation

He entered history as the Red Prophet¡ªa man clad in a cloak of Maltese wolf pelts. His sermons spread like wildfire through dry grass: "Why do the elves'' skyscrapers cast shadows over our huts? Why do dwarven steam machines not till our fields?" When the last citadel of the elves fell, the victors found only the Garden of Silence¡ªhundreds of bodies frozen in prayer, their faces turned toward the black sun. The dwarven emperor, Kirion, ordered an inscription upon the gates: A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation."Here, the wind has died."

The Age of Ash (Ten Centuries Later)

In the port city of Piona, where the air reeked of salt and lies, lived a boy-paradox. Seven-year-old Adiar Elyusei wore a silver mask shaped like a wolf¡¯s visage¡ªthe last gift of his elven mother, whose flame had been swallowed by a human mob. His short sword, Moon¡¯s Tear, smelled of wormwood and old oaths.

Scene at the Port

"The dead teach better than the living," Adiar whispered, adjusting the strap of his maps. His ship, Argent¡¯s Shadow, swayed at Pier No. 7, where tar mingled with fish scales. A crew of twelve souls¡ªa cabinet of scarred fates: ¡ª Rachel Seid, with tattoos of sea demons coiled around her biceps. ¡ª Simon Durr, whose wooden prosthetic tapped Morse code upon the deck. "Captain!" Rachel tossed the helm aside with the grace of a battle-hardened gorgon. "A kraken surfaced at the Silent Reefs. They say its tentacles guard artifacts of the Second Age." Adiar ran a finger along his blade, leaving a crimson dew upon the steel. "We won¡¯t take the beast¡­ but what it protects."

The Beginning of the Voyage

As the waves began to lap at the hull, the boy pulled from beneath his armor an eleven pendant¡ªa droplet of frozen light. Somewhere in the world, towers without soot upon their walls must still stand. Somewhere, his true kin still breathe. Chapter 2: Dance with the Leviathan

The Sea Voyage

For three hours, Argent¡¯s Shadow had been slicing through the waters, leaving behind a pearlescent trail of moonlight. Adiar, leaning against a mast engraved with ancient elven runes, traced an attack plan onto a tar-blackened board with his dagger. The crew nodded, their gazes flickering between the gold-filled sack by the helm¡ªtheir eyes gleamed far brighter than the promised reward.

A Dialogue at the Market of Illusions

"I¡¯ll spend my share on the girls from the Silver Sails!" roared a young sailor, adjusting the holster of his pistols. "You¡¯d be better off buying a brain¡ªif you find a shop that sells one!" scoffed a girl with a sea serpent tattoo winding around her neck. Laughter rippled across the deck, mingling with the cries of seagulls. Adiar clenched his fists¡ªtheir foolishness hung in the air like the stench of rotten fish.

A Midnight Monologue

At the ship¡¯s prow, beneath the figurehead of a weeping wolf, Rachel found her captain, his fingers nervously turning an elven pendant. "Do you not even trust the stars?" she tried to melt the ice with a jest. Steel sang¡ªits edge halted a mere inch from her throat. "One more step, and it will be your last breath," Adiar¡¯s voice scraped like icebergs grinding in a storm. When the deck fell silent, the boy unrolled a map marked Argent Depths. Beneath three kilometers of crushing water, the Answer awaited.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Awakening the Abyss

Midnight met them with the toll of the ship¡¯s bell. From the ink-black depths, tentacles thick as towers coiled around the vessel like a monstrous kraken¡¯s embrace. The beast¡ªliving nightmare of legend¡ªunhinged its maw, revealing crystalline teeth that shimmered like cursed gems.

The Choreography of Death

"Fire!" Adiar¡¯s blade slashed through the air, and the sky erupted with flaming comets. The crew moved as a single, ruthless machine: ¡ª Rachel scorched patches of viscous slime with torches of blue flame. ¡ª Simon¡¯s twisted fingers guided the cannons, each shot finding its mark. ¡ª The boy-captain danced upon the thrashing limbs, leaving jagged stone spikes in his wake. When one of the tentacles snatched a deckhand, Adiar did not turn¡ªanother red smear on the water was merely a new stroke in this bloody canvas. His conjured boulder struck the beast¡¯s eye, detonating in a storm of shattered granite. The final lightning strike seared an elven rune onto the kraken¡¯s scales¡ªVengeance.

Morning After the Storm

At dawn, the captain left a parchment on the helm. When Simon read it, his wooden prosthetic trembled against the deck: "The ship is my altar. Move it, and your guts will become ropes, your screams the creaking of rigging. Elyusei." Then, without hesitation, Adiar plunged into the abyss. The water-bubble spell shimmered like a fallen star, lighting his descent toward the ruins, where murals of dancing elves still adorned the ancient walls. Chapter 3: Secrets of the Sunken Temple

The Captain¡¯s Disappearance

Sunlight was already breaking through the clouds, and the sea lay calm. One by one, the sailors woke up, but something was missing¡­ "Hey! I don¡¯t like this¡­ The captain is gone." "Where the hell is he?!" Simon frowned. "If he¡¯s not on deck, I¡¯ll check the cabin. And if he¡¯s not there¡­ we¡¯re leaving." He strode toward the captain¡¯s quarters. The door creaked open. Empty. Simon quickly searched the room. He yanked open the wardrobe¡ªnothing. Hesitantly, he peeked inside the treasure chest, half-expecting to find the captain asleep after the battle¡­ but no. Then, something caught his eye. A note. Grabbing it, he rushed back to the deck, where the crew had already gathered. "Alright! Listen up!" Simon raised the note. "I haven¡¯t read it yet, but I¡¯ll read it aloud now..." Simon reads: "I¡¯m at sea. Keep the ship clean and do not move it. If I return and find it gone, I will make my way to shore and cut off each of your hands. And some of you¡­ I will turn into women and sell into slavery. Watching your suffering will be my pleasure." Simon looked at them all. "Understood?" "Understood¡­ but where the hell did he go?" "If he¡¯s not on the ship¡­ then he¡¯s in the sea," Rachel muttered. A dead silence fell over them. They exchanged uneasy glances. No sane person¡ªespecially not a child¡ªwould dive into the water after a battle, knowing the ocean swarmed with monsters.

The Lost Temple

Meanwhile, Adiar was already inside the ancient sunken temple. Dark corridors stretched before him, overgrown with moss and seaweed. Water torches flickered weakly on the walls, casting a ghostly blue glow. Drifting in the water were the corpses of sea creatures.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. He had killed them without mercy. Adiar swam forward, heading for the main chamber¡ªthe place where artifacts and treasures were kept. Two final sea guardians barred his path, but Adiar dispatched them in mere seconds. The gates creaked open. Golden splendor unfolded before his eyes. Jewels, ancient relics, chests of gold, enchanted amulets, weapons¡­ treasures beyond measure. Adiar picked up a single gold coin¡ªand froze. An elf¡¯s face was engraved upon it. His expression darkened. He tossed the coin aside, but then something in the distance caught his eye. A scroll. The moment he touched it, his vision blurred¡­

A Vision: The Last Elven Capital

"Screams. The thunder of battle. The stench of blood." "Faster! Reinforce the walls!" General Elmis stood at the heart of the besieged city, silver hair whipping in the wind, his armor smeared with blood. "General! Please! My friend¡ªhe¡¯s been shot!" "General, we¡¯re exhausted! Just a little rest!" Elmis turned to the wounded and cast a healing spell. "You may rest for five minutes. Then return. We cannot stop." "Thank you, General!" Elmis was the hero of the elven people. He gave his people a chance to flee, saving women and children. But when the last caravan departed, he knew¡ªthe battle was lost. "Is everyone ready?!" "YES!" Elmis gripped his sword and spoke the final command: "Adsei." *"Adsei"¡ªa ritual. Suicide, to deny the enemy their victory. Not a single warrior hesitated. They followed their general into eternity.

Back to Reality

Adiar struggled to hold back tears. "They¡¯re all¡­ gone." Then suddenly, the temple trembled. It was collapsing! His eyes darted around for an artifact¡ªhis gaze landed on a golden bow, crafted from sacred wood. Snatching it, he turned to flee¡­ but something stopped him. In the farthest corner of the chamber lay a body. An elf. A young woman. "How¡­?" Adiar surged toward her, grabbed her, and, summoning his magic, sped toward the exit. Debris rained from above. Wounds tore across his body. With a final burst of strength, he broke free¡ª

Return to the Ship

A splash. On the deck of the ship, drenched and bloodied, Adiar appeared. In his arms lay the elven woman. The crew instantly surrounded him. "Captain! You¡¯re alive!" Rachel exhaled in relief. "But¡­ who is she?!" Simon¡¯s voice trembled with shock. Silence fell. For the first time in their lives, the crew had seen a real elf. Rachel hesitantly reached out a hand¡ª "DO NOT TOUCH HER." Adiar¡¯s voice was sharp, commanding. He pulled out a chest overflowing with treasure¡ªbarely able to fit into his pocket dimension. "Here is your reward." "But her¡­ you will not lay a finger on." "Disobey me, and you¡¯ll meet your god. Or your devil." One of the female crewmembers, Ariel, was given a direct order: "Take her to my cabin. Dry her off." "A-absolutely, Captain!" The crew turned to dividing the loot, but Rachel and Simon remained. "Speak. I know you¡¯re staring at me." "Captain¡­ where were you?!" "In the sea. Where else? Do you see a bar with pretty women around?" Rachel sighed. "You need rest." "I know. But I am not a child in need of care." Adiar disappeared into his cabin.
(End of Chapter 3.) Chapter 4. The General in the Body of an Elf Maiden Aadiar told Ariel she could leave, then lay down on the other cot in his cabin. Within minutes, he was fast asleep, like a baby. At the same time, within the mind of the Elf maiden¡­ ¡ª Where am I?.. ¡ª a confused voice echoed. ¡ª Elmis¡­ ¡ª another voice responded. ¡ª Who said that?! Where the hell am I?! ¡ª Do not worry, Elmis¡­ Your fate has been sealed. I have granted you a new form¡ªthe form of a young Elf maiden¡­ ¡ª What?! What is that supposed to mean?! What fate?! I gave my life for my people! They are surely alive and well! ¡ª You need not doubt that, ¡ª the voice replied calmly. ¡ª But I shall foretell your future¡­ The voice continued: ¡ª In a few years, the boy to whom you must swear allegiance will lead a rebellion against the Humans and Dwarves¡­ But beware, his power will grow each day until the moment of his death¡­ That boy is human. His name is¡­ The voice suddenly fell silent, and Elmis abruptly awoke in the daylight. Her gaze soon fell upon a boy at the table¡ªAadiar, who was calmly eating breakfast. Feeling a wave of panic, she jerked upright, only to hear his composed voice: ¡ª Good morning, Elf maiden. ¡ª May I ask your name, if you have one? ¡ª he continued. Elmis clicked her tongue in irritation. ¡ª And why should I tell my name to a human child?! ¡ª she replied harshly. ¡ª Oh, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Aadiar Elysei. I am the captain of this¡­ well, if you can call it that, semi-military vessel. ¡ª My name is Elmis. I am the General of Defense of the Holy Capital, Darion. Aadiar tensed. ¡ª A general?.. ¡ª his eyes widened slightly. Inner monologue: Hmm¡­ strange. In my vision, the general was an Elf named Elmis, not an Elf maiden¡­ There were no women at all, only warriors¡­ This is odd¡­This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡ª Yes! I am General Elmis! ¡ª she snapped in irritation. ¡ª Now tell me, where are we?! ¡ª Eat first, ¡ª Aadiar replied calmly. ¡ª I only know about the Elven people from the stories my late mother told me. ¡ª Don¡¯t change the subject, you mutt! ¡ª I¡¯ll tell you everything, but first, sit at the table and eat. Elmis¡¯s stomach growled loudly, betraying her hunger, but she still refused. Suspecting poison in the food, she continued to resist but eventually gave in. While she ate, Aadiar told her how the world had changed, the status of the Elves, and the fate of the Beastkin. After hearing him out, Elmis sighed heavily, realizing the new reality. ¡ª One more thing, ¡ª Aadiar added. ¡ª Now that you¡¯re an Elf maiden, it would be best to hide your face or stay close to me. But be warned¡ªif we enter the city, people will look at you with desire, and some will attempt to abduct you¡­ ¡ª Who would dare touch me?! ¡ª Elmis exclaimed angrily. ¡ª I, the great Elmis, have slain over twenty thousand humans! Aadiar didn¡¯t argue. He silently handed her a short sword and a bow, both found in the Temple of Kalmar. Then, they left the ship. The sun shone brightly, seagulls cried in the sky. Descending the gangplank, they headed into the heart of the city of Pion. As expected, people stared at Elmis, clearly curious about who owned the Elf maiden. They arrived at the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, but at the entrance, a fat man in expensive clothing blocked their path. ¡ª Don¡¯t be afraid, little one. You¡¯ll enjoy yourself in my chambers, ¡ª he sneered, grabbing her wrist. ¡ª Let go! You¡¯re hurting me! ¡ª Elmis tried to pull away, but suddenly realized something strange. This body¡­ It¡¯s weaker than before¡­ I feel pain much more intensely! ¡ª I said don¡¯t struggle, you little brat! ¡ª Hey, fatso! ¡ª Aadiar¡¯s voice rang out. ¡ª What did you just say, you mutt?! Do you even know who I am?! ¡ª Of course, ¡ª Aadiar smirked. ¡ª You¡¯re a fat pig. ¡ª You little bastard! Guards! Seize him! And take the Elf girl! Aadiar chuckled: ¡ª Lay a finger on me or her, and your souls will be dancing at the Devil¡¯s feet. The guards didn¡¯t move. They felt the dark mana radiating from Aadiar. The blood-red glow made the fat man turn pale. He spun around and fled with his guards. ¡ª Are you alright? ¡ª Aadiar asked. ¡ª I¡­ could have handled it myself¡­ ¡ª Elmis muttered. ¡ª Great. Then let¡¯s go in. Inside the guild, dozens of eyes immediately locked onto Elmis. She felt uncomfortable. Elmis¡¯s thoughts: Now I understand how the servant girls of the Holy Palace felt when the Elven nobility stared at them¡­ ¡ª Everything alright? ¡ª Aadiar asked. ¡ª Yeah¡­ leave me alone. Aadiar scanned the adventurers and loudly declared: ¡ª This Elf maiden is mine. So don¡¯t even think about laying so much as a pinky on her. The adventurers, knowing his temperament, wisely chose not to get involved. Approaching the registration desk, Aadiar placed a piece of Kraken tentacle as proof of mission completion. ¡ª Sarina, when will the reward be ready? ¡ª he asked the receptionist. ¡ª Tonight, the chest will be prepared. The mission was too dangerous, even for you. ¡ª Nonsense. We only lost one, ¡ª he clicked his tongue. ¡ª But she¡¯ll take his place, this Elf maiden. Alright, later. ¡ª By the way, I¡¯m curious¡­ What face hides beneath that wolf mask of yours? ¡ª Sarina smirked. ¡ª It doesn¡¯t matter. Elmis, get ready. We¡¯re leaving. ¡ª Alright¡­ As Aadiar took care of business, Elmis continued to wonder: Why a female body?! Upon leaving, Aadiar suggested they take a walk through the market, and they headed there. Chapter 5. A Deal with a Debtor Adiar and Elmis headed to the market, where they immediately ran into Simon and Rachel. ¡ª "Captain, greetings!" ¡ª Simon called out. ¡ª "Good afternoon, Captain," ¡ª Rachel added, a bit more reserved. ¡ª "Same to you¡­" ¡ª Adiar replied curtly. Simon smirked and, glancing skeptically at Elmis, said: ¡ª "Mind telling me why we need an elf? We could just sell her and be done with it." Adiar shot him a chilling glare. ¡ª "Say that again, and your filthy tongue will be fish food." Simon shuddered and fell silent. Adiar gestured for Elmis to follow, and they continued through the bustling marketplace. The air was thick with the scents of sweets, freshly baked bread, roasted meat, and spices. Vendors shouted over each other, advertising their goods, while stalls lined the streets, offering weapons, armor, and rare artifacts. Elmis, unable to hide her curiosity, glanced around. ¡ª "Interesting¡­ So many wares¡­" ¡ª "Huh?" ¡ª Adiar raised an eyebrow. ¡ª "Something caught your eye?" ¡ª "No, nothing." They continued walking, but a moment later, Elmis spoke again. ¡ª "Listen, boy, is it really okay for you to call me by my name?" ¡ª "What do you mean?" ¡ª "Well, what if someone recognizes it?" ¡ª "Oh, that¡­ Don¡¯t worry. The Church has twisted history so much that even the dwarves believe their nonsense. No human alive knows what your name really means." ¡ª "I see¡­" Adiar stopped near a stall displaying amulets and nodded toward the merchandise. ¡ª "Pick something out." A cheerful voice called out from behind the counter: ¡ª "Oh! Adiar! My friend! Didn¡¯t expect to see you again!" Adiar frowned at the short, balding man with a cunning glint in his eyes. ¡ª "Marsei, don¡¯t spout nonsense. I¡¯m at this market every week. You see me almost daily."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡ª "Ah, fair point," ¡ª Marsei laughed, but his gaze quickly shifted to Elmis. ¡ª "Wait a minute¡­ Did you buy an elf? I didn¡¯t know you were that rich! They¡¯re worth a chest of diamonds!" Elmis bristled with rage. ¡ª "Say that again, and I¡¯ll rip out your tongue!" Marsei scowled and reached toward a metal rod behind him. ¡ª "How rude! I ought to teach you some manners¡ª" But before he could move, Adiar¡¯s glare turned lethal. ¡ª "If a single hair falls from her head, I will make your life a living hell. That¡¯s a promise." Marsei froze, his hand trembling. ¡ª "Alright, alright, no need to get worked up¡­" ¡ª "Elmis, keep your mouth shut for now," ¡ª Adiar muttered. She clicked her tongue but said nothing. ¡ª "Forget it. If you don¡¯t want anything, let¡¯s move on," ¡ª Adiar said before turning back to Marsei. ¡ª "Have you seen Perto?" ¡ª "Yeah, that scoundrel is at the underground arena again. Probably betting everything he has, hoping for a big win." ¡ª "Heh¡­ Figures." Leaving the market, Adiar and Elmis entered a narrow alley where the air turned foul, thick with alcohol, sweat, and the stench of the sewers. Beggars, pickpockets, and other scum loitered in the shadows. At the heart of this filth stood a rundown building with a peeling sign that read "The New Forest" ¡ª a bar that served as a front for the underground arena. Adiar stepped inside first, Elmis following. ¡ª "Hey, look who it is! The Grey himself!" ¡ª "Boys, did Grey always have an elf chick with him?" ¡ª "Damn, she¡¯s a beauty¡­" Adiar smirked but kept walking. ¡ª "Elmis, let¡¯s move." A tall, muscular man blocked their path. ¡ª "Hey, Grey, how about leaving this girl with us for the night? In return, we won¡¯t mess with you." Adiar narrowed his eyes. ¡ª "You want a bloodbath right here? The only way you¡¯re touching her is over my dead body." The man smirked and reached out, gripping Elmis¡¯s shoulder. A sharp sound sliced through the air¡ªhis hand was gone. ¡ª "AAAAH!!!" ¡ª "Touch me again, and your head will decorate this entrance," ¡ª Elmis said coldly. The room fell silent. Adiar stepped forward, scanning the crowd. ¡ª "We¡¯re not here for trouble. Mind your business, and we¡¯ll be on our way." ¡ª "Grey, we get it, but now we do have business with your elf girl¡­" Someone grabbed Elmis¡¯s arm. A second later, his head rolled across the floor. Adiar sighed, sheathing his sword. ¡ª "That clear enough for everyone?" No one answered. Finally, they were let through to the underground arena. The basement roared with excitement. Blood, brawls, money, and gambling. ¡ª "I wonder what would happen if we killed everyone here," ¡ª Adiar muttered. ¡ª "Are you insane?! In this body, I can¡¯t fight properly!" ¡ª Elmis snapped. ¡ª "Maybe, but it doesn¡¯t matter. I found that bastard." He nodded toward a man with absurdly styled hair, dressed in white. ¡ª "Perto," ¡ª he said. ¡ª "And?" ¡ª Elmis narrowed her eyes. ¡ª "You go from one side, I¡¯ll go from the other. Try not to get into trouble, beautiful." ¡ª "Are you kidding me?!" Adiar didn¡¯t reply. They moved in. Perto sensed something, turned around¡­ and bolted. Too late. ¡ª "Ughh!!" ¡ª he gasped as Adiar¡¯s kick sent him sprawling to the ground. Perto flipped over, only to feel cold steel against his throat. ¡ª "Where are the supplies I paid for?!" ¡ª "Hey! Look, I¡ª" ¡ª "Either you return my money, or I¡¯ll sell you into slavery. In a creative way." Perto opened his mouth to scream¡ª CRACK! Elmis punched him hard, knocking him out instantly. ¡ª "Ow¡­ That hurt! My fist!" ¡ª "You alright?" ¡ª Adiar smirked. ¡ª "I¡¯m fine¡­" ¡ª "Hey! What the hell?! No fighting outside the arena!" ¡ª "Wait¡­ is that an elf!?" The crowd was gathering. ¡ª "Damn¡­" Adiar reached for his sword, but¡ª Elmis grabbed his arm and muttered a spell: ¡ª "SHINDAN TELIOS!" A blinding flash¡ª ¡­And a moment later, they were back in the ship¡¯s cabin. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6. Debt and Transformation Chapter 6. Debt and Transformation
Aldiar approached Elmis and, leaning toward her ear, quietly said: ¡ª Go outside and keep watch at the door. Let no one in. Elmis huffed in annoyance but obeyed. ¡ª Fine. She stepped out, leaving Aldiar alone with Perto. ¡ª Now then¡­ ¡ª Aldiar stepped closer, leaned over the beaten man, and smirked. ¡ª Let¡¯s get back to our conversation. An hour passed. Perto kept insisting that he had neither money nor supplies. Everything was lost in gambling. Aldiar sighed heavily. ¡ª Well then. You¡¯re starting to get on my nerves¡­ He stood up, stretched, then leaned against the wall, looking down at Perto. ¡ª Since you¡¯ve lost everything, you¡¯ll have to work it off. I happen to know a witch outside the city. And she¡¯ll help you¡­ repay your debt. Perto shuddered but didn¡¯t have time to protest. Meanwhile, trouble was brewing outside the door for Elmis. ¡ª Hey! Open up! I¡¯m part of Captain Aldiar¡¯s crew! ¡ª a sailor barked rudely. Elmis crossed her arms over her chest and calmly replied: ¡ª The captain said not to let anyone in. ¡ª Who do you think you are?! Just because the captain saved you, you think you¡¯re some kind of diamond?! I¡¯ll¡ª The door swung open. Aldiar stepped out, wiping his bloodied fists. ¡ª I don¡¯t understand¡­ ¡ª His gaze darkened. ¡ª I made myself clear¡ªshe¡¯s not to be touched. Having trouble hearing? The sailor, now stepping back, said defiantly: ¡ª Captain! Your elf thinks she¡¯s above us! She insults our honor! Aldiar raised an eyebrow. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡ª Proof? ¡ª I¡­ ¡ª I have no use for a useless, whining sailor. ¡ª Damn¡­ ¡ª The man gritted his teeth. ¡ª I am Rigurd! I challenge you to a duel, you little bastard! Aldiar smirked. ¡ª If you want to die, why not? The crew quickly gathered in a circle, eager to witness the fight. Simon and Rachel emerged from their cabins, also watching. Aldiar stepped into the center. Rigurd drew his sword and lunged forward. Metal clashed against metal. But Aldiar¡­ simply stood there. His blade effortlessly parried the attacks as if it were mere child¡¯s play. Rigurd grew faster and faster¡­ until his own body began cutting itself. He could no longer control his movements. But before anything else happened, Elmis stepped forward. Her short sword flashed through the air. A single moment¡ªRigurd was cleaved in two. Blood splattered across the deck. The crowd recoiled. Simon and Rachel instinctively took a step back. Aldiar, however, simply smiled in satisfaction. ¡ª Alright, break it up! Show¡¯s over! He turned to Elmis and nodded toward the cabin. ¡ª Get inside. When they entered, Elmis saw the battered Perto. She merely snorted. ¡ª Deserved. Aldiar clasped a slave collar around Perto¡¯s neck. ¡ª Get up. Perto obediently rose. ¡ª Let¡¯s go. The Path to the Witch They left the ship and headed toward the city gates. Upon seeing Aldiar¡¯s mask, the guards immediately stepped aside but stopped Elmis. ¡ª She¡¯s with me, ¡ª Aldiar said curtly. No further questions. On the way, Elmis frowned and asked: ¡ª Hey, kid, where are we going? ¡ª To a witch. Perto owes me a great deal, and he will repay it. There¡¯s a way to make even more money. ¡ª Part legal, part not? ¡ª You catch on quick. Elmis didn¡¯t ask further. Finally, they reached the witch¡¯s house. ¡ª Damn¡­ ¡ª Perto panicked. ¡ª Aldiar! I¡¯ll work off my debt some other way! Aldiar grinned. ¡ª Beastkin fetch a higher price than a chest of gold. Perto turned pale. Aldiar knocked. The door swung open. Standing in the doorway was Lilith, a tall woman with long silvery hair and a mischievous smile. ¡ª Oh, dear Aldiar. What a pleasant surprise. They stepped inside. ¡ª Elmis, sit down, ¡ª Aldiar said. The elf silently took the nearest seat, observing. ¡ª Lilith, I need you to turn him into a beastkin. The witch smirked. ¡ª Perhaps. But I need payment. Her gaze lingered on Elmis. ¡ª How about this elf? Aldiar placed a hand on his sword hilt. ¡ª If you so much as suggest that again, your head will be on a spike. Lilith laughed. ¡ª Alright, alright, just joking. Aldiar tossed her a pouch of silver. ¡ª Here. ¡ª A fine payment. But I need assistance. ¡ª What do you need? ¡ª Bring me a female animal. Aldiar left without a word and returned a minute later with a dead rabbit. Lilith narrowed her eyes. ¡ª You¡¯re a terrifying child, Aldiar. ¡ª I hear no objections. She sighed and began the ritual. Magic filled the air. Chains kept Perto from moving. His soul was extracted¡­ And transferred into the rabbit¡¯s body. Perto shrieked¡­ His form began to change. Magic warped his human features, reshaping him into something between man and beast. Aldiar lent the witch some of his mana to keep her from collapsing. Minutes later, a new Perto stood before them¡ªa beastkin hybrid. ¡ª It¡¯s done, ¡ª Lilith declared. Aldiar nodded, tossed her the remaining payment, and gestured to Elmis. ¡ª We¡¯re leaving. The elf stood, casting one last glance at the witch and her latest "artistic project," before following Aldiar back to the city, leaving the newly transformed Perto with Lilith for the time being.
End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7: The Price of Freedom Chapter 7: The Price of Freedom
Adiar and Elmis returned aboard the ship. The crew was busy with their tasks¡ªsome were cleaning the deck, others repairing the rigging. Rachel approached Adiar. ¡ª Captain, can we talk for a moment? Adiar nodded, then turned to Elmis. ¡ª Do whatever you want. Elmis nodded silently and disappeared into the cabin. Rachel hesitated for a moment but finally asked: ¡ª Captain, why do you keep that elf around? She doesn¡¯t do anything useful¡ªjust follows you around. ¡ª That¡¯s my business, ¡ª Adiar cut her off. Rachel gave a short nod and left. Adiar entered the cabin, intending to say something, but saw that Elmis was already sound asleep on one of the beds. Not wanting to wake her, he quietly closed the door. As he stepped out, he muttered: ¡ª Even if you''re a general, Elmis... I¡¯ll be the first to earn your respect... May my mother rest in peace¡­ He headed below deck, where the crew had gathered. ¡ª Captain! You¡¯re back already? ¡ª Simon greeted him. ¡ª As you can see, old man. ¡ª I¡¯m only forty-eight! I¡¯m still young! ¡ª Not the point, ¡ª Adiar dismissed him. ¡ª Did you find a buyer? ¡ª Yes, ¡ª Rachel chimed in. ¡ª He¡¯s an unpleasant guy, but he pays well. ¡ª How much? ¡ª Twenty red rubies for the half-blood beastkin, ¡ª Simon replied. ¡ª Not bad... The main thing is that it¡¯s enough for the expedition. The rest doesn¡¯t matter. One of the sailors hesitantly raised a hand. ¡ª Captain, where are we going? And what¡¯s the purpose of the expedition? Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡ª We¡¯re searching for traces of elven and beastkin civilizations, ¡ª Adiar announced. ¡ª According to church legends, they were nearly wiped out, but I want to see if that¡¯s true. If we find any survivors beyond the continent, we¡¯ll make history! ¡ª We¡¯ll make history! ¡ª the crew cheered. But only Adiar knew his true intentions were far darker. He had no plans to share the discovery with the world. Once they found the continent, he would eliminate the entire crew... except for Elmis.
Late at night, after finishing discussions about the route, Adiar stepped onto the deck before returning to his cabin to sleep. He had a strange dream¡ªas if an invisible hand was drawing a new route before him, leading to an unknown continent... The next morning, he woke up early, took a clean map, and marked the path he had seen in the dream. When Elmis woke up, Adiar was already setting the table for breakfast. ¡ª Good morning, ¡ª she greeted him, stretching. ¡ª Morning, ¡ª he replied, sitting down. During breakfast, he told her about the expedition. ¡ª You¡¯re coming with us, of course. Elmis nodded silently. ¡ª Today, we¡¯re meeting an unpleasant man. We¡¯re selling him Perto... for a good price. Elmis nodded indifferently, as if it had nothing to do with her. After breakfast, Adiar handed her a pouch of coins. ¡ª Take the day off. Tonight, we¡¯ll have a lot of guests. He left to check the ship¡¯s condition and supplies, while Elmis decided to take a walk around the city. However, she soon noticed the suspicious glances people were giving her. ¡ª What¡¯s an elf doing walking around alone? ¡ª a voice called out. She turned and saw three adventurers. ¡ª You¡¯d only find a beauty like her on the black market! ¡ª one of them sneered. ¡ª Young, expensive¡­ Elmis gripped her sword but held back. ¡ª Wait a minute, ¡ª the third one interrupted. ¡ª Isn¡¯t she the elf who¡¯s always with the Devil¡¯s Wolf? ¡ª You mean Adiar?! ¡ª the second one flinched. ¡ª I heard that during a mission in Aster, he burned the faces off captured bandits before setting them on fire! Elmis tensed inwardly. ¡ª I know too little about him¡­ While they were chatting, she quietly slipped into the crowd.
Returning to the ship, she saw Adiar arguing with a richly dressed man. ¡ª I won¡¯t sell the beastkin without full payment! ¡ª Adiar snapped. ¡ª It¡¯s all written here! Just sign, and I¡¯ll bring the missing rubies later! ¡ª I need the money now. Elmis was about to walk past when the man suddenly looked at her. ¡ª Then let¡¯s make a new deal, ¡ª he smirked. ¡ª A chest of diamonds for this elf. Silence fell over the deck. Adiar slowly drew his short sword. ¡ª Say that again. ¡ª You know how much elves are worth¡­ Adiar lunged forward, but the sailors immediately grabbed him. ¡ª Captain, calm down! But even several men couldn¡¯t hold him back. Elmis stepped closer¡­ and suddenly embraced him. ¡ª Calm down. Adiar froze. Then, slowly, he lowered his sword¡­ and even smiled. ¡ª I thought he only smiled when killing someone, ¡ª Rachel muttered. ¡ª What a shock, ¡ª Simon agreed. In the end, the buyer agreed to pay the full amount immediately. After checking the contract, Adiar signed it. ¡ª The slave is waiting outside the city, at the witch¡¯s house, ¡ª he said coldly. The displeased buyer left with his guards. Elmis looked at Adiar. ¡ª Thank you. He only smirked.
"End of Chapter Seven." Chapter 8: "The Captain鈥檚 Wrath and Aristocratic Swine"
Chapter 8: "The Captain¡¯s Wrath and Aristocratic Swine"
Hour after hour, suppliers arrived at the ship. The last one came closer to nightfall, delivering documents, fabrics, and other supplies. Adiar paid for everything, and the crew set to work storing the final cargo. Once the loading was complete, everyone retired to their cabins. Adiar and Elmis went to sleep like the rest¡ªexcept for Rachel and Simon. Rachel approached his cabin door and knocked: ¡ª Simon, are you awake? ¡ª No, but you can come in, ¡ª he replied. Rachel stepped inside and hesitated for a moment before speaking: ¡ª Listen, don¡¯t you think the captain is too soft on that elf? She doesn¡¯t really do anything¡ªjust follows him around like a lost puppy! It¡¯s so irritating¡­ He¡¯s always been ruthless and cold to everyone¡ªexcept maybe the poor. Simon smirked. ¡ª Are you saying he¡¯s in love? Rachel frowned. ¡ª Maybe¡­ But tell me, haven¡¯t you ever found it strange that the captain, even at seven years old, was already so merciless? Why does he fly into a rage every time someone mentions his mother? Simon fell silent for a moment, then stepped closer and hugged her. ¡ª Don¡¯t overthink it, ¡ª he said. ¡ª But you do have a point¡­ When I first met Adiar, even the guild leader turned pale from what he had done¡­ Rachel tensed. ¡ª Tell me. Simon nodded and began recounting the events of two years ago, the day he would never forget¡­ And that night, they shared a moment of passion.
The morning was cool. The crew had already gathered, and Adiar was counting the men when the guild leader¡¯s deputy, Arcest, approached him. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡ª Captain, the guild leader demands your presence in his office. Adiar instantly knew it was serious. He nodded to Elmis, and the two of them headed for the guild. Upon entering the office, they heard the guild leader¡¯s raspy voice. ¡ª Adiar, boy, do you even know why I called you here? Adiar shrugged. ¡ª Another dangerous mission? ¡ª No, you idiot! I¡¯m talking about your expedition! I found out about it a week ago and waited for you to come and explain yourself. But you tried to do it all in secret! ¡ª That¡¯s right, ¡ª Adiar answered calmly. Tardo sighed in frustration and launched into a long lecture about laws, the ban on such voyages without the crown¡¯s permission, and the fact that two sons of an influential count would be accompanying him. Adiar held back his irritation and nodded in agreement. Elmis observed him, noting how his frustration only grew after the conversation. Back on the ship, they were met by their new passengers¡ªAlbrecht von Windheim and Albrecht von Waruchtein. Seeing them, Adiar grimaced and muttered: ¡ª Aristocratic roosters¡­ Elmis elbowed him. ¡ª Relax, kid. The highborn young men greeted the crew and Adiar with practiced grace. Elmis stepped forward to introduce herself. ¡ª Pleased to mee¡ª But she was immediately cut off. ¡ª What is a filthy elf doing on this ship?! ¡ª Windheim exclaimed in disgust. ¡ª Calm down, brother, ¡ª Waruchtein smirked. ¡ª Perhaps she belongs to the little captain¡­ for his nighttime pleasures. Those words struck not only Elmis but also Adiar. His face darkened, and his voice turned to ice. ¡ª Excuse me, what did you just say? Nighttime pleasures? ¡ª Yes, is something wrong? ¡ª Waruchtein grinned. Simon, seeing that Adiar was about to snap, stepped up to the aristocrats and whispered something to them. Their faces instantly turned pale. Hastily, they stammered out apologies and handed Adiar a letter. Adiar unfolded the message and read aloud: "On behalf of House Albrecht, I ask you to turn my foolish sons into real men. I give you and your crew full permission to treat them like pigs¡ªconsidering how they turned out, I raised them poorly." A sinister grin spread across the captain¡¯s face. ¡ª Well then, pigs, ¡ª he chuckled, ¡ª welcome aboard. The crew erupted in laughter, and the ship set sail.
End of chapter eight Chapter 9: "The Price of the Journey" Chapter 9: "The Price of the Journey" Day by day, the ship sailed farther from the port of Piona. For two days, Adiar relentlessly disciplined the two aristocratic ¡°swine,¡± breaking their will and forcing them to become real sailors. ¡ª Listen up, swine, and remember this forever! ¡ª Adiar¡¯s voice was sharp and harsh. ¡ª On this ship, you are nothing! There are no titles or privileges here! You are sailors, and disobedience will be punished! ¡ª Y-yes! ¡ª Waruchtein shouted. ¡ª I don¡¯t hear Windheim¡¯s voice! ¡ª Adiar roared. ¡ª Y-yes! S-sir! I-I mean, Captain! ¡ª he stammered. Two days of humiliation, discipline, and grueling training had their effect¡ªthe pampered aristocrats started to change. Meanwhile, despite the crew¡¯s initial distrust, Elmis began to grow closer to them. Adiar was less than thrilled with her friendliness¡ªhe feared that one of them might harm her. Every night, he wrote in his journal. Tonight¡¯s entry was filled with doubts and memories: "Dear journal, today was almost pointless, except that these swine finally started behaving like people. We¡¯ve been sailing for two or three days now¡­ Damn if I know how much longer. And there¡¯s no guarantee the elven and beastkin nations even still exist. But still¡­ I can¡¯t betray my mother. Luckily, there¡¯s her¡­ Elmis. Even though she¡¯s a former general over a thousand years old, she reminds me of my mother. Mom, if you can see me, know that I miss those happy days. I¡¯m sorry for being a bad son. I¡¯m proud to be your adopted child¡­" He closed the journal and went to sleep. ? ? ? A week at sea had hardened the crew. The aristocrats became stronger, more responsible, but their fate¡ªlike that of the entire crew¡ªwas already sealed. ¡ª Captain! ¡ª one of the sailors shouted. ¡ª Island on the horizon! Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Adiar rushed out of his cabin, grabbed a spyglass, and looked ahead. The fog obscured the land¡¯s outline, but he knew¡ªthis was the place. "The visions didn¡¯t lie¡­" ¡ª Hoist the sails! Faster to the island! An hour later, the ship dropped anchor far from shore. Boats were lowered into the water, and the crew made their way toward the mysterious land. However, instead of sandy beaches and lush jungles, they were met by a harsh landscape of barren rock. Among the gray cliffs, a narrow path led inland. They moved forward. An hour¡¯s journey brought them to an ancient ruined portal, covered in inscriptions in both elven and beastkin languages. Suddenly, Elmis clutched her head. ¡ª Elmis?! ¡ª Adiar¡¯s voice was filled with alarm. ¡ª Voices¡­ ¡ª her voice trembled. ¡ª I hear them¡­ Screaming¡­ ¡ª What screams?! ¡ª Simon interjected. ¡ª The screams of dead elves and beastkin¡­ They say no human foot should step here¡­ Adiar frowned. ¡ª It¡¯s because of us¡­ What else are they saying? ¡ª I can¡¯t make it out¡­ Their voices echo in my head¡­ I feel sick¡­ ¡ª Elmis swayed, then collapsed. The last thing she said before darkness took her was: ¡ª Find¡­ the amulet¡­ Adiar carefully laid her on the ground. He already knew they were being watched. And he knew royal ships would soon arrive. There was no time left. ¡ª Listen up! ¡ª his voice echoed among the stones. The crew lifted their heads. ¡ª Do you wish to move forward? ¡ª Yes! ¡ª they shouted in unison. ¡ª Then¡­ try to kill me. A moment of silence. Then whispers of confusion. ¡ª W-what? ¡ª Rachel murmured. ¡ª I was going to kill you all anyway once we got here, ¡ª Adiar said coldly, drawing his sword. He struck first. At first, it was a game. He used only a fraction of his strength, but even that was enough to deflect their attacks with ease. Simon and Rachel tried to reason with him, but he didn¡¯t listen. At that moment, his gaze fell on Elmis. Her skin was growing pale. She was fading. This game had gone on long enough. Adiar unleashed his full mana. The air trembled, thickened. Space warped under the pressure of black energy. ¡ª Pure black mana¡­ ¡ª Simon whispered, paralyzed with fear. ¡ª I¡¯ve never seen¡­ anything like this¡­ ¡ª Rachel¡¯s voice shook. And with a single stroke of his sword¡­ They fell. ? ? ? Elmis awoke. The first thing she saw¡ªdead bodies. She pushed herself up, trembling. In all her life¡­ in all her battles¡­ she had never seen an aura like this. "Black mana¡­ Black aura¡­ Even the Archangels never possessed such power¡­ Their auras were only partially black, tainted with blood-red¡­ But Adiar¡­" She looked closer. "Within his aura¡­ someone¡¯s face¡­" "An aura rivaling the Mistress of Asura herself¡­" ? ? ? Adiar approached the ruined portal and began repairing it with magic. In an instant, the ancient stone started restoring itself. Only one thing remained¡ªthe amulet. He turned to Elmis. ¡ª Can you walk? ¡ª No¡­ It hurts¡­ Without a word, he lifted her into his arms. ¡ª I know this might wound your pride, but bear with it. They stepped toward the portal. Shouts rang out behind them. Royal guards. Soldiers. Adiar tu rned and saw familiar faces¡ªTardo and his deputy. And then, he smirked. ¡ª Goodbye. The portal shone, carrying them into the unknown. Chapter 10: Cold Darkness Chapter 10: Cold Darkness ___________________________________ A blinding light reflected off Adiar¡¯s silver wolf mask, forcing him to squint as he surveyed the unknown land before him. The wind gently rustled the leaves of ancient trees, carrying the fresh scent of flowers through the air. ¡ª Rest for now¡­ I¡¯ll close the portal, ¡ª he said, turning to Elmis. ¡ª Alright¡­ ¡ª she whispered, closing her eyes. Adiar approached the portal and unleashed a powerful surge of mana. On the other side, chaos erupted¡ªthe island crumbled, sinking into the abyss. Soldiers scrambled to their ships in panic, among them the prince. Meanwhile, Adiar and Elmis smiled. ¡ª I¡¯ve fulfilled part of my dream¡­ ¡ª Adiar murmured. ¡ª And I¡¯m here for the first time¡­ ¡ª Elmis responded, glancing around. Her body was still weak, and without a word, Adiar transferred a drop of his mana to her. As her magical energy restored, her skin regained its healthy color. ¡ª Better now? ¡ª Yes¡­ Thank you. They pressed forward, pushing through dense undergrowth. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡ª Do you know this place? ¡ª Adiar asked. ¡ª Unfortunately, no¡­ The war never allowed us to explore it. We only defended our people while they fled. ¡ª My mother told me the elves were beautiful but arrogant, ¡ª Adiar mused. ¡ª Adiar, what was she like? ¡ª Kind, wise, strong. She always smiled¡­ She couldn¡¯t use magic, but she knew a great deal about it. ¡ª What was her name? ¡ª Asura. Elmis froze, her eyes widening in shock. ¡ª Are you sure?.. ¡ª Yes. Why does that surprise you? Elmis didn¡¯t answer, but her mind raced. Lady Asura¡­ Could it be possible that she was alive? Lost in thought, they failed to notice the subtle changes in the forest around them. After walking nearly five kilometers, Adiar furrowed his brow. ¡ª We haven¡¯t encountered a single settlement¡­ ¡ª Yes¡­ And no tracks either, ¡ª Elmis agreed. As the sun began to set, they decided to make camp. While Adiar went hunting, Elmis prepared a fire. Returning with a slain boar, Adiar quickly butchered it, while Elmis gathered edible plants to enhance the flavor of the meat. They ate in silence until Adiar finally asked: ¡ª What was supposed to be on the other side of the portal? Elmis took a deep breath. ¡ª Our people planned to establish a new kingdom, waiting for the day to return and take revenge for their defeat. In five hundred years, the elves and beastkin were meant to march under the banners of war¡­ But judging by what we¡¯ve seen, something went wrong. Adiar nodded in quiet contemplation. ¡ª Alright. Let¡¯s take turns keeping watch. I¡¯ll go first. Elmis nodded, wrapping herself in a massive leaf before falling asleep. Adiar sat by the fire, staring into the night. "Why is no one here? What happened to these people?" At dawn, they continued their journey. A few hours later, a chilling wind swept over them. ¡ª Strange¡­ It was warm before, ¡ª Adiar muttered, on edge. ¡ª Yes¡­ And the wind is coming from a single point. They followed its source. Before them lay an abandoned village. The stench of decay filled the air, and the streets were littered with the decomposed bodies of elves and beastkin. Jagged ice jutted from windows, stained with dried blood. ¡ª What the¡­ ¡ª Elmis covered her nose. ¡ª Horrible¡­ What happened here? Then, Adiar felt it. Danger. Without hesitation, he grabbed Elmis and shoved her aside. Boom! A massive figure crashed down before them¡ªa colossal, multi-headed giant with fanged jaws of ice. In its massive hands, it clutched uprooted trees, wielding them like clubs. ¡ª What the hell is that?! ¡ª Adiar exclaimed. ¡ª It¡¯s not just a demon, ¡ª Elmis¡¯s voice trembled. ¡ª The last time I fought a creature like this was over eleven hundred years ago¡­ A single one could kill three elite royal warriors of the elves and beastkin¡­ Adiar smirked. ¡ª Sounds fun. He unsheathed his sword, its blade engulfed in his black aura. ¡ª Get ready, Elmis. This is going to be a hell of a fight! ________________________________________ End of Chapter 10