"I hereby declare that from today onwards, 'Anna Hathaway' and her relatives will be expelled from the core area and forced to live in the outskirts of the Emerald Forest."
"I hope each of you understands this."
"Our resources are limited, and we do not nurture worthless individuals."
"Today, human mages and knights grow increasingly weak, and various powers are diminishing. This is precisely the era for us elves to rise."
"Study hard, work on your perception."
"This is your guarantee to continue living in the core area, not just knowing how to enjoy privileges."
The Elven Elder's words were pointed.
Her gaze was fixed on Anna's face like nails, making the poor half-elf girl tremble all over.
In truth, she had always tried her best...
Weren't these resources given to her willingly by the elves?
Even when she didn't want them, they were forced upon her.
Why had everything suddenly become her fault?
Anna's heart was filled with confusion and grievance, but those gazes from the surrounding elves...
"Mockery," "Ridicule," "Contempt," "Disgust" - they were like seals, sealing her lips.
They forced her to hug her knees and tail, trying to shrink her body as much as possible, waiting for the final judgment.
...
...
"Anna Hathaway, you've wasted so many of our resources."
"Shouldn't you compensate us for that?"
A half-elf with wolf ears and tail blocked Anna's path. Soon after, seven or eight more half-elves emerged from the surrounding bushes, giggling and laughing.
These were all half-elves who had failed to awaken their powers.
Because they lacked beautiful appearances, they only had three chances to awaken.
Compared to Anna, who had ten opportunities for awakening perception, they were undoubtedly insignificant.
But this was also the reason for their resentment.
Why?
Why did Anna get ten chances to perceive awakening?
Weren't they all half-elves?!
"That's right, if we also had ten chances for perception awakening, we would have awakened long ago."
"Because of you, it's all because of you!"
"You stole our resources! You must compensate for this, you must pay the price!"
These half-elves shouted, rubbing their hands together as they approached the trembling Anna.
"I'm... I'm sorry..."
"I..."
Anna backed against a large tree. With nowhere to retreat, she could only crouch down and curl up her petite body.
"What are you trying to say?"
The wolf-eared half-elf sneered, her hands, roughened from hard labor, grabbing Anna's fox ears rudely.
Then, she suddenly tightened her grip.
"Ah!"
Anna let out a cry of pain, tears of agony welling in her eyes. Fox ears were extremely sensitive places, and the piercing pain went straight to her heart.
"Anyway, you have nothing now."
"Might as well let us vent our anger."
"For example, cutting off your ears, your tail... what do you think?"
"No, please don't..."
Anna knelt on the ground.
Her pretty face was covered in tears.
She sobbed, pleading in panic.
"Please, please don't cut off Anna's ears and tail, wuwuwu... please don't..."
"Hahahahaha."
"No, we will cut them. It's precisely because of these snow-white ears and tail that you took so many resources from us, and of course, that face of yours too."
The wolf-eared half-elf grinned maliciously.
Her face was filled with satisfaction.
Elves, whether half-elves or tree elves.
This race that supposedly valued peace and harmony.
Had gradually lost their true nature under the twisted policies of the Elven Court.
Of course.
Perhaps the reasons weren't just limited to that.
"Bring the chopper!"
"Stop!"
A feminine shout rang out.
At the end of the forest path, Anya held a long sword, her gaze cold.
...
"Sister..."
"Hmm?"
"Is Anna really worthless?"
"How could that be? Anna is not worthless. Anna possesses the most powerful talent in this world, whether as an elf or as a mage."
Anya's gaze flickered slightly, a smile curling at the corner of her lips.
"But..."
"Hush, don't think too much about it. Father and Mother won't blame you either."
"We can still live well on the outskirts of the forest."
Anna nodded. Although she didn't understand why her sister said this, compared to her confused self, Anya was undoubtedly much more mature.
With Anya by her side.
Anna felt like she had found her anchor.
"Hey, Anna?"
The figure in front of her suddenly stopped. Anya's grip on her hand seemed to tighten.
"What is it, sister?"
"I was thinking..."
"If one day, sister takes away the talent from your body, would you blame sister?"
Anya's voice was eerie, sounding somewhat sinister in the dim forest, making Anna's back break out in a cold sweat.
"I... I probably wouldn't..."
Anna mumbled.
She was just worthless, what talent could she possibly have?
Sister's earlier words must have been just to comfort her, and saying these things now was probably just to tease her?
"That's good, hehehe..."
A weird laugh echoed.
Under Anna's terrified gaze.
Anya turned her head.
It was an incredibly horrifying face.
Gone was the usual gentleness and warmth.
Peeling skin, exposed teeth, protruding, crimson eyeballs.
Behind Anya.
Demonic wings unfurled, the rising demonic aura blocking the last faint ray of light between the trees.
"Si-Sister?!"
"Since you've already agreed, let me take it all! Hehehe..."
Anna covered her heart with her small hand, feeling as if a stone was lodged in her throat, preventing her from making a sound.
Her entire body trembled with fear.
Her legs gave way, and she fell to the ground, struggling to retreat, only to back against a cold rock.
She couldn't understand.
How could her usually gentle and kind sister transform into this?
The demon's claws drew closer.
Anna felt despair.
"Anyone... someone, please save Anna..."
"I... brother..."
"Brother!"
She remembered.
"Roar—"
A resounding dragon's roar followed.
Golden-red dragon eyes opened in Anna's pupils, overlapping, becoming indistinguishable.
Scorching flames consumed everything.
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