The Elven Outpost before them was nothing like the crude military fortress Lin Qingyue had imagined, constructed from rough logs and defensive barriers.
Instead, it was a living work of art.
Dozens of silver giants, each requiring over ten people to encircle, rose from the earth to form the outpost's core.
These trees hadn't been felled and pieced together.
Some arcane force, beyond mortal comprehension, had nurtured, twisted, and molded them into shape.
Trunks and branches intertwined at perfect angles, seamlessly merging to create towering walls, arrow towers, and an intricate network of treehouses within.
Emerald vines draped across the silvery bark, adorned with countless starlike blossoms whose petals radiated a soft, ethereal glow.
Silver magical runes flickered across the bark's surface, outlining a massive defensive array that enveloped the entire outpost.
The air thrummed with the breath of life and nature, sweet and humid.
This vital aura collided with the deathly chill brought by Aeldara's party, yet instead of dissipating each other, they forged an eerie equilibrium.
"So beautiful..." Xia Lian murmured, unable to contain her awe. As a Ranger, she could clearly sense the vibrant life force radiating from every tree and blade of grass here.
"A permanent magical construct built from living plants," Su Wan observed with a more professional eye, her gaze fixed on the flowing runes, her voice barely concealing her shock. "This technology, in our world, still remains in the realm of theoretical concepts. Yet they've already achieved large-scale implementation."
Lin Xiyue, meanwhile, peered around curiously. "It's so quiet here," she remarked. "Not even a patrolling guard in sight."
"None are needed," Aeldara, leading the way, stated calmly. "The forest itself is the best sentinel."
As her words faded, the surface of the colossal tree-wall ahead shimmered, and a colossal archway silently swung inward.
The entire forest seemed to come alive, paying homage to its knight.
Entering the outpost revealed an even more extraordinary sight.
Gone was the clamor and dust of human encampments. The ground was carpeted with a thick, velvety layer of moss that muffled every footstep.
The Elves moved gracefully between the suspended walkways and treehouses, most clad in light leather armor or flowing robes, their bearing elegant and their expressions solemn.
Whenever Aeldara's party passed, the Elves would halt in their tracks, place their right hand over their chest, and offer a silent bow.
Their gazes mingled admiration with a deliberate sense of distance—respect for strength rather than warmth for a compatriot.
Lin Qingyue keenly sensed this subtle aloofness.
So, the Death Knight class isn't exactly popular among the Elves either. No matter how lofty the ideals, ultimately, they consort with death. It's only natural for mainstream society to respect them from afar.
Aeldara, long accustomed to such gazes, led the four through the outpost without pause, arriving at the base of the tallest giant tree at its center.
At the foot of the trunk was a tree hollow adorned with vines and glowing crystals. Two Elven guards stood sentinel at the entrance, clad in silver armor and armed with longbows.
Upon seeing Aeldara, they immediately saluted and stepped aside.
"Wait here for me," Aeldara instructed Lin Qingyue and the others before entering the tree hollow alone.
The sight inside the tree hollow shattered their preconceived notions once again.
Far from the cramped space they had expected, it opened into a vast, circular hall.
At the hall's center lay a crystal-clear pool, its surface as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the starlight that filtered through gaps in the canopy above.
A serene and harmonious magical energy permeated the entire space.
Aeldara approached the pool, knelt on one knee, and solemnly removed her fearsome helmet, placing it reverently beside her.
She extended her right hand, her fingertip gently touching the water's surface.
Hum—
A silver ripple spread across the water.
The reflected starlight vanished instantly, transforming the pool into a deep night sky connected to an unknown realm.
Soon, a hazy yet regal figure materialized on the water's surface.
Though its features remained indistinct, the innate nobility and majesty of the figure radiated powerfully through the watery veil.
"Aeldara."
A mature, melodious voice—tinged with weariness and a hint of indolence—echoed from the pool.
The voice possessed a peculiar magical power, effortlessly calming the listener's restless heart.
"Your Majesty the Queen."
Aeldara's voice remained cool and composed, yet now carried a reverence that seemed to originate from the depths of her soul.
"I have purged the undead scum from the border canyons. During the mission, however, I encountered four humans."
"Humans?" The queen's voice held a hint of interest. "More adventurers coming to serve as cannon fodder for that fool Alex?"
Her choice of words... was remarkably impolite.
Lin Qingyue could almost taste the thick resentment of "I'm already sick of this" simmering beneath the queen's languid tone.
"No, Your Majesty," Aeldara reported. "They are different. One of them, a Priest, instantly disintegrated a Stitched Abomination using methods I cannot comprehend. Their power system is peculiar, but their purpose is clear—they are not here for war."
"Oh?" The queen's interest deepened.
"A Priest whose methods you cannot comprehend? Now that's far more intriguing than hearing about how many Skeleton Soldiers you've slaughtered."
Aeldara paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully. "They... wish to meet with you. They claim to have matters of utmost importance that require your personal confirmation."
The figure across the pool fell silent.
Lin Qingyue and her companions held their breath, their hearts pounding in their throats. This was the critical moment that would determine the direction of their mission.
Xia Lian's palms sweated nervously, Lin Xiyue stared at the pool with undisguised excitement, while Su Wan maintained a facade of composure, though her tightly pressed lips betrayed her inner tension.
Lin Qingyue mentally urged:
Hurry up and agree, Your Majesty! You must be overwhelmed by this mess right now, desperate for an external force to break the deadlock. We're the perfect disruptors—unaligned, focused solely on resolving the crisis (and enjoying the spectacle). Where else would you find such useful pawns?
As if hearing her thoughts, the queen's voice echoed from the pool once more, laced with a knowing amusement:
"Aeldara, my knight, you rarely introduce outsiders. Your willingness to bring them before me suggests either you recognize their worth... or you harbor a curiosity about them yourself."
Aeldara's back stiffened momentarily.
"I merely believe they might introduce unexpected variables into the current stalemate," she countered.
"Heh..."
The queen let out a soft laugh, its crisp, melodious tone causing Aeldara's shoulders to slump slightly.
"Very well. Since my most trusted Captain of the Knights vouches for them, I have no reason to refuse. Let them come to Silvermoon City."
The queen's voice grew more solemn.
"These are critical times. The human Little King has been pushed to his limits and is capable of anything. The undead scum at the border are growing increasingly brazen. Aeldara, personally escort them here and ensure their safety."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Aeldara replied in a deep voice.
The light shimmering on the water's surface flickered, and the queen's figure vanished, leaving the pool tranquil once more.
Aeldara slowly rose, picked up her helmet, and put it back on.
Her exquisitely beautiful face was once again concealed by the grim armor.
Turning, she swept her crimson eyes, visible through the helmet's visor, across Lin Qingyue and the other three.
"You heard it yourself. Her Majesty the Queen has granted your request."
Her voice regained its customary icy tone. "However, the journey to Silvermoon City is fraught with danger. Gather your belongings. We depart immediately."
"Excellent!" Lin Xiyue exclaimed, pumping her fist in excitement.
Su Wan breathed a sigh of relief. Though the process had been riddled with absurdities, the outcome was positive: the mission finally had a clear direction.
Lin Qingyue smiled and nodded to Aeldara. "Thank you, Captain, for the introduction. We're ready to depart at any time."
Suddenly, Aeldara froze mid-motion.
She snapped her head up, staring deep into the forest beyond the outpost. The crimson eyes behind her helmet flashed violently.
Without warning, the pool of water in the center of the hall began to seethe with pitch-black death energy.
In an instant, all the glowing flowers and crystals within the outpost dimmed to near darkness.
An icy, brutal will of death, suffused with boundless hatred, surged like an invisible tide from the forest depths, brutally washing over the entire outpost!
"Enemy attack!"
Aeldara's bone-chilling voice echoed through the deathly silent outpost.