Following Aeldara out of the Royal Palace Main Hall, they left the magnificent structure woven from moonlight and ancient trees.
The massive hall doors slowly closed behind them, sealing off the queen's unfathomable gaze.
The invisible pressure that had weighed upon them finally dissipated completely.
"Whew—" Lin Xiyue exhaled a long breath, her entire body relaxing. She patted her still-stiff back.
"Oh my god, my back was completely frozen! I swear, I felt like if I'd breathed even slightly too loudly, Her Majesty the Queen's gaze would have pierced right through me!"
"That was just your imagination," Lin Qingyue retorted mercilessly, her mood buoyant as she swung the Moonlight's Embrace earrings in her hand.
"Her Majesty the Queen's attention was focused entirely on me the entire time. You were merely a pretty backdrop."
"Sis!" Lin Xiyue puffed out her cheeks in anger, glaring at her sister with wide eyes and reaching to pinch her waist.
Damn it! She's showing off again! But Sister really is amazing... She remained so calm and composed in front of the queen and even got the perfect reward for herself! Damn it! I'm even more envious now!
"Alright, enough teasing," Su Wan rarely spoke to mediate.
A faint, relaxed smile graced her usually dignified face, clearly reflecting her excellent mood.
Only Xia Lian remained lost in the shock of the earlier revelation. She cautiously tugged at Lin Qingyue's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Qingyue, would Her Majesty the Queen—that majestic figure—really have... you know... done that with humans when she was young?"
Lin Qingyue recalled the Queen's breathtaking majesty and those deep, starry eyes.
Then she imagined the Queen as a rebellious youth, roaming the continent, flirting with everyone, and casually leading princes from various kingdoms on wild goose chases.
The absurd contrast made her burst out laughing.
"Who knows?" she teased, winking mysteriously. "But I bet the reality was far more exciting than we can imagine."
Aeldara, leading the way, heard their discussion but didn't pause. Yet beneath her heavy black armor, her back seemed to stiffen slightly more than usual.
After traversing several aerial corridors woven from Moonlight Vines, they arrived before a massive structure also crafted from an ancient tree.
Unlike the opulent grandeur of the Royal Palace, this place exuded a cold, martial atmosphere.
The Elven guards at the entrance were no longer the elaborately dressed ceremonial guards of the Royal Palace, but battle-hardened warriors.
Upon seeing Aeldara, they immediately placed a hand over their chests in a respectful salute, their eyes filled with genuine reverence—utterly devoid of the aloofness and hostility the Elves of Morningwind Harbor had displayed.
"This is the Silvermoon Armory," Aeldara explained tersely. "It houses the Elven Race's finest standardized weapons, armor, and magical artifacts."
"Standardized?" Lin Xiyue seized on the key term.
"Yes," Aeldara nodded, adopting the role of a dutiful guide. "Standardized means the craftsmanship is mature, allowing for mass production, which ensures rapid supply to our military units."
She paused before adding a concise summary: "Simply put, they're practical, durable, and readily available."
As she led the group inside, a vast circular chamber unfolded before them.
A unique scent, a blend of cold iron, ozone, and enchanted materials, assaulted their nostrils—icy, sharp, and stimulating.
The walls, stretching from the floor to the towering, domed ceiling, were densely covered with all kinds of equipment: swords, spears, lances, halberds, bows, crossbows, staves—everything imaginable.
Each item radiated either a restrained or flamboyant magical glow, silently proclaiming its extraordinary nature.
"You may each choose one item from the first three levels as a token of gratitude," Aeldara said, gazing at them. "Select according to your profession and needs."
"Awesome!" Xia Lian's eyes instantly lit up, her gaze already glued to the exquisite shortbows hanging on the wall.
Lin Qingyue scanned the surroundings, her mind racing with calculations.
What do I need most right now? Offensive capabilities? Defensive power?
That's it—a disguise! A disguise that can pass me off as a normal Priest!
Due to the influence of "Melody Beyond the Strings," every time I cast a healing spell, there's a chance some bizarre sound effects and videos might erupt.
If I ever need to lay low and pretend to be an ordinary priest, this would be a ticking time bomb.
I need to find an item that can cast healing spells on my behalf. I'll use it for routine healing, then unleash my true power at critical moments for a shocking reveal!
Having made up her mind, Lin Qingyue turned to Aeldara and said, "Commander, I'd like an off-hand item."
"Ideally, a Libram or Codex-like item. Functionally, I want it to cast some healing spells, nothing too powerful."
Aeldara's sharp eyes turned to her, her brow creasing almost imperceptibly.
That gaze seemed to say: You received a Legendary Grade Reward from the queen, yet you come to the Armory asking for something a novice priest would use?
But she didn't ask any questions, merely nodded and led Lin Qingyue to a wall dedicated to off-hand items.
"The Elven Priest tradition differs slightly from the human Church of Holy Light, leaning more toward the Path of Discipline."
Aeldara retrieved a book from the shelf, its cover made of Moonlight Wood and inlaid with a green gemstone.
"The [ Tome of Moon Whispers ] contains three commonly used healing spells. Simply infuse it with Magic Power to activate them."
Lin Qingyue took the tome. Its cover felt warm and smooth to the touch. As she opened the pages, lines of data shimmered before her eyes:
[Tome of Moon Whispers]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Intelligence +10, Faith +10]
[Special Effects: Imbued with Life Force. Consuming Mental Power to activate: Prayer of Mending (Passive Triggered Healing), Divine Aegis (Shield Skill), and Penance (Multi-Wave Group Healing).]
[Note: A beginner Priest's best friend. It will make you look like a professional even when you're flustered.]
Perfect!
This was exactly the "cover" she'd been dreaming of!
"I'll take this one! Thank you so much, Commander!" Lin Qingyue said, stowing the Tome into her backpack with a satisfied smile.
Meanwhile, Su Wan stood before a counter carved from a single block of crystal.
Inside the counter lay a necklace—an ice-blue gemstone strung on a Mithril chain. A thin layer of frost clung to the air around it.
"Heart of Winter," Aeldara murmured, having materialized behind her without Su Wan noticing.
"It can enhance the power of your Ice Element spells by 10% and accelerate your Magic Power renewal rate by 10%," Aeldara explained, her voice carrying a hint of warning. "However, its chilling aura will continuously erode the wearer. Only Mages with absolute mastery over ice and frost can wield it safely."
Su Wan remained silent, extending a slender finger to lightly touch the frigid crystal cabinet surface.
The stubborn layer of frost, centered around her fingertip, shattered like a spiderweb and melted away.
A pure, invigorating surge of Magic Power flowed into her body through her fingertip. Instead of feeling cold, it revitalized her slightly fatigued spirit.
A faint smile curved her lips as she retrieved the necklace and fastened it around her snow-white neck.
"Thank you, Commander. This is the one."
Lin Xiyue's request, on the other hand, was far simpler and more direct.
"I want a Holy Tome that enhances defensive capabilities! Preferably one with shock absorption!"
She swung her arm forcefully.
"Constantly blocking those behemoths' attacks with my shield is making my arm numb!"
Aeldara's eyes flashed with approval.
"A wise choice. Pure hardness is not the ultimate defense; energy dissipation and cushioning are equally vital."
Aeldara led Lin Xiyue to a row of ancient books and retrieved a thick Libram bound in polished stone, its pages glowing with an earthy-yellow halo at the edges.
[ Mountain's Resilience ].
Aeldara handed the Libram to her.
"It's inscribed with Gravity Runes that generate a 'Tenacity Field,' absorbing and deflecting physical impacts."
Lin Xiyue's eyes lit up as she took the Libram.
It felt incredibly heavy in her hands, as if she were cradling a miniature mountain.
She channeled a wisp of Holy Light into the Libram. The runes on its surface blazed to life, enveloping her in a gentle yet resilient force. The oppressive weight vanished, replaced by a sensation of weightlessness, as if the earth itself were lifting her.
She turned to Aeldara, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation. "Commander, could you give me a push? With some force!"
Aeldara extended a gauntlet-clad hand, her armored fingers seeming to casually nudge Lin Xiyue's shoulder.
The massive impact Lin Xiyue had anticipated never came.
As if enveloped by an invisible force, she glided backward two steps, landing silently with the stability of a mountain.
"Wow! This feels so magical! Now I'll never have to worry about getting knocked senseless again!"
Finally, it was Xia Lian's turn.
She lingered before the row of longbows, each a masterpiece of craftsmanship that made her small face scrunch up in indecision.
"They're all... all so beautiful! I don't know which one to choose."
Aeldara approached, her gaze sweeping over the longbows before settling on a shortbow crafted from starmetal wood. Its deep blue-purple body seemed to merge seamlessly with the night sky.
"Dark Night Starwhisper," she said, reaching out to take the shortbow.
"Arrows fired from this bow carry the 'Star-Concealment' effect, erasing their trajectory and sound."
Aeldara's gaze fell on Xia Lian.
"Given your profession, this bow is the most suitable for you."
With that, she turned and retrieved a pair of sleek, dark-colored shortswords from a nearby weapon rack.
"These 'Fangs of Shadow Strike' are yours as well."
Aeldara's tone was utterly flat.
"Consider it a personal token of appreciation."
Xia Lian was completely stunned, waving her hands frantically. "No, no, no! This is far too precious! I can't possibly..."
"Just accept it, Xia Lian," Lin Qingyue said, patting her shoulder. "It's the Commander's recognition of your strength."
Xia Lian finally blushed and carefully took the bow and dagger, cradling them in her arms like precious treasures.
"Alright, now that we've selected our equipment, let's head to the Great Library."
Aeldara turned, her black heavy armor flashing with a cold glint under the magical lamplight.
"There, you'll find something far more crucial."