[Arwyn POV]
Athelion... home to the entire Elven Race. This place is a massive island situated to the west of the Human Continent. The island's land is largely blanketed by towering trees, with the remainder consisting of pristine beaches along the coast.
There are six Elven Races inhabiting this island: High Elves, Wood Elves, Night Elves, Gray Elves, Sun Elves, and Dark Elves.
The first are the High Elves. This race holds the highest status in Athelion. They are the descendants of the first Elves to settle on this island. The Queen and leader of the Elves always hails from this race, and most High Elves reside in our capital. Their characteristics are marked by blonde hair and skin as white as snow.
The second are the Wood Elves. This race resides deep within the forests of Athelion. They build their homes atop the trees and possess extraordinary archery skills. The Elven races other than the High Elves were created because the Shrine Maiden once believed the Elven Nation needed a diversity of skills, as High Elves primarily excelled only in magic.
The third are the Night Elves. This race typically emerges only after the sun sets. Exposure to sunlight weakens them; however, at night, their power triples that of an ordinary Elf. They usually dwell in the caves scattered across the island.
The fourth are the Gray Elves. This race is renowned for being wildly independent in their thinking and possessing specialized magic that even High Elves do not master. Truthfully, I do not particularly like them, though my dislike is within the bounds of reason, as we are all kin.
The fifth are the Sun Elves. This race possesses reddish skin. They are highly proficient in fire magic, and their skin turns a deeper red as the intensity of their fire magic increases.
The last are the Dark Elves. The race into which I was born. Elves like me have dark brownish skin and possess the greatest physical strength among all the Elven races. Furthermore, we are the most prideful and conservative. This is why our race greatly dislikes the Gray Elves, with their free and dangerous thoughts.
Five representatives from each of these races hold seats on the Elven Council, which manages the affairs of the nation. Nonetheless, the Queen remains the ultimate authority. The Council only provides direction and drafts plans to be submitted to our Queen.
Currently, I and several of my comrades are escorting the Queen to the Vetalon Building—the place where the Council deliberates.
"Arwyn, how many years have you been part of the Royal Guard, yet you remain single?" the Queen asked me gently. "Hasn't almost everyone in your year found a partner? Knowing the low Elven birth rate, we are encouraged to marry early and multiply our descendants, you know."
I have been a member of the Royal Guard for 30 years, starting when I was 170. An Elf is considered an adult upon reaching that age. Now, I am 200 years old, but truthfully, I have no intention of seeking a partner yet.
"I do not have time for that, Your Majesty," I replied. "Caitlin and several other Elven children are still missing."
At my words, the Queen's expression turned somber.
It is true. It has been three years since the case of the mass kidnapping of children on the beach by humans. One of the victims of this abduction was my younger sister, along with the children of several Council members. We frequently patrol the coastal areas, but those humans are incredibly clever at infiltrating and bypassing our guards somehow.
We soon arrived at the city center. The atmosphere here is very peaceful despite being a densely populated area. Many people hawk food—both meat and fruit—in front of their homes. Elves of my race often eat animal meat, whereas Wood Elves prefer fruit, as do High Elves, who dislike consuming anything that was previously living.
Before long, we reached the Vetalon and entered through the front doors. Inside, Elves of various races were bustling about, attending to work or administrative matters. We entered the meeting hall, where the councilors were already seated in their respective places.
"Queen Catelyn fou Forrester is entering the room!" shouted one of the guards, announcing the Queen's arrival.
The councilors stood to honor their leader. I followed Queen Catelyn and stood beside her seat at the head of the Council table.
"Very well, let us begin the meeting."
Only after the Queen spoke did the councilors return to their seats. I received a document from the Queen's assistant and handed it to her.
"Gentlemen, we are gathered here to discuss a matter vital to the future of our nation and our race," the Queen spoke, opening the session. "There have been events recently where up to 21 Elves went missing last year. This year alone, 11 Elves have already vanished, leaving our citizens restless over this phenomenon."
It wasn't just these numbers; for centuries, Elves have gone missing every month, forcibly kidnapped from this island. Yet, for some reason, the leading Elven families have remained silent, failing to take decisive action and remaining passive while victims continue to fall every year.
"I will not hide it this time," the Queen said, her voice turning grave. "It is the humans who are kidnapping our kin to turn them into slaves for their disgusting desires!"
Upon the Queen's words, the room erupted into chaos as councilors vented their fury at the information.
"Accursed humans! Their brains are filled with nothing but depravity and ultimate ignorance!" shouted a councilor from the Wood Elf race.
"If I encounter one of them, I will mince their filthy body and feed it to the wild boars in the forest!" said a dark-skinned man from the Dark Elf group. He was my father, Marwyn fou Darkshade.
"We must not act rashly; at least establish communication with the leaders of the human nations out there to handle this matter," suggested a Gray Elf with a thick beard.
"Diplomacy? How much longer will we rely on diplomacy with those greedy creatures? Do you not remember the treaty between us and them 700 years ago?" said a red-skinned Elf from the Sun Elf group. "They violated the treaty to prevent their kind from setting foot on this island! Do you remember their response when we protested their violations!?"
Back then, the human nation led by the Kingdom of Francia made a treaty to separate the Elven and Human races. However, when the treaty was broken and we protested, they merely threw accusations at other nations and refused to take responsibility, making our journey to their lands utterly futile.
The Gray Elf councilors fell silent at the Sun Elf's words.
"Then what do you want? War? To potentially burn our nation down in the fires of hatred!?" the Gray Elf councilor retorted.
"We must act! If we don't, they will never stop because they consider us weak for not fighting back!" Father shouted passionately. "I do not want my children's honor defiled by their disgusting touch! I do not want my daughter's smile to vanish completely because those filthy humans inflict suffering upon her innocent soul!"
I felt exactly as Father did. I will never forgive those who kidnapped Cait and tore our family apart. She was a good, obedient child. Just imagining those humans touching her makes me want to lose control and destroy everything around me.
"Your Majesty! Forgive my insolence in saying this, but I beg of you! Give me the chance to exact my revenge upon those lowly creatures!" Father said, tears beginning to fall. "You are a mother too, are you not? How would Your Majesty feel if your daughter were harassed and defiled by those barbaric humans!"
"Lord Marwyn, I understand your feelings," the Queen said, trying to calm Father down. "However, my predecessors never chose to resolve issues with humans through violence. Therefore, I want the people of Athelion themselves to choose our course of action regarding the humans."
I don't know why our leading family always restrains themselves against them. Is there a specific secret that limits our actions against these humans?
"If more than 70 percent of Athelion's citizens agree to resolve this matter decisively, then I will declare war against humanity!"
At the Queen's words, all councilors except for the Gray Elves cheered in delight. They were ready to break the thousand-year Elven tradition of peace for the sake of our nation's security.
"In two months, we will hold a vote! Your task is to convince the people, and if successful, I will break this tradition!"
Following the Queen's announcement, from this moment until two months from now, we will all campaign against humanity so that all the people of this land know our nation is not at peace and must unite for our future security.
***
[Shrine Maiden POV]
We, the Elven race, are not original inhabitants of this world. Our Goddess moved the Elves from our original world, which began to perish due to a parasite devouring The World Tree that sustained that realm.
Our Goddess, Theona, then requested Goddess Diana to allow the Elves to live in the world she created while Goddess Theona repaired our world. Goddess Diana agreed, and the Elves were moved to an island west of the human continent. Goddess Theona then took a root that had not yet been infected by the parasite and planted it at the heart of this island we named Athelion.
Slowly, the root began to grow and spread above the surface, providing a comfortable new home for the Elves. Goddess Theona then turned one of us into a Demigod to oversee the new root of the World Tree on this island. The Demigod of the Elves is known as the Shrine Maiden.
However, Goddess Diana warned Goddess Theona that the Shrine Maiden must not be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Elves or any other living creatures in this world. The Shrine Maiden's task and purpose in life are singular: to watch over The World Tree on Athelion and to heal individuals as her daily duty as the Guardian of this island.
Currently, I am inside the Sanctuary where the center of The World Tree is located. I see its roots growing high above, strong and sturdy. However, I have discovered black spots beginning to appear and grow on these roots.
It is the same parasite that once infected the World Tree in our original world.
"It seems the state of the Elves is dire, indeed," I whispered worriedly.
The World Tree does not merely provide the Elves a home; it provides them with their source of power. The strength of the Elves—both their magic and physical prowess—comes from this tree. Every Elven soul is connected to the roots of this tree. Therefore, if the souls of the Elves are peaceful and pure, the World Tree remains healthy, and the Elves' power increases.
Conversely, if the souls of the Elves are filled with corruption and immense hatred, the roots of the World Tree will blacken and become infected by the parasite. If it spreads wide enough, all Elves on this island will lose their minds and become aimless creatures, like monsters attacking family and friends alike.
Everything will be destroyed if no one tells them to restrain themselves.
I desperately want to warn them. But if I do, I will break my oath to Goddess Diana. If that happens, the Elves will be exiled and will have no home left.
I hope they can restrain themselves...
I hope the Elves can find a solution to this problem...
I hope that if this parasite has already spread, someone will be able to save us—the Elves—from the same destruction that befell our original world.
I beg of you... someone... anyone...