A Homeland Hard to Leave
"So... you don't want to leave here?" Lowell, somewhat helplessly.
Among the five or six surviving elves, one of the older male elves turned around, his face bearing the weathered indifference characteristic of the Elven race, his voice calm and unwavering. "This is our homeland. We were born here, and we wish to be buried here. Where can we go if we leave? Just another rootless land."
Lowell clicked his tongue softly and rubbed his temples. He understood this feeling; the attachment to the land where one is rooted is an instinctive choice for many intelligent beings, neither right nor wrong, but simply a way of being.
Just like some people, even knowing that their hometown is barren and war-torn, some still stay and guard it for generations. This has nothing to do with reason, but is just an instinctive choice.
After all, they were all born of a mother.
"I understand." He sighed, his gaze sweeping across the scarred land. "But Discal's goal is clear: to eliminate the Elven race first. This failure doesn't guarantee there won't be a next time. Flamme and I... we can't stay here as guardians forever."
Damn it, all you do is pick on the Elven race? Why don't you go and fight Serie first? If you win, you'll be the one who's good.
The elder elf's eyes remained unmoved, as if he had long since seen through life and death. "If fate has decreed that this is our final resting place, then it is a return to the embrace of nature. Fear cannot change the outcome, and migration may not bring true peace." The other elves nodded silently, their gazes resolute.
The other elves nodded silently, their attitude resolute.
Flamme, her orange hair shimmering softly in the morning light. She stepped forward, her clear blue eyes sparkling. "Since this is your choice, I respect it. Perhaps, I can do what I can to add a layer of protection to this land."
She raised her hand, her fingertips tracing lines in the air, seemingly casual, yet radiating a soft yet resilient magical glow. The magic, like living vines, rapidly spread outwards, enveloping the entire village and the surrounding forest for several kilometers, forming a massive barrier.
"Unless the Demon King himself arrives, ordinary Demons should be unable to break through. Millialdai, I'll teach you how to control the barrier."
She paused, then added, "The barrier is mainly designed to counter the aura and malice of Demons. To avoid interfering with your daily hunting or gathering activities, it shouldn't hinder weaker demons that act on instinct, but with your abilities, dealing with them shouldn't be a problem."
Millialdai leaned against the doorframe, looking much better. She nodded slightly at the words, "Okay, thank you. I'll learn as soon as possible." Her tone still carried that characteristic languidness.
Lowell watched the barrier take shape, rubbing his chin, when suddenly an idea struck him. He looked at Millialdai and said, "Right, now that the barrier makes us relatively safe... in this world, with the frequent activities of Demons and constant warfare, there will probably be many homeless children. If... there are any orphans who have wandered into this area, Millialdai, since you don't have anything else to do, why don't you take the trouble to look after them? What do you say?"
Millialdai raised an eyebrow slightly, her emerald eyes glancing sideways at Lowell, a slightly teasing smile on her face, "The way you put it... if you're asking me for a favor, I might consider agreeing. After all, there really isn't much else to do."
Lowell felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and touched his nose. "... Alright, alright, I'm begging you. Lady Millialdai, please have mercy and give any orphaned children in the future a meal and a place to live, okay?"
"Hmm, granted." Millialdai gave a soft hum, acknowledging it. "What an easy-going Demon King Lord. Since you've asked me, and I'm just idling around anyway, keeping an eye on the Human race children won't hurt."
Having arranged things in the village, Lowell turned his gaze to Frieren, who had been quietly waiting. He crouched down, bringing his eye level with the silver-haired elf girl, and offered a smile as gentle as he could, "Frieren, what about you? If we leave later, would you like to come with me? I can teach you magic. You... like magic, don't you?"
Frieren's gaze shifted from the barrier to Lowell's face, calm and undisturbed.
She thought for a few seconds, then answered in her characteristically calm and even voice, "Well, I'd say I like it."
Flamme stood to the side, her blue eyes sweeping over Lowell and Frieren, without uttering a sound.
Lowell seemed relieved after receiving an affirmative answer. He stood up, looked at Flamme, and changed the subject. "So, Flamme, you've only recently completed your apprenticeship? Are you traveling the continent, broadening your horizons, and collecting magical books and artifacts from various places?"
Upon hearing this, Flamme's lips curved slightly, revealing a liveliness befitting her age. "Yes, indeed. I am a beautiful young woman in the prime of my youth, traveling the world, experiencing different cultures, and collecting interesting magic—isn't that perfect for me?"
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something, and with a flick of her wrist, a delicate little leather case decorated with cute rivets appeared in her hand. She opened the case, and inside were not profound magic books, but all sorts of whimsical little objects.
She picked up a small bird comb that looked like it was carved from some kind of blue crystal, with a faint shimmer between its teeth. "Look, this 'Dawn Sparrow Song Comb' makes different, very subtle and clear chirps depending on your mood when you comb your hair. It's said to awaken a good mood for the day."
"'Hiccup Fruit,' if you eat it, you'll hiccup all day long, and the sound is quite rhythmic..."
She picked up a small bottle filled with colorful sand, "'Rainbow Dream Sand,' sprinkle a little on your pillow before bed, and you might have particularly vibrant dreams." There was also a bookmark that looked like it was made of dried flowers and had a faint, pleasant fragrance, "'Eternal Fragrance Bookmark,' place it in a book, and it will keep the book smelling of flowers for a long time, making reading a very pleasant experience."
Lowell looked at the pile of "girlish" collectibles and sighed, "Tsk... I can see that. You still have quite the girlish heart. Okay, you are indeed a beautiful young woman in your prime, traveling the world to collect these... well, unique little things, which does fit the character setting. It's just that it's quite different from the dignified, composed, and reliable older sister mage I've always seen."
Flamme gently closed the box, a mischievous glint in her eyes beneath her orange hair. "Oh? Well, thank you for spoiling the future. But even the future Great Mage started as a naive little girl who loved fun trinkets. Besides, who says greatness has to be a stern face all the time?"
Lowell looked at the box of random things, then at Flamme's nonchalant expression, and seriously suspected that Frieren's penchant for collecting all sorts of strange and unusual items in the original story was completely corrupted by her master from a young age! The two of them were practically of the same ilk when it came to "collecting strange little things"!