Problems

"I didn't expect you to arrive here three days early. I thought you would only show up on the last day of the outdoor practical course."

Edith wore a light blue dress, and two strands of her long blonde hair were braided into wheat-ear-shaped braids, with the rest of her hair cascading down her back.

Roy noticed Klayr deliberately slowing down by half a step, glanced at him, and then explained:

"There was a slight change in the middle of the process, and the attendance check-in task for geography class was temporarily canceled."

Edith saw the luggage on his back and the fact that his clothes were almost entirely patched. She pursed her lips to suppress a smile, turned to the side and pointed to an open space next to their campsite, saying to the two of them, "Roy, Klayr, you can pitch your tents here. There's still room."

"Okay, thank you, Edith." Roy and Klayr both thanked her at the same time.

There are many places to camp along the Da Nei River, but the good spots have almost all been taken by elves. The two were just about to camp on the outskirts.

Being able to camp next to the sixteen groups naturally saved a lot of trouble.

"We're all in the same study group, so there's no need to worry about these things." Edith smiled subtly, then frankly said to Roy in front of everyone, "Roy, do you have time to talk privately?"

Roy knew Edith would definitely ask about the Magic Crystal, and he was prepared for that.

"Sure! Now? Or later?" Roy readily agreed.

The members of Group Sixteen around them stared wide-eyed, trying to read something from the two men's eyes, but the two men remained completely calm.

"After you've set up your tent, let's meet at the treehouse by the waterfall," Edith said to Roy, pointing to a forest path near the waterfall.

"Okay, I'll be able to set it up soon."

Roy set up the tent very quickly, mainly because he currently had practically nothing else besides the tent.

The campsite is some distance from the waterfall, and the closer you get to the waterfall, the more humid the air becomes.

The surrounding area was shrouded in mist, and the vegetation was almost entirely aquatic. Dense Red Tree Forest stretched along both sides of the waterfall, making it difficult for Roy to pass through the crisscrossing Red Tree Forest even with a wood-chopping knife in his hand.

Ironically, right in this Red Tree Forest, there is a tunnel formed by trees and vines that leads directly to the depths of the waterfall.

As Roy walked into this strange forest path, he discovered that it was definitely not formed naturally by the trees.

Because those vines have woven an almost perfect net-like arched passageway inside the Red Tree Forest.

Many vines are covered with thorns, making it difficult even for the most experienced gardeners to weave them into a net without cutting them down.

The fact that the vines of these plants could intertwine so perfectly could only be achieved by skilled botanists who cultivated them bit by bit. Roy couldn't help but marvel at which elf had such patience to build a passage in the Red Tree Forest.

"Aren't you curious about how this passage was formed? And how much time... it would take to form such a passage?" Edith appeared beside Roy, standing there with her hands behind her back, her bright, sea-blue eyes fixed on Roy.

"That's exactly what I think!" Roy readily admitted.

Edith and he walked side by side into the arched passageway, their exquisite leather boots making a crisp 'clack-clack' sound on the stone floor.

Looking out at the dense Red Tree Forest through the tangled vines and brambles, Roy felt as if he had entered a garden.

"Actually, it's not that complicated. This forest trail was left behind by a Great Druid who was an expert in botany. He only lived here for three years and completed this tunnel," Edith explained to Roy.

A tremendous rumbling sound came from the other side of the tunnel, forcing her to raise her voice when she spoke.

"Great Druid of the Elves?" Roy asked.

He had never seen it in Castleton City...

"Hmm, a very capable Wood Elf." Edith looked up at the arched ceiling of the passage, then added, "These days, almost all the druids who are proficient in botany are in the Wood Elf kingdom."

Roy kept looking around until the two of them passed through the tunnel.

Edith led Roy to the terrace of the only treehouse on the platform in front. The tree wasn't very big, and the treehouse was quite unique. However, the door to the treehouse was locked, so the elves who wanted to watch the waterfall could only stand on the terrace outside the treehouse.

A mist of water drifted from the direction of the waterfall.

It's so humid here. The air is filled with tiny water droplets, making the surrounding moisture even more intense. All the walls are covered in water droplets.

Moreover, because there is a large waterfall in front of it, it is very noisy here.

The roar of the waterfall almost drowned out everything.

Roy had to raise his voice and put his ear close to Edith's so that she could hear him.

"I know what you want to ask. Do you want to know the origin of that Magic Crystal?" Roy walked in and shouted directly.

Edith opened her eyes and stared at Roy expectantly, hoping he would give her an answer.

At this moment, Roy shouted:

"I found it under the Bread Tree, and I felt I should give it to you, so it ended up in your hands."

Edith glared at Roy and said angrily, "If you don't want to explain, then don't. Why make up a lie with such a lack of sincerity?"

"I'm sorry, Edith, some things really can't be explained."

Roy quickly admitted it.

If Edith insisted on knowing the answer, Roy wanted to tell her directly about Countess Amelia.

Anyway, Countess Amelia didn't say that this matter should be kept a secret from Ms. Edith, and besides, the Magic Crystal had already been given away.

Unexpectedly Edith turned around at this moment, deliberately avoiding Roy's gaze, and said something abruptly:

"This is the best viewpoint on the Da Nei River Waterfall, offering the most magnificent view of the falls."

The mist dampened Roy's hair on his forehead and also caused water droplets to cling to Edith's long hair...

Edith wasn't disappointed that she didn't get the answer she wanted.

She didn't even dare to press Roy for more information; from Roy's eyes, she could tell that his attitude was clearly a little wavering.

If Edith really needs to know, Roy will definitely tell her.

This was a feeling Roy conveyed to her...

Edith walked slowly, looking at the Magic Crystal in her hand, and then clenched it tightly again.

That's right, this Magic Crystal is exactly what she needs right now.

For an Elf Warrior about to be promoted to Sword Poet, nothing could suit her better than Elven Song, and these Elven Song happen to be the heritage of the Ellington Family, making them perfect for her.

"Roy, we're not related by blood, are we?" Edith asked tentatively, then stared at Roy nervously.

"Puff..."

Roy was about to take a sip of water when he spat it all out.

"Please, my mother may be a Silver Moon Elf, but she definitely doesn't have the surname Ellington, otherwise my life wouldn't be so uneventful. And my father... I've never seen him in all my years!" Roy said.

"So this is unlikely!"

Edith breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The two stopped talking about it after leaving the passage and returned to the camp together. An elven girl approached Edith and said, "Edith, our ship has arrived..."

Edith turned and glanced at the side of the river, where several boats were moored.

"Roy, Klayr, would you like to come back to Castleton City with us?" Edith asked Roy.

"It would be best to go back as soon as possible."

Edith stretched out her hand, followed her gaze to the largest ship on the shore, and said happily:

"Then come with us. The boat I booked has enough space."