Whether based on reason or emotion, it was not as though there was no possibility of interaction or cooperation between elves and humans.
In fact, there had never been any shortage of stories about elves and humans falling in love. It was simply that the endings of such stories were usually not as beautiful as fairy tales.
The conflict lay not only in the clash between races, but even more so in their differing lifespans.
There was no ending for elves and humans.
An elf who resolved to fall in love with a human had to possess the courage to accept that there would be "no ending, only the journey."
In accepting that relationship, they often had to make a far greater commitment than in an ordinary romance.
"Miichu!"
The tiny summoned beast finally stopped before a set of stone steps.
It turned around, pointed above the steps with its tiny paw, chirped twice, then stuck up its little bottom and burrowed back into the ground.
"Looks like they're waiting for us up there."
Dark raised his head and looked above the stone steps.
The area above the steps stood roughly three meters higher than the one below, and its defenses were also far stronger.
From what they could see, an elven guard stood at regular intervals along the edge of the upper level, neatly surrounding the entire square area.
Dark gave Oli and Angri a slight signal, then stepped onto the stone stairs. Two elven guards stood watch at the top, but from beginning to end, they stared straight ahead as if they had not seen them at all—neither offering a friendly welcome nor showing any hostility.
Before long, Dark passed between the two elven guards and formally entered the center of the camp.
And then... there was nothing