Chapter Summaries

After Charles’s swift victory over Kurto Shatterskull spread across the Land of Chaos, Tyler suspected Imril had a way to train large numbers of human knights into first-rank knights. He sent his granddaughter Teresa to investigate, hoping the method could help humanity rise while urging her to stay safe.

• Elendil and his generals were astonished that Imril had defeated Kurto Shatterskull’s veteran army so quickly.
• As news of the battle spread, Tyler questioned how Imril commanded hundreds of human first-rank knights and wondered whether Ross or Imril had developed a special training method.
• Tyler gave Teresa the battle report and ordered her to investigate the knights, beginning by asking Ross whether he had provided them.
• Tyler promised Teresa a group of people to assist her and told her to prioritize her safety, while Teresa vowed to uncover the truth.
• Tyler reaffirmed his belief that humanity would eventually overthrow the other races’ rule and rise to the summit of the Osela Plane.

After defeating Kurto Shatterskull, Charles imposed military rule and began restoring the conquered territory before leaving Yvenjieling in command. On the road back, he learned the Moonshadow Queen was expected in about three months and wondered how powerful Orenis had been.

• Charles ordered temporary military control, relief work, repairs, and the suppression of bandits across the conquered settlements.
• Charles's cavalry exterminated bandit gangs and enslaved some who surrendered as order gradually returned under his rule.
• After remaining in the territory for over a month, Charles left troops behind and appointed Yvenjieling to maintain stability and expand the garrison.
• Charles told Yvenjieling he trusted him to govern the territory, then departed with the main force.
• The Book of Causal Paths said the Moonshadow Queen would leave the Avenor Elven Court and reach Confluence City in about three months.
• Charles considered his ambitions to become the Silverleaf Lord and wondered how powerful Orenis had been after her book revealed three third-ring Astral Elf spells.

Charles reviewed his new Astral Elf spells and welcomed the news that Ross had sent female snake-type Magic Beasts, while Scorchflame hurried off to inspect them. In the Verdant Crystal Domain, Elendil and Selena discussed whether Imril would seek promotion and leave Elendil’s command, then learned he planned to return for a conversation.

• Charles examined the three new third-circle spells in the Book of Orenis and was pleased with their usefulness despite their slow recharge.
• After Scorchflame completed its advancement, Molly told Charles that Ross had sent several female snake-type Magic Beasts, and Scorchflame flew off to see them.
• Elendil told Selena that he was delighted an elf under his command had gained territory in the Land of Chaos, but worried that Imril’s promotion could make the territory independent.
• Selena said Imril wanted to emulate Lord Felenlos and become an Ancient Tree Lord, while Elendil promised to respect his wishes and discuss the matter when Imril returned.
• Selena eagerly asked whether Imril was really coming back to the Verdant Crystal Domain.

Charles traveled toward the Verdant Crystal Domain to meet the Moonshadow Queen, while discussing her mortality and the plane’s fourth-rank beings with the Book of Causal Paths. After the Book mocked his claim that he could have become a white wizard, Charles diverted his cavalry to attack a bandit stronghold.

• Charles left Scorchflame behind to defend his territory and rode for the Verdant Crystal Domain with his personal guards.
• Charles asked the Book of Causal Paths whether his disguise could fool the fourth-rank Moonshadow Queen, and it predicted no problem.
• Charles questioned why the Moonshadow Queen was aging rather than becoming a god, and the Book speculated that existing gods’ faith or the Queen’s own beliefs might explain it.
• The Book mocked Charles’s claim that he would have become a white wizard, and Charles angrily accused it of slander.
• Charles led his guards off their route and charged a bandit stronghold, even though the bandits had stayed home and stopped raiding.

Charles returned to Verdant Crystal City, where Elendil, Selena, and the elves welcomed him. Elendil discovered that Charles had advanced to a three-ring wizard and reconsidered his plans for Charles and Selena.

• Charles returned to the Verdant Crystal Domain and rode to a welcoming party Elendil had arranged outside Verdant Crystal City.
• Elendil welcomed Charles and praised his victory in the Land of Chaos.
• Selena embraced Charles and happily asked whether he meant that she had become more beautiful.
• Elendil studied Charles's personal guard cavalry and judged them to be elite fighters.
• Elendil realized Charles had become a three-ring wizard and reconsidered his plan, recognizing that Charles could manage a Silverleaf lord's title and might become an Ancient Tree Lord.

Charles met with Elendil in the Verdant Crystal Domain and agreed to seek the title of Silverleaf lord, while Elendil promised to recommend him to the Queen. At the banquet, Selena invited Charles to dance.

• Elendil learned that Charles had become a third-circle wizard before fighting the Howling Children of the Wasteland.
• Elendil offered to recommend Charles to the Queen as a Silverleaf lord, and Charles accepted.
• Elendil said the Queen might grant Charles his title when she visited Confluence City, and Charles promised to expand his territory.
• Charles and Elendil discussed his plans before Selena told them the banquet had begun.
• Charles attended the extravagant banquet, where Selena danced among the guests.
• Selena invited Charles to dance, and he accepted.

Charles spent more time cultivating in Verdant Crystal City, leaving Selena longing for him, while the Moonshadow Queen completed her tour of the Avenor Elven Court and approached Confluence City. The chapter ended with the Queen admiring the decorated city from her carriage.

• Charles danced with Selena, who felt overjoyed but became embarrassed when her mother and other wood elves watched them.
• Charles grew bored with banquets and devoted himself to cultivation, while Selena missed spending time with him.
• The Moonshadow Queen finished inspecting the kingdom and traveled toward Confluence City with a guarded convoy and noble retinues.
• Confluence City prepared a grand welcome, decorating its riverside streets as pegasus knights patrolled overhead.
• The Moonshadow Queen looked out at Confluence City and remarked on its scenery and the effort made to welcome her.

Charles attended the Moonshadow Queen’s arrival ceremony in Confluence City, where his conspicuous Sun Elf disguise drew widespread attention. He asked the Book of Causal Paths to ensure his safe departure, but it warned that its limited power could not shape events involving a fourth-rank being.

• Confluence City’s leaders and clergy gathered outside the city to welcome the Moonshadow Queen, and Charles arrived with Elendil to watch the ceremony.
• Charles noticed that he was the only Sun Elf among the nobles and clergy, while half-elven noblewomen nearby admired him and discussed pursuing him.
• Elendil teased Charles about his popularity, and Charles said he had no interest in the local women, leaving Selena relieved but uneasy.
• Charles worried that his rare Sun Elf identity made him too conspicuous, but the Book of Causal Paths assured him that his disguise could not be exposed without a blood test.
• Charles asked the Book of Causal Paths to weave a future in which he could leave Confluence City safely and gain benefits, but it said it lacked the power to influence a fourth-rank being.

Charles watched the Moonshadow Queen arrive in Confluence City with an elaborate procession and reflected on her beauty and the cost of the welcome. After briefly noticing Charles, the Queen entered the city, leaving him to marvel at the extravagant preparations.

• The Moonshadow Queen's elite guard cavalry arrived in Confluence City, and Charles noticed a third-circle elven grand wizard among them.
• The Moonshadow Queen's carriage, drawn by twelve white Giant Deer, reached the welcoming party as the city celebrated with wizardry fireworks.
• The Moonshadow Queen emerged from her carriage, greeted the gathered dignitaries, and briefly remarked that Charles was a rare Sun Elf.
• The Queen returned to her carriage and proceeded toward Confluence City along a flower-lined road guarded by half-elven soldiers and knights.
• Charles estimated that the decorations and displays for the Queen's arrival had cost more than a million Magic Stones.

The Moonshadow Queen arrived in Confluence City and met with Felenlos, a Sun Elf wizard sent by Anarion Sunwing. After receiving a box from him, she asked about an unusually powerful young Sun Elf she had seen in the welcoming ranks, but Felenlos said he had never seen him in Lotheran.

• Charles estimated the cost of the Queen’s arrival and reflected that the elves’ extravagance could benefit him if he conquered them.
• The Moonshadow Queen arrived in Confluence City, where her attendants postponed the welcoming banquet so she could rest.
• The Queen met Felenlos in her temporary palace and asked after Anarion Sunwing.
• Felenlos delivered the box Anarion had sent, and the Queen put it away.
• The Queen asked whether a young, powerful Sun Elf she had seen was Anarion’s prince, but Felenlos said he had never seen him in Lotheran.

The Moonshadow Queen read the letter Felenlos had brought from the Tree Sea, while Charles learned that she and Lotheran’s Sun King had once been lovers. The story left Charles judging the Queen’s choices as a ruler and fearing that her lack of an heir had endangered her kingdom’s future.

• After Felenlos left, the Moonshadow Queen opened the box from the Tree Sea, removed its contents, and read the letter in private.
• In Confluence City, Elendil, Charles, and Selena discussed the Moonshadow Queen after returning from the banquet.
• Elendil told Charles and Selena that the Moonshadow Queen and Lotheran’s Sun King had once been lovers but had lived apart for centuries.
• Elendil explained that the Queen had no husband or children, while the Sun King had a queen, consorts, and several children.
• Selena compared the Queen’s loneliness to her own feelings for Imril, while Charles privately criticized the Queen for leaving her kingdom without an heir.

Elendil brought Charles to a banquet hosted by Kaland Riel, a powerful Moon Elf wizard and the Queen’s relative, whose invitation carried possible political significance. Charles met Kaland Riel after attracting the attention of the other guests, and the chapter ended with the Ancient Tree Lord recognizing him as Imril.

• Elendil told Charles that the Queen had agreed to grant him the title of Lord of Silverleaf.
• Elendil explained that Kaland Riel served as the Queen’s spokesperson in the Thirteen-Person Regency Council and that his invitation might carry deeper meaning.
• Charles attended Kaland Riel’s banquet with Elendil and Selena, where many elven nobles sought his company.
• Selena grew jealous of the female elves who approached Charles, then felt pleased when he showed little interest in them.
• Elendil introduced Charles to Kaland Riel, who guessed that Charles was Imril.

Charles attended the banquet hoping to learn when he would receive his investiture, but the Queen’s arrival—and the presence of Felenlos Sunwing—made him fear his Sun Elf disguise would be exposed. The Queen summoned Charles and Elendil, then invited Charles to dance with her.

• Charles danced with several female elves as the banquet’s wine reception and festivities continued.
• The Moonshadow Queen arrived with Felenlos Sunwing, alarming Charles because he had been impersonating a Sun Elf and feared Felenlos would recognize him.
• Charles hurriedly studied the knowledge he had bought about the Lotheran Elven Court and the Eternal Forest while the Queen spoke with the other guests.
• A Queen’s attendant summoned Charles and Elendil, and led them to the Queen, Felenlos, and Kaland Riel.
• The Queen mistook Charles’s appearance for a reminder of Anarion Sunwing, praised his looks, and invited him to dance.

The Moonshadow Queen invited Charles, who was disguised as Imril, to dance, astonishing the elves at the banquet. Afterward, Charles joined the Queen and the Ancient Tree Lords in a conversation about Lotheran, leaving Felenlos increasingly puzzled by Imril’s knowledge and identity.

• The Moonshadow Queen invited Imril to dance, surprising Charles and the watching elven nobles.
• Charles danced with the Queen and realized her unfocused gaze suggested she might be seeing someone else in him.
• After the dance, the Queen praised Charles, and the elves watched them with envy and curiosity.
• The Queen, Charles, Kaland Riel, Felenlos, and Elendil discussed stories about Lotheran and the royal court.
• Felenlos grew more confused as Charles showed extensive knowledge of Lotheran.

At the banquet, Charles believed his disguise as Imril Goldtree had passed the elves’ scrutiny, but the Moonshadow Queen summoned him privately and exposed that he was not from Lotheran. Charles was left wondering whether he could still salvage the situation.

• After the Moonshadow Queen danced with Charles, he became popular with the elven nobles and turned down several male nobles who invited him to dance.
• At the end of the banquet, an attendant summoned Charles in Lord Kaland’s name, and Charles suspected the queen was behind the invitation.
• The Moonshadow Queen entered the lounge alone and asked Charles whether Imril Goldtree was his true name and whether he really came from Lotheran.
• The queen explained that Felenlos would have recognized an exceptional young Sun Elf from Lotheran, since the Sun Elves were few and closely connected.
• Charles realized the queen had seen through his disguise and regretted choosing to pose as a Sun Elf, but he hoped her continued conversation meant he still had a chance.

Charles convinced the Moonshadow Queen that he was Imril Starlight, a Sun Elf from a homeland among the stars who had been stranded in Osela. The Queen believed his story, sympathized with him, and asked him to describe the void and stars further.

• The Moonshadow Queen deduced that Charles was not from Lotheran and asked whether he came from another plane and was a Sun Elf.
• Charles gave his false name as Imril Starlight and invented a story about his ancestors migrating into the void and his homeland among the stars.
• Charles claimed a void storm had stranded him in Osela, where he had lived in Lotheran before traveling to the Land of Chaos to help the elves.
• The Moonshadow Queen accepted Charles's account, called him a poor child, and praised his efforts in the Land of Chaos.
• The Moonshadow Queen asked Charles to tell her more about his homeland and the stars, and Charles drew on Orenis's knowledge to answer her.

The Moonshadow Queen accepted Charles as a resident of Osela, promised to resolve his identity issues, and arranged for him to study wizardry under Caland while granting him the title of Silverleaf Lord. Charles left eager to begin studying, aware the queen might not have long to live, and reassured Elendil that her meeting with him had concerned the title.

• The Moonshadow Queen praised Charles, promised to explain his identity to Felenlos and write to Lotheran, and welcomed him as part of Osela.
• The Moonshadow Queen agreed to confer the title of Silverleaf Lord on Charles and arrange an investiture ceremony with Caland.
• After Charles admitted he lacked suitable combat wizardry, the Moonshadow Queen gave him a warrant to study under Caland.
• Charles asked the Book of Causal Paths why it had said the Moonshadow Queen would die soon, and it explained that the information had come from Ross.
• Charles returned to find Elendil and Selena waiting, then told them the queen's meeting had concerned his Silverleaf Lord title.

Charles visited Calder Riel to learn elven witchcraft, choosing several Third Circle spells for Calder to teach him. Calder prepared to leave him scrolls for further study, while Charles planned to learn the spells with insights ordered through Wuduo.

• Charles visited Calder Riel and presented a writ saying the Queen had directed him to study witchcraft.
• Calder agreed to teach Charles after breakfast and described the spells he specialized in.
• Charles selected Moonfire Scorch, Treant Summoning, Thornstorm, and Soul Healing.
• Calder said he might soon leave Confluence City and would write the spells onto scrolls for Charles to study.
• Charles ordered Calder's insights through Wuduo and left with the spells to study later.

Charles was invested by the Moonshadow Queen as the Silverleaf Lord after swearing to defend the land and its people. At the ensuing banquet, half-elven nobles eagerly pursued him for his Sun Elf bloodline, while Selena watched unhappily.

• Charles attended a grand investiture ceremony at Confluence City's Moon-Speaker Hall, where elves and half-elven nobles gathered.
• Aeliya Silvermoon asked Imril Goldtree to accept the duties of the Silverleaf Lord, and Charles swore his oath before her.
• Aeliya placed a coronet made from a Tree of Life branch on Charles's head and formally invested him as the Silverleaf Lord.
• At the banquet, half-elven women repeatedly invited Charles to dance and boldly sought his attention because of his Sun Elf bloodline.
• Selena watched Charles being surrounded by half-elven women and grew unhappy, while Felenlos recalled his own similar experience and Aeliya laughed at the scene.

Charles prepared to leave Confluence City before the Queen’s death could plunge the Avenor Elven Court into chaos. Before departing, he received spell scrolls from Kaland Riel and urged the Queen to strike at the Giant Empire, then left the temple without risking exposure.

• Charles decided to leave Confluence City, and Elendil agreed to return to his territory after Charles warned that their lands could be attacked.
• Kaland Riel gave Charles combat spell scrolls and offered to answer his questions in the future.
• Charles told the Queen he was leaving to govern his territory, and she asked whether he would punish a hostile neighbor before moving away.
• Charles advised the Queen to teach the Giant Empire a lesson, and she questioned whether he knew something before dismissing him.
• Charles visited the temple but left without entering, wary that the gods might detect his demonic bloodline.