Ancient Elves

Eli walked toward Gwenton slowly, trying his best not to let them feel he harbored any malicious intent.

Gwenton did not make any overly drastic moves, because he knew that the wizard before him might truly be different.

Eli half-crouched, bringing himself down to Gwenton's eye level.

Gwenton felt overwhelmed by the unexpected favor and almost stumbled and fell to the ground, but Eli steadied him.

Gwenton thought for a long time, then mustered his courage. "How can you prove what you said?"

Klein wanted to help prove a few things, but Eli stopped him.

The magic within him awoke instantly like a ferocious beast, and a powerful coercive pressure made the entire woods rustle.

The House-elves let out a simultaneous cry of shock, and Gwenton, who was standing closest, wore an expression of sheer terror.

Eli meant no harm, so he did not injure any of the House-elves.

"Is this enough?"

Gwenton looked Eli up and down in disbelief that a boy of twelve or thirteen could possess such terrifying power.

With strength like this, he was fully capable of protecting them!

Yet Gwenton shook his head. "No, this is not enough."

Eli was taken aback; for a moment, he had no idea what the chieftain wanted him to demonstrate.

Yet when he saw the chieftain's cloudy yet resolute eyes, and then looked at the huddled House-elves surviving together in the rear, Eli understood something.

He drew his wand, which startled Klein.

Eli told him to remain calm and collected, as he meant no harm.

Eli extended the handheld part of his wand toward the completely stunned Gwenton. "This is my sincerity."

A wand was the symbol of a wizard, just as in a duel, being disarmed signified defeat.

Yet now he was handing his wand to the House-elf