Green Forest 2

Elufiel summoned a Chocobo from her mount space. The large creature with purple feathers gently pecked its master with its sharp beak. She patted its head, then swung herself onto its back.

In the deserted forest, the elf girl raced along on the Chocobo. Before long, the trees began to thin, and the forest's edge was not far away.

Magical ripples drifted through the air. That familiar, pure magical energy stirred waves of anxiety deep within the elf—an endless craving for arcane energy born into her very blood and bones. She found it harder to resist this energy than her kin did, yet strangely, she had never completely gone mad and become a Wretched. By age, she was undoubtedly one of the elders of the elven race. However, the periods of slumber she entered every so often had slowed her growth. Even though she had lived through those weighty events now consigned to history, each time she awakened, the elves still habitually treated her as a child who had only just come of age.

Elufiel lay pressed against the Chocobo's back, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her nails digging into her palms and leaving crescent-shaped marks. Her craving for magic burned away at her will. This was not Silvermoon City; she had no way to approach the Sunwell and ease this terrible addiction, while magical ripples continued to pour through the air without end.

Elufiel's emerald-like eyes nearly glowed. Drawn by the magic, she urged the restless Chocobo toward the source of those magical ripples.

Wind Wolf Village was the closest village to Green Forest. It contained only a dozen or so households, and nearly all its men were hunters. In the past, they had relied solely on hunting for a living. Now that Fairy Tale Town had been established at another entrance to Green Forest, they had another source of income: serving as guides for adventurers entering and leaving the forest. Yet during the bitterly cold Frostmoon, few adventurers entered the forest. Even Fairy Tale Town, the last supply stop before Green Forest, seemed sparsely populated.

And just several hundred meters from the forest-facing side of Wind Wolf Village, a slaughter—or rather, a massacre—was underway.

The young man in a gray cloak possessed a handsome face that could drive young women mad. A straight, noble nose, sensual thin lips, and azure eyes reminiscent of the vast sky; his meticulous, stern expression added a trace of abstinent allure.

With an unhurried flick of his sleeve, the young man sent several sharp ice spikes flying, claiming two more lives. There was no doubt that he was a spellcaster. Quite a few corpses had already piled up at his feet, blood spreading across the snow. The few remaining men dressed as warriors had grown timid after realizing that their opponent could kill them with ease, no longer daring to charge recklessly. One of them glanced back at the white-robed divine caster behind them. The divine caster, who had worn a proper smile before, now had a twisted expression. He could not bear the thought that so many people still could not take down a single evil arcanist.

The middle-aged divine caster began chanting a holy spell, making the warriors feel somewhat better. Look, didn't they still have the divine caster to help them?

The young spellcaster lowered his eyes and moved his fingers within his wide sleeves. This unplanned ambush had exhausted his patience. Now, it was time to end it.

A transparent barrier unfolded around him. The young man raised a hand, his five fingers spread as though supporting something in the air, and began chanting an incomprehensible spell. The violent magical ripples made the divine caster realize that danger was imminent. His eyes widened in terror—

The young man before him was actually a high-level arcanist capable of casting area spells. Heavens, if he had known this, he should not have greedily sought credit by hiring a viscount's private soldiers to encircle this arcanist. He should have reported directly to the local church. After all, discovering an intermediate-level arcanist or above was enough merit to earn him a promotion.

But it was too late for regrets. The young man's spell was complete. The snow and ice filling the sky were drawn in by magic, transforming into thin, sharp ice spikes. The warriors' less-than-sturdy armor and the divine caster's white robe were pierced through. Scalding blood streamed out, and their screams were carried by the wind toward the forest.

Elufiel's ears twitched. She heard the screams and caught the scent of blood carried on the wind. It was certainly not a good sign, but her reason had already been utterly shattered by her craving for magic. She only knew that what she wanted was in that direction.

The Chocobo ran out of the forest, and the young spellcaster clearly noticed the strange creature. It resembled an enormous chicken, its feathers brilliantly colorful. An ornate saddle rested on its back, with a person whose face was mostly concealed beneath a cloak riding atop it.

An interesting mount, the handsome young man thought, but its timing was rather poor.

He lightly tapped the ring on his left index finger with his right hand. The sapphire setting flashed faintly as the preset spell confirmed that it was ready.

The Chocobo stopped not far from the young spellcaster. Elufiel, clad in a red cloak, stumbled as she climbed down from her mount. It was already so close—the magic she craved was so close.

Chapter 2: Green Forest 2

Judging by her figure, the Chocobo's owner was a young woman. There was a hint of urgency in the way she approached. A biting gust of cold wind blew down her slightly loose hood, revealing a face beneath the red cloak that was so beautiful it seemed inhuman. Her delicate features looked like the work of a god, and her long, pointed ears trembled faintly in the cold wind.

Utterly captivating... The young man was briefly dazed, then immediately came to his senses—she was an elf. Judging by her complexion, she seemed to be a Light Elf, but her ears were sharper and longer than those of other Light Elves. Comparing the elf girl before him with the few other elves he had seen, the young man quickly thought of another question: Why was this elf alone in the Halor Kingdom, far from Elf Forest, during the frigid Frostmoon? Elves had not traveled the continent for a long time.

The girl's expression appeared agonized. Her pearly teeth bit tightly into her vivid red lips, while a faint green glow flickered in her eyes. She staggered toward the young man, and the strange purple bird anxiously stamped at the snow where it stood.

The young man watched the girl's approach warily until she lunged at him. The preset wind wall blocked the elf girl's path, and she fell into the snow. Her crimson cloak spread out, revealing the thin white robe beneath.