"Annan, you've surprised me again."
Before Annan could contact Elder Tadel through the World Tree Leaf, she contacted him first.
"Surprised?"
"You ended the war, spared the Kingdom, and avoided more bloodshed..."
Annan's actions aligned perfectly with Elven values.
As for the fact that Annan had started the war... his Elven admirers in the Elven Royal Court explained that the Kingdom had been attacking Free City all along and had even sent two Legendary fighters to assassinate him.
That was the benefit of a good reputation—when children misbehaved, the one who acted innocent was always forgiven.
Besides, Annan really was innocent.
"Tadel, do you mean..."
"The Elven Royal Court intends to send one final delegation to discuss the details of an alliance with you."
"That's wonderful!"
Finally...
After a year and a half and several delegations, Free City finally saw the first glimmer of an alliance.
By Elven standards, that was already efficient. Annan had thought he might have to wait three to five years...
"When will the delegation arrive?"
"They'll reach Gem Bay within ten days."
"Got it. I've just left the Northern Frontier, so I can make it back in time... Oh, do you know anything about the Snow Mountains?"
"Ored Mountain?" Tadel used the Elven name for the Snow Mountains.
"Yes. Do the Elves have any records of its past?"
"As it happens, I know a little."
Tadel said the Snow Mountains lay at the northernmost edge of the Allen Continent. An Abyssal Rift existed there, and beyond it stretched the Endless Sea, the domain of the God of the Sea and the Goddess of Storms.
Before the Saint Laurent Calendar began, most major races had been confined to Wilhelm. Apart from World Island, the vast lands of the Allen Continent belonged to other races. The Snow