Loshim stared in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"I said you fools stopped us while letting the real culprit—the one who can harm the World Tree—run free."
Annan knew it was a terrible time to think it, but beautiful Tadel looked captivating when she spoke with such disdain...
Loshim certainly didn't think so. Especially in front of an outsider, he took it as a humiliation and shouted, "You've been fooled by this outsider! There is no Attacker!"
Annan deliberately put on a look of realization. "You mean the Elves caused all those explosions in the Emerald Capital these past few days?"
"Of course it was you humans!"
Tadel's voice was gentle, but it carried unmistakable force. "Loshim, I'll say it again. Move aside!"
"You'd do this for an outsider..."
Tadel was disappointed. She had once thought Loshim an outstanding member of their people and even put him on her list of potential mates...
"Go on. I'll hold them back."
The Legendary Elf Ranger, silent until now, finally spoke.
"Lord Windrunner...?" Only then did Loshim tear his gaze away from Tadel and Annan, whom he both loved and hated. "Even you...?"
"Because you're wrong and I'm right. It's that simple," the Legendary Elf Ranger said coldly.
The High Elf Elder wavered for a moment. "No. The Forbidden Grounds have rules. Even you—"
His voice cut off as the Legendary Elf Ranger drew his bow, sending a chill down his spine.
"Young Elves these days have none of the spirit of youth..." After everything he had seen along the way, the more the Legendary Elf Ranger admired Annan, the less he could stand Loshim.
The Skeleton King carried Annan and Tadel down toward Prince Aidan.
Unwilling to let them go, Loshim suddenly threw back his head and shouted, "You must stop—"
Whoosh—