Until now, the Elven Royal Court had had every reason to ban Magic Stones from circulating among its people.
Unlike literature or ballads, this art form had a frightening influence... Without restrictions, countless elves would grow curious about human society and long to see it for themselves.
But Annan had done them a tremendous favor, and Lord Emerald had warned the High Elves to stop making trouble for him. The entire Elven Royal Court had begun to look the other way.
You wanted to run around Envoy Village selling goods? Go ahead.
You wanted to screen Magic Films for elves? As long as it broke no rules of the Royal Court.
You wanted to sell Magic Stones to interested elves? That seemed reasonable too...
If any succubi were familiar with the routine, they would recognize it: when they disguised themselves as Professionals to seduce their companions, they first claimed a shared interest, then found excuses to touch them while pretending to check on them after a fight. Next, they drew close beside the nighttime bonfire, and finally slipped into a man's tent in the dead of night, saying they felt safer beside him. Even a man as steadfast as a Holy Knight would fall after going through all that.
And as for the elves' wealth... how to put it? Their purses held no gold coins, only bags full of gemstones of exceptional purity.
Annan felt guilty trading one Magic Stone for ten gemstones, yet the elves thanked him for it.
As stories and Magic Films spread, with Dark Night and an unnamed Legendary elf speaking well of him behind the scenes, Annan's reputation soared. An alliance no longer seemed so far out of reach.
"You really made it to the Foot of the World Tree?"
Across the Portal, Olmedo looked