The Messenger

Twenty elven captives now belonged to Li Lin. Though they had been sold before their very eyes, they still stood tall, doing their utmost to appear fearless. Even so, they were secretly panicking. They were no fledglings who knew nothing of the world. They had heard of the cruel ways humans treated them: humans would do everything they could to torment their souls and bodies, until they finally submitted at their feet. It was like a raging flood, leaving almost no room to turn back. And now, their own fate had simply arrived ahead of time.

At Li Lin's direction, the fat merchant led them to a sparsely populated warehouse district. Although he did not know why the man wanted the elves, he did not dare ask. The biting cold from Li Lin's palm, cold enough to freeze even his soul, had yet to fade, leaving him in little mood to meddle. Even when Li Lin asked for the warehouse where he had originally imprisoned the elves, the fat merchant readily agreed. He had already earned enough to recover his costs anyway. Even if he sold them in the west, he might not make as much after deducting shipping costs and tariffs. Since he could make a windfall for nothing, he certainly would not be foolish enough to ask questions.

After closing the main doors and making sure those in the way had gone far away, Li Lin finally took a good look at the captive elves. Clearly, even after being sold before their eyes, they still showed their haughty nature. They stood tall, as if they looked down on the human before them. Li Lin was certain that would whet Angela's appetite-nothing pleased her more than conquering these so-called proud people.

But Li Lin had not spent so much money to provide Angela with more toys and food.

Although the elves acted very proud, not even deigning to regard Li Lin, deep down they were far less confident than they appeared. These elves were no newborn fledglings. They had heard plenty of terrible rumors about humans from their own people. Humans could even torment them, using harsh methods to torture their minds and bodies until they finally submitted at their feet. The process was almost like a flood, impossible to reverse. And what they were doing now was like facing destruction in despair, determined to preserve at least their final shred of dignity.

Li Lin sighed inwardly, then pointed a finger at one of the elves. As a low chant began, magical characters appeared on the back of his hand once more. They rearranged themselves into a new spell, then shot from his finger like arrows loosed from a bow, entering the elf's body before she could react. Li Lin then pressed a hand downward, and a barely visible halo spread out from him, encircling the entire building. From that moment on, the warehouse no longer existed, at least as far as anyone outside could see.

"You'd best stay here quietly. Don't even think about trying to escape."

Although the elves remained silent, Li Lin could already see their panic.

"I just placed a curse on your companion. If anyone leaves this place, she'll die immediately. So I advise you not to make any very dangerous plans, or the flame of your companion's life may go out."

With that, Li Lin bowed slightly and left the warehouse.

He had more important things to do.

Buying the elves had been an accident in Li Lin's plans, and he had no time to dwell on what he had spent. Fortunately, it did not take him long to find what he wanted. Deep in an almost deserted park, he discovered one of the entrances. It was a large sculpture that had weathered a thousand years of wind and rain. By now it had fallen into disrepair and even been altered into a meaningless symbol. But as a mage, Li Lin still keenly sensed the magical power sealed within it. He made sure once more that no one was around, then recited the opening spell. With a faint sound, a small cave appeared behind the sculpture. No one would notice it without looking carefully.

Li Lin did not go down immediately. He stood silently at the entrance, then recited the spell again and closed the exit. Out of the corner of his eye, he had seen several familiar figures approaching. To prevent any mishaps, Li Lin stepped back. The entire scene distorted, then concealed him like a canvas, as though nothing had ever been there.

Duncan entered the park in silence. He raised his head and surveyed the surroundings with a commanding air, seemingly checking for any bystanders. Clearly, however, there was no one there, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"Sir Duncan."

A young voice spoke. Li Lin remembered that this was another paladin, Silas, Duncan's second-in-command. Angela had once mocked the man in private, suggesting that his loyalty to Duncan stemmed from an interest not fit to be spoken of openly. Though she had offered Li Lin plenty of conjectures, the thought of two naked, sweat-drenched men embracing made him sick. Even so, it was because of that that he remembered the paladin so clearly.

"Miss Mina and Miss Fina have returned to their rooms."

"Good."

Duncan nodded with satisfaction. He glanced around again, seemingly still somewhat uneasy about the situation.

"Remember the god's teachings."

He spoke again, his tone grave.

"Do not let lies cloud your mind, and do not let doubt occupy your thoughts."

"I understand what you mean, Sir Duncan."

In Angela's telling, the two men should have drawn closer next, then wrapped their muscular arms around each other. Fortunately, the pair were apparently not yet as depraved as Angela had claimed. Silas merely struck the armor over his chest hard, then turned and left.

What happened?

Li Lin thought it over carefully. He did not understand why they had come to such a deserted place to say something so unrelated. A few pointless words, and that was all... Did even that need to be kept secret? As Li Lin pondered, he was surprised to see Duncan striding toward him. He instinctively stepped back, thinking the paladin had seen through his magical disguise. But when Duncan took out a holy symbol and held it between his hands in prayer, Li Lin realized he had guessed wrong. Apparently, because the city had no temple, the paladin had to find another place to pray.

"Great God of Justice, please guide our path."

Duncan was completely oblivious to Li Lin's presence nearby and prayed in a low voice.

"We are about to embark on a dangerous journey. We may not return alive to your side, but your will is our guide."

He spoke softly and finished his prayer. Then Duncan put away the holy symbol and turned to leave.

Although Duncan's behavior did not seem strange, Li Lin was somewhat surprised that he and the other knight had gone out of their way to mention the two priestesses. For now, though, that was not something he needed to worry about. Li Lin put the matter out of his mind and left the place.

When he returned to the warehouse, the elves were still waiting quietly where they had been. They had not even moved. Perhaps it was because of Li Lin's warning, or perhaps they realized that even if they escaped, it would be futile. Whatever the reason, the elves seemed quite obedient.

In fact, the elves were full of questions. They had no idea what the man wanted. He was not like other humans, who coveted only their beauty, nor did he seem intent on tormenting them. Moreover, the man had cast magic, which meant he was a mage. All of this left the elves full of questions, and they had made all sorts of guesses about the identity of the man before them.

But when Li Lin opened his mouth and spoke to them in High Elvish, the elves could not help feeling shocked.

"In the name of Tranquil Water Moon, I am not your enemy, elves."

Li Lin watched the elves before him and could easily sense their surprise, but he did not stop there. He continued.

"I need your help."

"You shock us, human."

At last, a relatively mature-looking elf spoke, though she was not very willing to do so.

"We never knew that a human could speak the language of the elves so fluently. This is truly an affront to the elves."

"Put away your hostility, elf."

Li Lin frowned. He had expected relations between elves and humans to be poor after a thousand years, but he had not expected them to be this bad.

"I can understand your anger, but I hope you won't direct it at the wrong person. Before being a human, I am a mage. I am protecting your lives in accordance with the covenant."

"We do not know what covenant you are talking about, human."

The elven woman thought for a moment before finally speaking.

"But if you mean to use such a trick to win our obedience, I advise you to abandon the idea."

After a thousand years, have even the long-lived elves forgotten the history of the past?

Looking at the elves, who remained wary, Li Lin let out a long sigh deep in his heart. Once again, he realized how insignificant his thoughts were before the long river of history. In fact, this was merely a joke time had played on him: for everyone in this world, the empire's destruction was already dust and ruins in history, but for Li Lin, it had happened only eighteen years ago. The hatred born of his country's destruction and the loss of his home and family might fade over a thousand years, but it could not be erased in a mere eighteen.

Perhaps I really should let go of these grievances. After retrieving those valuable relics, it might be better to find a place and start a new life.

At that thought, Li Lin felt somewhat disheartened. Although Angela might not find it interesting, exploring a world a thousand years later might also be a good choice.

With that thought, Li Lin held out both hands and dispelled the spell. Then he turned sideways and casually dropped a small gem.

"You can leave now and go wherever you want."

With that, Li Lin opened the door and prepared to leave.

Just then, a slender figure suddenly rushed through the doorway and collided with Li Lin. Though the attack caught him somewhat off guard, the magical protection on his body took effect naturally. A translucent circle immediately appeared around him, blocking all attacks from outside. After her attack failed, the assailant immediately retreated, brandishing the dagger in her hand as she barred the mage's way.

"I won't let you hurt my people, human!"

"I never meant to hurt them in the first place."

Li Lin glanced at the attacker. She was also an elf, and she did not look very old. But to his puzzlement, she seemed familiar, very much like someone he knew.

"If you want, take them with you. And while you're at it, tell Her Majesty the Queen that I'm truly disappointed in the elves of today."

"You...!!"

Hearing Li Lin's fluent High Elvish, the elven girl before him froze for a moment, but her surprise was quickly replaced by anger.

"How dare you speak of the queen..."

She did not finish. Li Lin had sensed intense magical fluctuations coming from outside. Startled, he quickly retreated. At the same time, several magic missiles tore the sturdy door apart, and an old man in a mage's robe appeared before them.

"Elves?"

He looked at the elves behind Li Lin, a faint smile appearing on his aged face. But when he turned his gaze to Li Lin, his expression immediately grew stern.

"Hello, unfamiliar spellcaster."

As the old man spoke, he struck the ground hard with his staff.

"You have violated Dika's decree prohibiting the casting of magic within the city. Now, I demand that you dispel the spells on your body and surrender immediately."