This is What You Stand For?

Estheria agreed to let Strixx and me help after the conversation we had.

She looked at both of us and said,

“Strixx, Luca --for now, let’s get back to the demon the villagers are keeping watch over.”

I nodded at Estheria.

“Alright. But can you tell us the situation?”

She glanced at us briefly.

“I’ll explain everything, but first, let’s get back to the villagers. Come on, Strixx, Luca.”

After that, we stepped out of Old Man Eldwin’s place.

When we came outside, Old Man Eldwin was there, watering the plants.

As he spotted us coming out, he looked over at Estheria.

“Off somewhere again?” he asked with a knowing smile.

Estheria faced him with a serious expression.

“Grandpa… I have some things I need to take care of.”

The old man chuckled softly, setting down his watering can.

“I see. You sure have grown up.”

He smiled proudly at her.

“Whatever it is, Estheria, do your best. Don’t give up -- that’s the thing you’re best at.”

Hearing those words, Estheria’s serious expression softened. She smiled warmly at him, the corners of her eyes gentle.

“I’ll do my best, Grandpa,” she said softly. “We’ll be back soon.”

The old man’s smile deepened, his eyes filled with pride and quiet affection.

“Take care, all of you,” he said, his voice gentle and full of warmth.

“Strixx and I gave a small bow to the old man before we left.”

“The old man watched us with a warm smile as we headed back to the villagers.”

We finally reached the villagers, who all looked at Estheria and us.

Estheria smiled.

“Thank you, everyone, for keeping watch while I was away.”

An elf villager spoke up.

“C’mon, Estheria, you’re always helping us around the village. It wasn’t a big deal.”

I glanced at Estheria.

“As we’ve agreed, we’re in this together,” I said, my voice steady.

“Estheria, what are we going to do?”

Strixx and I will do our best to follow up on whatever you decide.”

Strixx stepped forward, his voice firm,

“Strixx will do Strixx’s best too.”

Estheria gave a small smile, nodding in appreciation
Estheria looked at me, then at the white-haired demon tied up.

She stepped forward to speak.

“Everyone, please listen carefully,” Estheria said, her voice serious but calm.

“I’ve spent the last week gathering as much information as I could, and what I’ve learned… it doesn’t feel right. Something is happening in ElFairia, and I fear it’s something dangerous. We need to be prepared for what’s coming.”
The villagers looked at Estheria, worried.

“What’s going on, Estheria?”

“Demons have surrounded all of ElFairia. I don’t know what they’re planning or thinking.”

She looked at the tied-up demon, her gaze sharp.

“You must know what’s going on. Tell me — what are you demons planning”

She paused.
“There have been three excavations through the forest from ElFairia Defense force in the last few months, and none of them have returned. What happened to them?”

The demon trembled and said,

“I don’t know anything… All we were ordered to do was capture the elf that appeared in the forest, and that’s what we did.”

Estheria’s eyes hardened.

She placed her fist on the demon’s face.

“Tell me everything you know.”

The demon shook in fear.

“I really don’t know anything… I swear, I don’t…”

Estheria’s gaze remained fixed on the tied-up demon, her eyes narrowing with determination.

“Where are all those higher mages from the operation that never returned?” Her voice was calm, but the intensity behind her words made it clear she expected answers.

The demon trembled, his eyes wide with fear as he struggled against his restraints.

“We… we captured them. That’s right,” he stammered, his voice shaky.

“Afterward, they were taken away by our high-ranking demons… I don’t know what happened to them after that.”

Estheria’s eyes flickered upward, as though trying to piece together the mystery.

“This has been happening for quite some time,” she muttered, her voice darkening with each word. “The Higher Elf Council of ElFairia has kept this hidden from everyone, even from us, the lower elves. But if something goes wrong, the first ones to suffer will be us—the ones in the outer village, on the edges of ElFairia.”

Just as her words hung in the air, an unknown voice interrupted with an air of superiority.

“That might just be the best way to rid the world of you talentless elves,” the voice sneered.

A higher elf, his attire radiating the prestige of ElFairia’s elite, stepped forward. His uniform was adorned with intricate magical runes, and his expression was cold and dismissive. Behind him stood a group of similarly dressed elves, their eyes betraying an arrogant confidence.

Estheria stood her ground, her posture unwavering, but her expression hardened as she recognized the newcomer.

“Aeliff… you—”

Aeliff stepped closer, the air between them crackling with tension. He stood tall, towering over her with a smug grin.

“I’m here to take you into custody, Estheria,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “By order of the Higher Elf Council, you are charged with unauthorized spying on the Capital City of ElFairia. You’re also guilty of associating with demons and outsiders, and that, my dear, is a crime in itself.”

His gaze then shifted to me, his lips curling into a sneer.

“Tch, human.”

Aeliff’s eyes narrowed, looking down at me with contempt.

“Well, elves become as useless as humans when they’re talentless and can’t even use magic like everyone else in this village,” he spat, his words filled with scorn.

Estheria, unflinching, locked eyes with him.

“Why has the Higher Elf Council kept quiet all this time, then? You expect me to believe this is all just some coincidence?”

Aeliff’s smirk only deepened, a cruel mockery of a smile.

“Keep quiet? We, the Higher Elves, have no faith in you lower elves. What would benefit us from involving you? Nothing. You’re all just weaklings who can barely defend your own village. You’re nothing more than pawns in a game we’ve already decided. Why would we waste our time with you?” His voice was filled with bitter disdain as he gestured toward the gathered Higher elves, who nodded in agreement.

The villagers stood silent, their heads hung low, unable to counter the words of their supposed betters.

Estheria, however, refused to let his taunts go unanswered.

“You may think you’re above everyone else, Aeliff,” she said, her voice cold and steady, “but I’ve seen the truth. You and your Higher Elf Council are willing to sacrifice us all for your own gain. And I won’t stand by and let it happen.”

She took a deep breath and then continued, her eyes sweeping across the gathered villagers.

“This has been happening for far too long. The Higher Elf Council has kept all of us in the dark, while they pull the strings behind the scenes. If something terrible happens, it won’t just affect ElFairia—it will destroy everything. And we’ll be the first to feel the consequences.” She paused, her expression resolute.

“But I won’t let that happen. Not if I can stop it.”

The atmosphere shifted, the tension rising as Aeliff sneered at her defiance.

“Enough of your talk,” he said coldly. “You, that demon, and your two subordinates are coming with us to the Defense Force Headquarters. The Higher Elf Council has had enough of your meddling."

I couldn’t stand it any longer. My fists clenched at my sides, and I stepped forward, looking straight at Aeliff with defiance in my eyes.

“Talentless lower elves? What do you even mean by that?” My voice rang out, strong and clear.

Aeliff’s eyes flared with anger, and he glared at me, his lip curling in disdain.
“What are you muttering, lowlife? You’re in the wrong place.”

I didn’t back down, my voice firm with every word.

“You’ll be wrong. You’ve got it all wrong,

“Estheria is the kind of person who would help anyone, even if they were a complete stranger,” I said, my voice firm. “She doesn’t care about status or titles. When we first met, we were in danger, and she didn’t hesitate to step in and make sure we were safe. No magic, no fancy tricks--just her strength and determination. She’s someone who looks out for others, no matter who they are.”

I turned my gaze back to Aeliff, my tone growing stronger.

“If being a High Elf means being all high and mighty, looking down on others with arrogance… then being a ‘low-life’ human, or a ‘lower’ elf, is a thousand times better than any so-called elite. At least we know what it means to help others, to stand by them. You can keep your so-called ‘status.’”

She saved us, not just once, but many times. And not once has she looked down on us or asked for anything return.

She’s stronger than anyone I’ve ever known, and yet she never boasts about it. Unlike you, who stands there acting like you’re better than everyone else.”

I took a step forward, my gaze unwavering.

“So, don’t you dare look down on her. Or on anyone in this village.”

Aeliff’s eyes burned with rage, and his face twisted into a scowl.

“Piss off, you lowlife. Don’t run your mouth, or I’ll burn you to a crisp.”

Without warning, he raised his wand, its tip glowing with dark energy, aiming it straight at me. The air around us crackled with the tension of impending violence.

But before he could strike, Strixx stepped forward, his body a solid wall between me and the elf.

“Strixx won’t forgive you, Mr. Elf, if you hurt Luca,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, the air around him shifting as his protective instincts surged.

Aeliff’s laugh echoed, harsh and mocking.

“A mere child, showing such disrespect to a Higher Elf? This will not go unpunished.”

Aeliff’s smile twisted into something malicious as he charged his wand in front of Strixx.

“Well, I was only ordered to bring Estheria in,” he sneered, looking back at his subordinates. “So I guess I can just kill the rest of you.”

Laughter erupted from the other elves, mocking us.

But Estheria stood firm, positioning herself in front of Strixx and me.

She glanced at me, her eyes filled with gratitude, despite the tense situation. “Thank you, Luca, for standing up for us lower elves,” she said, her voice steady but full of resolve.

Estheria squared off with Aeliff, preparing for the attack, her body radiating determination as she braced for the powerful spell he was about to unleash.

Aeliff’s smile widened, about to release the magic, when suddenly--

“Halt!”

An unfamiliar voice rang out, and a tall figure slowly appeared from the distance. The figure was an elf--muscular, with striking white hair, dressed in simple mage attire, and lacking a wand.

Aeliff froze, seeing the newcomer, and immediately lowered his wand, bowing deeply.

“Grand Mage Erisious,” he murmured, his tone filled with respect.

The tension in the air shifted as everyone in the village bowed in unison, watching the powerful figure approach. Erisious didn’t speak at first, but his presence alone commanded the space.

Aeliff backed off, muttering an apology, his earlier arrogance dissolving under the weight of Erisious’s presence.

The Grand Mage turned his gaze to Estheria, his calm demeanor hiding the immense magic power he exuded.

“The supreme Council of Elves has summoned you,” he stated, his voice like a quiet storm. “You and your subordinates, along with the demon, will come with me.”