Covenant

 “The Higher 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.”

 

Estheria met his gaze, her determination unwavering.

“Why would the Higher Elves keep this a secret?” she demanded, her voice steady but full of concern. “This operation and everything involved should have been communicated to the outskirts. The safety of the lower elves was never considered. If I hadn’t found out, our village would have been in danger without any warning.”

 

The Grand Mage sighed, his eyes reflecting a sense of experience and understanding.

 

“As Aeliff  has mentioned, we preferred to carry out the mission quietly,” he said, his tone impassive. “But there is more to this than we are able to understand.

You’ve been investigating, haven’t you? You encountered  demons and returned, unlike the Operation teams.”

 

He stepped closer, his presence calm but powerful, his aura gentle yet undeniable. “The Grand Council of Wise Elves has convened for a meeting,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “You are welcome to share your thoughts there. Your companions may speak freely as well. What is your decision, Estheria? This is your chance to voice your concerns, and we will listen.”

 

Estheria didn’t hesitate. “I want the Defense Force of ElFairia to ensure the safety of my village and everyone in it.”

 

The Grand Mage nodded, his expression unreadable. “Very well,” he said, his voice as calm as ever. “Let’s waste no time it’s urgent.”

 

With a wave of his hand, the other Higher Elves surrounded us--Estheria, Strixx, me, and the tied-up demon.

 

As we moved forward, the villagers watched, helpless, unable to do anything but hope.

 

Estheria turned back to them, her voice carrying reassurance despite the uncertainty.

 

“Everyone,” she called out, her tone steady but filled with warmth. “I’ll make sure everyone’s safety is secured. Please don’t lose heart. I’ll be back soon.”

 

And with that, we began our journey toward the ElFairia Capital, flanked by the Higher Elves, leaving the village behind.

 

With that, we made our way to the western edge of the village, where the Royal Carriage awaited. As we approached, we climbed aboard, and the journey toward the capital began without delay.

 

Before long, we arrived at the majestic City Hall of ElFairia.

 

Surrounded by a group of Higher Elves, with the Grand Mage walking at the front, we were instructed to follow him. The tied-up demon was taken away by a separate group for further interrogation.

 

As we entered the grand hall, I couldn’t help but be awestruck. The council of Elves sat upon elevated platforms, surrounded by towering columns and intricate carvings. The hall was vast, and Higher Elves filled the space, their murmurs buzzing throughout. It quickly became clear this was no ordinary meeting—it was something far more significant.

 

As we stepped forward, the whispers among the Higher Elves grew louder. Eyes focused on Estheria, and the disdain was palpable. They couldn’t hide their judgment of the “lower elf” standing among them.

 

Then, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the murmurs.

 

“Silence.”

 

The room immediately fell quiet.

 

One of the council leaders stood, his voice strong and clear. “At the request of Grand Mage Erisious, this meeting is now in session. Grand Mage, please state your findings.”

 

The Grand Mage nodded and stepped forward.

 

“Thank you,” he said calmly, his presence commanding the room’s attention. “This meeting has been convened to address urgent matters surrounding the security of ElFairia.”

 

The Divine Mage, who stood next to him, continued. “Citizens of ElFairia, strange occurrences have been unfolding around the forest that surrounds our land. For centuries, the barrier protecting us has kept us safe and hidden from outside threats. But recently, demons have located us.”

 

He paused, his gaze sharp. “We’ve sent several of our highest-level mages to investigate, but none have returned. This confirms that ElFairia is now at risk of a grave, unknown danger.”

 

The room was heavy with tension, and the Divine Mage’s voice grew more focused. “However, this elf, Estheria, hails from the outskirts of ElFairia. She conducted her own investigation into the disturbances around our borders, and unlike the operation teams, she returned unharmed. In addition, she brought with her a defeated demon—bound and captured--as well as two outsiders.”

 

The entire hall fell Into a hushed silence, the weight of the situation settling over everyone present.

The Grand Mage shifted his gaze toward Estheria, his eyes intense and unwavering.

 

“I would like to make it clear to everyone here that the investigation conducted by this elf—Estheria—will be examined. We will confirm whether her actions were those of a genuine investigator or if she has betrayed us, leading to the current crisis.”

 

A murmur rippled through the crowd. The voices of the Higher Elves echoed with distrust and judgment, whispers insinuating that Estheria might be the traitor, the cause of all this turmoil.

 

“Silence!” The Grand Mage’s voice thundered, commanding immediate quiet.

 

The room fell into a heavy silence once more.

 

Strixx, clutching onto my arm, looked up with fear in her eyes. “Strixx is scared here,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

 

I gave her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry, Strixx. Everything will be alright.”

 

The Grand Mage’s focus returned to Estheria. “Estheria, from the village of the lower elves… Do you wish to clarify your investigation and the reasons behind your unauthorized spying on the great capital of ElFairia?”

 

The council leaders spoke up, their tone cold and detached. “Estheria may now present her statement.”

 

The eyes of the entire council burned with suspicion. Every gaze was like a knife, sharp and accusing. Estheria’s body tensed, and I could sense her nerves.

 

“Go on, Estheria,” I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “This is your chance to speak your truth. You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re just trying to protect everyone. We’re with you, no matter what.”

 

Strixx, too, nodded with a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with warmth.  Estheria  Strixx and Luca believes in you.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Estheria stood tall, her resolve solidifying as she prepared to speak.

 

“I am Estheria, from the outskirts of ElFairia--one of the lower elf villages.” Her voice rang clear and strong. “I began my investigation not because of curiosity, but out of concern for my village’s safety. The Illusion Forest has always been calm, but recently, strange things have started happening. I couldn’t ignore it, knowing the forest lies so close to my home. My village, so vulnerable, could be in danger.”

 

The room was still, every ear straining to hear her words.

 

“A week ago, while foraging in the Illusion Forest, I encountered something that should not have been there--a demon beast. The Illusion Forest has never been home to such creatures; it’s always been filled with magic beasts, but never anything like this. Demon beasts... they are unlike any threat we’ve encountered. This wasn’t just a magical beast--it was something far more dangerous and unfamiliar.”

 

Her voice grew firmer as she continued.

 

“My village is located at the very edge of ElFairia, right next to the forest. I couldn’t just ignore what I’d seen. If this was happening, it was a danger not just to me, but to everyone in the village. I couldn’t risk it, so I decided to investigate further. I gathered what evidence I could, hoping to report it to the capital. I had to make sure the truth came to light--our safety depended on it.”

 

She paused, her voice faltering for a moment before she regained her composure.

 

“The deeper I ventured, the more I uncovered. I found broken wands and medals—belonging to the higher mages of ElFairia.”

 

A murmur spread through the council at her words, but Estheria pressed on, her determination growing.

 

“That’s when I realized that something had been going on for a long time. If the capital had known about this, why was it kept a secret? Why were no precautions taken to protect the outskirts? That’s when I knew I couldn’t trust just a report—I needed to find the truth myself. I had to find out what was happening, and I couldn’t stand by while my people were in danger.”

 

She met the eyes of the council, her gaze unwavering.

 

“I wanted to ensure the safety of my village. The people there are my family, and I couldn’t allow them to be blindsided by whatever was coming. That’s when I found out about the operations being carried out within the capital.”

 

She stood there, waiting for their response, her voice steady despite the weight of the room’s suspicion.

 

 

 

The council leader’s voice echoed through the hall:

“Elf girl from the village of the lower elves… Are you certain that the statement you have given is the complete and honest truth?”

 

Estheria stood tall, her back straight, her voice steady.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Everything I have stated is true. There is no lie, no falsehood in my words.”

 

The Grand Mage Erisious watched her closely for a moment, then finally spoke.

“She is not lying,” he declared calmly. “I can tell.”

 

Then, his gaze shifted toward me and Strixx. His eyes were sharp, but there was no hostility in them.

“And now, the two outsiders. We wish to hear your account. How is it that you ended up within ElFairia’s borders? You are free to present your statement and clarify your presence here.”

 

I took a breath, feeling Estheria glance toward me, and Strixx quietly squeezed my hand for support.

I stepped forward and spoke clearly:

 

“My name is Luca, and this is my companion, Strixx. We are travelers, journeying across various lands. Our destination was the western territories, and to reach them, we had to pass through the Illusion Forest.”

 

I paused briefly, then continued:

“On our way, we were tricked by a group of bandits. That was when we first met Estheria—she saved us. Not just once, but twice.”

 

The memories flashed in my mind: Estheria standing bravely before us, fighting off the danger without hesitation.

 

“Last night,” I said, my voice tightening, “we were attacked again--this time, by a horde of demon beasts and a demon who had the ability to control them. If it hadn’t been for Estheria and Strixx, we wouldn’t have made it out alive.”

 

I glanced at Estheria, her figure standing strong despite the heavy atmosphere around her.

 

“I suffered heavy wounds during the battle. Estheria, without hesitation, brought me to her village to be treated by Elder Eldwin.

“We didn’t get involved out of obligation or by accident,” I said, my voice steady but filled with emotion.

“We chose to stand by her—because Estheria is someone who risked her life for strangers without asking for anything in return.

We saw her strength, her kindness, and the weight she carries alone for the sake of her people.

To us, she’s not just a protector or a guide… she’s our friend.

And we would rather stand with her, no matter the danger, than ever turn our backs on someone like her.”

 

I finished, my voice unwavering, making sure every single person in that hall could feel the truth in my words.