Vol. IV Chapter I: Under Violet Leaves

In the central square, surrounded by semi-open market halls draped with violet sails, rose the scaffolding of an unfinished statue.

Beside it lay delicate mosaic tiles, and two dark elves were carefully polishing the leg, carved from pale stone.

The statue depicted a lithe, sinewy huntress, elegant in a masculine way, with human features.

Her right arm was raised, fingers poised on an arrow yet to be drawn.

A short, sleeveless garment, a chiton, draped loosely over her body, held in place only by two brooches on her shoulders and a simple belt at the waist.

She had been sculpted in a moment of movement, as though she had just stepped out of the forest’s shadow.

Her gaze, proud and piercing, was directed westward, toward the land that had become fertile by her blessing.

As Melissa looked at the statue, she recalled what she had been told upon her arrival.

They said it happened just a week ago, in the dead of night. 

A hunting party of dark elves was on the prowl, silent, fluid, with eyes that could see in the dark.

After they had brought down their prey in a moonlit clearing, the sky suddenly opened above them.

Bathed in moonlight, she descended. 

Her gaze pierced through the hunters like the unfailing arrows she carried in her quiver.

Artemis.

She didn’t say much, only pointed westward, toward the barren lands that had lain fallow and withered for decades.

Then she strung her golden bow and loosed an arrow, which upon striking the ground caused it to bloom and fertilized the whole land.

Sickly trees recovered, groves began to bear fruit once more. 

The dusty plains, once as desolate as if Yashar’s blight had spread like a sickness, suddenly became fertile again.

Soon after, the dark elves tore down the effigies of their old gods.

Those gods had never appeared to them, had never answered their prayers.

And now, they renounced them.

The few dissenting voices among the priesthood soon fell silent in the face of undeniable divine power.

Melissa sat on a winding balcony made of nightwood, built around an ancient tree, her hooves dangling over the edge and her tail flicking nervously as her gaze wandered back to the unfinished statue below.

“All that we went through… only to end up dancing to their tune again,” she murmured thoughtfully.

Were we even ever truly free?

She sighed.

Then she grabbed a handful of pickled mushrooms from a large bowl beside her and washed them down with a generous swig from an ornate wine bottle.

“Hah... Atleast these dark elves know good food and fine wine!”

Just a few days earlier, she had arrived in Vinfalas with the others.

The city lay nestled among ancient trees with violet leaves, their trunks as wide as houses.

The inhabitants didn’t live on the ground, but in shadowy terrace dwellings coiled around the trees, connected by swaying rope bridges.

Everywhere, blue and purple lanterns burned, casting the treetop city, hidden from the sun, in perpetual twilight.

Despite initial skepticism, the refugees were genuinely welcomed, just as Findergwyn had promised.

Healers tended to the sick and wounded, food and drink were provided, and they were given surprisingly comfortable accommodations in the treetops.

“I have to admit... I didn’t expect that,” said even Liviana, who had been bracing for an ambush upon their arrival.

The only person who ironically didn’t seem welcome was Findergwyn himself.

“You!?” the captain of the border watch had shouted upon recognizing him among the refugees.

“You’ve got some nerve showing your face here again after what you did!”

Melissa, Liviana, and the other Selvarin turned to their companion in surprise, he had never hinted at anything like this.

“Fin?” Melissa asked cautiously, but he was already focused on the captain.

“Oh, come now, dear Rigadan. Is that any way to greet an old friend? I admit, things didn’t go... perfectly back then,” he said, scratching his neck awkwardly. 

“But I bring valuable intel from the enemy that I’m sure Her Ladyship will be eager to hear!”

Rigadan snorted, unimpressed.

“Still the same old windbag, huh? I think Her Ladyship will be anything but pleased to hear of your return…”

And with that, Findergwyn was taken directly to the grand Tree Palace, the seat of their ruler, Velissumbrielle.

“This... might take a while,” he said, just before being led away.

“And? What now?” Melissa asked curiously when he finally returned hours later.

“Well…” Findergwyn began, clearly unsure where to start.

“First off, I should confess… I was never part of any peace delegation to Yashar. I was, in fact… exiled from here.”

“Exiled!?” Melissa blurted.

“I knew he couldn’t be trusted,” Liviana added dryly.

“It’s not what you think! I did guide you here safely, didn’t I? That part wasn’t a lie! I just, uh… left out the exile part. Bit embarrassing, you know?”

Liviana raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

“We’re listening.”

“Remember when I told you I slapped a Yashari high priest because he made a vulgar comment about my companion?”

They nodded.

“Well… it wasn’t a Yashari high priest. It was our high priest here in Vinfalas. And I didn’t slap him, he slapped me.”

He cleared his throat.

“And, well… I was the one who made the vulgar comment. About… Lady Velissumbrielle. But in my defense, the wine that night was way too strong, and even undiluted!”

Liviana just shook her head.

“A liar and an idiot. Great.”

Fin ignored the remark and went on.

“Anyway, I’m not allowed to stay here for much longer. Though my exile has been slightly shortened thanks to the intel I brought back from captivity.”

Then he turned to Melissa, his tone more serious.

“If you want, I can guide you back to Tiberun through the northern passes. I owe you that, after all, you saved me.”

“And what about the refugees? They’re too exhausted to travel again so soon,” Liviana objected.

But Isari gently reassured her.

“I’ll stay with them and take care of things. You two have already done more than enough for us.”

Findergwyn nodded in agreement.

“Don’t worry. They’ll be safe here.”

And so, Liviana ultimately agreed that the three of them would continue their journey together.

“There’s… something else you should know,” Fin added, pointing toward the statue of Artemis.

“Apparently, she’s not the only god to show up. Scouts say deities have been appearing in neighboring countries too, some even declaring themselves patron gods of those nations.”

Melissa’s expression darkened at his words, though she said nothing.

“They say Tiberun managed to repel the Yashari invasion in the south and even stabilized the northern front against Valdrik, thanks to divine intervention,” Fin continued. 

“A lot of people believe the gods have come to usher in a new golden age and finally end the wars between the realms…”

But Melissa shook her head violently and interrupted him.

“No. Absolutely not…”

“You know something about these gods?” Isari asked curiously.

Melissa nodded.

“I do. And I know that this world will never be free again... unless it gets rid of them.”

She sighed, then turned to Fin.

“I want to speak to your Lady Veliss… um… what was her name again? You know who I mean. I want to talk to her.”

“Lady Velissumbrielle?” Findergwyn asked, surprised.

Melissa gave a thumbs-up.

“That’s the one.”

Then she stood, stretched, and cast one last glance down at the statue in the square.

I just fear she won’t want to hear what I have to say.