Chapter 436: Elven Domain [2]
As the geniuses made their way through the streets, they couldn't help but be captivated by the Elven City's atmosphere. The air was filled with melodic whispers and the scent of blooming flowers, creating an enchanting ambiance that seemed to seep into their very souls.
The Elven architecture was truly a sight to behold. Tall, slender towers intertwined with the surrounding trees, their branches seemingly reaching out to touch the sky.
Each building was adorned with delicate carvings and intricate patterns, showcasing the elves' meticulous craftsmanship.
As the group of geniuses continued to walk through the Elven City, they couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the elven residents.
Although curious, they made sure not to approach them and look from afar. Even those on the road quickly went to another place when they saw humans coming towards their direction.
It was evident that their presence in the city was causing quite a stir among the locals.
"Are they humans? What are they doing here?"
"Did the guards catch them? Those humans are always up to no good!"
"I heard that his majesty has invited other races. I don't know but my friend said that dwarfs have also entered the country. Maybe they will talk about peace between the races!"
"What peace! These humans only know how to wage wars. They even fight amongst themselves. There will never be peace with them."
"Let's just hope that they came with good intentions!" …
Whispers and hushed conversations followed in their wake as the geniuses passed by. They could catch snippets of discussions about who they were and what brought them to the Elven City.
Some elves seemed intrigued by their presence, while others wore expressions of skepticism and confusion.
It was apparent that they were not trusted by the Elves. The only thing that kept these Elves from attacking the humans were the Elven guards who were guiding them.
"Wow! Elves are really pretty as said in the book. They looked just like us though they had long ears and had different aura."
Sylvia muttered as she looked around.
"Look, they are staring at us!"
Sylvia whispered to her group. She was excited and ingrite to be in an unknown place, however, those stares were unbearable for her.
"Shhh, Let's not talk about that for now!"
Lisa warned Sylvia. The atmosphere of the place was tense due to their presence, and it seemed like they were being stared at as some rare animal by Elves.
Amelia was similar to Sylvia and was excited by the place that they were in. It was different from her usual routine and the place was beautiful.
Zero also looked around but was not really interested in Elves. It wasn't unusual for Elves to treat them like this as humans were hated as much as Devils by other races including Elves.
Rather it was an unusual choice for the Royals of Elves to invite them.
The group of geniuses followed the elven guards through the winding streets of the city until they arrived at a quaint inn nestled among the trees.
The inn's exterior boasted the same intricate designs seen throughout the city, showcasing the elves' attention to detail in every aspect of their lives.
"We are here! This will be the place where you will be staying for tonight. Tomorrow, we will escort you to the Royal capital."
The Elven guard said.
"Stay here for tonight and don't go wandering around. If you get attacked or get lost, we will not be responsible."
The Elven guard warned. He was saying this not because he didn't want humans to go outside or hated them but because he didn't know whether some insane Elves might attack them.
Although the Elven guard talked to them in an imposing manner, it didn't mean that he disliked them or anything. He was always like this and only did what he was told.
And his job right now was to keep the human visitors safe. He knows that if something happened to them, the relationship between the human nation and Elves would sour and there was a chance of them attacking them.
Although Elves are said to have never lost in war and were strong, it was because Devils and Humans never paid attention to Elves and fully went to war with them. If they did, there was a 90 percent chance of being destroyed.
However, thanks to Elara's wisdom and the Royal family who kept the Elves away from the conflict between Devils and Humans and never fought for supremacy.
Though he warned them out of his responsibilities and goodness, some of the geniuses didn't like what he said. It felt like they were being looked down upon and that they would get killed by some Elves.
Though with Nock, they didn't show their dissatisfaction.
"You want us to sleep in such a place?"
However, rather than the word said by the Elven guard, one of them was dissatisfied with the inn that they were staying in.
And obviously, he was one of William's friends. He seemed dissatisfied with the inn that they were told to stay in.
"Don't Elves have better establishments than this?"
He asked.
The Elven guard calmly replied, "This is the best inn we have in this city. You would get a better establishment in the capital."
He replied without being angry at his words. Although William's friend insulted the Elves' place and acted rude, the Elven guard didn't get angry.
He was someone who just followed what was asked of his job. He didn't have meaningless pride like some people who would argue just because they think that the other party is rude to you.
"TSK! What a poor place! I never knew that you Elves were so poor!"
He said. This made some of the Elven guards angry but their leader kept a calm face without being bothered.
The geniuses looked at William's friend who was complaining. They neither stopped him nor were in support of his manner. They hated both William's friend and the Elven guard.
"Stop complaining! We are not here to play. Rest for tonight and we will continue our journey tomorrow."
Nock said.
With Nock interfering, William's friend kept his mouth shut but was not very happy.
The geniuses entered the inn and were greeted by an elven hostess who led them to their rooms. She seemed wary of humans but continued to do her job.
The elven hostess, her demeanor cautious but polite, showed the geniuses to their respective rooms. She gestured to the comfortable furnishings and the window overlooking the serene forest outside.
"If you need anything during your stay, please do not hesitate to call for assistance. The inn's staff is here to ensure your comfort," she said, her elven accent lending an enchanting quality to her words.
"Thank you," Nock replied with a nod, appreciating her efforts to make them feel welcome.
"Sleep early and wake up early! Tomorrow is going to be another long journey."
Nock reminded them.
The geniuses settled into their rooms, the weariness of their journey starting to catch up with them.
The rooms were simple yet cozy, with soft beds and a serene atmosphere that provided a welcome respite from their arduous journey.
Amelia was captivated by the room's ambiance, took a moment to admire the delicate artwork adorning the walls. "These carvings are exquisite," she remarked, running her fingers gently over the intricate patterns. "The attention to detail is astounding."
Mia, always the pragmatic one, checked the windows and the door, ensuring their security.
"Amelia, don't let your guard down! We are in others' territory. We must exercise full caution!"
Mia warned her. Although she didn't feel like Elves were planning something towards them, one might never know what others are planning behind their backs.
"Don't worry! I will protect myself."
Amelia reassured Mia.
"I can't help but wonder what awaits us in the Royal capital. It's a rare opportunity to witness firsthand the Elven culture and perhaps we can foster a good relationship with them. Anyway, it is a good opportunity for me."
*SIGH!
Mia couldn't help but be helpless against Amelia who is naive. Though it was true that this invitation could evolve into something else like an alliance between humans and Elves.
However, the chances of fighting with one another are greater than alliance. Elves might choose to end their lives and go on war with Humans.
Who knows that the invitation to other races might be to lower the vigilance of humans and kill them when they least expect it.
Anyway, Mia just kept her guards up.
Same was for Zero. He has no idea about the motives of Elves. Although he was less concerned than Mia because in the novel, Elves never really did anything to humans, so he was
confident that Elves are not planning to do anything to them.
Though of course, he would rather be cautious than regret it later. However, with Nock, Zero didn't think that they would dare to attack them.
Although Elven guards were Rank-S and their leader was at peak Rank-S, they couldn't win against the agents from The Authority and Nock.