Council of Elders.
Boasting a history long enough to rightfully claim a place in the annals of Alvenheim, the political institution with a storied past. In any civilization, a ‘leader’ to guide the civilization forward is essential, most often taking the form of a ‘king’. This king holds the duty and responsibility to ensure the people’s more stable lives and the nation’s robust growth against surrounding threats.
However, during the founding of Alvenheim, there was no ‘king’. A king, by nature, reigns over the people with formidable power, a being to which ordinary citizens must look up. At that time, the Elves vehemently resisted being ruled by anyone due to their pride in being chosen by the gods. They believed that only the gods could govern them and thus decided to operate the nation under the guidance of their trust in the gods.
Consequently, the initial leaders were ‘priests’. The clergy offered high-quality offerings to the gods and received their direct guidance, efficiently managing the nation. Despite some grumbling among the people of Alvenheim, life continued without issues.
Until the event of the ‘Devil War’, which led to some doubts about the gods’ power.
Fortunately, having received the seed of the World Tree as a gift, the Elves managed to repel the threat, but they realized the potential danger. They understood that it might be too late to heed the gods’ voices in the face of a similar crisis in the future.
They came to the realization that it should not be the gods, but the Elves themselves who must oversee Alvenheim’s progress. This realization gave birth to the political institution known as the ‘Council of Elders’.
At first, the elves were wary of being dominated by mortals rather than gods, but as time passed, that thought gradually faded. Furthermore, as is often the case with beginnings, the Council led Alvenheim wisely, with pure hearts and uncompromised beliefs. Among them were also the Dark Elves. In truth, one could say that this was the last true era of the elves.
However, power has a tendency to corrupt and decay as it grows stronger. The Council of Elders began to restrict other forces in order to secure their own interests. Dark Elves were a prime example. They were a convenient target for oppression due to their distinct ethnicity, skin color, and even the deity they worshiped. The result was the exile of the Dark Elves.
In a sense, the involvement of the Council of Elders in the exile of the Dark Elves was substantial. Externally, the religious disputes had escalated into madness, but the Council of Elders had ignited the fuse of that powder keg.
Subsequently, through divine intervention, the madness subsided, and the Council of Elders, in an attempt to hide the worst aspects, even erased records. Despite its inherent corruption, the political entity of the Council of Elders managed to persist instead of being dissolved.
The Dark Elf exile incident was a major event in itself, but it triggered a full-scale racial war, revealing the Council of Elders’s corruption. They imprisoned even the capable warrior commanders who could have turned the tide of war, and led the nation to defeat.
What used to be silent discontent erupted all at once, causing an increase in demands for the dissolution of the Council of Elders and ultimately leading to the birth of the “monarch.” Nevertheless, the Council of Elders managed to persist relentlessly.
The Council of Elders, merely by its existence, symbolized a part of Alvenheim’s history, whether positive or negative. Erasing this symbol would be a significant loss for Alvenheim.
It can be said that elves, unlike other races, particularly dislike ‘change’.
“Please, have a seat. Ah, is there anything you’d like to eat?”
“No, thank you.”
In the reception room of a mansion in Yggdrasil. Two men were facing each other across the table in the modestly decorated room. The head of the Council of Elders, Fieren, and his subordinate, Kalas.
Fieren had a smile like a gentle grandfather, while Kalas seemed slightly tense, his face somewhat stiff.
“A cup of tea brewed from the leaves of the World Tree. Perfect for fatigue.”
“I’ll gladly have some.”
When Kalas hesitated upon Fieren’s offer to drink, he looked at the liquid in the cup. It had a faint greenish hue and emitted a subtle fragrance that tantalized his senses. Tea brewed from the leaves of the World Tree was outrageously expensive, as the name suggested.
There were few who could approach the World Tree directly, and magical treatment was necessary to preserve the freshness of the leaves. However, its effects were remarkable as well. It was excellent for fatigue, and its calming effect was exceptional, similar to a tranquility potion.
It was a perfect choice for Kalas, who was currently nervous. As he finally took a sip of the tea, a refreshing taste spread through his mouth. Unlike its greenish appearance, it had no discernible flavor, only a sense of coolness.
“So, did you find Xenon?”
Fieren cut through the trivial words and got straight to the point. He had given Kalas the command to find Xenon, so it was only natural that he was eager for updates.
He hesitated for a moment, but then Kalas flashed a natural smile. If Fieren were to have any suspicions here, he would have no choice but to let his ears rot away.
No matter how esteemed he might be in the Council, it’s not worth sacrificing one’s own ears.
“Of course. Humans are truly unremarkable. Especially a publishing company executive, an utterly incompetent human – easy to track.”
“Oh, impressive. I thought Xenon might have concealed his identity by borrowing power from another race. Like demons, for instance.”
While Fieren spoke casually, Kalas couldn’t help but feel a pang.
A demon was in Xenon’s mansion. Not just any ordinary demon, but Princess Cecily of Helium. Even Xenon’s father was known as the Red Lion, a renowned knight. The publishing executive may have let his guard down, but the people around him had far surpassed the realm of ordinary individuals.
“He must have had confidence in himself. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.”
“A fitting price for arrogance, I suppose. So, can you tell me the name and whereabouts? I’d like to see his face later if possible.”
Finally, the moment had come. While Fieren asked questions and sipped his tea, Kalas rolled his head, ensuring Fieren wouldn’t catch on.
Back when he was captured in Michelle estate, Isaac had recited the report to Fieren in painstaking detail. The alias, the living area, and finally, a detailed description.
With a calm demeanor, Kalas whispered the information to Fieren, ensuring he wouldn’t notice.
“Name was Xenon Cloud. He was an elderly human living in the Hask region of the Ters Kingdom. His appearance… well, one could only say he looked wise at first glance. He had a neatly trimmed beard, and his white hair was accompanied by blue eyes.”
“That’s enough of that. By the way, I wonder if the ‘persuasion’ worked.”
Fieren playfully rolled the word ‘persuasion’ off his tongue. The persuasion he mentioned was what the ramifications of Xenon’s Biography were called in the Council of Elders.
The High Council, a political organization in Elvenheim(in the book), as everyone familiar with Xenon’s Biography knew, was the motif taken from the Council of Elders. It was as clear as day.
The problem was that the actions of that council were just as serious and significant as those that actually took place in the real Council of Elders. The banishment of the Dark Elves was the prime example.
It was unclear how Xenon knew, since the Council of Elders was only involved even though they didn’t directly banish the Dark Elves, but it was impossible for them not to be pricked by it.
So, they were determined to persuade him in any way possible. But if persuasion failed, the plan was to establish a forced cooperative relationship using ‘means’. Given that their identities were exposed, they were practically in a superior position.
In response, Kalas smiled a seemingly sinister smile and answered casually,
“Well, as expected, the persuasion didn’t work. He seemed more willing to stand up against those who censor his precious culture rather than joining the same side as them. Isn’t that the nature of an artist?”
“That is indeed a characteristic of artists. So?”
“We’ve taken some measures to ensure he never entertains such thoughts again. He was quick to break down in tears and beg, saying he’d rather not write for the rest of his life.”
“Hahahahaha!”
Fieren’s satisfaction was evident as he burst into hearty laughter in response. It was a feeling of satisfaction that had been building up inside him. But when people’s moods turn positive, their judgment tends to become extremely clouded. This was a story that applied even to Fieren, who had been active as the leader of the council.
If only he had thought a little deeper, just a bit more, he might have caught onto Kalas’s “mistake” much earlier. He could have realized how great Xenon’s reputation was at present and how strong its repercussions were. It was perhaps Fieren’s biggest mistake to have regarded Xenon only as a potential threat.
“Very well. I’m curious about this action you mentioned. Can you tell me more?”
“Well… I’ve broken their fingers so he won’t be able to write for a while. The Hask province is far from the city, so he won’t be able to receive treatment at the temple. Instead, I provided him with potions.”
“Satisfactory. And?”
“I’ve brought something that I believe you will find pleasing, Lord Fieren.”
As Kalas searched his pockets, Fieren’s eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. While he was already satisfied with the fact that Xenon had been dealt with, it seemed this loyal servant had even better news to deliver.
Subsequently, as Kalas handed over a piece of paper, Fieren’s excitement grew evident. It wasn’t an ordinary piece of paper, judging from the mana contained within.
“This is…”
“A pact, my lord.”
“A pact?”
“Yes. Please read it.”
As Kalas urged, Fieren began to read the terms in the contract with anticipation. A smile formed on his lips from the very first clause, but as he read on, his satisfaction grew.
He never even thought it would come to the point of signing such an agreement, let alone feeling this content. Originally, he had intended to settle for finding out the identity and whereabouts of Xenon, but Kalas had raised the stakes. He had addressed all the concerns that might have troubled Fieren.
“Truly… impressive. I never expected we’d come this far. Looks like I underestimated you. I apologize.”
“No, it’s not like that. I was just lucky. And besides, didn’t we both not know what kind of person Xenon was until now?”
“That’s true, but your abilities are outstanding, there’s no denying that. Thanks to you, the Council of Elders will be able to exert its influence.”
Though it seemed like a heartwarming scene on the surface, the true emotions were quite the opposite. Suppression, manipulation, and the dirtiness of political maneuvering were rampant.
And there was one person observing all this filth from the shadows…
‘…This makes me want to throw up.’
Dark Elf infiltrator, Siris, who had bypassed all the protective magic of the mansion. She watched every bit of this situation, recording it all with her eyes.
If she were an ordinary thief or wizard, she might have been detected by the security spells. But she was a Dark Elf. If she moved cautiously, infiltration wasn’t difficult.
Moreover, she didn’t forget to receive divine power from Mora in preparation for the worst-case scenario. No matter how skilled a dark elf’s infiltration abilities were, there were clear limits.
Perhaps it could be considered somewhat fortunate, but Fieren’s mansion had surprisingly weak security, fitting the owner’s personality. It seemed no one expected that the mansion would be infiltrated.
“You’ve done an excellent job indeed. Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you. However, it seems like there aren’t any young ones trying to join the Council of Elders lately. Is that okay?”
“Don’t worry about that. We don’t need uncertain individuals like those. We need talents like you.”
Upon hearing this conversation, Siris almost smirked. The reason the new generation of elves distanced themselves from the Council of Elders was simple: they recognized that even if something was rotted, it could still rot to dust.
As if corruption wasn’t already inevitable with power, who knew what would happen to the Council of Elders. Especially with the elves’ longevity, the phenomenon of the ‘rotten water’ would inevitably become more pronounced.
As time passed, the Council of Elders’s power would weaken, but since that would take too long, who knew what incidents might occur in the meantime?
‘Now, that time will probably be moved up.’
Siris listened to the conversation between Fieren and Kalas and then disappeared quietly. Since they had already obtained decisive evidence, all that was left was to relay it to Arwen.
‘How long will it be until we can enter Alvenheim?’
The Dark Elf Exile occurred just 800 years ago. There were still some dark elves who remembered that event, but they still longed for Alvenheim. Some of the younger generation of dark elves couldn’t understand them, and Siris felt similarly. However, after reading the recently published Xenon’s Biography, her feelings had changed somewhat.
Living in the forest was impossible for long, and even though they had cut off their own ears, they still held on to the pride of being chosen by the gods. Xenon’s Biography moved not only the hearts of the elves but also the hearts of the dark elves gradually.
‘The queen will surely succeed.’
With subtle emotions in her heart, Siris walked towards where Arwen was staying.
*****
A few days later, in the Minerva Empire’s publishing house.
“Is, is this real?”
“…Yes. It is. Though it’s crooked, the fact that there’s even a genuine signature…”
“Ah…”
The CEO of the publishing house despaired upon reading the letter sent by Isaac. The content of the letter was as follows:
[Dear readers, I apologize. Due to a villain’s attack, my right hand has been seriously injured. Serialization will be impossible for the time being…]
They had enough matches prepared in advance to light the fuse.
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