Lucivar POV
I watched as the frail elf captain shakily rose to his feet, not even bothering to mumble a response before sprinting off into the distance. Luckily, Joshua’s cooldown was ending, so I wouldn’t have to worry about the parasite killing off my messenger.
Signeir appeared beside me, surveying the battlefield, while Kril transformed into his small, fairy-like form and flew to my left side. Azazel continued to hang around my neck, having not participated in the battle at all, while Atea looked into my eyes hesitantly.
“Was that a little… harsh?” She asked softly.
I felt a tinge of guilt as I observed the field of destruction around me. “Perhaps, but if all goes according to plan, this will be the last time we need to fight like this.”
[Sudden change of heart, dumbass?] Joshua inquired. [This was great. Why don’t we just go to that capital of theirs and kill ‘em all?]
I’m tired of killing.
I closed my eyes, letting the last dying screams of the elves slowly fade away from my memory. It was one thing to get revenge for Ossara and take back my territory, but actively attacking the elves and taking the lives of soldiers following orders didn’t necessarily sit right with me, despite the deplorable nature of the pointy-eared beings.
“You have my gratitude, demon. While my people would’ve had no trouble repelling such a threat, I admit it would have been… difficult, without your warning,” Sovekar suddenly said, slowly walking towards me with his glaive in hand. Behind him were rows of lizardmen soldiers looting the elves for weapons and armor, barely having taken damage from the battle. While on the way to check out the southern elven settlement, my companions and I had encountered the large convoy of elven soldiers heading towards the lizardmen’s territory to the south, so we had rushed there in order to inform Sovekar of the imminent attack and prepare an ambush.
I nodded my head respectfully in response. “Your soldiers did their part well. I attribute this success to the cooperation of the lizardmen.”
Sovekar’s eyes widened slightly, then he nodded back once. “I will tell the elders of your nobility, demon. Perhaps a relationship between our nations could form yet.” He paused, turning slowly, then tilted his head to the side as he began to walk away. “Farewell.”
I waved, and the warrior general returned to his people. “Let’s head back,” I started, turning around. “We have a visitor coming.”
Mount Boom wasn’t quite back to its former glory, but it was slowly getting there.
While the dryads and treants did not have quite the same raw power as Ossara did, they definitely were making much quicker progress on the construction of the new and improved Mount Boom than if my other beast and demon companions and I were left to our own devices. The miniature lake at the center of my territory had been repopulated with several glowing tinkerbell-like nature spirits, albeit much less than when Ossara had given me a tour of her domain.
Surrounding the lake was the massive field of newly sprouting dryad heartwood trees, each one with a small, gray stalk and deep green leaves. No new dryads had yet to be born, but the saplings seemed to have progressed rather quickly since the last time I saw them. A few houses were slowly being worked on, but none had been fully completed yet as the dryads were occupied between tending to their gradually maturing young and building.
“Lucivar! You were gone longer than expected,” Viressa greeted, waltzing towards us with her staff in hand.
I nodded my greeting, surveying my territory with a sweeping glance. “Yeah, we ran into some… complications, you could say.”
Each of my companions who had been left behind were rather surprised at the story I proceeded to tell; however, they were relatively optimistic about the results of said endeavor.
“Then, will the elf king really come?” Cedric asked, tilting his head curiously.
“I might not be able to stop myself from attacking him,” Zorrack added, staring out towards the east where the elven kingdom of Ilvareth lay beyond the forest's borders.
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“I understand how you feel,” I started. “But as it is now, I still feel like defeating that man in battle would be too difficult, not to mention Isarion, who seems to be on his side.”
“Then what will we do if Calenvir decides to fight us here instead, or if he simply shows up with his entire army?” Viressa asked suspiciously.
I grimaced at the thought, but caught sight of a ghostly figure floating near the edge of the lake. “Eztara is our insurance, which is why I thought it would be best to ask the king to come now while he is still with us.”
[Admit it, you just want to finish that stupid quest of yours.] Joshua accused.
That is a part of it, yes, but making peace is my main consideration. I’m sick of senseless fighting.
[I’m not.]
No shit.
“Lucivar,” Lioren began, interrupting my brief conversation with Joshua. “I understand your goal with all of this, but is it not possible that the King simply sees this message as a threat?”
“It’s possible,” I contemplated, remembering my brief conversation with the elf known as Calenvir. “But I feel like he’s… reasonable, at the very least. It’s worth a shot.”
Lioren seemed satisfied with my answer, but stared hesitantly at Eztara. It seemed the Ashmane didn’t fully trust the wraith to protect us. However, considering that his purpose was to do just that, according to Lunarius, whom Eztara seemed completely faithful to, I had little reason to worry.
[So, what are we doing when this whole ordeal ends up breaking down into fighting?] Joshua commented casually.
I stayed silent, not wanting to entertain the parasites' instigating. If possible, even if Calenvir and I were unable to come to an agreement, finding out the motivations behind the elven expansion would at the very least complete my quest, meaning I would get another class upgrade.
[Ah, so the plan is to make me stronger. I agree with this plan then.]
Whatever dude.
“So what will we do now?” Azazel finally asked, and all of my companions turned to me.
“We wait,” I shrugged in response.
A few days passed in agonizing silence, and with every passing day, I wondered if my messenger had even succeeded in delivering his message. Perhaps it would’ve been more effective to send a pigeon, like Eldros had requested once.
But a shout from Zorrack startled me into focus. “Lucivar! Lucivar! Come now!”
I rushed outside, flying past the warg den's entrance and sweeping my hair back with the wind as I made my way towards the large demon and his warg companion. “Is he here?”
Zorrack nodded once.
I saw him then, the white armored elf with his flowing red cape and six magically floating curved blades. I mentally wondered if they were sentient weapons like Finnlen; however, it didn’t seem like they could talk. Atop his head was the familiar glowing crown, and I almost certainly knew it was Luminarch’s relic.
Then, is Luminarch fighting against Isarion? Maybe he’s actually on our side.
[Wishful thinking at best, buddy boy.]
“You honor my request, King of Ilvareth,” I started, almost artificially deepening my voice to appear more reserved.
“I do,” he responded regally, not needing to pretend like I did. “While it was an offensive request, according to my men, I see no reason to fear being alone with the likes of you.”
It was a statement that could’ve been interpreted as cocky and overconfident, but I was sure that the King of the elves had no reason to underestimate his own abilities. The entire situation was a gamble, and I wasn’t even confident that Eztara could’ve beaten the elf on his own either. However, I had told the wraith to stay out of sight for the time being and instead only participate if things seemed to be going south. The rest of my companions were gathered behind me; however, not a single sound escaped from any of their lips.
“You wish to speak, and I am here,” Calenvir continued, stopping a few feet away from me and meeting my gaze with an unwavering stare. “Now speak.”
“Right,” I began. “Well, for one, I wish to know what reason the elves decided to attack the people of the forest.”
“Who needs a reason to enact revenge on those who took something from you?”
“Then you should have no problem with my people having attacked yours,” I shot back without thinking.
Calenvir blinked once, as if he had never been spoken to that way in his entire life, and I inhaled sharply as I bit my tongue.
Fuck.
Then, the intimidating King of the elves smiled.
[Is he a masochist or something?] Joshua asked.
“You have courage, demon,” Calenvir finally said. “How about this? If you can land a single blow, I will consider your nation an ally.”
[Wow. He wants to fight already. Even I am not that violent.]
“And if I defeat you?” I questioned without missing a beat.
The King of Ilvareth let out a hearty chuckle, then his six blades raised into the air, poised to strike. “Then I would renounce the throne and retire to the trees, demon.”
“Lucivar!” Viressa shouted in protest, but I silenced her with a look.
“I accept this duel.”
“Then we shall begin,” Calenvir laughed, and I suddenly felt like I had just made the biggest mistake of my entire life. All three of them, in fact.
What will happen next?!
