Chapter 197: Moon Keeper (2/2)

But in the middle of their standoff, a faint blue light suddenly appeared between the Players and the wood elves, from which a figure emerged.

It was another wood elf, but one who appeared more graceful and elegant than the others, and also had a mark like Justice Bao[1]… scratch that, a crescent-moon mark over his forehead.

“Your holiness!” Brom Daystar was delighted to see the new arrival. “You’ve come with great timing—those accursed humans abducted Sefarim…”

So, an elven backup.

Edward quickly looked above the new elf’s head.

[Moon Keeper, Level 59]

Tsk. There’s no winning against this one!

“Can you use that skill just now again?” Edward quickly whispered to Jessica.

That exceedingly elegant blast actually wasn’t an explosion, nor was there black and white flashes or impressive animations. Space itself had simply been cut out and was consumed by the void along with the Drake, and it clearly wasn’t a simple attack but one which was close to spatial destruction or Rule-levels of damage.

Such level of devastation could crush a Level 85 Drake, let alone a level 59 Moon Keeer.

However.

“No, I can’t use it again…” Jessica replied bitterly.

She was Level 42, but her level had plummeted to Level 18 after she used Sefarim—and that was with her party members sharing the EXP drain: Edward and the others had dropped two or three levels as well.

It was fortunate that the EXP from defeating the Drake and the totaling up of EXP had leveled her up to 28, whereas the others also leveled up once. Even so, they were far from their original state even though they did make up for some losses.

Still, because she was now Soulbound to Sefarim, Jessica knew very well that her amount of EXP now was not enough for a second strike.

After all, the higher the Players’ level was, the more EXP they would need to level up—and leveling from 1 to 30 takes less than leveling from 30 to 40.

Moreover, the Soulbound had reduced the EXP cost which she could share with the others, and she definitely couldn’t keep relying on their EXP to fight. It was so not worth it that they might as well die here, where they would at most lose 30% of EXP of their current level…

“Have no fear, human—we’re not here to kill you.” The Moon Keeper said peacefully just then instead of attacking Edward and the others. “Her Majesty the Elven Queen has just received an oracle from the Goddess Luna a moment ago. She sends her wishes to have your band visit our city of Trinia as guests.”

“What?!” Brom Daystar stared at the Moon Keeper in shock. “Allowing these filthy humans to trample over Trinia? It’s been a thousand years since the last foreigner came to our sacred grounds!”

“That is the queen’s decision, Son of Daystar. You have no right to question it.” The Moon Keeper said evenly as if it was fact, but did not pull rank just because a dozen levels above Brom. “It may be connected to Luna’s oracle, and that is clearly beyond your authority. Now, please make way—I shall escort them to Trinia.”

Brom Daystar was gritting his teeth in reluctance. Still, he arched his back and put his left palm over his right shoulder—an elven gesture for welcoming guests—ultimately obeying the Elven Queen’s decree and made way for Edward’s party.

More surprised than anything, Edward and the others moved along the path the elves made.

Then, as the Moon Keeper reached Brom’s side, he said, “Times change, Son of Daystar. You must adapt yourself to the moving tides of this world and give up on rotten, antiquated prejudices. Only then could we wood elves venture further in this new era.”

[1] Justice Bao (包青天) is the honorific title of Bao Zheng (包拯, 5 March 999 – 3 July 1062), a Chinese politician in the Song Dynasty and symbol of justice famed for aiding peasants and overcoming corruption. Je is often portrayed wearing a judge miter hat and a crescent moon on his forehead