Chapter 570 - We Need Power (1/2) (1/2)
Chapter 570: We Need Power (1/2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Isle of Dawn, royal courtyard of the High Elves, Andwar
There was a clear brook behind the palace under the World Tree. It was called the Brook of Tranquility. The water was always clear, its flow gentle. At night, the whole brook would shine with an ethereal glow under the moonlight.
Palm-sized flowers floated on the water’s surface. A soft purple glow radiated from every flower. Soft tinkling sounds rang out from them like wind chimes. The sound was clear and pleasing to the ear, and anyone who heard it would have all their worries and emotional turmoil melt away.
On that day, ten High Elf Elders were by the brook with the High Elf Queen. She was holding a flower that shone with a golden glow. She slowly walked to the brook, knelt down and placed the flower on the water.
The water flowed on, carrying the flower with it. Its golden glow began to form the image of a young High Elf woman in the middle of the flower. It was Ariel. She was holding a long, narrow sword in her hand. She danced and brandished her sword in the middle of the flower, repeating the same form without any hint of exhaustion.
The flower floated off into the distance along the brook.
The queen saw the flower off till it finally disappeared into the hazy moonlight.
A breeze was blowing, and she shrank back against the cold wind.
A middle-aged High Elf man with white sideburns came to her side and put a green cape over her shoulders. He muttered, “My love, Ariel is now finally at rest. Let’s go back.”
The man was the queen’s husband, King Mordena. He was also one of the masters in High Elf society who had chosen to live as a total recluse.
Most people believed that Bryant was the most powerful master among the High Elves. This was not entirely wrong. In terms of sheer power, Bryant, who possessed Level-12 power, undoubtedly was the most powerful High Elf in the Isle of Dawn. However, in terms of magical knowledge and actual competence on the battlefield, Bryant’s number one status might not be as secure as one would be led to think.
During his youth, Mordena had been the most prominent High Elf prodigy. Back then, Bryant had looked up to him and had sworn that he would someday be a pillar of High Elf society just like Mordena.
It was because of this that, despite his modest upbringing, Mordena had caught the High Elf Queen’s fancy, who at that time was still just a princess in the royal palace. The two fell in love and soon were married to each other.
Ever since then, Mordena had stood in the queen’s shadow, maintaining a low profile till he faded away from the consciousness of the outside world. 30 years had passed since. Even the High Elves nowadays would be hard-pressed to remember Mordena’s glory days.
Despite living as a recluse, Mordena never abandoned his magical training. No one knew just how powerful he had gotten. This was because no one had seen the fruits of his training with their own eyes for the last 30 years.
The only thing people could sense from Mordena was the power within his body. Though he had already reached Level-11, Mordena usually kept his power hidden deep within him. Upon meeting him in person, normal Magicians would have the impression that they were facing a vast ocean stretching out into the horizon.
The queen did not try to put up a brave face in front of her husband. After putting on the cape, she turned around and leaned her forehead against his chest. She began to weep silently.
Mordena did not speak a word as he patted the queen’s back. He said consolingly, “Everything will be alright, Your Highness.”
He looked on at the golden flower that drifted further and further away from them as he said this.
His vision was better than the High Elf Queen, who was still a Level-9 Magician. He could still see the image of her daughter brandishing her sword about on the flower.
Looking on at such a familiar sight in the distance, Mordena drew in a long breath. The composure that he had maintained all these years was finally broken by a growing bloodlust in him.
He had kept a low profile for the queen for at least ten years, staying out of the Isle of Dawn’s affairs and simply focusing on his magical studies. But now, the Isle of Dawn was under threat. Even their own daughter had been killed. He could not stand on the sidelines any longer.
The queen never knew who her own husband really was, as a person. The love they had shared in their youth had long since eroded under the slow grind of time. Before Ariel’s death, the queen had not seen him for almost half a year and did not even know what he was up to during that time.
Suddenly, the queen sensed something in him as she was leaning against him. She shivered and raised her head to look at Mordena. “You…”
She sensed her bloodlust.
“Your Highness, I am Ariel’s father. I need to do what must be done,” whispered Mordena.
“But you’re not his match.”
“That remains to be seen.” Mordena smiled faintly. He extended a hand. With the force of his will, a noticeable curve appeared in the air above his palm. “I can perform spatial magic as well. As for the martial arts, I wandered the island as a wandering knight when I was young. When it comes to swordsmanship, no one was my equal. Or have you already forgotten this?”