356 Meeting the Elven Chief (1/2)
Sensing the seriousness in each of the elves' glares, Jack smiled. ”I have no reason to tell you since you won't speak with us. We'll be leaving now to find both Lyrun and Eedaj, so I'd recommend that you let us depart peacefully. It wouldn't be the first time that we accidentally cause a forest fire because someone forced us to fight back.”
”Then is we discuss business with the Leisure Guild, you'll tell us more about your business with Eedaj?” the lead guard asked, whose sudden shift in tone surprised Jack.
”Sure.”
”Then give me a moment.” Taking out a contact crystal, the lead guard turned away from the party as he spoke with someone. After a minute or two, he turned back around to say, ”Come, we'll lead you into Estonya. But no weapons are to be drawn and that fox must be stored away.”
”The fox stays out but he wouldn't dare activate his flames unnecessarily,” replied Jack, getting Bowzer to drop his miniature flame body.
The lead guard squinted but nodded. Then, he led Jack's small party through the woods on foot.
Almost an hour passed as the party walked in silence. Jack had attempted to speak with the lead guard or crack a joke, but the guard's defenses were impenetrable.
”There.” Finally, after reaching the top of a hilled path the guard pointed toward what looked like an ancient wooden wall. ”That's Estonya. If you dare show any malice or intent to fight in the city, we'll slay you without thought.”
”We'll play nice. But if you try to take advantage of us, the fox won't be the only one burning Estonya to the ground,” stated Jack. ”I remember how beautiful Extonya was in ancient times, so I'd rather not destroy it. Please don't force our hands to desecrate such a breath-taking place.”
Not happy nor unhappy with Jack's statement, the guard led them to the gate embedded into the natural wood wall.
With a knock, the guard shouted, ”Shurca gaisu!”
The doors started to slowly open after the guard gave the order. But while Eliza was in awe of the beautiful wall and the scenery, Jack noticed Daliea's dumbstruck face.
'Did you understand what he said?' Jack asked telepathically.
Daliea only nodded slowly in response, trying to figure out what was going on.
'Stop worrying. You'll be excited about what you'll learn here.'
'Jack, do you know something that you're not telling me?” questioned Daliea.
The hero smiled. 'It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you what I know, it's just that I only know a fraction of what we'll learn shortly after meeting Eedaj. So, in a way, I'm just as excited as you are.'
”Follow me closely, don't fall behind!”
With the city now in full view, Eliza and Daliea were blown away by the blend of nature and civilization. It was unlike anything they had ever imagined. Also, there were buildings far taller than the wall or the trees yet they hadn't seen them from the air or from anywhere outside of that giant wooden wall.
”There's an illusion spell incorporated into the root wall surrounding the entire city,” Jack mentioned, confident that he understood why the women were confused.
”The city walls are roots?” Eliza asked.
”That's right. They're roots to the Ancient Life Tree in the city center.” Pointing to the distant tree that rivaled Dragov in size, Jack continued, ”That's the pillar of Korten and it offers the elves a natural mana spring, like a hot tub but the mana in the spring is so dense that it turns the water a crystal clear green.”
”How do you know so much about the history of my people?” asked the guard, still not stopping as he led them toward the giant tree.
Jack replied, ”Remember, I'm an ancient hero that was summoned to Modern Kartonia. I'm pretty sure I know more about your country than you do.”