1 Prologue: Birth and Expectations
Tonight was destined to be restless. The moon appears to be a big silver saucer that touches the thick green sea of the Immortal's Glade. Every few minutes, there is a wave of pulsating energy that is sweeping around the surroundings.
Branches of the trees trembled upon contact as if it could feel the lingering dread in the air. Simple beasts like that four-pronged antelope that wanders for a late-night snack, cannot help but run away from the direction where this energy is coming.
The southwest.
Unintelligent or not, most beings in this part of the continent are brewing with dread tonight. Beings with bodies of flesh or spirit are all connected due to this presence.
This phenomenon is something that didn't happen for thousands of years.
"T-this feeling my king?" A middle-aged elf almost fell from where he stood.
Century-old King Lissandro of the Kromell Elven Kingdom stood in front of the window of his palace. "Yes, it should be the birth of another lord." He affirmatively said to the elf.
His face and posture are as calm as an untouched lake.
This demeanour is something that is engraved on his bones through decades of years of experience as a king.
However, if he were facing another experienced king, that king will know that the ruler of the elves of Kromell Kingdom feels threatened from the subtle arch of his eyebrows down to the slight tremor of his fingertips. "Based on the direction, it should be the moon elves."
"Moon Elves?!" Prime Minister Wallace cried in disbelief.
"How could that be, my King?!" The minister's voice subconsciously raised a few octaves.
"Shouldn't the moon elves be extinct? Then we..." he trailed off but the pale face of the man can already tell the rest.
The elf king did not bother to look at the minister and just continue staring at afar.
"They should be far from us. We just need to wait and see." King Lissandro can only hope for the positive for the sake of his people.
"Neh, Lissy, are you afraid? You are afraid aren't you?" Nereid the elf king's elemental spirit teased. Lissandro didn't bother looking at the high ranking elemental spirit.
His thoughts are full of the possibilities of the future.
'If the worse comes to their door... They are not weak.'
The royals of the elf kingdom are not the only ones who are feeling this way.
The dwarves on the underground Rinoia kingdom, the dryads, fairies, elementals, the shape-shifting orcs, the informed ones would know that this is the birth of a new lord while the uninformed either suspect that this is the blessing or punishment of their god.
Contrary to what the huge part Immortal's Glade feels. There is a place that is overflowing with joyous atmosphere.
In the southwest, the Amber Forest which cradles the moon elf race is brimming with festivities.
The powerful and muscled males who usually dressed with tough animal skin armour and a pair of bow and arrows have donned their finest cloth robe and belt.
The other group which looks like soft and effeminate male who was referred to as bearers are now in their best-looking dresses. Some of them even wore partially see-through garments, pulling eyes from those strong warriors.
There are also some exceptions like the muscle heads who even climbed the tree tops to absorb the moonlight and strengthen their plate a.k.a their physique.
Not far from the built stone houses was a wide treeless space where previous communal meetings were held.
Rows of long tables full of fresh fruits and vegetable dishes attracted a lot of moon elves.
Old, middle-aged and young moon elves.
Everyone is shrouded with a joyous atmosphere.
'It would be so much more if there were children.'
An elderly moon elf can't help but whisper.
"The hell are you thinking old Kier?" A loud voice sounded beside him.
It was his old pal Hill.
Just like him, they are almost in the dusk of their moon elf life.
They came from a different clans. He is a flame-power moon elf and Hill is an earth-power moon elf. Being in the same hunting group has forged a strong brotherhood between the two.
"Nothing, I am just thinking that it would be more festive if there are children..."
Old Kier's voice wasn't really loud but his statement was enough to silence their side of the table.
It was like this for a few seconds.
Old Hill also feels sad after hearing that.
Just like Old Kier, he married a mate but unfortunately, they were not blessed by the moon goddess to become parents. Years passed by. Their spouses died one after. But they never got to hold their own child.
"Old Kier!"
"Brother Kier!"
"Grandpa Kier"
Exclamations from his friends and acquaintances are heard.
"Why do you have to say that? Old Kier, the elven lord was now being born. Once he claimed his name and receive the moon goddess' blessing, we will be blessed too! It won't be that long before you see a lot of little moon elves running around this forest." Old Hill said trying to brush off all the gloom in his heart.
For him, today was a happy day. It was the birth of their new Moon Elf Lord! The proof that the moon goddess hasn't forgotten them!
It was like a new beacon of hope is shining in front of him
"Right, the temple said that tonight should be the time when our new lord will wake up from the process of inheritance. And isn't it just 2 days and 1 night since our tree of life bore our Lord's bodies? Doesn't this mean that he should be wiser than the fourth elven lord Gwendolyn the Wise?"
Voices of agreement are heard.
"But doesn't that mean that he will be much weaker than elven lord Gwendolyn?" Said a loose-tongued young moon elf.
There was such a rumour that the longer it takes for an elven lord to receive the inheritance, the stronger they are. While the shortest would mean the wiser the elven lord is. It was unconfirmed and it only circulates among the common moon elf but it is quite widespread.
The table was once again silent. "You! You're already 56 years old yet you still don't know what should be and shouldn't be said!" Roared the father of the moon elf.
Fifty six years of age could be considered young for a being with two hundred years long of life.
"Besides without Great Lord Gwendolyn's horde of beasts, how are we going to win the standoff with the dragon race? Would we learn how to tame magical beasts if weren't for him? You are a rascal! I'll report to the clan leader and have you re-educated once we gone back!"
It was undisputable that Elf Lord Gwendolyn was a legend among the legend.
He was dubbed as the weakest since at best, he can generate a cool wind during summer.
But despite of that, he studied the human's magic and made a magic circle that let him tame hundreds and hundreds of vicious magical beasts!
This feat is impossible even for other past moon elf lord.
It has to be said that contrary to dragons, moon elves have little talent for mana.
However, they are gifted to freely utilize the power of nature.
He even made a special method of contracting beasts so that even if the moon elves have a small amount of mana, they can make a contract with a two-star beast.
Because of this, they won a fight during the momentous battle against the dragon kin. Though it was an unofficial fight.
"Calm down Old Val. Your son is still young. It's alright to be silly sometimes" joked one of the middle-aged-looking warriors.
"Right! Here's another glass of fruit wine!"
"Eat some more!"
"Oh here comes the meat dishes! Why did it take too long?"
"What? Why don't you volunteer to cook next time? Since you sound as if you were very good at it" the bearer in charge of the feast retorted.
A loud cheerful voice and heartfelt laugh filled the air of Amber Forest.
Under the super moon and its silvery light, the moon elves' hopes and wishes could almost touch the sky.
The festivities flowed like a current amidst the flowing waves of energy every now and then.
Not until it was midnight that the energy became thick and strong.
The moon elves no matter what they were doing, they immediately prostrate towards the direction of Ambrian plateau where the temple is.
They chanted praises and blessings for the moon goddess, the elven lord and the entire moon elven race.
This does not just happen in Amber Forest. Every clan of moon elves all over the entire Immortal's Glade did this action with great fervour.
Meanwhile, in the structure made of white marble-like stones called moon temple. A fine and delicate teenager was sleeping in the middle of a finely made bed of leaves and white flowers. His handsome yet beautiful face was serene and truly eye-catching. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Revealing dark green eyes.
