Chapter 590 441 Please Leave Here

"Ms. Liv, I didn't expect you to be so generous. I thought..."

Faced with Dacus's teasing, Liv smiled bitterly. She didn't respond. Family members know their own business. Maybe... Dacus won't say that soon.

Darkus looked at the woodland in the distance and pondered. When the team entered the woodland, it was dusk, but now, in a blink of an eye, the sky has brightened, and the sun shines through the leaves, illuminating the entire forest. The scene not only changed from dusk to day, but also the season changed, forming a sharp contrast with the cold winter outside the barrier. This woodland seemed to be in another world.

"It's really... magical, a strange place."

Darkus looked up at the bright sunshine he had never seen before. He had never seen such bright sunshine and such a green forest. The dense woods were full of vitality, the green leaves shimmered in the sun, and the breeze blew, bringing a fresh breath. He felt a strange energy flowing in the woods. That power was different from the magic he was familiar with and the normal state of nature. The forest seemed to have its own rules and order.

Other members of the team also began to feel this special atmosphere. Some talked softly about the beauty of the woods, while others silently observed the surroundings, vigilantly guarding against possible dangers. Although the changes in seasons and weather confused them, their mission remained unchanged.

"Ms. Tour Guide, what are the arrangements next? For example, introduce this place?"

"Alan Locke..." Liv nodded first, and then introduced it.

Alan Locke means summer beach in Elsalin, but there is no river beach here... One of the twelve territories of Athel Loren, it belongs to the high-level territory, and is led by the forest lord Amade Ironbark. Here, bright sunshine fills the woods all year round. Similarly, night rarely falls in a corner of this forest. Even when night falls, the dark time is short and fleeting, which makes the existence here almost unaware of what night is.

As a result, the wood spirits and dryads of Aranlok are always full of vitality, and the changing seasons do not affect them. The Asrai of this territory are generous and hold grand banquets whenever they have an excuse. Unlike many residents of Athel Loren, they are very welcoming to peaceful outsiders and will not hesitate to invite outsiders to participate in festivals.

"So... it's time for spring wine next?" Dakwus said, looking at Liv with a suspicious look.

"That's right, there's nothing to worry about, Dakwus. You are elves, and... I'm here."

"In that case... then follow the guide's arrangements."

"By the way, the temple of the Moon Goddess is here..."

"I thought it would be in your residence."

"Of course my residence is... I've seen a lot of things, Dakwus. The future is an impenetrable veil for others, but not for me. I can see a clue through the curtain. It is not fixed. There are many destinies waiting for us. Even the most powerful prophet cannot know all of them.

I can feel that a critical moment is coming for Asrai. In many of my future waking nightmares, I saw you. In the bloody and war-torn days to come, I don't know what role you will play. Your power of destiny is too strong, but your presence is enough for me..."

After Liv finished speaking, she closed her eyes. She saw the wooded open space again, the stream stained red with the blood of the elves, the burning flames, the twisted throats of the orcs, and the painful screams that haunted every one of her nightmares. What she told Dacus was the truth. The world was a dangerous place. The Asrai were full of enemies. Every nursery rhyme the old men sang to the young told them this cold, hard truth. And Athel Loren was one of the last bastions of pure magic in the world, and she would do everything she could to protect it.

"Time is a winding river. You know what I'm here for." Dacus responded to Liv's long speech in a serious tone, and then he changed the subject, "Now that we're in Athel Loren, it's time to talk about the Winter Dome, right? Ms. Liv."

Liv frowned. She had known Dacus for a while. She knew Dacus a little bit. She also knew that Dacus knew a lot of secrets. When the taboo word Winter Dome appeared, she was not surprised at all.

"Yes, 'Tor-Sinnan'! A stone that was older than us."

"?" This time it was Dacus' turn to frown. He heard a brand new term and stone again.

"Tor-Sinnan, echoes of past lives, connections to other realms.

In my youth, I spent decades trying to decipher and study the secrets of the stones, but it was a laborious and thankless task. The wisdom of the stones seemed to be related to our wisdom, but... in fact, it was not related to our wisdom, or there was an insurmountable gap. The most I could see was repeated references to something called "The Roundabout" or "The Dark Path", a circular magical network connecting ancient ruins, with the Winter Dome as the center.

Besides me, some of the most powerful Spellweavers have dedicated their lives to the mysteries of Sinan-Tor, but even now we do not know how many there are, or who created them. There are Tor-Sinan in places across Athel Loren, but these ancient ruins have been tainted, Tor-Horloth, Tor-Maloch, Tor-Dobbar, and somehow, those outsiders are using them to establish a connection with the forest.

There is a legend, a legend of Sinan-Tor, located in the north of the Drune Mountains. Long before we came to the forest, it lay hidden deep in the Winter Vault. It is variously called Tor-Idana, but this place... we cannot enter, we are forbidden."

"Forbidden?"

"It is one of the places in the forest that can never be entered. Our ancestors swore long ago that they would never enter the Winter Vault. It is the dark heart of the forest, a secret treasure house with the most careful protection, and there is an ancient agreement between the Asrai and the dryads."

"So? "Darkius asked, while waving his hand to signal Liv to stop talking. He already understood. He knew why Liv appeared in Lauren Loren. He also knew what would happen when the outsiders arrived in Tor-Idana. It was nothing more than those few things, but each one was fatal. Now he was the variable.

The team continued to set off. At first glance, Atholl Loren and Lauren Loren were no different, but there were also big differences. As for the difference, Darkius couldn't tell for the time being. It felt like using a mobile phone. If Lauren Loren was the regular version, Atholl Loren was plus or pro. If you were not an expert, you couldn't feel it at the first time.

The air here was as vibrant as the one Darkius had breathed before, but there was a primitive, threatening quality in it, as if it had a wilder , a more vital essence. His skin tingled, and he felt the power of Athel Loren deep within him, warmth and love coursing through his veins like an elixir. The forest itself seemed more alive here, and he could sense a darker presence lurking deep within the forest, a brooding feeling that watched him with unfriendly eyes.

The group rode along a wide but overgrown path that only Anil, one of the group, would have noticed if it weren't for Liv. The subtle contours of the path blended perfectly with the forest.

Daxus was aware of how subtly the forest's shifting patterns could mislead, and as the group moved deeper, the air was full of magic, full of possibility, as if filled with restless movement. He could feel it in every breath, and in every tree. All are seen in the glow of light. The song of the trees grew stronger, an exhilarating chorus of wonderful power, leaping from branch to branch, spreading outward from somewhere ahead.

Athel Loren is a land of magic and light, with towering trees as tall as the tallest towers in the human world, with trunks as thick and of incredible girth. Except for a few guards at the gate, the team did not encounter any Asrai along the way, only white-haired wolves, meandering cats, and golden-feathered birds, some of which were winding through the bushes or flying between the trees, full of energy and fearlessness.

It may be because Alan Locke is very big, or it may be because there are very few Asrai. The team did not walk day and night, and stopped to rest when they were tired. Time has lost its effect here, and the hands of the pocket watch are entering Athel Loren stopped moving after that. The team may have walked for only a morning, or it may have walked for centuries. Occasionally, the night came, and the branches of the forest were decorated with moonlight and sparks, but it was fleeting, as if they were driving at double speed.

The team moved slower and slower, and with each step forward, the branches, roots and bushes became thicker and thicker. Dacius pushed aside the low branches and twisted in the saddle, and the thorns and brambles entangled his armor. Although he had a weapon in his hand, he was not ready to use the blade to clear the way. His instinct warned him of the danger of such an action.

Ask where the tavern is, and there is another village behind the dark willows and flowers.

The arches, pillars, roofs and beams all hinted at the signs of habitation, life and living here, and the sunlight reflected from the broad leaves and drooping leaves on the arches of leaves shone.

Dacius's eyes unfolded an ancient and mysterious scene, as if he had traveled through the long river of time and came to a mysterious time and space. As he walked through the leafy path, the sounds and songs of the trees in the distance made his heart ripple and filled with unexpected longing. He felt an ancient sense of melancholy, as if he could hear the call and praise of nature.

Passing through the leaf arch, the team came to the woven structure of the Elf Hall. Tall tree pillars supported the gently curved branch roof. The sun shone through the gaps in the roof, forming mottled light and shadows in the hall, exuding a mysterious and ancient atmosphere, against the backdrop of ancient stone pillars and trees.

This Asrai gathering place is a holy place that connects the bond between elves and nature. Here, Daxus saw a vivid and warm scene, where a mother and child were sitting on a verdant grass, concentrating on shaping a delicate bowstring. The mother gently rubbed a long branch in her hands, carving it into a smooth and tough bowstring, while the child watched intently.

Not far away, another Aslay was sitting next to the root of a big tree, holding a bunch of golden cone flowers in his hand and deftly peeling off the hard outer shell of the petals. Each technique is precise and skillful, like a set of ritual movements.

When Darkus waved to Aslay, Aslay returned the look with stunned eyes and surprised expression, and he noticed their reaction. Obviously, few outsiders visit this Aslay gathering place, and the arrival of the team obviously breaks the calm and usual rhythm of life.

"Why is everyone staring at me?" asked Enil, who came from the Cloudwalker family. He was dressed very standard, wearing a standard Phantom Walker jacket.

"Most of them have never seen Enil and Druch before. They have only heard of them in legends and circulating stories? Maybe they don't remember who their ancestors are?" Talos riding a giant stag He replied without looking back.

"Really?"

"Haven't you noticed? This place is different from Lauren Loren. The magic here is more abundant and more closed. Have you met human adventurers along the way? Not to mention the elves outside the forest, they are all humans. Rarely seen. Unlike us, they have no interest in contacting people outside the forest." Talos turned back, stared at his relatives with strange eyes for a moment, and then said speechlessly.

Darkus believes that Talos's judgment is accurate. Visitors to this mysterious forest will enjoy an endless feast first. Many such "guests" were resistant at first, but they overcame it after taking a sip of spring wine. Most resistance.

Then the outsiders would spend long centuries in the woodlands of Arranloch, eating, drinking, and merry, paying little attention to the passage of time. Few people noticed that the feast changed over time, or noticed that their hosts were more cautious in their tastes.

Even fewer outsiders noticed that their companions, numbed by laziness, were carried away from the feast by silent dryad attendants, leaving the well-fed creatures at the entrance to the Winter Vault. Those ancient caves are the work of a civilization older than the elves, home to creatures that feed on the stench and souls addicted to pleasure.

And so... the guests who ate well and drank well left this world happy and contented, sacrificed to satisfy those creatures who would otherwise prey on the elven creatures of Alain Locke. This is also the reason why Darkus responded with suspicion after Liv mentioned this. He knew everything inside.

However, that being said, there is no conflict between hospitality and never having seen guests, just like certain legends and regional impressions.

There are really too few outsiders who can cross the gray mountains and enter Alanlock. The imperial guys on this side of the mountain are not stupid. They are seeking wealth, not death. They all know the terror of this forest and will not break in easily. As for those on the mountain side, they can enter Athel Loren from Bretonnia without having to make such a large circle, provided they avoid the rangers.

"What are they doing out in the middle of the forest? I don't see any houses or dwellings."

The words of another member of the Cloudwalker family aroused small laughter. They are city-state relatives, descendants of the original Lauren Loren colonists. They are naturally the upper class of Lauren Loren. They have lived in the remaining buildings or restored ruins of the original colonies for generations, and ancient decrees protect their rights and keep them at the top of Lauren Loren society.

The Woodland Kindred are the middle class. They are the descendants of the refugees who came to Lauren Loren during the War of Revenge. They are the same as the Cloudwalker family members now see, living in the woodlands and living in treetop residences.

"Don't look for trouble!"

Talos turned his head and replied viciously. The intoxicating aroma of sweet juice and pungent flowers made him feel dizzy, and he had to force himself not to take a deep breath. As he walked on, he could see the suspicious glances of his cousins, first with surprise, then either with outright hostility or faint curiosity.

Then, Talos discovered that the orderly team did not seem to be the only existence that aroused suspicious eyes. Liv walking in front also attracted the same contemptuous eyes. At first, he was a little unsure, but he soon realized his judgment. is correct. Along the way, Ivan's shadow has been lingering in his mind. As long as he sees Liv, he will immediately think of his lover. In his opinion, there is no essential difference between Liv and Ivan, they are just the same person. One is walking, the other is guarding the golden pond.

Spring water gushes from cracks in the rocks in the ground, gurgling along channels formed by curved timbers and into crystal pools lined with fantastic wood carvings that look as if they were grown there rather than crafted by hand. Darkus could feel each wood sculpture moving as if it had an inner life of its own, reinventing itself in newer, more elegant forms, just like he had seen when he first arrived at Lauren Loren.

Soon, Darkus was attracted by other things. He patted the big guy's lizard armor and signaled the team to stop.

Liv wore a long white and green dress, with the gray-feathered owl Otto sitting on her shoulders. Holding a staff, she sighed and walked out of the team to meet a group of Aslays blocking the road.

The Asrai in the lead looked like a powerful elven warrior, riding on a golden elven warhorse with a pale mane and tail. The elf's bare chest was decorated with countless twists, kinks, thorns and beasts tattoos, and his long cloak of leaves and feathers rippled with movement. His oval eyes were completely black and seemed to have no pupils. He carried an Asrai-style green-handled long sword on his back, wore a crown woven with branches and leaves, and had an aristocratic scrutiny on his face.

Darkius could feel the power of this Asrai, who had extraordinary power, as if he was endowed with the magic of the forest. He saw obvious hostility and disdain in the eyes of this Asrai, but he did not think that this Asrai was the forest lord of Alanlock, because he knew what the forest lord of Alanlock was like, or he could no longer be called a forest lord. This Asrai was at most a person who took a feather duster as a command arrow, or the ruler of this residential area.

Liv smiled as she recognized the Asrai on horseback as Aldaid Dawnspear, and she could feel Aldaid's suspicion of her like a red ripple in the magical air of Athel Loren. She was used to this, and whenever she went to a territory, she was invited to the hall by the woodland lords and treated warmly, and she could also see the wary look in their eyes.

All Asrai knew that Athel Loren's spellcasters would not go anywhere without reason, and they were still wary of spellcasters, even if they were their family. Although all Asrai called Athel Loren home, they had few contacts with each other, and any dealings between them were full of suspicion.

Apparently Aldaid did not want Liv to come to his territory, just like Indra, and he knew better than to offend a powerful spellcaster by refusing. But this time...

"Who are they? The Prophet."

"Guests," Liv responded calmly to Aldaid's questioning.

"Guests who entered without my permission? Who are they?"

"Guests of Athel Loren." Liv responded calmly, but this time she shrugged, a move she learned from Dacus.

"Guests of Athel Loren? Enough! Have you forgotten? You are wrong!" Aldeid, who suddenly lost control of his emotions, roared.

"No! I didn't, and I don't need you to remind me! I see it every day, every time I close my eyes I see it! Aldeid! You are not qualified to question me!"

"But you can't change the facts, right? You can't save them with your divination, right? I lost my father! My father became like that, and I lost my brother! No! I lost much more than that!"

"What are you arguing about? Are you so exclusive?" Dacus muttered, turning his head to look at the Twilight sisters not far away.

At this time, the Twilight sisters had already moved and came behind Liv. Nestra supported the shaky Liv, while Arohan stared at Aldeid with a bad look on his face.

Liv listened to Aldeid's sharp words and felt more and more sad. It was like this with Indra before she left Athel Loren, and it was the same with Aldeid after she returned. Her family would never understand the choice she had to make. Those terrible facts made her cry at night because of the scenes of death and destruction. These forest lords would never understand, but would instead put the responsibility and reasons on her.

Otto, who began to fly after returning to Athel Loren, landed on Liv's shoulder and cooed. Liv closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed down. She thought that what Dacuus said might be right. The prophecy itself is a curse. When you see the prophecy, you have been designed. Trying to frantically change the predicted future may be a trap in itself. Past events have confirmed this sentence. Thinking of this, she was a little tired.

"Now, please leave here with your friends!"

"It's not over yet, is it?" Dacus muttered while comforting the big guy, and then he turned his head to look at Ryan, who had been looking eager to try. He was a little speechless, he knew what Ryan was thinking, and he smiled and challenged Ryan.

Ryan, who received the signal, jumped off the back of his dilophosaurus, raised the flag and walked forward. (End of this chapter)