Chapter 115: High Elf (2)

I really don’t quite understand, Ketal thought.Though many thoughts raced through his mind, there was no way to know for certain at this moment. Arkemis had satisfied her curiosity about Ketal, so now it was his turn. “Then it’s my turn to ask you some questions,” Ketal said. “Well... I suppose it is,” Arkemis said hesitantly. After a brief moment of consideration, she seemed to make a decision and spoke again. “I’m a High Elf.” Ketal nodded slightly. She wasn’t an ordinary elf—she was a High Elf. “As I said before, I’m special—” Arkemis suddenly paused. High Elves were indeed special. They lived exclusively within Elfo Sagrado, the sacred land of elves, rarely venturing outside. Other than Arkemis herself, the last recorded appearance had been two hundred years ago, making them rarer than demons. Yet, compared to the barbarian from the White Snowfield, High Elves seemed less unique. After all, barbarians from the White Snowfield appeared only in legends, having never been witnessed until now. Talking about her own special nature in front of Ketal felt strangely awkward, prompting Arkemis to shake her head slightly. “Just like you, I didn’t intentionally hide it. I was just afraid you might reject me,” Arkemis continued. “Is there any reason I would reject you because of that?” Ketal asked, genuinely puzzled. He couldn’t imagine why being a High Elf would cause rejection. “I told you—I’m special.” Arkemis sighed softly. “Ketal, what do you think an elf is?” “A long-lived being closely connected to nature,” Ketal replied. “Exactly. Elves are naturally close to nature, far more than humans, allowing them to interact with spirits. Yet, fundamentally, elves share many characteristics with humans.” Elves maintained body heat, were born from their mother’s womb, and relied on milk for nourishment. In these respects, elves and humans were identical. Ketal nodded thoughtfully. “I understand.” In other words, we’re both mammals, Ketal thought. However, High Elves were different. Arkemis continued, “I’m fundamentally different from you. I wasn’t born from a mother’s womb.” “Oh?” Ketal’s eyes widened with interest, causing Arkemis to anxiously bite her lip, but she continued anyway. “High Elves are born from the World Tree. We do not even have a concept of growth. We maintain the same form from birth until death.” Though called elves, they were essentially different species altogether. Regular elves felt awe toward High Elves, maintaining a respectful distance. That was why Arkemis worried Ketal might reject her. She nervously watched his reaction. “I see.” Ketal’s eyes brightened with curiosity. “Then, does that mean you don’t require nutrition at all?” “What? Oh, no. It’s not like that. I still need water and sunlight.” “Then aside from those, you require nothing else. Does that mean eating my cooking was purely out of personal preference?” “I... I suppose so,” Arkemis replied. “Then why do you take the form of an elf at all?” “I—I don’t really know either,” Arkemis stammered. “Maybe it’s backwards. Perhaps elves are modeled after your species?” Ketal murmured excitedly. His enthusiastic attitude stunned Arkemis, who hadn’t expected this reaction at all. What’s going on here? she thought. If Ketal had rejected her, she would have understood. If he’d simply accepted her, she’d be grateful and relieved. However, this wasn’t acceptance or rejection—it was sheer fascination. Completely caught off guard, she struggled to form words. “You aren’t afraid of me? You don’t feel any discomfort?” she asked. “Should I?” Ketal responded casually. To him, this was a world of magic and fantasy. Everything here was special—some things more so, others less—but nothing was mundane. A child born from a tree sounded extraordinarily magical. Rather than feeling uncomfortable, he felt excited about meeting a High Elf. “So then, why did you leave your home?” Ketal asked. “Ah, uh...” Arkemis stumbled over her words, flustered by his unexpected enthusiasm. Eventually, she managed to explain. “High Elves take pride in their nature, though I never understood what there was to be proud of.” “It sounds like you dislike being a High Elf.” “I do,” Arkemis admitted, her brow furrowing slightly. “High Elves do not have any sense of community.” They had no concept of camaraderie or bonds. High Elves were born fully grown from the World Tree, requiring no one’s aid. Thus, having never formed communities, they neither desired nor understood the concept. “Besides themselves and the World Tree, High Elves see little value in anything else in this world. Consequently, they’re emotionally lacking. They praise themselves as special beings, but what value does that truly have?” Arkemis said forcefully. “I want friends. I want someone to pass the time with meaningless chatter,” she confessed softly. “I want companions and comrades who watch each other’s backs and protect each other’s lives.” Arkemis took a moment before continuing, “I want a family...” She suddenly paused after uttering those words. Ketal waited patiently, offering no interruption. After a long silence, she finally looked up again, her golden eyes meeting his gaze. “And someday... I want to have a child.” *** Ketal paused at her words, causing Arkemis to fiddle nervously with her fingers, her head bowed shyly. “I... you see, I was born from the World Tree,” she began quietly. “I may look like an elf, but fundamentally, I’m something else entirely. Because of that, I can’t have children.” Yet, she craved connection. She wanted to experience motherhood, to know the warmth of familial bonds and blood relations firsthand. “So, that’s why you left,” Ketal realized aloud. “It was an impossible wish within the sacred land,” Arkemis said bitterly. Her desires had been considered deeply offensive among High Elves, leading to conflicts and confrontations. Ultimately, she had left Elfo Sagrado behind, becoming an outcast—a heretic among High Elves. “Is that why you learned alchemy?” Ketal asked thoughtfully. “Alchemy’s core principle is transforming materials,” she explained. “I thought maybe I could change my fundamental nature.” She’d had no success thus far, given that her idea was unprecedented. However, now there was a glimmer of hope. “Those iridescent particles you found,” she said excitedly. ‘With it, there might be a chance.” It was a mysterious catalyst capable of substituting anything. With thorough research, she believed it could alter her very essence. “That’s my wish,” Arkemis said firmly. “It’s my goal.” “I see,” Ketal nodded. “Then, in a way, you’ve already achieved part of your goal.” “What do you mean?” “I consider you both a friend and a companion, “ Ketal replied calmly. “How do you feel about that?” Arkemis’s eyes widened, and then she smiled warmly. “Of course, I feel the same.” *** With some of her emotional burden lifted, Arkemis spoke more lightly, sharing various stories. In turn, Ketal asked questions he’d been curious about. “Is that also why you visited the Empire?” “Yes,” she said, nodding. “It’s the strongest human power on the continent, so I thought they could fulfill my wish.” “But I assume it was impossible,” Ketal observed. The fact that she was here in the Denian Kingdom meant that it didn’t work out in the Empire. However, Arkemis shook her head. “Actually, they said it was possible.” Ketal raised an eyebrow in surprise. “The Empire could actually do something like that?” “I was shocked too, so I asked them repeatedly,” Arkemis explained uneasily. “They claimed they could change me to have a body capable of bearing children, but there was a condition.” “A condition?” “They said I wouldn’t exist as myself anymore.” Ketal frowned slightly. “That sounds odd.” “Exactly. When I asked what that meant, they just said it literally. Eventually, I felt something was off, so I gave up,” Arkemis said, sighing. She rested her head on the table. “I stayed there for a while, but I still don’t really understand what kind of place it is. There were numerous restricted areas within the palace. It felt extremely strange.” “I see,” Ketal murmured. The Empire—the largest and strongest human nation—was apparently as peculiar as its reputation suggested. After a short hesitation, Arkemis cautiously asked another question. “Ketal, you come from the White Snowfield, right? Do you have a family there?” “No,” he replied calmly. “My parents weren’t around for as long as I can remember.” “Oh—I’m sorry.” She apologized quickly. “There’s no need. I don’t even remember them,” he responded indifferently. “We had tribes, though, so I guess you could consider them family.” “Don’t you miss them?” “Not particularly.” Ketal grimaced slightly. “They’re foolish, stubborn people. It’s exhausting just talking to them.” “Ah, is that so?” she asked uncertainly. “But I do occasionally wonder what they’re doing,” he admitted. He had spent a very long time with his tribe; as annoying as they were, they’d grown on him over the years. He had tried explaining things before leaving, but he doubted whether those fools had understood anything. They’ll figure things out eventually on their own, he thought, quickly dismissing further curiosity. “So... there’s nothing tying you down,” Arkemis murmured thoughtfully. After observing Ketal for a moment, she spoke cautiously. “Ketal, do you have any wishes?” “Not really,” he replied. “If anything, I want to learn Myst and explore the world.” Other than these two things, Ketal had no strong interests. Arkemis brightened slightly at his response. “Travel? That sounds nice. Then would you be interested in visiting the elven sacred land someday?” she asked quickly. “Although I left, it’s actually a wonderful place, aside from the stuffy old High Elves. When all this is over, I plan to return there myself. It’s a peaceful, lush land brimming with nature. Interested?” “Of course, I’d be interested,” Ketal said casually. “I’d like to visit if I get the chance.” “I see... no resistance to High Elves either...,” Arkemis muttered, a peculiar glint appearing in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” Ketal tilted his head curiously, noticing the change in her demeanor. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she said, shaking her head quickly to regain composure. Time passed quietly. Before they realized it, moonlight had begun illuminating the room. Ketal stood up slowly. “It’s getting late,” he said. “Ah, it really is,” Arkemis replied. “I’ll be going then. Your body isn’t fully recovered yet, so get some rest,” he advised gently. “Okay...” “See you tomorrow,” Ketal said, stepping outside. As he headed toward the capital, he faintly heard Arkemis whispering behind him. “Could there really be a chance?” she muttered. Arkemis stared at the closed door for a moment before sinking back into her chair. “Ugh... ughhh....,” she groaned softly. She had told Ketal about wanting friends, companions, family—even children. Yet, those were just secondary desires. Her true wish lay hidden deep in her heart, but voicing it aloud would make her unbearably embarrassed. Back in the elven sacred land, she’d stumbled upon a human fairy tale. It told the story of a man’s adventures, and she had read it countless times until the book nearly fell apart. Within those pages were friendship, companionship, and something else. “Is this... love?” she murmured softly to herself.