Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

"Ms. Liv, I didn't expect you to have quite a reputation. I thought..."

Facing Darkus's teasing, Liv smiled bitterly. She didn't respond. Her family knew their own affairs, and maybe... it wouldn't be long before Darkus wouldn't say that.

Darkus looked at the forest in the distance and pondered. When the team entered the forest, it was dusk, but now, in the blink of an eye, the sky had lit up, and the sun was shining among the leaves, illuminating the entire forest. . Not only did the scene change from dusk to day, but the seasons also changed. In sharp contrast to the cold winter outside the barrier, this woodland seemed to be in another world.

"It's...amazing, a strange place."

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

Other members of the team also began to feel this special atmosphere. Some people talked softly about the beauty of this woodland, while others silently observed the surroundings, vigilantly guarding against possible dangers. Although the changing seasons and weather confuse them, their mission remains the same.

"Ms. tour guide, what are your plans next? For example, can you introduce this place?"

"Alain Locke..." Liv nodded first, and then introduced.

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

Therefore, the wood spirits and dryads of Alanlock are always full of vitality, and the changes of seasons will not affect them. The Aslai of this collar are generous and hold grand banquets whenever they have an excuse. Unlike many of Athel Loren's residents, they are very welcoming to peaceful outsiders and do not hesitate to invite outsiders to their festivals.

"So...it's time to drink spring wine next?" Darkus said while looking at Liv with suspicion.

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

"In this case...then follow the arrangements of the tour guide."

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

"I thought it would be at your residence."

"Of course there is in my residence... I have seen many things, Darkus. For others, the future is an impenetrable veil, but for me it is not. I can see a hint of it through the veil. , it is not fixed, there are many fates waiting for us, and even the most powerful prophet cannot know them all.

I could feel that a critical moment was coming for Aslay, and in my many waking nightmares to come, I saw you. I don’t know what role you will play in the coming days of blood and war, your destiny is too powerful, but your presence there is enough for me..."

When Liv finished speaking, she closed her eyes and saw once again the wooded clearing, the stream red with elven blood, the blazing fire, the guttural sounds of twisted orcs, and the agonizing screams that haunted her every nightmare. What she told Darkus was the truth. The world was a dangerous place, and the Asrai people were full of enemies. Every nursery rhyme the old man sang to the young people told them this cold truth. Athel Loren is one of the last bastions of pure magic in the world, and she will do whatever it takes to protect it.

"Time is a winding river, you know what I am here for." Darkus responded to Liv's tirade in a serious tone, and then he changed the subject, "We have reached Athel Loren now. , is it time to talk about the Dome of Winter?"

Liv frowned. She had known Darkus for a while. She knew Darkus a little bit, and she also knew that Darkus knew many secrets. When the taboo word "Winter Dome" came up, she didn't have the slightest clue. surprised.

"Yes, 'Thor-Shinnan'! A stone that predates us all."

"?" This time it was Darkus's turn to frown, and he heard brand-new terms and stones again.

"Thor-Shinnan, echoes of past lives, connections to other realms.

When I was young, I spent decades trying to decipher and study the secrets of those stones, but it was a laborious and thankless task. The wisdom on the stone seems to be related to our wisdom, but... actually has nothing to do with our wisdom, or there is an insurmountable gap. The best I can tell is repeated references to something called the "Turn" or "Dark Path," a circular magical network connecting ancient ruins, with the Winter Vault at its center.

Besides me, some of the most powerful spellweavers have dedicated their lives to the mysteries of Sinnan-Tor, but even now we still don't know how many there are, or who created them. There are places in Athel Loren where Tor Sinnan exists, but these ancient ruins have been tainted, Tor Horoth, Tor Maloch, Tor Dobar, and somehow outsiders are taking advantage of them. Connect with the forest.

There is a legend, the legend of Sinnan-Thor, located in the northern part of Mount Drune. Long before we came to the forest, it lay hidden deep within the Winter Dome. It has a different name, Thor-Idana, but this place... we can't enter, we're forbidden. "

"prohibit?"

"It is one of the places in the forest that can never be entered. Our ancestors swore long ago never to enter the Winter Vault. It is the dark center of the forest, a treasure trove of secrets that are most closely guarded. Aslay and the Dryads There is an ancient agreement.”

"So?" Darkus asked, and at the same time, he stretched out his hand and waved to signal Liv to stop talking. He already understood. He knew why Liv appeared in Lauren Loren, and he also knew that outsiders had arrived. What will happen to Thor Edana is nothing more than those few things, but each of them is fatal, and now he has a variable.

The team continued to set off. At first glance, there was no difference between Athel Loren and Lauren Loren, but there was a big difference. As for what the difference is, Darkus can't tell yet. It feels like using a mobile phone. If Lauren Loren is the regular version, Atsol Loren is the plus or pro version. If you are not an expert, you will not be able to feel it at the first time.

The air here was as vibrant as the one Darkus had breathed before, but there was a raw, menacing quality to it, as if it had a wilder, more energetic essence. His skin prickled, and he felt Athel Loren's power sinking deep into his heart, warmth and love coursing through his veins like an elixir. The forest itself seemed more alive here, and he could feel a darker presence lurking in its depths, a brooding presence looking at him with unfriendly eyes.

The team rode along a wide but overgrown path. If Liv hadn't been there, perhaps only Enil in the team would have noticed this path. The subtle contours of the road blended perfectly with the forest.

Darkus could clearly appreciate how subtly the changing patterns of the forest could mislead, and as the group progressed deeper, the air was filled with magic, full of possibility, as if filled with restless movement. He could feel it in every breath and see it in the glow that filled every tree with light. The song of the trees grew stronger and stronger, an uplifting chorus of wondrous power, leaping from branch to branch, spreading outward from somewhere ahead.

Athel Loren is a realm of magic and light, with towering trees as tall as the tallest towers in the human world, with thick trunks and incredible girth. Except for a few guards at the door, the team did not encounter any Asrai along the way, only white-furred wolves, sinuous cats and golden-feathered birds, some meandering in the bushes or flying between the trees. Fly, energetic and fearless.

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

The procession moved slower and slower, the branches, roots, and bushes growing thicker with each step forward. Darkus pushed aside the low branches and squirmed in the saddle, thorns and brambles catching his armor. Although he had a weapon in his hand, he was not ready to use the blade to clear the way, his instincts warning him of the dangers of such an action.

May I ask where the restaurant is? There is another village with dark trees and bright flowers.

Arches, columns, roofs and beams all hint at habitation, life and life here, and the arches of leaves sparkle with sunlight reflecting off the broad leaves and drooping foliage.

An ancient and mysterious scene appeared in front of Darkus, as if he had traveled through the long river of time and arrived in a mysterious time and space. As he walked through the leaf-strewn paths, distant sounds and tree songs filled his mind with unexpected longing. He felt an ancient sense of melancholy, and he seemed to be able to hear the call and song 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 leaf roof. Sunlight fell through the gaps in the roof, forming mottled light and shadow in the hall, exuding a sense of mystery. The ancient atmosphere is reflected by the ancient stone pillars and trees.

This Asrai gathering place is a holy place that connects the elves and nature. Here, Darkus saw a vivid and warm scene. A mother and child were sitting on a piece of green grass, concentrating on shaping a delicate bowstring. The mother gently twisted a long branch in her hands, carving it into a smooth and tough bowstring, while the child watched attentively.

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 Aenil or Druch before. They have only heard of them in legends and stories? Perhaps they don't even remember who their ancestors are?" Talos, who was riding a giant stag, answered without turning his head.

"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 go around in such a big 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 for generations in the remaining buildings or restored ruins of the original colonies, 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 leader, Aslay, looked like a powerful elf warrior, riding on a golden elf warhorse with a pale mane and tail. The elf's bare chest is decorated with countless tattoos of twists, kinks, thorns, and beasts, and his long cloak of leaves and feathers ripples with movement. His oval eyes are completely black and seem to have no pupils. He carries an Aslay-style green-handled long sword on his back, wears a crown woven with branches and leaves, and wears an aristocratic look on his face. .

Darkus could feel the power of Asrai, who had extraordinary power, as if he had been endowed with the magic of the forest. He saw obvious hostility and disdain in the eyes of this Aslay, but he did not think that this Aslay was the woodland lord of Alan Locke, because he knew what the woodland lord of Alan Locke was like, or that he could no longer be called one. As the lord of the woodland, this Aslay is at best a talker with a feather duster, or he is the ruler of this residential area.

Liv smiled as she recognized the mounted Aslay as Aldaid Dawnspear, and she could feel Alded's suspicion of her like red ripples in Athel Loren's magical air. She was used to this. Whenever she went to a territory, she was invited to the hall by the woodland lords and received warm hospitality. At the same time, she could also see the vigilant look in the eyes of the woodland lords.

All Asrai knew that Athel Loren's spellcasters would not go anywhere without reason. Even if these spellcasters were their dependents, they were still wary of the spellcasters. Although all asrai call Athel Loren home, contact between them is rare, and any dealings between them are fraught with suspicion.

It was obvious that Aldade, like Indra, did not want Liv to come to his territory, and he, like Indra, knew better than to offend a powerful spellcaster by refusing. But this time...

"Who are they? Prophets."

"Guest." Faced with Aldade's question, Liv responded calmly.

"Guests who came in without my permission? Who are they?"

"A guest of Athel Loren." Liv responded calmly as before, but this time she added a shrug, a movement she learned from Darkus.

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

"No! I don't, and I don't need you to remind me! I see it every day, every time I close my eyes I see it! Aldade! You don't have the right to question me!"

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

"Why are you so noisy? Are you so exclusive?" Darkus 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. Nestela supported the swaying Liv, while Arohan stared at Aldide with an unfriendly expression.

Liv listened to Aldade's harsh words and her heart grew sadder. It was like this with Indra before she left Athel Loren, and it would be the same with Aldade after she returned. Her people would never understand the choices she had to make, those terrible truths made her cry at night with scenes of death and destruction. These woodland lords would never understand, but instead put the blame and reason on her.

Otto, who had begun to spread his wings 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 Darkus said might be right. The prophecy itself is a curse. When you see the prophecy, you have been designed to try to Going crazy and changing the predicted future may be a trap in itself, and past events have confirmed this statement. Thinking of this, she felt a little tired.

"Now, please get out of here with your friends!"

"It's not over, is it?" Darkus muttered while comforting the big guy, and then he turned to look at Ren, who had been watching the performance since just now, and was a little eager to try. He was a little speechless. He knew what Ren's plan was. After thinking about this, he smiled at Ren and raised his head.

After receiving the signal, Ren jumped off the back of his Dilophosaurus, raised the flag and walked forward. (End of chapter)