Chapter 199: Letter

Chapter 199 The Letter

After decades without the birth of an elf, the Elven race finally welcomed a new member.

Lord Iluvair of Pine Mountain descended with divine prophecy, announcing that a new elf had been born and that he would personally guide the soul the following night.

Thus, the Council of Elders and the Elven King Kemmi waited early beneath the tree, anticipating the arrival of the divine presence.

Above the treetops, Ilu sent the soul into the body, but the orb of light hovered above, reluctant to depart, gently brushing against the divine fingertips, as if loath to leave.

Ilu tilted his head slightly: "Percy? Is there something you want to say?"

The orb seemed to have something to say, so Ilu tore another leaf and leaned in to listen. After a few hesitant words, Ilu finally heard its heart's voice.

"Lord Ilu, can I see you again?"

Every elf naturally yearned for Iluvair, like children longing for their mother. If having a body meant being shunned by the Mother Goddess, and returning to the clan only to be isolated and neglected, Percy preferred not to have one.

Ilu nodded: "Of course."

—Why did he rush to create a body for Percy? Naturally, because a soul without a body is uncomfortable, and without Percy, who else would he embrace to sleep?

The orb of light visibly relaxed before him, then cautiously continued: "Can I take Kemmi’s place and play the harp for you?"

Percy was not seeking to reclaim the throne of the Elven King; it was just that Kemmi’s playing was so poor that offering such music to the divine would disturb the Mother Goddess’s rest.

Ilu replied naturally: "Of course, Kemmi is not suited to be the Elven King. I will inform the Council of Elders, and you will continue to serve in this role."

"…"

The orb paused.

In the silence that followed, Ilu lowered his gaze to Percy: "What is it, Percy? Is there something else you want to say?"

From the orb's emotions, he read hesitation, uncertainty, and a touch of fear and dread.

This was the first time in two lifetimes that Percy had the privilege to converse with a deity. There were things he shouldn't have asked, but under the deity's gentle and accepting gaze, he still said, "If I were to ascend the throne, would you still be willing to attend the Full Moon Festival?"

Ilu: "Of course."

The deity, having learned from the hero's notes that sensitive and wounded children need more sweet words, continued, "I will certainly attend the Full Moon Festival, Percy. You don't need to worry; you have always been my favorite child."

Favorite, without any doubt.

The orb: "!"

Though after being neglected for decades, the deity's words seemed less credible, the orb still blushed furiously, turning a grayish pink. He hurriedly bid farewell to the Mother Goddess: "Thank you... I will enter the body now."

His soul transformed into a stream of light, merging into the fruit. Golden light flickered on the emerald calyx, and then the Mother Tree extended several vines, forming a spiral staircase in mid-air. The deity gathered his long hair and walked down the stairs barefoot.

The Council of Elders and Kemi were already waiting a few meters away.

Staring directly at a deity was extremely disrespectful, so every elf bowed deeply, kneeling on one knee with their left hand pressed to their chest, eyes cast downward, only able to see the deity's trailing robe.

Ilu's toes touched the ground, and at the moment he landed, countless vines intertwined behind him, weaving a green and blue divine throne.

The deity sat gracefully, propping his forehead with one hand, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, today, a new elf has been born among us. He will become a member of the elf race."

He paused for a moment. "This elf is named Percelia. He will succeed Kemi and become the new Elf King."

“...”

The Council fell into a deathly silence, and Kemi looked up in shock: "Mother Goddess, this name...!"

Every elf's name is directly bestowed by the gods; Percy was so named, as was Kemi. In the long history of the elven race, there has never been a case of two elves sharing the same name.

For a moment, Kemi forgot his manners. He stared straight at Iru, biting his lower lip hard, his eyes brimming with profound sorrow.

Iru paused: "Hmm?"

Kemi said stiffly: "Mother Goddess, may I speak?"

Iru: "Speak."

Kemi, his neck stiff, said: "Mother Goddess, I believe this name is inappropriate. The former Elven King was also named Percelia. Even if you despise him, you should not deprive him of his name."

The deity on the throne tilted her head slightly, a look of confusion on her face.

Indeed, at this time, the elves were still unaware of what had happened to Percy.

No one could have predicted that Percy would plunge straight into the heart of the dark aura, facing death with a resolute determination, including Iru herself.

To everyone, given the Elven King's strength, even if he had left the elven race, he should still be living somewhere in human society. Kemi had even entrusted traveling merchants to inquire about Percy’s whereabouts; he could never have imagined that Percy was already dead and had been brought back by the Mother Goddess.

Kemi: "The former Elven King was a conscientious and responsible elf. During his reign, all matters within the clan were well-ordered. I do not believe..."

Before he could finish, an elder hissed softly: "Kemi, be silent!"

It was rare for the deity to appear, and she had even brought a newborn elf. It had been decades since the last new elf was born, and many old elves were dying. If things continued like this, the race, without the protection of the Mother Goddess, would be on the brink of extinction.

At this moment, offending the deities due to the unpopularity of a former Elven King would be an extremely foolish act.

Kami: "But..."

He bit his lower lip, maintaining his kneeling position, and said dryly, "I spoke out of turn, please punish me, Mother Goddess."

His demeanor clearly showed that he remained unconvinced.

Yilu tilted his head, eyeing him with interest, "It's fine."

Looking at Kami, a mischievous thought arose in his heart, "Kami, Percy is inside that fruit over there. He has just gained a body and is weak and powerless. When the fruit cracks open, go and help him up, and serve as his guiding elf."

A newly born elf is innocent and ignorant, requiring guidance from an older elf, who is usually chosen from among the elders or the Elven King.

This time, even the elders found it inappropriate.

Kami was the former Elven King’s assistant. Now, the deity had created another Percy, openly replacing Kami’s position as Elven King, yet still wanted Kami to be the guide.

Kami had an impulsive personality; if he couldn’t control his anger and lashed out at the newborn elf, it could offend the Mother Goddess and bring disaster upon the entire elven race.

One of the elders spoke earnestly, "Mother Goddess, Kami is still young and lacks the qualifications to guide a newborn elf. Please allow me to take on this role."

But the deity had already risen to her feet.

Yilu said, "There’s no need to discuss this further. Kami, he is in the fruit behind you. Go ahead."

With that, the vine throne instantly withdrew, transforming back into stairs. The deity ascended and disappeared into the forest.

Kami pressed his lips tightly together but could not disobey the deity’s command. He walked to the fruit enveloped in sepals and saw a hand reach out from within.

Kami stood two meters away, offering no assistance, his tone rigid: "Please come out, newborn elf. I am your guide."

A sigh echoed from within the calyx.

Percy had just entered his body and was feeling dizzy and disoriented. He pressed his aching forehead: "Kami, we haven't seen each other for months, why are you so bad-tempered?"

Kami's eyes widened.

Percy stepped out, holding onto the edge of the fruit. He wore a long robe similar to Yilu's, with wide sleeves and a narrow sash tied around the middle, his figure tall and slender.

Kami: "Y-you-you-you-you!!!"

Seeing his assistant about to fall backward, Percy caught him: "Things are a bit complicated. I'll explain later."

Once Kami steadied himself, Percy asked: "Kami, during my absence, has any half-elf come to the clan? Carrying two notebooks?"

Though he had elven blood, the young man was unexpectedly frail, unable to draw a bow or shoot an arrow, making it impossible for him to live in the dense forest for long. Percy wanted to find the young man as soon as possible.

Kami frowned: "Never. Since you left, no half-elf has come to the clan... Why do you ask this?"

Percy: "...It's nothing."

He didn't want to elaborate on his experiences in South Lake Town, so he didn't press further. Instead, he said: "Is Lenna still confined in the clan?"

Lenna was the female elf who had mated with a succubus, and if things went as expected, she should be the mother of the half-elf.

Kami: "She is. Do you want to see her?"

Percy nodded.

The place where the elf was detained was not eerie and terrifying, but an ordinary two-story house. Lina lived there alone, and Percy visited when he had the chance. However, when he inquired about Lina’s child, the female elf frowned.

"Lord Percy, I have not borne any children, nor do I know of the half-elf youth you mentioned who is twenty years old," the elf smiled wearily, "Although I have returned to my clan, my lover is still out there. If we had a child, he would never let our child work as a bartender in a tavern. You know, for a succubus who does not wish to dedicate herself, being a bartender is a dangerous job."

"..."

After a moment, Percy said, "You are right, my lady."

He fell into a meaningless confusion.

The young man has half-elf blood, but he is not the child of any elf who left the clan. Then who is he?

On the Mother Goddess's desk were the notes he had given to the young man, yet the young man had never come. How could this be?

Percy's mind was in turmoil. He had a vague suspicion but dared not think further. He hastily bid farewell to Lady Lina and left.

Kami waited outside the door: "How did it go? Did you find the person you were looking for?"

Percy shook his head.

Kami added, "Don't worry. I'll instruct the forest rangers to keep an eye out. Lord Percy, why don't you return to your residence first? There are many matters within the clan that require your attention."

Kami, who had been thrust into the role of Elf King, often watched Lord Percy handle official duties, but being a forest ranger and an Elf King were entirely different jobs. Kami struggled with the responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Now that Percy was back, his first reaction was to pass the buck.

Percy sighed, indulging his assistant's thoughts, and nodded, "Alright."

Kami then asked, "Where will you stay? Would your previous residence be suitable? I've kept it for you; no one has entered it."

He was referring to Percy's former pointed-roof cottage.

Percy nodded: "Sure, I'm used to it, so there's no need to change."

Kami: "It hasn't been inhabited for a long time, so there must be quite a bit of dust. Let me help you clean up."

They pushed open the door and entered the small building in the afternoon sunlight. Percy and Kami began their respective tasks; Percy wiped the bookshelves and desk, while Kami cleaned the floor and changed the bedding. Suddenly, the assistant exclaimed: "Lord Percy... there's a letter here, it seems to be for you."

Percy recognized the handwriting on the envelope.

His hand, gripping the spine of the book, tightened involuntarily, nearly crumpling the pages.

In the next moment, Percy heard his own voice, struggling to remain steady but still trembling: "Kami, leave the letter. You can go out now—"