Somewhere...in a large magnificent castle town surrounded by lush trees that colored the surrounding area with vibrant flowers, in the midst of winter, many elves are preparing for the end of year festivities.
Glorious dancing and singing fills the cool air. Many of the elves are enjoying spirits, while giving ovation to the birth of a new year.
In the center of the town stands a massive oak tree, made into a building in the heart of the vibrant community, it stands rather quiet in lieu of surrounding festivities, almost as if it ignores the more lively gatherings down below.
At the very peak of the tree, reveals a stained glass window overseeing the moon and its radiance.
Behind the glass sits a dull and dark room occupied by 5 large and intimidating elf men, but these are not ordinary elves, they are the 5 supreme dukes that rule over Aldenburg through its council and its authority through the chosen emperor.
Winterheart, Moonspeaker, Shadowriver, Crystalnight, and finally the most powerful, and current ruling family, Sunstriker.
Out of all the nobles in Aldenburg they possess the purest of bloodlines to true fae.
The largest of the men, with faded gray hair and a matching beard speaks, "So I heard that a certain baron tried to act more like one of us recently, and in doing so...it appears he unintentionally sabotaged your son's intended betrothal, my sincerest apologies to your son Magnus, emperor Cyrus Sunstriker."
"Alfore Winterheart, you might have been the one who built negotiations with Mycean, but please be sensitive of this matter. My boy made sure that girl received all she needed to sustain herself, though he chose to wait before making himself known, to think the shenanigans of Adan would cost him that red peony he carefully nurtured from a distance...that fool Adan!" Cyrus sneered.
A taller elf with brown hair and glasses stands up, and begins his assessment "I heard you have already arranged for a public execution for the haughty bastard's botched assassination of a Lustrodos captain, Firion was it? I heard he was indeed a responsible man who had a poor choice in women, speaking of which, what are we to do with the whore? Isa...the one who sullied her loins even with mortal men."
"Its been arranged that for her involvement she will be exiled and forever branded as a cast out, she'll have to go to Eurelca or beg the humans of Danicure for shelter." Cyrus revealed as he pressed his hands together. "But I am more concerned with finding another stunning bride for my poor son, he's was quite heart broken and enraged that someone stole something that he already claimed..."
"I can arrange for Mycean to scout for any "spares" that might exhibit a particular glow, though the Min-aris are pretty rare compared to Am-nars, they are practically extinct now." Alfore clarified.
The brown haired elf chimed in again, "Occasionally your lordship, we do luck up, and we do find "spares" of the white fang tribe. The women from their tribe have unique benefits from their breastmilk, not to mention how exotic they are."
Derek Moonspeaker pushed his glasses back and quietly sipped his tea while smirking, he was the only duke that possessed a deva wife outside the blue horn tribe.
"You consider yourself quite lucky Moonspeaker that you found that lion girl, Nafula, years ago whose now your wife. I have heard multiple nobles asking for your daughter's lovely hand now Derek. She's apparently quite the beauty." replied another elf with blond hair pulled into a ponytail.
It is Lucien Crystalnight, the youngest of the duke councilmen, and the most recently wed to a young blue horn woman who came of age. He is also the head of education and research in Aldenburg.
"Ah Lucien! You make me blush! Though if the young Magnus does fancy my Fara I could always let her know if she's interested." Derek smirked. "Speaking of which, how is you marriage to the young blue horn that was raised in our monastery?"
Lucien's face turned bright red and he glanced away from his fellow dukes, earning a chuckle.
"Calista is carrying twins right now." he shyly admitted.
"This reminds me of when Rhea and I first wed." Alfore smiled as he started reminiscing. "She is the daughter of that shaman who mediated that peace agreement after they started that fire. I still remember how defiant she was around me when we took her as an experiment. She claimed she would never give in, and then I remember how sweet her cream was when she was begging me to relieve the pain her chest after they became engorged, and now we have 7 beautiful children between us."
The last councilman stood up and finally spoke, a man with fine black hair and pale skin, duke Kane Shadowriver. "Now, now, we didn't come here to reminisce, we came because a certain chain of events has disrupted the betrothal of the archduke Magnus, who is currently next in line for the throne. We also came to confirm the punishment of the instigator of these events baron Adan and the highborn Isa."
Emperor Cyrus unfolded his hands and continued the conversation. "While I am upset for my son I am more concerned with this Firion's travels, even he did take the girl we cannot do much about it if she became his wife, but I looked into this man's background, he is 1 of the forest elves that were taken in from Auriel, after the Jade Forest was incinerated."
All the councilmen focused their attention on the emperor. The forest elves have been mostly displaced throughout Aldenburg, and many opted to move over to Eurelca in recent years.
"You don't suppose, that he might have figured "THAT" out do you?" Derek questioned.
Kane quickly responded, "The Min-ari is gone and we recovered some armor from the girl's home that we confirmed was a captain rank set. Firion is indeed alive, and there is no doubt that he has tasted this girl, but has he figured out the secret about the devas? Or does he now suspect something with the burning of his former homeland?"
A heavy silenced plagued the room.
The reality was, besides the crimes of taking a nobel's woman, Firion was an elf with military secrets, and was from a foreign background from a society that befell a suspicious tragedy.
"If he conspires anything with Eurelca, or relays any of our secrets could put us at further odds than what we already have with them. Firion and the Min-ari girl must be located at once! We can decide from there what their fates should be." Cyrus angrily declared.
"Me and Kane will try to map out possible routes they might have taken, though it will problematic if they decided to cross Junai." Lucien explained.
Derek offered in, "Not to worry, Nafula and I have built ties through trades routes. If we hear anything suspicious we will send out a search party immediately."
"I believe that with all that is established we can adjourn for today! I understand some of us wish to spend yearly festivities with our families, and some personal time with our wives! Emperor Cyrus declared.