Levian fell to his knees and bowed his head, showing utmost respect.
Even back in the human empire, he had never been allowed to meet Emperor Rose, ruler of the Human Empire, due to his constant failure to awaken.
However, the elves had already shown enough trust to leave the two in the room together, unguarded.
"It is an honour to meet you, King Gaëlf. Your people have treated me with the utmost care, and I appreciate it wholeheartedly."
The elf king waved a hand dismissively.
"Oh, please." He chuffed. "The honour is mine. We have spent many years searching for you. I must thank Lord Cassius for his diligent efforts."
Lord Cassius?
It sounded strange to hear the young boy referred to in such a way.
However, Levian was focused more on the King's other remarks.
"I don't understand, your majesty. I have heard so much talk of my identity, and yet none of it makes sense to me. Not only do I look human, but both of my parents are human as well. How could I be..."
"An Elf?" King Gaëlf finished with a soft smile on his face.
Levian nodded his head.
"Do not worry Levian, I am sure that things have been confusing for you. You have had secrets and misfortune thrust upon you, with no understanding of why, or how such things happened. Now, you and I have finally met. An event that the council of ten and I have waited patiently for."
The King adjusted himself into a more comfortable position atop the branch before continuing.
"Now, I will explain everything to you."
---
The Prophecy of the Tree
Thousands of years ago, Elves and Humans were not separate races. They were simply two branches of the same being. Humans with frailer frames, yet born with a deeper connection to the magics that existed before the birth of the System.
For a time, they lived as one.
But that harmony was shattered when Emperor Gal, the first of men to claim the title of emperor, grew envious of the elves' gifts. To him, it was blasphemy that two people with the same skin and blood could be so unequally blessed. Why should one command fire and spirit with ease, while the other struggle to summon even the smallest spark?
Jealousy turned to wrath. And so began the war that split the nation of Rytora in two.
Gal raised his banners and marched upon the elves, enslaving their kind. He drove them into the dying corners of the land, where soil cracked and rivers ran dry. To mock them, he allowed them to appoint themselves a king, granting a false sense of freedom.
Over time, the elves grew weak.
The harsh lands stole their strength. Forced to abandon physical might, they clung to their magic, and their bodies showed the signs of this.
They grew thin, long-limbed, with sunken cheeks and pointed ears. Ears sharpened by generations of needing to hear their masters before they arrived to further oppress them.
What was once one people split into two species.
One retained strength and structure; humans, with enough magic to become powerful. The other, frail and twisted by survival, became a race of near-pure magic, their bodies unsuited for war.
But the Tree remembers what was cut from it.
And one day, the roots stirred.
It is said the God of Fertility took a single seed from the First Tree and planted it in secret, not in soil, but in wombs of women.
Scattered across the world, few human mothers gave birth to children that did not resemble their families. Children carrying the blood of the first elves.
They are the True Elves.
---
Levian listened to King Gaëlf recite what he had called the Prophecy of the Tree.
He was stuck in a state of shock and disbelief.
This was the first time he had heard of such a tale.
King Gaëlf simply sat there, his face displaying no surprise. He was clearly entirely familiar with the Prophecy.
Humans and elves... once one race...
He had, of course, heard the tale of Emperor Gal starting the war between humans and elves; however, he never knew that the reason was simply jealousy.
And then this God of Fertility...
"You, are one of those true elves, Levian. We searched far and wide to find you across the lands, and finally, you're here."
"But why?" Levian asked. "What is the purpose of the True Elf? What makes us different from the other elves?"
King Gaëlf chuckled to himself, before hopping down from the tree branch. Now on level ground, Levian could see just how tall the man was.
"The True Elves, like every other unique race, all have the highest chance to awaken an incredibly powerful talent that allows them to bridge the gap between themselves and others many ranks above. With this, it is only natural that they become leaders. Whether that be kings or war generals, they are more than capable of commanding others."
So that's why they wanted me here. To make a change to their realm.
The fact didn't annoy Levian, as it was already his initial plans. However, it gave him a sense of purpose.
He found the thought invigorating.
But yet, there was still a question that loomed over his mind more than any other.
"Cass– I mean, Lord Cassius mentioned that there were currently two true elves living in the World of Malo?"
Gaëlf nodded his head. "Yes, it is but speculation. There could be more, though unlikely."
"I understand that I'm one of them, but who is the other?"
The question brought a raised brow from King Gaëlf.
Afterwards, the man began to laugh.
He reached his hand up to his long black hair, and brushed the strands away from his face further revealing his features.
At first, all Levian saw was a handsome young man. A man who looked too young to be king.
Then, he spotted it.
The King's ears were rounded, rather than pointed.
King Gaëlf flashed him a smile.
"I am the other true elf, born from two humans myself. King Rose, and Queen Sky. The elves knew what I was, stole me from the human empire, and took me to my rightful home, Goldtree."
"..."
Suddenly, everything started to make sense.
King Gaëlf had lived through the same thing that Levian had.
It was common news that King Rose of the humans had once lost a child in its early years.
This child had been forgotten about, as the king and queen later went on to produce another heir.
Who would have thought that the whole time, that child was living here, now exalted as the king of all elves?.
Levian felt emotions welling up inside of him.
There was so much about the world that he didn't know, but with every little bit of information he found out, he grew more confident in his decision to escape from the human empire.
"Now then, Levian, enough talk of history. It's time to talk about our next plans."
"Our next plans?"
King Gaëlf nodded his head.
"Yes, let us speak about bringing peace to the human and elf empire. Let us speak... of the tournament."
---
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