Duke Balin: 😄
Royal Commandant: The livestock areas in the Alväin Central outer farms complained about the air, so we investigated and discovered these black ashes. (An amount of the ashes are shown to Alf). These ashes burn any flesh they touch under sunlight.
Alf: 🤔 Hmm. If I am not wrong, this must be the doing of Ini—
Royal Commandant: Yes, Your Imperial Highness.
Alf: He is moving faster than expected. Raina, do you have the Map of Sacred Leads?
Princess Raina: I do.
---
Inside the War Tactic Chamber, the five of them gather around the huge table. A hologram of the Map of Sacred Leads glimmers to life through Raina's ability.
Princess Raina: There is an underground gateway deep in the Purified Temple at the Red Valley that leads to a sacred passage. Though, it is tricky.
Alf: Inikhadan blocked all ways to Caven Caves.
Royal Commandant: Considering the black ashes, he must have forced open a passage. Thus, he burned it through to make his way.
Duke Balin: Meaning he could be anywhere, and we have no way of knowing exactly where.
Princess Raina: I can help with that.
Princess Raina magnifies the hologram. She transfers energy from her Shaman Bracelet into the Map of Sacred Leads .
Princess Raina: (Murmurs) Eloi-íe {Translated: Come the unseen.}
Elva: 😲 Whoa.
A red dot appears on the map .
Elva: (Pointing) There!
Princess Raina: Inikhadan and his army are at the Dust Ravine. Not too close, yet not far from the Dragons' Cave.
Alf: 🤔 There's enough time to intercept him. We'll go ahead of the troop...
Duke Balin: (Smirks quietly).
Alf: ...and clear the way for—
Royal Commandant: No, Royal Highness! I cannot allow that. I must keep my promise of obedience to the order of the Late Elflord.
Alf: But Commandant Philip—
Royal Commandant: According to tradition, you are to be crowned the next Emperor. (Kneeling with his hands on the hilt of his standing sword) So please consider other matters of the Edhel-Ambar, Müs Ré-Nel. {Translated: Our Great Elflord.}
Alf closes his eyes, fighting back his frustration, then exhales deeply.
Alf: ...Fine. Dismissed.
Royal Commandant: 🙂 (Salutes and leaves).
Alf rests his palms on the table, opening his eyes with cool resolve.
Alf: After the coronation, we'll carry on with the plan. Attacking with authority will be wiser and more effective. (Glances at Raina) What say you, Raina?
Princess Raina: As long as it's your decision, I agree.
Alf: Balin?
Duke Balin: The same.
Alf: Then—
Elva: (Raises her palm halfway) Is no one going to ask for my opinion?
They all stare at her in silence.
Elva: (Sharp snort) Never mind. Well, I think this will be nice and amazing. [And the perfect way to avenge my late father. 😡]
She flashes a bright grin at Raina and Balin. The Crown Prince narrows his eyes in suspicion. Still watching her, Alf's index fingernail darkens, releasing a faint shadowy flow—yet he quickly folds it beneath the others, concealing it.
---
Six days later, Coronation Day arrives. At the outskirts of Alväin Central—the Capital City of the Elfland—the six Special High Elves assemble:
Duke Balin III Gulzien of Veil Village.
Madame Raphaela of Red Valley.
Chief (?) of the Elädorn Tribe.
Queen Mother of Elfland, a descendant of the Caven Cavians.
High Elf of the First Rank.
High Elf of the Second Rank.
NOTE: Alf's mother, the forthcoming Queen Mother, fills the space of Chief Inikhadan of Caven Caves, as she herself descends from that continent.
---
Ernest: So, Dearest Mother, since Inikhadan will not be present, you are to take his place on the Ancestral Ground? As you are also a descendant of Caven Caves with high status?
Ælfen-Majesty: Yes, my pie.
Ernest: But do you need to? The other five can handle the crowning.
Ælfen-Majesty: 😊 My son, the standing of all five continents shows the unity and goodwill we possess.
Elva: (Wrapping her forearms around Ernest from behind) And the songs of the people speak of our harmony.
Ernest: 😃 Sister Elvÿ.
The three exchange loving smiles before the Ælfen-Majesty departs.
Ernest: Sister Elvÿ, will the ceremony of naming you Imperial Princess be like this?
Elva: Imperial Princess? But I'm already an Eldar.
Ernest: But still... or maybe the ceremony will be bigger when you're proclaimed Ælfen-Majesty.
At this, Elva slowly turns to him, surprised. Ernest only presses his lips together and giggles.
You all know what his words imply, right? To become an Ælfen-Majesty, an ælfen must be wedded by an Elfl
ord. Meaning—Ernest was trying to ship Elvÿndia with his older brother. Who would even think of that? Ernest!
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