The sorrow of the forest lingered for a long time.
Cries and soft weeping echoed among the trees as if the entire forest itself were mourning the Grand Matriarch's passing.
Eventually, though, the sobs quieted.
The tears, though not gone, had been wiped away.
The elves slowly began to compose themselves—their red eyes and trembling hands still betraying the depth of their grief.
Luna and Lulu, though calmer now, still looked frail and hollow, as if the very strength in their legs had been taken from them.
Nyx stood behind them, her arms resting gently around their shoulders, steadying them as their tears slowly faded into silence.
Leona, who had turned away for some time, finally drew a long, trembling breath. Her eyes were still wet, but the familiar steel was returning to them.
She raised her head and forced herself to meet Luca's gaze.
When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet but heavy with emotion.
"My mother…" She began slowly, her throat tight. "Did she...Did she go peacefully?"
The question was soft, yet it carried the weight of everything left unsaid—of guilt, love, and longing.
Luca looked up at her, and his expression softened into genuine warmth. He smiled faintly, gently.
"She did." He said. "Not only did she pass peacefully, but she did so with the biggest smile I've ever seen."
His words made several of the elves raise their heads.
"She died doing what she loved most." He continued, his tone sincere and steady. "Protecting all of you. Even in her last moments, she looked like the bravest woman I'd ever seen. Strong, proud, and full of hope."
Several of the elves covered their mouths, their eyes welling up again.
"I can say with certainty..." Luca said softly. "...that she passed on without any regrets. Not one."
The silence that followed was reverent, fragile. It was as though his words had wrapped the entire village in a blanket of bittersweet peace.
Then, Luca looked back up, his eyes meeting the four women on the platform, and added,
"She also mentioned all of you...her family."
He let out a quiet breath, his voice turning tender.
"She told me that you she loves you all dearly and to tell you to take care of each other."
The words struck deep.
Luna's hands flew to her lips as tears began to spill again, though she tried to fight them this time.
Lulu, though trembling, smiled faintly through her tears, whispering. "Grandma…"
Nyx held them both closer, her expression a mix of sorrow and pride.
Hearing her mother's final message had given her a kind of strength—as if the very act of remembering her mother's courage made her stand taller.
Her eyes glistened, but her posture was composed, regal.
Even Leona, who had worked so hard to remain composed faltered.
She turned her face slightly to the side, a single tear escaping despite her efforts to hold it back.
But after a long moment, she drew herself upright again, and her voice returned, now filled with quiet resolve.
"My mother…" She said. "She passed on in the most honorable way possible. She gave her life to protect all of us. And now, she sits beside the Goddess, watching over her children and her people."
She turned to look at the others around her, all listening intently.
"That's why we will not mourn her with despair." She declared. "She lived a long and glorious life, and we will celebrate that life tonight."
"A celebration of her journey, her sacrifice, and her legacy will be held in her honor."
A few elves nodded through their tears. Others whispered their agreement, bowing their heads solemnly.
Leona continued, her tone gaining resolve.
"At dawn tomorrow, we will also send word to the other clans and inform them of their leaders passing."
"The world must know of their sacrifice and let them know that their matriarchs fell not to an enemy's blade, but by her own will, for the sake of peace."
The elves straightened, nodding, their sadness slowly transforming into determination.
Then, as the echoes of her voice faded, Leona turned her eyes back to Luca.
"Now…" She said quietly. "...for the question on everyone's mind."
The crowd of elves fell silent again, curiosity replacing sorrow.
"If what you say is true, if my mother gave her life to summon the hero. Then tell me, human...where is that hero now?"
At her words, all eyes turned to Luca once more.
Even Luna and Lulu looked down from above, their faces streaked with tears but filled now with something else—hope.
They were all thinking the same thing:
If the Grand Matriarch had died to summon this savior, then that savior must be extraordinary.
Someone chosen by the Goddess herself.
Someone divine.
Someone they could believe in.
They leaned forward slightly, waiting for him to speak.
But to their surprise, Luca didn't answer immediately.
He stood there awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck, his smile twitching.
His confident composure from before—the man who had stared down fifty drawn bows—was now replaced with an oddly nervous energy.
Leona frowned.
"What's wrong, human?" She asked sharply. "Why are you fidgeting like that? You have nothing to fear. I won't harm you. You delivered my mother's final message with honesty and respect—for that, you have my gratitude."
She lowered her bow completely now.
"But I need to know who this hero is. My mother's sacrifice—our future—depends on that answer."
Nyx stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.
"She's right." She said. "And you don't need to be afraid. I promise, on my word as royal advisor, that no harm will come to you, no matter what you reveal."
"For what you've done. For carrying our matriarch's words, you are already an honored guest of our people."
She smiled faintly, her eyes softening.
"So please. Speak freely."
Luna and Lulu also looked at him pleadingly, their faces gentle and trusting.
And seeing everyone staring at him, Luca sighed deeply.
There was no way out of it anymore.
He rubbed his forehead and finally said with reluctance,
"Alright, alright. I'll tell you. But just so you know—the reason I was hesitating isn't because I'm scared."
"It's because...well, this is going to be hard for you all to accept."
"Hard to accept?" Leona raised an eyebrow. "Why would it be hard?"
"Because..."
Luca said, giving an uneasy laugh.
"The hero...isn't exactly what you're expecting."
But Nyx only smiled reassuringly in response.
"It's fine." She said. "If he isn't an elf, that's alright. We will welcome any race who can help us."
"Whether he's beastfolk, merfolk, or dragonborn—it doesn't matter. The Goddess's choice is sacred."
The other elves nodded eagerly, their curiosity flaring.
"Yes! Tell us, who is it?"
"Come on, don't keep us waiting!"
"Who's the hero our matriarch gave her life for?"
Encouraged by their words, Nyx gestured lightly.
"See? You don't need to hesitate any longer. Please—tell us. Who is the hero our matriarch gave her life for?"
"Yeah!" Lulu called out, her voice trembling with hope. "Tell us who they are!"
Luna nodded beside her, whispering. "We want to know…"
Luca gritted his teeth at how they weren't understanding before saying,
"Well...just like I said, he's not from the elf race. And, uh, not from any other race you'd normally think of either."
The crowd blinked in confusion.
"What do you mean not from any race?" One elf asked. "You mean...an angel? A spirit? A demigod, maybe?"
"That would make sense." Another said excitedly. "If he's holy, he could drive back the humans easily!"
But Luca only smiled awkwardly again.
"No, not exactly that either."
And then he sighed.
"The hero that your Grand Matriarch summoned—the one who's supposed to save this world…"
He pointed to himself.
"…is me."
The moment he said this, he thought that he would see a reaction of shock, of disbelief, of horror, of all the elves throwing stones at him at the horrible truth. And he was ready for it.
But instead—
Pfft.
A giggle.
And then—
Laughter.
The elves burst out laughing, their sorrow instantly evaporating into disbelief and hilarity.
"What did he just say?!" One of them howled.
"He said he's the hero! A human hero!"
"To fight against the human race! Oh, that's rich!" Another snorted, clutching her stomach.
"I didn't know humans were such good comedians!" Said a third. "Maybe we should keep him just for entertainment!"
Some of the archers wiped their tears away only to burst into fits of laughter again.
Luna and Lulu both blinked as well, momentarily unsure how to react—until Lulu broke into a snicker herself, covering her mouth.
"Heh...he's funny." She whispered.
Luna, despite trying to remain polite, couldn't stop the small, awkward smile tugging at her lips.
Leona, however, was less amused. She crossed her arms, frowning deeply.
"You're mocking us." She said coldly.
Nyx, though smiling kindly, sighed softly.
"I appreciate your attempt to lift everyone's mood, truly. That was...well-timed, I'll admit." She chuckled lightly. "But please—enough jokes. Tell us the real answer. Who is the hero?"
But Luca's expression didn't change. His smile remained calm, unwavering.
"I'm not joking." He said. "I really am the hero."
That statement made a few elves laugh even harder.
"Oh, this is rich!" One cackled. "The human thinks he's the hero?"
"Maybe next he'll tell us the Goddess made him king of the world!" another snorted.
But not everyone was laughing anymore.
A few of the elves—the older ones, the wiser ones—noticed the calm, steady way he said it. He wasn't boasting.
He wasn't smirking. He wasn't bluffing.
He was serious. Dead serious.
The laughter began to die out. Slowly, realization crept across the crowd. The joking smiles turned into uneasy frowns.
Even Nyx's expression changed. Her smile froze slightly, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
Leona finally stepped forward, exasperation breaking through her restraint.
"Enough." She said sharply. "I have tolerated your games long enough, human. I respected you because you carried my mother's message. But this joke has gone far enough."
Her cold gaze narrowed.
"Stop this nonsense and tell us the truth."
Nyx sighed beside her, though her tone remained calmer.
"She's right. This isn't a matter to jest about. If you know who the hero is, tell us. If you want payment, resources, whatever you desire—we'll provide it. Just stop playing games."
She met his eyes, her expression turning serious.
"This isn't about pride or belief. The fate of all our races depends on this."
But Luca didn't waver.
He looked at both sisters—the furious matriarch and the skeptical advisor—and then let out a slow breath.
"I'm not playing games." He said softly. "I'm not asking for payment, or glory, or trust."
He looked at the elves around him, his expression finally shifting into one of calm determination.
"I'm just telling you the truth." He said. "I'm the hero your goddess sent."
And this time, there was no laughter. Only disbelief and confusion.
"What did he just say?"
"He's the hero?"
"Is he mad?"
"Why would the Goddess choose a human?"
The elves glanced at each other, uncertain if they'd misheard or if the human standing before them had truly gone insane.
Even Luna and Lulu exchanged bewildered looks, unsure what to think anymore.
Leona, however, had had enough. Her patience was hanging by a thread. She took a sharp step forward, her voice cold and cutting through the chatter.
"Enough of this nonsense. I've asked you politely before, but I will not repeat myself. Tell me, human, where is the hero my mother sacrificed her life to summon? Tell me—"
"Hold up! Hold up!" Luca interrupted, lifting both hands quickly.
The sudden outburst caught her off guard, and her next words froze on her tongue.
Luca, seeing that he had her attention, exhaled in relief and gave a small, crooked smile.
"Listen. Your mother knew you all very well—too well, honestly." He began, his tone gentler now. "She told me that none of you would believe it easily. Especially you, Leona."
Leona frowned. "What?"
He nodded, almost ruefully.
"She said her daughters were stubborn. That even if the Goddess herself told you a human was the hero, you'd still refuse to believe it. And honestly, she wasn't wrong. A demi-human hero being a human?"
He laughed softly.
"Yeah...it sounds like a bad joke. But unfortunately for me and all of you, it's the truth."
His tone, though teasing, carried sincerity beneath it. Then he reached into the satchel slung over his shoulder.
"Fortunately." He said. "I can prove it."
He rummaged around for a moment, muttering.
"Give me a second…"
All eyes followed his hands as he searched. The elves stood silent but tense, their curiosity and suspicion mixing.
Some wondered if he was bluffing, others if he was reaching for a weapon. Luna and Lulu leaned forward, craning their necks to peek at what he was doing.
Finally, with a soft rustle, Luca pulled something out—a single folded piece of parchment. The paper was old, slightly yellowed at the edges, sealed with a mark pressed into wax.
He held it up between two fingers.
"This..." He said. "...is what your mother gave me before she passed. She told me to give it to you, Leona."
And then, with a small flick of his wrist, he tossed it upward. The folded letter spun through the air gracefully before Leona caught it effortlessly.
The moment she saw it, her brows furrowed. She turned it over in her hand, inspecting the seal pressed into the wax.
It was the insignia of the Elf Matriarch—the ancient crest of the elven royal family.
Luca's voice carried upward.
"That's her final message to you." He said. "Her farewell. It also has proof of what I said."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
"A final letter?" Someone whispered.
"From the Grand Matriarch herself?" another breathed.
"Is it really her seal?"
Nyx immediately stepped forward, her eyes wide. She reached Leona's side and stared at the letter as if she couldn't believe it.
"That seal…" She whispered, her voice trembling. "It's genuine."
Her throat tightened, emotion welling up at the thought that their mother had left behind a final message after all.
Even so, both sisters exchanged a skeptical glance. A part of them still resisted the idea that the letter could confirm such an outrageous claim.
Slowly, hesitantly, Leona broke the seal.
Nyx stood close beside her, silent but watchful, as Leona unfolded the parchment with trembling fingers.
And as soon as Leona's eyes fell on the handwriting, her breath caught. Her fingers froze mid-turn, her pupils trembling.
Nyx's expression shifted the same instant; she didn't need to read the words to recognize the familiar, flowing script.
"It's her handwriting…" Leona whispered, her voice breaking slightly.
"She really wrote this…" Nyx murmured, barely holding back tears.
They began to read together.
At first, both sisters' faces softened. A faint smile tugged at Nyx's lips; Leona's eyes glistened as she read her mother's words of love and pride, her gratitude for their strength, and her blessings upon their future.
But as they continued reading, both sisters' expressions began to change.
Their smiles faded, replaced by confusion...then disbelief.
Leona frowned, her eyes narrowing as she scanned further down the page, reading faster now, her breath becoming uneven.
Nyx's expression shifted between amusement, astonishment, and something close to awe.
Her lips curved into an incredulous smile as she let out a quiet, half-laugh of disbelief.
By the time they reached the bottom of the letter, both women stood frozen.
Leona's jaw was tight, her brows furrowed, her fingers clenching the parchment hard enough to crinkle it.
"This...this has to be a joke." She muttered under her breath. "Is the Goddess above toying with us now?"
Beside her, Nyx let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head in stunned amusement.
"Oh, Mother...of all the things you could have written…" She said, smiling faintly. "This is better than any twist in any old fairy tale."
The crowd below stirred anxiously, curiosity swelling among the elves.
"What's written in it?" one asked.
"Lady Leona, please tell us!" another cried.
"Nyx, what did the Grand Matriarch say?"
"Please—we want to know!"
Luna and Lulu were also leaning over the railing now, their eyes wide and voices trembling with anticipation.
"Mother..." Luna called softly. "What did Grandmother say?"
"Yes, please tell us!" Lulu added, turning to Nyx. "Auntie, don't tease us, we're already confused enough! What did it say?"
Nyx chuckled lightly, brushing a tear from the corner of her eye as she looked down at Luca again.
"Well…" She said, her voice a mix of disbelief and reluctant amusement. "It seems our guest here was telling the truth."
A hush fell over the entire village.
"This man..." She went on, her tone growing more solemn. "This human who calls himself Luca...is the very one Mother and the other leaders gave their lives to summon."
Gasps broke out across the bridge and among the crowd below, while Nyx's voice carried through the air with finality.
"He is the hero chosen by the Goddess herself.
"The hero of our age and the one summoned to apparently save us all from extinction."
Leona closed her eyes for a moment, her lips pressed into a thin line, before lowering her head in reluctant acceptance.
And all around them, the elves stood in stunned silence—staring down at the human before them, the man their Goddess had chosen, the man their matriarch had died for.