Luna noticed the faint confusion flickering across her mother's face.
Wanting to clear it up so that she can show off in front of her, she quickly stepped forward, brushing a bit of wood chips from her sleeves.
"Mother." She began earnestly. "What you just saw—it's actually one of Luca's blessings. Something granted to him directly by the Goddess of Space herself."
Leona's brows furrowed slightly, her attention turning fully to her daughter.
"A blessing...from the Goddess of Space?"
Luna nodded, speaking with that quiet, meticulous tone she always used when explaining something complex.
"Yes. It allows him to travel anywhere he's already been instantly. He can open those blue gateways and cross entire distances in the blink of an eye. And not only that…"
She smiled, a small flicker of admiration in her eyes.
"He also has this massive storage space of some kind. It's invisible like another world within his own. He can store anything in there and take it out whenever he wants."
Nyx raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"A personal pocket dimension? That's not even something high-ranking mages could do back when mana still existed."
Luna nodded again.
"Yep. I always wondered how he managed to take out so many things from that tiny bag grandmother gave him, the one you said could barely fit a loaf of bread."
"I thought it was some sort of trick. But no, he was actually taking them from his storage space."
Leona crossed her arms slowly, eyes narrowing in thought. "So that's how he's been summoning these devices and carrying them around like they weigh nothing."
But Luna wasn't finished. Her expression turned even more animated as she leaned forward slightly, her voice brimming with fascination.
"And it doesn't stop there, Mother."
"Shockingly, he can also travel between worlds."
Nyx's head shot up, her playful grin immediately fading into genuine shock.
"Wait, between worlds? You mean...inter-dimensional travel?"
"Yes." Luna said with certainty. "That's how he brought all of this equipment here in the first place. Apparently, everything you see—these machines, tools, the strange metals—they're all from his world. A place that's far more advanced than ours."
She paused for a moment, her tone growing reverent.
"His world doesn't even have mana, yet somehow, they've advanced beyond anything we can imagine."
"He said the people there built entire cities that reach the clouds. They travel through the skies and even across oceans in metal machines. They've made tools that can do things even the strongest mages of our world never could."
Leona and Nyx exchanged a stunned glance.
Around them, even the nearby elves had stopped their work, their attention drawn to Luna's words.
"So..." Nyx murmured under her breath, looking at the portal still shimmering faintly behind Luca. "You're telling me that while we've been fighting for survival...there exists an entire world that's evolved without magic, and yet surpassed us in every way."
"Yes. A world where people replaced mana with innovation."
Luna said with awe, imagining now such a world might look like.
And hearing all this, Leona looked over at Luca, who was, at that moment, playfully teleporting Lulu a few feet into the air and catching her through another portal mid-fall, the girl squealing with laughter each time.
Watching them, Leona couldn't help but feel a complex mix of awe and unease stirring inside her chest again.
She thought of his world, of humans like him capable of crafting such technology and creating such power without mana.
'If our human invaders ever reached that level...'
The thought made her grip her arm tightly.
'If they had the chance, our entire continent would be razed within a week.'
For a moment, she couldn't help but wonder if the elves and demi-humans could ever evolve like that, could they survive?
Could they build a future that wouldn't depend on fading magic?
Her mind was still tangled in thought when she finally spoke again, her voice quiet but steady.
"If he can go back to his world whenever he wishes…"
She said, glancing toward Luna.
"Then does that mean we can go to his world too?"
The question instantly caught the attention of everyone nearby. Even the elves working on the planks stopped mid-swing, their ears perking up in curiosity.
Nyx looked equally intrigued, turning to Luca with a sly smile. "Now that is a very good question."
But before Luca could respond, Luna smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Unfortunately...no. I asked him the same thing. Apparently, only he can travel there."
"He said the Goddess placed restrictions on inter-world travel. So, while he can go between realms and even across continents, no one else can pass through to his home world."
Her smile turned into one of slight disappointment.
"I was really looking forward to seeing it, too. But it's impossible."
Hearing the sad news, Nyx let out a small sigh of dismay, her curiosity deflating.
"That's a shame." She said, resting her chin on her palm. "I would have loved to see what kind of world creates toys like these."
Leona too bit her lip lightly, hiding her own quiet disappointment behind a composed expression.
But Nyx caught the flicker of emotion anyway.
"Oh?" Nyx said, her grin returning instantly. "What's that look on your face, Leona? Is that disappointment I see? Don't tell me you were really hoping to go to our dear hero's world that badly?"
Leona's eyes narrowed, shooting her sister a cold glare. "Not at all. I was simply curious about what kind of place it is. That's all."
Nyx chuckled under her breath, enjoying every second of teasing her stoic sister.
Before Leona could retort, Luna gently interjected again.
"Mother, if you truly want to experience something close to it...you can still try the portal. It's quite incredible."
Her tone turned bright again.
"One moment you're here, and in the next, you're somewhere entirely different! Even when magic existed, no teleportation spell ever felt so instant or so stable. It's...amazing."
"Yeah, yeah!" Lulu jumped in immediately, practically tugging on her mother's hand. "You have to try it, Mother! You too, Auntie Nyx! It's the best ride ever!"
She clapped her hands, her ears twitching with excitement.
Nyx smirked and turned toward Luca. "All right then, Hero. Tell me, does this little trick of yours have any limit? Can two people go at once, or does it only take one at a time?"
Luca chuckled lightly.
"No limits like that." He said, waving his hand casually. "I can carry as many people through as I want. The only constraint is time—I can't hold the portal open for too long. It strains my mind if I push it."
Several elves nearby exchanged eager looks, whispering among themselves.
"We could see other parts of the forest!"
"Or visit the mountains!"
"Imagine what we could do with that power!"
Luca smiled faintly at their enthusiasm, then lifted his hand again.
"If you'd all like to experience it." He said kindly. "I can open one right now."
The moment he did, another glowing blue circle materialized behind him—its surface swirling gently like water touched by moonlight.
"Go on." Luca said. "There's no danger. You'll step through and come out just a few meters away. Safe and simple."
Almost immediately, the other elves began to gather behind Leona and Nyx, their excitement bubbling over but their discipline keeping them in line.
They looked to their leader—Leona—as though waiting for her approval. None dared move before she did.
Nyx leaned closer and whispered teasingly. "Well, sister, looks like all eyes are on you again. You might as well go first."
Leona exhaled softly, staring at the swirling light.
The portal shimmered beautifully, glowing with an energy unlike anything she'd ever seen—neither mana nor elemental energy, but something foreign and pure.
She swallowed hard, her heart pounding faintly in her chest and in the end her curiosity overtook her.
"All right." She murmured. "Let's see what all the fuss is about."
She took a single step forward toward the portal, looking both nervous and excited at the same time—
But before her foot could touch the blue light, a shout rang out from the forest.
"EMERGENCY! IT'S AN MERGENCY!"
Everyone froze instantly.
A young elf came running through the trees, panting heavily, her voice trembling but loud enough to echo through the clearing before going on to shout,
"THE MALE ELVES! THEY...THEY'VE RETURNED! THE MALE ELVES HAVE COME BACK TO THE VILLAGE!"
"THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE RIGHT NOW!"
Every elf in the clearing reacted differently to the announcement.
The surrounding elves didn't panic or scream; instead, a strange, uneasy tension filled the air.
It didn't look like they were in fear of being attacked.
Rather it was the uncertainty of what would happen next, the unpredictable nature of the ones who had returned.
Lulu, on the other hand, crossed her arms and let out an annoyed groan.
"Ugh. Them again?" She muttered under her breath. "I was having such a good day."
Luna frowned as well, her cheerful face hardening with quiet displeasure. She didn't speak, but the way her face tensed said enough.
But it was Leona and Nyx who bore the most complex expressions.
Nyx's face was unreadable, her lips curved faintly into a calm, controlled smile.
But Luca could see something else in her eyes—something brimming just beneath the surface.
A glint of restrained fury? Pain? Maybe even pity. Or it could even be happiness.
Whatever it was, it wasn't indifference.
Leona, on the other hand, looked...tired.
There was no shock, no surprise in her gaze. Only weariness like someone who'd long expected this moment but had hoped it would never come.
She drew in a slow breath and straightened, her voice firm and authoritative.
"Keep the little ones and the elders inside." She ordered, her tone low but commanding. "No one leaves their homes until I say so. As for the others, tell them to stay where they are and keep watch."
"Assemble the guards, just in case even though nothing will really happen."
"Yes, Matriarch!" Several elves replied, bowing quickly before scattering in all directions.
Within moments, the clearing that had been bustling with activity turned somber and alert.
The laughter faded, replaced by whispers and hurried footsteps as elves rushed to secure the younger ones inside the treehouses.
Luca watched it all quietly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
He could see how Leona's voice carried weight, how her calm presence steadied the panic.
But there was something else about her reaction that intrigued him.
'It seems like this isn't the first time this has happened.' He thought. 'But if the males returning is such a big deal, why does she look more exhausted than angry?
He remembered how the Goddess of Space had had told him that the Grand Matriarch, had made it so that he couldn't harm any of the male elves unless Leona herself permitted it.
That rule had stuck in his mind ever since.
Now, as he saw the faint tension among the elves, he began to wonder—what kind of history did they share with these men of their race?
Without hesitation, he decided to find out.
When Leona started walking into the forest, Nyx following close behind with Luna and Lulu at her sides, Luca moved too.
Their woven footwear crunched softly against the soil as he followed, weaving between the great trees, listening to the murmurs of the elves assembling behind them.
Above, he could see younger elves guiding frightened children into hollowed tree homes, closing the wooden doors behind them.
Older ones stood guard on the platforms, bows in hand though their faces betrayed uncertainty rather than aggression.
By the time Leona's group reached the deeper part of the forest, twenty or so guards had joined them—forming a cautious but organized line behind their matriarch.
And then, through the shadowed trees, Luca saw what he was lost for.
The male elves
Roughly thirty figures stood waiting in the heart of the forest clearing—tall, slender, and unnervingly graceful.
Their ears were long and sharp, their features as flawless as any of the women's.
But their expressions carried something different:
Arrogance. Cold, gleaming arrogance.
They looked around like they owned the forest, their movements deliberate and regal, their eyes filled with the pride of victors returning from a conquest.
Their attire was finely woven, more ceremonial than practical, and many wore smug smiles that made Luca's blood itch.
Even the way they stood—the way their chins tilted upward slightly was enough to irritate him.
Every single one of them looked as though they believed the entire forest, the entire world, was theirs.
'Damn.' Luca thought. 'If pride were a disease, they'd all be terminal.'
But among them, one stood out—the figure at the front.
He was tall, his posture effortlessly commanding.
His hair was long, cascading down to his waist like spun gold, gleaming faintly even in the shade.
His eyes—sharp, calm, and green as an emerald forest surveyed the scene with authority.
His face was als infuriatingly perfect, every feature looking sculpted with his expression poised and composed.
He wasn't grinning like the others, but the subtle confidence in his gaze was even worse.
As Leona and her group came to a stop opposite them, a heavy silence settled over the clearing.
Just then, Luca leaned closer to Luna, crouching slightly as he whispered under his breath.
"Hey, who's that guy in front? The one with the shiny hair and the smug face?"
Luna blinked, surprised by the question. "Who?"
"That guy." Luca muttered again, pointing subtly. "The super handsome one. I don't know why, but I just feel like slapping him right in the face."
"His face is too perfect, it's irritating. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's because he's better-looking than I am, but still...I really want to kick it in."
Nyx, who had clearly overheard, couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. Even in the tension of the moment, she found amusement in his blunt honesty.
"Oh my, you're quite bold to say something like that directly to her and with us around." She murmured, her tone light.
Lulu also giggled behind her hand like she really loved what he said, while Leona turned slightly, giving Luca a look so complex that he couldn't decipher whether she was annoyed, uncomfortable, or impressed by his nerve.
Luna, meanwhile, looked...awkward.
Her gaze shifted between Luca and the man standing ahead, her expression tightening.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Luca frowned. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Luna sighed softly, before giving him a peculiar look. "You...really don't know, do you?" She said with a wry smile.
He tilted his head. "Know what?"
She pointed gently toward the golden-haired elf in front.
"About the fact that the man over there isn't just anyone." She said quietly. "He's the Grand Healer—well, former Grand Healer of the entire elven race. He's also considered the prince of our people…"
Luca blinked, confused for a moment, until Luna's next words hit him like a hammer.
"…and he's also the one who married my mother..."
"...the man who fathered both me and my sister…"
She paused, her gaze hardening as she looked straight at him.
"And finally the same man who led all the male elves away from our people. The one who betrayed the race and joined the humans."
Luca froze, blinking in realization. His eyes slowly widened. "Wait...you're saying that—"
"Yes." Luna said before looking towards the man.
"The man standing over there is none other then my father...Julius Aurendel."