The Primordial Witch Takes a Stroll Through the Royal Capital - An Elf's Old Acquaintance and the Memory of Ruin

The morning air was still cold. Theresia stood at the edge of the royal capital of Artemis, at the entrance to a small forest that spread out along the western side of the city walls. Her brown hair, which reached her shoulders, swayed softly in the morning breeze. Her large, amber eyes were fixed on the narrow path that led deeper into the woods. "It hasn't changed at all, has it?" Her voice echoed as if dissolving into the morning stillness. "Yes. The elven settlement has remained in this place even after the royal capital was expanded. They seem to maintain their own community while keeping a certain distance from humans." The man in the black coat answered quietly from half a step behind Theresia. His black hair was cropped short, and his jet-black eyes were deep, as if they swallowed light. His footsteps made no sound when he walked. His shadow was darker than his body, and even in the morning light, only the space around him felt strangely dim. Theresia looked up at an ancient tree standing at the forest's entrance. It must have been hundreds of years old. Its trunk was thick, its branches spreading wide toward the sky. Moss grew thickly around its base, and morning dew glittered on the tips of its leaves. "This tree—when I first came here, it was only about knee-high." She placed her hand gently on the ancient trunk. The gesture was tender, as if she were reuniting with an old friend. "Your visit to this land came before the royal capital was even built. It was around the time the elves first began living in this forest." "That's right. Back then, there were many more elves living here. Now it seems like there are far fewer." Theresia gazed deeper into the forest. Morning light filtered thinly between the trees. Small insects flitted through the beams of light. "But she should still be here. I wonder if she remembers me." "You mean Lady Elion? An elf's lifespan is eight hundred to a thousand years. It has been several centuries since you last met her, so there is a high probability she is still alive." "I can't wait. There aren't many people I can reminisce with." Theresia stepped lightly into the forest. ―――― Inside the forest, it was so quiet it was hard to believe the bustle of the royal capital existed at all. The sound of leaves brushing against each other in the wind. The chirping of small birds. The sound of a stream flowing in the distance. All of it melted into the morning air, reaching her ears gently. The smell of earth, the smell of moss, and somewhere a faintly sweet scent of flowers wrapped around the entire forest. Theresia walked along the forest path with unfaltering steps. Lorde followed half a step behind her, soundless. Their shadows stretched long through the dappled sunlight. After walking for a while, elven houses began to appear between the trees. Homes built directly into tree trunks. Watchtowers constructed on branches. Walls woven from vines. Each one was so integrated with the forest that one might pass by without noticing if they weren't careful. The elves had already begun their day early. A woman picking herbs at the base of a tree. A young man tending to his bow. Children darting and playing among the branches. One of them—a young elf with long silver hair flowing down his back—noticed Theresia and the others. "...A human child? And a human man. What business do you have in this forest?" The young elf picked up his bow and eyed Theresia and her companion warily. His eyes were deep green, as if they reflected the forest itself. Lorde stepped half a pace forward, positioning himself in front of Theresia. "This is Lady Theresia. She wishes to meet with Lady Elion. Would you be so kind as to announce her?" Lorde's voice was quiet, yet carried a resonance that brooked no argument. "To Lady Elion? A human? What is the meaning of this?" The young elf's grip on his bow tightened. "Hey, is Elion doing well?" Theresia looked up at the young elf's face and spoke. Her voice was so innocent, so utterly light. The young elf was momentarily at a loss for words. "You... a human child, addressing Lady Elion without honorifics? Lady Elion is the eldest in this forest. Do you not think that is rude?" Anger crept into the young elf's voice. Theresia tilted her head. "Rude? I'm Elion's friend. From long ago." "Friend? A human child, friends with Lady Elion? Don't make me laugh. How old are you? You can't be more than ten. There's no way Lady Elion would be friends with a child like—" The young elf's words stopped mid-sentence. Because Lorde's jet-black eyes, standing behind Theresia, were fixed directly on him. Those eyes were deep, as if they swallowed light, and their bottom could not be seen. "...What's with those eyes?" The young elf's voice trembled slightly. "If you will not announce us, then we shall find Lady Elion's whereabouts ourselves. Is that acceptable?" Lorde's voice was as polite as ever. But beneath his words was a pressure that allowed no refusal. The young elf looked back and forth between Lorde and Theresia. Then, after a long silence, he lowered his bow. "...Fine. Lady Elion's home is straight down this path, the great tree by the spring. But if anything happens, every elf in this forest will be your enemy. Be prepared." "Thanks. You're a good person." Theresia smiled brightly. Her smile was as bright as the morning light. The young elf opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end said nothing and stepped aside. ―――― The great tree by the spring stood with an overwhelming presence, even among the forest. Its trunk was so thick that five adults linking hands could not encircle it. Its branches stretched high into the sky, their tips shining gold in the morning sun. At its base was a small spring, where clear water bubbled up quietly. An elf sat at the base of that great tree. Long silver hair reached past the waist, all the way to the ground. Skin pale, etched with deep wrinkles. Eyes closed, breathing slowly and quietly. Beside the elf lay an old wooden staff. Theresia stood before the elf. "Elion. It's been a while." The moment the elf heard that voice, her eyelids slowly opened. Eyes the color of a deep forest reflected Theresia. The next instant, those eyes flew wide open. "...Ah." A faint sound escaped the elf's lips. "...Ah... ah..." The elf's entire body began to tremble. The hand gripping the staff, the bony fingers, shook in small spasms. "What's wrong? Did you forget my face?" Theresia crouched down and peered into the elf's face. The gesture was as natural as reuniting with an old friend. "...Lady... Theresia..." The elf's voice was hoarse. It carried a complex mix of emotions—as if seeing something unbelievable, and yet, as if seeing something one should never see. "To think... to think the Progenitor... was still alive..." The elf's words trembled. "Yep, I'm alive. Elion, you've gotten quite old too. All wrinkly now." Theresia giggled. "...Yes. I have already passed seven hundred years. When I last met you, Lady Theresia, I was still young... back then, I was much more sprightly." The elf rose slowly, trembling, leaning on her staff, yet keeping her back straight. The pride of a long-lived being suppressed her fear. "...I must apologize for my rudeness. To think that the Progenitor herself would be in a place like this... Please, sit. I will have tea prepared at once." The elf gestured with a trembling hand to a young elf nearby. ―――― At the base of the great tree, a rough wooden table was set, and tea vessels were arranged upon it. The wild herb tea, harvested from the elven settlement, was a pale gold and carried a faint floral fragrance. On plates were nuts and fruits gathered from the forest. Lorde placed a teacup before Theresia. "Lady Theresia, your tea. It is hot, so please be careful." "Thanks. You're always so thoughtful, Lorde." Theresia received the cup, cradling it with both hands. Steam wavered before her face. "...Lady Theresia. Why have you come to this royal capital? Without any word to the Tower of the Silver Moon..." Elion sat diagonally across from Theresia, her still-trembling hands folded on her lap. "Just a stroll. A simple stroll. I wanted to see how this city has changed." Theresia took a sip of tea, then picked up a nut and popped it into her mouth. "Delicious. These nuts taste the same as before. Elion's forest nuts are sweet, a little astringent—they taste like nostalgia." Theresia smiled happily. Seeing that smile, Elion let the tension in her shoulders ease, just slightly. "...I am glad they please you. The nuts of this forest have kept the same flavor since long ago." "Yeah. Elion's forest hasn't changed much. The trees, the spring, the air. Just like back then. The human city has changed so much, though." Theresia gazed at the surface of the spring. Bathed in morning light, the water sparkled. "...Indeed. The human city changes quickly. Buildings change, people change, eras change. From the perspective of us long-lived beings, it seems like nothing more than the turning of the seasons." Elion looked toward the depths of the forest, her eyes distant. "Hey, Elion. Do you remember that war?" Theresia's voice suddenly grew quiet. Elion's body stiffened slightly. "...You mean the Witch War." "Yeah. The one where humans feared witches, witches tried to rule humans, and everything turned into a mess." Theresia set her teacup on the table. "That was boring." Theresia said this and gave a small laugh. "...For you, Lady Theresia, I suppose it was." Elion exhaled deeply. "That war was, for humans, truly a crisis of survival. The witches sought to dominate the continent, and humans resisted desperately. Much blood was spilled, many lives were lost. Even now, in human history books, that war is recorded as humanity's greatest trial." Elion's voice was quiet. But beneath it lay the weight of centuries of memory. "Hmm. That's how humans remember it. I was just watching from far away. The witches cornered the humans, the humans feared the witches, but in the end, neither side could do anything significant. It was just one of many common occurrences." Theresia picked another nut and brought it to her lips. "...You had no interest in that war at all. The witches—your children—were trying to dominate humans. And yet, you simply watched." There was a faint note of reproach in Elion's words. "Because it wasn't interesting. The witches drowned in their own power and thought it was fun to toy with humans. The humans couldn't kill the witches but resisted desperately anyway. Both sides were so boring I could yawn." Theresia's voice was utterly light. Elion was silent for a while. "...For you, Lady Theresia, perhaps so. But for humans, that war changed everything. After that war, a Guardian Covenant was forged between humans and witches. Witches protect humans, humans give witches a place to belong. That covenant became the foundation of this royal capital." Elion looked toward the royal capital. "The Guardian Covenant. That's also a strange system, isn't it? Witches protect humans. Humans pay witches. But witches can't kill humans, and humans can't kill witches. A relationship where neither side can do anything about the other." Theresia tilted her head. "And yet, humans cling to that covenant and rebuild their city over and over. How amusing." Theresia's amber eyes glinted. "...You may not be aware, Lady Theresia. This royal capital, Artemis, has come close to destruction three times in the past." Elion's voice lowered. "Three times? Really? I saw this city when it was built, but after that, I didn't pay much attention." Theresia's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes. The first was three hundred and fifty years ago. A great horde of magical beasts attacked the capital, and most of the city walls collapsed. The s

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Episode 3

Name: The Primordial Witch Takes a Stroll Through the Royal Capital
Author: Novelia

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