Chapter 200: "Heart of Nature" - Erona
The Kingdom of Col Elves, known as the "Light of Civilization" in the Northern Continent, is one of the three major elven kingdoms.
It is the largest kingdom in the Northern Continent, with the strongest military and the most vibrant culture and magical research.
To outsiders, the Col Elves appear to be a "beacon of civilization," guiding other intelligent races and kingdoms forward.
Even after the fall of the Netheril Empire, more than half of the Northern populace still believed this.
However, Matthew knew clearly that the Col Elves were nothing more than parasitic vampires wrapped in the guise of civilization.
They fed off the resources of the various peoples and kingdoms of the Northern Continent, allowing their nobility to live in extreme luxury and decadence.
Of course, unlike actual vampires, the Col Elves masked themselves well.
They possessed advanced magical technology and some powerful, mysterious ancient knowledge.
They "guided" the development of magic and promoted the ideology of elven grace and superiority.
In reality, they had been "brainwashing" and "controlling" the human-ruled Netheril Empire from top to bottom.
Matthew knew the timeline well. The Kingdom of Col Elves could no longer tolerate the growth and development of the Netheril Empire.
When their subtle methods no longer sufficed to restrain the Netheril Empire,
they chose to become one of the forces behind its downfall!
Of course, Matthew and the players knew this because, at the time of the Netheril Empire's destruction, both sides briefly shared the same interests.
But that didn't change Matthew's deep distrust and wariness of the Col Elves.
Outwardly peaceful, the Col Elves had, over thousands of years, used various means to wipe out and annex many of the small kingdoms and factions that had splintered from the ancient elven empire.
They relegated most of the other elves from those kingdoms to the status of commoners while elevating themselves to become "nobles" in every sense.
The Col Elves had a crucial law:
"Any elf with the ability to cast spells is automatically elevated to nobility, while all other elves remain commoners!"
This law bore an uncanny resemblance to the policies of the Netheril Empire!
On the surface, the Col Elves preached freedom and equality, but in reality, they didn't hesitate to expel all half-elves from their territories.
For the more "stubborn" individuals, the Col Elves' loyal lackeys would take swift action.
And so, half-elven slaves were created.
Interestingly, since many half-elven slaves had quite remarkable talents,
the various noble and spellcaster organizations of the Netheril Empire were very happy to take in these half-elves, whom the elves saw as "stains" and "burdens."
The butler Ralph and Angela's mother had joined the Ser family through this very process.
Standing timidly before Matthew were 20 half-elven slaves, their pointed ears and nervous expressions betraying their heritage.
All were female, as they were easier to control, and their ages varied, but none were over 15.
Angela wore a gentle smile as she softly comforted the largest of the half-elven girls.
Upon seeing the mark of the Arcanist on Matthew, fear and panic appeared on their faces, mixed with an unyielding obedience.
Matthew gave them a calm glance, able to discern much from their expressions and body language.
These were "trained" half-elven slaves.
They were meant to be high-quality commodities, capable of generating endless value for those who bought them.
While Matthew appreciated useful individuals, he disliked "tools" whose minds were shackled.
Fortunately, they were still in the "factory" stage and hadn't experienced worse things yet.
Angela, her eyes flashing with anger, stopped her conversation and quietly approached Matthew, saying:
"They only remember that they come from Ael, nothing else…"
As Angela spoke, she suddenly noticed that her lord's expression had become a bit dazed, and he was staring at the half-elven slave who had spoken to her, smiling in a familiar way.
Knowing Matthew well, Angela understood that her lord wasn't "interested" in the frail young girl.
The way he looked at her was similar to how he looked at Leon and Liana.
As Angela had guessed, Matthew instantly recognized the timid half-elven slave standing before him as a future famous figure.
Erona, the Heart of Nature!
It was well known that anyone with a title like this was at least of legendary rank!
The Heart of Nature, Erona, had gone even further.
Before Matthew had "left," this demigod druid, who had founded the Heart of Nature organization, seemed to have begun planning to ascend to godhood.
Although Matthew didn't know if she had succeeded, she had at least reached Level 30 in power!
A talent perhaps even more remarkable than Leon and Liana!
Of course, Matthew believed that, under his influence and support, Leon and Liana would achieve even greater success than before.
Erona
Age: 15
Race: Half-elf
Talent: Advanced Talent - Heart of Nature, can communicate effortlessly with all plants, understand their needs, and grasp their growth patterns.
Class: None
Specialization:
Advanced Specialization - Master Cultivator, increases success rate of cultivating and growing plants by 50%, enhances effects by 10%.
Inheritance: None
Abilities:
Knowledge 58, Meditation 95, Alchemy 23.
Attributes:
Strength: 4
Agility: 12
Constitution: 9
Intelligence: 16
Perception: 22
Charisma: 16
Luck: -5 (Doomed)
Evaluation: A timid but unlucky genius!
The Heart of Nature!
Just from the talent alone, Erona was incredibly skilled at growing and nurturing magical plants.
This was the perfect gift for Bay Territory, with its treasure trove, the Dark Forest.
When Matthew saw this talent, he was filled with joy:
"Just when I needed help, someone brings me a pillow!"
His gaze passed over the other half-elves, discovering that they were all promising talents.
Two had the potential to become high-level mages, and their other attributes weren't low either.
With a bit of training, they could all become competent professionals.
What delighted Matthew even more was that they had solid knowledge in alchemy, creating magical items, and other useful skills.
They were all little gold mines!
Mountain would now have companions!
With a soft smile, Matthew radiated warmth and charm, speaking in a friendly tone:
"Welcome to Bay Territory. You don't have to worry about being oppressed or mistreated here. Think of this as your home."
"For now, follow Angela. She's also a half-elf, and you'll become good friends."
As he spoke, Matthew winked at Angela:
"Take good care of these 'tools.'"