In the queen's castle of the Elf Dimension, all the guards of the royal family were loyal only to her, Elithia Von Kairiath. Apparently, her sister was using a false name, which made sense since she wanted to escape.
"Now tell me, didn't I tell you to look even for those who carried the name Elaris? How could you not find her even after all this time, Uncle Malik?"
In front of her, an old elf was kneeling, looking down. Elithia was seated on the throne, watching the one who was her uncle, considered one of the strongest in the kingdom, speak to her like that.
"That is because, apparently, besides leaving the Elf Dimension, she received special protection from a ninth-circle mage, so everyone who went to the human world to discover her identity, no matter where they were, was killed."
"…you can stop explaining now. I won't sentence you to death just because of that."
Elithia was not foolish enough to kill one of her best soldiers, especially if her sister had a ninth-circle mage by her side.
"Anyway, how are your children? What level are they at?"
"They are well. Would you like to see them?"
"Great, you can show them to me. If they have a good level, it would be good for you to call them to join the elven guard."
Malik nods his head as he moves toward a table located on the right. Meanwhile, she looks at a hooded figure wearing a black cloak with the mark of the God of curses and sacrifice stamped on the shoulder.
"So then, what do you want in exchange for your help? Depending on what it is, I might accept."
This cult had come to her for some strange reason. Apparently, they had failed in some old plan to start bringing their god back, but they failed.
"We want five thousand elves as a sacrifice, Queen Elithia."
While Elithia looks surprised, the man lowers his hood, revealing dark skin and elven ears. This made her eyes widen a little more, which made the man smile.
"My name is Valdir, one of the most loyal servants of my lord god."
Valdir, the traitor of the dark elves. Since his god Sairao's plan had gone wrong because of those damn children who escaped, they now had to go after other elves to continue the creation of his body.
Thanks to Sairao's power, who sacrificed half of himself, they managed to leave that dungeon and were now free, but as he had mentioned, his lord was very weak now.
'We need to capture as many elves as possible.'
"Hahahah, what audacity for a defective elf to come to me and make such a request."
Valdir's hand trembles when he sees Elithia laugh like that. With narrowed eyes, he clenches his teeth. He only didn't attack that damn queen because they needed her, but if she dared to refuse, he would have permission to kill her.
"Why are you looking at our queen with that gaze?"
The blade of the guard who was always at the elf's side was placed against his neck. Volhit Charios had deep green eyes as he stared at him. But honestly, that didn't impress him, since he had faced someone far more terrifying when he decided to betray the mother of the dark elves.
"I don't know what you're talking about. The only thing I want is to make a deal with your queen—"
"Hahaha, wait a moment, my uncle is back, haha. I want to see my cousins' level, so stay quiet."
'Tsk, what an annoying and unpleasant woman.'
Elithia slowly rises from the throne, the sound of metal echoing through the hall as her amused expression hides a cold gaze. Malik returns accompanied by two young elves, both with rigid posture, though it was easy to notice the tension in their shoulders as they faced the queen.
The first had long dark-green hair and golden eyes, holding a bow made of ancient wood, clearly enchanted. The second had short silver hair and carried a thin spear, with faint runes still unstable.
"So these are my cousins…"
Elithia walks around them, analyzing every detail as if they were pieces on a board.
"Interesting."
Valdir watches in silence, but inside he grinds his teeth. This was taking far too long. Every second there was a risk for his god, who needed sacrifices, especially in that castle filled with strong guards who could provide a good amount of magic.
"What magic circle are they at?"
Elithia asks without even looking at Malik. Even being treated that way, he seemed not to care.
"The older one recently reached the seventh circle. The younger is still at the sixth, but has great potential."
"Hmm… not bad. Above average, I'd say."
She stops behind the older one and lightly touches his shoulder. She then turns to Valdir, her smile disappearing completely.
"Now, back to the matter that really matters."
Her voice changes, becoming firmer and darker, with something else behind those words, perhaps a hint of amusement.
"Five thousand elves is not a request; it's a declaration of war."
Valdir takes a step forward, ignoring the blade still close to his neck. He truly didn't care about the boy beside him, which made Volhit slightly irritated at being treated that way.
"My god doesn't care about wars. Only about sacrifices."
The hall falls silent. Even the guards seem to hold their breath at the sheer audacity of what that defective elf had said.
"Dark elves… what ridiculous creatures."
Elithia sighs with a sarcastic smile. Valdir's eyes narrow slightly, but a small smile appears on his lips.
"Careful, queen. Your power is not absolute."
"Perhaps not."
She raises her hand, and the air around her vibrates slightly, revealing invisible magic circles overlapping one another.
"But here, in this castle, in this dimension… I decide who lives and who dies."
Malik swallows hard. He knew that sign. Elithia was truly irritated. Valdir smiles anyway. A crooked smile, full of hatred.
"Then refuse. But know that my lord will find other means, Other elves, Other dimensions."
Elithia walks back to the throne and sits down. The guards move closer, and Valdir is dragged back, laughing softly. Meanwhile, Elithia closes her eyes for a moment.
"If that was all, you should have said it the first time."
The guards who were dragging Valdir stop as his smile grows. He had realized it before. That woman had only said all that to test him. And by the sadistic smile that appeared on her face, he was certain that this alliance would work well.
"Damn, it seems someone arrived before us."
Meanwhile, the three from the cult of the goddess Eris had heard everything thanks to one of Galahard's abilities.
'Even so, I think we should still try.'