The suggestion from the Raiden Shogun had left Ei (Raiden Movie) in a state of profound shock. It was a logistical and emotional puzzle she had never dared to consider. Since the Shogun's puppet body was an exact sovereign-grade copy of her own, it possessed the biological potential for motherhood.
If a child is born in the future, who is the mother? If the child called the Shogun "Mom," Ei would be consumed by a storm of jealousy. But if the child called Ei "Mom," it would technically belong to the puppet's physical form.
"The lack of a separate body is becoming quite the crisis," Ei murmured, leaning into Su Han's arms. "You'll find a way, right?"
Su Han smiled, stroking her hair. "I'll restore your physical form, Ei. But for now, it's a matter of materials. We need to reach the level of Raiden Makoto's original divinity before we can split you and the Shogun safely. Don't worry; for now, the Shogun is happy to share."
The night passed in quiet intimacy, but the following morning brought a frantic pounding on the door.
"Big Brother! Wake up! Open up!"
Su Han dressed quickly and opened the door to find Klee jumping with excitement. "Let's go! To the big tree! Sister Ganyu says the babies have hatched!"
"Already?" The Raiden Shogun, currently occupying the physical body, looked up from fixing her hair. "Yesterday, Su Han estimated it would take a week."
"Not the big ones! The little ones!" Klee giggled, pulling them toward the World Tree.
[The First Generation: Lower-Rank Elves]
When they arrived at the World Tree's base, the air was shimmering with movement. Dozens—no, hundreds—of tiny beings were flitting through the branches. They were roughly thirty centimeters tall, with iridescent, near-transparent wings and clothing woven from living silk and leaves.
Some carried miniature longbows, others held staves carved from World Tree wood. As soon as they sensed Su Han, they swarmed toward him like a cloud of stardust, kneeling in mid-air with expressions of pure devotion.
"Greetings, Father God!" they sang in a harmonious chorus.
Su Han blinked at the two hundred tiny spirits. "Rise. But tell me... why do you call me Father God?"
The leader, an elf with a soft, melodic voice, looked up. "The Mother Goddess—the World Tree—told us from the moment of our awakening. You are the one who granted her the chance to be reborn. We exist to serve your will."
Su Han nodded. It seemed the tree's consciousness was more sophisticated than he'd thought. "And what can you do?"
"We are Lower-Rank Elves, Father," the captain explained. "Our purpose is to maintain the Mother Goddess and handle the needs of your world. Among us are Arcane Archers, Nature Mages, and Catalysts. The Archers protect the canopy, the Mages tend the Ley Lines, and the Catalysts... we control the growth of all flora. We possess the Power of Prosperity."
[The Power of Prosperity]
Keqing's ears perked up at the word 'Catalyst.' "You can accelerate the growth of any plant?"
"Yes, Lady Yuheng," the elf chirped. "We can make them absorb sunlight and nutrients at a thousand times the natural rate. However, without enough fertilizer or energy in the soil, the plants will simply wither from the strain."
The implications were staggering. Su Han's private gardens were filled with Blood Bodhi and rare medicinal herbs that usually took decades to mature. With these elves, the harvest cycle could be cut down to months or even weeks.
Ningguang smirked, her business mind already spinning. "These little ones are a treasure beyond measure."
The little elf shook her head modestly. "Oh no, My Lady. We are merely the tools of the Mother Tree. The Upper-Rank Elves, who will protect the crown, are the true treasures. We are just the workers."
"When will the others be born?" Shenhe asked, squatting down to get a closer look.
"The Middle-Rank Elves should awaken by tomorrow," the sprite replied sweetly. "Don't worry, they are very protective of us."
Hanachirusato leaned in and whispered to Su Han, "These creatures aren't just gardeners. They can see straight into a person's heart. She felt Shenhe's curiosity and answered her intent, not just her words."
[The First Harvest]
That afternoon, Su Han put the Catalysts to work. The results were nothing short of a miracle. The Blood Bodhi vines surged with life, the fruit ripening into a deep, crystalline crimson under the elves' touch. Unlike wood-elemental chakra or vision-user magic, the elves used "Natural Energy," which enhanced the potency of the herbs without stressing their internal structure.
Sucrose and Karin stood by with clipboards, amazed. "It's a biological breakthrough," Sucrose breathed.
"But they have limits," Karin noted, adjusting her glasses. "Look at their wings; they're drooping. Catalysis drains their stamina. We should prioritize the rare medicines and let them rest regarding the common crops."
By mid-afternoon, another thousand elves had hatched—mostly scouts and sentries.
[The Banquet of Spirits]
As evening fell, Kokomi brought the Dragonheir of the Depths (Aqi) to the World Tree for a meal. Aqi, who had spent her life believing humans were the only significant race, was stunned by the diversity. She realized then that the Dragon Lizards were the ones truly out of step with the world's vibrant order.
Paimon flew over with a plate of elven jelly. "Aqi! Try this! The little elves made it from flower nectar and starlight wine. It's delicious! Even the Shogun ate twelve servings!"
Aqi took a bite, her eyes lighting up at the sweetness. "It... it is wonderful. Thank you, Paimon."
A purple glare shot toward Paimon from across the clearing. The Shogun was not amused by the "twelve servings" comment, but she didn't stop eating.
Suddenly, Venti came sprinting through the grass, looking more energized than usual. "Su Han! Great news! I've convinced a group of the scouts to take up residence in the Wind God's Temple! Finally!"
He raised his lyre in triumph. "A Wind Spirit God with actual elven subjects... I'm finally living the dream!"
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