When the sky started to brighten, the carriage finally arrived at the border between the Blackwood Forest and Blackwood City.
Carolee carried her luggage and alighted from the carriage.
This was a relay station outside the Blackwood Forest. Several hundred years ago, Carolee's family and the elves of the Blackwood Forest had reached an agreement.
The relay station around the Blackwood Forest had developed into a small-scale trading center. The elves used some special herbs and ores to exchange with the humans for some magical machines or other novel gadgets.
It was currently the wee hours of the morning, and the figures of some humans and Blackwood Elves could still be seen in this relay station.
"You can return to the manor, there's no need to follow me."
After Carolee gave this order to the driver of the carriage, she carried her luggage and walked into the Blackwood Forest alone.
The reason why this forest was named 'Blackwood' wasn't because of the color of the trees, but because the trees were too large. Almost every tree's trunk was as thick as the legs of a hundred-meter-tall giant.
Walking into this forest in the wee hours of the morning was the wrong choice. There were no lighting devices, and the huge vegetation around blocked the sunlight. Carolee could only rely on her memory to follow the path built by the elves into the darkness.
But not long after, the fungi growing in the forest emitted a faint light, and some elemental creatures similar to fireflies emitted light, allowing Carolee to barely see the path in front of her.
"Stop … Human."
A voice sounded in front of Carolee, and three Blackwood Elves walked out of the shadows with bows and arrows in their hands. Two of the Blackwood Elves aimed their longbows at Carolee. The bowstrings were already drawn, and the arrows could be shot at any time to pierce through Carolee's body.
These Blackwood Elves were full of hostility, and Carolee was very surprised … Although the Blackwood Elves wouldn't allow humans to step into the depths of the forest, they would only dissuade humans who entered the forest by mistake from leaving. Only those who didn't listen would be treated with longbows and arrows.
The elf guard who had been following Carolee wanted to reveal himself and make these three rude elves withdraw their bows, but not long after, the ground suddenly trembled slightly.
"Calm down, she's a human woman serving Naruhi …"
An old but steady voice sounded from behind the three dark wood elves. A huge brown bear appeared behind them, and along with this brown bear was a dark wood elf who seemed to be in his old age.
"But Elder Cypher, with the current situation, we shouldn't let a human step into the forest."
"The Holy Tree Narushi has accepted this human girl. She is Narushi's priest and also one of us."
The Elf Elder called Cephane patted the shoulder of one of the young Elves. Only then did they put away their bows and their hostility.
Elder Cypher and the huge brown bear walked towards Carolee.
"Master Cephalon."
Carolee bowed to this elderly Dark Wood Elf. He could be said to be the wisest elder in the history of the Dark Wood Elves. He was the one who led the Dark Wood Elves to establish a communication hub with the humans.
"Carolee, you've grown up … The last time I saw you, you could still hide in Ate's fur."
The elven elder sized up the black swan. The growth rate of humans was unimaginably fast for the elves.
"Sit on Ate's back. Frey, if you're tired, you can come too."
Elder Cypher stroked the fur of the brown bear beside him. This huge brown bear was a magical beast that lived in the Blackwood Forest. When the Elf Elder was young, he became a partner with this giant bear, and their relationship had lasted until now.
"Okay!"
Carolee reached out her hand and stroked the brown bear's wet nose. Then, she climbed up the brown bear's back with her elf guard.
With this brown bear named 'Ate' as her ride, Carolee enjoyed the feeling of sleeping on a soft bed during the journey …
After about ten minutes of walking, the darkness around the Blackwood Forest gradually dispersed, replaced by more and more plants that glowed with different colors of light. The sky was also filled with glowing insects that danced in the sky.
Every time she visited the elves' territory, Carolee felt like she was in a fairyland …
After arriving at the Dark Wood Elves' territory, the brown bear lay on the ground. Carolee and her elf guard carried their luggage and stepped on the slightly damp ground.
Unfortunately, this fairyland-like experience did not last long.
A roar that could pierce through anyone's eardrums suddenly resounded throughout the Dark Wood Elves' territory. The terrifying sound wave turned into a solid substance that impacted the entire area.
The brown bear named Ate immediately stretched out its furry paw in front of Carolee and her elf guard … The surrounding leaves were scattered and fell to the ground.
Carolee covered her ears. She still felt suffocated, as if something was gripping her heart.
Dragon … That was the only thought in Carolee's mind. Only a terrifying creature like a dragon could make such a roar.
Fortunately, the brown bear blocked most of the impact for Carolee. Otherwise, Carolee might have lost her hearing during this period of time in the Black Wood Forest.
After the roar ended, the brown bear used its wet nose to nudge Carolee who was hiding in its arms. It seemed to be checking on Carolee's condition.
"I'm fine …"
In order to express her gratitude, Carolee took out some candies and snacks from her luggage and fed them to the brown bear. It directly swallowed the snacks along with the packaging.
"Elder Cypher, what happened to the Brass Dragon?"
Carolee's elf guard walked out of the brown bear's protection and came to the elder's side. She had lived in the Black Wood Forest for so many years, but she had never heard the Brass Dragon let out such a terrifying roar.
There was also an extremely violent aura in the roar.
"The guardian of the World Tree is suffering from some strange disease."
Elder Cypher looked around. The Black Wood Elves living here were all worried because of the Brass Dragon's roar.
"The disease is gradually eroding its rationality … We are trying to find a cure, but the results are not ideal. So, we can only communicate with it continuously, hoping to keep it rational. However, the effect is getting weaker and weaker."
"Weaker? Doesn't the Brass Dragon like to talk? "
Carolee's elf guard, Frey, had seen the Brass Dragon before. If she had to comment on it, she would say that it was the type that would 'die if you don't talk to people'. Every time it met a new human, or any intelligent creature, it would talk to them about a lot of strange things.
"The elf elders' words can't interest the guardian."
Elder Cypher sighed. The Black Wood Elves lived in this forest all year round. It was rare for young elves to go out and explore. The old elves' knowledge stopped at the world around the Black Wood Forest and the books they exchanged with humans.
The Guardian of the World Tree who was far older than the elves, the Brass Dragon, had long since memorized all of this knowledge and experience. Of course, such an old topic could not arouse its interest.
"Elder Cypher, I think I can have a pleasant conversation with the Brass Dragon."
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