Chapter 26

Eva Lemuria-18 years old

I flew in a straight line through the sky for about two days in a random direction. At one point I flew over a forest and I have been over the forest for an entire day. I can fly over entire kingdoms in a day so I am surprised that this forest is so big. At one point I realized this could only be the elven forest. I thought for sure I would have reached a city by now, but it's still only trees as far as I can see. I decided that maybe I should finally just land on the ground and walk around to look for any markings or signs. The forest floor is filled with dead leaves and grass. There are tree roots making natural obstructions so there's no clear path that I could easily walk through.

For now, I just keep walking forward when I can and I shift to easily get over any of the larger obstacles. I could probably just climb over some of these larger obstacles, but it would be hard to do it with one arm. I have been traveling for a while, but I haven't seen any life at all. Even when I shift I can't see anything in this forest. I haven't even seen any beast in this forest since I landed. The forest is beautiful but silent. I feel like I can literally breathe in the life here.

As I'm walking I start to notice something is wrong in the forest. I feel like I am not actually moving forward at all. The scenery changes, but it feels like nothing is actually changing. It's hard to explain, but I think it's like a sixth sense of some sort. It just feels wrong somehow so I stop in place and scan my surroundings but I still don't see anything or anyone. I realize I don't even see a bug here and the trees themselves all seem to be connected. It's like the trees are all a part of some spell. I start to gather large amounts of mana under my feet and then I release waves of flames. The trees around me are all slowly burning away so I up the intensity. The trees are starting to be incinerated almost instantly, but they grow back almost as fast. I decide to go full force with my attack and see just how powerful my magic really is now. The flames start rising up and twisting forming a giant pillar of flames. It slowly starts growing outwards creating a bigger space inside my firestorm. My flames start to get weakened from the outside so I lower my flames to just a small ring around me. The ground has been completely scorched and I have a wide space around me. I look at the edge of the destruction to see that I'm surrounded by a water vortex that is slowly dying down. The second the water is gone the trees and grass start to grow back over the ash, but at a much more noticeably slower pace.

Now that the water vortex is gone I notice several pale faced elves that are sweating and breathing roughly. It seems that they struggled to try and stop my flames. They didn't actually succeed because I canceled my magic myself. They are all wearing leather armor with green cloaks. The non-mages draw their weapons and point them at me.

“Who are you? And what are you doing here? Why would you try to burn down the forest?” The one to speak seemed to have nicer quality gear than the rest so he must be a captain or something.

“I am Eva an adventure. I'm looking for the closest city in this forest so I can find a place to rest and find information. I burned down this part of the forest because I figured whoever was watching me trapped in there would show them selves.” I figured I must have been in some kind of spell that was keeping me trapped in the spot of the forest. I don't know if someone had activated or if it was a trap I stepped in. I started burning the forest to draw them out or escape the trap.

“How would you know if someone is there? This is the elven protection ring. It surrounds our entire kingdom and only has one entrance. The second you stepped into it, we knew, but you shouldn't have.” Elf Captain

“Does this affect the air too? I was flying over before I even decided to come down. What would you do if you trapped a dragon up there?”

“We have caught some dragons before but they usually wait till we let them through. Only those people that keep walking are usually the ones that don't belong here or know where they are. Most don't notice anything at all while we monitor them to judge whether their safe or not. Even those that do notice wouldn't just incinerate a part of the forest to catch our attention. You could have even just called out.” He seems kind of mad now. I can't be blamed for this because I don't know about this ring so it probably isn't well known public knowledge and peaceful communication didn't even occur to me who has been locked away for a couple of years.

“Well, what now? I need to go find some place to get food and rest. So will you take me to a city or out of the forest?”

“I think the best thing for us would be to take you into custody.” The ring of flames at my feet start to grow big again. “I will scrap that plan because I don't think we would be able to capture someone with such a powerful magic without some casualties. I will instead ask you to let us escort you to a city while we ask you some questions.” Seems like he can adapt quickly to the situation. I extinguish the ring of flames and motion for him to lead the way. They all start moving in a circular pattern around me so I keep my guard up as we move through the forest.

While we were walking through the forest I noticed that it became easier to travel through and I no longer had to jump around or shift to move. While we were traveling the Elf Captain kept asking me questions and I answered the ones I wanted. They were the typical question like who you are and what are you doing here. I really didn't even plan on coming here since I just traveled in a random direction. Now that I am free I wanted to first go home and see my family but I don't know what to say to them or how to explain whats happened. For now, I will just keep wandering around. Maybe as soon as I find an adventurers guild I will tell them I'm alive.

Finally, we arrive at a city they introduced as Yanlin. Apparently, this is the closest trade city that they have. Most of the elves don't allow other races further into their territory so they made specific trade cities for the other races to come to. Yanlin has tall walls surrounding the entire city. Normal City walls will be plain and only made for the purpose of defense, but the elves like things to be beautiful so their wall is a mixture of stones and wood that's molded together into a beautiful design. As we enter the gate I notice several merchants from several races all lined up to enter the city. I am lead right past the line and into a tall tower on the side of the gate. Even though these are guard barracks they have also been beautified by the elves taste. I’ll admit it does look good but I can instantly tell I am going to get tired of these designs quickly. Inside the barracks, I am taken to a plain room where I am sat down at a table and told to “Please wait.” When they came back it was the Captain guy and another elf who is wearing more formal clothes than armor.

“Hello, I am the city advisor. I am in charge of keeping the city running and the only one above me here is the city, Lord. I was called here because they said the caught a suspicious person, but it seems like you're not locked up at all although you do seem a little suspicious.” City Advisor

“My name is Eva and your guards merely escorted me here. It would have cost too much for them to try and detain me. I did cooperate though. I can't blame you for finding me suspicious either considering my uniqueness. I am merely here to find some information and supplies before I continue my travels.”

“I see. I understand and the captain had questioned you earlier all the standard question so I will just ask you where you plan to go from here.” City Advisor

“Well, that's what I am not sure about yet. I am at a point where I am not sure if I should go home or keep traveling. So that's why I will probably spend some time here before leaving.”

“Do you mind me asking where you call home?” City Advisor

“I guess it doesn't really matter anymore since I am not trying to hide anymore. My name is Eva Lemuria from the Lemuria Kingdom.” Well, I guess by the wide eyes this city must have been one that was searched while looking for me.

“About two years ago we had some humans combing the entire city asking about that name. I take it you are that missing princess? Why do you appear here now?” City Advisor

“Well, I have been in a situation for a while and I was freed from that situation and the first place I wandered to is here in the elven forest. You may report this to whoever you like.”

“I understand and with that, this discussion is done now. I will ask you to try not to cause any trouble while you are here. I don't think you will get much trouble from our own race, but some others still might try to find trouble with you so please be careful. You are free to go now.” City Advisor looks really exhausted now. Well, it probably has nothing to do with me so I grab my things and let them lead me out.

I finally reach the main street that is full of merchants driving their carts in the middle of the road and people walking on the sides. I look at my surroundings and feel a headache at the overly beautified city. It seems every building design was decided by the elves and even if the owner is of another race they have to put up with it. As I am looking around I notice that many of the other races seem to share the same opinion as me.

The elves have always had this weird taste for beauty. They do not discriminate others for their races, but they do discriminate if someone is considered ugly. They don't go so far as to kick them out of the city or refuse service to them. They will instead be rude and talk behind their back most of the time. It seems that I can be considered a beauty to them even though it seems like I am missing an arm and I have all black features. I'm flattered, but don't plan on doing much interacting with anyone here.

As I am walking I see something that shocks me enough that I freeze while walking causing some people to avoid me. There is an adventurers guild branch here in the elven territory. Two years ago they were barely spreading through out all the human kingdoms and I didn't think that the other races would allow them to spread here. It's a little weird to see the standard guild branch covered in the elves beautification but I guess they don't want to break their theme. I start walking into the guild building. The inside is a completely standard guild branch with no beautification from the elves so I feel a little relieved about that. There is barely anyone in here and the few that are in here are mostly other races besides elves. I guess the adventures guild is still a foreign concept to the elves so they don't have a lot of people signing up. I walk straight up to the guild receptionist who's a female elf.

“I would like to sign in to this branch. My name is Eva Lemuria 5th tier adventure and I am probably marked as dead or missing.”

“Wow, a 5th tier. You are probably the highest ranked member in this branch right now. We will have to send in the documents to the kingdoms the main branch which will take about two days. As for the missing or dead report, I will need the details of the report.” Receptionist

“Well, basically I haven't signed in for over two years and I imagine that I left a big scene at my last known location. I originally wanted to rank up here, but I guess since there's no one strong enough here to test me I will just have to wait. So I will just have to come back in two days when you have my information?”

“Yes, I will send out the report and request for information now. You just have to wait till then. I would recommend the Inn across the street from here. It was built at the same time as the adventurers guild branch so they are made to accommodate adventures.” Receptionist

I nod to the receptionist before I make my way toward the door only to be blocked by a group of human adventures. They all look the typical smug adventures, but their faces are very plain so I imagine the elves must not treat them well here. There are two swordsmen and a single archer in their group. I guess they didn't hear the receptionist very well and assume that I am a new adventure they can try and bully.

“Well, hello there little missy. I don't think this is the place for a young beauty like yourself to be. A woman and a crippled woman shouldn't be trying to be an adventurer. Well, if you really want to we wouldn't mind letting you join our party.” What an annoying guy this adventure is. It has been awhile since I saw someone look at me with lecherous eyes.

“No thanks. I would rather not have a bunch of low tier weaklings follow me around as I take care of them. Now get out of the way so I can leave. I can't believe I have to deal with this situation again. Just so you know the last guy that tried to keep me from leaving the guild is probably still in a coma.”

“What can a cripple like you do? We're just offering you some protection in exchange for a little service.” Adventurer

I only sign before I grab him by the face and squeezed. He starts screaming like a pig and his two buddies are shocked before they charge at me. I just swing the adventure around knocking his two buddies to the side before I threw him through the front door. I walk out of the guild and see him lying on the ground with his eyes rolled back. This idiot got lucky and won't fall into a coma, but he will probably avoid me in the future.

I make my way across the road to the inn that the receptionist had recommended to me. The inside is definitely nicer than the guild and I notice it seems like everything is brand new so they probably haven't received a lot of guests. The inn keeper is actually asleep behind the counter so I poke him in the head a couple of times. He doesn't wake up from that so I slam my hand heavily on the counter startling him. He looks around till he notices me right in front of him. He quickly puts on a professional face.

“Hello miss. What can I do for you today? Need some directions are something?” Inn Keeper

“What? No, I want a room. I will for now stay for two days. I may extend the time later depending on my situation.”

“Really? Well, okay then. You can take room one then.” Inn Keeper

He seemed really shocked and then incredibly happy to have a guest. I pay him before going to my room. After I enter I take a second to appreciate how clean the room is. I put my things in the corner of the room before I lie down on the bed. I will wait two days before I go back to the adventures guild and see what kind of status is on me right now. Tomorrow I will probably go shopping for my some supplies so I can leave as soon as I have to if I want. Depending on the circumstance I just might stay in this city for a while and maybe do some missions for the guild before I move on. I just have to figure out my own situation before I make my next move.