Maximus had been right all along – there was far more to this world than just the people he had crossed paths with, and beyond the countless problems and vicious beasts he had faced along his journey. One particular tribe stood out among all the rest, and it sent his curiosity about this new world soaring to great heights. He had always been driven by a hunger for knowledge about the lands he found himself in, and this encounter might finally give him the chance to discover whether the so-called divine beings and other legendary figures spoken of in the world's ancient texts were truly real.
"I see, a Princess. Am I supposed to bow down and show you respect like some kind of medieval nonsense? I'm afraid I cannot bring myself to do that."
The other dark elves immediately stepped forward, their faces twisted with fury. They could not forgive such blatant disrespect toward their royal leader, and their hands moved instinctively toward their weapons. But the princess simply lifted her hand, and with a single gesture, she stopped them in their tracks. The warriors reluctantly lowered their guard, though they still kept their eyes fixed on Maximus – their gazes sharp with a strange mix of curiosity and simmering anger.
"You look like you do not belong in this world at all. I can sense that you lack a mana core, just as you mentioned earlier. Realistically speaking, it should be impossible for anyone to survive this deep within the wilderness for so long without one. If an ordinary person were to wander into these parts, they would not live past the very first day. Yet here you stand, alive and unbroken – that proves you are both intelligent and remarkably resilient. What an impressive achievement."
A hint of genuine respect and warmth touched the princess's voice as she spoke. Maximus did not let his guard fall, even as he felt a flicker of appreciation for her modest compliment. He remained alert, his muscles taut and ready for anything. The princess noticed his wariness and gestured calmly toward him, her eyes briefly settling on the sword he gripped tightly in his hand.
"Do not fear us. We are one of the five separate elven kingdoms that exist across the land. The dark elves have roamed this scarred and tarnished earth for countless years now, and we have only managed to survive through our keen sensibility and unwavering adaptability. We harvest our food from the forest around us, we craft our clothing from the materials the woods provide, and we endure by being just as resilient as you are. The only real difference between us is that we possess mana cores and the magical powers that come with them."
Maximus held her gaze steadily, his eyes meeting her unusual white irises with their circular black pupils. He had learned not to fully trust anyone in this strange world, not even his companion Jyle. After a moment of quiet consideration, he finally spoke his mind and made an offer.
"To be honest, most of what you're saying is still a mystery to me. But what I do know is this – I want information about this world, and I am willing to trade this sword for it. I mean every word of this. Knowledge matters more to me than anything else, even power or treasure."
The princess smiled warmly, a genuine expression that softened her features. She extended her hand toward him, palm open in a gesture of good faith.
"Alright then. That is a deal we can make."
He hesitated for just a moment before slowly reaching out his own hand. His fingers finally touched hers, and they shook gently to seal their agreement.
"I will explain more about both the sword and the world itself in time. But first, I would like to introduce you to my tribespeople. They might seem hostile when you first meet them, I won't lie about that. But once you take the time to get to know them and learn about our ways, you'll find they act more like loyal dogs who simply want a little attention and care."
Maximus let out a playful chuckle, though he still kept his sword firmly in his grasp. The princess turned and gestured for him to follow her toward their camp, where their settlement lay just a few miles away from the abandoned mansion he had come from. When they finally arrived and he saw the village with his own eyes, he was genuinely surprised. Every structure had been built from sturdy logs harvested right from the surrounding forest, and he was stunned by both their ingenuity in construction and the remarkable cleanliness of the entire place. As they walked through the winding paths between the homes, the princess began to tell him more about her people and the long history that shaped them.
"Look around you – the dark elves are one of five distinct elven races in this world. Our people were first created when a massive surge of dark matter mana struck one of the greatest knights of the ancient elven kingdom, a man named Jasho. We don't know everything there is to know about him, unfortunately. The old texts that mention him are written in jumbled letters we have never been able to fully decipher. Even so, we have managed to piece together some details from those fragments. It is said that Jasho took many elven women as his partners, and through those unions, some of the very first dark elves were born into the world. Of course, this part of the story has never been officially confirmed – it's more of a popular legend that has been passed down through generations, though it does make for a compelling tale. So in truth, our exact origins are still something of a mystery. What we do know for certain is that all dark elven tribes trace their lineage back to Jasho himself."
Maximus glanced over at her with a confused expression as they continued walking, doing his best to store every bit of information in his mind for later thought.
"Jasho? Full breeding mode? I'm really not sure what to make of all that right now, but… okay then. I'll take your word for it."