The Elders

After putting their belongings in their respective rooms, elder Leynar asked Glok to carry the iron Construct into a large and majestic building, where the elders gathered to discuss and make important decisions that would bring change to the elf race.

The large building was beautifully white, similar to every building within the kingdom of Veyrain. However, there were mana streams flowing on each small transparent wall, five meters wide and of the same height as the building. The mana flowed upwards from underground, where the plant attributes were so dense, one of the reasons the elf kingdom was located there.

The reason for the mana walls was to directly disseminate the decisions made by the elders. So that one kingdom could hear them without needing news brought by someone.

They were in front, accompanied by some goblin knights helping Glok carry the iron Construct. Elder Leynar still couldn't believe that the iron Construct really existed. He thought the material used was just a mixture of various materials combined with copper as the main material. So it remained light even though much stronger. Who would have thought he would actually see the iron Construct, something that had been only failed attempts by humans until now.

At the same time, Elder Leynar worried if the Construct could be produced in larger quantities. Although requiring a considerable amount of Mana Stone, the power of the iron Construct could not be underestimated. Even the copper Constructs alone were enough to overwhelm them, so what about the iron Construct? Their wooden golems wouldn't stand a chance against it.

He also still couldn't accept the fact that someone was controlling it from within. Constructs shouldn't be controlled like that because it would consume too much mana from the user, not to mention they themselves could be harmed by the damaged parts, making being inside the Construct like being in a torture chamber.

Elder Leynar glanced back once again, finding those red eyes also watching him. He turned back to the front, taking a deep breath, unsure if they were bringing a big problem or good news. Moreover, he didn't know if the person inside was human or not. Grako didn't tell him anything, just asked for help to heal them. Elder Leynar hoped he was doing the right thing by accepting it.

The large double doors opened, revealing five elders who had been waiting outside. Initially, they were also skeptical of Grako's words, just like Elder Leynar. However, their eyes widened as soon as the iron Construct appeared, carried by five goblins ascending the stairs. Seeing them so drenched in sweat, they realized Grako wasn't wrong.

Quickly, they used magic to help alleviate the weight of the iron Construct, but they instantly fell to their knees on the floor, as if a heavy burden appeared on their shoulders and continued to press down on them.

"Stop doing it. I've tried, but I only become an obstacle to them," Elder Leynar said, holding back a smile because he couldn't wait to see the five elders also try and feel the weight of the iron Construct themselves.

They hesitated but decided to withdraw their mana and wondered, just how strong were the goblins? They were able to bear such a heavy load, whereas before they couldn't even lift a large stone.

The door was closed again by two guards, surprising Glok and the other goblins as the room became brighter from the illumination of six large pillars, surrounding a wide circle with a semi-circular wooden table in white atop it. Six chairs were visible in front, each chair bearing the emblem of its owner, the elders.

Elder Leynar's chair was in the third position from the right with an emblem shaped like a crescent moon and a sword depicted a few inches above the head.

They sat there, continuing to observe the iron Construct, especially the figure inside who also turned to look at them. None of them knew how to think about something that had never existed before, now appearing right before their eyes.

"So, the iron Construct truly exists," said one elder in the second position from the left. A man with a slightly older look than Elder Leynar. The lines of wrinkles were already starting to show on his equally captivating face.

"Of course it exists! He's right in front of you, Ferna!" retorted the elder in the second position from the right, right next to Elder Leynar. His long white hair moved so softly, like silk, following his head as he now faced Elder Ferna with a face that seemed to say 'duh'.

"What's gotten into you, Olva? You were the one who said the iron Construct was impossible! Now you're acting like its number one fan," Ferna replied, looking like he was about to smack his face.

Elder Leynar covered his face, shaking his head weakly and massaging his temples. The longer he was here, the faster he felt himself aging. "You two, we have a guest, and not just any guest. He is Grako's child. You both are behaving younger than him," Elder Leynar replied wearily. He was truly tired of seeing the two siblings argue.

"What?! Grako's child? Which one?!" exclaimed the elder at the far left end, rising from his seat and walking towards the goblins, starting to assess them one by one. "You? You? Or you? No, no, Grako's child should be even bigger."

"Wern, he's right in front of you. The one at the very front," Leynar replied, completely drained of energy to continue the day. He preferred to be on the front lines rather than to deal with these people.

Elder Wern approached, unable to believe that Glok was Grako's child. "Him? Impossible."

"What do you mean impossible? Look at him. He is Grako's child," shouted the elder at the far right end.

"Quiet, Ciel! I know what Grako's children are like. There's no way Grako's child would be handsome and dignified like this," replied Elder Wern, still observing Glok, comparing him to the figure of Grako, which in Wern's eyes, was more like an unkempt creature.

Elder Ciel could only shake his head, knowing that Elder Wern wouldn't change his mind unless Glok himself said he was Grako's child. That one elder, his stubbornness surpassed even that of the Minotaurs.

"Erna..." Elder Leynar called out to the figure beside him.

The elder chuckled softly, patting Leynar's shoulder. "Alright, alright. I'll help you. But once all this is over, you owe me a treat, you promise?"

Imagining Elder Erna, with her beautiful appearance despite being over 500 years old, drinking beer straight from the barrel made Elder Leynar even more weary. The money he painstakingly saved from his exhausting job, which made his head want to explode, had to be spent because of this alcoholic elf. If only Elder Erna could control her drinking urge more, maybe he would consider getting closer to her. But his money would just keep draining if he lived with her.

"I promise," Elder Leynar replied, more like a whisper.

Elder Erna smiled. She stood up and as she clapped her hands, the resulting sound created a small shockwave, surprising the other elders who instantly fell silent and returned to sit politely in their chairs. "Thank you," she said softly, as if the figure just now wasn't her at all.

Glok didn't know what to do. He never expected the elf elders to behave more like goblins than the goblins themselves.

Fortunately, Elder Leynar regained control of the situation. "As you can see, Grako's words were true. There is an iron Construct. Something we never thought would happen. For now, let's put aside that fact and help heal the figure inside. Because I'm sure he has been suffering for a long time until Grako himself had to intervene, and we know how terrifying it is to be directly inside the Construct."

The elders nodded in agreement. However, as they were about to rise, Elder Erna spoke up, "Are you sure?" halting the movement of each elder. "We still don't know who he is, where he comes from, and what his purpose is in creating something like that," she continued, causing the elders to readjust their seating positions. Once they were settled, Elder Erna continued, "As you know, the existence of Constructs has made us cautious, especially with the betrayal of that kingdom, their creator. With the appearance of the iron Construct coinciding just before the day of blessing, don't you feel even a bit suspicious? Especially after our discussions with them."

Each elder recalled the heated conversation that nearly destroyed that kingdom's meeting room. They had truly given them no room to maneuver and had to accept it. The agreement was not much, just to receive blessings like other races. However, the fact that they could enter the kingdom made the elders more cautious. Especially after what happened to the dwarves.

"Allow me to speak," Glok said, grabbing their attention.