Eternal Adventure : The Forgotten Journey Of The Elves

In an old tower hidden deep within the forest, an elf named Alaric gazed out of the window with a determined look in his eyes. His long white hair blew in the wind, while his blue eyes shone with the wisdom of seven hundred years. But don't be mistaken; despite his wisdom, there was something quite silly about him—whether it was the way he muttered spells with a tongue that sometimes twisted, or his habit of talking to the potted plants he lovingly tended.

"Today, the world will change," Alaric murmured to himself. "Yes, or at least, I will change. Maybe... who knows?"

With a fiery resolve, Alaric rushed to gather all his magical tools. He donned his emerald green robe, which had been with him for centuries, grabbed his magic staff, and pulled out a piece of hard bread from his pocket—a remnant of his provisions from a few days ago. Like a poet contemplating his fate, he looked at the bread with hopeful eyes.

"Ah, hard bread, my old friend... are you ready for a new adventure?" he said, then bit into it with an expression of pure agony. The bread was so tough that a loud 'crunch' echoed through the tower, as if the bread itself was mocking him.

Once everything was ready, Alaric stood at the threshold of his tower. He raised his staff high, as if performing a grand ritual. "With the power I've learned over seven hundred years... today, I shall defeat the Demon King and save the world!" he declared with full confidence.

However, as he was about to step out, the hem of his robe caught on the door, nearly causing him to stumble. Alaric grumbled as he tugged his robe free. "Ugh, even my robe doesn't want me to leave. But that's okay, we'll do this together, Old Robe!"

With renewed enthusiasm, Alaric finally left his tower. He descended the mountain, following a path that had long been neglected. The trees that were once small had grown tall, and the trail that was once smooth was now covered in roots poking through the ground. Yet, Alaric simply shrugged, continuing on with a light step, occasionally stopping to chat with passing birds.

"How are you, little bird? Have you heard the latest news from the outside world?" Alaric asked a bluebird chirping merrily on a branch.

The bird glanced at him briefly before flying away without a word, leaving Alaric to nod sagely. "Silence is the best answer, is it? Very well. That means I'm heading in the right direction."

After some time, Alaric arrived at a small, quiet village. Simple wooden houses lined the main street, and a few villagers were busy with their daily activities. Alaric approached an old man sitting in front of his house, puffing on a pipe.

"Good afternoon, sir!" Alaric greeted with a broad smile. "Could you tell me where I might find the Demon King?"

The old man frowned, then burst out laughing. "The Demon King? Young man, are you joking? The Demon King was defeated fifty years ago!"

Hearing this, Alaric was stunned. "What? Defeated? Fifty years ago?! But I've just come out of my tower after seven hundred years to fight him!"

The old man chuckled, amused. "It seems you've been hiding away for too long, young man. The world has changed. You're fifty years late for that big battle!"

Alaric fell silent, feeling confused. For centuries, he had prepared himself to face the Demon King, studying every magic in the world. And now, hearing that his greatest foe had already been defeated, he felt as though all his efforts had been in vain. However, he wasn't one to give up easily. Even though his main plan had failed, he still had a high spirit of adventure.

"Alright," Alaric said after a moment, with his smile returning to his face. "In that case, perhaps I can find out who defeated the Demon King and what they're doing now. Does anyone know where I can get that information?"

The old man nodded. "Try going to the city of Rembus. They have an adventurers' guild that always has the latest news. Maybe you'll find something interesting there."

With a new goal in mind, Alaric left the small village and continued his journey towards the city of Rembus. As he enjoyed the journey filled with beautiful scenery, he couldn't help but smile, even though mixed emotions stirred in his heart. At least, even though he was too late for the big fight, he could still enjoy other adventures.

Step by step, he finally arrived in the city of Rembus. The city hadn't changed much since the last time he visited, except for a few buildings that now looked more modern. In the middle of the square, stood four statues of heroes facing in all directions—heroes who, according to stories, had defeated the Demon King fifty years ago.

Alaric approached the statues with awe, though there was a slight tinge of envy in his heart. "Hmm... Look at you all standing so majestically, while I... I'm just an old wizard who didn't get to join in that epic battle." He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly laughed. "But hey, at least I don't have to clean bird droppings off my own statue every day!"

After speaking to the statues, Alaric continued his walk, observing the small changes in the city. When he stepped into a tavern on the corner, a young waitress greeted him with a warm smile.

"Welcome, sir! What would you like to order?"

Alaric glanced at the menu displayed on the wall. "Hmm, bread and chicken broth, seems simple enough to welcome back a wizard after seven hundred years."

The waitress chuckled. "Wow, you have a unique taste. Bread and chicken broth, coming right up!"

After a short wait, the food finally arrived. Alaric sat in a corner of the room, staring at the chicken broth before him. He took a spoonful, tasted it, then paused, feeling the warmth spread from his tongue to his stomach.

"Hmm, it tastes... ordinary. But why does it feel like the most delicious dish I've ever had?" he murmured, realizing that after seven hundred years of living on meager rations, even a simple soup felt like a meal fit for the gods.

While enjoying his meal, he turned to the waitress who returned to clear the empty dishes. "Hey, where is the city of Rembus from here?"

The waitress looked puzzled. "Uh, sir? This is Rembus..."

"Oh, is that so? So I've already reached my destination! That was fast! Wow, I'm starting to get used to modern life," Alaric chuckled, while the waitress shook her head, unsure if the man before her was serious or just joking.

After finishing his meal, Alaric left the tavern with renewed enthusiasm. The bright afternoon sky and gentle breeze accompanied Alaric's steps towards the nearest guild. The streets of Rembus, slightly changed from the last time he came, felt unfamiliar, but there was also a comforting familiarity. New houses had been built, but some old buildings still stood, reminding Alaric of times long past.

Upon reaching the guild's entrance, he paused for a moment, taking in the building. The guild looked much the same as before, except for fresher paint and signs of modernization that made it appear slightly grander. The large wooden doors were wide open, allowing the lively sounds of adventurers inside to spill out into the street.

Alaric stepped inside the guild. The atmosphere was much more vibrant than he remembered. Adventurers of various races—humans, elves, dwarves, and even a few beastmen—gathered around long tables, joking, laughing, and sharing stories of their adventures. In one corner, a group of young adventurers was animatedly debating the best route to a remote village.

As Alaric walked further into the guild, he couldn't help but smile. This place held many memories for him, though most of the adventurers he knew were likely gone or retired. Still, the spirit of adventure remained alive, and that made him feel a little younger.

He approached the mission board, which was filled with various quests, ranging from simple tasks like helping farmers with their harvest to more dangerous ones like hunting monsters. Alaric browsed through the missions, pondering.

"It turns out, even though the Demon King has been defeated, the lives of adventurers haven't stopped. There's still plenty of work to be done," he mused as he picked up a mission paper that read 'Lost Cat in the Eastern Forest.'

But before he could think further about the available missions, a young adventurer with messy hair and a freckled face suddenly approached him. "Hey, sir! You look like a great wizard. Have you just joined this guild?"

Alaric chuckled and nodded. "Hmm, you could say that. Though it's been a very long time since I last set foot in this place."

"Wow, amazing! I've never met a wizard like you. Can you teach me some magic? I've always wanted to learn how to make fire with a snap of my fingers," the young man said eagerly.

Alaric smiled kindly and snapped his fingers, producing a small spark that quickly vanished. "Like this?"

The young man's eyes widened in awe. "Yes! Just like that! But, you know, when I try, all I get is smoke. I guess I need to practice more…"

---

As the sky darkened outside, signaling the end of the day, Alaric felt that this was not the end but the beginning of a new adventure. With a renewed spirit, he stepped out of the guild, ready to face whatever the world had in store for him.

And in the distance, beyond the forests and mountains, a new adventure awaited him—not to defeat the Demon King, but to discover what truly mattered in his life after seven hundred years had passed.