Chapter 40 - Barks of the world tree

"Why are you so upset over some wood?" Princess Ling asked. "You can always gather more from the forest."

The old elf's eyes widened and he leaned closer to the group so only they could hear him and whispered, "It's not just any wood. They were the barks of the World Tree."

"!" Princess Ling barely contained her shock, almost repeating it aloud. Her heart raced as the weight of his words sank in. She had heard tales of this mystical tree, but to encounter anything related to it was beyond her wildest imagination.

"What do you mean, the World Tree?" she whispered urgently, though deep down, she already had an inkling.

The old elf's gaze shifted around, ensuring no one else was listening. "It's the origin of our elven race, the supreme World Tree. The very essence of our existence."

In elven beliefs, it's said that their people emerged from a leaf of this tree. It's their most sacred relic, hidden in a realm beyond the reach of any but the most worthy elves.

The Princess's mind raced as she considered the implications. The World Tree was legendary, believed by many to be a mere myth. Numerous expeditions had sought it out, driven by tales of its unparalleled power and wisdom. Yet, none had succeeded, and the human world had come to regard it as a story from ancient folklore.

But now, before her, an old elf was saying he had the World tree barks to sell. It was too much for her to digest.

Seeing Princess Ling's dazed expression, the old elf seized the opportunity.

"Young miss, you seem very interested. Perhaps you'd like to buy some?" the old elf offered eagerly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I still have a few pieces left. Seeing how beautiful you're, I'll lower my price to just a million gold each."

Princess Ling smiled wryly at the price. Even with her means, spending such a fortune on something whose authenticity she couldn't verify seemed absurd. Just as Spark had said earlier, who would be crazy enough to pay that much for a piece of wood without knowing if it was genuine?

Princess shook her head in rejection, but the old elf kept insisting that she buy at least one. Even the always silent masked man beside the princess appeared somewhat annoyed.

The old elf's insistent bargaining was interrupted by a sudden murmur from the other guests in the inn. Spark, Princess Ling, Yuna, and Zhao Shi turned their heads toward the source of the commotion.

Standing in the doorway was the tall elf leader they had encountered in the forest yesterday.

Upon seeing this imposing figure, the old elf's face turned pale. He quickly stood up, muttering excuses, and hurriedly tried to scurry away, hiding his face from the tall elf.

The tall elf leader strode towards their table with an air of authority and grace. When he reached them, he bowed deeply, mimicking the human gesture of respect by inclining his neck.

"Did the old elf say anything rude to the Princess?" the elf leader inquired, his voice calm yet authoritative.

Princess Ling shook her head, though a bit puzzled. "No, but he was very persistent about selling his goods."

The elf leader nodded, his expression neutral. "Princess mustn't believe anything he says. He has a reputation for exaggerating."

Curiosity piqued, Princess Ling asked, "Who is he, exactly?"

The elf leader hesitated, clearly reluctant to divulge too much.

"He... has a special identity," he finally said, choosing his words carefully.

Before Princess Ling could press for more details, the elf leader straightened and addressed the entire group. "I have come on my Lord's orders to invite the Princess and her companions to the palace."

"Your lord…?" Princess Ling's eyes widened in realization. In Feyhaven, there was only one figure who held such a title—their supreme leader, the Lord of the Elves.

"Yes, the Lord of Feyhaven," the elf leader confirmed, his tone filled with reverence. "He wishes to welcome you and discuss matters of great importance."

…

As the group rose to follow the elf leader, Spark seized the moment to air his thoughts.

"See, Princess, I told you. That old elf's a swindler. What kind of elf goes around selling wood?" Spark remarked with a note of vindication.

Yuna, walking beside Spark, nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Elves are supposed to protect their forests, not sell them off piece by piece. That old man is definitely a Swindler."

Princess Ling glanced at the two and recalled the figure of the old elf, her mind awhirl with conflicting thoughts. She had to admit, the idea of an elf selling pieces of their revered World Tree did seem wildly out of character. 

Before she could voice her musings, the elf leader who had come to escort them spoke, his tone gentle yet firm. "It is true that our kind cherishes and guards our forests above all else. But Well, he is just…different."

Yuna frowned, still skeptical. "No matter what, a million gold for a piece of bark is daylight robbery."

The elf leader chuckled softly. "Indeed, his prices are... ambitious. But let us not dwell on this now. We have more pressing matters to attend to."

Princess Ling, sensing the conversation had reached its natural end, nodded in agreement. "Very well. Let's go meet your Lord."