The Achievement Junkie

Chapter 356 Meeting the Elven Chief

"Your name was Jack, correct? State what business you have with Eedaj."

Sensing the seriousness in each of the elves’ glares, Jack smiled. "I have no reason to tell you since you won’t speak with us. We’ll be leaving now to find both Lyrun and Eedaj, so I’d recommend that you let us depart peacefully. It wouldn’t be the first time that we accidentally cause a forest fire because someone forced us to fight back."

"Then is we discuss business with the Leisure Guild, you’ll tell us more about your business with Eedaj?" the lead guard asked, whose sudden shift in tone surprised Jack.

"Sure."

"Then give me a moment." Taking out a contact crystal, the lead guard turned away from the party as he spoke with someone. After a minute or two, he turned back around to say, "Come, we’ll lead you into Estonya. But no weapons are to be drawn and that fox must be stored away."

"The fox stays out but he wouldn’t dare activate his flames unnecessarily," replied Jack, getting Bowzer to drop his miniature flame body.

The lead guard squinted but nodded. Then, he led Jack’s small party through the woods on foot.

Almost an hour passed as the party walked in silence. Jack had attempted to speak with the lead guard or crack a joke, but the guard’s defenses were impenetrable.

"There." Finally, after reaching the top of a hilled path the guard pointed toward what looked like an ancient wooden wall. "That’s Estonya. If you dare show any malice or intent to fight in the city, we’ll slay you without thought."

"We’ll play nice. But if you try to take advantage of us, the fox won’t be the only one burning Estonya to the ground," stated Jack. "I remember how beautiful Extonya was in ancient times, so I’d rather not destroy it. Please don’t force our hands to desecrate such a breath-taking place."

Not happy nor unhappy with Jack’s statement, the guard led them to the gate embedded into the natural wood wall.

With a knock, the guard shouted, "Shurca gaisu!"

The doors started to slowly open after the guard gave the order. But while Eliza was in awe of the beautiful wall and the scenery, Jack noticed Daliea’s dumbstruck face.

’Did you understand what he said?’ Jack asked telepathically.

Daliea only nodded slowly in response, trying to figure out what was going on.

’Stop worrying. You’ll be excited about what you’ll learn here.’

’Jack, do you know something that you’re not telling me?" questioned Daliea.

The hero smiled. ’It’s not that I’m unwilling to tell you what I know, it’s just that I only know a fraction of what we’ll learn shortly after meeting Eedaj. So, in a way, I’m just as excited as you are.’

"Follow me closely, don’t fall behind!"

The guard’s shout got Daliea to move again, letting her notice that she was the only that hadn’t entered through the door. Once inside, she joined Eliza in becoming speechless.

With the city now in full view, Eliza and Daliea were blown away by the blend of nature and civilization. It was unlike anything they had ever imagined. Also, there were buildings far taller than the wall or the trees yet they hadn’t seen them from the air or from anywhere outside of that giant wooden wall.

"There’s an illusion spell incorporated into the root wall surrounding the entire city," Jack mentioned, confident that he understood why the women were confused.

"The city walls are roots?" Eliza asked.

"That’s right. They’re roots to the Ancient Life Tree in the city center." Pointing to the distant tree that rivaled Dragov in size, Jack continued, "That’s the pillar of Korten and it offers the elves a natural mana spring, like a hot tub but the mana in the spring is so dense that it turns the water a crystal clear green."

"How do you know so much about the history of my people?" asked the guard, still not stopping as he led them toward the giant tree.

Jack replied, "Remember, I’m an ancient hero that was summoned to Modern Kartonia. I’m pretty sure I know more about your country than you do."

"Take that back!" Lunging his finger to Jack, the guard threatened, "Retract that statement or I’ll slay you right now!"

"I’ve already told you that I’d rather not burn Estonya to the ground. But if you start attacking me, how else will I defend myself then by facing you with overwhelming flames?" refuted Jack. "Now, will you keep leading us to the elven chief or shall I lead the way?"

As Jack led the two women and the two beasts past the infuriated guard, the elf shouted, "You know nothing about this place? How dare you assume to know such a sacred place?!"

"Then hurry up and take us there before I walk in on the chief without you. Would that mean you’d get punished?"

Clenching his fists tightly, the guard took a deep breath and dashed ahead of Jack. "Just shut up and let me lead. I don’t want to hear another word from your mouth. Or else..."

"Or else what?"

"Not another word!"

"Someone’s on edge," chuckled Jack. "Why don’t you head back to your guard duties? I can take us there calmly and make sure that--"

"Shut up!" A sword appeared in the guard’s hand, pointing to Jack. "Not another word."

"... Or else what--"

The sword was quickly lunged at Jack, aimed for his arm as to injure the hero and not kill him.

Jack clicked his tongue at the guard, nudging both of the women to the side so they wouldn’t get caught up in the guard’s fury. Narrowly yet easily avoiding the strike, Jack snickered, "Come on, I thought you would lead us there? You made us promise to not wield weapons in the city, yet what about you?"

"Shut up!" Again the guard struck toward Jack, now aiming for his torso.

"Too slow!" Jack allowed the blade to nearly pierce his clothes before activating Sudden Death and appearing behind the elf. "Come on ladies, let’s go meet the chief."

"You--"

"That’s enough!" A bellowing voice shook the party and the guard, as well as all the nearby elves who stopped in their tracks. "No weapons are allowed to be wielded in the city, so explain yourself!"

"You heard him!" spat the guard, glaring at Jack.

"I’m talking to you, Tarmurn!" The mature elf looked down on the guard as he floated in the air overhead, causing the guard to stiffened and bite his tongue. "I told you to bring our guests to my estate yet here you are attacking them instead. Even now, he remains unarmed and has only avoided your strikes. It’s as if he understood our laws better than you, of the nation’s guards! How shameful."

Blood trickled from the guards hand from clenching his fist too tightly. "But Chief Gwendon, this man has only spouted nonsense since he--"

"What nonsense? Was he lying or making up stories when he stated how grand the Ancient Life Tree was? Or did he lie about the existence of the mana spring? Clearly, this summoned hero has visited Estonya many times before during Ancient Kartonia, back when we were open to the world," reasoned the chief. "Is it so hard to believe that a human could respect or admire the natural beauty Estonya has to offer?"

"But--"

"But nothing! Return to your post immediately! And if I see you brandish your sword in city limits again, it’ll be your post!" the elven chief shouted as he descended to the ground before Jack and his party. "Please, forgive that man’s ignorance. Korten isn’t like it used to be."

"I can see that... At least it’s beauty has remained," Jack chuckled, breaking the awkward tension as the guard stormed off.

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