Joseph was taken aback as he stared at the elf but was met with an elbow to his side by Jean. He quickly bowed in front of the elf.
"My name is Sir Joseph, it's a pleasure to meet…."
Joseph turned to Jean as he pleaded with his eyes.
"Queen Gena, Mother of the Elves."
"Nice to meet Queen Gena, Mother of the Elves."
Joseph finished his greeting. His mind was completely blank; he didn't think he would come face to face with the Queen.
"Human, what do you know about that demon?"
"Umm, not much really, just met her yesterday, but she is really scary and very protective of the child."
"The child is resting together with her companion."
Gena turned and walked towards Adeline's body. Joseph followed from a distance. He peeked over and saw Adeline's body covered in burn wounds with exposed bones. Her face was extremely frightening; parts of her skull and jaw were exposed. If it wasn't for the horns, he wouldn't be able to guess if it was Adeline. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was able to survive all that.
"Is she alive?"
Joseph asked unconsciously.
"Yes and no. Her body is barely functioning. Normally this would be enough to kill any being, but she still holds on to life."
"I don't know what to say. I knew she was different from other monsters."
A grunt could be heard, startling him.
"I will not give up on her. She risked her life to save my children; it's the least I could do. I do have another question."
"Please ask, Your Majesty."
"What brings you here?"
Joseph fell silent for a moment.
"I came here because my people are being swept away by a plague. I read somewhere that the elves had cured a similar disease at some point."
"Why should we help the same humans who hunt and enslave us?"
"I am not from the Empire but from Credoa. I can speak with the Grand Duke to make that illegal and return the elves back to their homes."
"Credoa?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You are dismissed for now."
The large elf pointed to the door, signaling him to leave. He left the room with an escort of guards.
"Credoa is the land of the Stormvilles."
The large elf approached Gena.
"We are still indebted to them. Make sure our healers share appropriate information."
"As you will."
The large elf left, leaving Jean behind.
"I know you sneaked out, ignoring my orders."
"I was not going to let those children die over a mistake, Mother."
"I know, but you are more valuable alive with us. The humans will invade the forest, and when that time comes…"
"That's why we need to go on the offensive. We have something that they will fear."
"My daughter, we bring life, not death."
"Soon there will be nothing but death! How much longer should we cower behind the forest and watch? How much more should they take?"
Gena stared down at Adeline.
"Are you sure about her?"
"I am not. Honestly, from the brief fight that I saw, she is too unpredictable and uncontrollable, but she is someone people could rally behind."
Gena revealed a glowing branch and placed it on Adeline's hand as a green light engulfed her body.
"Mother Nature spoke out to me for the first time. Her will was confusing and troubling."
"Mother, tell me about it."
Jean stepped forward and faced her mother, who looked distressed.
"I can't tell you, Daughter, you know how things work. I just worry for you and our people. Your father is the same, so don't be too hard on him."
"I do too, Mother, but our future is out there."
Gena embraced her. Jean accepted it. Jean was confused by the sudden shift; nonetheless, she accepted her mother's love.
"What about the child?"
"The child also confuses me. She looks human, but nothing about her is. It wasn't a coincidence these two got bound together."
"The human does not know of this. He came with his own mission."
"Too many things are unraveling. The time of change has come. We need to prepare for it."
Gena spoke as she turned and both exited the room, taking the light. In the dark room, Adeline's red horns started to pulsate.
Adeline floated in darkness, surrounded by nothingness. She felt nothing. No pain, no fear, no hope, and no love. She opened her eyes and confronted the darkness before her. A tide washed over her, pulling her further down. She did not fight nor scream; this was her fate.
"Have you already given up?"
A distorted voice could be heard, but Adeline ignored it.
"What about that child you risked so much to protect? Will you let it all slip away?"
The voice spoke once more, but Adeline did not react.
"What's the problem? Something stuck in your throat? Did they finally shatter your fragile, misguided pride?"
"I was enjoying the silence, but since you are here, drop the act."
"You are not on my domain. I can't control death."
"If I was dead, you wouldn't be disturbing my peace."
The distorted voice started to laugh loudly, which annoyed Adeline.
"You are not dead just yet."
"Do me a favor and f*** off."
"That's not how you speak to a higher being."
Adeline reoriented her body; she expected something to change at any time.
"CHILD!"
A booming voice could be heard, forcing Adeline to cover her ears.
"Oh my, she is not happy. Good luck, my deathbringer."
The distorted voice disappeared as Adeline was pulled down by an unknown force. The darkness changed into an extensive green field with no tree in sight.
"Sit."
The green field held only one chair. Adeline sat, confused. Suddenly, it turned into an office with vast bookshelves extending into an endless ceiling. Her chair got pulled suddenly until she came face to face with a large table filled with papers and books.
"I did not foresee you being this much trouble, child."
A feminine voice could be heard behind the table but she could not see anyone, leaving her confused.
"Behind you."
Adeline turned and saw a woman wearing all white with a black veil, only revealing her red lips. She looked like a nun, but she emitted a very cold and dark aura.
"Who are you exactly?"
"I am Death."
The woman disappeared from her sight. Adeline looked around the room.
"In front."
Adeline turned and saw the woman sitting, looking at a document.
"You are not what I expected."
"Humans always greatly exaggerate what I am or look like. In your previous world, they call me the devil, but I do not punish souls."
"What about those who sin?"
The woman stopped reading and stared at Adeline.
"I am Death, not Justice. My duty is making sure all souls go through the cycle of life and death."
"Are you the one who messed up everything?"
"I am not the one responsible. Mother Nature overrode my authority and brought you here."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
The woman put a stamp on the paper, then released it. The paper caught fire, but there were no ashes.
"Why am I here?"
"You are not supposed to be here."
"That person told me I was in a state of life and death."
"Don't pay attention to my mischievous husband. By all accounts, you died, but you refused to leave your body."
"Does that mean I conquered you?"
"Death cannot be conquered. I am inevitable. Drop that silly idea from your head."
The scene suddenly changed to the green field with the woman standing and staring into the distance.
"We have laws that need to be followed down to the letter. Even gods are not above it. That law is called nature."
"Your husband told me something about Mother Nature."
"He couldn't help himself, but you won't find answers from me. I myself don't know those answers."
"Is it surrounding that child?"
"That child has her own path. It was a mistake that you met her in the first place, or maybe all this happened just so you could meet her."
"I am starting to believe that is the case."
"Does that change how you see the child?"
Death turned towards Adeline, and both stared at each other in silence.
"I will find her next of kin, then return to my everyday life."
"Then why are you going the opposite direction?"
"Those were bad people."
Death let out a small laugh and resumed staring into the vast field.
"I wield powers beyond that of a god. My hands guide life itself, but even with all this power…"
The woman raised her hands to the air as the sky darkened and a massive castle appeared. Adeline stared in admiration, but in the next second, the castle collapsed into a vast ocean. A massive whale broke through the water, then splashed, sending a massive wave towards them. Adeline frowned, seeing what looked like a small tsunami. The water suddenly stopped mid-air, then turned to snow.
"I am unable to carry out my own wishes. Mother Nature has caged me here, limited me to playing accountant."
"Power comes with its own burdens."
Adeline spoke. Death turned towards Adeline.
"You would know all about that. Over a trillion life forms in different dimensions, and she chose you."
"I didn't ask for this."
"I heard your last words, Adeline."
Adeline's frown grew deeper.
"You don't know me."
"And you don't know yourself."
Adeline bit down on her jaws in anger.
"You are still young, Adeline. This anger and lack of care you feel is misguided. I won't tell you what to do and not to do. This path is yours and yours alone."
"You are right, I will do what I want to do."
"You have gone through a lot, and more to come. I hope your will stays true."
"Are you going to coerce me into another deal like your husband?"
The woman laughed as the entire world turned white and a dark figure laid in front of them.
"Dear, introduce yourself."
"She is a brat that got herself killed. I was also really nice in the beginning, but she was just plain rude."
The distorted voice spoke in an annoyed tone while his back was still turned.
"Dear, I won't ask twice."
"I am Mystery, keeper of knowledge. You met my wife, Death, holder of souls. Are you happy now?"
The distorted voice finally answered.
"I thought you were gods."
"We are not gods but forces of nature. We were one of the first mortals to walk this Earth."
The woman answered. Things slowly started to make sense in Adeline's mind.
"What role do gods play?"
"They make champions, incite wars, fool humans into praying for them. All the boring stuff."
The distorted voice answered as he waved his arm around sarcastically.
"You should also not trust them."
Death added.
"I don't trust anyone."
"Well, that's a lie."
"I do not lie."
"Then why did you let that human join you?"
The woman pressed.
"He's useful."
Adeline's answer was short. She didn't have to explain everything to these beings.
"Take this, kid."
The distorted voice spoke as a small core appeared on her hand. It was completely black, drawing suspicion.
"Have this also."
With a wave, the pitch-black core shone a brilliant white which swirled around.
"I am not going to eat this."
"Then grab a seat and get comfortable here."
The distorted voice answered with a small laugh.
"This must be one of your tricks!"
"Then wait it out, we've got eternity."
Adeline stared at the dark figure with suspicion.
"I want to talk with Mother Nature."
The distorted voice and woman started to laugh hysterically.
"What's so funny?"
"Mother Nature is primordial. Not even the gods can have a sit with her. The closest you will get is through her will."
"How can you differentiate between her will and your own?"
"We just know."
The woman answered.
"You have no free will, don't you?"
Silence filled the empty room as the woman slightly turned to the dark figure.
"You may be smart, but there are things you will never fully understand. Going forward, this will be one of those things. Nothing good comes from trying to decipher her."
The distorted voice spoke seriously. Adeline stared at the woman, then the dark figure once more. Adeline ate the core. She felt the warm energy spread throughout.
"We will be watching."
"Don't say that, it's creepy."
Adeline spoke as her body disappeared.
"She is smart, but I have my doubts."
The woman spoke as she waved her hand, revealing the Tree of Fate which continued to grow rapidly.
"Time will tell."
The distorted voice spoke as he turned, staring at the woman. His face was a black void with small stars for eyes. He reached out to Death, who removed her veil, revealing a scarred face which pulsated a deep red color. She accepted the embrace as the two stared at each other, producing a blinding light while the room around them fell to darkness.
Adeline woke up in the dark room and instantly took a defensive position as she felt her way out. She came in contact with what seemed to be a door. She took a step back, then proceeded to kick it down, hurling it across the hallway and through the window.
She emerged, and the first thing that came to sight was an elf woman who screamed, then fainted. The guards came out and instantly surrounded her, raising their spears.
Are elves this small?
Adeline wondered as she stared down at the elves who looked like children to her.
"Mommy!"
Adeline turned and saw Helen riding Lola, who ran towards her. She pushed her way through and jumped onto Adeline.
"I was so worried! They said you wouldn't wake up."
"It's fine, I just took a small nap."
"You were asleep for three months."
Adeline stared at Helen, puzzled.
"Welcome back, Master."
Fang and Scales spoke in unison as she turned toward them. They too looked smaller than she remembered. It was then it dawned that she grew larger.
"Oh, you look ummm."
Joseph appeared with an elf next to him. The guards slowly started to part as a beautiful elven woman accompanied by an elven man who was larger and buffer.
"My name is Queen Gena, Mother of the Elves."
"I see, where am I?"
"You're in the Elven Kingdom of Elfhem. I would like to have a conversation with you."
"Mommy, they are good people. They gave me treats and even taught me magic!"
Adeline stared at Helen, who had a bright smile. She cleared her throat and started to sing a beautiful song. The entire hallway was covered in a bright red color. Vines shot up from every direction; red flowers started to grow along the vines. One of the vines detached and reached out to Adeline. Helen grabbed a red flower and nestled it on her ear.
"This is beautiful. You're amazing, Helen."
"Thank you, Mommy! I know red is your favorite color."
Adeline never told Helen this; she wondered how she knew this. Those thoughts were pushed back, and her attention returned to the flowers. She ignored the elves around her as the two shared a moment together.
"Adeline, you're in the presence of the Queen."
"It's a shame that you're still alive."
Adeline turned to Joseph, who quickly fell silent. Jean looked up to Adeline and felt an odd oppressive feeling radiating from her.
"Who are you? Joseph's new girlfriend, by any chance?"
"We are not dating, and my name is Jean, the Princess of Elfhem."
"Princess? You don't look like one."
"I prefer being a warrior than a princess."
The large elf slapped the side of her head as she looked back in protest.
"Are you truly ready to live the path of a warrior?"
Adeline approached her while carrying Helen. The two were now face to face with Jean, who was forced to tilt her head upwards. Adeline's scarred face and menacing eyes sent chills down her spine.
"Are you truly ready to di…"
Helen suddenly pulled Adeline's horns.
"Mommy, no! They are good people."
"I was just joking."
Helen pulled her horns again, drawing her attention. The sight of Adeline trying to settle the rowdy Helen, who was punching and pulling her, was unreal. Joseph let out a small laugh, which was met with a stern look from Adeline.
"Helen, calm down, okay? I won't hurt them."
"Helen wins again!"
Helen proclaimed as Gena started to clap.
"See, I told you, Auntie. Helen can win against Mommy."
"I never doubted you."
Gena's smooth voice drew Adeline's attention once more. She scanned the dignified Queen, who did not shudder by her fierce and deformed gaze. Adeline instantly placed her as a high threat if they ended up as enemies.
It's always those who remain quiet.
Gena smiled at Adeline, but she answered with a stern look.
"What do you want?"
"Very direct, as expected. We wanted to have a conversation."
"About what?"
"This is something we can't discuss here."
"Joseph, did you rope me into your own agenda?"
Adeline turned to the hiding Joseph.
"I did not. I already came to an agreement with my own efforts."
"Did you now?"
Jean tried pushing Joseph out of the way, but he was latched on to her.
"Cowards always find a way to survive. As for your conversation, I will entertain it, but once I have worn suitable attire."
"That can be arranged."