Second World

Lorethion was the capital of Aurebor. Anyone who visited Aurebor Dynasty for the first time by teleporting to Lorethion's zone portal would think that they had arrived in the middle of a gigantic forest instead of a capital.

The buildings were giant living trees with cavities within their trunks that provided a space for the elves to live in.

The trees' branches were so thick and long that they intertwined with the other trees around them, forming a network of roads high up from the ground. Their foliage adjusted naturally, allowing sunlight into the city when the temperature was cold, and blocking the sunlight when it was too hot.

The trees were like caring parents who took care of the elves whom they considered their children.

In the center of the capital stood a gigantic tree. The outworlders who saw it were probably reminded of the legendary Yggdrasil from Norse mythology. Perhaps that tree of life was the reference the developers used when they designed this giant tree for the Second World game.

This giant tree was the palace where the elf queen lived.

Unlike Thereath's palace, the throne room of this giant tree was not in an enclosed space. Instead, the throne room rested on its canopy. This canopy had an extremely wide platform that could probably house a thousand people. This throne room had no walls except for one side, all other sides were open air. Those who stood in that throne room could see the entire capital from up high.

This throne room was accessed via large winding stairs that were carved out of the trunks of the giant tree. All around the outer side of its massive trunks were more winding stairs, bringing its occupants to the numerous cavities within the giant tree that served as palace halls.

On the only side that was enclosed by a wall of dense leaves, a wooden throne was there. The throne was as if part of the tree. It grew and was carved to shape into a large throne.

A beautiful elven woman wearing a crown made of golden vines sat on that throne. Next to her were two elven women whose beauty didn't seem to be any less.

By the edges of the wide platform that was the throne room stood several armored guards.

The elven queen on the throne was Ashala Lifebloom of the Lifebloom clan. Aurebor natives were formed of clans, similar to Verremor's tribes. But unlike Verremor whose governing system was via the cooperation of the ten strongest tribes, Aurebor used the monarchy system the same as Thereath.

One of the two beautiful women standing next to Ashala was Mylaerla Lifebloom, Ashala's sister and confidant. She was a level 65 special elite. The other woman was Shalia Swiftblade, Ashala's personal protector. She was level 80 rare elite.

Ashala herself was a level 70 rare elite.

Kneeling and bowing before Ashala was Mistress. Her hands were extending outward holding a small bottle that glowed a soft green light.

"Hmph! You wish to prove your innocence by bribing me?" Ashala harrumphed. Her eyes stared at Mistress with contempt. Those who didn't know the queen would think that she looked down on the outworlder, but the truth was that look was her natural expression.

"I'm truly innocent, Your Majesty," Mistress said. Her head remained bowed. "I don't know why Master brought his army into your land. I have tried contacting him a lot of times, but he is not returning my calls. Please rest assured that if Master truly wishes to invade Aurebor, I stand by your side. This Immortal Youth Potion is an expression of my loyalty."

Ashala didn't truly trust Mistress' words, but the Immortal Youth Potion in her hands was extremely tempting. This potion was the same reason why she had aided the Liguritudum prince, Igneos, in usurping his father's throne.

Engaging in the politics of other countries was never her desire. She wished nothing to do with the other countries, but Mistress had come to her offering this potion in exchange for her mobilizing her army to aid Igneos.

She valued one thing above all, her youth. Elves had a very long life. Not as extreme as vampires but compared to humans, their lives were very long, and she was a very old elf despite her beautiful look. She had been doing everything she could to cover the wrinkles that started to appear on her face, by natural, artificial, or magical means. But as time passed, the endeavor got harder and harder.

Other than the ability of the Time Sage from the legend who had mastered time, the only other thing that could help her reverse her aging was the Immortal Youth Potion in front of her. It was a legendary-grade consumable.

She had received one from Mistress after carrying out her deal to send her army to Liguritudum. She had experienced its miracle. Her wrinkles which she tried so very hard to cover, were gone. She gained a hundred years' worth of youth.

However, she knew time was a bitch. Sooner or later, the wrinkles would be back again. If she could get another bottle…

"You are very resourceful to possess two legendary-grade potions," Ashala remarked. "Even the full force of my entire dynasty was unable to find one even after hundreds of years of searching, but you actually have two?"

"We outworlders possessed secret knowledge that the natives don't," Mistress told the truth, which displeased all the natives there. Did this outworlder just tell them that outworlders knew more about this world than they who had lived here their entire lives?

Ashala didn't give any response. She looked at Mistress with her usual dismissing glance. She made a gesture to Mylaerla who then approached Mistress and took the potion in her hand.

Mylaerla used her Inspect and made sure it was indeed the Immortal Youth Potion before handing it to her sister.

Ashala played with the potion in her hand. She said, "I accept this gesture of goodwill, but I will still put your guild under close watch. If I find your members doing anything suspicious, I will make you regret it."

"I'm grateful for Your Majesty's understanding. You are as wise as you are beautiful, my queen," Mistress replied. She was still bowing her head.

Ashala let Mistress stay that way. She knew this outworlder was a haughty one. She enjoyed seeing haughty ones kneel before her. This made her feel superior. As it should be. The only one who had the right to be haughty was her, the most beautiful elven queen in existence.

She glanced at the potion in her hand. The effect of the potion was cumulative. If she drank it now, she would become younger. There was no need to wait until the wrinkles start showing before drinking it. Keeping it would just give it a chance to get stolen.

The temptation was too great, she opened the lid and drank the potion.

As she closed her eyes and prepared to bask herself in the feeling of her body becoming younger, she felt a weird feeling instead. She felt as if she had been tainted.

She opened her eyes and was alarmed to see black vapor oozing from her body.

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