Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 210
The people sent from the Imperial Capital arrived a day later than Duke Dwight. When Sher appeared at the camp with the Nawen envoy, they could see the newly raised Imperial flag.
The Nawen envoy felt a bit conflicted. To his knowledge, the capital hadn’t dispatched any troops due to the Nawen tribe’s honesty. Only the enraged Duke personally went to the south with the famed Brandenburg Knights by his side. However, he didn’t expect Lemena’s military force to be so vast. As soon as they stepped out of the forest’s edge, they saw a dense array of tents and a sprawling temporary camp on the hillside.
This was a scale for a siege battle. Even though he understood the Duke’s concern for his son, this sight exceeded expectations, making his expression somewhat unnatural.
Duke Dwight waited for them in the main tent. Although they were about to enter the forest, the envoy brought out the jug containing the waterfall scene again. It showed Arnie sitting in a chair, eating, looking rosy, and in good spirits.
This made the Duchess relax a little.
For the first time, she used her status to severely punish Alger and his family, reclaiming some businesses that had developed thanks to her influence. Although this weakened her family’s power locally, no one dared to plead with her at this time. Emma, gentle by nature since childhood, made her fury even more terrifying. Even her two biological sisters dared not speak a word about it.
She insisted on personally entering the forest to retrieve Arnie.
Duke Dwight knew she was under great stress lately and didn’t put much effort into persuading her otherwise. After roughly confirming Arnie’s safety, the envoy from the capital reassured the Nawen tribe. The capital had returned Alger’s opportunistic tribute and candidly informed them that His Majesty the Emperor knew the true origin of the Nawen tribe’s treasure. This put the Nawen tribe, who had feared losing their heritage to greed, at ease.
“This is the gem of the elf elder, right? Even though the seal isolates its aura, the Grand Magus can still sense the power within it,” the Imperial envoy said.
The Nawen envoy remained silent.
The Imperial envoy, with a hint of undisguised sarcasm, said, “There’s no need to be so cautious. Despite knowing the potential power it holds, His Majesty the Emperor returned it, proving that the Empire does not covet such things—at least, His Majesty the Emperor does not.”
Only then did Duke Dwight focus on the matter. “What is the power of the elf gem?”
“An existence often mentioned in legends—the Fountain of Youth.” The Imperial envoy showed much more respect towards the Duke. “Elves believe that water is the source of life. All the water sources in their territory are optimized by them, and this gem is likely one of their means.”
“It doesn’t have the power of immortality.” The Nawen envoy finally spoke.
The Fountain of Youth, the Fountain of Immortality, or other names, is the most common description in forest tales. But in reality, such a thing didn’t exist. Not even the long-lived elves could create it.
This elf gem was a gift the Nawen tribe received years ago. When placed in water, it gave the water magical properties. Plants watered with it grew quickly and well. People who drank it daily would see small ailments heal. The various magical plants the Nawen tribe used daily could only be cultivated with this water. If replaced with ordinary spring water, their inherent power would quickly fade.
To the Empire, possessing this gem would merely enhance physical strength and beauty, but to the Nawen tribe, who have lived in the deep forest for generations, it is the foundation of their existence.
Duke Dwight glanced at the Nawen envoy.
“Alger’s wrongdoing should be accounted for, not by thoughtlessly harming Lemena,” he said coldly.
People often said that, compared to the proud and dignified old Duke, the current Duke Dwight was too gentle and unassuming. But when he was truly angered, the authoritative aura of a long-standing ruler was no longer concealed, and the Nawen envoy dared not meet his gaze.
“It’s our fault,” he said carefully. “The Nawen tribe is willing to compensate. The chieftain is ready to meet at any time.”
……
“What do you think Father and the Imperial Capital will demand from the Nawen tribe?” Arnie asked Alfred.
He was overjoyed. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw his father’s knight commander sitting by his bed, telling him that his parents had come to get him! This made Arnie, who was not yet adept at maintaining his demeanor, quite lively, talking to Alfred non-stop.
Alfred was also very happy to see Arnie safe and sound. The knight, now greatly relieved, finally washed his face, shaved his beard, and looked cheerful and handsome again.
“They don’t have much value,” Alfred said indifferently. “Even if they took everyone to the capital as servants, it wouldn’t amount to much.”
Seeing Arnie’s expression, he added, “But His Majesty the Emperor and the Duke wouldn’t do that—they do have some interesting things. Even if the elven plants can’t leave the forest, the prepared rare herbs are still valuable.”
“They have more than just herbs,” Arnie said. “They have elven ruins, and the seer said I could go.”
“When I fought in Arkan City, I also saw giant ruins. There’s nothing fun about them. All the valuable things were taken, leaving behind immovable houses and statues—nothing interesting.” Alfred frowned, trying to dissuade Arnie.
“Elves are different,” Charlie said. “Their magic is powerful, and they are the favored of the gods. Even after leaving, the plants they left behind have protected the Nawen tribe for hundreds of years. There might still be things in the ruins. Even if not, seeing the famous elven craftsmanship and architecture is worthwhile.”
“Very worthwhile,” Arnie echoed.
Alfred flicked his forehead. “Stop thinking about playing. Your parents are very worried about you and are already selecting knights for you.”
Arnie blinked. “But I’m only five.” According to tradition, the heir to Brandenburg starts formally training their knight regiment at nine.
“They’re too worried about you,” Alfred said softly. “Do you understand what I mean? Start by selecting a few early to observe…”
He lifted his eyelids and saw Charlie winking at him.
“You met their seer. Tell him to bring back the boy named Night who got lost last night,” Alfred instructed. “He has good potential.”
He didn’t elaborate, but Arnie understood that Alfred’s words meant he believed that boy had the potential to become the next Brandenburg Knight.
“Oh,” Arnie drawled. “Is he really that good?”
Alfred hugged him tightly. “Don’t be jealous. Arnie is still my favorite.”
Charlie smiled, watching Arnie struggle in Alfred’s embrace, but his mind was on something else.
Regarding his conversation with the seer, he hadn’t fully explained to Arnie and felt Arnie didn’t need to know all the details.
“Do you remember the magic formula?” the seer had asked him.
Charlie had indeed paid attention. During the confrontation in the basement, he had been silently observing all the doors, whether they were successfully used or bizarre failures.
His intuition had always been sharp. Though he didn’t know he would later become the “user” of that door, he instinctively felt it was necessary to understand this evil magic.
Even if he could replicate the magic formula, Charlie couldn’t bring himself to sacrifice an innocent life to activate it. This was why he had stayed passively for so long. Without an alternative solution, he preferred to do nothing.
He left the magic principle copied for the seer, whose magical talent might surpass his own. A few hours later, while Arnie was asleep last night, Charlie received a response.
The elven ruins weren’t all dilapidated as people imagined. In fact, the wealthy elves hadn’t taken everything with them. They had left behind considerable wealth—both gold and silver treasures and magical structures.
This was why they had closed off the elven territory and entrusted the reliable Nawen tribe to guard the entrance.
Each generation’s Nawen seer was the only one able to open the ruins. The current seer was very old. He had taken all the newborns under his wing, hoping to find the next child who would awaken the seer’s powers, but he had never found one.
“So this might be the last time,” the seer said. “The secret treasure returned by the capital can only sustain the plants and trees in the settlement because it’s not in its original place.”
It was a silver gem, initially placed in the elven king’s garden—a garden with a magnificent fountain, its base, and railings made of glittering jade, with the gem embedded in the statue at the water outlet.
“I plan to return it to its original place and then permanently seal the ruins, unless the elves return,” the seer said. “The mission of the Nawen tribe is complete. The next generation need not be confined to the forest, and the chieftain understands his duty.”
“Before that, the gem’s power can be lent to you once—to help you return to where you came from. This is not for you but for Dwight’s son.”
The seer hadn’t been very explicit but being able to open the time rift without a sacrifice made Charlie think that perhaps, the elven king who lived in this forest centuries ago truly possessed the legendary Fountain of Youth.
But the elves had left it behind.
Centuries later, the Emperor of the Empire also refused it.
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