On the edge of Elf Forest,
tall trees towered into the sky, forming a thick green canopy. Their trunks were sturdy, their crowns dense, as if they were guardians of nature itself, standing silently on this ancient land.
Sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves, casting a dappled pattern of light and shadow that added a sense of mystery to the forest. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a whispering sound, accompanied by the faint, melodious chirping of birds, as though nature itself was playing a symphony, intoxicating to those who listened.
Delving deeper into the heart of the Great Forest felt like stepping into a dream forgotten by time. The ground underfoot was no longer hard soil or pebbles but rather a thick, soft, green carpet—a natural tapestry woven from countless years of accumulated moss and lichen, spread out densely, soft and springy.
Elf Forest was located in the southern part of the Fanor Continent, and unlike the Feis Kingdom, it did not experience such distinct changes through the seasons, so the forest was evergreen throughout the year, offering all its living creatures a common refuge.
However, the forest was not as damp and dark as the tropical rainforests from Lis's previous life; the spaces between the trees were fairly refreshing, and it did not hinder the passage of others.
Lis jumped down from the trunk of a dead tree and reached out to steady Cecil.
Cecil was now wearing a set of light brown leather armor, with a small leather bag slung across her back. If she had a longbow on as well, she would have completely looked the part of an Elf Ranger.
However, Cecil's somewhat pale complexion betrayed her less-than-stellar stamina.
"Do you need to rest for a while?"
"By the way, Cecil, why did you choose to cross Elf Forest?"
"It would have been easier to take the main road inside the Kingdom by carriage."
Lis asked, watching Cecil's slightly unsteady steps.
Cecil took a small breath and nodded.
Leaning against a sturdy tree, she took out a water flask from her backpack and took a sip. Only then did her breath recover.
"I think it might be a bit safer this way."
Cecil nodded faintly as she caught her breath and explained:
"Although I do not particularly want to believe that elder from Illiser, he messaged me that someone might attack those with the Day Elf Bloodline, so he instructed me to hurry to Bolin Kingdom."
"I do not know who might attack me, but I figured it would be safer in Elf Forest than within the Human Kingdoms, right?"
"Besides, crossing Elf Forest shortens the journey."
Lis nodded, seemingly in agreement.
To be honest, Cecil's decision was not without merit.
The Bolin Kingdom, although adjacent to the Valentine Kingdom, was actually connected only through the territories at the Northern Territory, with the majority of the area between covered by Elf Forest.
And Nelin City, being close to Elf Forest, would take much longer to travel around from the outside.
So even if Lis and Cecil opted to walk through Elf Forest, they would save a considerable amount of time.
With Cecil's current strength, she could not possibly use the Flying Technique for long travels as it would significantly drain her Magic Power, making her vulnerable should she encounter danger en route due to depleted magic.
Lis, however, was not in a rush and had no intention to intervene and help Cecil reach Bolin Kingdom ahead of time.
With his strength, though he had not set down space coordinates in Bolin Kingdom, he could simply try a few non-directional Space Transmissions to get there.
After all, following special training from Mr. Stephens and his seclusion in Azela Floating City, Lis had reached a new realm of mastery over his various abilities.
Although he had acquired a vast and complicated array of special skills and abilities, to be honest, Lis had not achieved proficient control and utilization of each one.
During this period of investing experience and combined training, Lis's Personal Level might not have risen much, but his actual combat strength had indeed improved significantly.
Still, Lis was waiting for those who might attack Cecil to make their move, if they truly existed.
"Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've returned to Elf Forest!"
Cecil drew a deep breath, savoring the fresh air between the trees.
"This is my first time in Elf Forest; it truly feels different."
Lis leaned against the trunk of a nearby large tree and nodded. Since entering Elf Forest these past few days, he felt as if the air was brimming with the breath of life, leaving his entire body in a much lighter state.
Even though Lis, in his former life, had controlled a character that visited Elf Forest in a fully immersive game, the feeling was similar, but more like spiritual relaxation, as if submerged in an ocean of life.
The only downside was that because this location was on the edge of Elf Forest, closer to where humans lived, the wildlife and birds seemed to have witnessed the greed of poachers, staying far away from Lis.
Cecil's green eyes looked at Lis with some confusion.
"But I thought you, Mr. Lis, seemed very familiar with moving through Elf Forest, even more so than me, an Elf."
"Perhaps it is because I have previously visited forests in the northern parts of the Fanor continent, gaining some experience then."
Cecil was not flattering Lis; she truly felt that way.
Ever since she had asked her father to take her away from the Elf Royal Court, to lessen the burden on him, she had chosen to live in the somewhat remote Nelin City, where she barely even left her home.