Upon hearing Eleanora's command, Mistress Sylvana snapped out of her reverie and quickly nodded. "I'll make sure it's unforgettable," she determinedly replied.
Eleanora nodded in approval and then addressed Commander Sy'ra. "If he accompanies them during their arrival, apologize to him. I'll ensure you have the opportunity to explain your value and retain your position," she said firmly, her expression serious.
Although they would gradually lose their positions one by one, Eleanora believed Sy'ra would likely be the first, especially after her confrontation with the masked human. As for Lieutenant Azarok, who lost his arm, Eleanora feared the Ogre race would face discrimination in the future.
She needed to mitigate this issue to prevent disharmony in the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City.
After all, she had painstakingly built the city up to this point and was determined to ensure its stability, doubting if the new leaders would be competent enough to maintain it.
Commander Sy'ra sighed heavily, her breath brushing against her sharp fangs as it escaped her lips. "I'll do my best and try to atone for my actions. Hopefully, even if I fail, Paradise won't judge an entire race based on the actions of just two individuals," she responded with a nod.
When she awoke four days after the masked figure's attack, Sy'ra was stunned by everything that had transpired. Reluctant to accept their diminished position, she had initially been prepared to fight to the death rather than yield to an unknown adversary.
However, Eleanora's explanation helped her realize that surrendering was not just for her sake but for the survival of her entire race. Thus, she suppressed her impulsive nature and strategized to maintain her position and win favour with Paradise.
Also, the lightning attack from the masked figure left scars on her upper chest and stomach. Although healers could have removed them, Sy'ra retained them as badges of honour.
She believed these scars would serve as a reminder of her resilience and strength in future battles, acting as a psychological deterrent against adversaries. Moreover, given her race's remarkable regeneration ability, bearing these scars was a source of pride for her.
Hearing Commander Sy'ra still address her as Queen, Eleanora sighed deeply, shaking her head in resignation. She chose not to pursue the matter further and redirected her attention to Lord Griffin.
"I want you to deliver a message to the Sleeping Fox Runaway City," Eleanora began, her voice firm. "Tell them we have surrendered to Paradise and will not resist their rule. Perhaps in the future, we can work together to ensure our freedom if an opportunity arises. But for now, such thoughts are futile." Her gaze fixed on the tall man with short, dark hair.
"Rest assured, Queen Eleanora. I will deliver your message immediately," Lord Griffin responded, nodding solemnly.
None of them questioned Eleanora's decision, knowing it was the wisest course of action.
"You may proceed with your task. I'll return to the Queen's palace to rest," Eleanora said, walking away toward the palace.
After enduring a month and a half since the catastrophic event of the collapsing sky, she couldn't resist the urge to take a break and rest beside her sister.
After discussing the Gear Devourer and other equipment for the warriors with Seraphina and the other leaders of the Healers Association, he checked on goddess Ilse before dropping off Reena and the others at their respective work locations. Swiftly after that, he arrived at Patriarch Rylan's mansion.
As he landed, a figure immediately rushed out of the door.
It was none other than Patriarch Rylan!
"Village Chief, it's an honour that you've finally made time to come visit me," Patriarch Rylan said with a smile, slightly bowing respectfully.
"I'm sorry for coming so late to speak with you. I had much to deal with before I could come," Orion nodded.
Isadora diligently attended to the matters Orion had assigned her while the gods' chosens of the four-eared elves were striving to make amends for their past mistakes.
Meanwhile, the rest of the four-eared elven race were putting their utmost effort into expanding Orion's cities, with the four border cities soon reaching completion and continuing to grow. Orion couldn't ignore their contributions, especially since Patriarch Rylan had been clear about his stance when he sought their assistance.
Although Orion harboured dissatisfaction with many aspects of his past actions, one thing he could agree on was Patriarch Rylan's straightforward nature.
"You don't need to say such a thing, Chief. I've been in a similar position, so I understand your situation. The fact that you decided to come visit in person is enough for me," Patriarch Rylan responded, shaking his head with a smile.
"Let's go inside and discuss so you can be on your way quickly," he added, gesturing for Orion to follow him.
Orion nodded solemnly and quietly followed alongside him.
Orion explained everything that had transpired during his discussions regarding the Four-eared Lone Rabbit Runaway City and the Divine artefact, alongside the Journeying Jaguar Runaway City and the Wandering Wolf Borough Runaway City, with the rulers of the Sleeping Fox Runaway City and the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City to Patriarch Rylan.
"I see. Although Leif and the others had informed me about the matter, it is still reassuring to hear your thoughts. Thank you, Village Chief, for deciding to look deeply into this matter," Patriarch Rylan responded, standing up and bowing respectfully towards Orion.
Orion waved his hand dismissively, "I'm doing this for Paradise's sake as well. As we expand into the world, we must be cautious of potential enemies we may encounter. Once the Journeying Jaguar Runaway City and the Wandering Wolf Borough Runaway City learn that we possess the Divine Artifact and have the four-eared elves under our protection, along with our intention to seize the Four-eared Lone Rabbit Runaway City in the future, conflicts may arise. It's best to prepare in advance," he explained calmly.
Patriarch Rylan sat, nodding at Orion's words. However, as he listened to the last sentence, he froze in shock, dumbfounded, staring at Orion.