It was a mild and warm patch of forest.
The trees were not as ancient and gigantic as those in Taiger Forest, nor as dreamlike as the Light Trees in Elf Country, but they were very ordinary trees, exuding an everyday tranquility.
As a result, the sunlight managed to break through the shelter of the trees, falling from the sky in beams, illuminating this patch of forest.
Though fairies fluttered here, they were not as excited and agitated as when outside, seeming to enjoy the calm of the forest, gently drifting back and forth.
Right in the heart of this scene, a temple was situated, capturing everyone’s gaze.
"Is this the Temple of the Nature Goddess?"
Shane glanced at the temple.
Initially, Shane thought he was seeing not a temple, but a relic.
Because it lacked a resplendent appearance or excessive decorations, instead appearing like a relic, possessing only very ancient earthen walls and imposing stone doors.
The outer walls and stone doors were entwined with many tree roots and vines.
Other than the roots and vines, the temple’s earthen walls and stone doors bore some mystical patterns.
Looking at these patterns a few times, Shane realized they seemingly depicted some Elf Clan history.
For instance, there appeared to be an elf queen, seated on a throne, receiving the worship of numerous elves.
Or, there was a scene reminiscent of a goddess descending from heaven, with elves worshiping below.
Also, there were fairies flying about and gradually growing larger, eventually evolving into elves.
Such a temple truly looked like a relic.
There was even a plaza surrounding the relic.
At that moment, Shane and his companions arrived at the plaza, facing the grand entrance of the temple.
Sophie, Leiya, Nia, and Merica, a group of four elves, remained silent.
They seemed to be praying, with faces full of devotion, kneeling towards the direction of the temple.
Shane, being the only non-elf among them, touched his nose watching this scene.
He didn’t kneel toward the temple as Sophie and the others did.
He didn’t possess the same reverence and faith in gods as the people of this world did.
Having never seen the Nature Goddess and only having heard rumors and received two revelations from her, Shane naturally wouldn’t kneel.
Sophie and the others did not request Shane to perform such an act, and after finishing their prayers and kneeling, they finally stood up.
"The temples of the Elf Clan are different from those of other humans."
Suddenly, Sophie began to explain.
"Rather than lavish appearances and splendid decorations, we hold more reverence for natural simplicity."
Under such circumstances, the temples of the Elf Clan did not focus on facades like other temples, but more on the changes brought by nature.
Therefore, the Temple of the Nature Goddess could indeed resemble an ancient relic.
"This temple has a history of at least tens of thousands of years—it was built by the first elves who were born and has been in use until now."
Speaking about this history, Sophie’s tone also subtly revealed a hint of pride.
"Because it has never been rebuilt and kept in its original form, this temple is touted as the oldest and most historic temple in the Human Realm."
Now, Shane was witnessing the oldest temple in this world, the building with the most significant history.
"This temple is also seldom used, only when a new elf is born within the Elf Clan is that elf brought here to receive the Goddess’s blessing of the Divine Race."
The birth of an elf takes a long time, resulting in the temple usually being closed and sometimes used only once every several decades, centuries, or even a millennium.
This showed just how few opportunities there were to use this temple.
"No wonder this place looks like it hasn’t seen human activity in a long time." Shane suddenly realized and asked curiously, "But, isn’t there any Divine Practitioner to maintain and repair it?"
"No," Sophie naturally replied: "We elves are not like humans who have dedicated Divine Practitioners working in temples, nor like Beastmen who have Holy Daughters and Priests performing the duties of gods, because we are secluded from the world and seldom use the temple."
In such a case, leaving people here was simply unnecessary.
"Typically, whenever this temple needs to be used, it is handled by people from the Elf Corps; they are also responsible for its maintenance and repair, visiting about every ten years or so."
Sophie’s explanation gave Shane a full understanding of how elves and humans indeed viewed the world differently.
For elves, repairing and maintaining the temple once every ten years was perhaps equivalent to human activities every several months?
Considering how infrequently the temple was used, repairing and maintaining it every few months didn’t seem too long.
"Of course, those elves who have fallen in love also choose to come here, to live in the presence of the Nature Goddess for the rest of their lives," Sophie hinted: "If they do, they generally move into the temple and live there for life, somewhat akin to humans taking monastic vows."
Hearing this, Shane smacked his lips.
Did that mean that every elf who had fallen in love, upon returning to Elf Country, would choose to take monastic vows?
Good gracious, indeed a good gracious situation.
What kind of divine race were these elves? So steadfast and faithful?
Thinking this, Shane recalled what Merica had mentioned before.
This girl had also implied she wanted to silently follow him and later return to Elf Country like those love-struck elves, to peacefully spend the rest of her life, right?
That meant, this girl also wanted to take monastic vows?
Shane couldn’t help but turn his head and gaze at Merica, staring at her intently.
And feeling somewhat awkward and guilty, she averted her gaze.
"I say, Merica," Shane said with a brilliantly shining smile, "you shouldn’t do this, alright?"
It wasn’t a suggestion, but a warning.
Shane’s smile conveyed to Merica that if she dared to do such a thing, he might just tear down the Temple.
"No... I won’t do it again..."
Merica responded in a low voice, her heart fluttering and somewhat nervous.
Previously, Merica had harbored such thoughts.
But now, Merica no longer dared to think in that way.
Her romance, along with Shane becoming a beast of burden, could no longer be as mundane and melancholic as the predecessors of the Elf Clan.
Though Merica didn’t know whether this was a good thing or not.
After all, Shane was a human, and she was an elf; the lifespan difference between their races was stark.
Eventually, Merica might have to watch Shane grow old and then watch him die.
Perhaps that would be even more tragic than the predecessors of the Elf Clan?
But since Shane had said he would find a way to solve everything, Merica could only believe in him.
After all, Shane was a Hero, unprecedented in his good relations with Dragon Demons and protected by the Divine Race, possessing connections and networks no predecessor had.
Such a Shane might indeed have some method to solve his own lifespan issue.
Merica could only hope for that.
Shane then nodded in satisfaction.
Sophie took all this in.
(These two really do have some issues.)
The Elf Queen made her judgment and felt a vague worry.
It was a natural worry.
Elf romances never ended well, and Merica seemed to be walking down a path of no return; Sophie couldn’t help feeling anxious.
Especially now that something seemed to have changed in Merica, causing her Magic Power to surge to the point where she was comparable to herself, Sophie took Merica very seriously and naturally felt worried.
(I’ll have to have a good talk with Merica later.)
Sophie made this decision and adjusted her mood, continuing to speak to Shane.
"The Nature Goddess has already issued a divine decree, saying she wants to meet with Lord Beizut and Merica in the Temple." Sophie looked at the two, asking, "How about it? Would you like to go in now?"
Shane and Merica exchanged glances immediately.
Merica’s face was full of nervousness, her hand holding the Magic Wand even began to shake.
Even now, Merica was still in doubt.
"Someone like me... will the Nature Goddess really summon me?"
Merica’s anxiety and insecurity had reached an all-time high.
"You..." Shane could only let out a wry laugh and said, "It’s just a meeting, not a fight against the Nature Goddess, relax."
"Don’t... don’t make it sound so scary!" Merica was frightened by Shane.
Shane, unfazed, directly took Merica’s hand and looked at Sophie.
"Yes," Sophie nodded and said, "Now, everyone has exited the Temple, you can go in anytime."
"Alright," Shane declared without a hint of hesitation, "Let’s go in now."
Sophie smiled, immediately stepping aside with Leiya and Nia.
Shane tightened his grip on Merica’s hand.
Merica took a few deep breaths and then nodded emphatically.
Thus, Shane and Merica, holding hands, approached the Temple together.
The grand doors of the Temple opened automatically, creating a heavy rumbling noise.
Shane and Merica slowly walked in.
Sophie and the others watched their retreating figures, remaining long after they had disappeared.