What Changes, What Remains (17)

I could clearly feel the herald wind that blew into the elven settlement as well.

The wind blown by a spirit differed slightly depending on the elf or spirit mage conveying its image.

It was not distinct enough to call a characteristic, but more like a subtle quirk that someone truly close would recognize.

I clearly remembered the softness of this wind and the scent it carried.

The visitors were, of course, an elven caravan.

The one who had sent this wind was undoubtedly Airena.

It had not even been twenty years since we parted when I left on my journey to the eastern part of the continent, yet nostalgia made me smile despite myself.

A herald wind also conveyed the visitor's strength, and if it was poorly executed, the visitor would be underestimated.

In that regard, Airena's herald wind was first-rate, so the elves of the settlement began preparing a respectful welcome.

The fact that the elven caravan operating outside the forest could serve as the elven race's point of contact—in other words, as its representative—owed largely to Airena's exceptional strength even among the elves.

She was a famous Seven-Star adventurer, had experience and nerve negotiating with nations, and possessed strength even the forest elves had to acknowledge.

It was because she possessed all those qualities that Airena could fulfill her current role.

But even elves cannot remain in good health forever.

When she wished to entrust her role to someone else, would an elf capable of taking it over truly ever emerge?

Or perhaps teaching the elves in the caravan the spirit arts, so that a successor might emerge, would be my way of helping Airena, who had done so much for me.

As I may say so myself, I was fairly good at teaching people how to borrow the power of spirits.

Well, that could wait until the current situation had settled down.

My plans changed fairly often with circumstances or sudden ideas, so there was no point in thinking too far ahead.

I packed my belongings for the journey while waiting for their arrival.

"Aiser-sama, I know I've said this many times by now, but it is good to see you again. And welcome home. I am truly happy that you returned safely."

Airena's greeting was a little formal, perhaps because the settlement's elves were gathered around.

Yet her tone and expression made it abundantly clear how genuinely happy she was that I had returned.

Ah, but how many times had Airena and I said 'long time no see' to each other by now?

That thought was somehow amusing.

Many things change and pass away, but I still meet from time to time people who remain largely unchanged.

"Long time no see. And I'm back. Yes, it was a fun journey. I saw all sorts of interesting things and found clues about what I've been looking for."

Airena smiled and nodded at my words.

I had deliberately left it vague by saying 'what I was looking for,' but had she understood what I meant?

I meant that I had found a clue leading to the White Lake she sought and touched on the existence of the giants.

No... No matter how perceptive she was, she could not possibly imagine that I had made that much progress.

I wanted to tell her soon and surprise her.

Then I wanted to receive Win's letter, which she was probably keeping for me, and tell her about that as well.

But for now, there was something else I needed to discuss first.

"But let's leave that for later and talk about what comes next."

Yes, what I needed to discuss now was how the elves should respond to Zieden.

The elves could afford to take a hard line with Zieden now.

Besides noninterference in the elves' forest and permission for the caravan to operate within the country, we could make Zieden accept several other conditions.

Of course, this was not something Airena and I could decide on our own, nor was it something to discuss while standing around like this.

We needed to consult with this settlement's elders and the elves of the other forests as well.

Yet that was precisely why I wanted to tell Airena my intentions first.

Because she would, without a doubt, understand my feelings and take them fully into account.

Ultimately, the forest elves had little interest in the world beyond the forest.

As long as they themselves were not drawn into it and the forest remained peaceful and tranquil, they believed that whatever happened outside had nothing to do with them.

If I asked them to, they would probably obey me as well.

But that would not be the forest elves' own will.

"Airena, I'm worried about what's happening in the central part of the continent right now. I hate this situation, where the places I care about and the children and grandchildren of people I've known might be trampled underfoot. I hate this atmosphere thick with anxiety."

But Airena would understand my feelings of her own accord.

Even though more than a decade had passed since we last met, I trusted Airena.

And she nodded at my words.

"Understood. I feel the same way. Aiser-sama has already created the opportunity, so let's make the most of it."

Her answer was reassuring.

Naturally, I had no intention of leaving everything to Airena.

It would be faster if I were there to help consolidate the elves' views.

If my power as a High Elf was needed for anything else, I would act.

But Airena unquestionably knew how best to use it.

The anxiety and tension that had nested in a corner of my heart ever since I returned to the central part of the continent were finally lifting.

What I felt was unmistakably relief.