The Elven Country (1)

The elf was the seventh one Reas had introduced to me.

"I'm not entirely sure whether she's the sort of capable elf Eisa-sama is looking for, though..."

Reas said that somewhat uncertainly, then told me about the elf's background and characteristics.

Ah, I see.

It was still difficult to judge whether she was truly capable, but she certainly seemed like an elf I ought to meet and assess for myself.

The standard by which elves judged whether another elf was capable was remarkably simple.

It was how closely they could interact with spirits and draw out their power.

For elves, who did not increase their numbers and normally gathered only enough of the forest's bounty to live on, there were almost no practical skills necessary for survival.

Thus, skill with a bow, weaving vines and leaves into a dwelling, or twisting plant fibers into thread to make clothing and the like were not criteria by which they were judged.

...Ah, perhaps that was because elves lived so long that they believed anyone could master such things if they devoted enough years to them...