The Elven Country (2)

"I wondered what had happened when the spirits suddenly came alive... I'd heard the rumors, but I never imagined that a High Elf-sama had really come to this country. I'm amazed."

The female elf spoke hesitantly. I glanced sidelong at Reas, and when he gave a single nod, I realized that the woman before me was Thule, the person I was looking for.

I knew that elves saw High Elves as shining, but the spirits became lively too, so I could be found out just by coming near...?

That was a bit of a shock.

Could it be that Airena and the other elves had known all along that the spirits came alive whenever I was there, but had never mentioned it because they assumed that, as a High Elf, I would naturally notice the spirits' reactions?

No, well, as a High Elf myself, there was no way I could know what the spirits were like when no High Elf was nearby, so I wouldn't have known unless someone told me.

Ah, though she wasn't an elf, the mermaid Mizuyo had once said something similar to me.

Um, what was it again? 'The water is having so much fun'...?

I was already beginning to feel nostalgic for the country of Fuso.

Mizuyo was probably still alive, but Gonji surely wouldn't still be around by now...