Chapter 209: The Elves

Tyron shook his head, “Impossible! Mr. Cole is a mid-level spellcaster; he wouldn’t fall so easily. I suspect he’s trapped inside.”

“Should we send someone to check?” the messenger asked.

“Check? If Mr. Cole is trapped, who else could go?” Tyron replied, frustrated.

The messenger, intimidated, remained silent, head bowed.

Tyron exhaled, sighing, “We can’t do nothing. Keep monitoring the area, and notify me of any changes. Also, write to Archmage Severus about the situation.”

Tyron hadn’t expected Cole to disappear without a trace for half a month, causing him anxiety. If something happened to Cole, how could he explain to Severus?

He decided against sending anyone to find Cole.

If a mid-level spellcaster like Cole couldn’t escape, sending more people was futile.

Tyron realized the gravity of the situation.

The Lim Mountains were more perilous than imagined.

Numerous adventurers vanished, and now Cole, a mid-level spellcaster, was missing.

This indicated a significant underlying issue.

As a high-ranking official, Tyron knew some supernatural events were terrifying.

Ordinary people couldn’t comprehend them, filled with inexplicable occurrences.

He hoped Cole would return or Severus could resolve the problem upon receiving the letter.

Tyron felt immense pressure, viewing the Lim Mountains as a quagmire, swallowing anyone who ventured in.

“If even Archmage Severus can’t…” Tyron shook his head, dismissing the thought.

If Severus couldn’t solve it, no one in the Norn Kingdom could.

***

Another half-month passed.

Sea Stone City.

Severus read the letter, his expression grave.

“Half a month without a trace…”

Severus knew what this meant.

Many relics could trap people, but not for this long.

And Cole, a mid-level spellcaster, wouldn’t be easily trapped.

Severus had experienced many relics, understanding them well.

From his experience, Cole likely wasn’t trapped but encountered danger, possibly life-threatening.

Severus felt an urge to rush to Oberstein.

But he calmed himself.

He began doubting his initial assumption of a relic.

The Lim Mountains’ events didn’t align with relic signs.

Severus sensed something amiss, feeling the situation was beyond his control.

He retrieved a wooden flute.

An elf had given it to him, saying to use it if something unusual occurred.

Severus had been puzzled, as elves were aloof, rarely interacting with humans.

Elves typically only associated with royal families, not human spellcasters.

As a magician, Severus knew some elves.

When he received the flute, he wondered, “What constitutes an unusual situation?”

After encountering the Lim Mountains’ events, he recalled the flute.

Perhaps the elves knew something, hence the flute.

Severus initially thought he had connected with the elves due to his magician status.

He believed his power had earned him value among elves.

But now, it seemed the elves anticipated unusual events, and as the Norn Kingdom’s strongest spellcaster, Severus would be informed.

Thus, the elves left the flute.

Severus felt blank.

If true, Cole might not return.

This was unacceptable.

What seemed a simple relic exploration hid many secrets.

Severus’s aged eyes gazed at the horizon, hoping to see Cole’s smile.

He solemnly played the flute.

A melodious tune rose, followed by a man’s voice from the flute.

“Severus? What’s the matter?” the elf man asked.

“Mr. Lucio, I’ve encountered some issues…”

Severus explained the Lim Mountains’ events in detail.

Lucio listened silently, waiting for Severus to finish.

Afterward, Lucio paused, then asked, “Your student is a mid-level spellcaster?”

“Yes,” Severus replied, his voice weary.

“He hasn’t returned after half a month?” Lucio continued.

“Yes, sir,” Severus answered.

Lucio remained silent for a while.

After a long pause, Lucio spoke, “I’ll bring people to discuss this with you. Meanwhile, keep everyone away from the Lim Mountains and act as usual.”

“Alright, I’ll wait in Sea Stone City,” Severus felt hopeful with Lucio’s visit.

Elves were the world’s strongest, capable of solving any problem.

Yet, Severus realized the situation exceeded his imagination.

The Lim Mountains hid great secrets, increasing the likelihood of Cole’s demise.

After ending the call with Lucio, Severus wrote to Tyron.

Lucio’s tone suggested seriousness.

What could make elves so serious?

Severus didn’t know, only praying for Cole’s safety.

***

Strange Valley.

An elven settlement.

A giant tree, over a thousand meters tall, dominated the valley, its canopy vast and impressive.

This was a branch of the World Tree.

Every World Tree branch housed elves.

Elves thrived around the World Tree, growing and prospering.