Chapter 236: Prince Sebas

The magical energy lingering in the forest indicated that this place was far from ordinary or peaceful.

The forest itself served as a defensive barrier. If enemies invaded, it would likely transform dramatically.

For now, it remained quiet, as if in a deep slumber.

Helag and Bain walked along the path, moving through the dark, silent forest.

After about half an hour, they finally emerged from the forest.

Ahead of them was a village-like area, with rows of wooden houses. At the heart of the village stood the towering World Tree, its massive canopy blocking out the sky.

As Helag gazed at the World Tree, he felt a strange connection, as if the tree was responding to him.

At that moment, a member of the elven guard noticed Helag and appeared before them in a flash.

“A first-level crystallization wizard…” Helag sensed the aura of the guard, noting his considerable strength.

Entering this place carried significant risk for Helag. Even without encountering the chieftain or elders, the guards alone were formidable.

But he had to come, both to complete his mission and for his own interests.

After seeing Bain’s reaction, Helag was confident in his plan.

Once he activated his bloodline mark, he truly became a royal elf.

Bloodlines don’t lie. Helag possessed the royal elf bloodline, and Bain had no choice but to believe him.

“Who might you be?” the guard asked hesitantly. He could sense the royal elf aura from Helag but hadn’t received any prior notice, leaving him unsure of how to proceed.

“My name is Sebas Orld. Take me to your chieftain,” Helag said softly.

“Orld!”

Both Bain and the guard were shocked.

They knew all too well what the surname “Orld” represented.

Most elves in Strange Valley lived their entire lives without ever meeting a royal elf, only hearing their names in stories.

Now, seeing one in person, both Bain and the guard were nervous.

The guard led Helag and Bain toward a small wooden house situated beneath the World Tree. Looking up, the enormous canopy loomed overhead, with occasional glimpses of stars through the gaps in the leaves.

Along the way, many elves cast curious glances at Helag. Strangers were rare in this area.

Helag made no effort to conceal his aura, and the elves, sensing it, instinctively lowered their heads and averted their gazes, too afraid to stare.

The innate nobility of Helag’s bloodline made them hesitant to speak loudly.

As Helag walked, he quickly scanned the surroundings, noting potential locations to place the teleportation coordinates.

The placement of the coordinates was crucial—they couldn’t be too close to the World Tree.

Being too close would raise suspicion.

After all, Helag was only a first-level gaseous wizard. How could someone like him get so close to the World Tree, place the coordinates, and leave unscathed?

Placing the coordinates in the forested area was the most reasonable choice.

It would complete the mission without making Helag’s actions seem too extraordinary.

After all, sneaking into the outer areas was feasible with the right methods.

But going deep into the valley, right under the World Tree, to place the coordinates would be too unbelievable and unrealistic.

As they approached the World Tree, hanging branches occasionally brushed against them.

These branches extended from the World Tree, reaching down close to the ground.

The elves never trimmed these branches, always walking around them, careful not to harm even a single one.

To them, the World Tree was like a mother, a sacred being that must be protected.

In the distance, a wooden house stood under the World Tree, where the chieftain resided.

The door opened, and an elderly elf stepped out, his deep gaze fixed on Helag.

As Helag approached, the chieftain asked curiously, “And you are…?”

“Sebas Orld,” Helag introduced himself succinctly.

“Ah, Prince Sebas!” The chieftain bowed slightly in respect.

Though the chieftain had never been to the World Tree’s mother tree, he was well aware of the royal family’s members.

Sebas was the older brother of Shatia, known as the Fourth Prince among the current generation of royal elves, while Shatia was the Seventh Princess.

The chieftain was a powerful spellcaster, at the level of a grand mage and a third-level wizard.

His sensitivity to bloodline auras was even sharper, and Helag’s aura was unmistakably that of a royal elf—there was no doubt about it.

After Helag revealed his name, the chieftain had no reason to doubt him.

“What brings you here, Prince Sebas?” the chieftain asked.

Helag didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Bain and the guard behind him.

“You may leave,” the chieftain instructed.

Bain and the guard quickly retreated.

As they left, Bain felt a surge of excitement.

A prince!

Prince Sebas!

I can’t believe I, Bain, had the honor of meeting a prince, and I was the one who brought him to the chieftain.

Bain was overjoyed, knowing this would be a story he could boast about for years.

I’m someone who knows Prince Sebas!

Helag had dared to use the name Sebas because he had gathered enough information.

Shatia was his servant, and from her, he had learned much about the elves.

Royal elves held an absolutely supreme position.

Elves from other tribes would never dare to defy or disrespect a royal elf.

They were also bound to serve and protect the royal elves without question.

Royal elves were raised under the World Tree’s mother tree, and in the hearts of all elves, they were the most revered beings.

When Shatia had been imprisoned as an ordinary elf, not a single elf had revealed her true identity.

Even when facing humiliation, they had kept Shatia’s secret.

This was because they were born with the duty to protect the royal elves.

For elves from remote tribes like those in Strange Valley, meeting a royal elf was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The chieftain and elders of Strange Valley rarely left the valley.

Even if they had visited the World Tree’s mother tree in the past, it was likely many years ago.

At that time, Sebas would have been as young as Shatia, and it was natural for his appearance to have changed significantly since then.

The only risk in Helag’s plan was if the chieftain had recently seen Sebas. In that case, Helag would be in danger.

But the odds of that were slim. After carefully considering the elves’ habits and information, Helag had decided to take the risk.

Fortunately, the chieftain of Strange Valley had never met Sebas. He hadn’t even been to the World Tree’s mother tree.

He only knew of the royal elves through information.