Hours later, after a long and tense conversation that seemed to have drained the spirit from the hall, the meeting finally ended. But Rio was no longer in the hall. He had left much earlier, when words and unspoken threats hung in the air like daggers. Now, he leaned against the trunk of one of the giant trees in the vast forest courtyard. The rough bark under his fingers was cold and soothing, but it couldn't quell the storm within him. Anxiety and fear gnawed at his core like a relentless wave, and he had chosen to escape the stifling atmosphere of the summit. He could no longer bear another word about war, death, or surrender.
His breaths were short and trembling, each inhale filling his lungs with the cold forest air. But his mind refused to calm. A strange anger, like a smoldering flame, flared within him—not just against the Star People, but against the entire world. He couldn't understand the people of this world. Their purposeless wars for land, gold, or power were incomprehensible to him. Rio came from a modern, peaceful world where wars existed only in history books, not in everyday reality. But here, people spoke of killing, destroying, and sacrificing so casually, as if it were part of their nature. This contrast, this savagery, crushed his heart and drowned him in a sea of unanswered questions. Why was this world so cruel? Why couldn't they choose peace like his world?
Lost in his thoughts, images of war, black letters, and William's terrifying eyes swirled in his mind. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps on the golden cobblestones snapped him back to reality. His father, William, emerged from the hall with Elian, Adrina, and Nadia. William, in his red-and-black coat that rippled like a dying flame in the forest breeze, was deep in thought, his red eyes fixed on the distance. Adrina scanned her surroundings with a calm but cautious smile, while Nadia, her face emotionless and fists clenched, seemed to carry the anger of the meeting with her.
Seeing his father, Rio jumped up and ran toward him.
"Father!"
William paused for a moment, as if pulled from the depths of his thoughts. He glanced at Rio, his eyes cold but not devoid of feeling. In a calm but weighty voice, he said,
"Come Rio. Our work here is done."
Rio, his heart still pounding with excitement and despair, walked beside his father. William's hands were clasped behind his back, his steps as dignified and measured as ever. Rio fell silent for a moment, but the wonder of the forest and his desire to stay in this magical world compelled him to speak. With a voice full of eagerness, he said,
"Father, can't we stay longer? I wanted to see more of this place."
William gave him a brief glance, his red eyes glinting for a moment, as if searching for something in Rio. In a low but firm voice, he replied,
"Maybe next time son. Maybe next time."
Rio wanted to insist, to say that this opportunity might never come again, but his father's cold, intimidating gaze, now fixed ahead, stopped him. There was something in that look—not just exhaustion, but a mysterious secret, like a storm hidden deep within William. Rio chose to stay silent, lowered his head, and walked beside his father. But suddenly, a familiar voice called from behind.
"Lord William!"
William stopped in his tracks, his hands tightening behind his back. He slowly turned his head and saw Talandril, the elf Emperor, approaching with Selria. Talandril's golden hair shimmered in the forest breeze like a crown of light, and his royal robe swayed with every step. Selria, in her golden armor with her black hair, moved like a loyal shadow beside him. Talandril, with a kind but respectful smile, said,
"Lord William, thank you for attending the summit. Your information was invaluable."
William raised his hand slightly, as if to maintain an invisible distance between them. In a cold but polite tone, he said,
"I'm glad I could help. And please, just call me William. I'm merely the leader of a small tribe, no grand title."
Talandril, slightly taken aback by the cold response, hesitated. Sweat glistened on his forehead in the sunlight, and his smile faltered. Trying to maintain his warmth, he said,
"If that's what you wish, I'll respect your request."
A brief silence fell between them, as if both were assessing each other. William, with eyes like two fiery pits, said:
"Is there something else to discuss? We were about to return to our tribe."
Talandril, as if snapping out of a daze, gave a small chuckle, his face flushing slightly.
"Yes, actually, I wanted to invite you to stay one more day."
William raised his eyebrows, his face now tinged with surprise, but there was something in his gaze—a sharp, mysterious intelligence, as if he were weighing every word Talandril spoke.
"Why?"
With newfound confidence, Talandril said,
"Since the floating island your tribe resides on is within my land, I thought we could explore further cooperation."
Rio, standing beside his father, suddenly felt the air grow heavier. His eyes fell to William's hands, now clenched into fists behind his back. For Rio, who had lived with his father for years, this was a clear sign—William was angry. Though his face remained as impassive and cold as ever, Rio knew something was igniting within him. But to his surprise, William suddenly smiled—a strange, enigmatic, almost threatening smile. He extended his hand toward Talandril and, with a voice that seemed to hide a secret, said,
"I'd be delighted to cooperate with your empire. So, my family and I will stay a bit longer."
In that moment, Rio didn't know whether to feel excited or afraid. The chance to see more of the elf world was thrilling, but his father's hidden anger and that mysterious smile rang like a warning bell in his mind. Why was William so angry? And why, despite that, did he agree to stay?
Later, William and his family followed Selria through the vast forest. The towering trees, their trunks like pillars of ancient temples, stretched toward the sky, their branches forming a canopy of green and gold that filtered the sunlight. Rio gazed in awe, only now realizing that the elf Empire was not built on the ground but among the treetops. Wooden cabins and houses, crafted with magical precision, clung to the tree trunks like giant bird nests. Rope bridges, adorned with intricate patterns, connected the homes, and elfs moved across them with silent, graceful steps. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden patches on the bridges and cabins, as if the entire city were caught in a magical dance.
Rio couldn't take his eyes off this beauty. The cabins were adorned with stained-glass windows that turned the light into rainbows of color. Some of the massive trees even held watchtowers, where sharp-eyed elf archers scanned the forest below. A cold, wintry breeze blew through, carrying the songs of white, owl-like birds with black eyes and tiny bodies, a natural symphony. To Rio, this city was like a dream pulled from Olivia's scrolls.
Nadia, walking beside him with an expressionless face, suddenly said in a sardonic tone,
"You live in the trees?"
Selria, still guiding them with a calm smile, replied softly,
"Years ago, after the Star People's attack, the previous Emperor decided to move the city to the treetops. For greater safety."
Nadia glanced at the rope bridges and suspended cabins, feeling for a moment as if she were in another world—one both beautiful and dangerous.
Soon, Selria led them to the base of one of the forest's largest trees, where a wooden elevator, secured with sturdy ropes and delicate carvings, awaited. The elevator carried them smoothly and silently to the treetop, where a grand, magnificent cabin stood. Built from light oak, it had tall windows offering a breathtaking view of the forest. Inside were several beds with silken sheets, carved tables, and intricate elf decorations. The room was warmed by stone bowls filled with molten material, each containing a glowing Flame diamond that cast a warm, orange light across the walls.
William paused, eyeing the cabin as if assessing something. Then, turning to Selria, he said in a polite but cold tone,
"Thank you for the room."
Selria bowed with a smile and left. But the moment the door closed, Nadia, her voice icy and brimming with anger, said,
"What are you doing, Father?"
William looked at her, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"I merely responded to an invitation. That's all."
Nadia clenched her teeth, her red eyes blazing.
"Every moment we stay in plain sight increases the risk of Rio's identity being exposed. We need to leave."
Adrina, who had been silent until now, took Nadia's hand and said in a calm but firm voice,
"I'm sure Father has a good reason for staying. Don't you, Father?"
William looked at his daughters, his red eyes like deep wells hiding a secret he wouldn't even share with them. In a cold but authoritative tone, he said,
"Rest. We've been invited to dinner with the Emperor tonight."
Rio, standing by the wall, felt his heart race. His father's enigmatic gaze, his calculated words, and that strange smile to Talandril—all pointed to William having a plan, one even his family didn't know. But what was it? Why had he agreed to stay despite his anger? And why did Rio feel this decision was like a key unlocking a dangerous cage?
Nadia stormed to one of the beds and threw herself onto it, as if trying to smother her anger in the pillows. Adrina, with a calm smile, walked to the window and gazed at the forest, though even she couldn't fully hide her unease. Rio looked at his father, now standing by the glowing bowl, staring into the flames. The orange light danced on his cold face, and for a moment, Rio felt William was not just a father but a living enigma—a man whose every move, every word, was a piece on a vast chessboard.
William suddenly looked up and met Rio's gaze, as if sensing he was being watched. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.
"Something wrong, son?"
Rio shook his head but couldn't hold back. In a quiet voice, laced with curiosity and fear, he asked,
"Father… why did we stay?"
William paused, his eyes locked on Rio, as if trying to read his soul. Then, in a voice like a whisper in the wind, he said,
"Because of our needs, son."
Rio's breath caught. William's words were a riddle, not fully unraveled, but enough to make Rio understand: this stay, this dinner, this cooperation—it was all part of a larger plan. And with his power, hidden like a bomb within him, Rio was likely at the center of it. The elf forest, with all its beauty, now felt like a magical trap, and Rio didn't know if he could escape it unscathed.