Chapter 2: Eleanor the Chatterbox
After learning about the changes that had occurred on Solor over the past five years from the elven girl, Eleanor, Bai now had a general understanding of the current situation.
The Abyssal Demon Realm had sealed itself off, the North Empire had grown stronger, the Bewildering Forest had emerged from its sacred lands, and the Savage Lands, though they had suffered the most, were slowly recovering.
But Eleanor didn’t know much more than that.
She was a self-proclaimed “elf otaku,” spending her days either studying magic or playing games and reading novels—the North Empire had developed a thriving entertainment device industry, even exporting to other races, and their sales in the Savage Lands were surprisingly high.
But…
Bai’s gaze fell on the crystal fragments on the table. They looked familiar.
“What’s this?”
“Ah, this… how do I put it…” Eleanor scratched her head, a troubled look on her face.
“It’s one of our sacred elven artifacts. I don’t know why it broke. And to make matters worse, I somehow got blamed for breaking it, and then I had to bring it back from the High Priestess…”
She launched into a long, rambling explanation, but the more she spoke, the more Bai’s eye twitched.
Sacred artifact? High Priestess? She seemed to remember… something from her time in the North Empire’s capital…
“By the way, Miss Eleanor,” Bai interrupted, a slight sense of unease in her voice, “have you ever been to the North Empire’s capital…?”
Eleanor, easily distracted, paused. “The North Empire’s capital? Sounds familiar…”
“About five years ago?” Bai prompted.
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “Oh! You mean the human capital… don’t even get me started. If I hadn’t gone there, this thing wouldn’t have broken, and I wouldn’t be in this mess…”
She was the most talkative elf Bai had ever met, shattering her preconceived notions of the aloof, arrogant pointy-ears.
But listening to her, Bai finally understood.
The crystal fragments that had summoned her back from the void were the same ones that had shattered in her hand five years ago.
“But that elf, Nimora, she said it wasn’t valuable…” Bai muttered to herself.
She had claimed to be able to tell her future, but the crystal ball had exploded before she could say anything.
“What was that, Bai?” Eleanor asked, leaning closer.
“N-nothing,” Bai said, looking away, embarrassed.
It seemed she was the cause of Eleanor’s current predicament.
“By the way, Miss Eleanor, could I… borrow these fragments? To study them?”
If this was what had summoned her back, perhaps it could also be used to save Ara, who was still lost in the void.
“That’s… a bit difficult,” Eleanor said, a troubled look on her face.
“Even in fragments, it’s still a sacred artifact… it might still be possible to repair it. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I have to keep it with me. So, I can’t let anyone else have it, especially not a non-elf…”
Bai nodded. It made sense. A sacred artifact, even a broken one, was still precious.
“But…” Eleanor stroked her chin thoughtfully. “If you don’t take it with you, I don’t see why you can’t have a look. It’s already broken. A few more pieces won’t make a difference.”
“In that case, please allow me to express my sincerest gratitude, Miss Eleanor,” Bai said, her face lighting up. She almost saluted, but caught herself just in time.
If she was recognized, it could lead to… complications. And Bai hated complications.
“Always ‘Miss this’ and ‘Miss that.’ It’s so formal, Bai,” Eleanor said, seemingly oblivious to Bai’s stiff posture.
“Then… what should I call you?”
“Just Eleanor. It’s my name. My parents gave it to me so people would use it, not just look at it.”
Her personality was surprisingly easygoing. She hadn’t even asked about Bai’s origins, seemingly only interested in her silver hair and childlike appearance.
“Alright, Eleanor,” Bai said. “If you don’t mind, could I trouble you for a while? Studying these crystal fragments might take some time…”
She wanted to ask if she could stay with her, but she was too embarrassed.
“No problem, no problem,” Eleanor said, seeming to understand. “It’s no big deal. But I might be leaving the sacred lands in a few days. I’m being… kicked out.”
Although she tried to sound casual, the tremor in her voice and the slight catch in her breath betrayed her.
“Why?” Bai asked, confused.
Eleanor had been chosen to accompany the High Priestess to the capital. She must have been someone important.
And the sacred lands were now flourishing, their natural power even stronger than before the war.
Why would they kick her out?
And judging by her worn clothes and cramped living quarters, it wasn’t by choice.
As for Bai, although she had been lost in the void for some time, the dress she wore was still the one Leticia had given her.
Her aura had protected it from the worst of the void’s corrosive energy, but it was still slightly damaged.
“…It’s mainly because the High Priestess is in seclusion. And the sacred artifact fragments… well, that’s part of it,” Eleanor said, quickly changing the subject. “By the way, Bai, have you been to Solor before?”
“I’m from Solor,” Bai said, a bit exasperated. “Didn’t I just mention the North Empire’s capital…?”
“Huh, that’s even stranger. Can this summoning circle summon people from Solor?”
Eleanor looked past Bai, at the summoning circle.
“Hmm… I definitely didn’t use a same-plane teleportation rune.”
