Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 702 - 646: The Mentioned Friend

The deep green wove overhead into a canopy, scattering light upon the grassland, where the Heavenly God with his bright brush delineated a painting. A city lay like a slumbering giant at the heart of the thick forest, its roots spreading out into streams, all trees reaching toward it with their branches, yet maintaining a distance. This vegetation formed a natural ring, encircling the Elf City at the center.

Elves continuously descended the thick roots like scattered seeds touching earth, giving Lyle a brief glance before turning to attend to their own affairs. Several wand-bearing Elves with pale green luminescence in their hands, under the spells, cultivated new branches in place of the old and broken parts in the soil.

Irason didn’t lead Lyle into this splendid city, but instead took a turn toward a secluded treehouse in the Ring of the Forest.

"That is the Treeheart Castle, the city of the Queen’s faction. Its predecessor was an ancient tree type that the Green Dragon Irason and I once nurtured together. I could take you inside, but that would attract a lot of trouble. Sorry, Lyle, I will make it up to you later!"

Casting aside his regrets, Lyle nodded in understanding, "The Elf City’s landscape intrigues me, but Claudia’s situation worries me more. Let’s go see her first, Irason." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The Ring of the Forest is home to many Dream Elves and encircles the King’s Castle. The class consciousness of the Dream Forest isn’t strong, and the original residents of the Ring merely moved here due to the lack of space in the castle.

On the northwest edge of the Ring lies a patch of black thorns distinctly different in color from the surrounding landscape, where sunlight is dominated by the shade from several towering trees. Plants fond of dampness sparsely adorn the thornbush.

Like exposing the plant kingdom’s cruel law of survival of the fittest, this part of the forest emanated a chilling and oppressive gloom. Yet, there was also an unexpected beauty to it, as blue-violet roses proliferated in this secluded place. Even during the dim daylight, one could see fireflies twinkling like stars.

She stood there, like a wooden sculpture, amidst these spiky plants, arms resembling tender shoots sprouting from rotting wood, her green skin possessing the clarity of jade, contrasting with her bulky black armor, radiating a noble and valiant spirit.

The Elf Executive approached, and the plants on both sides parted like water before an icebreaker, the tumbling flowers seeming to cluster around her, propelling the noble lady to the forefront before the two of them.

Looking at the high tower from a distance felt different from standing at its base looking up. Under the scrutiny of that wooden mask adorned with antlers, a sense of being judged pervaded Lyle’s chest. Worse was the response from the bad omen.

"She harbors hostility towards you, very dangerous."

Without needing the bad omen’s reminder, Lyle too felt the icy gaze; the visage of the Elf Executive overlapped almost perfectly with that of the aloof White Dragon Priest, with subtle differences. The Mermaid Queen’s detachment was a cold indifference of frost and snow to all living things, whereas the Executive’s chill was a frost seeped in dense malice.

Lyle was surprised, for his initial reaction to such a look was not unease but wonder. She was the first to exhibit such blatant hostility upon their first meeting, which was indeed unusual for someone who is the heartthrob of ten thousand on the Mystic Side. The Liches almost idolized him, the Forgotten King from Twilight Memories maintained a closeness, the Black Abyssal Demons worshipped him and likened him to a demonic prince, and then there was the Elf Executive who seemed to bear a deep grudge against him.

"This is Susanna, the Elf Executive, my sister, the closest person to me, super, super, super reliable."

"And this is Lyle, the Dragon King Priest, student of my Dragon Priest brother Morocoy. Hmm... a child who is both interesting and intelligent."

Irason concluded the introductions and stepped aside, leaving the opportunity for pleasantries between them.

Susanna bent down, her mask’s cold light getting closer to Lyle, "Elan often mentions your name, saying that you are a special person, Mr. Lyle."

As she mentioned the name of the Green Dragon Priest, Lyle felt the Executive’s chill lessen slightly, the obvious difference in her demeanor allowing him to quickly surmise the reason for her hostility. This Executive doted on the Green Dragon Priest, and Lyle’s presence had aroused her protective instincts and competitiveness.

Lily Elves, huh... The dignified Elf Executive suddenly seemed adorable in Lyle’s mind.

"When I was in the City of Wandering, I often heard Lady Irason speak of that reliable and noble friend. Today, I am fortunate to meet you, and you are indeed just as she described." This was a lie. Irason had never mentioned anything about the Dream Forest; she either slept or played while in the City of Wandering.

Susanna turned her head to look at the Green Dragon Priest standing beside them, clearly lost in a silly smile, and the chilly aura around her dissipated.

"Is that so? Welcome to our homeland, Mr. Lyle. I appreciate the care you’ve taken of her in the past. I am grateful."

The two exchanged a smile; Susanna took over as the guide, parting the thorns to show them the way.

"I once was Tiffany’s godmother, and have some experience in educating children, so in actuality, Claudia is also under my tutelage. That child has an excellent talent for weaving dreams, but lately... Should I say she has entered a rebellious phase? She clearly resists my lesson plans. I can’t bring myself to be stern with those close to Elan, but when it’s truly necessary, I can be a strict mother. However, Irason recommended you, Mr. Lyle, and perhaps you have better techniques when it comes to teaching young dragons."

Susanna led them to a cavern, the darkness at the entrance suggesting its depth.

"This is my grove; great Druids have a piece of land touched by their spirit to use as classrooms for educating apprentices. Claudia is inside, and when she sinks into dreams, my cave will protect her body. Please, come in, Mr. Lyle."

The thorny vines growing on the doorway parted to either side, and Lyle followed Susanna towards the depths of the cave.

Susanna walked ahead, quickly swallowed by the darkness.

Lyle followed closely behind, his back gently tapped. He turned around to see Irason with her palm supporting her cheek, looking puzzled.

"Lyle, Lyle, did I ever mention Susanna to you in the City of Wandering? I don’t remember."

Lyle’s mouth twitched. Did this foolish Dragon Priest really dwell on that question the entire way?

"Of course, would I lie to you? The honorable and magnificent Lady Irason, you must have been too busy and forgotten. You definitely introduced Lady Susanna to me." Whatever the case, Lyle casually brushed off the foolish question and walked into the cave.

Irason pondered for three seconds, then tapped her head, as if she realized something.

"Ah, I must have forgotten!"

Convinced by Lyle, Irason no longer fretted and followed him into the cave.

"That being said, I must have often mentioned you to Susanna as well. I must have been too busy and forgotten again."

"And here I thought I had only mentioned her once."