TBATE: Shadows Of The Past

Chapter 15 - New Mentor

[1st POV - Arthur Leywin]

Pristine.

That was the word that popped into my head as I gawked at the elven city. It appeared we had teleported directly past the gates. Before me stood buildings built out of a jade-like material, so flawless and smooth that each one seemed to be carved from a single, huge stone.

What made this place even more awe-inspiring were the enormous trees that intertwined with the buildings, giving the city a distinctive and organic ambiance. Looking up, I saw homes built on unnaturally thick branches extending from massive trunks even larger than the buildings, with smoke drifting out of their chimneys.

The ground inside the city was covered in a lush field of soft moss, with narrow sidewalks and a main road paved with smooth stones. The dense array of branches that fanned out from the trees created a canopy of shade, but the city was illuminated by warm, luminescent orbs of light situated on every corner and street.

As I stood there, slack-jawed, trying to process the world around me, a shadow whizzed in front of me suddenly, jolting me awake.

Tess was still holding my hand when a group of what appeared to be guards arrived out of nowhere. These elven warriors exuded a dignified air, dressed in coordinated black suits with green trimmings and a golden shoulder guard on their left shoulder. Each of the five guards carried a rapier strapped to their waists. I noted mentally that these guards did not emit any discernible aura.

Both Augmenters and Conjurers naturally emitted a faint aura from their bodies (my brother being an exception to this, as neither I nor our parents were able to sense anything from him). The fact that I couldn't sense any leaking mana meant one of two things: either their mana cores were at a high enough level for me not to sense it, or they had such control over their mana that none leaked out. Either way, it meant that these individuals were as impressive as their attire suggested.

The guards paid no attention to my presence as they suddenly kneeled in unison in front of Tess. "We welcome back the royal princess."

"..."

My gaze darted between the guards and Tess, and I couldn't help but be reminded of the time I jokingly called Tessia 'your highness.'

Tessia was actually the princess of this entire kingdom?

When I attempted to let go of Tessia's hand, she suddenly tightened her grip. In a voice so cold and apathetic that I almost mistook her for Cain, she said, "You may rise."

They stood up, their right fists still crossing their chests, and the knight in front spoke. "Princess, we arrived as soon as we saw that the royal teleportation gate had been used. The King and Queen are..."

Before he could finish speaking, I heard a cry not too far away.

"My baby! Tessia, you're okay! Oh, my baby!"

Running towards us were a middle-aged man and woman. From the crown on the man's head and the tiara encircling the woman's forehead, I assumed they were the King and Queen.

The King had a tall, well-built body clad in a loose, decorated robe. His emerald eyes were sharp, gazing upward, and his thin lips were tensed, matching his short, military-style hair.

While the King had a dignified yet somewhat reserved appearance, the Queen was breathtaking. Although she was beyond her youthful stage, her age couldn't conceal her beauty. Her round eyes shimmered with a light blue hue, contrasting with her lush, pink-colored lips. Her silver hair cascaded down, reaching past her back as she ran towards us, her well-proportioned figure visible beneath her dress.