A Terrifying Hypothesis

“Why is the effect of the Elf Growth Accelerator so similar to the Sacred Bath?”

Just as Felicia was reassuring herself that her worries were unfounded, Selina’s sudden question caught her off guard.

The Elf Growth Accelerator rapidly speeds up an elf’s growth cycle, pushing them from childhood to adulthood in a short time.

The Sacred Bath, on the other hand, uses divine power to cleanse an elf’s bloodline and body, primarily to awaken their bloodline while also promoting physical development to some extent.

This explains why, despite elven royals needing 500 years to mature naturally, Felicia, at 25, was nearly mature, and Selina, at 5, was already showing signs of early development—both accelerated by the Sacred Bath.

The chilling similarity between the two lies in their shared effect: promoting growth and drastically shortening childhood to hasten adulthood.

The Sacred Bath focuses on bloodline awakening and power enhancement, while the Growth Accelerator emphasizes physical maturation. Yet both achieve growth and power amplification.

However, nearly every captured young elf has their magical circuits—essential for wielding magic—brutally destroyed by mercenaries while they’re still weak.

This is akin to shattering a cultivator’s dantian in wuxia novels, instantly nullifying any magical cultivation or preventing it entirely.

This ensures adult elves’ formidable strength is neutralized, preventing them from overpowering their captors after being injected with the Accelerator.

This method masks the Accelerator’s strength-enhancing effects, as the destroyed magical circuits render the elves unable to use magic.

Felicia’s mind raced, processing this in minutes and arriving at an absurd conclusion: the core active substance in the Elf Growth Accelerator and the Sacred Pool’s liquid must be the same. Given the Sacred Grounds’ ancient traditions predate the Accelerator, it’s likely the drug was developed from the pool’s liquid.

“Sister, are you saying there’s a traitor among the elves?”

Felicia grabbed Selina’s hand, trembling. Selina could feel her usually proud, composed sister shaking through their touch.

No wonder—such a hypothesis, if true, revealed a dark and horrifying truth.

But soon, they spotted a flaw.

If the Accelerator was derived from the Sacred Pool’s liquid, the pool’s liquid would be a critical raw material.

Yet the Sacred Pool is finite, and the volume of elf trafficking across the continent is vast. The numbers don’t add up.

The pool lies within the Sacred Grounds, accessible only to pureblood elven royals, a rare group. Excluding distant relatives, and considering the Accelerator’s timeline, only Karina and the previous Empress could be suspects.

But both were unthinkable. An Empress would never harm her people or nation. This alone ruled them out.

The sisters could think of no other possibilities.

Time ticked by, their grave expressions unchanging. Maids Cuibis and Velansel refilled their tea, but the cups grew cold.

Felicia snapped out of her chaotic thoughts, waving to interrupt Selina’s brooding.

“If this hypothesis is correct, the consequences are unimaginable. I’ll report it to Mother…”

Rubbing her weary brow, Felicia comforted, “Don’t worry too much. If the Sacred Pool and the Accelerator are linked, it happened long ago. Solving this won’t be quick. You’ve done well to consider this possibility. Leave the rest to me and Mother…”

As she spoke, Felicia couldn’t resist patting Selina’s head. Having a cute, obedient sister to pat was addictive.

Selina nodded absently, instinctively nuzzling into the touch, her body responding honestly despite her distraction.

For hours, she’d poured her heart into this potential crisis facing the elves. Though she’d never admit it, deep down, she already saw herself as an integral part of the elven race.

This sense of racial identity is hard to forge, but once established, its bonds are nearly unbreakable.

Returning their books to their places, the sisters walked side by side.

Felicia subtly took Selina’s hand. Feeling the larger hand envelop hers, Selina instinctively tried to pull away, but Felicia held firm.

With their maids nearby, Selina relented to avoid looking awkward, letting her sister lead.

Savoring her sister’s soft, delicate hand, Felicia’s earlier seriousness gave way to delight. At the academy, she had no chance to be close with Selina; back home, every moment was precious.

“By the way, sister, tonight after dinner, make sure to bathe and burn incense…”

Felicia suddenly instructed as they walked.

“What? Is there a special ritual? I don’t recall anything like that.”

Selina frowned. After five years as an elf, she knew their customs well. Bathing and burning incense were for significant ceremonies or festivals, but she recalled none upcoming.

“You wouldn’t know—it’s something Mother told me yesterday. She asked me to help you bathe thoroughly tonight. After the Sacred Bath, your body’s strength has a solid foundation. To ensure your safety outside the Elven Forest or without protection…”

“Mother has moved up the plan to personally inscribe a Sacred Mark on your body.”

Selina froze, her face paling as if drained of blood.

A Sacred Mark? Wasn’t that a protective measure for young elves leaving their guardians? Safe in the Elven Forest, why did she need this?

She recalled a memory from before her memories returned: stumbling into Karina’s room, where Karina was inscribing intricate patterns on Felicia’s bare back with blood-stained fingers.

Despite Felicia’s renowned willpower, her face was contorted in pain, sweat beading like pearls.

To Selina, the Sacred Mark wasn’t protection—it was torture!