Memory Resurgence

Five years passed like flowing water.
For humans, each five years brought monumental changes.
For the long-lived elves, who measured time in millennia, five years were but a fleeting trickle, hardly worth mentioning…

The Emerald City, the holy city of the elves, bore a long gash in its outer district.
Time had gradually filled the scar left by that battle.
Soil reclaimed the void, and lush green grass covered the once-charred earth.

Yet, in those seemingly quiet five years, events big and small unfolded one after another.
First, the renowned Saint of Thieves of the Seraris Continent perished while stealing the elves’ Sacred Fruit.
This caused quite a stir across the continent—not because of Kant’s personal influence, but because his target was the ancient and storied elven race.

The Sacred Fruit, a closely guarded secret of the elves, was known only for its potent life force, its true purpose a mystery to outsiders.
For the Saint of Thieves to dare such a risky heist spoke of rare audacity.
The outcome, however, was predictable…

A single human’s strength was far too feeble, especially against the mighty elves.
Only other ancient races could hope to stand against them.

The uproar eventually faded, but before it fully settled, another major event in the elven realm drew widespread attention.

The birth of Selina, the Second Princess of pure elven blood, stunned the world.
The last addition to the elven royal family had been twenty-five years ago, with the birth of the First Princess, Felicia.
Given the elves’ notoriously low fertility, outsiders assumed the royal family wouldn’t grow again anytime soon.
Yet, Selina’s arrival defied expectations.

The addition of a royal member was already significant, especially since she was the Elven Empress’s own daughter.
The news sent ripples through the races, but before the impact could spread further, the Elven Empress wielded her authority to quell the matter.

The elves’ concern for their royal family’s safety was unimaginable.
The Empress’s personal intervention signaled how much she valued this child.
As the leader of the elves, Empress Karina’s strength was awe-inspiring.
With such a powerful mother protecting her, any dark schemes lurking in the shadows wisely retreated.

Thus, five years passed quietly and uneventfully.
The Second Princess, whose birth had caused such a stir, had grown.
The elves, high and low, seemed thoroughly pleased with Selina’s presence.
Outsiders praised her as a daughter blessed by the gods, her lineage proof of perfection, her every gesture a pure expression of natural beauty.
Until this day, five years later…

A young elf maiden in a servant’s uniform hurried into the Elven Empress’s chamber.
She gazed at Empress Karina, seated at a golden wooden desk, diligently reviewing documents, her expression filled with panic and worry.

“Your Majesty, Princess Selina, she…”

“She’s caused quite a commotion in the Ancestral Grounds, hasn’t she?”

Before the servant could finish, Karina, who had been engrossed in her work, looked up, her gaze deep and knowing.

The interrupted servant froze briefly, then hurriedly nodded.

“Her Highness, she… she might have been triggered by something.
Her mental state seems unstable.
She’s never done anything like this before.
The First and Second Elders say there’s more to this.
Your Majesty, please…”

Seeing the Empress’s impassive expression and the heavy atmosphere, the servant’s heart sank.
She quickly spoke up, trying to defend the princess.

“Enough. I already know.
I haven’t said I’d punish her, yet you’re already pleading her case.”

Karina set down her quill, her tone and expression tinged with helplessness.
Though she had anticipated the incident, the fact that so many were already interceding for her daughter before it was fully addressed left the Empress with mixed feelings.

Sensing that the Empress wasn’t truly angry, the servant let out a sigh of relief and quickly knelt to apologize.

“Xita was out of line before Your Majesty.
Please forgive my rudeness.”

Facing the young elf maiden’s plea, Karina’s emerald eyes held no real anger.
While the elves were distant and proud toward outsiders, they were endlessly lenient with their own.

“Given your loyalty to your mistress, I’ll let it pass for now.
Immediately have Selina brought to me.
And remember—don’t let too many people know of this.”

Seeing the Empress still diligently covering for her daughter’s mess, the servant fully relaxed and accepted the order.

As the elf servant’s figure receded, Karina rubbed her temples, a glint flashing through her emerald eyes as she murmured softly.

“She’s really… remembered everything, hasn’t she?”

No sooner had her words fallen than a commotion sounded at the entrance.
Several elven Imperial Guards cautiously escorted a struggling elf maiden into the Empress’s chamber.
At Karina’s glance signaling them to leave, the guards departed, visibly relieved.

The Imperial Guards held significant authority in the Holy City, enough to intimidate most elf civilians.
Escorting offenders was routine for them, but this time, the prisoner’s identity made the task unusually delicate.
Even with the Empress’s direct order to bring her by force, the guards were terrified of accidentally harming their precious charge.

An ordinary elf committing such a grave offense would’ve been thrown into the dungeon long ago.
But this one, brimming with defiance, showed no trace of fear toward the guards.
Yet, her status meant no one dared handle her roughly.
Bound by the Empress’s command, they could only awkwardly and painstakingly bring her here.

Looking at the elf maiden, her hands bound by magic and her mouth sealed, Karina let out a helpless sigh.
She brushed away the fatigue in her eyes, her gaze softening into a mother’s tenderness.

“Selina, my dear daughter, can you give me a reasonable explanation for today’s events?”

As she spoke, the Elven Empress gently waved her hand.
With a flick of her fingers, the magical seal on the maiden’s mouth dissolved.
The delicate figure continued to struggle on the floor, her voice laced with deep resentment.

“Karina, you cunning woman, conspiring with the Elven Ancestor God to deceive me!”

Her once-melodious voice now carried an overwhelming mix of grievance and anger.