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Heading down to the reception area, I found myself face-to-face with a striking elven maid. Her blonde hair was cropped short, framing a face that somehow managed to blend elegance with a touch of unexpected sass. Her attire, while undeniably practical for her duties, left little to the imagination. A pointed bow accentuated the curve of her hips as she dipped into a respectful curtsy.

Well she\'s stunning. Huh.

"Mister Neveah," she greeted, her voice as crisp as the morning air. "I am here to escort you at the request of the Princess."

Her words elicited a small sigh of relief. Lara, at least, was being sensible. No elaborate journeys through guarded forests or confrontations with third-rate guards. I could almost picture the scenario: some third rate elf harassing me for daring to exist near their princess or claiming to be the princess\' guest. Then verbal would turn physical. If I defended myself then I\'ll be named an enemy.

Things would even get more ridiculous as another strong idiot would come trying to protect his people and even after hearing the explanation he/she would still fault me.

Then after another confrontation would my \'gracious host\' appear and handle the situation. There would be a lot of apologies and glares from the attacking party. Somehow again the attacking party would be linked to some powerful individual who\'ll continue to harass... To annoy me. That\'s how it normally goes in novels. A time wasting encounter achieving nothing.

So for doing this I genuinely have respect for that princess\' intellect.

"Smart woman," I muttered under my breath, following the maid out the door. Her short blonde hair bounced as she walked, and the cut of her clothing hinted at more skin than strictly necessary, but I do not to judge. Maybe that was elven high fashion.

We bypassed carriages and wyvern stables, finally arriving at a shimmering teleportation circle.

With a curt nod, the maid gestured for me to step inside. Her own mana flared, channeling into the intricate runes etched on the circle\'s surface. She closed her eyes and muttered a short incantation, her hands swirling through the air. A tingling sensation washed over me, followed by a sudden rush of cool air, the scent of damp earth and ripe fruits filling my nostrils.

As the light stabilized, I found myself standing in a clearing bathed in emerald light. Towering trees, their leaves shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence, surrounded me. The Elven Continent, unmistakable in its green beauty, stretched out before me.

************

After an elemental wind spirit ride, the maid gestured towards a grand double door, intricately carved with swirling vines and glowing crystals. "Mister Neveah, this way please." Her voice, polite yet firm, ushered me onward.

The Elven Palace loomed before me, a grand design that married nature and architecture seamlessly. Emerald green walls, accented with shimmering crystal lattices, shimmered in the sunlight. Stepping inside, the lack of guards surprised me. Then again, with two freaking 11-star powerhouses residing here, who needed guards?

The maid, seemingly oblivious to my internal monologue, led me through a labyrinthine hallway until we reached a doorway. With a gentle push, the door revealed a spacious room. Creamy walls, offset by dark hardwood floors, created a sense of elegant warmth. A chandelier, adorned with glittering crystals, cast a soft glow across the space.

Large windows offered a breathtaking view of the Elven forest canopy.

In the center of the room, a table piled high with books stood sentinel, surrounded by plush white sofas.

"Please, sit," the maid gestured towards the seating area. "The princess will be with you shortly. Can I offer you some refreshments?"

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

The maid\'s gaze lingered on me for a moment, a spark of curiosity flickering in her green eyes. Then, with a small curtsey, she glided out of the room, leaving me alone.

But alone wasn\'t quite the right word. An invisible net of scrutiny seemed to drape heavy over the room. They\'d put me in a comfortable cage. A place where I couldn\'t snoop around and stumble upon something sensitive. No excuses of "I was just looking for the princess" that wouldn\'t fly here. Not with those two 11-star monsters breathing down my neck.

Even before stepping foot on this palace, the moment I got on this continent, I felt the constant prickle of observation. And here, within these very walls, those eyes were upon me, dissecting my every move. How then, in this suffocating atmosphere of surveillance, was I supposed to find that piece.

My eyes glazed over as I skimmed the titles of the books on the table. "The History of Elven Circle theory," "Advanced Circles for Beginners" – fascinating reads, I\'m sure, but my mind was elsewhere.

Finally, the door creaked open and Lara entered. A stark contrast to the opulence of the room, she was clad in a simple shirt and skirt, her hair pulled back in a practical braid. "Neveah," she greeted, a hint of apology in her voice. "I apologize for the wait."

"No worries," I replied.

She joined me, then, she glanced at the books on the table. An eyebrow lifted ever so slightly, a subtle movement most wouldn\'t notice. "You know how to read Elven?" she asked.

"A bit," I lied, it was a lie but a necessary one, keeping my voice casual, she didn\'t pry further.

Verona, had ensured I was well-versed in ancient vampiric language and text. The similarities were uncanny. Apparently, the elves had borrowed heavily from the vampiric language. Vampires noticing it completely restructured their language as they couldn\'t stand speaking the same language as the \'long eared cattle\'.

Elves also added their own things to make it "unique" but fundamentally the language was the same as the Ancient Vampiric language.

However, this restructuring came at a cost. The vampires, in a bid to differentiate themselves, had deliberately obscured the power of words. The elegant flow, the subtle inflections that could bend reality itself – all but lost in the modern age as vampires got lazy and forgot the original Language.

Verona had started teaching me the ancient texts, a slow and arduous process, but one that granted me an enormous advantage in the long run.

"This is a more detailed reference," she said, her voice casual as she handed me another book. "It might be helpful for our project."

This book however was Ancient Elven text.

I looked at the book and wondered how to proceed. Yes I can read through some if bot most of it and get a rough Idea but should I expose this to them? It can bite me in future. It\'s a very rare variation that even most elves have problems reading it or didn\'t know it at all.

I can play the protagonist card and surprise them by reading. But... I\'m not the protagonist, me being able to read things so rare will raise flags things that the protagonist doesn\'t have to deal with. Already knowing to read the simplified version was surprising enough.

Stealing a glance at Lara, I met her gaze. Her face remained an impassive mask, I can\'t get a read on her intentions, offering no clues to her intentions. With a sigh, I closed the book, the sound echoing in the tense silence. A decision had to be made. Play it safe and maintain my cover, or gamble on a more proactive approach that risked revealing my hand.

" I apologize princess but I can\'t read this." I said as slid the book to her. She nodded understanding after a long pause.

The past three hours had been a tense dance of feigned struggle and stolen glances. Lara, ever observant, offered translations when I "got stuck," her explanations devoid of suspicion(or so I thought, again I can\'t tell what\'s she\'s thinking). We finished delving into the assignment\'s depths, a veil of normalcy masking the unspoken tension between us.

When I rose to leave, a flicker of disappointment flickered across my chest. No chance encounter with a hidden chamber, no conveniently misplaced chest containing some cheats. Patience, I reminded myself. This was just the first move.

Lara led me out, a polite smile gracing her lips. The same elven maid from earlier materialized, her eyes seeming to pierce me once more. We arrived at the familiar teleportation circle, the cool sensation promising a return to the academy grounds.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lara," I said, a touch of sincerity in my voice. Though her and her family might be strange and dangerous. The thought of getting closer, however, sent a shiver down my spine. I had experienced many things but getting familiar with that family is the last thing I want to do.

The novel said Lara was very smart, deceiving and vicious, this applied to everyone in her family. Though her abilities weren\'t properly displayed, the author hinted she\'s more manipulative than Seraphina who is like a villain as described.

Then with a final nod, I stepped into the circle. The world dissolved in a flurry of light, transporting me back to the familiar halls of the academy. The mission was still far from over.