Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 1004 - 119: Elf’s Sense of Alienation

Chapter 1004: Chapter 119: Elf’s Sense of Alienation

Walking on the soft grass and between the blooming wildflowers, what filled my nose was the fragrance of plants, and the rustling sound that came to my ears from the friction of the leaves. If I had to use one word to describe this meadow in the forest, it would only be ’quiet’ that could do so, yes, quiet, an oddly quiet.

Surrounding the Tree of the Beginning, within a few square kilometers, there weren’t just plants; there were insects, countless insects. On summer nights, which belong to the world of insects, whether in the soil, under the trees, within the aerial roots, or among the leaves, insects were chirping everywhere. The chirping sounds merged together like a lively piece of chamber music. But the more these insects chirped, the quieter the surroundings seemed to become. Not only were there insects, but there were also many people. Underneath the canopy of the World Tree, there were close to a thousand individuals from various races together. However, it seemed as though everyone was infected by the environment, intentionally lowering their voices in conversation, immersing the entire canopy in tranquility. Even those who became engrossed in their own world and spoke too loudly did so only momentarily before quickly reverting to silence, their whispers barely audible over the sound of the insects.

Such quiet arose not because there were few conversations; close to a thousand people were either sitting on vines, gathered around tables, wandering among stalls, or simply lying on the soft grassy ground. Except for a few drinking at the tables, few engaged in much conversation, instead each engrossed in their own affairs. Even among those who were drinking, most were simply raising their glasses and drinking silently.

This atmosphere made the arrival of a group of visitors and their Elf companions all the more noticeable. As soon as we stepped onto the meadow, most of the people had already noticed our presence. But that was it, merely a notice. Most of the Elves either sitting or lying idly seemed to pay no mind to these visitors; in their consciousness, it was just someone drawing near. Who the visitors were, and what their purposes might be—none of this was worth their attention. The others, not entirely lost in their own worlds, quickly identified the newcomers. It seemed that these Elves already knew the visitors would appear, showing no surprise, but simply inclining their heads respectfully to Queen Flare and smiling amicably at the visitors before disregarding them. Some Elves, more familiar with certain visitors, offered a friendly greeting to their friends but showed no intention of coming over to talk.

"This is also one of the reasons why many intelligent beings mistakenly think we are proud," Flare whispered, her voice as low as those around her, explaining to the girls, "When facing the majority of friends, this is the general attitude. Those unfamiliar with us might think we are indifferent, but those who know us understand that it is just a custom. We don’t often make friends, but once we do, we treat them sincerely. However, we have a special way of interacting with friends. We value being natural, so when we are with friends, we prefer to maintain this degree of naturalness, not forcing anything or deliberately deepening the friendship. When needed, we could pay any price for our friends, but when not, maintaining a light distance and letting everything develop naturally is best. This is not just the habit with friends of other races; even within our own race, friends interact in this way."

"But you are not like that," Catherine asked in a similarly low voice. "And Mr. Muir doesn’t give me that impression either."

"Really?" Flare smiled faintly as she responded, "Or is it that you have confused this distance we maintain with friends with the impression created by our perspective on time?"

Catherine paused, suddenly recalling that the Queen before her had always been deeply in love with Pannis but had never taken any initiative. When Flare learned that Pannis was in the Holy City, Catherine thought to herself that if it were her, she would definitely find an excuse to go to the Holy City, or even stay there. But Flare had waited years before visiting due to a formal visit. Including the time she was brought to the plains by the winged twins and the call for help from the Dragon Mountain Range, they had only met three times. Each time, she had left quickly afterward, as if she was not reluctant to part. The knightly girl had once thought it was the Elves’ insensitivity to time that made her delay so long before appearing in the Holy City. But after Flare’s reminder, Catherine quickly sensed a subtle difference between the two. Indeed, as Flare said, even when facing Pannis, whom she loved deeply, the Queen always maintained this strange attitude. When there was a chance to meet, they happily stayed together, helping and supporting each another. Once the time of parting arrived, they would leave freely, even if it meant being separated at opposite ends of the world, using only the faintest longing to bear witness to this friendship or love.

It was not just her; upon reflection, Muir seemed the same. When meeting with friends, he could face danger together, and even while in the City of Innocence, facing those Legendary-ranked thief captains, he did not back down. But once parted, they could cease to see each other, even if the other’s life came to an end.

"You see, this is our custom," Flare said with a smile and a shake of her head. "Or rather, it’s a trait passed down in our race since the Third Epoch, and it’s unlikely to change."

"If you trace this custom to its roots, it’s actually related to their long lives," Pannis said. "Humans’ lives are brief, so they cherish every minute to be with friends or family because if they don’t make the most of the time, it ends up even shorter. But they are different; they have all the time in the world. To races with shorter lifespans, they always seem to be there, apparently never changing; therefore, they..."

"You have now joined that rank too, Kyle," Antuin interrupted Pannis, "Gradually, you will come to understand our feelings about time and emotions. This is the cost of your immortality. So, stop saying ’they’ like that; you are one of ’them’ now."

"Heh, perhaps," Pannis smiled noncommittally. "Who can guarantee the future?"