Chapter 25
The moment the young man walked in, everything started to make sense.
The Seer understood Lords so well because she had taken one as her apprentice.
His Unit race wasn't hard to guess, either.
He was almost certainly a Wood Elf Lord. Nothing else would explain why the entire Clan had accepted him.
"I still refuse!"
The young man jabbed a finger at Lilith and Auriel.
"These are the Lords you claim will decide the future of the Wood Elves?"
"You can't be serious."
The Seer shook her head, looking more weary than angry.
Then she turned to Lilith and Auriel apologetically.
"Please forgive his behavior. I had not yet had the chance to explain his circumstances."
"His name is Rowan. He is a Wood Elf Lord under our Clan's protection, and he has chosen to build up the race alongside us."
"I have taught him a great deal since his arrival. In truth, I intend for him to inherit my position. Under his leadership, the Wood Elves may prosper."
Her expression clouded.
"But even he cannot prevent the calamity I foresaw."
Lilith and Auriel stared at her.
A native race, raising a Lord as its successor?
They had assumed Lords and native races were natural enemies, fated to fight wherever they met.
The Seer's explanation revealed something else, too.
Rowan had enjoyed the full backing and training of the Wood Elf Clan. His personal strength and Territory development had to rank among the very best Lords in the region.
Anything less would make no sense.
"Mentor!" Rowan cut in. "Why are you telling them all this?"
He looked at Lilith and Auriel with open disdain.
"They're just two pretty faces who haven't even reached Elite Rank. They're useless."
"Rowan."
The Seer's voice hardened.
"You need to understand that native races can be far more dangerous than Lords. And you have no idea how much potential these two carry."
"I don't accept that," Rowan said. "I challenge them."
"Enough."
The Seer's rebuke rang through the library.
Lilith, Auriel, and Blaise traded bewildered looks.
How had a diplomatic meeting collapsed into a mentor-apprentice quarrel?
The reason wasn't hard to see.
Rowan had probably known about the Wood Elves' coming disaster for some time, along with the Seer's plan to recruit outside help.
But he was proud.
He couldn't stomach the two allies his mentor had chosen.
"If they're supposed to be the future of the Wood Elves, shouldn't we at least test their strength?" Rowan demanded.
For the first time, he looked directly at Lilith and Auriel. "Can either of you speak? If you're too scared to fight, get out."
Lilith's brow tightened.
Auriel said nothing.
Blaise pointed at Rowan. "Who the hell do you think you are, kid? We're only hesitating because it'd be embarrassing to make you cry in front of your mentor. Don't go whining afterward that we bullied you."
Rowan stepped forward.
"Then fight me. We'll see who cries."
Blaise promptly slipped behind Auriel.
"Go get him, boss."
Lilith tilted her head at him.
Auriel finally spoke.
"If we are unwelcome here, we will leave. We will still assist in the war against the Orcs."
She seized Blaise by the arm and turned for the stairs.
"Please wait," the Seer said quickly.
Auriel showed no sign of stopping.
Rowan called after her.
"You can leave once you return what you were given."
He clearly meant the Essence Cores.
The Seer had offered them as payment for joining the war.
Even if they'd been simple gifts, demanding them back would still have been shameless.
Lilith stepped in front of Auriel and faced Rowan.
"You want a challenge? Fine."
Her smile sharpened.
"What are you wagering?"
Rowan hesitated.
Then he answered, "If I lose, you keep the two Essence Cores. If I win, you leave them here and never come back."
Lilith shook her head.
"If we win, you give us one additional Essence Core each."
"Why would I agree to that?"
Lilith shrugged and turned away.
"Never mind. I guess you're not as confident as you sound."
She glanced back at him.
"All that swagger—and it turns out you're only brave with the Wood Elves at your back."
Then she started toward the stairs.
The barb landed exactly where she'd aimed it.
"Fine!" Rowan shouted. "I agree!"
He produced two more Essence Cores and tossed one to Lilith, the other to Auriel.
"But if you lose, I don't even want them back. Consider them charity."
His eyes narrowed.
"You will never set foot in Wood Elf territory again."
Rowan believed he'd reclaimed the upper hand.
He never realized Lilith had baited him into doubling the stakes.
The Seer sighed.
"Rowan, I have indulged you far too long."
She looked to Lilith and Auriel.
Perhaps it is time someone humbled you.
...
They soon assembled in the plaza outside the great tree.
The space was wide, flat, and free of buildings—well suited to a sparring match.
Rowan strode into the center, cracking his knuckles.
"Don't say I took advantage of you."
"This forest is my home ground, and I'm stronger than either of you."
He spread his arms.
"So come at me together."
His aura erupted.
The force of a peak Veteran swept the plaza, setting leaves shivering across the surrounding canopy.
He stood at Tier 9 Veteran, a single step from Elite Rank.
His pressure outstripped even the Goblin High Priest Lilith had fought.
Rowan's arrogance wasn't entirely hollow.
He had real strength behind it.
But Lilith was more interested in his identity.
A Lord who had already reached the peak of Veteran Rank shouldn't have stayed invisible on the leaderboards.
Yet from everything she'd seen, Rowan belonged to no Alliance or Lord Party.
She could dig into that later.
Lilith extended one hand.
Waltz of Ashes appeared in her grip.
"I don't need Auriel."
She stepped forward.
"I'll fight you alone."
Even before advancing, Lilith had matched the Goblin High Priest. Now that she stood at Tier 7 Veteran with far finer control of her power, Rowan had no chance of beating her.
Of that, she was confident.
Still, she didn't intend to humiliate him outright.
A draw would be the ideal outcome.
It would trim Rowan's arrogance without costing the Wood Elves too much pride.
Unfortunately, Rowan had no interest in cooperating.
"You're only Tier 7 Veteran," he scoffed. "That's not enough."
His mouth curled with contempt.
...
The Seer spoke from the edge of the plaza. "You should both fight him. Consider it a favor to me. My apprentice is badly overdue for a lesson."
Even she didn't believe Lilith or Auriel could beat Rowan alone.
Blaise visibly relaxed.
"Boss, get in there. We're on the same side now. You can't let Lilith fight him by herself."
Having felt Rowan's strength, Blaise was convinced only Lilith and Auriel together could match him.
"Very well."
Auriel stepped forward.
Golden light gathered in her right hand, forming a radiant longsword.
Lilith and Auriel took positions on either side of the plaza, facing Rowan together.
The Seer and Elowen stood as judges.
Elowen raised one hand.
"Begin."
All three figures vanished.