Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 87:Rayleigh Von Mez (17)

In the end, it took him three months of constant day and night searching to find the city of Florien.

And he only found out the name of the city which had caused the Video Empire so much trouble after spending several days ’locked away’.

Upon discovering the elven city. He had revealed himself to them, only to be immediately greeted with several dozen loaded arrows, spells ready to be cast and a dozen swords ready to cut him apart.

Without even giving him any time to explain himself. They had attacked, naturally Rayleigh easily defeated each of them (without killing them of course!).

’I mean what were they expecting?’

Rayleigh was at the fourteenth level, while the highest level of the elves trying to take him down was only at the ninth level. That may have been considered an upper level in the world of Erde. But in front of a powerhouse like Rayleigh, that was nothing.

After knocking out all of them however, he had tried to show his several emblems from the other races. He was someone trusted by the vampires, most beastkins and the dwarves! Yet they refused to trust him because he attacked them.

Rayleigh was tempted to show them what a real attack was at that moment. But he needed their help, so he surrendered himself. Letting them put cuffs on his arms and legs that suppressed his mana.

Except how could something like that work on Rayleigh? It might work on the lower leveled individuals, but they clearly had not tried to use it on someone at Rayleigh’s level. How could they possibly hope to suppress someone at his level with something like this?

Whatever gave them a sense of security he supposed. He had already apologized for the whole attack thing (even though it was clearly self-defense!). But they had simply thrown him into their worst dungeon.

Although calling it a dungeon was a stretch. The elves all lived aboveground, sunlight, and wind was something important to them so their housing was always extremely open. They also disliked digging underground for fear of damaging any wildlife. The so called dungeon he was in was honestly one of the nicer places Rayleigh had ever stayed in. A lot better then any inn he’s ever stayed at that’s for sure.

Rayleigh wondered how they might react to any of the human dungeons. Dark, musty, the air humid with blood. Echoes of screams as humans inflicted pain on other humans. A stark contrast to the comfortable dungeon he was in. Most importantly, it was clean!

Just then, the door to his dungeon appeared. Causing him to immediately store away his several notebooks and quill. He didn’t mind spreading the lower leveled stuff for his two magic disciplines,but the high level stuff was strictly kept for only himself!

And Anna, but Anna was his disciple whom he trusted with his life so she was an exception.

An elf entered his room, his outfit looking significantly more regal and elegant compared to the other elves behind him.

Before they all promptly bowed down at a near perfect right angle towards him. His long hair touching the floor as he did.

"We apologize for our actions, Honoured one!"

"???"

"No. Why am I the Honoured one all of a sudden?"

Still bowing, the elf. Speaking in place for the others behind him explained.

"As the one who has been recognized by the Divine Goddess. You are naturally the Honoured One."

Several more questions appeared within Rayleigh’s head, most pressing of all was.

"I’ve been recognized by the World Tree?"

The World Tree had many names, Divine Goddess by her believers, Mother of All Elves, Tree of Life.

She was an existence far above everyone else. Neither Rayleigh nor his father could even hold a candle to her. A true God in the world of Erde.

However, she never stepped into any conflict. Despite hundreds of thousands of elves dying in the war, she hadn’t even made a single move. Causing most to suspect the World Tree was either less intelligent then presumed, or it simply didn’t care or was busy.

Rayleigh learned more towards the second option. The World Tree was probably the oldest living thing on Erde. The chances of such a figure never developing intelligence was unlikely. It had lived through thousands and thousands of years,witnessing the rise and fall of countless kingdoms. Even the rise and fall of its own subjects.

The World Tree had often replied to prayers from its people as was revealed by Sophia. So that was another point.

Now Rayleigh was being told he was officially recognized by such a figure.

He looked down at his body, running several magical scans on himself. Finding nothing wrong with himself. Except for a certain green tattoo on his back...

’When did this get on me?!’

Rayleigh had been inside this dungeon for the past few days completely alone. With no visitors whatsoever, only the occasional elf bringing food and drink. Yet he had inexplicably gained a tattoo on his back all of a sudden.

"What do you mean by i’ve been recognized by the Divine Goddess?"

"The Divine Goddess has left its mark on you. It is near impossible to detect, only us elves can clearly sense its presence on you."

Since they hadn’t sensed it on Rayleigh and attacked him. That meant it had only appeared while he was in the dungeon.

Rayleigh’s hand moved to his back to touch it, using a spell to view it at the same time.

For a mark given by such a figure, it was remarkably simple.

Featuring a simple angular shape that roughly resembled a tree and roots, the lines making up the tatoo had a slight glow to it. Barely noticeable unless one looked closer.

"Out of curiosity...are there any other Honoured Ones or individuals who have been recognized by the Divine Goddess?"

"None at all, your Eminence!"

"Not even the Elven Queen?"

"Not even the Elven Queen. The mark is reserved only for non-elves, your Eminence!"

Rayleigh let out a quiet sigh. How did he even manage to become recognized by the World Tree? As far as he could tell, he had done nothing to warrant such a mark!

Unless she had somehow noticed his time reversal? But that was impossible. His time reversal sent the whole dimension and everything in it back in time. The sun, the moon, Erde, every living thing and that includes the World Tree.

"First of all, you don’t have to keep bowing to me...and stop calling me your Eminence."

He stopped bowing, only to immediately start kneeling towards him. An expression of deep apology on his face.

"Understood! Your Excellency!"

He let out a bigger sigh.

***

Five hours.

That’s how long it took for Rayleigh to convince the elves to stop treating him so formally, he actually started to miss the previous prideful elves at some point. At least they werent as bothersome.

After that five hours, Rayleigh had to convince each of the elves that had attacked him that he had accepted their apology and held no grudges. Telling each that he had no intention of reaping their lives nor slitting their throats for the crime of attacking an Honoured One.

He had to do that, for every single elf.

One. By. One.

Rayleigh felt his own blood pressure rise as his mind wandered back to what had happened. His own irritation flaring up.

But he needed the elves help so he resisted. The other races were already moving further away from the west, but the elves were a necessary step in his plan.

Firstly, with the elves, vampires, beastkins and dwarves now in on the plan, the other races would soon follow suit. Rayleigh wasn’t worried about the merfolk since they had never been in much danger throughout the war.

They lived in the ocean surrounding the continent after all, they could do nothing to help those inland. At worst, the empire might suffer a loss of a few coastal towns and cities. Unable to eat fish as often.

The merfolk also just didn’t really care, they had only joined the war to protect their interests. No war, no need to do that.

Secondly, the elves had the Elven Queen. The only figure alive right now who could match his father. Although she was weakened from her old age, an old lion was still a lion.

Thirdly however, was the magic the elves used to hide.

Even Rayleigh himself took a while to find one singular city despite knowing the approximate location. His extremely high level made it easy for him to break in to the city, but it was guarded by an individual at the ninth level. The empire would have to send one of its high level powers to defeat them.

If the elves provided support to the other races. Then the empire would struggle for centuries to find them. The races could slowly build up their strength to form a resistance against the empire.

There were just a few small minor issues here and there. But otherwise, he had basically done everything he had planned.