Monsters.
I don’t know a lot about these beings.
I’m friends with gryphons and a sky horse, but I’ve never even seen any other monsters, so I don’t know a lot about them.
I love the gryphons and Scifo. They’re monsters, but we can understand each other and get along.
But there are a lot of scary monsters in this world.
I knew this, but I don’t think I really understood it, so it’s a shock when I’m faced with the reality of a monster like the gryphons and Scifo demanding sacrifices from the elves.
“Can’t you… Do anything, about the monster?”
The elves are being sacrificed. I’m sure that’s not something he wants, so can’t they do something about the monster?
“If we could, we would have done so already.”
“…Can’t you run, from the scary monster?”
If they can’t do anything about the thing that wants sacrifices, can’t they run away from the place where it is? Like how we ran away from the kingdom of humans?
I think they should, but the old elf gets angry at me for saying it.
“Of course not!!!”
He screams.
Is there a reason why he can’t leave this place? Is he going to do that scary thing called sacrifice to everyone if nothing can be done about the monster?
Is there anything I can do? I desperately think about what I should do. First of all, I need to ask how they got into this situation in the first place.
“Why?”
“…Because of the spirit tree.”
“Spirit, tree? Is that the place where they say spirits are born?”
“They say? No, it truly is the place where the fire that is the sacred life of spirits is lit. A monster is staying at its base, and it can do whatever it pleases with the spirit tree at any time, so there is no way we can simply leave it behind and go somewhere else.”
Is he telling me all this because I can see the spirit?
The spirit tree really exists, and that is where spirits are born.
What I felt is the place where they are born… If the elves didn’t care about it, they would have simply left and be done with it. If they can’t do that, it means the spirit tree is very important to elves.
“The spirit tree lights the light of life in spirits. They grow and develop in the spirit tree, and eventually go out into the world. They form contracts with us elves, who tend to the spirit tree, but other than that, spirits are free to live in this world as they please. Inside it are spirits like the one you saw, including ones with whom we formed contracts.”
“…I only, felt the spirit, right beside you.”
Most elves form contracts with these spirits.
But I only sensed the magic energy next to the old elf. What does that mean?
“…At certain times, spirits stop in the tree to rest, but that monster is not letting them rest in peace.
Spirits live long lives, and that monster appeared right when they were returning home of all times. My spirit has enough strength for even you to sense it, but many are too weak to be sensed. As if this weren’t bad enough, this monster even eats spirits.”
“…Eats, spirits?”
“…If we elves refuse to offer sacrifices, it will eat spirits whose light of life has just been lit and spirits who formed contracts with us. When we elves offer ourselves as sacrifices, the spirits who formed a contract with the sacrificed elves go berserk, and are also eaten.”
Says the old elf. Something so important to them is eaten… I shudder as I hear this.
The old elf wants to sacrifice the people that are important to me, but I think that’s a result of his heart being worn down after seeing that same thing happen time and time again.
Friends being eaten, beings they love and respect being eaten… I don’t know how long this has been going on, but it’s been long enough that the elves are willing to bring races they don’t like such as humans and beast people into their village.
“…You want to let, the monster eat them, instead of elves?”
“Yes. That will allow us elves, the spirits, and the spirit tree to survive.”
The elves don’t tell us their names because they don’t care what happens to us, because we’re just going to be sacrificed soon anyway.
If I don’t do something, everyone will die, not even knowing about that terrible monster or what’s been happening with the elves.
I don’t want that. I hate that, and I start speaking.
“If you can, do something about that monster, can you stop the sacrifices?”
“…What are you saying?”
“I don’t want, everyone to be, sacrificed. I love the beast people, and miss Lan. I want to do something, about the monster.”
“…Even us elves are powerless against it. What could humans and beast people possibly do against it?”
Says the old elf, irritated, and I respond.
“When I first, met the elves, I thought it would be wonderful, if we could be friends. Beast people with great physical abilities, elves that are good with magic… Races that are, good at different things, being together.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
The old elf doesn’t understand what I’m saying.
“… Beast people with great physical abilities, elves that are good with magic, and I don’t know if they can help, but also the gryphons and Scifo, who formed a contract with me.
If we can, get everyone together, I think we can, do anything.”
The old elf doesn’t respond, and instead I continue talking.
“Even if, the elves couldn’t defeat it, I think if we all, join forces, we can do it. Don’t say we can’t, without trying. One race couldn’t do it alone, but I think we can, do it together.”
The elves gave up because they lost, but that’s only when it was just the elves fighting.
“If we, join forces, we can defeat, the monster. Nothing will change, if you just keep, offering sacrifices. Bad things will just, keep happening, so it’s a lot better, to defeat it.”
I say as I look at the old elf.
—Girl and elves – part seven
(The girl that is probably the miko offers a proposal after hearing the old elf’s story. She couldn’t stand by and do nothing.)
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the more this goes the more the old elf sounds like a damn fanatic