Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

"A fight broke out?"

Alessand lowered his voice, but his expression was one of utter astonishment, a mixture of curiosity, shock, and confusion making him look as if he'd just been slapped on the back. He leaned forward slightly, as if waiting for a reassuring answer, or perhaps to confirm if he'd misheard.

"do not know……"

Sylvia first shook her head, very lightly and with a small amplitude, as if shaking off something stuck to her hair. Then she gave Elisander a strange look, and seeing that Elisander still had a look of amused curiosity, she shook her head speechlessly, this time with much more force, her hair swaying twice.

Without waiting for Elisendall's reaction, she left no words and showed no aristocratic manners, walking straight away.

how to say?

The relationship between Princess Sylvia and Prince Elisander is rather strange.

It's not the kind of weirdness that "there used to be something," nor is it the kind of weirdness that "there is something now," but rather the kind of weirdness that "there should have been something, but history forcibly interrupted it."

In a certain game, Tal Sete, also known as Tal Windwhistling City, was classified as part of the Kingdom of Kaledo, but it is actually a city of the Kingdom of Terenlock.

The reason it was assigned to the Kingdom of Caledo is because Tal Sete is very close to the Kingdom of Caledo.

How close are they?

It takes two days by land to reach Tal Sarn, and even longer by boat; it takes four days to reach Tal Samersan.

On the map, Tal Sammersang is closer to Tal Saarn than Tal Setai, but half of that route is mountainous.

So, despite the short straight-line distance, it's actually more strenuous to walk there than to Tar Sarn.

As for Tal Sete itself, it is an important town in the Kingdom of Terenlock, located in the south of the kingdom. Although most of the Flower Plains has been submerged by the sea, a small portion of the plains remains unsubmerged due to its vast area and the higher elevation of its section near the crater.

Those remaining plots of land, like the last few vegetable gardens on a deserted island, are surrounded by marshes and salt flats, yet they stubbornly grow crops.

Thus, Tal Setai became one of the few fertile lands in the Kingdom of Terenlock.

However, due to its location on the outer ring, it was frequently attacked by Duruchi. And because it was relatively close to the Kingdom of Caledo, the dragon princes of Caledo often came to its aid.

On a grander scale, Tal Sete is the bulwark of the Kingdom of Caledo. If Duruci establishes a foothold in Tal Sete, the next step will be the coastline of Caledo; if Tal Sete is lost, Caledo will lose its last line of defense.

The Kingdom of Terenlock and the Kingdom of Kaledo are allies, and this alliance is not written on paper, but in blood.

Every time Duruci launches a surprise attack, and every time the Dragon Princes come to the rescue, they are adding weight to this alliance.

On a smaller scale, the dragon princes need merit and to prove themselves. In Caledor, no one can live off their bloodline alone. You need to fight, you need to protect, you need to stand on the front lines and show everyone that you can still fight.

Tal Sete, which is close to home, is undoubtedly a very good choice, as it does not require long journeys or complicated logistics.

At the previous meeting to decide who would be the next Phoenix King, the Kingdom of Terenlock firmly stood on the side of the Kingdom of Kaledo.

This is the big picture.

On a smaller scale, the Calard family, to which Elisander belonged, was preparing for a marriage alliance with the family to which Sylvia belonged, and Elisander and Sylvia were the ones connecting the two families.

But those are all things of the past.

With Duruci's ascension to the throne of Ausuan, everything changed; nothing was more important or urgent than war.

The engagement was put on hold, the meeting was canceled, and then, due to the appearance of Gilead, the Kingdom of Terenlock turned against them.

It wasn't 'betrayal,' it was 'a new choice,' and Tyron Locke found his 'backbone.'

Therefore, the current relationship between Sylvia and Elisander... is difficult to summarize in a single word.

They were not enemies, not friends, not former fiancés, and not people who needed to cooperate now. They were simply two people who had almost become family, now stood on opposite sides, bumped into each other in Duruci's military camp, didn't know what to say, and ultimately walked away without saying a word.

Elisander didn't notice that Sylvia had left; his entire attention was on the melon.

It wasn't a fight between Duruci and Asur, nor a fight between the Navy and the Army, nor like last night; it was an internal conflict within the Aisha faction.

Elsa style!
This melon is too big; it's so big that he needs extra time to deal with it.

It's important to know that the representative figure of the Elsa lineage is the tenth Eternal Queen!
This is just from Asur's side. Besides Asur's side, there are also Duruci's side and Asley's side.

Actually, it wasn't that outrageous. They didn't fight. Although they didn't fight, there's no doubt they argued.

The concept of Aisha's faith is currently a bit abstract, somewhat like... first wife, second wife, third wife?
The Eternal Queen of Ulthuan is the first wife, after all, she is the source of all things; the Queen Marist of Laurent Loren is the second wife, who was separated from the eldest son of the first Phoenix King; and Ariel of Azsor Loren... is the third wife.

But now, Ariel is gone.

The third wife was replaced by Elsa's chosen one, Alisa.

But that's not entirely accurate; the situation is quite complex. Is Alisa more like the fourth wife than the third? This involves the internal factional issues between Trucchi and Asley.

When Darkus left Asororon, Tirya Silverwing and Salariel Soulwalker also emerged. These two were the Spellweaver, Ariel's handmaiden, the priestess Aisha, and the leader of the Thorn Sisters.

Tirya was raised by Alisara back in Azureloren and served her until she left for Nagarus. Though called a handmaid, she was more like a daughter—a bond that transcended blood ties, growing stronger through daily companionship, an unbreakable connection.

This emotional attachment is closer than blood ties and heavier than vows.

Alisara, on the other hand, is Marekis's wife.

With this connection, Tirya chose to enter Malekith's court and serve him. Salariel, on the other hand, remained in Ashriel.

One in the south, one in the north, intertwined, their boundaries blurred to the point of being almost deliberate.

The Aisha believers who worked in education in Ashriel were actually politically aligned with Salariel, but in their daily administrative and work relationships, they were under the unified leadership of Maragos.

The Aisha followers who worked in education in Nagalus maintained closer ties with Tirya; however, at the institutional and command level, they were directly under the jurisdiction of Drusara.

In terms of responsibilities, this only covers education; there are other areas as well. Geographically, this only covers Nagaroth and Ashriel; there's also Azsor Loren...

Currently, nearly half of the woodland lords in Aslaron were appointed by Ariel, and Darkus did not make any personnel changes within the Aslary after taking over. Politically, these woodland lords follow Darkus, and religiously, they naturally follow Tirya and Salariel.

Although the internal factional divisions were somewhat vague, the overall factional antagonism suddenly became clear.

Asur vs. Duruć.

The Eternal Queen is with Alyssa, Tirya, and Salalair.

Oh, by the way, the Eternal Queen also has outside help.

This foreign aid was her relative—Queen Marist of Laurence Loren.

This brings us to the internal affairs of the Marsanas family... (I won't go into details).
Yes, Queen Marist also came. She had no choice but to come; if she hadn't shown up and was still squatting in Lauren Loren, she wouldn't have been able to get even the last scraps. Although even if she came, she might not have gotten any.

Without a doubt, the Kingdom of Avalon is the spiritual home of the Asur. As the most important spiritual sanctuary in Ulthuan, the Kingdom of Avalon's political power is second only to the Kingdom of Ithen. The Eternal Queen profoundly influences the collective consciousness of the Asur, solidifying their shared values, traditions, and sense of mission. Therefore, Avalon is not merely a geographical boundary, but the spiritual heart of Ulthuan.

Unfortunately, although this meeting revolved around faith, its core was not faith, but rather the very real division of power and responsibilities.

To put it more bluntly: it's about dividing the cake.

Without a doubt, this is the Eternal Queen's weakness. In fact, it could be said that she is utterly powerless in this regard, completely overwhelmed by the Duruch faction.

In elven society, no woman who rises to the top is easy to deal with.

Alisa is a genuine Duruci; her divine selection was not determined by a priest or voted at a meeting, but personally certified by Aisha.

This is a legitimate divine right of kings, unrelated to the Eternal Queen. It possesses both sacred inviolability and a basis for legitimacy. Therefore, Alisa is an equal in her relationship with the Eternal Queen.

If the Eternal Queen's throne weren't hereditary, if Ulthuan didn't have its traditions, if Asul didn't only recognize the Eternal Queen...

Tirya and Salariel need no introduction, and Queen Marist is an even more skilled politician. She has spent so many years in Lauren Loren's court, experienced coups, and witnessed the treachery of humans, the stubbornness of dwarves, and the hypocrisy of elves. Her shrewdness, her cunning, and her patience are unmatched by the current Eternal Queen.

As a result, the entire meeting proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

It's not the kind of fiery confrontation where "you slam the table and I smash the cup," but rather the kind of fiery confrontation where "you laugh and I laugh, but your smile hides a knife, and my smile hides poison."

Every word is carefully calculated, every pause is a trap set for the opponent, and every glance is a prelude to the next confrontation.

Thanks to Darkus's machinations, the lords of Avalon did not accompany the Eternal Queen. Those who should have stood behind her, supporting her, were nowhere to be seen.

Even if coming here doesn't really help, at most it just makes you raise your voice a bit more during arguments. But sometimes, raising your voice is a form of power; at least it lets the other person know you're not fighting alone.
In the name of "fairness," the woodland lords of Azsorloth also did not attend the meeting.

Both sides of the reinforcements were kept out of the door, leaving only the Eternal Queen, Queen Marist, a few Eternal Handmaids, and Alyssa, Tirya, and Salariel on either side of the long table, gnawing on the toughest bone with the most elegant posture.

Of course, neither Marekis nor Dakous were present during the meeting.

Dakotas was busy with other things; he always had something to do.

As for Malekith... to him, both sides were equally precious.

He was embarrassed.

He was related to the Eternal Queen and Marist, the kind of relatives who were neither too close nor too distant by blood, but whose political influence was far-reaching.

Alisa, Tirja, and Salalair are all his supporters, and these three have made invaluable contributions to his success. They are an important part of the entire system, and without any one of them, Duruci's reign over Ulthuan could not have been completed in just fifty years.

Therefore, Malekith chose to be absent.

It's not about escaping; it's about "I don't belong here."

He couldn't speak up for the Eternal Queen, as that would chill the hearts of Alisa and the others; nor could he speak up for Alisa, as that would make their already passive relatives even more passive.

All he could do was move away from the table and let the women argue amongst themselves.

The specific content of the meeting... was nothing more than revealing cards and exchanging pieces.

On the surface, Alyssa, Tirya, and Salariel, to show respect to the Eternal Queen, let her play first. Alyssa even gave a slight bow, making a gesture of "please go first," a gesture as elegant as an invitation at a court ball.

But in reality, the three of them, who had rich experience in political struggles, played a trick of retreating to advance. It was like a fight where they first created distance and then delivered a flying kick—making you make the first move, making you reveal your hand first, making you deplete your already limited advantage, and then calmly and methodically throwing cards you had never seen before onto the table from a corner you couldn't reach.

Marist, who also had extensive experience in political struggles, knew this was a trap set by Truc. She was all too familiar with this "please go first" tactic, but what could she do?
The cards are right here.

Unless... Elsa herself appears in the meeting room and cuts the cake into pieces.

Or the Eternal Queen could play a trick like "possessing Aisha," just like Malekith emerged from Kane's blood altar amidst Heliben's speechless gaze, claiming to be Kane's chosen one.

But in this world, God is real, not a symbol written in scriptures, not a portrait painted on the wall, but a living being who responds to prayers, performs miracles, and appears or refuses to appear when you need him.

Moreover, playing like this... the Eternal Queen can't get over that mental hurdle. As the Eternal Queen, she can't pretend that Elsa is speaking inside her body, no matter what.

That's not called "inviting a god to possess you," that's called "blasphemy"!
So, the Eternal Queen played her cards first.

To be more specific, let's take the Kingdom of Kosqui as an example.

Due to environmental and weather conditions, the land of the Kingdom of Kosqui is difficult to cultivate. Its inhabitants either rely on inter-kingdom trade, hunting, and fishing to supplement local agricultural products, or engage in small-scale farming through glass greenhouses—a more secure and self-sufficient environment for plants than exposure to the sea breeze.

Some plants are notoriously difficult to cultivate in glass greenhouses, and the success of doing so is considered a sign of Elsa's favor.

In terms of shipbuilding, Aisha's shrines adorn the forest, where spellcasters, through complex rituals of high magic and the winds of Giron, draw living trees from the ground and mold them into shapes suitable for use on the water.

It's not logging, it's not processing, it's 'growth'—letting the tree grow into the shape of a boat.

The process was long and mysterious, requiring priests to chant under the trees, spellcasters to draw runes on the tree trunks, and it could take decades or even centuries to "harvest" a ship from the forest.

Sometimes, before setting sail, Aisha's priests would decorate the ship with the Eye of Aisha, praying that the Mother Goddess would communicate with the emotionally unstable Matheran to ensure the ship was spared Matheran's wrath.

In terms of daily life, the temple district of Tal Corelli has a dormitory for more than twenty Aisha novice priestesses. These aspiring priestesses, in addition to presiding over ceremonies and maintaining the temple, also perform small magic tricks to clean public areas or improve the harvest in the glass greenhouse. Sometimes they also serve as advisors or guardians in the prison, and they regularly check the water quality of the reservoir park.

In addition, there are the magic systems related to higher magic.

Well, it seems like it can handle everything, but it's actually bad at everything.

They've dabbled in every field, but each field remains at the level of 'ritual' and 'miracle,' failing to form a replicable, scalable, and quantifiable system.

The result was self-evident: they were outmatched by the well-established Trucchi faction.

It wasn't that they lost a round; they couldn't even get on the table.

Alisa stepped forward and began by recounting history.

It tells the story of how Emerald Garden was founded and what it does after its establishment. Then it goes on to describe how mechanized farming, seeds, land maintenance, the Iron Tower system, and finally how the processed food appears on the elves' tables.

The entire agricultural system is included, from cultivation to processing and transportation.

Although transportation will be separated and controlled by the Lema Group in the future, all other aspects will be under their control.

The complete, closed-loop supply chain, from seed to table, requires no prayers, no rituals, and no "Elsa's grace." You simply need to follow the operating procedures to reap the rewards.

How do you play Eternal Queen?
It's completely unplayable, utterly vulnerable!
Compared to this system, Ulthuan's system is utterly insignificant. Throughout the entire process, Ulthuan's Aisha Cult only deals with farming; everything else is handled by the manor system, whose core members are nobles, not priests.

So when Alisa said, "Our agriculture is systematic," the Eternal Queen didn't even have the strength to refute her.

Because what she said was true.

Then the Eternal Handmaids who were present stepped forward. They brought up their faith, and how deeply the Aisha faith had penetrated people's hearts. They said that this was something that technology could not replace; it was the heart, the path that every generation of Asur people had walked from birth to death under the watchful eye of Aisha for thousands of years.

However, Alisa, with her rich experience in political struggles, wasn't fooled at all; she didn't even blink. She rattled off a string of platitudes, the core of which was how amazing Trudeau's agricultural system was, from yield to quality, from cost to efficiency, from disease resistance to disaster resistance—every figure was precise to two decimal places, and every case was documented.

She didn't disrespect faith; she simply separated faith from productivity, and then reunited them.

You can pray for a good harvest at the shrine, but you also have to work in the fields; there's no conflict between the two.

And so... they naturally started arguing.

It wasn't the kind of shrewish shouting, but rather the kind of aristocratic arguing where "you quote scriptures and I quote data," where every word was like a scalpel, precisely cutting through the other person's skin, muscles, and even bone.

The meeting room lights were bright and white, just like the argument itself, leaving no room for tenderness or affection.

Elsa's shrine stood in the very center of the conference room, silently watching everything, a mysterious and enigmatic smile on her lips that had remained unchanged for thousands of years.

She watched as her followers argued fiercely before her, over who understood her better.

Nobody knows what she's thinking.

Maybe she knows.

Maybe she doesn't care.

Perhaps she just felt that everything was fine? (End of Chapter)