Chapter 38: Amaya!

Hydra rose back into the air with a single powerful beat of her wings, emerald scales cutting through the canopy as broken leaves and drifting mana settled behind them.

The forest below slowly grew calmer, the oppressive tension left behind with the annihilated monsters. Sunlight filtered through the massive branches again, illuminating the various tree roots.

The Dark Elf woman held tightly to Hydra’s scales at first, fingers digging in as if afraid that she would somehow fall off, but after a couple seconds of Hydra flying and nothing going wrong, her breathing finally evened out and she calmed down.

“Thank you,” she said again, quieter this time, her voice steadier. “Really… if you hadn’t appeared, I, ”

“You would’ve survived,” Jax interrupted calmly, glancing back at her over his shoulder. “But it would’ve cost you far more than you’re willing to pay.”

She blinked, then let out a soft, humorless laugh, “That obvious, huh?”

Hydra angled her wings slightly, smoothing out her flight to make things more comfortable.

“You can relax,” Hydra said gently, “My King won’t let anything happen to you.”

The Dark Elf hesitated, then nodded, easing her grip just a bit as she began to speak, “My name is Amaya,” she said. “I’m… one of the newer scouts.”

Jax’s golden eyes flicked toward her, “Newer Scout? Yet you’re running solo at the outer edge of the forest? Seems a bit weird innit?”

Amaya smiled faintly as she heard that, “Lyla trusts me.”

That earned a subtle lift of Jax’s brow, “From what I’ve learned, Lyla is a very intelligent tactician. With such an important role, she wouldn’t give out her trust lightly,”

Amaya hesitated, then sighed softly as if deciding there was no point hiding it, “You’re right….She’s actually my Godmother,” she said.

That got a reaction out of Jax as he turned more fully this time, surprise openly crossing his face, “Lyla has a goddaughter?”

Even Hydra’s wings twitched slightly in curiosity, eager to hear some good gossip.

Amaya nodded in response, “She doesn’t announce it as she’s quite a quiet person, so most people don’t know about me,”

She looked down at the forest below as she continued, voice quieter now, “My parents were scouts too, veteran ones that had accomplished hundreds of missions successfully and were well respected in the Clan, but Twelve years ago, during one of the Church of Light’s attacks… they didn’t make it back.”

Jax’s expression darkened instantly as he heard that last part.

“Holy Knights,” Amaya continued, jaw tightening with anger and frustration, “They claimed it was a ’cleansing operation.’ Burned half a settlement near the border and called it justice.”

Her hands clenched unconsciously, “Lyla found me afterward. I was barely old enough to hold a blade. She took me in, trained me, sheltered me… probably more than she should’ve.”

“She doesn’t do ’probably,’” Jax said quietly. “If she protected you, it’s because she decided you were worth protecting.”

Amaya smiled faintly at that, “That sounds like her.”

Hydra glanced back briefly, eyes soft. “You’re strong to still be smiling.”

Amaya let out a small breath, “I learned from the best.”

Meanwhile, during Amaya’s explanation, the forest ahead began to change.

The trees grew even larger, their trunks so massive that entire structures were built directly into them. Platforms, bridges, and homes woven seamlessly into living wood came into view, glowing runes and bioluminescent flora lighting hidden pathways.

Massive Treants stood like guards throughout the territory, massive beings of bark, stone and ancient magical roots, their eyes glowing softly as they turned in unison toward the sky.

This was Dark Elven Territory.

Hydra slowed instinctively, wings spreading wide as she descended toward the central airspace.

The reaction was immediate.

Dark Elves emerged onto platforms and balconies, hands moving to bows, spears, and spell foci as they stared upward in shock. Whispers spread rapidly, mana signatures flaring defensively as alarms rippled throughout the forest.

“A Dragon?”

“An Emerald, no, wait, ”

“Why is it here?”

Then the Treants reacted.

They did not attack.

Instead, one by one, the massive guardians stepped aside, ancient limbs shifting as if recognizing something far older than territorial instinct.

At the heart of the settlement, atop a wide platform grown from the trunk of a colossal world-tree, Lyla stood.

Moonlight-colored hair framed her calm, sharp features as she looked skyward, eyes narrowing slightly.

Then she saw Jax sitting calmly atop Hydra, with a relax posture and controlled aura.

Lyla exhaled slowly, “So,” she murmured, a faint smile tugging at her lips, “He finally came.”

She raised one hand to signal to her fellow Dark Elves, and recognizing the hand signal she made, all of them put own their weapons, and the Treants fully withdrew their defensive stances, opening up a wide space for Hydra to land.

Hydra descended carefully, landing on a massive open platform reinforced by living roots and druidic formations. The wood did not creak or crack, it accepted her weight as if it had been prepared long ago for something like this.

Amaya slid down first, landing lightly despite her injuries.

The moment her boots touched the platform, Lyla was there.

“Amaya,” Lyla said sharply, eyes scanning her for wounds and noticing some across her body, a grimace appearing on her face, “You’re hurt. What happened? I thought I said don’t do anything stupid?”

“I’m alive,” Amaya replied, smiling, “Thanks to them.”

Lyla’s gaze shifted to Hydra, then up to Jax.

She inclined her head deeply, one hand placed over her chest in a gesture of respect reserved for rulers she acknowledged as equals, or above.

“Demon King Jax,” Lyla said calmly, “Welcome to Dark Elven territory.”

Jax dismounted smoothly, landing beside Hydra.

“Clan Head Lyla,” he replied. “It’s good to meet you again. After that first meeting, we haven’t had a chance to chat 1 on 1 have we,”

Lyla’s eyes flicked briefly to Hydra, then back to him, something like amusement flashing through her gaze.

“You certainly know how to make an entrance,” she said. “Bringing a Dragon into my forest and saving my goddaughter in the same breath.”

Jax smiled faintly. “Efficiency is Key when you’re a King. Time is Money y’know,”

“It is indeed,” Lyla responded and Amaya stepped forward, straightening despite her injuries.

“Mother Lyla,” she said respectfully. “Someone is testing the forest. Alchemically modified monsters. Poisoning the land.”

Lyla’s expression cooled instantly.

“I suspected as much,” she said quietly. “It seems the world doesn’t intend to let us rest.”

Her gaze returned to Jax, sharp and calculating.

“Then,” she said, “I assume this visit isn’t purely social.”

“No,” Jax replied evenly. “But it is timely,”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep