Book Eater

Chapter 69: High Elf Ellenoa (3)

The dinner party with Earl Bergen had run late, but the moon was still in the middle of the sky. There was still some time until midnight. It wouldn’t be a problem to have a quick conversation in Ellenoa’s room.

Theodore asked for Vince’s understanding before turning around.

“Then, guide me.”

If an ordinary person had come across him, it would seem like he was speaking to no one. However, he could see what they couldn’t. It was normally an ability that all elves had — eyes that could see elementals. A translucent bird-shaped elemental had been the source of Ellenoa’s voice.

The bird-shaped elemental was the low class elemental, Sylph, seen in [Introduction to Elemental Magic]. The wind attribute was convenient for conveying sound, so sylphs were often used as messengers.

Porong.

The sylph might not have a clear ego like Mitra, but the sparrow-like elemental nodded as it flew a few steps ahead of Theo. Unlike ordinary birds, it didn’t need to flap its wings to stay in the air. The body of the sylph was closer to a spirit body than a corporeal one.

By the way, this mansion is really big.

Theo wondered if it would ever run out of room for guests. His idle thoughts almost seemed like reality as the sylph led him past no fewer than five corners. He walked for almost ten minutes before he reached the annex where Ellenoa was staying. If this was an earl’s house, he didn’t know what kind of labyrinth a marquis’ house would be.

Theodore stopped in front of the door and gently patted the sylph. “Thanks for guiding me.”

Pororong.?

The sylph let out a pleased warble before disappearing into the air. Elementals were often invisible to human eyes. Once their supply of magic power was cut off, it would melt back into nature. Lower class elementals were little more than a gust of wind over a hill, and were entirely different from the higher class elementals who had independent existences.

At that moment, a clear voice rang out from beyond the door, “Come in.”

Theo turned the doorknob and was hit with a thick, sweet scent of ripe fruit. He had only eaten it a few times, but the fragrance still remained in his memories. When he swung the door open, Theo was completely astounded. Ellenoa’s room completely defied common sense.

“... Grapevines?” He spoke in a bemused voice as he touched the grapevines covering the wall.

The vine was so thick and healthy that it would be the pride of any orchard. But the grapes were the true marvel. Each one was as big as a walnut. He had yet to taste one, but he could already sense how sweet and succulent they would be. It was a sight he never would have expected in a noble house.

Ellenoa sat in the center of the green room. “Good evening Theodore.”

She was like a flower that blended perfectly in with this far-fetched landscape. There were a few potted plants at her feet as grapevines twined around her.

Theo replied belatedly, “Ah, good evening.”

Ellenoa followed his gaze. “Are you curious? I planted the seeds of the grapes that I had for dinner. Would you like to try one?”

These vines grew from a grape seed planted in the evening?

The stunned Theo picked a grape and popped it into his mouth. As expected, the juices were sweet and rich as they rolled across his tongue. It exceeded even the taste of finely aged wines. If the high elves ever wanted to enter the wine business, then other orchards would be ruined.

Theo sat on the chair opposite Ellenoa and ate a few more grapes. “... I’m sorry.”

Elleona smiled. “Don’t worry. Rather, it feels good. I was worried about whether it would suit the palate of a human.”

Theo nearly rolled his eyes. “That's impossible. Anyone would welcome such fruit.”

It was a surprisingly casual atmosphere. The delicious food certainly helped, but it was a good sign that their conversation didn’t seem awkward. At first, Ellenoa thanked him for rescuing her, then they talked about the power of the high elves before moving on to Ellenoa’s neutral appearance.

She told Theo the reason. “It is natural for people like Theodore to feel uncomfortable at the sight of my appearance.”

According to Ellenoa, high elves were more like elementals than elves. They didn’t need to eat often, they wouldn’t die of starvation, and they wouldn’t feel tired even if they didn’t sleep. Their atavism had left their gender on a vague spectrum.

Theo cocked his head. “So, Ellenoa has no gender?”

Ellenoa replied, “Um... It is a little different. The term ‘neutral’ may be a closer match.”

Theo probed, “Neutral?”

Ellenoa nodded with a slightly flushed face. “We are born female instead of male, but once we have decided on our mate, this will change according to their gender. If the partner is a male, I will become a female. If they are a female, I will be a male.”

Theo hesitated, “Ah, then...”

Ellenoa nodded. “Yes, I still haven't met a mate."

Theo glanced unconsciously at Ellenoa before looking away. Lee Yoonsung’s memories had left him with a prolific knowledge of the human body. Theo realized that the reason he hadn’t been able to distinguish Ellenoa’s gender was because her gender hadn’t been decided yet.

As he listened quietly, he suddenly had a thought.

Haven’t I learned a lot about high elves?

This one conversation had catapulted Theo ahead of any high elf scholar in the kingdom. He would be able to sweep up a few hundred gold in one go if he ever decided to write a book. However, such worldly desires seemed meaningless when he gazed into Ellenoa’s clear eyes.

“Now, Theodore.”

It was time for the reason why she called him here.

“Can you summon the one who signed the contract with Theodore?”

***

There was an answer as soon as he gently tugged on the cord of the contract.

[Hoing!]

As always, Mitra appeared with a loud pop as her head sprouted out of a pot planted with a grape seed. She looked around like a curious mole before spotting Ellenoa. A bright smile appeared on her face as she launched herself at Ellenoa.

“Oh, my god.” Ellenoa was taken by surprise as Mitra landed confidently on her palm.

Mitra hugged Ellenoa’s index finger. Theo wasn’t very sensitive to Mitra’s emotional state, but he couldn’t help the thump of his heart when Mitra transmitted how warm Ellenoa’s finger was.

“... I only heard the stories, but I didn’t know you were so cute.” Ellenoa smiled sweetly at Mitra before turning to face Theodore again. “How much does Theodore know about her?”

Theo replied carefully, “I just know that she’s an ancient elemental and is an exception to the ranks of the Elemental World.”

“Yes, that is true.” Ellenoa smiled and raised Mitra to her shoulder. Mitra was confused by the sudden loss of her finger, but she soon started to climb Ellenoa’s green hair like a little monkey. Mitra looked like a cicada on a tree branch.

Ellenoa ignored Mitra playing with her hair and continued the explanation, “Please listen. An ancient elemental isn’t necessarily a member of the Elemental World. They are considered to be ‘seeds’ of a much more mysterious and higher existence.”

Theo said slowly, “See...ds?”

“Yes, this is an example.”

She held up her left hand, and a gentle wind coalesced to form the translucent shape of a giant. Horns rose from the giant’s head like a crown, and its body was as hard as armor. It seemed to be a giant from the myths.

As Theo gazed at it, Ellenoa nodded. “This is an illusion of Zephyr, the god of the wind who existed a long time ago. According to legend, he could create a storm just by sighing.”

Theo murmured, “Old god, Zephyr...”

Ellenoa continued, “He is also the prototype of the ancient spirit, Jeros, who signed a contract with Myrdal Herseim a hundred and twenty years ago.”

Myrdal Herseim!

Theodore's face stiffened at the unexpected name. Why had that name come up? He was the greatest elementalist of their time, so it was natural for the elves to know his name. The development of humans had weakened their connection to the forces of nature. Myrdal was the only one who had been able to call an elemental king.

Ellenoa noticed his agitation and paused for a few moments. “Not all of the old gods were as divine as Zephyr, but it is certain that they were like him. For some reason, they lost their status and the fragments of their bodies became seeds. The seeds that germinated grew to be known as ancient elementals.”

The two people gazed at a tiny elemental who may have once been a mighty god. Mitra, who was playfully braiding Ellenoa’s hair, looked up as she felt their gazes. She looked much like a mischievous child playing with dirt. It was hard to believe that such a cute earth doll had once been a mighty god.

Ellenoa understood Theo’s unasked question and carefully extracted Mitra from her hair. Then she stared into Theodore’s eyes and presented him with two choices.

“If you like, I can try to revive some of her strength. It won’t be on the same level as the prototype, but she can probably regain the power of a lieutenant level elemental.”

Theo repeated, “Lieutenant elemen...tal.”

Certainly, Mitra wasn’t significantly different from other elementals except for the fact that she had an ego. In the absence of Theo’s magic power, her abilities were greatly reduced, and she couldn’t even appear freely from the ground. If she grew to lieutenant level, she could cross some of those limits.

However, before deciding, Theodore asked Mitra, “Mitra, what do you want to do?”

Ellenoa smiled secretly at Theo’s unconscious decision to ask Mitra’s opinion. Theo didn’t know it, but it was similar to how elves treated their elementals. It was why other elves favored him, despite not knowing about Mitra’s presence.

Mitra pondered for a moment.

[Hoing!]

She transmitted a clear decision to Theo. He stroked her head a few times before handing her to Ellenoa.

“Please do so, Ellenoa.”

“Then I will. Just think of it as repaying some of what I owe you.” Ellenoa didn’t give him a chance to reply as she held Mitra in both hands. “Then I will start.”

Wuooooong!

A light filled with vitality started to shine from the room.