"Chang Long, you will help us, right? To restore the Fairy Forest to its former glory..."

The little girl gently shook Chang Long's arm with pleading eyes.

"Of course, I will help,"

Chang Long responded, affectionately patting the little girl's head.

"That's... splendid,"

a voice suddenly emerged from the darkness ahead, startling Chang Long into standing up abruptly and drawing her Sovereign Sword in readiness.

"Please don't!! That's Albeis, the leader of the elves,"

Sabia quickly interjected upon seeing Chang Long's defensive stance.

Albeis was a tall, slender man with long, almost white, blond hair, sharp features, piercing eyes with long lashes matching his hair, a prominent nose, thin lips, and skin as white as snow, with a silver circlet on his forehead. He approached Chang Long with a light step, offering a smile.

"Uh... greetings. My apologies for the rudeness,"

Chang Long lowered her sword and apologized to Albeis, who appeared unbothered.

"It is I who should apologize for overhearing your conversation with the guardian spirit unintentionally,"

Albeis spoke in a deep, soothing voice.

"Does the fact that you're hear meant that we have reached the Elf City?"

Chang Long asked, hopeful that their mission was halfway to completion.

"Not exactly. I came here because I sensed the guardian spirit nearby and wanted to check. I'm glad you've kept her safe and led her back,"

Albeis explained.

Chang Long brought Albeis to their camp. Her friends were all sleeping soundly after their exhausting marathon.

"Where have you been?!"

Siegfried immediately approached Chang Long as she returned, pausing when he noticed Albeis and Sabia following her.

"Sorry, I went for a walk with Sabia and then we met Albeis, the leader of the elves,"

Chang Long explained, surprised by Siegfried's concern.

"Greetings, Chang Long's comrades. I am Albeis. I apologize for disturbing your rest,"

Albeis greeted Siegfried politely.

"Oh... it's okay,"

Siegfried responded courteously.

"If you don't mind, I will lead the way from here on,"

Albeis offered.

"Really?!"

Sabia shook the elf's arm excitedly.

"I'll go wake everyone up then..."

"No need. We will depart at dawn. Please rest fully for now,"

Albeis quickly stopped him, noting everyone else was deep in sleep on the grass.

"You all must be very tired to be sleeping like this,"

Albeis commented as he sat down under a large tree, observing the group sprawled across the grass.

Chang Long and Siegfried could only give Albeis a wry smile before they found a spot to sit and chat until they were overcome by sleep, with Sabia conversing with the young elf in their stead.

Chang Long's group was jolted awake at dawn by the sound of numerous footsteps approaching their resting spot. Looking around, they saw a handsome young man smiling at them, with Sabia, the little guardian spirit, asleep on his lap.

"Who's that!?"

Rafael whispered to Draco, standing beside him.

"I don't know. I woke up and saw him just like you. But he doesn't seem like an enemy,"

Draco whispered back.

"Have all of Chang Long's friends awakened?"

Albeis greeted them politely, offering a gentle smile.

"W...who are you, sir?"

Rafael asked back politely to not be rude.

"Where have Master Chang and Siegfried gone?"

Peach Blossom scanned the area for her brother and Chang Long.

"There they are,"

Eden pointed towards a large tree under which two figures were resting against the trunk, close to each other. Everyone turned to look and saw Chang Long sleeping peacefully on Siegfried's shoulder, while Siegfried's head rested on Chang Long's head in turn.

"These two have progressed quite fast,"

Draco commented scratching his chin, impressed by their closeness.

"I bet it won't be long before they officially become a couple!"

Rafael smiled, looking at Siegfried's serene face.

"Hey! Isn't Chang Long a guy? How can he be Siegfried's boyfriend?"

Wet Trash Can asked, puzzled, scrutinizing Chang Long's face.

"Come to think of it, Chang Long's face while sleeping does look quite feminine. Look at those lips, those long, thick lashes... Nobody would think she's a guy,"

Oliang observed, staring intently at Chang Long.

"No way! Master Chang can't possibly be a girl. I'll prove it right now!"

Peach Blossom exclaimed loudly, startling Sabia awake. Chang Long and Siegfried also slowly woke up, groggy.

Squish!!

 Peach Blossom's hand landed on Chang Long's chest before anyone could stop her (though, truthfully, no one really wanted to stop her). Siegfried, who had been half-asleep, immediately woke up, while Chang Long looked at the hand on her chest, then at its owner, emotionlessly.

"What are you doing, Peach Blossom..."

Chang Long asked, her voice still sleepy.

"Get your hand off her, you crazy girl! This is so inappropriate!"

Siegfried pushed frozen Peach Blossom away by her head.

"Why are you so stiff? Are you okay?"

Chang Long prodded Peach Blossom, who had flopped back first to the ground, with two hands pointing skyward, eyes wide with surprise.

"Forget her! Serves her right. I told her Chang Long was a girl, but she wouldn't believe me,"

Siegfried pulled Chang Long away from Peach Blossom and went to talk to Albeis, who was watching the scene with amusement.

When Chang Long and Siegfried distanced themselves from Peach Blossom, the curious young men rushed to her side, quickly bringing her back to her senses to inquire about the proof she had just attempted to obtain.

"What's the verdict, Peach Blossom? Were you able to prove it just now?"

Draco asked first, noticing Peach Blossom regaining her composure.

"Yeah, Peach Blossom. Tell us, is Chang Long a man or a woman!?"

Oliang and Wet Trash Can eagerly chimed in together. Rafael and Aden did not ask, but their expressions showed they were just as curious.

"Master Chang is...Master Chang is a..."

Peach Blossom began, her voice breaking as she clutched at the air.

"Is a...!"

The young men echoed, leaning in expectantly, all equally eager for the revelation.

"Master Chang is a woman! Wahhh!!"

Peach Blossom finally burst out, her declaration causing the young men to scatter as they stepped back in alarm, fearing Peach Blossom's wrath.

"What a break down!"

Draco and the others, now standing at a safe distance, commented on Peach Blossom emotional outburst.

"I can't believe Chang Long is actually a woman. I thought she was just a pretty boy, but I never imagined she'd actually be a girl,"

Oliang expressed his disbelief.

"Indeed, I never suspected Chang Long was a woman either. Her demeanor and her clothes didn't give away her gender! Especially not the one she's wearing right now. No one could tell just by looking at her,"

Wet Trash Can agreed with his friend.

"I wasn't sure when I first saw Chang Long either. But now that I know, she does look quite feminine, and she's very beautiful too,"

Aden added, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Hey, hey, Aden, Chang Long is already claimed by Siegfried, just so you know. Look how closely he sticks to her, haha,"

Rafael teased, pointing out how Siegfried was sitting close to Chang Long, chatting with Albeis and Sabia, oblivious to the commotion nearby.

"Really? Siegfried knew Chang Long was a girl?"

Oliang asked, surprised.

"Heh heh, he was the first to know. Just so you know,"

Draco smirked slyly.

"Seriously! How did he know? We couldn't even tell,"

Oliang and Wet Trash Can wondered aloud.

"That's a secret... If I spill the beans, Siegfried might just bury me alive,"

Draco laughed, avoiding the question.

"Guys. Let's eat. Albeis has kindly offered to treat us,"

Chang Long called out to the young men, who had formed a small group not too far away. Peach Blossom looked at Chang Long in disbelief, her cheeks still damp with tears.

Following Albeis deeper into the forest, the group encountered a regiment of soldiers resembling Albeis in appearance and hair color, standing in disciplined formation. Under glossy brown weaved armor, they wore long white tunics with side slits from the waist down. A white gold star emblem adorned their chest, with a silver sword hanging by their side, a bow slung over the right shoulder, and a quiver full of arrows on their backs. They all kneeled in unison to show respect upon Albeis' approach.

"Master Albeis, we stand ready to follow your commands," a man, seemingly the leader of the group, addressed Albeis with profound respect.

"Send the majority to secure the exit from Albee Fortress. The rest, please prepare the dining area,"

Albeis instructed with a warm smile.

"Yes, sir!"

The man responded promptly, signaling the organized soldiers behind him. The main force immediately dispersed, while about a dozen remained to swiftly set up a large tent and arrange a dining table inside. Once the meal was prepared, Albeis invited Chang Long's group to join them.

"This area of the forest feels nothing like the one outside,"

Rafael commented during the meal.

"Indeed, this part of the forest remains untainted by evil. Goblins are malevolent creatures; everywhere they go turns to ruin, as you've seen with the forest outside,"

Albeis replied, offering a sad smile to everyone.

"As you know, the goblins have long sought to conquer Fairy Forest from us. But the guardian spirit has always protected it, preventing their invasion. Unfortunately, the previous guardian had recently passed away, and Sabia was born from the withered remains of the tree the last guardian inhabited...

"When a guardian spirit is born, they don't stay in one place but drifts throughout Fairy Forest until they take on a definite form and touches down upon the land. Although we tried to track the wandering guardian spirit, we couldn't prevent the goblins that stealthily followed. They killed our people and chased the newly formed guardian. But she was fortunate that you came along just in time,"

Albeis turned to Chang Long with a grateful smile for her role in protecting Sabia.

Chang Long returned the smile without saying a word, while her companions looked at her in unison, except for Peach Blossom, who seemed unable to accept Chang Long's true gender. She kept ignoring and refused to look at Chang Long ever since the revelation, despite feeling somewhat guilty.

"Alright! Are you ready to continue our journey? In a few hours, we'll reach Eldar City,"

Albeis said once everyone had finished eating.

"Eldar?"

Chang Long repeated putting Davy-chan's spirit tablet into her bag.

"It's the name of the elf's city,"

Sabia, standing next to the young elf, explained with a clear voice. Ever since meeting Albeis, the little guardian spirit seemed to have shed her fears.

"We are ready, Master Albeis!"

Siegfried spoke on behalf of everyone. With nods of agreement from the group, Albeis led them towards Eldar, the city of the beautifully wise elves.

Albeis, the elf lord of surpassing beauty, guided Chang Long's group deeper into Fairy Forest. The trees and grass here remained lush and vibrant. The beautiful dryads came out to welcome the visitors with smiles, bowing respectfully to Albeis and waving at Chang Long's group trailing behind. Wet Trash Can appeared to be more delighted than anyone, puffing out his chest and smiling sweetly, waving back at the dryads who giggled at his antics.

"Stop that nonsense already, will you? Look, those dryads are laughing at you!"

Oliang looked at his friend's behavior with exasperation.

"Who says? The young dryads are clearly appreciating the rugged, handsome charm of mine,"

Wet Trash Can proudly declared.

"Look at you, speaking so shamelessly! If you're so handsome and manly, what about those of us being followed by a bunch of dryads? Eh!"

Oliang shook his head at his friend's endless self-delusion, pointing out the men and Chang Long followed by numerous dryads. One dryad even clung to Oliang's arm, startling him.

Wet Trash Can turned to see what his well-meaning friend pointed out and was dumbfounded. Siegfried, Rafael, Draco, Aden, and even Chang Long were accompanied by several beautiful dryads, all laughing and chatting intimately, inciting his envy. Seeing Oliang also had dryads as companions only intensified his desire to dive headfirst into a pit of despair.

"Ah! Why don't any dryads come to talk to me?!"

Wet Trash Can lamented his misfortune.

"Then stop acting so foolishly,"

Peach Blossom, who had been scowling ahead, turned to chide him.

"Acting foolishly?!"

Wet Trash Can echoed, puzzled about what he did wrong.

"Yes, that behavior! See if anyone else is acting like you,"

Peach Blossom retorted, annoyed, especially after glimpsing a dryad caressing Chang Long's cheek, laughing merrily.

"How am I foolish? I'm totally cool!"

Wet Trash Can argued, strutting even more proudly. Peach Blossom, upon hearing this, wished she could kick him then and there before stating,

"Well, if you keep that up, no dryad will want to walk with you, that's for sure!"

After saying her piece, she hastened to walk with Sabia and Albeis at the front of the group.

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