to the south of kings island across the sea was a forest that covered most of the eastern side of the continent. The forest was the elven kingdom and in the middle of this was the elven capitol. the homes of the elves were covered in all kinds of plants and flowers. but this beautiful scenery was the backdrop to a council full of worries. The elven elders and the elven king were discussing recent disappearances. 

“I know it's the humans that did this. we've lost contact with any elven adventurers out there.” said one elder.

“As if an elf hasn't been attracted to the luxuries of man. nonsense it's the goblins that are the cause.”said another. 

meanwhile a slender elven archer guard with long blue hair yawned thinking *Why not both? it's not as if one would stop if the other side started doing it*

Fae had been a guard in yamdorei for 60 years and this was the usual banter. guard duty bored her. thank the gods there was a patrol later but at this pace it would be a night patrol. 

“don't be so obviously bored, Fae.” whispered a tough looking elf guard on the other side of the door.

Fae got spooked, quickly regained her composure and responded “but this is boring. Why was I assigned here?”

“Your mother asked me for a favor when you snuck off with the berry bread she'd been baking. How could I say no?”

 Alwin had been her friend since before the guard. She did blame him for convincing her to become one. It was more boring than she imagined. the patrols were more fun. taking out goblins that wandered too close to the trade outpost. and foiling human bandits thinking they could hide and run in the woods better than an elf.

The council dragged on and the elder standing in the middle of the room continued “you can't keep believing they will honor the treaty. look how beastmen are being treated . The dwarves already locked down their borders to humans and elves. They believe we are working with humans to enslave all other races.”

“it wouldn't make sense. We tried staying neutral during the war with the beastmen and if they planned to enslave all other races they would target the dwarves who opposed the war and even let the beastmen escape through the mountains behind their city.”

“That's what they want us to think. I know their enslaved necklaces are so advanced that if they want they could conquer us as we ignore them then use the enslaved beastmen and elves to surround Brinthorn.”

“would they even have enough enslavement stones for that?”

“I am inclined to believe so”

Several elders believed they should reconnect with the dwarves but they had dug themselves into their fortress city. to the king it looked like war was inevitable. 

One elder to the side addressed this idea “If a war is to come we'd have to hunt down the human settlements on the continent. the island holding the human capital seems too well protected.”

“That is true,” said another elder

“Most elves we send to infiltrate the city have never been heard from and those that we do hear from say the ocean became untraversable shortly after setting off.” A female elder noted

“We can't just attack all the nearby human cities. The people of dagos have helped out when that one prince wanted to conscript the elves who live there. for an outpost in the dark forest he said.”

Fae remembered hearing a lot about the dark forest from adventurers and merchants whilst visiting  dagos to escort a caravan to the trading outpost. They had told her the place is infested with some of the worst creatures on the continent and beyond that a mountain range with only one passage to the desert behind it. that was infested with sandworms and armored scorpions. there was no reason to go there except to look for beastmen that ran for the desert during the war.

 As the council drew to a close the elders could not come to an agreement and the king decided it was enough for their day. The hall emptied, only the king and the guards remained. the king looked defeated. whatever option he had before him was terrible. He turned towards Alwin and Fae. “I'm sorry I kept you two here so long. you can go” 

 “I'm sorry for my subordinate's lack of manners. she's usually assigned to patrols” 

Fae felt embarrassed. The king laughed a bit. “It's nothing, these meetings are always tiring and this one especially.” 

Fae gave a bow “still i'm sorry your highness. I know you'll find the best solution for us.” 

“If you find one before I do, feel free to let me know.” 

They left the king to ponder once they were a few halls away Fae let out a huge sigh “that was embarrassing.”

 “I told you it was obvious.” 

“Yes, yes, laugh away. Please tell me next time I'm scheduled I'm on patrol or on escort duty. I'll even guard the outpost.”

 “Ok then for the next week you'll guard the outpost.” 

Fae groaned “ugh i hope at least some goblin tries to approach it” 

“They have been getting closer lately. Also I'll need to get Kolvar to make a team to investigate the maritime border to the north. if humans are involved in the disappearances they must have a port somewhere there”

Fae got excited. “I volunteer!”

Alwin looked annoyed at her enthusiasm. but she was one of the better guards available. “Fine but it will be after your guard duty. you're just doing it to impress Kolvar.”

Fae was about to complain but they heard a strange noise. They looked out the palace window and saw a huge metal construction high in the sky. It looked like someone tried to make a city out of boxes made out of black iron. they vaguely heard noises as if it was blasting lots of fire magic in the distance. even here it vanished beyond the horizon. 

“That was heading towards the black forest,” Fae said. 

Alwin was still stunned but  managed to say “is that another problem for us later?”

 “maybe a solution?”

“Somehow I doubt that.”