"Prince, welcome back."

The guards greeted me with a knelt bow, and I nodded in acknowledgment. "You've worked hard, leave the rest to us and go take a break."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The guards cleared the way and walked off. I gently knocked on the door, no response. With a sigh, I pushed it open, entering a room adorned with lavish carpeting, larger than my own. The walls on either side were covered in tree bark with random patches of moss while the ceiling lantern resembled the outdoors' moon—a mini replica.

My mother's bed, made of wicker and wood, was draped with thin silk sheets and white curtains. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and fruits. The room was an aesthetic delight to the Elven kind; it seemed that mine was the only one lacking any sign of Elven influence, probably my mother considered my mixed heritage.

My mother lay serene in her nightgown, her enchanting face glowed under the light of the moon above. The ethereal beauty of her features became more pronounced, as if the glow wasn't from the moon but radiating from within. The sheer sensuality of her form under her thin nightgown was rather enticing; however, the moonlight rendered such thoughts banished, leaving nothing but awe for the perfect spectacle before me.

Though my mother still slept deeply, according to the medication timing, she should've been awake now. The physician was on his knees, weeping and pleading that it wasn't his fault, his medicine was flawless, and it shouldn't be the cause of his death, that perhaps, it was my mother, refusing to wake up. I believe it wasn't the physician's fault. However, with my mother still not awake, all I could say was that she might be escaping reality.

My mother was in self-imposed sleep, unrelated to the medicine, just her own decision.

Was she still scared? Worried she would see guilt on my face when she woke up? When she assaulted Lucia, she was just in a state of emotional frenzy. Maybe she was upset because I had been overly rebellious. Though she might be overindulgent and overprotective, I acknowledge these as the natural instincts of a mother. She must've been scared, on reflection, and regretting it and fearful of our reproach, hence the escape.

Just like a frightened young maiden.

Kneeling beside my mother's bed, I gently held her hand, as delicate and luminously pearly, softer than jade. Holding her hand, I admired her exquisite beauty and sighed lightly. I could empathize with a mother's concern, and it pained me to see her self-blame. I wanted to wake her up but didn't know how.

This was as much my fault.

"Mother... I'm sorry. I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, I hope that you can wake up. It's not your fault. We haven't blamed you. I've been too willful. Please don't worry about us anymore. I promise, from now on, I'll be a good son..."

Once I finish dealing with the earth dragon, I promise I'll stop running around aimlessly. Staying within the castle with Lucia seems like a good idea. But after all I've been through, I can't give up so quickly.

"The Queen... Has she not woken up yet?"

Suddenly, a sound from behind—Lucia, peering through the small opening of the door, whispered. I nodded, opened the door, Lucia hesitated for a moment, stepped back and said, "No... Um... I'm a bit... entering the Queen's room..."

"Come in, it's okay."

I stretched my hand and pulled Lucia in. Dumbfounded, she removed her dagger, waist belt, thigh flying knife, mini crossbow on her arm, shook out the blades hidden in her headband, and even took off her shoes.... I noticed a few cold glimmers at the tip when she took them off... little girl, how many weapons do you carry? Even if your nighttime duty is to guard the castle, these weapons are more suitable for assassination!

Once disarmed, Lucia tiptoed on the carpet and walked towards my mother. Holding her hand, we both went to my mother's side. Lucia knelt, looking at my mother's tranquil face, her eyes filled with sadness. She held onto the sheets tightly, her teeth clenched and trembling, she said. "I've made the queen like this..."

"No, Lucia, you did nothing wrong. Didn't I tell you this morning? It's my fault that mother's condition is this way. I was too headstrong. You merely obeyed my improper orders. Lucia, you are not my councilor, just my guard. It's not a guard's duty to correct her master."I gently held my mother's hand and smiled, saying, "Mother will be alright, I believe, after some time she'll come around. We can't really do anything now but be here with her. She's my mother, I won't blame her, nor should I, because she's the mother who loves me most."

Lucia nodded, sniffled a little, reached out her hand, and gently touched my mother's hand, saying, "Her Majesty...Prince, our house has always been under the protection of the royal family. Her Majesty has kindly treated me, the Prince acts with such gentleness, and… and can even accept my wedding proposal… I… I am touched… In the future, I will continue to serve as your sword and shield, and will absolutely not let anything harmful come your way."

"Yes, I trust you, Lucia." I responded while looking at Lucia, and gently patted her head. Lucia faintly smiled, then walked to the door to take a deep bow, and said: "Prince, Her Majesty, I am still tasked with duties and should not delay. Excuse me."

"Alright," I nodded, after Lucia equipped all her gear, she pulled the door and left. I turned back, held my mother's hand, watched her face silently for a long time. Just a few days ago she was a stranger to me, just like the rest of the world. Those who died in battle, including the elven princes, were all strangers to me. But now, I am an elf prince, the queen's son, even while she's not my true mother, she has shown me endless love. Why do I feel so strongly attached to her even if she has not been my mother for long? Is it due to the instinct of this body, or am I longing for this kind of maternal love and yearning for her as a mother?

Back in the quarters of my Elven mother, I experienced a sense of motherly love that I had never felt before. This was a result of the bodily instincts of this body and my own desire. I don't want lies for myself or for my mother. I can't forget the faces of fear I saw when I first woke up. For me, those who died in battle were strangers, but for Lucia, for my mother, for the parents of those dead soldiers, they were all precious memories. As a soldier myself, I understand the significance of a comrade's death. Their lives should not fade away just because of a lie created by me.

“I'm determined to wipe out those earth dragons, this is an abrupt decision. Since I am here, I should do something. Following the plot in the novels and games, this will be my first mission. All conditions are set now, I believe, I am confident, that this time I will definitely succeed."

"Mother, look forward to my good news." I stood up, released my hand, looked at my mother’s face, hesitated for a moment, bent down to gently kiss her forehead. Then I turned around, feeling my face burning up. Mother was just too beautiful, every inch closer I get to her feels as if going through great trials and tribulations. Her beauty seemed to have paused time and space around her, astonishing everyone.

I headed outside the room, leaving the Queen's chambers. The guards stood in silence, watching closely. I believe at some corner, Lucia must be watching too. In the Royal Palace of the Elves, there is a place for books which is much more magnificent than the Elder's basement. As Lucia told me later, only courtiers living in the palace could read these books. This place is not only a library but also an archive. Much classified secret information is stored here, only the royal family members can access these, and some of them are not even available to collateral members. But as a prince, there's no book out of my reach. All books here are under the enchantment of magic. If anyone with insufficient authority attempts to open those, the books will bite their finger and set off an alarm. It is said that thieves were once bitten off a palm, but I wasn't sure about the truth.

"Your Highness has come to this place at night, what a surprise!" The librarian of this library, an old man, was so old that he was almost not noticeable at his place. I nodded and said, "I want to consult some materials tonight, please give me a detailed map of the capital and its surroundings, the more detailed, the better."He nodded his head, and after chanting a spell, a small booklet flew in front of me. This method was indeed convenient, even more so than the modern library book search system. I extended a chair and sat down, looking at the Elvish text under the faint green light. This map must be around ten years old, folded so rigidly it was near tearing. The map was marked with various traces, which made me frown and say, "Could I get a newer map? This one is quite old; many places must have disappeared already."

"If you're investigating city changes, then a newer version would indeed be appropriate. But as for the map of the area near the capital, there's nothing better than this one. In ten years, the surrounding area of the capital has not changed much. We aren't like Humans, constantly relocating and expanding cities, nor do we casually destroy forests," the elder continued in a melancholy tone.

"This map was used by the queen herself during the past war against the Humans. It is extremely accurate, by the Shadow Force's own measurement. It is the most reliable map, guaranteed not to deceive you."

Doubtfully, I delicately unfolded the map. On this age-worn map, arrows depicted both sides' marching routes. Eventually, the decisive battle was on the vast plains in front of the capital. It seemed that the Humans were attacking the Elvish positions, followed by an Elf counterattack.

This was likely drawn by my mother, although the inscriptions have blurred over time. I could almost see the blood-stained winds and dreadful scenes of the battlefield. The Human armies had reached the gates of the capital. Behind the capital was an unfathomable trench; the Elves had nowhere to retreat and had to fight desperately.

My mother had arranged three lines of defense. The Humans managed to break through the first, but were counterattacked at the second. The hastily drawn arrow showing the Humans breaching the first line suggested a dire situation. That was a war fought over me, yet I could only piece together fragments of the past.

What exactly happened? Why did the Humans and Elves go to war? What was the reason and what was the process? I cannot ask because, in everyone's mind, I was aware. If I ask, I would be disrespecting all the people who sacrificed for this war.

I certainly won't forget this war.

Wait, wait, wait, that's not what I came here for. I shook my head, dismissing these irrelevant matters. My eye turned to the left side of the capital, towards the Black Forest. Currently, a group of earth dragons are roaming there, seemingly searching for something but very violent, posing a potential threat to the capital. I need to find a place where I can unleash my crossbow without allowing a single earth dragon to escape.

I need a plain... no, a valley. A narrow valley where I can deploy crossbows, block the path, and attract all the earth dragons. Such a place must be found. Considering the terrain of the Black Forest is only rising, there may be a canyon...

I found it!!

To the north of the Black Forest, at the highest peak, there was a small fissure on the map. In reality, it must be a canyon. If I can lure all the earth dragons there, I can kill them all!

"Thank you! I will borrow this map and return it in a few days."

"Very well, Prince. Please be extra careful not to damage it. This map from the last war is extremely precious."

"Understood, thank you!"

I'll set off tomorrow! To go see the soon-to-be grave of those earth dragons!!