Damon nodded. He pulled out some poison but still left most of it inside. "It will take a couple of days for him to get better." He lied.
The old elf looked at Damon for a moment with amusement in his eyes. He then shook his head and started walking into the elven settlement again.
Damon then called over Kaelthorn and green eyes as well. A few elves rushed past them to pick up the unconscious Erelion and carry him deeper into the sanctuary, all of them giving Damon a nasty look.
Damon watched them for a second, his expression unreadable, then turned toward his companions. "Let’s go," he said simply. Kaelthorn dipped his head respectfully. "As you command, my Lord."
The elven girl, on the other hand, seemed very restless.
The old elf paused to glance at her. Damon could have sworn that surprise flickered in the elf’s gaze, but in the end, the old man acted as if nothing had happened.
"You picked up a stray on your way here? That’s good. We always welcome our lost children back home," the elder finished with a warm, grandfatherly smile that did not match the razor-sharp intelligence glinting behind his eyes.
"Little one," he said gently, "there is no need to fear. No one here will hurt you. Why don’t we go inside and talk more?" He then walked further into the underground city.
The entire place was unexpectedly breathtaking. Though it couldn’t exactly be compared to a royal elven capital bathed in moonlight and surrounded by lush green forests, it possessed a quiet, ancient beauty that felt alive in every grain of its walls.
Bioluminescent vines slithered down stone arches like glowing rivers. Soft streams of silvery water flowed along carved channels in the ground, humming with mana. The air was cool, fragrant with earth and old magic, nothing like the burning desert above.
Green Eyes, despite her fear, stared around with her mouth slightly open, awe momentarily overriding her trembling. She seemed to be a lot more relaxed and calmer now.
The old elf continued leading them into the heart of the sanctuary, speaking lightly as though giving a tour. "This place is the last remaining sanctuary of our people. A fragment of what we once were, preserved under the sands."
On their way, they met several elves here and there, but no one dared to interrupt them or talk to them. They only looked warily in their direction, especially giving looks at Damon and Kaelthorn. Some showed curiosity, others hostility, a few outright disgust.
The old elf chuckled softly. "Don’t mind them. You caused a commotion outside, you know."
"I don’t care," Damon said.
"I know you don’t," the elder replied, not offended in the slightest. "Makes life easier for me."
They reached a large, hollowed chamber where thick roots curled around a glowing crystal pool. Moonlit mist rose from its surface, drifting in languid spirals. Inside, there was a large dining area with some decorations. Fresh fruit, nectar-filled blossoms, and shimmering herbs lay arranged on the long dining table
"Come. Sit. Rest. You’ve traveled far, and tempers have run high. Sharing a meal first will make our conversation smoother."


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God