The Princess' Harem
Chapter 139: Forest Blessing

Chapter 139: Forest Blessing

On the second night of their journey, they camped beneath a giant tree, perhaps thousands of years old, its roots sprawling everywhere. Viana, physically weary, lay beside the campfire, her mind busy listening to and feeling the life within the forest.

Faylen, sitting opposite her, occasionally tossed twigs into the fire, ensuring it kept burning. "We will reach the outermost border of our settlement by tomorrow afternoon, Your Highness," he said in a soft, unhurried voice. "From there, you will be welcomed by the Elders."

Viana nodded. She was eager to meet Eryndor again, to fully understand the meaning of this ’Forest Blessing,’ a truly monumental gift. Her curiosity overcame her fatigue.

She wanted to know if she could master this ability and how she could use it for a greater purpose.

On the third day, Viana woke up feeling refreshed despite only a few hours of sleep. Their horses seemed to move faster, as if knowing their destination was near.

Approaching midday, they arrived at a large, circular glade, surrounded by countless ancient, giant trees. In the center of the glade, a stone formation stood tall, adorned with intricate Elven script, radiating a magical aura.

"We have arrived, Your Highness," Faylen said with sparkling eyes, pointing towards the stone formation. "This is the Glade Gate, the entrance to the heart of the Elf Kingdom."

Viana dismounted her horse, and leading it, entered the stone formation. As she stepped inside, the scenery before her immediately transformed.

The surrounding trees grew taller, their trunks seeming to emit a soft green light. The scent of exotic wildflowers and strange forest herbs filled the air, making her slightly intoxicated when she inhaled it.

She had entered the world of the Elves.

Elf homes were not like human buildings, dense and rigid in form. These Elf homes were beautifully carved into the trunks of ancient, countless giant trees, connected by neatly woven root bridges and swaying rope ladders.

Soft, colored light emanated from naturally growing crystals within the trees, illuminating the Elf settlement. Viana heard the sound of flutes in the distance, and the calming choral singing of Elves.

Everything she saw felt like a dream, a place that only existed in fairy tale books.

Faylen guided her through a path made of soft moss and tree roots. They passed other Elves busy with their own activities.

Some were picking fruits from glowing trees, while others were tending to tame forest animals. And some were weaving necklaces from shimmering forest flowers.

Every Elf they passed looked at Viana, who felt very different and foreign, with clothing so unlike the Elves. The Elves’ gazes seemed to be scrutinizing her, yet there was no fear or hostility in them.

Viana and Faylen arrived at a larger glade, a natural open space surrounded by towering, ancient trees whose roots sprawled in all directions, forming natural thrones.

In the center of that glade, beneath the sunlight piercing the forest canopy, Eryndor awaited her. He was not alone.

Several other Elf Elders stood around him, their postures upright and dignified. Their faces were wrinkled from their possibly hundreds of years of age, but their eyes radiated wisdom.

"Princess Viana," Eryndor greeted her, his voice deep, yet sounding like the whisper of wind through leaves. "You have come."

Viana bowed respectfully, feeling nervous yet filled with immense curiosity. "Greetings to Eryndor and also the Elders," she said, bowing also towards the Elf Elders, who nodded with smiles.

Eryndor nodded with a smile on his lips. He then gestured for Viana to stand in the middle of the glade, among small, moss-covered stone formations.

"The Blessing we will bestow is not a magic that can be taught, Princess," Eryndor said with a wise tone. "What you have experienced since first entering this forest is a bond, a recognition from this Elf forest of your soul. A soul that strives to honor life and maintain balance. We, as guardians of this forest, will only be a bridge between you and the forest. We will only help unlock what is truly already within you."

Eryndor’s lengthy explanation was followed by one of the Elf Elders standing beside Eryndor, an old Elf woman with snow-white hair and deep blue eyes, stepping forward.

Her wrinkled hand held up a small twig covered with shimmering leaves, and a small crystal at its tip that emitted a soft light. The other Elders, one by one, also raised their hands, and they all began to chant a song in the Elven language, their voices echoing around her.

Ethereal green light began to dance around Viana, surrounding her, swirling like a whirlpool. The light grew brighter, entering her body, through her skin, through her bones, all the way to her soul.

Viana felt a strange sensation. Not pain, as she had expected, but like billions of thin threads entering every cell of her body, then descending through her legs, penetrating the ground, then rising into the trees. Then these threads touched every leaf, and every living creature around her.

She could feel the heartbeat of a bird nesting in its nest, the movement of worms underground, the rustle of a butterfly’s wings newly emerged from its cocoon, even the flow of sap within a tree trunk.

Such a vast amount of information and so many sensations flooded her senses at once. She stumbled, almost falling, her brain felt like it would explode from the burden of this information.

Many images, sounds, feelings from the entire forest entered her body simultaneously.

Eryndor quickly placed his hand on Viana’s shoulder, helping her stand firm. "It will feel heavy at first, Princess," he said, his voice clear amidst the chaos Viana was experiencing.

"The forest is a symphony, a grand and boundless orchestra. You must learn to listen to one instrument at a time, one melody among thousands of existing melodies and instruments."

Viana closed her eyes tightly, then took a deep breath, trying to focus her mind to calm everything in her head. She searched for one sound, one thread among the millions of threads now binding her to nature.

A small hum near her feet caught her attention, a sound that felt close, clearer than the others. She slowly opened her eyes. A small bee was flying in circles before her, its wings vibrating rapidly.

Flower... nectar... hive... tired...

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om