You're the First One
Rune stared at Amanda, at a loss for words.
The sudden silence made Perdikion sense something off in the air.
"Rune?"
"Hold on a sec."
Perdikion called out to him, but Rune waved him off and recalled what Belianus had said.
—The qualities of an Elf King lie solely with those who can hear the World Tree's prophecies. Nothing more.
In other words, this ordinary half-elf girl with freckles right in front of him possessed the qualities of a queen.
'Perdikion hasn't pieced it together yet.'
Rune glanced back at Perdikion for a moment before sending him a telepathic message.
[Bro, remember what Belianus said about the Elf King's qualities?]
Only then did it click for Perdikion. He looked at Amanda again and sent back.
[No way—this mixed-blood elf is the next Elf King who can hear prophecies?]
[That's right.]
Perdikion shot Amanda a suspicious glance mixed with curiosity.
Meanwhile, Rune had done some quick calculations of his own.
'Perfect timing with the box's effect. She'll answer pretty much anything without hesitation.'
Figuring personal questions were fair game to a point, Rune spoke up.
"When did the World Tree tell you about me?"
Amanda looked puzzled but answered readily enough.
"Not long ago. Last night."
He could buy that it wasn't some grand prophecy about the elves' future, but foretelling something just half a day away felt a bit underwhelming.
'Unless it's an ability that grows stronger over time.'
Not certain yet, Rune tossed out another question.
"Do you hear the World Tree's voice often?"
"Never before that."
Rune nodded slowly at her reply, lost in thought.
'Come to think of it, when Amanda was old enough to understand speech, the World Tree was deep in demonic corruption.'
Half-elves lived nearly a millennium, shorter than purebloods but still long-lived.
By her looks, Amanda had to be around fifty.
And for the past forty or fifty years, the Elf King had been mistaking the demon voices for the World Tree's during that confused era.
'Now that it's purified, she'll keep hearing prophecies from here on out.'
She's a noble soul.
Rune's instincts as an ancient divine beast told him so. He let a faint smile slip.
"First time hearing it, huh? You sure trusted it quick."
Sensing the mood soften, the freckled elf girl hesitated but opened up.
"Well, I wanted to save my one and only mom. That's why I went to the funeral. Otherwise, no way I'd show up to the Elf King's."
Rune nodded in understanding.
The Elf King had pushed pureblood supremacy hard.
He'd treated half-elves like outsiders, not even considering them true elves because of their mixed blood.
So for her, someone who'd faced discrimination her whole life, attending his funeral would've been unthinkable.
Her desperation to save her mother must've pushed her to brave the stares and hope that first voice from the World Tree was real.
Understanding her plight, Rune spoke.
"Not sure if I'm the one to say this... but you must've had it rough. Gotta say, I'm impressed."
His casual words caught her off guard. Amanda stared at him blankly.
Then she turned her head slightly and puffed out one cheek.
"Hmph. Thanks, I guess."
Looking awkward at the praise, she scratched her cheek with a finger.
To lighten the mood, Rune brought up something that'd bugged him since entering the village.
"By the way, has this village ever dealt with anything like that? Plagues from contagion, or anything unclean?"
The freckled elf girl's eyes went wide.
"Contagion? Never."
She seemed genuinely hearing it for the first time.
Then something clicked, and her eyes rolled left as her mouth fell open a bit.
"Oh...! Now that you mention it, I heard rumors. The pureblood elves suffered a lot."
She tapped her cheek with a finger and tilted her head.
"But not us half-elves. Maybe 'cause our village is so small?"
Now Perdikion straightened up, intrigued.
Rune met Amanda's eyes gently, keeping it casual.
"How do you handle water and food around here?"
Amanda shrugged.
"What else? We can't use the same wells as the purebloods. We hunt in the desert or get water from oasis expeditions."
She seemed annoyed by the unfairness, but Rune, who'd witnessed the tragedy under the Elf King, inwardly exclaimed.
Ironically, the discrimination had kept the half-elves alive.
'Fascinating.'
The World Tree's chosen half-elf!
But right now, Amanda was just an ordinary girl worried about her mom, not queen material.
'She's not ready yet, but this one's destined for big things among the elves.'
It was the intuition of a divine beast who'd lived eons.
A small kindness now would bear great fruit later.
After a brief ponder, Rune let his hand drop below the table.
He partially materialized it, plucking a single black scale with a pop.
"Take this."
"What's that?"
Rune handed his scale to Amanda, who'd instinctively reached out.
"A scale from the Black Dragon clan."
Amanda's eyes widened as she held it up to the light.
"Whoa, isn't this super rare?"
The black scale gleamed with a transparent sheen, exuding noble light.
As Amanda murmured to herself that it looked mysteriously beautiful, Rune reverted his hand to human form.
"It is. I'm the only one of the darkness clan left."
"Ugh, yeah. You sure it's okay to give me something like this?"
Rune nodded and explained.
"If my guess is right, you've got what it takes to lead the elves and the World Tree."
Amanda burst out laughing with a puha!.
"Haha, that one's kinda funny. As if the purebloods would buy it."
She laughed awkwardly, like it was a joke, but Rune replied in dead earnest.
"No joke. Can't dismiss someone who reads the World Tree's will. You might guide the elves someday."
Amanda glanced between Rune and Perdikion.
Realizing he meant it, the freckled elf girl stopped laughing.
"Honestly, I can't believe it. If they don't treat me like I don't exist, that's a win."
She pouted, tucking the scale into her sleeve with a small smile.
"Still, thanks for this. You're the first besides my parents to call me precious."
Rune smiled back.
"Keep it hidden from prying eyes. You'll need it someday."
Feeling the sincerity in his calm tone, Amanda nodded twice.
Rune continued.
"If you ever head to the Elf Palace, find Belianus and show him. He'll believe you."
Deeming this enough for now, Rune stood.
"Let's go, bro."
"Finally done?"
Perdikion stretched lazily with a bored look.
"Yeah. Christina's waiting, and we should head back."
Before leaving, Rune handed Amanda a few more World Tree fruits.
"I didn't dare touch 'em, thinking they were just for purebloods. Thanks... Rune."
Rune glanced back at her farewell.
"No big deal. Just in case—don't go blabbing about hearing the World Tree."
It could upend her life, so he emphasized it. He also shared some food he'd made with his Resurrection Authority.
Amanda marveled at its effects.
Of course, to Rune, this was an investment.
'Prophets are always valuable, no matter the world. Can't wait till the purebloods find out.'
A fateful encounter he'd claimed first.
Nothing bad about leaving a good impression.
"Rune! Perdikion!"
Heungmi came bounding over, waving both hands wildly.
"I was worried you'd miss dinner! Christina made something super tasty today!"
"?"
The table was already laden with chocolate parfaits, macarons, puddings, and all sorts of snacks.
"Those?"
Heungmi turned with an ah and grinned sheepishly.
"No! Christina made these separately 'cause she said not to worry."
Sure enough, Heungmi smelled of chocolate, strawberries, and soft castella cake.
"It's sooo happy-tasting! I wanna eat it with you, Rune!"
Her fox tail wagged like a puppy's as she hugged Rune's waist tight.
"Peep!"
Baekya flapped around Rune's head with a flurry of wings.
Perdikion snorted at the sight.
"Your retainers worry too much. I was with you—think I'd let anything happen?"
Heungmi beamed at him.
"Of course! Perdikion's totally reliable!"
"Naturally."
Rune admired Heungmi's knack for bonding anew.
'They click well. Guess sworn siblings vibe like that.'
Meanwhile, fluffy Baekya plopped down on Rune's head.
"Peep! Prrrp prrrp prrrp."
Sprawling belly-down like it was nesting in his black hair, it acted adorably spoiled.
Clank! Clang!
—Oh, Master Rune, you've returned?
The Dullahan's salute came with Jed's cheeky voice.
Back in Christina's Lair, the mood felt strangely nostalgic.
—Lady Christina headed to the kitchen with Lord Belianus to prep the meal! Oh, and she had a message for you, Master Rune.
"What is it?"
Jed cleared his throat dramatically, then pitched his voice high and dainty.
—Rune, once you're back, don't step outside anymore. If possible, stay away from the windows too.
"……."
His over-the-top imitation failed to capture Christina's elegant, vibrant grace.
—How was that? Nailed it, right?
'That was awful...'
Considering his loyalty, Rune told the truth.
"Jed... never imitate Christina again."
—Aw, c'mon! First try, and it was pretty close!
Rune shook his head, and even Perdikion advised seriously.
"She was once a resident of my lair, so take this as friendly advice. Pull that stunt, and a sleeping dragon might wake up and smack you with her tail."
—Ehh, that bad!? Back in the day, my impressions had everyone rolling!
"'Cause they were dumbfounded and laughing?"
Jed sulked like a weapon with a protruding lip at Rune's blunt remark.
—No way! My killer acting couldn't be that bad!?
Sensing Jed's grumbling would drag on, Rune cut in.
"Anyway, any idea why Christina said not to go out?"
Jed let out an aha! like it just hit him, then leaned in conspiratorially.
—Master Rune, didn't you notice the elves swarming on your way back?
"Yeah."
—They're all here looking for you!
"?"
Jed began explaining to the puzzled Rune.