The Martial Unity

The elven institution of research and development spanned an enormous area, comprising of organic infrastructure for the main purpose of botanical biotechnology, making it haven of technological advance for the dark elves.

WHOOSH

The trees split as an opening emerged in the vast forests of the institution.

From within, a dark elf in what resembled a lab coat comprised of organic fibers emerged from within, atop an elevating branch that carried him along with it. Rui found it curious that a man had been sent to receive him to the institution rather than a woman, considering that he had yet to interact with a single male elf at that point.

“Welcome to the Institution of Research and Development, Your Highness,” the man remarked with a gentle smile. “My name is Vertail, the director of the elven biological research department and I will be guiding you through our institution and help you get what you need.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Rui replied with a nod.

“Then, please follow me.”

The two of them lowered themselves as they entered the research facility, descending past the canopy ceiling.

Within the botanical facility, he found himself in a set of corridors that led to many different facilities that each had glass doors of sorts, displaying exactly what they were up to. Within most of them, Rui could tell that they were conducting experiments on plant and tree tissue, often with whole test subjects at large, to test out new technology and gather more empirical data.

From just a single glance, he caught attempts to increase the durability of organic tissue, as well as attempts to increase the rate of growth of wood, and even attempts to increase the density of flora networks.

Their equipment was also biotechnological as well, comprising wood and other organic substances that were found in abundance in trees and plants.

Surely a lot of this was classified information.

Yet, the dark elves apparently wanted to make a gesture of goodwill and lead him through their institution as if he was a trusted ally, which he technically was.

His attention returned to the scientist leading him through the winding corridors within the forest of an institution. What he found curious was the fact that a male elf had been given such a high position of power within the institution of research and development.

“I would imagine the department of elven biological research is quite an important one, no?” Rui raised an eyebrow.

“It is.” His tone was humble as he smiled at Rui modestly. “In this department, we study the foundations of the Nature Path. We study how our bond and harmonization with nature in a scientific lens and seek to understand how it functions and how we can improve it. Or how, at the very least, we can improve our biotechnology to improve our compatibilty with it.”

He turned to Rui with a knowing gaze. “I believe that you have fought our dark elf warriors, therefore I’m sure that you have noticed a tendency for our biotechnology to make up for a shortcoming in our great elven warriors. This is thanks to research conducted by department.”

“I see…” Rui replied with a measure of interest. “I’m guessing you also try improving the elven physiology itself to try and improve your propensity for nature? Like, perhaps, trying to make elven males more compatible with nature?”

A small, meaningful smile emerged on the dark elf’s face. “Indeed. That is currently one of our greatest objectives and goals. It is unfortunate that the males of our species are simply genetically inferior to the females of our species when it comes to the Nature Path. Alas…”

His tone grew melancholic. “…it has proven to be extremely difficult to make even a dent of progress in regards to this problem. Unfortunately, for better or for worse, elven women will likely always be far better than elven men at nature manipulation. It is not possible to alter the elven genome to change male physiology to become more feminine in hormonal make-up without also severely reducing our already low fertility.”

“I see…” Rui’s tone grew curious as he studied the dark elf.

His eyes also short around the facility they were in as he studied the other reseachers who were working on their projects in labs or walking across the corridors of the research facility.

He noticed a much higher proportion of men in the research and development institution than perhaps in any other institution in West Genora.

“Do dark elven men tend to prefer working in research and development?” Rui raised an eyebrow.

“…Not exactly,” his smile grew wry. “The simple fact of the matter is that our women flock to institutions and sectors that involve nature manipulation. This leaves institutions that have increasingly less to do with nature manipulation mostly to men.”

“I see…” his eyes shifted to study the man from head to toe.

He had noticed this before, but despite being tall, the man was what Rui perceived to feminine, even though his judgment was undoubtedly colored in human and Kandrian culture. But there were some universal tells in not just him but also the other dark elf men in the elven civilization.

For one, he couldn’t even see the tiniest hint of body hair or facial hair. He also couldn’t see even the slightest hint of muscle tone in their bodies, as if they deliberately avoided trying to build muscle. It was possible that dark elven men simply didn’t have those characteristics, but that was unlikely, as far as Rui was concerned.

He suspected that they had likely tried making themselves more feminine in the hopes that they would be more compatible with nature? At the same time, considering that one’s affinity and harmonization with nature was the prime parameter that determined social status, perhaps everybody in dark elven society was trying to be more feminine.

It was completely opposite from human civilization on the Panama Continent that prized the more masculine traits of violence and the power of physicality.

“We have arrived,” Vertail remarked as they reached giant wooden doors with two powerful elven warrior at each side, guarding it. “Let us go.”

CRACK CRACK CRACK

The wood separated in a crack down the center as the two halves contracted, making way the two of them.

“Welcome to the elven physiology department.”