I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom

After the first generation of Dark Elves betrayed the Elven King, they carried only limited resources away with them. Among those resources was a small collection of books about the Elves, sealed on the top floor of Darkmoon City’s largest library.

The hierarchy within the Dark Elf race was rigid. Dark Elves of low status were not permitted to enter the top floor.

Efit was exceptionally talented and possessed extraordinary sensitivity to potions, earning the Dark Elf King’s high regard. He had once been granted access to the library’s top floor to study ancient books on potion making.

At the time, he had only recently reached adulthood and was still intensely curious. When he spotted several books about the Elves, he secretly took them down and read them.

Ten thousand years ago, the great Elven King Freyus Estel had sealed off the Faerie Forest and the Elven Kingdom, refusing all contact with the other peoples of the continent.

As time passed, White Elves and Fairies became legendary peoples who existed only in the songs of bards.

Their mystery made people admire and yearn for White Elves and Fairies, while the Dark Elves, who frequently traveled across the continent, were despised wherever they went.

The stark difference in how they were treated filled the Dark Elves with bitter resentment. They fiercely envied and hated those so-called children of the Light God.

Efit had not yet ventured beyond Dark Elf territory at the time and had never experienced the contempt of other peoples. He had read those books about the Elves purely out of curiosity.

Within their pages, he discovered a peaceful people who were kind and loving and always helped one another.

Raised through cruel ordeals from childhood, Efit could scarcely imagine how wonderful the White Elves’ world must be.

Did such a harmonious people truly exist?

There was no oppression by rank, no slaughter among their own kind, and no bloody killing.

It seemed utterly inconceivable.

During that period, he frequently used potion research as an excuse to visit the top floor and secretly read books about the White Elves. He stopped only when his instructor began to grow suspicious.

Those books had a tremendous impact on his beliefs. He began to question the God of Darkness worshiped by the Dark Elves.

Destroy the light in the name of ruin, guide darkness across the land, and force everyone to kneel before the God of Darkness as his devout followers.

Was that truly right?

Efit harbored profound doubts.

Dark Elves carried dark power within their bodies. As they grew older, that power gradually intensified, often making them unable to control their violent impulses and filling them with the desire to destroy everything.

Efit hated the sensation of losing control.

And so, he formulated a unique potion for himself that suppressed the dark power inside his body.

Its formula had come from an ancient White Elf text and had been created specifically to counter dark power that invaded the body.

It was called the Darkness-Dispelling Potion.

A simple and straightforward name.

Efit had taken the Darkness-Dispelling Potion regularly for years. Although it could not completely eradicate the dark power inside him, it effectively suppressed his violent urges and allowed him to retain his identity and reason.

He did not want to become a pawn controlled by evil desires—one stripped of reason and judgment, capable only of obeying the God of Darkness.

Throughout all these years, he had remained true to himself.

That was why he could never remain calm whenever he watched innocent newborn cubs transform into cold, merciless creatures thirsting for blood.

Yesterday, he had once again taken young cubs into the swamp for a trial of life and death. He had watched them sink into the mire, crying and begging him for help. Suppressing the guilt in his heart, he had allowed the magical beasts beneath the swamp to devour them.

Even if he had intervened and saved them then, the surviving cubs would eventually die in some other trial of life and death.

Their humanity was eroded ordeal by ordeal until darkness consumed them completely and they became proper followers of the God of Darkness.

When the beautiful, golden-haired Little Fairy before him, glowing with the aura of light, solemnly declared that no one had the right to take a cub’s life away, the words shook Efit’s soul to its core.

No one has the right to take a cub’s life away.

The force of that declaration shattered the Dark Elves’ long-held belief in the survival of the fittest.

Cubs were the hope of their people. Every one of them deserved to grow up surrounded by love and protection. If there was an opportunity to change their fate, why should they not try?

Shu Li saw a spark of hope appear in the Dark Elf’s blood-red eyes.

Efit truly was different from the others.

“What terms do you wish to discuss with me?” Efit asked in a low voice.

“I want to move as many fruits as possible back to the mother tree’s main trunk.” Shu Li patted his chest. “I have the power to purify the fruit and dispel the darkness, restoring the cubs’ identities as children of the Light God.”

Efit narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied the young Fairy. “How old are you?”

Shu Li wrinkled his nose and answered honestly, “Ten. But don’t underestimate me. I’m already a Senior Mage.”

Efit was astonished.

“Impossible!” he blurted out.

A ten-year-old Senior Mage was unheard of.

Even the most gifted Dark Elf in their race would not advance to Senior Mage until the age of twenty.

Seeing that Efit did not believe him, Shu Li swiftly took out his magic staff, aimed it at Efit, and silently cast a purification spell.

Efit reacted warily, but it was already too late to evade it.

The Little Fairy had not recited an incantation at all. A small sphere of white light appeared at the tip of his magic staff and instantly shot into Efit’s forehead.

Cold sweat broke out across Efit’s body. Just as he was about to lash out, a refreshing clarity spread through his head, and warmth and comfort suffused his entire body. The dark power within him was brutally suppressed, compressed into a tight mass that cowered motionless in a corner.

It was even more effective than the Darkness-Dispelling Potion he had developed himself!

“A Senior Purification Spell. How does it feel?” Shu Li lowered his magic staff. His eyes curved into crescents, revealing a neat row of white teeth as he beamed at Efit.

Efit regarded the Little Fairy before him with a complicated expression.

Shu Li wore magnificent clothing and expensive ornaments and held a high-grade magic staff. His skin was fair and delicate, his appearance clean and beautiful, and every movement carried an effortless grace.

He was clearly a young Fairy who had been raised with meticulous care by his elders.

And his talent was unimaginable.

“Did you... recite an incantation just now?” Efit asked uncertainly. His hearing was extremely keen, yet he had not heard the Little Fairy utter a single word.

“No.” Shu Li tilted his little head and answered casually, “I used silent magic.”

“Silent magic?” Efit stared at him.

How many more astonishing abilities did this Little Fairy possess?

Shu Li replied with a touch of pride, “That’s right! I received the Elven King’s blessing, which means the essence of light has acknowledged me. I can cast all light magic silently.”

Efit’s breath caught.

“The Elven King...” he murmured.

He had once heard bards sing poems praising the Elven King.

The Elven King was the first Child of Light created by the Light God. During the War of the Gods ten thousand years ago, he had led the Elf and Fairy warriors into battle and dealt a devastating blow to the forces of the God of Darkness.

Although Efit was a Dark Elf, he felt an inexplicable admiration for the Elven King.

“The Elven King is the best and gentlest king in the entire world!” Worship shone on Shu Li’s face. “He cherishes every cub. For the sake of his people’s future, he would even sacrifice his own life.”

“What do you want me to do?” Efit asked.

Shu Li answered solemnly, “Work with me. Help me move every fruit on the mother tree’s offshoot and give the newborn Elf cubs a future filled with light.”

Efit’s breathing quickened slightly. He looked around at the more than one hundred and twenty fruits hanging from the mother tree’s branches and involuntarily clenched his fists.

Seeing Efit caught in an inner struggle, Shu Li pressed on.

“The mother tree was corrupted by darkness against her will. She is the mother of all Elves. Whether they are Dark Elves or White Elves, she cannot bear to see any of her children harmed. For ten thousand years, she has watched vast numbers of the Dark Elves she nurtured die young. It has filled her with grief and anguish, but because her offshoot was corrupted by darkness, she was powerless to stop it.”

Efit’s gaze flickered, and his clenched fists gradually relaxed.

Shu Li knew that he had successfully persuaded him. He said no more and calmly waited for Efit’s answer.

After a long silence, Efit made his promise.

“I can help you.”

Joy surged through Shu Li, and his entire face lit up.

Efit lowered his gaze.

What a guileless Little Fairy. Every emotion showed plainly on his face.

“I can help conceal what you are doing and allow you to move the purified fruits without interference. However, I also have a condition.”

“Go ahead.” Shu Li gestured for him to continue.

It would have been strange if Efit had asked for nothing in return.

Cooperation went both ways. It could last only if both parties benefited.

“I am a potion maker,” Efit said. “Some herbs grow only in the Faerie Forest. I want you to supply them to me on a regular basis.”

Shu Li blinked. “That’s all?”

Shouldn’t they be signing some kind of contract or something?

Gathering herbs was ridiculously easy for a Fairy!

“I will pay you,” Efit added.

Shu Li scratched the back of his head, feeling a little confused. Not only had he successfully negotiated their cooperation, but he had somehow secured a business deal for himself along the way.

It felt strange, though he could not quite explain why.

“A-all right!” Shu Li said. “I’ll give you a discounted price.”

He would find some time to visit the commercial district around the divine tree and inquire about herb prices. Then he could draw up a detailed price list to quote to the Dark Elf.

Efit’s pointed ears twitched, and he reached out to cover the fruit with the leaves again.

Shu Li heard the approaching footsteps as well. He swiftly entered the branch and fled through the spatial tunnel.

His objective had been accomplished. Now he had to hurry home and sleep, or he would never manage to wake up tomorrow.

Sensing the Little Fairy’s aura disappear, Efit sprang down from the branch and landed lightly on the ground.

The owner of the footsteps approached and stopped before the courtyard corridor, folding his arms as he asked mockingly, “Efit, what were you doing up in the tree?”

Efit straightened his slightly disheveled cloak and replied evenly, “One of the fruits hasn’t developed properly. It is about to die.”

“Tch. Then let it die. It’s not as if we’ll miss one fruit.” The Dark Elf shrugged indifferently.

After all, far more would die after they were born and had undergone a few years of training.

Efit frowned and pulled up his hood. “I’m going back.”

Without waiting for an answer, he strode away.

The other Dark Elf sneered and glanced up at the merciless sun, abandoning any thought of checking beneath the tree.

Efit returned to his room and wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. He entered his potion laboratory, swiftly selected herbs from the shelves, and expertly extracted their essences before finally producing five potions.

After placing the five potions in his storage pouch, he left his room again and headed toward the cubs’ dormitory.

The five Dark Elf cubs had endured a brutal confrontation with death. They now huddled together inside a single room, trembling uncontrollably, their clothes still clinging to their bodies, caked with mud and blood.

Knock, knock, knock—

The knock on the door made them react like startled birds. Their widened eyes filled with terror.

“Eek—”

After waiting for some time without the door opening, Efit pushed it open. He saw the five little cubs huddled in a corner and silently closed the door behind him.

When the cubs recognized him, the fear vanished from their eyes and was replaced by hope.

“Efit!” one little cub called in a clear voice.

Efit walked over and crouched before them. His warm palm stroked each cub’s head in turn.

If even a young Little Fairy could risk his life to negotiate with Efit for the future of the Elf cubs, how could Efit, an adult Elf, stand aloof and pretend that none of it concerned him?

The unborn cubs had to be saved. The cubs who had already been born but had not yet spilled blood or been corrupted and enslaved by darkness also had to be saved.

He took five potions from his storage pouch and handed one to each cub.

“These are Darkness-Dispelling Potions. Drinking them will help you remain yourselves.”

The Dark Elf cubs trusted him. They opened the bottles and drank in unison.

Efit gave them a rare smile. “You must keep this secret. Understand?”

“Yes!” The five cubs nodded vigorously.

Efit stroked their heads encouragingly once more, then rose.

“Take a bath and get a good night’s sleep. You are all brave Elf warriors.”

“All right—”

The cubs who had been shrouded beneath the shadow of death had finally found salvation.

As long as Efit was there, they no longer needed to be afraid.

Shu Li emerged from the mother tree’s trunk and flew unsteadily through the air. He was so exhausted that his eyelids kept drooping, but his spirits could not have been higher. He wanted nothing more than to announce to every Elf that he had accomplished something tremendous.

However, the remnants of his reason restrained him.

The grand enterprise of stealing the fruits had not yet fully succeeded. For now, he could only hide his glorious achievement from the world.

“Sperien...”

The mother tree’s phantom appeared. She gazed tenderly at the Little Fairy flying toward the window of his room and called to him softly.

“Huh? What is it?” Shu Li’s mind had already begun to slow. He stopped flying, turned around, and gave an enormous yawn.

“...Thank you. And you have worked very hard.”

“It was nothing. It’s what I should do.” Shu Li waved to the mother tree. “We can talk about anything else tomorrow. I’m so sleepy. I’m going to bed... I have to wake up early tomorrow...”

He flapped his wings and flew toward the window, nearly crashing into the glass. In a daze, he found the small gap that had deliberately been left open for him and squeezed through it. Too tired even to light the lamp, he spotted his bed and threw himself onto it.

He hugged the soft blanket, rubbed against it unconsciously, and fell asleep instantly.

In the courtyard, the Elven King walked quietly to the mother tree and looked up at the green leaves on her branches.

“Freyus, that child is changing the future...” the mother tree said emotionally, her hands clasped together. “He truly persuaded a Dark Elf... It is incredible.”

The Elven King withdrew his gaze.

“He has always worked hard,” he murmured. “And he is very brave.”

“Yes...” The mother tree smiled.

“Eunomysis, you must protect him,” the Elven King said gravely.

The mother tree crossed her arms before her chest and bowed.

“Yes, my king.”

The Elven King vanished from the spot and teleported into Shu Li’s room. Standing beside the bed in the bright moonlight, he lowered his gaze to the little fellow sleeping soundly.

Shu Li was battling a monster through a hundred rounds in his dreams, entirely unaware that the Elven King stood beside his bed in the dead of night.

The Elven King softly recited an incantation, and a sphere of gentle white light descended over Shu Li’s tiny body.

The fatigue-dispelling spell sent Shu Li into an even deeper sleep. His limbs relaxed and spread until he lay sprawled across the bed like a starfish.

The Elven King lightly brushed Shu Li’s rosy cheek with the pad of his finger, then lifted the blanket and covered him.

“Good night, Sperien.”

He dissolved into motes of starlight and teleported away.

Oblivious to everything, Shu Li continued sleeping.

Zzzzzzzzz...