I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom

In the dim alley, Senluo and Nasha stood beneath the hoods of their cloaks, silently watching the song-and-dance troupe’s carriage disappear into the distance before finally looking away.

“Senluo, what did that annoying fellow give you?” Nasha asked.

“I’m not sure.” Senluo lowered his gaze to the small wooden box in his hand. The black-haired young man had forced it on him just before they left the carriage, and there had been no time to ask questions.

“Quick, open it.” Nasha leaned closer and tugged at his fingers.

Senluo cautiously surveyed their surroundings, then led Nasha away from the mouth of the alley and farther inside. Once they reached a secluded corner, he carefully opened the wooden box.

As the lid rose, the object inside gradually came into view.

It was a beautiful stone glowing with faint white light.

“This is...” Senluo’s pupils abruptly contracted.

“What is it?” Nasha asked urgently.

Why did Senluo look so shocked over a lousy stone?

Senluo quickly closed the lid and tightened his grip on the little wooden box. He drew a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

“It’s... a purification stone,” he said.

“A purification stone?” Nasha looked puzzled. “What does it do?”

Purification, purification... Could it possibly...

“Senluo!” she exclaimed softly, her violet eyes widening. “Can it purify the... inside your body?”

Senluo raised a finger to his lips. Nasha hurriedly covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with delight.

“Yes.” Senluo regained his composure. “A purification stone can remove the dark power from my body.”

Half a month ago, he had been wounded while fending off the knights pursuing them. Dark power had invaded his body, leaving his life on a countdown. Knowing he had little time left, he had not felt particularly sorrowful. His only regret was that he would be unable to complete the queen’s mission or protect Princess Nasha.

Using the last of his strength, he had done everything possible to bring the princess to Daoto City. To sneak inside, they had deliberately chosen a song-and-dance troupe’s carriage.

Never had they imagined that they would encounter a mysterious expert and even receive a purification stone capable of cleansing dark power.

Judging from its quality, it was a high-grade purification stone worth a considerable fortune.

Nasha lowered her hand and clutched Senluo’s sleeve. “This is wonderful, Senluo! You don’t have to die!”

Senluo looked down into the princess’s tear-filled eyes and smiled. “That’s right. I won’t die.”

Nasha’s mouth crumpled. She suddenly crouched down, buried her little face in her hands, and began to sob.

Senluo was completely at a loss.

He had no experience comforting little girls!

Princess Nasha had been pampered by the king and queen since childhood. She was arrogant, headstrong, and ignorant of the ways of the world. Throughout their escape, she had frequently lost her temper, but she had never once cried.

Yet now, she was crying.

At a loss for what to do, Senluo crouched beside her and patted her head soothingly. “Princess...”

Nasha fiercely wiped the tears from her face. “Don’t call me Princess. Call me Nasha.”

“Yes, Nasha,” Senluo replied.

“Senluo, I know I have a bad temper and often offend people. I’ll reflect on my behavior, but...” Nasha raised her head, hatred burning in her violet eyes. “I refuse to become the princess of a fallen kingdom! I will meet the queen of the Dalia Empire and ask her to help the Kingdom of Pedam.”

Senluo nodded. “I’ll remain by your side.”

Their prospects were far from encouraging.

Throughout their escape, even after they entered the Dalia Empire, the Hermon Knights had continued brazenly issuing wanted notices. They demanded that the empire’s lords and city governors cooperate with them, erect checkpoints, and thoroughly inspect every passing traveler.

They had successfully slipped into Daoto City, but whether that “lord” would help them for the queen’s sake remained unknown.

Senluo helped Nasha to her feet. “Nasha, there’s no time to lose. We should go.”

Whether that lord was willing to help or not, they had to meet them first.

Nasha nodded, clutched the edge of his coat, and hurried after him.

As they neared the end of the alley, Senluo looked down at her. “If we ever have a chance to meet those two again, you must thank them properly.”

Nasha wrinkled her nose awkwardly. “I know.”

Senluo smiled in relief.

The princess was slowly changing. Now that she had experienced genuine hardship, she would surely continue to mature.

Looking out at the bustling street, Senluo took Nasha’s hand to keep them from being separated.

Daoto City was extraordinarily lively after nightfall. Magic-stone lamps glowed outside every household, illuminating the streets as brightly as day.

Back at the inn, Shu Li went into the bathroom and washed himself from head to toe.

Even a prosperous city like Daoto lacked modern showers. The bathroom contained only a wooden barrel for storing water, and there was nowhere near enough for him to bathe.

Fortunately, he was a mage.

With practiced ease, Shu Li used water magic to gather a large sphere of water above his head. It became an improvised showerhead, releasing streams of water that rinsed him from head to toe several times.

After enjoying a comfortable hot bath, he dried himself and glanced at the clothes he had taken off. After a moment’s thought, he washed and dried them with magic, leaving them clean again.

When he emerged from the bathroom, he was once more a sweet-smelling Little Fairy!

“Ilio, I’m done.” Shu Li happily threw himself onto the bed and rolled around. Then he sat cross-legged and asked the black-haired young man standing beside the window, “Are you going to take a bath?”

Ilio drew the curtains before turning to look at the freshly washed Little Fairy, whose fair skin was tinged pink. He smiled. “Of course.”

Elves were fastidious by nature as well. After two days without bathing, his entire body felt uncomfortable.

Shu Li jumped down from the bed and eagerly offered, “Then I’ll make you a shower sphere.”

“Oh?” Ilio stood in the bathroom doorway and listened as the Little Fairy recited a basic water incantation. A sphere of water soon condensed over the bathing area.

As though it had sprung a leak, dozens of thin streams poured steadily from it.

“Don’t you know fire magic? You can heat the water sphere and turn it into warm water.” Shu Li grinned.

“A wonderful idea.” Ilio raised an eyebrow, praising the Little Fairy.

“Hehe.” Shu Li arched his brows smugly. “Take your time.”

Ilio entered the bathroom and closed the door.

Shu Li returned to the bed and flopped onto his back, spreading his limbs as he closed his eyes.

He was a little sleepy after his bath. He might as well take a quick nap!

Ilio thoroughly enjoyed his hot bath. After stepping out from beneath the falling water, he noticed that the sphere still hovered overhead. He took the opportunity to wash his clothes, then dried them with wind and fire magic before putting them back on.

Once he had finished, the water sphere seemed to realize that its task was complete. It dissolved into water elements and vanished into the air.

Standing before the mirror, Ilio raised a hand and recited a magical incantation.

Ripples instantly spread across the mirror’s surface. His reflection disappeared, replaced by the golden-haired Elven King.

Ilio stepped back and respectfully bowed to the Elven King in the mirror.

“My King.”

In the Crystal Castle of the Elven Kingdom, the Elven King stood before an enormous magic mirror and met Ilio’s gaze.

“You’ve worked hard, Ilio,” the Elven King said gently.

Ilio bowed again. “It hasn’t been difficult at all.”

The Little Fairy was extremely obedient and did whatever he was told. Compared with that princess from Pedam, he could not have been easier to look after.

Something shifted in the Elven King’s eyes. “Sperien has always been sensible, even as a child.”

Ilio nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

It was precisely because he was so sensible that he had shouldered such a heavy responsibility, leaving the Faerie Forest early to enter the Human World and being exposed to the world’s cruelty far too soon.

“My King, dark power has spread into the Dalia Empire.” Ilio’s expression grew solemn as he gave a detailed account of everything they had seen and heard along the way.

The wheat in the fields had not been growing poorly because the villagers lacked farming skills. Dark power had contaminated the soil and drained away its life force. Deprived of nourishment, the wheat naturally could not produce full heads of grain.

The Kingdom of Cecilia lay far to the south, yet the knights could travel unhindered through every country on the continent. Clearly, an even greater power stood behind them.

Even the Dalia Empire did not dare defy their wanted notices. Every city cooperated by erecting checkpoints and searching for the fugitives.

That force could virtually do whatever it pleased.

Princess Nasha’s attempt to seek help from the queen of the Dalia Empire would most likely be fraught with difficulties.

Nor did Sperien’s mission to deliver the letter and break his curse appear promising.

After hearing Ilio’s report, the Elven King’s green eyes darkened. “The primary purpose of your journey is to lift the curse.”

Ilio paused before nodding in acknowledgment.

That was right!

They had undertaken this journey to remove the curse afflicting Sperien. Once the letter was delivered, whatever the queen of the Dalia Empire chose to do with it was her concern.

No matter what happened, the Little Fairy’s safety had to be ensured.

The Dark God’s return to the continent was not something the Elves and Fairies should resist alone. Humans and the other races also had to unite, rise in defiance, and seal the Dark God in hell once more.

Humans were the most numerous people on the Austin Continent, and there was no shortage of exceptional individuals among them. If they did not want to become the Dark God’s slaves, they could not stand idly by.

After Ilio ended the conversation with the Elven King, the mirror returned to normal.

Ilio left the bathroom and immediately spotted the Little Fairy sleeping soundly on his stomach.

Oh my, the freshly bathed Little Fairy looked so adorable as he slept!

It made Ilio’s fingers itch to squish him.

And so he did.

Ilio reached out and pinched the Little Fairy’s nose.

Shu Li had only meant to rest his eyes for a moment, but he had fallen asleep without realizing it. When he felt himself struggling to breathe, he instinctively swatted at the obstruction.

Smack!

Ilio withdrew his slapped hand and shrugged, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

“Oh? How did little Sperien fall asleep? I was going to take him out for something delicious! Since he’s asleep, I suppose I’ll have to go eat by myself. Let me think, what delicacies does Daoto City have...?”

At the words “eat” and “delicacies,” the Little Fairy’s ears twitched twice.

Shu Li struggled awake and opened his eyes, finding himself face-to-face with Ilio’s absurdly handsome features.

“You’re awake? Are you hungry? Would you like something delicious?” Ilio asked with a beaming smile.

“Yes!” Shu Li’s mouth responded before his mind had fully awakened.

His stomach had been rumbling with hunger for quite some time.

Both breakfast and lunch that day had consisted of black-bread gruel, strips of dried meat, and pickled vegetables. He had barely been able to taste any of it.

“Then hurry and get up.” Ilio pinched his soft, fair cheek. “While we’re out, we’ll get you a Mage Apprentice badge.”

“Huh?” Shu Li rolled over and sat up. “A badge? How do I get one?”

“We’ll go to the Magic Association and take the test,” Ilio said. “It’s simple.”

Shu Li pulled on his hide boots. “Why do you suddenly want me to get a Mage Apprentice badge? Why not just test for a Senior Mage badge?”

Looking at his eager little face, Ilio’s lips curved upward. “Do you really think a ten-year-old human child could reach the rank of Senior Mage?”