Iri’s main technique was healing, a skill that showed her commitment to preserving life and alleviating suffering. This focus on healing meant that she was more attuned to the pain and casualties of war, making her discomfort with combat situations even more obvious. The prospect of seeing people hurt or killed went against her core values and her professional skills, which were dedicated to mending wounds and restoring health.

Therefore, while she embraced the thrill of adventure, the harsh realities of battle, with its inevitable losses and suffering, were something she found deeply unsettling. Her preference for healing and her aversion to large-scale conflict highlighted the conflict between her adventurous nature and her fundamental desire to protect and heal.

The trip home was going to last three weeks, so they didn’t have time to waste... still, after just three days, they received a message from Cailu saying that the leaders of their nation wanted to have a meeting with them before they leave.

Harth and Iri looked at each other before looking at Lenore. That seemed way too suspicious given that it was a call just for Lenore.

"They wouldn’t try anything stupid at this point," Lenore said. "They don’t know that I am bad at fighting groups either."

Raiden’s surprise was clear when he first realized the nuances of his mother’s combat prowess. Her skills in one-on-one combat were legendary, and her ability to handle high-stakes, personal confrontations had been a source of pride and awe for him so far.

However, he began to understand the limitations of her experience. Her exceptional talent in duels came with a specific set of strengths, honed through countless encounters where the conditions were often meticulously controlled. These special situations allowed her to shine, mastering the art of combat in scenarios where she faced opponents who were also well-prepared and aware of the stakes.

What Raiden had initially seen as a universal advantage turned out to be a double-edged sword. Her expertise in dealing with highly specific, often dramatic encounters meant that she was less accustomed to the broader spectrum of combat scenarios. While she excelled in one-on-one duels, her experience didn’t necessarily translate to other types of battles, especially those involving multiple adversaries or complex, chaotic environments.

"We don’t have time to waste, so you guys will go ahead, and I will catch up with you soon enough," Lenore said.

"I can’t follow that order, Captain," Harth said.

"Me neither," Iri added.

"I suppose if we are going to end up being punished anyway, it is better than we commit the same kind of mess up, right?" Raiden asked.

"... Since it is like that, I will enjoy my time thinking of your punishment on the way home," Lenore said after a long sigh.

Lenore made sure her adjustments were in place to ensure their movement and safety. Her attention to detail meant that she had accounted for every possible scenario, even those where she couldn’t be there to directly oversee their actions.

However, the decision to proceed without her was not without its emotional and other complexities. Everyone else who wasn’t Lenore family, was deeply conflicted. The idea of leaving her behind with so little company was unsettling to them. Their concern was not just about her immediate safety but also about the potential implications of going against her wishes.

While they grappled with their feelings of unease, the rest of the group faced a different dilemma. Unlike Harth, Iri, and Raiden, who had a personal connection to Lenore, the other members of the group were more focused on the practicalities of the situation. They respected Lenore’s authority and understood the importance of following her orders.

Eventually, they left the main group and then headed to the heart of the Lunaria kingdom... it only took half a day for them to arrive at the place. The capital of the Lunaria Kingdom, a place where elves and dwarves coexist, was a striking city that embodies the harmonious blend of their distinct cultures.

The city combined the grace of elven design with the sturdy resilience of dwarven craftsmanship. It sprawled across a broad valley surrounded by towering mountain ranges, with elements of both natural beauty and engineered precision evident throughout.

Elven sections of the city featured elegant, flowing structures with intricate woodwork and natural forms. Buildings were often constructed from light-colored, polished wood and adorned with delicate carvings that blend seamlessly with the surrounding trees. Treehouses and elevated platforms were common, offering panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. These structures were designed to enhance the natural beauty of the landscape and provide a serene atmosphere.

In contrast, the dwarven quarters were characterized by robust, stone edifices with a more grounded, fortress-like appearance. The buildings were made from granite and other durable materials, showcasing elaborate stone carvings and strong, functional designs. The dwarven areas are often built into the mountainsides, with sturdy bridges and tunnels connecting various parts of the city. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

At the heart of the capital lies the Grand Plaza, a vast open space where the two architectural styles meet. Here, elven elegance and dwarven solidity converge in a stunning display of artistic and functional design. The plaza features a central fountain with cascading water, surrounded by lush gardens and pathways lined with both elven flora and dwarven stonework.

Raiden wanted to see other parts of the city since they only walked in a straight line, but in the end, he decided to follow his parents in silence since they didn’t want to stay there for long.

Eventually, they reached a large building in the middle of the city that felt like it was something Raiden had seen before somewhere... it had some large pillars ahead and a pretty large entrance that the pillars were supporting as well. It was pretty impressive, but it felt a bit out of place... maybe it was that old if compared to the rest of the city.

They found some guards there, but they just nodded while looking at them since they had been informed about the visitors. They found an extra large stone door being guarded by a bunch of elves that seemed a cut above the others, but they readily opened the stone door for them.

They soon found twelve people waiting for them inside. The room where the group met the twelve leaders of the Lunaria Kingdom was both grand and imposing, reflecting the significance of the occasion and the importance of the figures they were about to encounter.

The room was a vast, circular chamber with a high, vaulted ceiling that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and historical scenes, skillfully crafted in both wood and stone. Large, arched windows allowed soft, natural light to filter in, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The floor was a polished mosaic of marble and granite, inlaid with patterns that combined elven grace with dwarven geometric precision. The patterns depicted scenes of the kingdom’s history and its legendary heroes.

Half of those guys were elves, and the other half were dwarves. There was a sense of balance in their group, but Raiden wondered how the country could be balanced when they had a royal family, and the elves and dwarves didn’t mix that well in interpersonal matters.

"Thank you for coming, Captain Lenore," An elf woman that had her heir tied up in a long braid said. "We are very indebted to you for helping us solve this conflict without letting the situation escalate further."

"I just what I deemed necessary to avoid senseless deaths," Lenore said.

"And for that, I thank you once again, even though some of us here might not feel so grateful," The braided-haired elf woman said.

Raiden wondered if that was an act of that woman was truly one of those who weren’t behind the suspicious machinations behind that war... anyway, the other elves stayed silent, so some of them definitely felt a bit the sharpness of her words.

"Our king asked us to repay you all appropriately for your help, and he also said that he is very sorry for your losses," A dwarf that had a rough and long beard said.

"We train as much as possible knowing that our lives can come to an end any time, so those who died did fighting for what they believed in," Lenore said.

"We are aware of that, but we also suffered many losses, and we want to avoid this kind of situation in the future," The dwarf said. "With that in mind, our kind asked you to collaborate with us further to enhance the strengths of our people."

Raiden didn’t like that, and his discomfort with the situation came from a deep frustration about listening to a king who was not their own. The fact that they were receiving orders from a ruler who had no direct claim or connection to their own village was inherently unsettling for him. This unease was added by the king’s refusal to show up...