Book 3: Chapter 41
“Ah, Lucia must go. It’s something that she must do.”
After our mother and son relationship returned to normal, mom and I got dressed and left the bathroom. Mom wrapped her arm around mine and suggested to me that she’d take back her orders to have Lucia leave. Her reason was the following: “It’s on the way to retrieving the buffs from the wind elves. Further, the army in the North noticed that the temperature at the large canyon in the North had dropped a fair bit. Therefore, Lucia was to go and investigate if there was a problem. Didn’t mommy tell you already? Mommy won’t interfere with your love.”
Really…? I never would’ve thought so if you never said so…. However, what mom said also made sense. I’ll just interpret it as Lucia going out for a job. But I don’t know why it has to be Lucia. Can’t someone else go…? Lucia is a member of the shadow squad. She’s not a messenger…..
“The large canyon in the North?”
“Yes, the large canyon in the North. Opposite to it is a snowy terrain and snowy mountains. It’s the territory of trolls. Before winter comes, the trolls sometimes discretely build bridges to come over and rob food from our villages. We therefore have two army platoons stationed up North. However, it’s said that the temperature dropped really low there and the soldiers can’t stand it.”
Mom smiled helplessly, shook her head and said, “There’s nothing we can do. Elves struggle to stay warm in snowy weather like unlike humans. Wearing thicker clothes doesn’t overcome the problem either. Therefore, if it’s too cold there, the two army platoons stationed there will have to retreat to somewhere where they can warm up. Further, I’ll need to station even more army platoons close by.”
“Why?” I looked at mom puzzled. Is the temperature really decreasing at the moment? I feel like the temperature for all four seasons is pretty much the same in the elven city. I can’t tell that the temperature is dropping. However, perhaps it really is winter according to the monthly calendar and it is indeed becoming colder. But if the elves can’t stand the cold, why are more troops being stationed there? Isn’t that contradictory?
“Because if it’s become colder in the North, the trolls won’t be able to survive there. And so they’ll harass us much more frequently. Consequently, the armies stationed in the north will need to be on maximum alert.” Mom frowned and gazed towards the North. She continued in a slightly concerned tone, “Nothing good will come out of the North becoming colder. We know very little about the place. We don’t know how many races and tribes live there. If they lose their habitats due to environmental factors, they will definitely come down South. We can’t communicate with the trolls over that side so if they come down South, a war will definitely break out.”
I looked into mom’s eyes. There was no indication in her eyes that she was concerned about the nation or the citizens. Instead, what I saw was a crazed hunger for war. Please do not use what you commonly hear about elves to evaluate or think about the elves I’m surrounded by here. The elves are by no means a loving and peaceful race. They just don’t pick fights. However, elves will become excited when there’s a war to fight. It’s related to the fact that elves are trained in swordsmanship and archery as children….