Chapter 175: The Birth of an Elven Child

Chapter 175: The Birth of an Elven Child

The birth of a new life is often a miracle, and for elves, it is even more so.

This race, which stands out among many long-lived species, has a lifespan almost as long as the world itself.

The price of such a long life is a detachment from emotions. Compared to humans, elves are less sensitive to feelings and time. It is often difficult for them to form emotional bonds and start families.

Some scholars believe this is a self-defense mechanism. After all, living for thousands of years with deep emotions can easily lead to endless emptiness and suffering.

This detachment also effectively limits the population of elves, preventing this long-lived and powerful race from dominating the entire world.

Nature's design is always impeccable, surpassing even the most skilled craftsmen.

In short, the number of elves is very small, almost to the point of extinction.

Especially after the elven village was destroyed by the Demon King's general, "Throne Bazzart."

Luk was born on a snowy winter night. When his mother, Lenith, gave birth to him in a cave, she marveled:

"Black hair and brown eyes, he doesn't look like an elf at all."

But when she used magic to light up the cave and illuminate his face, she smiled softly.

"But he does have an elf-like appearance."

Elven infants are not as wrinkled as human babies. They are born as large as a human infant at five or six months old, already showing distinct features.

Their skin is smooth and tender, with a light covering of fine hair. They grow at a rate similar to humans, but once they reach their peak physical condition, they stop aging and remain in their prime for the rest of their lives.

Luk stared blankly at the beautiful woman with pointed ears and short green hair, then looked down at his own chubby little hands and legs, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Well, it's time to give you a name. What should I call you?"

Watching Luk, who was looking at this unfamiliar world with a puzzled expression, Lenith rested her chin on her hand and thought. She randomly picked a few names from her memory.

After all, these people were long dead, so borrowing their names was no big deal.

"Karl, Kurt, Fenris..."

"Ru... ko..."

Luk struggled to say his name, but being so young, he could only manage some vague sounds.

"Hmm, what's that? Are you trying to say something?"

Lenith poked the infant's small hand, touched his face, and poked his little belly, seeming a bit surprised by the fragility of this tiny life.

"Amazing, this little thing actually came from inside me. So, I'm a mother now? And I'm only seven hundred and ninety-five years old."

"Ru... ko... ru... ko..."

Luk persisted, trying to assert his right to name himself.

But Lenith seemed to misunderstand. After a moment's thought, she realized the infant might be hungry and gently tapped his forehead with her finger.

"Are you hungry?"

A faint yellow glow spread from her fingertip to Luk's body, and he immediately felt a warm, comforting sensation spread through him.

The warmth targeted his stomach, circulating for a moment before leaving him feeling full.

"See? This is a spell that will keep your tummy full for a week. Isn't it convenient?"

Lenith, proud of her magic, crossed her arms and looked at the baby, who seemed to roll his eyes in response.

"Really? You understand what I'm saying? Must be my imagination."

Luk: "..."

He couldn't help but feel that his mother wasn't very reliable.

...

Caring for an infant is a challenging task, especially when it comes to feeding, diaper changes, and other basic needs. Even with the help of magic, Lenith, a first-time mother, struggled.

Luk often helped by calling out when he was hungry, making sounds when he was thirsty, and tapping the stone floor with his hands when he needed to use the bathroom.

These simple expressions made it easier for Lenith to adapt, though she still seemed to be constantly exhausted.

The infant took up a lot of her time, reducing her reading and magic practice, and made it harder for her to go out. So, she tried to get everything done quickly when she did leave and then stayed home.

Luk's first crisis came quickly.

Elves who had never lived in a community didn't know how to properly care for infants, and the elven village had been destroyed many years ago.

It was on the twenty-first day after Luk's birth.

The spell that kept him full had worn off, and Luk cried out from hunger, but no one responded. He struggled to sit up and found that his absent-minded mother was not at home.

Not only had she forgotten to feed him, but she had left him hungry for a long time. It wasn't until two days later, in the middle of the night, that she returned.

The reason? She had seen a beautiful landscape and spent more time admiring it. This was only because she remembered there was an infant in the cave and came back home.

It's safe to say that you can never expect elves to be very punctual, especially not a less meticulous one like Lenith.

If not for the fact that elven infants are much stronger than human infants and that Luk remained calm and conserved his strength and water, he might have died.

"Sorry, sorry, it won't happen again."

Lanis clasped her hands together, a bit ashamed as she admitted her mistake to the little one.

"I'm not just sitting around doing nothing. I need to do some missions to earn a living. The Satiety Spell can't truly replace food. It can help for a short time, but using it for too long can cause the stomach to wither and become damaged."

She brought a large pile of various fruits, the sweet aroma filling the air and making them look especially tempting. However, since Luk's teeth hadn't fully grown in, Lanis had to eat the fruits herself, tears in her eyes, to avoid wasting them.

Once she had eaten most of the fruits, leaving only a couple behind, she noticed the little one looking at her with a heartbroken expression. Her conscience pricked her, and she used magic to squeeze a glass of juice for Luk to drink.

As Luk was fed the juice, he gave Lanis a look that clearly said, "You're not a mother, you're a living curse."

After that, Lanis decided to leave the cave and take Luk to her workplace to prevent the awkward situation of returning home to find her son had already passed away.

She made a small backpack and carried Luk on her back, swaying as she left the dark, gloomy cave.

This was how Luk saw the outside world for the first time.

The towering city walls were majestic and beautiful, with elegant houses lining the streets, their bright, vivid colors resembling a painting.

Armored soldiers stood guard at the city gates, and the streets were filled with various stalls. Children in rough clothes laughed and played among the crowds.

It was a medieval world of swords and magic.

Luk hadn't realized where he was; there were too many similar settings in the fantasy world. Curious, he looked around as Lanis carried him to a grand mansion.

The living room of the mansion was exquisitely furnished.

An elegant woman sat in the highest position, with a golden-haired boy standing beside her, looking at the two with curiosity.

"Lanis, is this your child? He's so cute."

"Thank you for your kind words, Lady Roan. Because taking care of him is quite troublesome, I can't focus on teaching, so I've brought him here. I hope you'll allow me and my child to stay."

Lanis bowed to the elegant woman, her voice soft.

"Of course, I've told you before that the cave isn't suitable for living," Lady Roan smiled and nodded.

"The mansion has many rooms. I'll have the servants clean one out for you to stay in. For daily necessities, just tell the butler, and he'll take care of the purchases."

"Please deduct the expenses from my salary."

"No, no, Lanis. Every elf is a master that money can't buy. Your guidance to Amir is already a great favor. There's no need to worry about such trivial matters."

She then turned her gaze to Luk. "This child looks so frail. Is he feeling unwell somewhere?"

Lanis's expression didn't change. "Yes, he's been a bit lacking in appetite recently."

Luk: "..."

If only his vocal cords were fully developed; otherwise, he would have exposed Lanis's crime on the spot.

...

Lady Roan was known for her gentle and kind nature, treating her servants with warmth, earning the respect of everyone in the mansion.

Her family was a famous noble family in the country, and it wasn't uncommon to see high-ranking guests visiting. However, these visits had nothing to do with Luk.

What truly mattered to him was Amir.

Amir, the only son of the household, was a lively and mischievous little boy, just six years old. He enjoyed swinging a wooden sword around, showing little interest in becoming a remote caster and preferring to be a warrior.

Every time Lanis gave him a lesson, he would always doze off, which often infuriated Lady Roan, leading her to frequently whip his hands with a cane.

After Luk arrived, Amir found another thing to enjoy: confiding in the elven child.

"Mother always wants me to be a mage. What's so great about being a mage? I can just charge in with my sword and take them down in two swings."

Luk: Why don't you mention that mages can blast warriors from a distance?

"Lanis's lessons are so boring, and she always gives me a bunch of homework to do. Can you convince her to stop?"

Luk: No can do, you're on your own, goodbye.

"I have a secret to tell you," Amir's face turned red, looking a bit embarrassed.

"My dream is to go to the Swordlands in the Northern Kingdoms, pull out the Hero's Sword, and defeat the Demon King!"

Luk: Young people always dream big.

Usually, the chosen ones for the Hero's Sword or the Sword in the Stone are predetermined, reserved for demigods, dragonborn, or other non-human heroes. Ordinary humans never get the chance.

Luk, who had been responding to Amir's words out of boredom, suddenly paused.

Northern Kingdoms, Swordlands, Hero's Sword, Demon King's Army...

While not entirely new terms, why did they feel so familiar when combined?

"Many hero teams have failed, but I believe I will succeed!"

Luk's young face scrunched up.

Indeed, it was the story of the Fallen Hero Gu Feng!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end