Morning in Peach Blossom Village was filled with a faint floral fragrance. Today marked the awakening of the Elven King, and the entire village was bathed in a pink glow, as if the land itself was preparing to welcome its long-slumbering ruler.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the treetops and landed on the peak of the peach blossom trees, the village fell into complete silence. Then, as if responding to an unseen call, the still petals began to drift gently in the breeze, creating a grand and solemn spectacle.
At the heart of the village, the oldest peach blossom tree let out a faint crack as its bark slowly split apart, revealing a thin fissure. The gap widened, expanding until it was large enough for a person to step through.
Under the watchful eyes of countless elves, a tall, graceful figure emerged. His golden hair cascaded smoothly over his shoulders, and his emerald-green eyes shimmered like deep, tranquil lakes—filled with compassion, wisdom, and quiet scrutiny. Every movement he made was fluid and elegant, as if the very rhythm of the world conformed to his existence.
He was Faelar, the Elven King.
Petals seemed to gather at his feet, forming a path leading toward the village center. The elves all bowed their heads in deep reverence, honoring their ruler.
Among the crowd, Leo found himself captivated by Faelar's presence. Though he knew the Elven King was male, he couldn't help but feel awed by the otherworldly beauty that transcended ordinary notions of gender.
Faelar, however, did not linger among the villagers. He strode directly toward Leo and Dan, a warm smile gracing his lips.
"It has been a long time, hasn't it?" he said.
Leo was taken aback. Since losing his memories, he had little knowledge of past acquaintances, let alone the Elven King. Instinctively, he glanced at Dan, hoping to gauge his reaction. To his surprise, Dan looked away, his expression slightly tense—his cheeks even seemed to carry a faint, almost imperceptible flush.
"Dan," Faelar murmured with a knowing smile. "You're still as shy as ever."
With a graceful motion, Faelar lifted a hand and gently tilted Dan's chin upward, his tone laced with teasing amusement.
Dan's face instantly turned red. He swatted Faelar's hand away with an annoyed huff. "Cut it out!"
Leo blinked, utterly lost. "What… exactly is going on here?" he wondered silently.
Faelar chuckled lightly before addressing the gathered elves. "The ceremony is complete. You may all return to your daily tasks."
The elves bowed once more before dispersing, and soon, the village returned to its usual tranquility.
Faelar then led Leo, Dan, and Vivella to a massive peach blossom tree. Its bark was etched with intricate runes, radiating an ancient, mystical aura. With a light touch, Faelar activated the engravings, causing them to glow softly. A doorway appeared in the tree trunk, sliding open silently.
"Come in," he said.
Inside, the space was vast and breathtaking. The walls were made of living wood, with intertwining branches forming a canopy of soft, glowing light above. A delicate floral scent lingered in the air, bringing a sense of peace.
Faelar settled onto a wooden throne at the center of the hall, folding his hands over his lap. His emerald gaze landed on Leo.
"Now, tell me—what urgent matter has brought you to Peach Blossom Village?"
Leo stepped forward, meeting Faelar's eyes directly. "We need a drop of the Elven King's blood."
Faelar raised an eyebrow, interest flickering in his gaze. "Oh? And why is that?"
"We have an important companion—Luna, a mechanical doll. She suffered grave injuries while protecting me. We need your blood to repair her."
Faelar listened attentively, then smiled. Without hesitation, he lifted his right hand, allowing a faint golden light to gather at his fingertips. With a casual flick, he made a small cut on his finger, and a single drop of shimmering, crystalline blood formed. It fell gently into a vial of pure crystal.
However, just as he was about to hand it to Leo, he suddenly withdrew his hand. A playful, knowing smile appeared on his lips.
"But…" Faelar drawled, drawing out the word. "I have one condition."
Leo frowned. "What condition?"
Faelar turned his gaze toward Dan. "It's quite simple—Dan must wear this ring."
As he spoke, a silver ring appeared in his palm. It was adorned with a single, gleaming emerald, pulsing with a soft, ethereal light.
Dan's expression darkened immediately. Clicking his tongue in irritation, he growled, "Faelar, don't be ridiculous! I know exactly what you're up to."
Faelar arched an eyebrow, his demeanor utterly unbothered. "And? You can refuse, of course. But in that case, I can also refuse to give you my blood."
Dan's expression twisted with frustration. He glared at the ring, then clenched his teeth. Without another word, he grabbed Leo's arm and turned to leave.
Leo nearly stumbled at the abrupt movement. Steadying himself, he quickly asked, "Dan, what's going on? You and Faelar… is there some kind of history between you two?"
Dan's footsteps faltered slightly. After a long pause, he sighed.
"It's… complicated."
With that, Dan pulled Leo away from the Elven King's hall, his expression stormy and unreadable.
Leo followed closely behind Dan, unable to hold back his question. "Why did you reject the Elven King's request so strongly? He didn't seem to have any ill intentions."
Dan sighed, stopping at a secluded spot beneath a peach blossom tree. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he finally spoke. "The Elven King, Faelar, has been bothering me ever since he first met me decades ago."
Leo raised an eyebrow, looking at Dan in surprise. "Bothering you?"
Dan nodded, his expression filled with helplessness. "Back then, our team needed to keep moving, so we didn't stay in Peach Blossom Village for long. But even in that short time, Faelar took an inexplicable interest in me. I thought once we left, that would be the end of it, but every time Vivella received a message from Faelar, he would always ask, 'How has Dan been doing lately?'"
Leo couldn't help but chuckle. "Sounds like he really cares about you."
Dan rolled his eyes. "Not only that, but after you disappeared, Faelar invited me to live in Peach Blossom Village multiple times. I never agreed. Partly because we still had missions to complete, and partly because…" He hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I just don't understand why he likes me."
"And what about you?" Leo asked curiously. "Do you really have no feelings for him at all?"
Dan shrugged, answering without hesitation. "It's not that I don't like men, but I just don't feel anything for Faelar."
Leo stroked his chin, as if deep in thought. "But he is the Elven King—noble, powerful… If he's so persistent about you, have you ever wondered why?"
Dan frowned, clearly unwilling to dwell on the topic. Instead, he changed the subject. "To be honest, I felt uneasy from the moment we arrived here. When you said in Old Black Mountain City that you wanted to find the Elven King, I knew Faelar wouldn't let me off so easily."
Leo chuckled. "Yet you still came."
Dan clicked his tongue. "I had no choice. You needed the Elven King's blood."
Remembering Faelar's request for Dan to wear the ring, Leo asked, "By the way, what's so special about that ring? Why did you refuse so strongly?"
Dan's expression turned complicated. "That ring… it's basically an elven engagement ring."
Leo's eyes widened. "An engagement ring?"
Dan nodded, explaining slowly, "Every elf crafts a ring using their purest essence. If two people wear each other's elven rings and recite the elven incantation, they form a bond and officially become partners."
"Can the bond be broken?" Leo asked.
Dan let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, but only if both parties agree. If one side forcibly breaks the bond, both will suffer backlash."
Leo frowned. "That sounds like a heavy price… So Faelar really wants to marry you?"
Dan made a disgusted face and rolled his eyes. "Obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn't have rejected him outright."
Leo sighed. "That's pretty reckless of him. You two haven't even met that many times, have you?"
Dan shook his head. "That's exactly why I don't understand what he sees in me."
As they spoke, Vivella approached from the distance, holding a small container filled with a single drop of shimmering golden blood.
"This is the Elven King's blood that you needed," she said, handing the container to Leo.
Leo took it with both hands, carefully storing it away. "Thank you."
Vivella then pulled out a small box and gently opened it, revealing a delicate silver ring. A translucent green gemstone sat at its center, radiating a soft glow.
"The Elven King asked me to give this to you," she said, looking at Dan.
Dan's expression turned complicated as he frowned. "What is Faelar up to now?"
Vivella shrugged. "He said he wouldn't force you, but he still hopes you'll wear this ring. You don't need to worry—unless you speak the elven incantation, the bond won't take effect."
Dan scoffed. "How considerate of him."
Vivella chuckled. "Besides, this ring carries the Elven King's power. It can protect you."
Dan remained silent for a moment before sighing and slipping the ring into his pocket. "...Fine. Since he helped Leo, I'll reluctantly accept his goodwill."
Seeing Dan's reaction, Vivella's lips curved into a knowing smile.
Leo, watching Dan's expression, couldn't resist teasing, "So, are you accepting his feelings, or are you just taking advantage of his protection?"
Dan shot him a sharp glare. "Shut up. Don't say nonsense."
Leo shrugged. "Say whatever you want, but the fact remains—you're holding his ring now."
Dan ignored him, instead gazing into the distance at the peach blossom trees, his expression unreadable.
As night fell, Peach Blossom Village became even more tranquil, the evening breeze carrying the faint scent of flowers.
The ring in Dan's hand shimmered softly under the dim light…
Meanwhile, back in the palace, Faelar remained seated, watching their retreating figures. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes.