Eodem: A Rifle and Sword Adventure (Complete)

Chapter 15: the Road to a New Tomorrow

Aliathra, after getting discharged from the New Albany Military Hospital sighed in relief as she returned to the cozy hidden abode of her makeshift camp. She had also given this morning to the very kind baby faced Doctor Lee Haneul an educational interview on some of the many wonders and facts of Gliesia, especially the Elves although she did take care not to divulge too much information less the good doctor pressed her further about the rising tensions from her homeland between the Entente and the Pact. She feigned the mind and simpleton stature of an Elven Commoner who is simply just travelling around the Human Continent when she was asked what is she doing in Ysanigrad which is an ocean away from home. She could easily remember Hana's warm smile that for some reason according to her own judgement was surprisingly genuine, childlike even. She has begun to harbor doubts over the Human's insistence that this was a Demon Invasion but just the sheer thought of it being all a mistake was so outlandish that Aliathra refused to entertain any thoughts about it.

It wasn't much for the Elven Princess which her abode consists of a simple sleeping mat, a cloth tent and a fire place with a pot hanger. She inhaled the mesmerizing forestry that surrounded her camp. It reminded her of Alfel Nora's tree filled groves that dotted her homeland. The previous smell of metal, which was overwhelmingly erected around New Albany had made her slightly queasy. The unnatural architecture and people, especially Vincent (and most especially Vincent...) were a lot to take in. Just thinking about the place also reminded her of her Scouting duty that Aliathra almost forgot to do.

She grabbed one of her cast iron pots that she has lying around and filled it with water. She placed the cooking ware on top of her fireplace and with some improvised sparks from her years of Ranger Survival Training, set alight her campfire. While the Elf Princess waited for the flames to start boiling the water, she grabbed a wooden cup, a piece of paper and an Inkwell Pen in preparation to write her official scouting report. Now having a moment for herself where she can remove her espionage related façade, Aliathra reached into her pockets and grabbed one of her favorite reminders of her home. Tea Leaves from a rare Alfel-Nora plant that is the rage amongst the nobility and military for its healing, anti-stress and relaxant properties. Once she the pot produce the desired bubbling noises that tickled her ears, the Elf dropped the herbal mixture at the pot. Stirring diligently for about a minuet until the remedying aroma of the Tea Leaves was released in vapors as they evaporated out of the water. She scooped up a cup full of the Tea and sat down and dropped her prim and proper posture for her moment of peace.

"Ahh..." she released a sigh in relief as she indulged into her Tea. It's rejuvenating contents made her body melt down on the log she leaned on. For a brief moment, she was in peace with herself... and it was all that Aliathra just wanted after such a long hard time at work.

Before she could indulge herself too much, Aliathra snapped back from her breezy state and reminded herself why she had a pen and a paper on her lap in the first place.

She picked herself up and began to write down, in an address to Emperor Uldin and the Human Nations of her findings:

To Emperor Uldin Slaegia, the Most Revered and Beacon of Human Civilization. I Princess Aliathra Lareththor of the Royal Family of the Ethuilen Elves of Alfel-Nora send Greeting in the name of the Gods.

I apologize to you and your nation of my lack of haste on sending you my reports but I have due reason due to several unfortunate circumstances, I was set back. But I was resourceful enough to briefly infiltrate and scout out the location of where the Demon's have landed.

If you may first recall the expedition that the Grey Order and I have undertaken to block the 'Eyes' of the Metal Demons in Tyr Rian, the Metal Demons have built their stronghold at the same exact location where we had initially first contacted the 'Eyes'. To my shock, the Prince of Tyr Rian, Clovich has been peacefully allowing the Otherworlders to live in his lands in exchange for boons ranging from grovel roads, staggering amounts of food that no farmer can even wish to be able to reap and most devious of them all, they even offered the promise of making Princess Aria, Clovich's sister