LESSONS ON RAISING A PARTNER

LRP Chapter 1: Immortality

Hai’an vividly remembered that, at the moment, before he closed his eyes, the elders calm voice told him clearly and peacefully that when he did close his eyes, they would crown him; the tree of life would bring him blessings; the Queen would give him the guardian bow and arrows and, from then on, he would become an adult elf in Elune Forest. He would then shoulder the responsibility of guarding his home. When he opened his eyes again, a new beginning would appear in front of him.

But, when Hai’an opened his eyes, he did not see the beautiful and gentle face of the Elf Queen, nor the aging faces of the elders. Instead, he saw a huge, strange-looking figure wearing exposing pink clothing. Hai’an’s heart almost collapsed.

Although this humanoid creature did look very much like a human being, Hai’an was positive that it was absolutely not human. This was because its dark brown skin had a shiny luster, which was completely different from a human’s matte skin. Looking at its clothing, it should be a woman.

At this time, she was holding a transparent blue oval bottle. After opening the stopper neatly, she poured the liquid into a small crystal flower and made sure it was evenly colored. Then she walked toward Hai’an with the flower.

The pale blue liquid in the flower sprinkled and rippled slightly, like a melted sapphire. It looked like water, but it was more viscous than water.

Hai’an watched open eyed as she approached him and was ready to ask aloud what was currently happening. But, when Hai’an moved his body, he found something strange – his lower body seemed to be oppressed by something. He could not move at all and he could not even make a sound. He looked down and found that he had not only lost his mouth, but also his pointed ears, which symbolized the elves. His entire body was now left with only two tender leaves.

Hai’an was speechless.

This seedling-like object looked like a newly germinated seed.

Was it that he had become a seedling?

Hai’an was a little nervous. Had his ritual of passage failed? After inexplicably being turned into a seedling, did the elders and the Queen not know where he went? Was this test of their own ceremony a failure?

In Hai’an’s original world, there would be a trial for every elf’s adult ceremony. Only the elves who passed the test could be regarded as successfully reaching adulthood. For thousands of years, only a few of the elves failed the test and did not pass. The elves who failed the test needed more experience and had to wait for the next adult ceremony.

There were many reasons for one to fail the trial. Hai’an couldn’t make a judgement himself why he failed. What he needed to worry about was what this humanoid species was trying to do to him.

Hai’an could only see and couldn’t move. He fearfully watched as the humanoid came closer to him. Since Hai’an was too small, he could only see the creature’s face after great effort. But the angle only provided him with the superior looks of the condescending creature.

It sprinkled the liquid from the transparent flower in its hands over Hai’an’s head. Hai’an felt a deep coolness. He felt a refreshing cold from his head all the way to his roots, but maybe because he was no longer human, he was not only cool after being soaked, but also felt misted and refreshed; it was very comfortable.

Then Hai’an was horrified to find that his body suddenly shook uncontrollably.

Hai’an: “…”