Approximately 30 miles southeast of the Chavern lies a city.
Vahlendra, the capital of the elves, built upon the very edge of the World Tree Forest. The city consists of seven platforms, each shaped like a wide rose leaf, stacked one atop the next. Every ascending platform is smaller than the one below, giving the whole city a tiered, organic silhouette like three dimensional leaf sculpted from wood and brass.
Surrounding the city on nearly every side are colossal wooden pillars, the spiraling, branchless roots of the World Tree itself. These towering trunks twist upward into the sky, bare and ancient, forming a dense wall that envelops Vahlendra in natural fortification. Only the front of the city remains exposed facing the forest proper, where normal trees cluster in comparison like blades of grass against mountains. From this open side, the full majesty of the city can be seen, unobstructed.
Between the great root-pillars, seven sweeping brass arches stretch like golden ribs. These arches, broad and evenly spaced, form the city's defensive barrier. Each one aligns with a platform, their tops level with each tier. From every arch, a single wide walkway leads inward to its corresponding platform, blending function with elegance. Together, the arches and roots create a fortress-like lattice a protective shell forged not from stone, but from nature and artifice entwined.
Above all, the twenty massive root-pillars curve gradually inward high above, as if sheltering the city beneath unseen canopies of barkless, branchless, leafless wood.
And at the very top, in the lone, radiant spire crowning the seventh platform, the seat of the royal family, a routine council was underway.
Surrounding a wooden table shaped like a rose leaf sat four of the seven Vahlenguard commanders. Each commander governed one of the city's seven platforms, overseeing both civil and military responsibilities tied to their domain.
Grenfall Vahlenguard, commander of the fourth platform, sat upright with arms crossed, the wood of his chair groaning beneath his bulk. A tall man with boulder-like muscles and the rough-hewn composure of a seasoned warrior, Grenfall held oversight of all of Vahlendra's military forces. The mage corps, spirit corps, and scout corps all bent to his command.
Beside him sat Vael Vahlenguard, commander of the fifth platform. With flowing jet-black hair draped over shoulders clad in sapphire silk, Vael exuded a quiet, calculating presence. Her duties rested not on the battlefield but in the royal coffers. She governed all economic affairs of the capital, including the expenditure of the royal family and matters of foreign trade and resource management. Few could match her wit, and fewer still dared challenge her ledgers.
Across the table sat two more figures.
Commander Talyen Vahlenguard, guardian of the sixth platform, wore robes threaded with spiritwood—a mark of her bond with the city's ancient mana wells. As Master of the Vahlan Circle, her domain encompassed Vahlendra's magical systems, including transport glyphs, defense runes, and all magical research. If the heart of the city pulsed with mana, Talyen ensured it beat steady and strong.
Beside her sat the final of the four present; Commander Saerin Vahlenguard of the seventh platform. Regal even in stillness, Saerin served not only as the strategist of Vahlendra but also as chief advisor to the royal family. His word shaped long-term policy, battle doctrine, and diplomatic posture alike. Despite his old age of 138, the veins of elven ambition flowed through him.
Each and every one of them, held up at the highest rung of elven society, sat with dignity and responsibility despite attending a regular council.
"Commander Grenfall, you may begin your report," said Saerin.
To an outside observer, not a word would have been heard, only the shifting of heads, the faint creak of chairs, and the weight of silence. But within the chamber, the council conversed clearly. Anyone seated at the table would hear every word spoken. Sound waves headed for outside ears however, was dismantled before it could escape, its frequencies pulled apart through destructive interference. Just one of many counterintelligence enchantments embedded in this sacred room.
"Vahl ren dahl," said Grenfall. In the tongue of Vahlen, it meant May the spirit of Vahl be with you. The language bore no Earthly equivalent. If Frederick were here, all of what they were saying would sound to him like complete gibberish.
"We've received reports from the fifth scout division. The Duchy of Alvin is attempting to send explorers across the border. Their aim appears to be the collection of natural treasures. A message has been sent to their Explorer's Guild demanding immediate withdrawal."
He paused only briefly, then continued.
"Regarding this year's recruits, three show exceptional promise and will be sent to the second layer for elite training. Of the others, twenty have expressed interest in the scout corps, eighty-five in the spirit corps, and one hundred thirty-three in the mage corps. Their average strength sits at approximately tier 3.12, slightly higher than last year. Intelligence scores have also improved marginally."
He placed a hand on the table, voice turning slightly more cautious.
"Lastly, an unusual mana signature has been detected at the site of late Commander Mirenkial's tavern. We've dispatched a contingent of tier-seven scouts. We should be receiving word soon."
All three of the elven commanders looked at Grenfall with slight intrigue, but no further elaboration was allowed until all reports were shared.
"Very interesting," said Saerin. "Next up, Commander Vael. Your report."
Vael inclined her head slightly, her voice cool and measured.
"Vahl ren dahl."
"Following the Vahlan Circle's latest breakthrough in viable levitation magic, our finances have continued to trend downward. Former King Elarion's directive to heavily fund this research placed a significant burden on the treasury. Now, with King Thalorian's recent order to expand that investment after the Circle's latest convention, projections show our funds will be depleted in just two years."
She paused briefly, letting the weight of her words settle before continuing, unfazed.
"Aside from this... modest concern, our economy remains healthy. Trade is steady, growth is positive, and there are no immediate signs of instability... provided the project bears fruit before the coffers run dry."
"hmmm," said Saerin. "Commander Talyen?"
"Vahl ren dahl."
"Thanks to king Thalorian's order, we have procured enough material to continue with levitation research, we expect conclusive results by the end of next month.. So far, our research shows that it might be possible to fly in the air indefinitely, which we will know for certain once these recent trials come to a close."
"On other topics, there will be a routine sweep of our defense runes and glyphs this coming week. We will have the required maintenance report filed by next council."
Saerin nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Vahl ren Dahl."
Saerin turned to address Grenfall, the atmosphere suddenly lifting and becoming casual.
"Firstly, Grenfall. Your decision to send the letter to the guild is insufficient, I propose dispatching a few tier 6 scouts. That should be enough to scare them off once their explorers inevitably ignore the order to cancel the expedition."
"Will do!" Said Grenfall.
"Also, I propose nominating a couple outstanding talents to the Circle this time around. Since the level is fairly high this year, the Circle should capitalize on it and train some new researchers."
Saerin turned towards Talyen.
"Thoughts?"
"It's only been a few years since the last batch... but since you are the one suggesting, I suppose it can't hurt."
"Good."
Saerin nodded and turned back to Grenfall.
"Have your scouts reported back on the unusual mana signature yet?"
Grenfall, in response, grabbed an ornate looking device and spoke into it.
"Scout team three, report. Have you made contact?" Asked Grenfall.
"Sir, we found the source of the signature, and as we feared, it seems to be human."
Grenfall stiffened, staring at the device in his hand.
"Repeat that," he said, though he'd heard it all too clearly.
"Sir, we found the source of the signature, and as we fear—"
Grenfall's patience snapped.
"Enough!"
Saerin, Vael, and Talyen all opened their eyes wide. They had not heard the response from the device, as only Grenfall could, but from his reaction alone, they could tell something outrageous had just been said.
Yet no one was more stunned than Grenfall himself.
The signature they had discovered carried the mark of a human, but he expected it to be an error or some other weird phenomena, not an actual human.
'It was so weak!' Grenfall thought.
"I need more details." Said Grenfall. "Age, gender, companions, anything."
"Sir, they appear to be male. Judging by looks, early thirties. As for companions, we haven't seen anything to suggest he has any. The strange part... his magical signature suggests he was literally born yesterday and his mana perception is that of a toddler."
"Are you seriously suggesting a human with such low magical presence infiltrated that deep into our territory unnoticed?"
"Yes sir!"
The curiosity that once gleamed in the eyes of the others had now shifted to disbelief.
'What in Vahl is he saying!' they all thought.
"Commander Grenfall, relay the report immediately." Ordered Saerin
"Vahl ren dahl. According to Scout team three, the anomaly is a male human, early thirties in appearance, with the magical signature of a newborn and mana sensitivity to match."
The room immediately fell silent. Complete shock and disbelief permeated the meeting room.
Saerin, recovering quickly, leaned back slightly, eyes sharpening with lightning fast calculation.
After only two seconds of thought, Saerin broke the silence.
"We'll need to confirm the report before drawing conclusions."
He steepled his fingers.
"Have the scouts maintain distance and continue observation. If the subject truly is human… then someone has introduced an unknown variable into our lands."
He turned his gaze toward Grenfall.
"Send a tier eight operative. Quiet, careful. Their task is to verify the subject's nature and establish low-risk contact. I want answers, not assumptions."
Another pause.
"If this is some rogue experiment, smuggling attempt, or worse—an incursion—we will need to act decisively. But we do not strike shadows."
He let the room settle into silence before adding:
"Until we know who—or what—he is, caution is not optional. It is law."