The time to depart for the Elven Homeland quietly arrived.
That day, Melika woke up at the crack of dawn. After washing up, changing her clothes, she began to pack her luggage.
Her luggage consisted of a change of clothes, magic potions, magic tools, and her staff.
“Should I bring some gifts for everyone back home?”
Melika wondered as she packed.
Because of the Elven Race’s unique nature, elves didn’t have blood relatives, but their fellow elves were their closest companions, their relationships no different from true family.
Melika had received a lot of care from her elders in the Elven Race, and she also had a childhood friend she had grown up with for over a hundred years. This made Melika want to bring them gifts.
But it was almost time to leave. Even if she wanted to prepare gifts, it was too late.
“It’s all my fault. I forgot about the Peace Festival.”
Melika sighed.
Actually, it wasn’t entirely her fault.
The Elven Race’s Peace Festival was a grand event held only once every hundred years. Melika, only a little over a hundred years old, had only participated in the Peace Festival once. How could she remember it so clearly after leaving home for her journey?
If it weren’t for her childhood friend from the Elven Race sending her a letter and mentioning it, Melika would have definitely missed it.
Under such circumstances, being able to make it back in time was already good enough. How could she ask for more?
Fortunately, the elves were somewhat detached from worldly possessions and weren’t interested in luxury goods. Even if she didn’t bring any gifts back, no one would mind.
“I’ll carefully choose gifts for everyone next time.”
Melika made a mental note of this, then checked the items she was carrying.
“Magic potions for restoring magic power… a magic scroll with an intermediate lightning spell… magic crystals for repairing my staff… magic books on fire and ice magic… and…”
Melika checked carefully.
This was a habit she developed after the crisis in the Atlus Gorge.
After that incident, not only Vivian and Diere felt that the squad was underprepared, but Melika also often thought that if her magic power hadn’t been depleted so quickly, she could have contributed more and protected everyone in the squad.
At least, if they had been better prepared, Diere wouldn’t have needed to risk everything and enter her demonized state.
Therefore, since then, Vivian had been paying close attention to equipping the squad with the necessary recovery items and various support magic tools, and Melika also used her savings to secretly purchase some potentially useful items from the magic tool shops in the capital.
This way, in times of crisis, she could ensure that she had enough magic power reserves and could recover quickly, better handling emergencies.
However…
“My magic power seems to be growing faster and faster…”
Thinking of this, Melika felt a little uneasy.
Since leaving Larmigion, her magic power, for some reason, had started to increase continuously, and the rate of increase was accelerating over time.
At first, Melika was quite happy.
After all, the substantial increase in magic power was undoubtedly a good thing.
But seeing the increasingly rapid growth, the reason for which remained unknown, Melika’s joy turned into a faint unease.
Because she didn’t know if this abnormal situation was truly a good thing.
An abnormality in magic power couldn’t be taken lightly.
Magic power was converted from life force, and any abnormality in magic power would usually be reflected in one’s life and body.
In the past, there were many cases of magicians dying suddenly for no reason due to their excessive magic power causing abnormal conversion of life force. R₳nó𐌱ЁS
As a proper magician, and an elf, considered a natural magician, Melika naturally knew the importance of this.
Therefore, recently, Melika had been worried about whether the rapidly increasing magic power in her body would cause problems with her life force.
Melika even wrote to several elven archmages to ask for advice, but they didn’t seem to have any clues either.
Vivian had told Melika that if necessary, she could arrange for an expert in magic to examine her.
But Melika refused.
Although shy and easily nervous, she was still an elf who valued her purity.
Having a group of complete strangers, whose genders she didn’t even know, examine her body made Melika instinctively resistant.
Vivian, seemingly understanding Melika’s situation, didn’t force her, but repeatedly advised her to ask an elder within the Elven Race to examine her.
As a naturally magical race, there were many highly skilled archmages within the Elven Race, including legendary-level experts, far surpassing magicians of other races. Coupled with their understanding of elves, they might be able to immediately see the problem with Melika.
Therefore, in Vivian’s eyes, Melika returning to the Elven Homeland this time was also a good thing.
This way, Melika could ask someone to examine her and find out why her magic power was growing so rapidly, and whether this situation would cause any problems.
Melika was well aware of this.
This was also one of her reasons for returning to the Elven Homeland this time.
“It’s a pity that Vivian and Lumia can’t come back with me.”
Thinking of this, Melika felt a little regretful.