Eldritch Creature's Guide

Several Hours Later, at the moment of Samiel's teleportation to the 3rd Floor, Citadel of the Zephystrand City.

Yvraine was currently training with her swords in the training yard, as suddenly her Seal, which she always wore, started pulsating, notifying her that Samiel had been teleported to the 3rd Floor.

After seeing this, she immediately stopped in her training and ordered one of the maids that were tending to her to immediately call some Captain of the City Guards, who was available.

Soon enough, a handsome young-looking elven man clad in yellow-green full body armor entered the training yard with great haste. His long blond hair was flowing through his back as it glittered due to the sun's rays.

"You have called for me, Your Highness?"

He asked very politely, not wanting to irritate the infamous Crown Princess of the Nesser Dynasty. Even Yvraine was a bit unaware of the extent of negative rumors about her character, and many people took her as a manhater... especially after she castrated one of her suitors for his inappropriate behavior.

"Yes, Captain Daragan. Immediately take one entire Squad of the Silvermoon Knight recruits and go to the plaza of the Zephystrand. Find there a man called Samiel Zentaur and escort him to me. You will easily recognize him; he has long red hair and shining golden eyes and wears creepy black armor."

She ordered, while Captain Daragan was shocked by her request, but he quickly collected himself, as it was not his place to question the order of the Crown Princess of the Nesser Dynasty.

"Is there anything else you wish, Your Highness?"

He questioned, preparing to leave to carry out his orders.

"No, just treat him with the utmost respect as me... or I will kill you all, understood?"

She finished the sentence with a menacing sweet smile, which was a weird combination in itself, but it greatly scared Captain Daragan, especially since the threat of being killed didn't sound very well.

Even though he was from the prominent Noble House of the Nesser Dynasty, their entire House could be replaced within the second, either by the Imperial Family, or the Emperor will just support one of their rivals, and it is done.

***

Present Time, 3rd Floor of the Tower, Zephystrand City.

"Greetings Captain Daragan. Samiel Zentaur to your services."

He returned the greeting as Samiel introduced himself. Judging by the title which the man held and more importantly, the amount of respect his subordinates were giving him, it didn't take him long to realize that he was someone very important, aside from your average Captain of City Guards.

"Shall we?"

Asked Captain Daragan, as Samiel found himself surrounded by the Elven Knights, he could see that most of them, if not all, were High Elves, meaning they were the Nobles of the Nesser Dynasty, the strongest Elves, who could fight even some weaker Bronze-Tiers.

Entire Elvenkind had several subspecies, each of them having their own specialties and advantages, and practically it was one very strict social hierarchy for the Elfs. Especially the racial advantages their races brought them.

High Elves were the Greater Race, according to the Cosmos Racial Classification, which was one step below the Superior Species. While they were inferior to the Silvermoon Elves, they had a tremendous affinity for Magic, Mana in general, and combat as a whole.

In the Nesser Dynasty, aside from some scattered Silvermoon Elves, most nobles of the Nesser Dynasty were in the truth of the High Elves. High Elves, since immemorial, have served as the closest followers and servants of the Pure-Blood Silvermoon Elves.

Together with the Silvermoon Elves, they were the backbone of the Nesser Dynasty because almost all Legendaries of the Dynasty were from the Silvermoon Elven Race, or High Elven Race, or some other specific breeds of Elves, which were also classified as Greater Species.

Only a few of them were ordinary Woodland Elves or Common Elves.

"You have a beautiful city here."

Stated Samiel as they were crossing the city.

"Indeed, it was built by ancient elves civilization in some High World the Nesser Dynasty found. The Elven Civilization perished due to some kind of plague, leaving the city uninhabited for countless years, and because of the plague, nobody from that world dared to set foot inside the city. Several centuries ago, one of the Legendaries of the Nesser Dynasty, Landramir Daragan, found the High World and entered the city. After he cleansed the city, it was then transported to the Tower and stationed on the 3rd Floor."

Explained Sarun Daragan, as Samiel was a bit surprised by his amiable approach because he knew that most of the Greater and Superior Species were arrogant and stuck-up pricks.

Not that he was any better in this regard, but Samiel defended himself by thinking he was arrogant even before becoming a member of the Superior Species.

"So, your Family is the steward of the Zephystrand?"

Samiel looked at the young captain as he nodded in agreement. So, in the end, his guess that the Elven Knight Captain was someone very important. His posture, behavior, and speech pattern literally screamed "I am an important noble heir!".

"Yes, our Family is one of the highest-ranking Noble Houses of the Nesser Dynasty."

Answered Sarun while he looked at Samiel curiously but somehow uncomfortable, as Samiel was constantly releasing the weird aura of Eldritch Creatures.

Elves were naturally sensitive species, and thus they were able to see and sense many things, other species were not able, and one of them was that they were very good at sensing the auras of people.

Contrary to ordinary people, and even the majority of the Knights here, Sarun was able to sense that malevolent and cold aura very clearly, as it sent shudders through his spine, not wanting to irritate Samiel too much.

Entire Zepyhstrand City was built on, around, and through several tens of enormous trees, several hundreds of meters tall, that was in the middle of the continent of the 3rd Floor.

"Are the Trees of Life naturally growing on the 3rd Floor, or were they brought by you from the High World to the 3rd Floor together with the Zephystrand?"

He asked; naturally, he could recognize these trees as the Tree of Life, which was basically a lesser version of the World Tree. Elven Cities were usually built in this way, as they achieved the state one with nature.

"No. They are not native to this place, but many people think so because of how well they acclimated to this environment. In truth, they were already growing in large numbers in the High World, and the Ancient Elven Civilization of that High World built their cities on these Trees. Thus we brought all Trees that could be brought out of the world without damaging their natural cycle to the Tower and replanted them on the 3rd Floor."

Sarun was mildly surprised that Samiel was able to recognize the Trees of Life at one glance, despite not being either an Elf or anyone who seemed to be knowledgable? Usually, normal people passing through the Zephystrand or climbers would always think that these trees were just overgrown huge trees and nothing special.

Of course, Samiel knew how to differentiate ordinary huge trees from the Tree of Life, thanks to Yvraine. One needed to know that Trees of Life were releasing a special kind of aura, and thus they were rather easy to tell apart once one could sense that aura.

"And that biggest one, right at the center of the City, has potential to evolve into the World Tree, probably, it will take several centuries at best under the conditions of feeding and other things, but that would be remarkable."

Stated Saraun Daragan, pointing at the biggest tree in the Zephystrand, as he explained to Samiel. To which he nodded because the birth of the new World Tree was something to be celebrated by all elvenkind, not to mention that it would significantly strengthen the Nesser Dynasty as a whole.

In the middle of the city, on the biggest tree, was the City Lord's Fortress Mansion, the Citadel of the Zephystrand was located. It was the most secure place in the entire Zephystrand City, with countless guards, spells, wards and experts protecting it, aside from the natural protections from the Tree of Life.

And that was the place where they were heading under the lead of Sarun Daragon and his guards, as Yvraine was already waiting for him there.

Samiel admired the elven architecture and, at the same time, the untouched and tranquil city is built across the countless Trees of Life that were sprouting here. House Daragan must have positioned and rebuilt the Ancient Elven City to the environment of the 3rd Floor and especially the Trees of Life.

'Hooman, where is my food?'

Asked Nefertari, who was sleeping till now, and now just woken up, probably remembering that she was still hungry and that they had already arrived at the 3rd Floor.

She didn't get any food aside from the mineral water in the restaurant, so she was a bit grumpy already.

'Soon, just wait for a few more minutes until we arrive at the Citadel, and then you can have your fill.'

Samiel answered through their telepathic link, as he could see his Familiar yawning at him.

'I will listen to you, hooman, but in return for waiting and prolonged time, I want several pieces of meat from at least Silver-Tier Magical Beast and milk from one of the same Tier.'

She said as she returned back to sleep, and Samiel got a headache, probably from the fact that his familiar was extremely picky about food and would bankrupt him sooner or later.

Soon enough, they arrived at the first gate that led to the Fortress Manion. Because the Zephystrand's Citadel was the most important place in the entire city and was built on the largest Tree of Life, the only way how to reach it was through several bridges that were connected to it to the Trees of Life.

After they passed the gate and walked through the bridge, Samiel could see the entire panorama of the whole Zephystrand City. He stayed here for a few minutes, just admiring the beauty of the elven city, before he moved again and followed Captain Sarun Daragan to the Zephystrand's Citadel.

After they arrived at the City Lord's Fortress Mansion, Samiel could see that Yvraine was waiting there for him, together with a middle-aged High Elf with long blonde hair, wearing similar armor to what Sarun Daragan was wearing.

"It took you longer than anticipated... you are late. Do you know how rude it is to let a lady wait for such a long time?"

Exclaimed Yvraine as Samiel's brow twitched in anger. 'What a long time, my ass. It wasn't even one week, max three days or whatever.' He thought in his head as he was getting ready to strike back.

"At least you had enough time to find us proper accommodation... at least you are useful for something."

He bit back as Yvraine huffed while others around them just observed the situation, not saying anything, but to two people, this situation was surreal.

First was Sarun Daragan, and second was the middle-aged High Elven man who was standing next to the Yvraine, Lanlaris Daragon, a Patriarch of the Daragan Family, Duke of the Nesser Dynasty, and officially City Lord of the Zephystrand City.

Crown Princess Yvraine had, one could say terrible reputation among many young noblemen of the Nesser Dynasty who tried to suit her, as most of them were beaten half dead by her, as she refused any kinds of engagements or anything.

Due to her sadistic tendencies during fights, most of the men were scared of her, especially after she once castrated one young heir to some noble family who inappropriately touched her.

'So he is the reason why that madwoman was seen on the 3rd Floor... the Hall of Kadath is on the move, and probably not even the Emperor knows whom his daughter has chosen.'

Thought Lanlaris Daragan as he observed Samiel and Yvraine bickering with each other like three-year-old children over stolen toys. Immediately after he arrived, she started rebuking him for how late he was and how it was rude and improper for a gentleman to leave a lady waiting for him.

'This will be an interesting vacation.'

He then looked in the direction of another city on the 3rd Floor, where Cardinal Karliana Kircheisen was seen together with Red Dragon Estrid, daughter of Cardinal Zaldidraax.

He just hoped that Karliana Kircheisen won't be arriving too soon or would arrive only after he left the Floor because he really, really didn't want to deal with anyone related to the Hall of Kadath.