Just being a dark elf in Warhammer

Orion first noticed the sound, then the other things, hundreds of voices, calling his name.

These voices intertwined, as if they came from a distant time and space, passing through countless years and dust, and finally gathered in his ears. They sang glorious ballads and long and passionate epics, and the sound came like a torrent, delicate and full of emotion, and every note seemed to tell a dusty past.

These ballads and epics described Orion's glorious and magnificent past in detail, and every detail was vivid, as if it was reproduced before his eyes. He saw himself standing in the center of the battlefield, wielding the shining Spear of Kurnos, leading countless loyal warriors, and bravely charging into the battle. He saw himself at a grand banquet, raising a cup to drink with Asrai nobles from all directions, and laughter filled the Oak of Ages.

Orion felt the glory and splendor of the past, and every moment rekindled the forgotten passion and pride deep in his heart. These sounds, with endless nostalgia and admiration, pulled him back to those glorious times, awakening the long-dormant memories deep in his heart.

Orion smiled in the darkness.

As the syllables of worship caressed the invisible limbs, Orion felt them begin to solidify and grow. Those syllables seemed to have life, penetrating the nothingness and giving him a new form. Broad muscles spread across his chest and back, and power poured into his body like a torrent, awakening every inch of his skin.

He sighed with pleasure, feeling this regained strength, tendons wrapped around his body like ivy, gradually becoming tough and strong, his spine stretched and grew, making a creaking sound like old bark, which sounded extremely harmonious and pleasant to his ears.

His scalp felt a bursting force, and then hard, spur-shaped horns slid out from under his skin, gradually forming broad, tangled antlers. These antlers grew spirally on his head like ancient tree roots, giving him a primitive and majestic temperament. The antlers symbolize his deep connection with nature. He is the king of this forest and this land!

For a long time, it seemed like centuries, he was immersed in the pleasure of this new sense, which was so intoxicating that he couldn't extricate himself. He stretched and flexed his limbs, feeling the existence of every joint and every muscle. His new life brought an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, and every movement of his was full of power and wildness.

For Orion, this was not only a reshaping of the body, but also a rebirth of the soul.

Orion suddenly remembered another name: Sephian. This name was like a flash of lightning, piercing his consciousness, bringing a trace of long-lost memories and indescribable shame. Orion's happiness disappeared at this moment, replaced by a kind of doubt and anger. This name hinted at his weakness and suggested that he might not be suitable for ruling.

As his face gradually froze, Orion opened his mouth and let out a challenging roar. The sound echoed in the forest like thunder, shaking everything around. The trees trembled in this roar, and the bark kept cracking, as if nature was responding to his anger. The choir hesitated under the sudden roar, and the music stopped abruptly, but his roar became more intense.

"I will show you my strength! I will prove myself! I will prove that your choice is right! I! am the king! The master of will! All existence must surrender to my feet!"

Orion roared, his voice full of endless anger and determination. He protested angrily and declared war on those unknown accusers. His newly formed body trembled with anger, every new muscle was tense in this anger, and every nerve burned like a flame. There was a beast-like light in his eyes, showing his unyielding will and desire for power.

At this moment, Orion was no longer the king who was praised, but a warrior full of anger and power, ready to show his true strength to anyone who dared to question him. His roar was not only a response to the outside world, but also a strong resistance to the weakness deep in his heart. He wanted to prove himself and show the world his unparalleled power and unshakable dominance.

"I will teach you to kneel! Submit!"

Orion's roar echoed through the forest like thunder, his rage escalating. The sound of trees cracking merged with another sound. At first, he thought it was his own roar, but soon he realized it was the hounds, dozens of them joining the wild clamor. It was a fierce, hungry sound that made his heart beat faster.

"Orion."

A voice came to his ears, soft and powerful, like the breeze, or the low sound of the deep sea, managing to drown out the noise he made in the dark. He turned his head, and when he saw those eyes, his roar paused, and then stopped completely. They were gentle eyes, deep and full of power, able to see through everything. They were full of endless wisdom and ancient majesty, and he felt his anger recede like the tide.

Beside Orion was a brilliant shape, a beautiful elf girl, bringing vibrant changes with every step she took, and wherever she passed, flowers and trees bloomed and everything revived. The divine aura was as gentle as a spring breeze, revitalizing all creatures it passed by and bringing new vitality to the entire forest.

She took on a stately and majestic form, almost twice the height of an ordinary elf, her massive body like a giant guardian. The huge wings behind her shimmered like a giant moth, and every gentle flap of the wings brought a mysterious airflow. Antennae emerged from her head, like an antenna between the elves and nature, sensing every change in the forest. She was covered with shimmering green scales, which shone like gems in the light, reflecting a mysterious glow.

"Aisha."

Orion flinched and closed his eyes, blinded by the light. He roared in a low voice, full of awe and pain, he couldn't look directly at that light, it was a combination of pure energy and divine power beyond mortal understanding.

"The forest is us, we are the forest, you don't have to prove anything."

A gentle voice appeared in Orion's ears again, with infinite wisdom and tranquility in the voice. As if coming from the depths of the earth, with eternal truths, it gradually calmed his heart. He felt a deep sense of belonging, as if he was closely connected to everything in the forest, without having to prove himself through strength and anger.

"Ariel."

Orion took a deep breath and opened his eyes to the brilliant light. Even briefly meeting her gaze was enough to send his mind back to the past, to Ariel, his queen. In a flash, he saw the long centuries they had spent together, a passion born of pure youth. Their love had intoxicated them to the point where they had embarked on an adventure neither of them understood what it would mean. As he held Ariel's familiar, warm hand, he remembered the true weight of the crown.

Ariel's immortality was tied to the forest, and if he could not protect Ariel, if he did not have the power to enforce Ariel's rule, Ariel would die.

As Orion felt his heartbeat begin to speed up, his anger returned. As he opened his mouth to roar, Ariel silenced him with a soft, lingering kiss. The kiss was warm and powerful, pulling him back from the edge of his rage, and his anger dissipated in Ariel's gentleness, turning into a deep calm and determination.

For a moment, Orion struggled, torn between the desire for love and the call of the hounds, then he held Ariel in his arms, lost in a new ecstasy. Ariel's breath, her touch, soothed the wounds in his heart like a warm spring breeze. He felt a deep connection between them, a love that transcended time and space, and he felt extremely full and happy.

Orion forgot everything outside the darkness and Ariel, but finally, as their passion faded, he realized that the voices outside had returned and multiplied. Now, hundreds of people sang in unison, their voices as wild as spring. Those voices were full of the power of life and infinite hope, and nature was reborn in their song.

He knew what was waiting outside the darkness, and his new flesh trembled with anticipation. He was old and new, like a crying puppy and a wrinkled old woman. He had lived for thousands of years, and he was about to be born for the first time, and the feeling was both strange and familiar, and filled him with fear and anticipation. He took a deep breath, feeling the breath of life in the air, and knew that new challenges awaited him.

Under Ariel's gaze, Orion felt more powerful than he had ever felt before, and a new resolve ignited in his heart. As the chorus rose to a crescendo, he felt Ariel take his hand, leading him forward.

At first, Orion and Ariel walked in the sky.

Orion looked down and saw his own hooves, gently stepping through the universe, comets and planets folding behind them, and the light of the stars flickered around them as he danced with Ariel in the sky, cheering their steps. Then he felt the ground beneath his hooves, a soft, pungent carpet of rotten leaves, muddy with his weight, and he felt a strange comfort in the familiar smell of the earth.

As he began to walk, Orion saw light pouring in through a hole in the void, a huge portal that allowed the morning sun to wash over him, bathing his body in warmth and light. The feeling was completely new, and he sighed with contentment and turned to look at his lover beside him. As the darkness faded, he saw his queen in an incredible beauty, a warm, fleshy body and flickering nothingness.

Ariel was naked, but her hair shrouded her in a confusing web of gold and silver, obscuring her true form. The hair was like a flowing river of stars, circling around her, protecting her holiness.

Orion noticed two tall shapes rising from Ariel's shoulder blades, and he realized they were a pair of fluttering tawny hawk moth wings. The wings trembled slightly, emitting a mysterious glow that blended perfectly with Ariel's image. Ariel felt his gaze and gave him a shy smile, then nodded toward the archway in front of them.

Orion followed Ariel's gaze and saw the figure passing through the strong light, framed by the archway. He felt a rush of urgency and hurried forward. Ariel smiled softly and held his hand, and as they stumbled out of the light, it felt like waking from a dream and entering a whole new world.

The music stopped and silence fell, but soon, Ariel's laughter broke the silence. The laughter was crisp and warm, like the spring water flowing, carrying infinite hope and joy.

Orion blinked, dazzled by a crimson sunrise, and he snorted in confusion and raised his hands to his face, trying to block the glare. As his eyes gradually adjusted to the light, the vision became clear.

He saw that he was standing on a wide lawn, in the center of a circular clearing, surrounded by huge oaks of age. The light of dawn sprinkled on the lawn through the gaps between the branches, and the warm light poured in like water, sprinkling on the hundreds of nobles standing on the lawn. The nobles of the forest were scattered around the clearing, standing by rows of fragrant firewood. The flames were unattended, but they burned quietly as the nobles looked up at the summoned existence.

Orion understood Ariel's laughter.

The Asrai nobles were terrified, every face pale with fear, bloodless. They were dressed in their most beautiful spring clothes, lemon-colored robes and skirts that fluttered like new leaves. Their long hair was braided with bluebells and swayed gently in the breeze, and they wore wooden crowns on their heads, which shimmered at sunrise, as if welcoming the arrival of dawn.

Although the Asrai nobles were dressed and dressed neatly, their expressions showed their inner fear and uneasiness. They looked like trembling vermin that had been cornered by hounds, with no way to escape.

Orion began to laugh, and he was pleased that his voice was a deep and powerful roar, which made the Asrai shrink even more. Some Asrai even fell to their knees, while others avoided his gaze. His laughter was like thunder in the forest, shaking every Asrai present.

As his body trembled with the joy of being alive, he looked down at himself, and when he saw the change in himself, he forgot the memory of being torn away as Sephian. His body seemed to have been carved from the tallest, oldest oak in the forest. His torso was broad and powerful, ending in huge, wrinkled hooves. His chest was covered in thick, angular muscles, and his entire body was covered in a beautiful lichen green.

When he turned his head, he saw that he and Ariel had emerged from an oak tree that was much taller than the others, the shape of the tree was difficult to define, and seemed to disappear from his sight, as if the oak tree did not completely like the material world. He knew what he was looking at, and suddenly he felt the glory and power of new life. He let go of Ariel's hand and raised his fist to roar into the fading winter light.

Orion's laughter was full of power and confidence, as if it was the call of the entire forest, announcing his return, and the power of his new life made him fearless. As his roar echoed through the forest, the wood fires swayed and jumped, and a fierce breeze suddenly came, causing several Asrai to stagger to their knees. The roar became louder and louder, and he realized that he didn't want the sound to stop. He wanted to use an endless howl to make the world kneel down. When the forest was filled with his noise, he felt his heart beating with an unknown and wonderful anger.

"The first flower of spring...ah...primrose, where is spring, where is spring..." Dacus, riding on the back of the big guy, sighed as he looked at the flowers on the roadside. As he went crazy, the big guy stopped, and while he was restless, his nostrils began to sniff the air around him. Just when he wanted to ask the big guy what happened, he heard a noise from far to near. He frowned and cursed, "What's the noise? Who is trying to sing?"

"Orion is reborn." Liv, who was following Dacus, said cautiously.

"Is this sound coming from him? His voice should be treated. I know an expert in this area. I will recommend it to him when the time comes."

Faced with Dacus's nonsensical words, Liv didn't say anything else, but shook her head slightly.

——

"Listen."

A voice came from his mind, it was just a whisper, but it penetrated Orlean's roar and made him stop. He stopped shouting after recognizing the gentle tone, turned his head and saw Ariel still smiling at him.

"They are welcoming us."

Orlean nodded, then looked at Asrai who was still dancing there. The name of Asrai suddenly appeared in his mind, and the memory of Sefian flooded into his mind. He saw the blood on Sefian's face. He felt that this Asrai was a person he didn't like, some kind of artist, and the exaggerated and fancy movements had begun to annoy him.

"We beg you, our most sacred Kunos and Aisha, see our loyalty, see the desire in our souls, see the joy of our welcome, see the blessings in our gifts. We beg you, both mortal and divine, to consider us worthy..."

Vetir's dance ceremony is still going on. He holds blooming flowers and burning incense burners in his hands, dedicating his voice and blessings to Kunos and Aisha. His dance steps are like the wind, flying freely. Every movement is full of piety and sacred power, and contains awe of nature and love of life. His singing is loud and passionate, resounding through the sky, full of vitality and dynamics of life, conveying respect for the gods and the hope of receiving divine protection.

The graceful and wild movements seemed ridiculous and exaggerated to Orian. He was now certain that the exaggerated performer in front of him was Wetir, who had once refused him to join the neighboring war dancers. His thoughts returned to the beginning, when there were no complicated rituals, no disgusting, messy-haired war dancers, and everything was so simple.

"How did we get here?" Orian suddenly turned around and asked, with a confused expression on his face.

"You always say that." Ariel smiled softly.

Orian frowned and looked at the other nobles. In addition to the war dancers, many Asrai had retreated to the far end of the open space, but more were frightened by his howling and collapsed to the ground. Under his gaze, the Asrai who fell to the ground stood up tremblingly and slowly moved towards the king. He realized that many faces were familiar to him, looking back at him from the past and present, loyal subjects from countless years, loyal subjects under his endless rule.

Orion saw an old Weaver who was one of the few who had not left the fire, though his eyes were blinded by age, and he realized that was because the Weaver's eyesight had gone.

Zoya, the Night Owl, Orion was shocked because he remembered that in his memory, Zoya had been a clear and bright beauty. He walked towards Zoya, the morning light passing through him, as if he was an image on a canvas, not an entity made of flesh and bones. He had a vague and unreal feeling about Zoya? Adoration? Attachment? He looked at Zoya in front of him, so exhausted, so haggard, and the vague sadness forced him to look away, and he remembered that this familiar and strange memory came from the past, not the present.

On the other side of the clearing, Orion saw another familiar face, a strong warrior with a broad red bare chest and a heavy bronze necklace wrapped around the warrior's biceps. The necklace was cleverly fashioned into the shape of an eagle's wing, sweeping upward from the warrior's arm, but the most striking thing was the ritual tattoo on the warrior's face: deep, circular grooves that surrounded the warrior's eyes, adding to the warrior's fierce appearance.

"Alaros!" Orion roared, recalling memories of fighting on the battlefield last year.

After Alaros bowed his head in greeting, Orion shifted again, and there was a familiar face not far away, he remembered, the oldest warrior in Athel Loren, "Hook Blade" Seonlan. Seonlan wore a pale yellow robe, the edges of the robe were outlined with intricate copper lines, and had a strange expression on his face. While the others either stared at the ground in horror or stared at him anxiously, Seonlan looked at him with a complicated look.

Orion took a step forward, causing several Asrai nobles to gasp and hastily step back. He intended to call Seonlan to his side, but another familiar face caught his attention, and he smiled when he realized it was Artomis. It seemed ridiculous that he had been so afraid of the horned knight recently?

Artomis looked at his master, his eyes full of awe and pride.

"Where is Dais?" Orian glanced at the Asrai nobles in the open space again, and he found that some of the people he was familiar with were missing.

"Lord Dais is forging a weapon for the future king that can affect the whole world!" A priest of Val, wearing an eye mask, with a haggard face and a body that could be blown down by the wind at any time, stood up and said loudly. His voice echoed in the open space, like a thunder, shocking all the elves present.

The words of the priest of Val shocked the elves in the audience, and a whisper quickly spread among the crowd, and every face was full of doubts. Some people widened their eyes and couldn't believe their ears, while others exchanged glances nervously, as if looking for some kind of confirmation.

"What nonsense are you talking about? The whole forest is the embodiment of my will! I don't need any weapons!" An angry expression quickly appeared on Orian's face, his eyes burned with anger, his body trembled with anger, he took a step and strode towards the priest of Val, his voice roaring like thunder.

The priest of Val was not afraid of Orlean's anger. He did not retreat or kneel. The blind eyes behind the mask met Orlean's gaze firmly.

"The fate of the forest is in my hands, not a forged object. I don't need any weapon of fate to determine the future! I will continue to protect this forest. No matter what challenges there are in the future, I will face them head-on!" Orlean was angered by the performance of the priest of Val. He clenched his fists and his eyes were as sharp as a knife.

However, the priest of Val still maintained his original posture in the face of Orlean's power. He was only responsible for passing on the message. And he noticed something from Orlean's words. Orlean didn't seem to realize that he was talking about the future king, not the current king.

"You will become stronger, and by midsummer, at the great meeting, you will be even stronger. You will return here and begin the great, eternal hunt, when not even the forest can stop you." Ariel's words once again came to Orian's mind. Orian was comforted by Ariel's words. He closed his eyes and let out a long, low sigh of satisfaction, imagining the glory ahead.

Just as Kerillian was concentrating on eating melon, an owl landed silently beside her. After a moment, she seemed to notice something and turned her head to look at the owl. Her eyes widened the moment she saw the owl, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face. When she looked at the owl, the owl's eyes were also looking directly at her, which surprised her. As a watcher, she did not catch the existence of the owl. What shocked her even more was that the owl actually found her hiding in the shadows.

"Don't be nervous." The owl did not make an owl cry, but spoke the Elsalin language, and then it changed under Kerillian's gaze. The owl's feathers seemed to melt away, revealing an elf in a white robe. His robe flickered in the light of the morning sun, as if emitting a faint glow. The robe was embroidered with the emblem of Hoeth, symbolizing wisdom and knowledge.

The elf's face showed a friendly expression, and his gentle eyes revealed wisdom and tranquility. His hair was silver, as smooth as silver silk under the moonlight, falling on his shoulders. His long face was delicate, and his noble features seemed like a carved work of art, with every detail flawless. His eyes were deep and bright, like two stars, and when he looked at Kerillian, he showed endless love and understanding.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Salir. I know who you are, Kerillian from the Gray Hall." Salir said with a smile, his voice was like a gentle breeze blowing through the leaves, with a hint of warmth and comfort.

"You are not Asrai!" Kerillian stared at Salir, frowning slightly, confusion and vigilance intertwined.

"Yes, I am not Asrai. I am Asur? Ainir? Of course, it doesn't matter to me." Salir smiled and nodded, with a hint of mischief in his eyes. He stood there, with an upright figure, his robe fluttering gently in the wind, and his every move revealed elegance and calmness, giving Kerillian a sense of unfathomable depth.

"Why are you here? Wait..." Kerillian remained alert, but she soon realized something. The illusion she saw not long ago kept flashing in her mind. She seemed to see the shadow of Hoss in Salir? Just like the Lord of Des had the shadow of Val. The legend of Des has been circulating in the Asrai. The Asrai said that Des, like Orion and Ariel, was the incarnation of the gods, and there was also the mysterious existence of the Flowing Water Palace.

"Things have changed. This is why I came here. Of course, there is still some time now, so I came here to sit down. Sorry to bother you." Salir's words were full of sincerity and determination. Then he sat down and pointed to the wild fruit between him and Kerillian with an inquiring look.

Kerillian did not ask some relatively presumptuous questions, but suppressed the doubts in her heart and nodded.

Salir smiled slightly and picked up an Avelin fruit with an elegant movement. His manners revealed an innate aristocratic temperament, his fingers were slender and dexterous, and his movements were calm and unhurried. He gently wiped the peel, then took a careful bite, as if tasting a fine work of art.

His eyes swept across the surrounding environment from time to time, his expression serene and focused. When he finished eating a wild fruit, he gently put down the core, turned his eyes to the open space not far away, and looked at the outermost Asur delegation. His eyes became deep and thoughtful, as if he was thinking about something important, as if he was making some important decision.

"Here he comes."

Soon after, Salir raised his head and whispered to the distance. His eyes became firm and focused, as if he was watching a fateful moment that was about to come, and he had made a decision.

Kerillian followed Salir's gaze, but she saw nothing, only the unchanging forest. Just when she was confused and wanted to ask something, Salir stood up, and the whole person exuded an aura of majesty and power.

"Get ready, Kerillian, we are about to face a turning point in our destiny. The future of the forest and even the world depends on this move." Salir's voice was low and powerful. (End of this chapter)