The elves' chamber was surprisingly large for Hollow Hamlet, its high ceilings and carved wooden pillars giving it an air of ancient majesty.
Oregon stepped forward and knocked firmly on the heavy door.
"Come in!" called a voice from within, deep and authoritative.
Oregon pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Father, there's someone you need to meet," he announced.
Father? The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning—Oregon and Holumis were the children of the elves' leader. That was unexpected.
Holumis entered the chamber with measured steps, her movements graceful yet cautious. The rest of us—Xander, Vlad, Dylan, and I—remained outside.
"Who is it?" the leader's voice inquired.
"It's been so long since I've had a visitor."
"She claims to be the next Prime Apex," Oregon stated.
At that, the leader turned his head sharply. His piercing gaze landed on Oregon, then flickered toward the doorway.
"Bring her inside," he commanded.
Oregon gestured for me to step forward. I turned to my companions, exchanging brief glances with Xander, Vlad, and Dylan.
"Wait here," I told them.
They gave small nods of agreement, their expressions unreadable.
As I entered the chamber, Oregon leaned slightly toward me and murmured, "Introduce yourself properly."
Taking a deep breath, I bowed in respect.
"It is an honor to meet you, Leader of the Elves. My name is Leighton, and the prophecy foretells that the blood of the Prime Apex runs in my veins."
The leader regarded me with quiet intensity before nodding.
"Nice to meet you, Leighton. You may call me Silvanor. Now, step closer."
I hesitated for a fraction of a second before glancing at Oregon. He gave me a slight nod, as if to reassure me that everything was under control. Trusting his judgment, I stepped forward.
Beside Silvanor, Holumis sat with an expression of quiet curiosity. When our eyes met, she offered a small smile. I returned it.
"Show me your palm," Silvanor instructed.
I extended my hand, and he traced the lines on my palm with his fingertips. His touch was light but deliberate, as though reading something unseen.
Suddenly, his fingers pressed against a small dot on my palm.
A sharp jolt seemed to pass between us. Silvanor flinched—just for a moment—but I didn't miss it.
"You might be the one," he murmured, his gaze thoughtful.
Seeing his intrigue, I took the opportunity to explain my journey—the mission to receive the five marks. I revealed that I had already acquired two of the five: one from Vlad and one from Dylan.
Then, I requested permission for Xander, Vlad, and Dylan to enter the chamber, emphasizing their importance in my journey.
Silvanor hesitated at first, his expression unreadable, but after a brief pause, he relented and allowed it.
As they entered, I continued, "We are searching for the longest undead soul in the City of the Forgotten."
Silvanor, however, cut me off with a simple yet powerful statement.
"We live in the forest, and we protect it. We are nature spirits. Even though my wife is an elven sorcerer, we remain bound to nature."
The realization struck me like thunder. How had I not thought of this sooner? The elves were nature spirits. All this time, while searching for the longest undead soul, I had unknowingly walked straight into the presence of one of the required marks.
Without hesitation, I knelt before Silvanor. "It would be an honor to receive a mark from the leader of the elves," I said.
But Silvanor shook his head.
"No… I am too old for that. To mark someone means to form a new bond, and I am ineligible for such a commitment."
I felt my heart sink.
I desperately asked, 'Isn't there any other possibility?'
He cast a glance at Oregon.
"I believe Oregon will do it."
Oregon's eyes widened in shock.
"But, Father—"
"I am ordering you to mark Leighton, the next Prime Apex, as soon as possible," Silvanor said with unwavering finality.
Oregon fell silent, his expression unreadable as tension thickened in the air.
His jaw tightened, and his hands clenched at his sides, a flicker of something unreadable flashing across his eyes.
He turned away slightly, as if waging an internal battle, before finally shifting his gaze back to me.
I swallowed hard, meeting his piercing stare with all the resolve I could muster. My heart pounded, but I kept my voice steady.
"Please," I said, willing him to hear the urgency beneath my words.
"I need your help."
The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.
Then, to my surprise, movement flickered at the edge of my vision. One by one, Vlad, Xander, and Dylan lowered themselves to their knees beside me, a unified display of allegiance and desperation.
Their presence anchored me, a silent statement that this plea wasn't mine alone.
Oregon's eyes flickered between them, his expression unreadable. He exhaled sharply, tension still coiled in his stance.
Then, a softer voice broke the stillness.
"Please, brother," Holumis said, stepping forward, her tone carrying both familiarity and quiet urgency.
Oregon closed his eyes briefly as if weighing the weight of centuries in a single breath. When he opened them, his sharp gaze locked onto mine.
Slowly, he ran a hand through his silver-streaked hair, exhaling another breath before straightening to his full height.
A heartbeat passed. Then another.
Finally, he gave a single, deliberate nod.
"Stand up," he commanded, his voice firm but not unkind. "I will help you."
I rose to my feet, relief washing over me as I managed a small smile.
Silvanor nodded in approval. Then, he looked at me.
"The details of how to perform the mark—you may ask my wife. She is our sorcerer, she will know what to do."
Oregon turned to me.
"I will take you to meet my mother."
Silvanor then addressed the others.
"For now, all of you will stay here. Guards will escort you to your rooms."
Holumis gently took my arm and led me to a quiet chamber.
As she guided me inside, she spoke softly, "Wait for Oregon. He will come to you when Mother is ready."
Before she could turn to leave, she hesitated and suddenly touched my wrist, her expression pensive.
"You made my brother change his mind," she murmured.
I glanced at her, unsure of her meaning.
"It wasn't just me. We all played a part in changing his mind—including you, Holumis. Thank you."
"To me, it's clear you're the reason," Holumis said.
"Is that a good thing or not?" I asked.
She let out a soft breath, almost a laugh.
"It means you've caught his attention. That is both a blessing and a curse."
I was still left wondering: was that a good thing, or not?