No, something was very wrong.
She thought of the most crucial point — the Beastman Clan would arrive next week.
What kind of scene would that be?
Bonfires, noise, and undisguised passion and invitations…
How would her kin enjoy the feast, and she…
With her body’s current, cursed sensitivity…
It was over.
A terrifying image already seemed to float before Celia’s eyes: she was pinned to the ground by a big sister from the Beastman Clan, continuously putting her Water Magic to use.
At that time, she would become the biggest joke of the entire festival, and perhaps even in the history of the Dark Elves.
The title “Shame of the Dark Elves” would no longer be just a label in the System, but something witnessed firsthand by all her kin.
Dark Elves had always been the side that held absolute initiative and dominance.
If they knew that a member of their race had appeared who would be on the bottom, or might even lose control due to extreme sensitivity…
‘I’ll be mocked to death…’
She muttered to herself, her face turning pale.
No, this wouldn’t do! She absolutely could not stay until next week!
‘I’m leaving! Right now!’
She began to pack her things quickly: a few changes of clothes, some dry rations, water, her permit, essentials for wilderness survival, and…
She walked to the corner of the wooden hut and lightly pressed a hidden mechanism.
A wooden board on the floor slid open silently, revealing a small hidden compartment where a deep purple, ancient-looking wooden box lay quietly.
The box itself seemed to contain a faint magical power that could only be opened by her blood.
This was something her mothers had left for her, said to be opened only when she reached adulthood.
After opening it, a sword and a set of women’s light armor were stored quietly inside.
The sword was magnificent, with intricate patterns carved onto the blade’s edge, and a large purple gemstone was inlaid in the center of the scabbard.
Although she didn’t know what it was for, just looking at it inspired an inexplicable sense of awe.
The light armor and the sword were clearly a set; the lines of the armor were smooth and graceful, with the same patterns on the spaulders, bracers, and greaves.
On the inside of the lid, she saw a line of tiny characters engraved in the Elven Language, which glowed slightly when touched:
“To our Celia. May it protect you just as we long to protect you. Follow the light in your heart and go anywhere you wish to go.”
Tears welled up in her eyes without warning.
She gripped the sword tightly, the cool scabbard pressing against her palm, but it strangely brought a surge of warmth.
The figures of her mothers had never been so clear in her memory; it was as if they were standing right there, watching their daughter about to embark on a journey with gentle and proud smiles.
Early the next morning, before the sky had brightened, the mist in the forest was dense.
Celia carried her pack and sneaked toward the path like a thief, but she saw that expected figure at the starting point.
Silvia was covered in morning dew, looking at her with a half-smile.
“In such a hurry? You can’t even wait for the farewell party, little Celia?”
Celia’s cheeks flushed bright red as she argued stubbornly, “I, I just wanted to set off early! I want to see my mothers sooner!”
“Yes, yes, it’s not running away.”
Silvia’s smile deepened, but she stopped teasing.
She stepped forward and placed a thin silver chain around Celia’s neck, the Teardrop Amethyst at the end resting just below her collarbone.
“Wear this so I know you’re safe out there.”
Celia’s heart warmed, and she put the necklace on as told.
The cool silver chain pressed against the skin below her collarbone.
Silvia stepped forward, gave her a gentle hug, and whispered in her ear, “Go, child. Go see your mothers. And… go see the world outside. Remember, no matter what you encounter, the forest will always be your home, and we will always be your kin.”
“Thank you for taking care of me for so long.”
Celia’s voice was a bit choked up.
She took a step back, took one last look at the village quiet in the morning mist, and then turned away resolutely.
**[Title “First Journey” obtained]**
**[Talent effect triggered: Title obtained, Free Attribute Points +2]**
However, this lightheartedness did not last long.
When she thought she had walked far enough, she stopped and took the map out of her pack to confirm her position.
Confusion gradually replaced her excitement.
The routes and terrain details marked on the map didn’t seem to match the unfamiliar woodland before her at all.
No, there should have been a forest lake here, but now there were only endless trees.
She walked to the left for a while and checked the map; she explored to the right for a moment and checked again.
The sun gradually rose until it hung overhead, and anxiety began to spread in her heart.
‘Where… am I?’
She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and studied the map carefully.
The Ashen Plains were located in the northeast of the continent, a vast expanse of scorched earth.
Starting from the Dark Elf Forest, the most common route was toward the northeast, first needing to cross…
Her fingertip landed on the area sketched with rough strokes on the map: Askala.
This was the kingdom established by the Beastman Clan.
Crossing through it and heading further northeast would lead to the Holy Kingdom.
Only by traversing the Holy Kingdom could she finally reach the Ashen Plains.
‘The route is clear, but I can’t even find the starting point right now…’
Celia muttered to herself, a sense of frustration welling up.
A thought flashed through her mind: ‘Should I just go back the way I came? Anyway, no one knows I’m out except for Silvia… Even if she laughs at me, it’s better than being trapped to death in this unfamiliar forest.’
This thought brought a brief moment of comfort.
She immediately put away the map and turned around by memory, trying to retrace the steps she had taken.
At first, she still had some vague impressions: that ancient vine shaped like an arch, that hollow with small blue flowers.
But the forest seemed to be silently shifting; the more she deliberately searched, the blurrier her memory became.
The stream she had just passed seemed to have a different width than before; the landmarks that clearly should have appeared were nowhere to be seen.
‘This is wrong… I don’t think I’ve seen this tree? Were those tracks I just saw my own?’
She stopped and leaned against a rough tree trunk, panting as the cold reality and the gradually dimming light wrapped around her.
Loneliness and frustration intertwined around her heart like vines.
Was the end of her first day of travel really going to be getting lost in such a pathetic state?
**[Title “Directionally Challenged” obtained]**
**[Talent effect triggered: First title obtained, Free Attribute Points +2]**
‘Shit, this System is even mocking me. No… I can’t stop.’
She gritted her teeth and used her scabbard for support to stand up.
At this moment, returning had become more difficult than moving forward.
She had to choose a direction again.
This time, it was purely by intuition, and she set off with one last glimmer of hope.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the forest was already deep in gloom.
*Clang!*
A clear sound of metal clashing suddenly pierced through the heavy, stagnant air.
Despair was instantly replaced by a mixture of alertness and excitement.
People meant there might be a road, information, or even a chance to leave this annoying forest!
She immediately suppressed all other thoughts and headed toward the direction of the battle.
As she drew closer, the details of the fight became clearer.