Chapter 341: Some History Lessons [1]

"Alright. Firstly, we’re going to visit a region outside the city where a major battle took place."

Eldrian’s voice echoed through the transport vehicle.

"Approximately one hundred and seven years ago, this area became one of the main battlefields during the war between Elythraen and the vampire kingdom."

The students immediately became more attentive. Noah sat beside the window, looking outside as the vehicle moved through Lunathiel. The vehicle was huge bus like structure.

Outside the city itself was a sight worth remembering.

Massive trees towered over the streets, their branches stretching between buildings and forming enormous natural canopies.

Elven architecture blended seamlessly with nature.

Some buildings had been constructed around trees, while others seemed to grow directly from them. Vines covered walls and balconies, flowers grew along rooftops, and magical lamps hung from branches like glowing fruits.

Somehow, none of it felt out of place. Everything had been designed to coexist with nature rather than dominate it.

Noah rested his chin against his hand as he watched the scenery pass.

’This place really is beautiful.’

The farther they traveled from the center of the city, however, the fewer buildings they saw. The massive trees gradually became more scattered.

After approximately thirty minutes, the vehicles finally slowed down.

"We’re here."

Eldrian stood.

The students looked outside with curiosity. The scenery had changed completely. There was a vast open area stretching across the land.

Noah immediately found it strange. ’An open field... in the middle of the Elven Kingdom?’

The elves were famous for their deep connection with nature. Trees covered most of Elythraen, and even the cities were built around them.

Yet this enormous region was almost completely devoid of trees.

Instead, ruins covered the landscape.

Broken walls, collapsed towers and half-buried stone structures. Fragments of ancient buildings were scattered across the ground.

Moss covered the remains, while thick vines crawled over broken walls and twisted around fallen pillars.

Some structures were so badly damaged that it was difficult to tell what they had originally been.

The students stepped out of the vehicles. Everyone looked around with curiosity.

"This place..."

Lyria murmured.

"It feels like an ancient ruin."

"It is," Eldrian replied.

He raised his voice so everyone could hear.

"This region used to be part of Lunathiel itself."

Several students looked surprised.

"The city was considerably larger more than a century ago as there were not many great cities, at current time there are many huge cities rivaling capital... so people moved out. At that time, one of the major military bases of the Elythraen army was located here."

Eldrian pointed toward the largest cluster of ruins. "You can still see some of its remains."

Noah looked toward the ruins. Noah muttered. "So this used to be a military base?"

Eldrian continued. "During that period, the vampire kingdom of Vespermark was still active."

The students became noticeably quieter. Even those who knew little about history had heard of Vespermark.

The supposedly extinct vampire kingdom.

"The vampires had been hostile toward Elythraen for generations," Eldrian continued. "They frequently crossed our borders in secret. Some of their forces abducted elves and transported them back to Vespermark."

His expression became noticeably colder. "Some were used as slaves."

A few students frowned.

"Others..." Eldrian paused. "...were used as food. Well most of them were like blood bags."

The atmosphere immediately became heavier.

Noah’s expression hardened slightly. He had already read about the vampires before.

But hearing the history directly from an elf who had inherited those memories through generations made it feel different.

"At the time, our kingdom attempted to avoid a full-scale war," Eldrian continued. "The elves had no desire to invade Vespermark, nor did we wish to shed blood unnecessarily."

"But eventually, the situation became impossible to ignore."

Eldrian looked toward the distant ruins.

"The incident that triggered the war occurred at the border."

The students listened carefully.

"Approximately one hundred and seven years ago, the youngest prince of Vespermark, Varex Noctharis, personally led a small group of vampires across the border."

Several students exchanged glances.

"Varex was reckless and arrogant. He had planned to abduct the young princess of Elythraen, Princess Aelyssa Sylvaine, who was traveling near the border under the protection of several elven guards."

Noah raised his brow. ’That’s... the current queen..’

Eldrian’s expression darkened. "His intention was to take her back to Vespermark and present her to his father, King Malverion Noctharis, as a gift. If might be aware that elven blood, especially that of high elves blood of royal family was considered best for vampires. And that Varex wanted his father to favor him to be next king."

"What happened then?" one of the students asked.

"A powerful elven mage discovered them."

Eldrian’s eyes narrowed.

"His name was Theron Vaelcrest, one of the strongest battle mages of Elythraen at the time. Theron confronted Varex before the vampires could escape."

A brief silence followed. "Varex was killed at the border."

The students remained silent.

"That should have been the end of the incident," Eldrian continued. "Unfortunately, King Malverion did not see it that way."

His voice became colder.

"He declared that Elythraen had murdered a member of the royal family and ordered his armies to mobilize."

Noah frowned. ’So the kidnapping attempt became the spark that started the war.’

"Vampire forces invaded Elythraen soon afterward."

Eldrian gestured toward the ruins surrounding them.

"This area became one of the primary battlefields."

The students looked around.

"At the time, the city defenses were positioned here because this was one of the main entrances into Lunathiel."

Eldrian pointed toward several collapsed structures.

"Those ruins were once military barracks, defensive towers, storage facilities, and mage formations."

Noah looked carefully at the ground.

Even after more than a century, faint traces of magical formations could still be seen beneath the moss.

"The battle lasted for several days."

Eldrian’s expression became solemn.

"The vampires were extremely difficult to fight. Their regenerative abilities made them dangerous opponents, especially during close combat. But we had one advantage."

He looked toward the students.

"We were fighting on our own territory."

The elves had extensive knowledge of the surrounding forests, terrain, magical formations, and defensive routes.

"After several battles, the Elythraen army managed to push the vampires back."

Eldrian paused.

"Eventually, Vespermark’s forces were defeated."

Some students quietly exhaled.

"So the elves won?" Damien asked.

"Yes."

Eldrian nodded.

"But victory came at a considerable cost."

His expression became more serious.

"Many elves died."

The students fell silent.

"However, the vampires were not our only enemy."

Noah’s eyes narrowed. He asked this time curiously. "What do you mean?"

Eldrian looked toward the ruins.

"We discovered that several elves had secretly betrayed Elythraen."