Chapter 261 : Chapter 261

Volume 2 Ch 4: Star Magic

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍change left him somewhat helpless. He had only meant to use the power of the arrays, yet somehow even his hair color had been dragged into it.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍himself did not care much about appearances. If anyone asked, he could always casually say he had suddenly felt like dyeing it.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would Cosette be startled?

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when he returned home at the end of the term, would that old bastard—who already disliked him enough as it was—use this as yet another excuse to stir up trouble and make things difficult for him on purpose?

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thought alone was enough to give him a headache.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pulled his gaze away and stopped dwelling on his appearance, turning instead to examine this absurdly luxurious bedroom that had just been granted to him.

Carved furniture, expensive tapestries, a temperature-regulating magical fireplace, even a small indoor fountain in the corner fed by running water... the furnishings of this room alone were probably worth several thousand gold coins.

And the entire estate, together with the land granted near the Imperial Capital...

The royal family had truly made an astonishingly grand gesture this time.

“What a thoroughly rotten feudal landlord class,” Ryan muttered under his breath with a tug of his lips, without the slightest sincerity.

These were resources. They were leverage. And at the same time, they were a new burden.

Accepting such lavish rewards from the royal family meant binding himself even more deeply to the Empire’s war chariot. From now on, every move he made would be exposed to even more eyes.

A full set of properly fitted clothes had already been prepared, hanging neatly from the rack nearby.

From the innermost layer to the outermost, the materials were exquisite, the tailoring impeccable. They had obviously been rushed out according to his measurements.

Ryan wasted no more time. He took off the loose clothes that were practically a patient’s gown and walked into the spacious bathroom connected to the bedroom, its smooth marble floor laid around a magically heated bathing pool.

Warm water cascaded over him, washing away the exhaustion and grime that had built up.

He closed his eyes and let the water run through his silver-white hair, but his mind continued racing, sorting through his current circumstances and his plans for what came next.

After drying himself, Ryan changed into a set of comfortable dark casual clothes. His silver hair hung damply across his forehead, softening some of his sharpness and giving him a more unguarded look.

He walked to the window and pushed open the glass panes. A warm breeze from early summer drifted in, carrying the fragrance of flowers and greenery from the courtyard. In the distance, the grand outlines of Augustus stood clearly beneath the afterglow of sunset, while the clock tower sent out its far-reaching chime.

Prosperous, powerful, orderly—as though it had stood unchanged for eternity.

But Ryan knew better.

Beneath all that splendor, the undercurrents had never once ceased to stir. The open and hidden struggles between the princes, the nobles’ backstabbing alliances, the shadow of the Demon Race along the borders, the powerful enemies in the Northlands watching like tigers...

And he, a small figure who had lost his power yet now wore the halo of a hero, stood right at the edge of that whirlpool.

The investiture ceremony two days from now would be his first step back onto the board.

He stood silently before the window, his gray eyes resting on the countless lights of the Imperial Capital, deep and calm, without a ripple.

Just then, a servant’s respectful voice came from outside the door.

“My lord, there is a young lady named Ilyss at the door. She says she is your classmate and has come to visit you.”

Something flickered in Ryan’s gaze.

“Please ask her to wait in the drawing room. I will be there shortly,” Ryan answered calmly. His voice carried clearly through the door, steady and composed.

He cast one final glance at the setting sun beyond the window, then turned and walked toward the door.

The servant withdrew, gently closing the drawing room door behind him.

Ryan did not go out at once. He stood by the bedroom window and looked one last time at the fading dusk over the Imperial Capital.

Ilyss’s arrival was both expected and unexpected. Given her personality and the secrets she knew, he had anticipated that she would come looking for him sooner or later. What he had not expected was that she would come this quickly, practically right on Cecilia’s heels.

His fingertips tapped lightly against the windowsill twice without his noticing.

As for Ilyss—or rather, the real identity hidden beneath that name—Ryan’s feelings had always been somewhat complicated, even contradictory.

At first, he had only vaguely known that there might be an Elf hidden somewhere within the academy.

The mysterious person who had tried to steal the white crystal.

Their brief clash, together with the other party’s unusual fixation on the white crystal, had made him certain the person was an Elf. But as to who it was, why they were hiding there, and what they were after, he knew nothing. At best, he could only guess that perhaps they were an exiled remnant of the elves, perhaps carrying some secret mission of their people.

He had never directly equated that mysterious Elf with Iruya—the Witch of Pride, who in the future would shine within the academy like a star, so arrogant that she inspired fear, admired and distanced by countless people all at once.

In the original trajectory of the story, Iruya—or Pride—was one of the first characters to appear in Holy Light and the Seven Sins, and one of the most impactful.

She was two years above the Saintess when the latter enrolled, the undisputed legend of the academy, the long-reigning top student whose theory and practical ability alike had reached the summit. According to rumor, she had mastered all elemental Magic, won the Imperial Youth Mage Tournament for three consecutive years, and had even received public praise from the Emperor himself.

She was regarded as a once-in-a-century genius of the academy. On top of that, she possessed a beauty that left people breathless, making her the object of admiration for countless nobles and even princes, though always beyond their reach.

But her pride was just as unforgettable as her talent.

At first, toward the Saintess—who had disguised herself as someone of mediocre talent and humble background—she showed nothing but open disdain and relentless fault-finding.

According to the predetermined branch of fate, the trajectory of destiny would only begin to shift when the Saintess happened to accompany her on an expedition into a dangerous ancient ruin and saved her life after she fell into a desperate situation through her own arrogant carelessness.

And the more critical turning point was this: when that lofty senior, who looked down on everyone else, finally cast aside the mask of pride for the first time and clumsily expressed her gratitude to the protagonist, if the Saintess answered with coldness or even disdain, it would instead strike her in the deepest way, triggering the route where she began taking the initiative to entangle herself with the protagonist, while her favorability climbed in the strangest of ways.

It would not be until a later event involving the core of an Elven Relic that she would reveal to the protagonist her true identity as an Elven Princess, and only then would their bond deepen completely.

In Ryan’s original understanding, Iruya at this point in time should still have been a hidden figure lurking in the shadows of the academy, not yet fully displaying her brilliance.

No matter how hard he tried, he never could have imagined that this elven princess—who, according to the original course of events, should only have begun blazing with light a few years later, striding proudly through the academy—had already assumed the name Ilyss and was hiding at the side of Princess Cecilia Ishtar as a silent guard.

The deviation in the plot was so great that it left him deeply unsettled.

How, exactly, had Cecilia found her, persuaded her, and even made her willing to conceal herself in such a role?

And what had truly convinced Ryan that Ilyss was Iruya was that final instant between life and death in the elven ruins.

It was not merely because she had exposed her pointed ears and elven traits.

More important was the power she had invoked at the very end, when she was willing to pay any price to reverse certain doom.

The change in her silver hair could perhaps still be explained away as the side effect of some powerful forbidden art.

But the dazzling radiance that had bloomed in her palm, as though all the stars in the sky had been gathered into it, and the obscure fluctuations moving within it that seemed to brush against the deepest laws of the world...

That could only have been the supreme mystery known in legend as the key to perceiving the truth of the world—Star Magic, the highest secret inherited only by those carrying the purest blood of the elven royal line.