I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom - Chapter 83

Chapter 83 – Complaining to the Elven King

“I don’t know,” Ilio replied quickly.

Shu Li paused, clenching his small fists, veins bulging on his forehead. If he weren’t so outmatched, he’d have pounced on Ilio and pummeled him.

Seeing the Little Fairy’s cheeks puff up in anger, Ilio chuckled merrily. “Even though I don’t know, I’ve given you a new line of thought.”

Shu Li took a deep breath to calm himself, crossed his legs on the vine, and glared at the black-haired elf. “I haven’t obtained the Essence of Light. Why can I cast the Purification Spell using Silent Magic?”

Ilio answered, “We are the Light Clan, naturally attuned to Light. We can summon Light Elements more easily than other elements. And—”

He tapped his forehead and then pointed to Shu Li’s head, smiling. “Have you forgotten? We both received the King’s Blessing.”

Shu Li froze, instinctively touching the small Green Crown that had transformed into a circlet on his head.

The Elven King, the first elf created by the Light God, was revered as the Son of Light. His blessing carried the weight of the Essence of Light’s approval, explaining why Shu Li could cast the Purification Spell so effortlessly using Silent Magic.

So that’s it!

No wonder he mastered Light Magic so quickly, its power far surpassing his other elemental spells.

Sayah had once remarked that he was a little fairy blessed by the Light God. At the time, he’d thought she was complimenting him!

But after hearing Ilio’s words, he realized there was another layer to her meaning.

The Mother Tree must have known this too, which is why she was so confident he could successfully cast the Silent Purification Art.

Shu Li was deeply tempted. He longed to obtain the essences of the other Natural Elements.

Silent Magic was simply too enticing for a mage prone to verbal slips like him.

He gazed intently at the black-haired elf, who was leisurely playing his harp. Clenching his jaw, he made a decision and asked earnestly, “Ilio, if I let you pinch my cheek, will you tell me about the Elemental Essences?”

Ilio froze, staring at the golden-haired little fairy’s “ready to die” expression. He nearly burst out laughing, but he forcefully suppressed it to avoid hurting the little fellow’s pride.

As soon as Shu Li spoke, he regretted it.

Staring into Ilio’s bright, piercing eyes, he worried he’d be pinched bald.

Waaah… I hope he’ll go easy on me.

Ilio sighed inwardly.

Little fairies are truly the most adorable creatures in the world.

He did want to pinch the little fellow’s tender cheeks, but alas…

Ilio slowly put away his harp, brushed the dust from his robe, and, under Shu Li’s anxious gaze, bent down with a smile. “Regarding the Elemental Essences, you can ask the King or consult the ancient texts in the Library.”

“Huh?” Shu Li tilted his head, looking up at him.

Ilio straightened up and stretched lazily. “Ah, I should get back to work.”

Before Shu Li could react, Ilio leaped onto a branch and darted away through the trees with a series of whooshing sounds.

Shu Li cupped his cheek, which had narrowly escaped being pinched, his expression utterly bewildered.

Clop, clop, clop—

The sound of a Unicorn’s hooves grew louder as it approached.

Shu Li flapped his wings and soared into the air, spotting the Elven King riding toward the Orchard.

The bright afternoon sun bathed the Elven King in light, making his smooth golden hair gleam even more brilliantly. The Silver Crown reflected a dazzling radiance, and his magnificent white robes, embroidered with classical patterns at the collar and cuffs, radiated an aura of sacred nobility that seemed utterly out of place in the Orchard.

“King!” Shu Li greeted him joyfully, flying forward to meet him.

The Elven King gracefully dismounted the Unicorn, stepping onto the muddy ground without hesitation. As he moved, the hems of his robes and cloak trailed across the earth, miraculously remaining spotless and pristine white.

“Good afternoon, Sperien,” the Elven King said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the baskets overflowing with fruit.

Shu Li followed his gaze and confessed honestly, “Ilio picked all these while showing off his Silent Magic to me.”

The Elven King seized on the key word. “Showing off?”

“Yes,” Shu Li said, clutching his cheek and tattling on Ilio. “He tried to pinch my face.”

The Elven King frowned. “I will remind him to mind his manners.”

Shu Li secretly stuck out his tongue, knowing when to quit while he was ahead. “But he told me that the Essence of the Five Great Elements could help me cast Silent Magic successfully. King, do you know how to obtain the Elemental Essence?”

“Elemental Essence?” the Elven King mused. “During the Great Divine War, the Elemental Essence aided me greatly. But they gradually dissipated afterward, and I haven’t seen them in ten thousand years.”

“Ah?” Shu Li’s face fell with disappointment. He had hoped the King knew where to find them!

Seeing the Little Fairy’s drooping ears, the Elven King softened his tone. “To be precise, the Elemental Essence are the Elemental Spirits themselves. They possess consciousness and are drawn to places where the elemental energies are most concentrated.”

Shu Li’s hope rekindled. “Then where are the places with the highest concentration of elemental energies?”

The Austyn Continent was vast, searching for the five Elemental Essences would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The Elven King replied, “That is for you to determine.”

“Alright!” Shu Li clenched his tiny fist, his voice firm. “I will definitely find the Elemental Essence.”

Given a Fairy’s extraordinary talent, reaching the rank of Mage Sovereign would still require at least four to five centuries of cultivation.

Four to five hundred years felt like an eternity to him.

He wanted to become a powerful Hero as quickly as possible, vanquish the Dark Forces, and find his way home.

The Elemental Spirits could help him, like a miraculous elixir, so he was determined to obtain them at any cost.

The Elven King gazed down at his spirited young disciple and encouraged him, “You will find them.”

Shu Li grinned confidently, his teeth flashing.

Throughout the afternoon, he diligently harvested ripe fruit in the Orchard, chanting spells until his throat was parched. Inevitably, his tongue slipped.

Shu Li promptly called it a day and returned to the Crystal Castle with the Elven King. After bathing and dining, he joined the Elves in their recreational activities.

The Elves’ entertainment was simple: playing instruments, singing, and dancing. Shu Li followed along, learning many skills.

At Fairy School, learning was structured and methodical, with specific poems and music taught at each age. The Elven Kingdom, however, was different.

The Elves acted on impulse, singing and dancing whenever they pleased, without regard for the sole underage Fairy among them.

The first time Shu Li watched couples perform a duet dance, he felt a little embarrassed.

Though their bodies didn’t touch intimately, their eyes locked in a lingering gaze, brimming with tender affection and a tantalizing allure that sent shivers down his spine.

Elven couples weren’t limited by gender; as long as their eyes met, same-sex unions could last for eternity.

They were fiercely loyal to their partners. Once they recognized their soulmate, they married and sealed their bond with the blessings of their clan. If one partner died, the other often chose to remain alone for life.

Shu Li knew that many elves had lost their partners, most having perished in the Great Divine War of Ten Thousand Years Ago.

Even alone, they willingly upheld their vows, spending their remaining years in solitude.

But elves were a long-lived race.

Their remaining years stretched into eternity.

Shu Li couldn’t fathom how they endured such loneliness across the ages.

One day, he cautiously asked a single elf this question.

“Bored?” the elf blinked at the little fairy. “Perhaps you should ask the King.”

The Elven King had been single for tens of thousands of years, making him the ultimate authority on the matter.

Shu Li chuckled awkwardly.

How could he dare ask such a personal question?

The matter naturally remained unresolved.

Now, Shu Li had grown accustomed to seeing couples dancing together.

He stood on a nearby table, diligently studying the Elves’ dance moves to the graceful music.

Every time he visited the Elven Kingdom, he missed not only Cultural Class but also Music and Dance Class. For Cultural Class, his good friends helped him copy notes, but for Music and Dance Class, he had to rely on his own efforts.

Shu Li studied earnestly, striving to grasp the essence of the dance so he could ace the upcoming exam.

Yes, after graduating from the toddler class to the young fairy class, they now had monthly assessments. Failing meant punishment, such as cleaning the training grounds or learning how to gather “nutrients” for the Divine Tree—all unpleasant tasks.

“Sperien, would you like to dance a song with me?” Sayah, with her fiery red hair and golden eyes, elegantly invited the little fellow on the table, dressed in a magnificent gown.

Partner dancing was a mandatory part of the curriculum.

Shu Li hesitated, a little worried. “Can we… even dance together?”

The size difference was too great; how could they coordinate?

Sayah smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll adjust to you.”

Shu Li spread his wings and flew into the air, bowing gallantly. “Then I’ll trouble you.”

Sayah extended a slender finger. Shu Li hesitated for a moment before grabbing it. Without needing him to fly, she pulled him directly onto the dance floor.

The sight of a Little Fairy and an Elf dancing together drew the attention of the other Elves. They instinctively stepped back, clearing space for the pair to dance.

Suddenly the center of attention, Shu Li grew nervous, desperately trying to recall the dance steps, afraid to make a single mistake.

Unfortunately, no matter how perfectly he executed the steps, the size difference remained an insurmountable obstacle. Some moves, like the male partner wrapping his arm around the female partner’s waist, were simply impossible.

“Hahaha, Little Sperien, hurry up and grow!” The surrounding Elves chuckled good-naturedly.

“Is Sperien still an Intermediate Mage?”

“Fairies can only release their Source Power and change their form after becoming Senior Mages.”

“If Sperien works hard, he should be able to advance to Senior.”

“A ten-year-old Senior Mage? Unheard of!”

“You shouldn’t put so much pressure on the child.”

“Happiness is what matters most during growth.”

“Perhaps Little Sperien and Sayah should switch dance roles?”

“Switch dance steps?”

Sayah’s eyes lit up. “You dance the female steps, and I’ll dance the male steps,” she said to Shu Li.

“Huh?” Shu Li froze mid-air, completely bewildered.

Make a boy dance the female steps? Isn’t that a bit much to ask?

He had been so focused on learning the male steps that he hadn’t even learned the female ones!

“Don’t know how? No problem, I’ll teach you,” Sayah said eagerly, her golden eyes sparkling with excitement.

Shu Li instinctively retreated, waving his hands. “No, no, no… let’s not…”

Backing up too quickly, he bumped into a solid wall. He turned around in a panic, only to discover that the “wall” was the Elven King’s chest.

“King… I’m sorry…” Shu Li apologized.

The Elven King gazed at him warmly. “Learning a duet?”

“Uh, yes, yes,” Shu Li replied, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment.

The Elven King glanced at Sayah, who bowed respectfully, then reached out and drew Shu Li closer, leading him to a nearby table.

Shu Li was placed on the table, utterly confused.

The Elven King pressed his index and middle fingers together, tapping them on the table like two legs. In a deep voice, he said, “I’ll teach you.”

Shu Li stared at the fingers, which were nearly as tall as he was, and swallowed nervously.

This is… finger dancing?

He’s going to dance with the Elven King’s fingers?

Lost in thought, Shu Li was startled by Ilio, who, eager to join the fun, plucked a string on his harp, filling the air with beautiful music.

The Elven King’s fingers, long and nimble, moved with lifelike grace. With elegant steps, they approached Shu Li and extended an inviting gesture.

Feeling cornered, Shu Li reluctantly agreed, his fingers dancing in tandem with the Elven King’s.

As they danced, he found himself unexpectedly drawn into the rhythm.

He had never imagined fingers could execute such intricate movements, their gestures so lifelike, their timing so precise, blending strength and fluidity in perfect harmony.

Guided by the Elven King’s fingers, he even found himself performing the female steps of the dance.

When the music ended, thunderous applause erupted around them.

“Amazing!” Sayah exclaimed.

Shu Li snapped out of his musical trance, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead and catching his breath. The elves’ praise filled him with a mix of embarrassment and a hint of pride.

As the entertainment concluded, the elves dispersed. Shu Li yawned and returned to his room.

After stretching, he retrieved a delicate miniature table and chair set from his Storage Ring and placed them on the long table against the wall. He pulled out the tiny chair, sat down, and opened his notebook to begin writing in his diary.

For ten years, he had remained true to his original purpose, diligently recording his life in this Otherworld.

“Dear Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother… I miss you all so much…”

The opening lines were always the same, filled with longing for his family.

His once-childlike face now carried a hint of resolve. The young fairy meticulously filled an entire page with Chinese characters, recording every detail of the day’s events.

He hoped that one day, when he returned home, his family would understand everything he had experienced here through his diary, and that it would reassure them he was safe and well.

After finishing his entry, he put away his things, flew to his bed, sat cross-legged, and entered Meditation.

Only through Meditation could he “see” his family clearly in his memories, reliving their every smile and gesture.

After an unknown length of time, he slowly opened his eyes.

The midnight moonlight streamed through the window like water, casting a bright silver glow across the room.

Shu Li glanced out the window, then without hesitation, extinguished the Magic Stone Lamp, spread his wings, and flew into the courtyard. He landed before the Elven Mother Tree, studying it under the moonlight.

The Mother Tree was no longer bare; emerald green leaves now covered a third of its branches.

His five years of tireless Purification had not been in vain.

Yes, he had ultimately ventured into Dark Elf territory to purify the Mother Tree’s branches.

Initially, he had been determined to avoid further risks, but his resolve crumbled when he witnessed newborn chicks hatching from their shells.

After that, he and the Mother Tree became partners in crime—no, wait, partners in a grand scheme to steal Fruit together.