Separation

On that day, they were separated into two.

But there were those who didn't fit into either group.

 

"Uwah! She really wilted!"

"She did… unfortunate."

Aqua raised her hands in a grand gesture and spoke in a displeased tone to the group of people who were surprised.

"… I heard about it, but… it's actually quite shocking to see it with my own eyes."

Although not quite as shocked as Ultramarine was, it seemed that Violet had a similar reaction and spoke in a displeased tone.

It was as I'd figured.

Thirty years had passed since Aqua had given birth to Yuuka. The form of Ultramarine was so old and withered that it was clear to anyone who looked at her.

Although her beauty remained unchanged, there were wrinkles and freckles on her face.

Yuuka was sitting next to her. In contrast, despite being thirty years old, her figure was closer to sixteen or seventeen years old and had not changed at all. Nina said that her growth was the same as that of the elves.

Even so, not everything was the same as an elf.

"Does she have… a nickname?"

"No."

Nina answered firmly to Violet's question.

Just as my breath was flame, the elves had a form of magic that they were born with.

For example, Aqua had the ability to control water. Violet had the ability to control plants.

Yuuka was not born with any such magic.

"Then it's as I thought… she is not an elf, is she?"

"Indeed."

"Big brother, that's—"

Obviously taking issue with my assent, Yutaka spoke back in a sharp-yet-reserved tone.

"Yutaka. I understand your feelings, but the facts are the facts. Yuuka is neither human nor elf."

Skin color, race, culture… it's idiotic to discriminate based on such things.

… Even so, she doesn't age yet also doesn't have her own nickname. To treat Yuuka like either side would only bring her misfortune.

"Yuuka is the daughter of both a human and an elf, having the best of both sides."

Hearing my followup, Yutaka's expression brightened and he seemed relieved.

"Best of both sides… is that so?"

"Violet. What could a thirty year old elf normally do?"

She thought for a moment before answering my question.

"Ah, yes… they would still be a child, not generally capable of much and only becoming an adult after a few dozen years."

Correct. There is no difference in the growth speed between humans and elves until the age of twenty. However, that is only in terms of physical development. Thirty years is a short time for an elf, barely accounting for more than their baby years, but not for a human.

"Yuuka is stronger than any other Swordsaint. Note that by 'anyone', I don't mean anyone currently alive in the Sword Department. I mean anyone in the history of the Sword Department."

Violet held her breath. The fact that Yuuka was the strongest Swordsaint in history meant that she was stronger than—than Durga. Violet knew his strength better than anyone else, even more than the Swordsaints.

"And her age is a mere thirty years. For a human, that's enough time to have reached maturity… and at the same time, it's a time when their physical decline can no longer be hidden."

From her mother, Aqua, she'd received a vast amount of magic.

From her father, Yutaka, she'd received the sharpness of her swordsmanship.

The innate ability to do anything and everything and a body that knew naught of decline.

Living as a human with the resilliency of an elf.

"Ah, I see… that could be a blessing for us."

Quietly shutting her eyes, Violet quietly continued.

"But even so… no, exactly due to that, we can no longer continue to interact."

"… So that's how it'll be, is it."

I answered with a sigh.

The day I realized that this would come was more than twenty years ago… the day I learned that Aqua was no longer an elf.

Once they give birth to a child, elves would stop being elves, nor would their children be born as elves.

In other words, for an elf, interacting with a human was equivalent to a death sentence.

Aqua herself didn't have any regrets or fears about her fate.

However, it's not something that could be said for the elves as a species.

If they mishandled the situation, they could face extinction.

Aqua's situation was not the only of its kind.

Even after learning that their lifespan would become finite, there were still a few couples forming between elves and humans in the village.

—Because everyone had seen Aqua aging in bliss. The forest elves, not being around her, chose to walk the path of separation over the path of extinction.

"… So. I'm sure you didn't come all the way here to bring me back, did you?"

"No."

Violet shook her head in response to Nina's pointed gaze, calming my nerves.

"As according to the contract, Nina's body is entrusted to Mentor's hands. It is impossible to go against that… Moreover, Nina, I understand that if you didn't want to go, it would be impossible to forcibly bring you back."

Glancing at me, Violet finished speaking.

… Well, yeah. Six hundred years ago, I wouldn't have been able to do anything, but now I'm effectively a mature fire dragon. I was still growing, but I can't imagine that I'd be outmatched by any or all of the elves. I'd be grateful if this didn't lead to blows though.

"That is not all, though. We will not deny those who chose to live with humans. It may even be necessary for elves as a whole."

Violet smiled at Yuuka.

They weren't fools. They were even much more intelligent than humans.

In a mere seven centuries, humans who didn't even have the ability to speak a coherent language had developed into a full-fledged civilization. The elves understood just what that implied. They also understood that if they remained in the forest, they would be surpassed and left behind.

"Therefore, we will divide our village into two. Those who will continue to live with you as they have been… and those who will continue to live in the forest as they have been."

I see. So they're wanting to create some sort of buffer?

As long as there were elves remaining in the forest, their species would not die out.

Meanwhile, so long as there were elves who regularly interacted with humans, they would not be left behind on the civilization level.

It was a clever idea. I honestly thought so… but Violet's tone of voice was filled with sadness, and I understood what she was trying to say.

"Violet. You are… going to the forest, aren't you?"

"Because I am the Guardian of the Forest."

Looking down, Violet smiled.

—It was a terribly frail, sad smile.

"Farewell, Mentor, Nina… Even so, our bodies know nothing of decline. Perhaps someday… at the end of eternity, we may meet again."

We both knew that it was a long shot. Elves were stubborn and obstinate. If they had decided to do something, they would surely see it through.

"Please, take care of yourself."

"Yes… you too, Mentor."

When I extended my right hand, Violet took it in both of hers.

Just how strong were the emotions she was forcing back? To the very end, I never found out.

"Then, will you be going to the forest as well, Ultramarine?"

"Yeah, of course."

With her usual arrogant attitude, Ultramarine nodded.

I had the feeling it would be that way. She was surprisingly conservative, despite her free-spirited attitude, and hated parting from people. She would never visit the village as long as she knew that humans she'd met were still alive.

Well, I don't know particularly much about the current expected human lifepsan, so I could be off a bit there.

"Ah, I see… it'll be lonely."

She was noisy and free-spirited, but she was a long-time friend. I felt like I was being squeezed by my chest when I thought that I wouldn't be able to see her face anymore.

"Nah, I'll be coming here as usual."

Say what?