The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 72 - The Princess and the Rift

Lily held the silver glove in her left hand, turning it over slowly, her eyes tracing every curve and joint with quiet intensity. The polished surface gleamed under the lights, its intricate design catching her gaze in a rare moment of stillness.

"Let me help," Logan offered gently, stepping closer. With careful hands, he guided the glove onto her right hand, ensuring each finger aligned perfectly.

Tave stood off to the side, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he observed the exchange. He didn’t interrupt, simply watched with a knowing look, as Logan began to explain how the glove worked.

"It’s basically a mechanical extension," Logan said, his tone calm but focused. "It responds to elemental force. Those unique to each user. That’s how you issue commands through it. Though... it’s not exactly a perfect substitute for a real hand." freewebnoveℓ.com

He paused, thoughtful. "Still, it should be enough to let you hold your sword again, at least well enough to fight."

It wasn’t perfect, but for Lily, it was enough. Almost immediately, she began adjusting to the sensation, curling her fingers, flexing the artificial joints. Then she stepped further into the room, positioned her stance, and gripped the hilt of her sword once more. Her face remained still, composed as ever, but something had changed.

She swung the sword with cautious precision at first, then again with more confidence. And then, just faintly, a smile touched her lips. She looked toward Logan. "Thanks, Father," she said.

That alone made it worth it. Just being able to return to the battlefield, to reclaim a part of herself she thought might be lost. It would’ve been a waste to sit on the sidelines, especially for someone with as much potential as she had.

With the glove properly fitted and the initial test done, they returned to their meal. It was subtle, but noticeable. Lily now moved with more ease, using her left hand to eat without hesitation. No fumbling, no delay. Just quiet, steady control.

She was adapting at an unbelievable pace. Freaking talented.

The moment arrived shortly after they finished their meal. There was something Tave had been meaning to bring up with their father. It was about the elves of the Vensalor Kingdom.

He hadn’t even gotten through the first sentence before Logan responded, as if he’d been waiting for this very topic.

"They should’ve arrived two days ago," Logan said, without hesitation. And yes, that was simply the truth.

Of course, for the elves, the concept of time ran differently. A day, or even a week—was barely a ripple in their perception of it. Their lives spanned centuries, and their natural rhythm followed a much slower current than that of humans.

Still, the elves of Vensalor were known to be remarkably punctual, especially when it came to matters they had committed to. That made this delay... unusual.

"The seas aren’t exactly in great shape right now," Logan added, his voice dipping slightly.

Tave tilted his head, brows drawn in curiosity. "Not great?"

"Yeah... Some people have reported sightings of high-level monsters. Things that aren’t supposed to be roaming the waters between here and the Floating Island."

"High-level monsters?" Tave echoed, the words slow and heavy.

Just like on land, the seas were teeming with creatures—some docile, others anything but. The deeper one ventured into the ocean’s belly, the more powerful and massive the beasts became. It wasn’t unheard of for such shifts to happen now and then. A number of natural factors could disturb the balance.

So yeah, maybe the elves had hit a snag. A delay, not a disaster.

"But even so," Logan continued, his tone steady, "they should be reaching the port within the next two days."

Good. It was actually a relief to hear they hadn’t arrived yet. Tave had been waiting eagerly for the moment he could finally meet the forest elves of the Vensalor Kingdom. He didn’t know which of the Imperial Knights would be arriving, but whoever it was, he couldn’t wait.

But there was more to this than just meeting them. Tave had a goal in mind—a clear one. The forest elves usually came for Rift Expeditions, and not just any rift. It was tier 4 and above. And more often than not, they brought along a few knights from Deadbay to meet their expedition quotas.

So if there was even a sliver of a chance... Tave wanted to join the expedition.

He should’ve been close to reaching the Gaia Guardian stage. He had maybe a week or two to push for it. If he could hit that milestone before they left, then this dream? It wouldn’t just be a dream anymore. It would make perfect sense.

He didn’t even care if he had to tag along with the weakest team the elves might bring. That would still be more than enough, as long as he got the chance to enter a tier 4 rift.

He would wait at the docks for the next two days, no matter what. There was no way he’d let the chance to meet one of the Imperial Knights of Vensalor slip through his fingers.

But wasn’t Tave had just returned from his first rift expedition? Now here he was, already aiming for another expedition, this time one even more dangerous?

The thought made him chuckle quietly at himself. The ambition sounded reckless, even a little absurd.

Yet, he knew he didn’t really have a choice. If he wanted to grow stronger—fast—this was the only real path. Rift expeditions offered a relatively safer hunting ground. At the very least, they knew what they were up against: the monsters and the environment.

Unlike the wilds beyond the safe zones. Out there, unpredictability was the only constant. You could run into a monster way above your tier, or worse, get caught in a skirmish with other hunters, some of which could easily spiral into deadly conflicts.

And then there was the added reassurance of going with the forest elves. Expeditioning with them meant better odds of survival, especially for someone like Tave. On average, elves in the Gaia Stage were simply stronger than their human counterparts. They trained longer, fought smarter, and their affinity with nature made them natural hunters.

If he joined them, even as the lowest-level participant. It wouldn’t matter. In a group of Gaia Masters from Vensalor, Tave would be more of an extra than a core member. Just another body along for the ride. And that was fine. More than fine. He’d still get to earn his share, still have the chance to fight monsters far beyond his current tier.

Tier 4 monsters. Just the idea of it was enough to light something fierce in his chest. The thought alone was thrilling, enough to keep him sharp, focused, and more determined than ever.

Until... their father shifted the conversation, turning to speak with Lily. His voice was calm, but the topic he brought up instantly pulled Tave’s attention back into sharp focus.

"The princess will be arriving in Deadbay. Soon."

The princess Logan referred to, was the Princess of the Dissidia Kingdom.

"There’s been a noticeable surge in demon activity. It’s been escalating around Dissidia in recent weeks."

Wait... Demon activity?

That wasn’t supposed to happen. Not this soon!