"Everything has been prepared?" King Elduin asked. He was at the Elven Kingdom gate, ready to set out on a journey. 

"Yes, Your Majesty, but… are you sure that you don't need soldiers to accompany you? Your Majesty, I know that you are strong, so does Your Divinity Priest Erolith. But the journey to the east is very dangerous, and there are a lot of dangerous wild beasts," the Elven General warned King Elduin. 

At first, he was against King Elduin leaving the palace and take a long journey to the east, but once he said that Priest Erolith got a vision from the Sacred Tree for them to find the Essence of the Earth, the Elven General couldn't say anything.

Because aside from King Elduin's order, Priest Erolith also had the same hierarchy in power, especially when it was about the Sacred Tree.

King Elduin shook his head and patted the General's shoulder, "Don't worry, my friend. I will protect the Priest, just like the Priest will protect me. Together, only two of us, we will—      "Elduin, has everything been set up yet?" 

King Elduin immediately turned his head to look at his Big Ero. He thought they would leave the Elven Kingdom together, only two of them.

But his smile faltered when he saw a beastman that stood behind Big Ero. 

The beastman was from the tiger tribe, and he looked young and vigorous. King Elduin peered at the beastman displeasingly and asked, "Priest Erolith, I thought it is only two of us who will go."

"It was supposed to be. But this beastman called Maroch begged me to give him a potion for his little brother, and want to repay me by being my guardian," Priest Erolith replied nonchalantly, ignoring Elduin's folded face, "Do not worry, I bring him with us because his tribe is also the same path of our journey, once we are near our destination, I will tell him to leave."

The beastman bowed courteously towards the Elven King and said, "Your Majesty, my name is Maroch. I've asked Priest Erolith for a cure, for my sickly little brother. So this is how I repay my debt. Worry not. I am the strongest warrior in my tribe. I shall be a good use."

King Elduin didn't have an ounce of goodwill towards this third-wheeler, but if Big Ero had decided upon something, then he had no right to deny it.

"Let's just go now," King Elduin said. He sat on the carriage, waiting for Big Ero to join him. Once Big Ero joined him, he shut the door with a bang. King Elduin opened the window and said to Maroch, "You said that you are the best warrior in your tribe, right? Then you must be able to be the coachman."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Maroch said. He sat at the coachman seat, and the carriage set out on the journey to the east.

Priest Erolith wondered about King Elduin's sour face, "Elduin, I thought you would be more excited upon leaving the kingdom. Do you have something that bothers you in the kingdom?"

King Elduin didn't seem to be in a good mood. But once his Big Ero asked him, he complained with a slight pout, like a kid throwing a tantrum, "I thought it's only two of us…"

Priest Erolith was stunned. He didn't expect the strong and majestic young king to still have the trace of those Little Elduin in their younger days, "So you are in a bad mood because we have a guardian?"

"Of course! It seems like Big Ero is questioning my ability! Don't you remember that I'm the champion of the Elven Kingdom for ten years straight? I can protect you just fine without the help of anyone!"

"And you can just use your magic to control the horse! We don't need anyone else!" King Elduin protested. His passionate rumble made Priest Erolith chuckled, and he rubbed Elduin's head affectionately.

[Awww, Little Eld is jealous! He is like a kid throwing a tantrum because his pride got hurt! So cuteee!]

"Of course, I believe in you, Little Eld. But a little help wouldn't hurt. Besides, I've checked that guy, and he seems to be a good guy. Because I don't detect any darkness in his heart."

[Pupa: Correction, it's not like you didn't detect anything. You just can't see anything. A man like Maroch has a deep heart and intention, so it's best to stay careful.]

[I know, I know. But Maroch seems to be a good guy. You cannot be suspicious with literally everyone, you know.]

[Pupa:…]

King Elduin felt better after Big Ero rubbed his head gently, his heart was racing when that gentle palm touched his head, but he dared not asking for more. Because he was afraid that his crush on Big Ero would be way too obvious.

[Pupa: Ding! Elduin's Fatemeter increases to 50%. Why do I see a flashback of Javier here?]

King Elduin brushed Priest Erolith's hand off his head gently and crossed his arm, "I'm still not fond of you bringing another person in our journey."

Priest Erolith sighed helplessly, "Well, he will leave once we are near our destination, don't worry, your Big Ero's attention is for you only, ahahaha…" Priest Erolith joked. 

King Elduin blushed and shook his head, "Now, you are just teasing me!"

Maroch listened to the two elves bickering inside the carriage. His previously innocent smile turned devious once he heard this. He never thought listening to the strongest elf, and the purest elf could be this tempting and stimulating. 

'That Priest almost identify my real identity when he used his elven magic to see my tainted heart. But I was lucky that I can hide it before I got discovered. I won't be fun if that purest elf dies too early,' Maroch thought.

In fact, Maroch might be more tempted by this purest elf rather than Elduin. Elduin might be the strongest elf, but he was still a young elf, easily influenced. Especially with something as stimulating as love and sex.

Maroch licked his protruding fang, "What a tasty treat, a good body to corrupt."

***

The carriage paced through the bright meadow for the whole day until they entered the dark forest once more. The sun was already setting when they entered the dark forest, so the carriage slowed down.

Priest Erolith used his magic and lifted the horse and carriage with the wind slightly, so the carriage floated above the ground to avoid bumping into vines or rocks. It was a smooth ride until Maroch knocked on the carriage window. 

Priest Erolith opened the carriage window, and Maroch said, "Your Divinity, it's already late at night. Although you have the magic horse, it is not good for the horse's health in the long run. The horse asked me whether we can take a break."

Priest Erolith was thinking for a moment. The elves in this world cannot really communicate with an animal. They just had the affinity, but not direct communication, unlike the beastmen, who could clearly understand the animal's language.

In the end, Priest Erolith nodded, "Go find a good place for us to rest, preferably near a lake."

"Yes, Your Divinity."