Chapter Thirteen: The Elven Druid Who Bore the Offspring of Beasts

“We actually overlooked the dream realm.”

“But it’s alright, Your Highness. We’ve rearranged the defensive spells in your chamber, ensuring they’re flawless now.”

Early in the morning, a group of mages descended upon Linley’s room to cast their enchantments. Linley sat on his bed, yawning; perhaps time spent in the dream world didn’t count as true sleep, for he still felt a lingering drowsiness.

“Who was that elven woman last night?” he asked, bleary-eyed. After the white bear departed, he too left the dream, never learning her identity. “She seemed formidable.”

This question was delicate. The mages exchanged uneasy glances, choosing to ignore Linley’s inquiry.

“How did that uncivilized beast locate the royal palace?”

“I find it odd as well. The palace doesn’t have a projection in the dream world, so it shouldn’t be so easy to find. Could someone in the real world have guided it?”

“Perhaps a primordial elf has infiltrated Twin Moon City.”

They discussed the events of the previous night. From the palace’s founding, spells had prevented its location from being revealed. For a demigod of the wilds to pinpoint it so precisely, likely someone in the real world was aiding them.

“Those shortsighted fools—after all these years, they’re still just as infuriating!”

“That’s why lesser folk are lesser folk. They’re always living with beasts. How wise that we chose to distance ourselves!”

Forest elves disliked the primordial elves, though all elves originally descended from them. The primordial elves had close ties with the higher beings, always playing a crucial role as guardians of the world.

Linley’s sleepiness faded. He blinked. “So, the ‘lesser folk’ you look down on cracked your spells?”

“Impossible!”

“Our spells are perfect!”

The mages refused to concede. “It was merely a druid, reeking of beasts, who exploited a loophole!”

Druidism was unique to primordial elves. They learned nature’s power from wild demigods, could transform into various beasts, and freely traverse both the wild dream and the waking world.

Only druids were capable of tipping off the demigod.

The mages continued constructing the defenses in Linley’s room. Linley skipped breakfast and went straight to the training grounds in the garden.

He’d eaten too much last night. Upon waking, his stomach remained distended. The energy in his core was surging, ready to burst—he needed to expend it, or he’d feel uncomfortable all over.

But when he entered the garden, he spotted a large cage.

“What’s this?” Linley walked over. Inside, a leopard lay sprawled on the ground. Its snow-white fur and slender form immediately caught his attention.

The guards stationed beside the cage reported, “The crown prince just captured this pet. He said it’s a gift for you, Your Highness.”

Linley circled the cage twice. “My brother caught another pet.”

Linwen had given him pets in the past, but they tended to collapse after a bit of play. He wondered if this leopard would prove more durable.

The leopard heard their conversation and slowly opened its eyes. “Are you the young prince of the forest elves?”

Its blood-red gaze fixed on Linley, murderous intent flickering within. Linley stared in surprise. “This leopard can talk?”

His eyes lit up. A talking leopard—he hadn’t… eaten one yet. No, he hadn’t played with one yet!

“Let it out,” Linley ordered the guards. They hesitated—the leopard radiated menace, and releasing it seemed risky.

“Let it out, or else I’ll make you play with me later,” Linley said again. The guards shuddered and hastily opened the cage.

No sooner was the cage unlatched than the leopard sprang toward Linley, roaring.

“Wow, this pet’s enthusiastic!” Linley exclaimed with delight, raising his hand to block the leopard’s head. Its charge halted abruptly, and it stared at him in bewilderment. Before it could react, Linley began patting its head. “Good boy—so spirited! From now on, you’ll be called Snowy.”

“Roar… roar…” The leopard let out miserable cries, its limbs pinned to the ground. With each slap, it sank lower.

What’s happening? The leopard was stupefied. Impossible! Even though the crown prince had sealed its natural power and ability to shapeshift, its physical strength remained intact. How could a child toy with it so easily?

Linley was equally puzzled. “Snowy, did you skip breakfast?”

Having absorbed plenty of energy in the dream realm, he had no idea how strong he really was. He assumed the leopard was simply weak.

He frowned. “Why didn’t my brother feed you? I’ll get something for you… ah, there’s something right here!”

Linley spotted the sandbag he’d tied to a pillar days ago. Cheerfully, he carried the leopard over and set it beside the pillar. “Look, here’s your breakfast.”

Poor sandbag—the bear monster seemed to understand, and shook its head frantically, whimpering: Don’t eat me! I’ve been battered by wind and snow for days, my meat’s no good anymore.

“I won’t eat you!” the leopard snapped at the bear monster, clearly understanding.

The leopard quickly shook off its shock and began formulating a plan—though it didn’t know why the young prince’s strength was so great, the crucial thing was to escape the palace. Wait, why was he lifting my leg?

The leopard turned to look, and what it saw filled it with mortification.

“So you’re a female leopard,” Linley said, setting her hind leg down. He parted the fur for a careful inspection, realizing the leopard’s sex was not as he’d assumed.

“You brat, I haven't married yet! Don’t look at me like that!” the leopard shouted at Linley.

He paused, then grinned. “It’s fine, don’t worry—I don’t discriminate against female leopards.”

He patted her rump. “A sturdy backside is good for bearing cubs. I’ll find you a handsome mate someday, and you can have lots of little leopards.”

“You… you…” The leopard, overcome with fury, coughed up blood and collapsed in the snow.

Linley stared, dumbfounded. “How long has this leopard been starving?”

…

In the distance, Linwen watched the scene and couldn’t help but cover his forehead. “He has no sense of decorum!”

Several mages stood beside Linwen, equally stunned by the spectacle unfolding in the garden.

“…It’s impossible to predict the young prince’s actions.”

“Your Highness, you’re too ruthless. That druid will be ruined by him…”

“I almost can’t bear to keep watching.”

Even knowing she was an enemy, the mages felt pity. That druid had suffered enough—captured and stripped of her powers by the crown prince, now delivered into the hands of the little demon.

He truly was a demon. If he said she’d bear leopard cubs, it was entirely possible he’d make it happen.

She might well become the second elf-druid in history to bear beast offspring…