After the audition ended, Joshua and Ciri left Madam Schroder’s residence. As for Madam Schroder, she held a sending off ceremony for the performers of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe. She gave her blessings to them and hoped that the filming would go on smoothly.
Even though Tylene was a member of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe, she did not participate in the brief ceremony. Even though she has been in the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe for several years now, she only knew few people in the troupe.
Together with the female servants, Tylene finished cleaning the troupe’s practice ground. Then, she returned to her own room.
The room she had in Madam Schroder’s mansion was not large. It was only large enough for a bed and a desk.
She could be said to be among the lowest tier performers in the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe. In other words, she only plays minor roles. Furthermore, she only had the chance to ascend the stage when female actresses in the troupe were unable to perform at the last minute.
Right after returning to her room, Tylene laid onto her back and looked to the ceiling.
As an elf, her talent for magic and the bow and arrow far surpassed humans. Even if she left the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe, she would still be able to find work using her talents.
The reason why she stayed in the troupe was because she had a goal, a very simple goal – she wanted to become famous.
The reason why she sought fame was not for status or wealth. Instead, she sought after fame for the sake of her race.
Tylene extended her hand. A spotlessly snow-white seed appeared in her hand. The was the seed of what the elves called ‘World Tree.’
Every single elven race protects a World Tree. When their World Tree collapses, it would signify the end of that elven race. The remaining elves of that race will not only lose all their power, they will also lose the entitlement to possess a surname.
When Tylene was carefully examining the seed, the door to her room was pushed open. An elven girl with black runes covering her body walked in.
“Tylene, you shouldn’t have shown your face to that man.”
Flay was looking at the only friend of her race in Madam Schroder’s mansion with a worried look on her face. She has warned Tylene countless times during the audition, telling her to give up on the audition.
Unfortunately, her excessively optimistic elven friend did not listen to her warnings and still got on the audition stage.
“That man is a very dangerous demon! Furthermore, he seemed to be peering into our race’s Ancient Tree! Have you forgotten how your race ended up...”
Flay continued to stress how dangerous Joshua was. But, she stopped herself in her final sentence mid-sentence. She realized that what she was saying would be stabbing her friend’s sore spot.
“Flay, it’s alright. In my memories, our race has never been attacked by the demons. We’ve never been attacked by the beastmen either.”
Tylene shook her head to express that she was not affected by Flay’s words. She stared at the World Tree that has turned to a seed. That seed represented her race. The Frost Elves went extinct over a dozen years ago.
She could be said to be the last Frost Elf living in this world, the hope of the continued existence of the Frost Elves.
“That day, I only remembered seeing a dense gray fog...”
Tylene recalled the scenery from a dozen plus years ago. Her slightly energetic voice started shaking.
“I have absolutely no idea as to what that is. When I woke up, everyone was devoured by the fog...”
At this point, the elven girl held her forehead. Her slim figure started to shiver.
Terrifying memories were surging through her head like flood water that breached the dam. Once she started recalling that memory, she was unable to forget.
“Tylene, it’s alright now!”
Flay immediately hugged her friend’s shaking body.
“The door to our Blackwood Clan will always remain open to you. Once we return to Farucci, our clan chief will admit you.”
Flay used her mind-stabilizing magic to comfort her friend. Not long after, Tylene managed to recover from her terror-filled memories.
“I thank you for your kind intentions. But, I am shouldered with the heavy responsibility of growing this World Tree.”
The Frost Elf rubbed the seed emitting a cold aura. All elven races protected a World Tree. As long as the seed to their World Tree remains, the World Tree will be able to grow again.
“But Tylene... that is something that only the gods could accomplish!” said Flay.
To the elves, World Trees were existences akin to gods. The black Ancient Tree that the Blackwood Elves believed in was nurtured by the elves’ belief for many generations.
In other words, the prosperity of an elven race was closely bound to the growth of their World Tree. The more powerful a World Tree was, the stronger the race of elves protecting it was.
The Frost Elves have been wiped out by that unknown calamity. Right now, Tylene was the only Frost Elf remaining that still believed in their World Tree. But, with only her, it was impossible for her to germinate the seed of that World Tree, much less being able to let it grow to great heights.
Gathering belief was something that only the gods were capable of doing.
“That’s not necessarily the case. My race’s World Tree has assimilated with me.”
Tylene gently clenched her hand and the World Tree seed disappeared into her hand.
“I think that I only need to make other people like me to grow the World Tree.”
The Frost Elf wasn’t certain of what to do either. But, when men were attracted by her appearance, Tylene was able to sense the World Tree’s seed in her body seemingly receiving some sort of nourishment.
While she doesn’t know if this might be her misperception, she was unwilling to give up on her race that easily.
“Make other people like you... That’s why you’re so stubbornly insisting on staying in the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe? But... Tylene, you do not possess any talent for acting at all.”
Having no talent for acting was already a praise. This Frost Elf had never performed. The only reason why Madam Schroder was willing to let her stay in the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe was because she was giving face to the Blackwood Elves.
“Nothing says that I must have talent for acting. I am very confident in my singing. Thus... I know that I will definitely find a way.”
As Tylene said those words, she lightly snorted at her friend. Indeed, the Frost Elf’s singing voice was extremely pleasant to the ears.
But, one cannot just become a singer by having a pleasant singing voice. With her voice, she would, at the very most, be able to become a minstrel or bard.
But, would people adore minstrels or bards? No one knew the answer to that question. After all, there weren’t many famous minstrels or bards in this world.
“Mn... you will definitely find a way.”
Seeing the faint smile on her friend’s face, Flay was unable to say anything that could shock her. If her race was wiped out overnight, Flay would definitely not be able to act as optimistic as her.
Unwittingly, the Frost Elf began to hum ‘Let It Go.’ The peaceful sound of her voice started to reverberate through the room.
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Translator YangWenli:
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