An Extra’s POV

Whispers echoed as Rey, Kara, and Esme trailed behind Gratiana who led them.

The rest of the Elves had dispersed, as ordered by their Big Sis. As a result, they playfully went around the Community to see their friends or have fun.

Were they worried about their Elder? Yes.

However, more than that emotion, the excitement they felt was an overriding force for them. They wanted to hate their experiences with the sisters they had in the Community.

The Dungeon Experience, their new perspective on Nature… and the kind of person the man who just entered the city was.

All of this, along with their child-like personalities, made them almost forget Gratiana and her fate, as they trailed off, leaving Rey and his allies to be her only escorts.

Or rather, she was theirs.

**************

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"

The High Elder's shriek nearly caused all the Esteemed Elders to wince, despite being used to how hysterical she could be at times.

Usually, they would internally caution her to display more decorum and composure, but none of those thoughts were in their mind at the moment. Right now, all the members of the Esteemed Council couldn't help but agree with the words and actions of the High Elder.

All of them were wondering the same thing.

Gratiana La Shanagari, one of the most committed of all the Elves in the Community, had done the one thing that no other rebel had ever managed to do.

sacred place? To our haven? To the bastion

as her head was bowed. This reminded her of when she was still a Young One and

at the

than anyone, Gratiana understood the severity

Community was a sacred place, filled with the sacred people of Nature—the Elves. The same way Elves couldn't taint themselves by interacting with other races, the Elves couldn't allow themselves to

Elves breaking the first rule—traveling to the world of the tainted beings—no one had ever managed to

Yet… she did that!

not

Shame on you!" The High Elder spat in anger, sadness, and downright

stared at Gratiana with similar emotions, though the intensity of the respective kinds of feelings

Elders,

face, there wasn't any other

don't we let Gratiana explain herself? She isn't one to act in such a manner." After recoiling from the shock, Aurora finally

for mercy, but most of the Esteemed

manner, yet you brought disgrace to the Esteemed Council by leading

this room never missed any opportunity they had to remind her

be because of your reckless actions that an upstanding Elder

with a tinge of annoyance, and everyone in

high in the room, and the visitors tucked away in an empty abode right outside the hall of

High Elder's eyes were moist with tears as

these ones,

***********

[Meanwhile]

thou calleth me to

were huddled together, amidst the devastation that surrounded them. They all held hands tightly, their eyes closed as their