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 of

when she was still

an Esteemed Elder at the time, but compared

than anyone, Gratiana understood

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

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

Yet… she did that!

would be considered tainted—if not abominable—to the very heart of

on you!" The High Elder spat

though the intensity of the respective kinds of feelings

of the Elders,

there wasn't

we let Gratiana explain herself? She isn't one to act in such

most of the Esteemed Elders scoffed at her

way you were also not one to act in such a manner, yet you brought disgrace to the Esteemed Council by leading the Youngs under your charge astray

in this room

realize that it could be because of your reckless actions that an upstanding Elder like Gratiana ended up committing such an

Aurora spoke back with a tinge of annoyance, and everyone in the

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

with tears as she shook her

on these ones, O'

***********

[Meanwhile]

Nature… thou calleth me to thine

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