"Observation diary day 11. Sample number 14 is still heating up and now almost able to boil water immediately, I suspect this is some sort of self destruction protocol that is gradually decaying whatever material is inside and might require more investigation for eventually opening the container... Did you get all of that written down?"

A elven man was narrating his thoughts out loud as he inspected a bright orange coloured vail covered in some sort of alien symbols that seemed to endlessly give off heat before asking his a.s.sistance next to him if he had written it all down properly.

"Yes elder Silas. You really are fascinated with that specific sample."

"Of course I am you fool, whatever it is seems to perpetually provide heat at no apparent cost.. If we can harness its power we might propel us to the top power of this continent."

After having grasped some of the antimatter containment cells properties elder Silas' had been dreaming of understanding and using its power for the betterment of the elven race, and his own standing of course. As he started looking at some of the other artifacts his ears picked up someone running out of breath towards the research room he often used to hide away.

(Again? I wonder what it is they need help with this time..)

Elder Silas prided himself being the one of the best mages there was in the capital, and that it was completely natural, if a tiny bit annoying sometimes, for a lot of people to depend on him.

"Elder Silas!"

"What is it now, is someone hurt?"

Showing a worried expression like he had practiced so much the elder was in reality extremely tired of being constantly pulled away from his research time and time again.

"The border force has returned with an outsider that they claim to know about the spheres."

"What!? where did they find him?"

Slightly breaking the dignified demeanor he normally wore, elder Silas immediately inquired about more information on the outsider while thinking about how he could obtain him for himself.

"They found him in the crater of the explosion that happened a moon ago, moreover the grand elder has also returned to the capital."

"The grand elder!? This sure is grand of her to return here after all this time."

Showing a happy face the elder was all but screaming inside his mind.

(What the h.e.l.l does that old hag want with the capital!? I thought she got tired of life a few hundred years ago and those to die somewhere drowning in booze!!)

"Yes it sure is grand of her to return here isn't it? I thought she all but abandoned us after what she did..."

Not catching the elders outright sarcasm, the elven soldier was extremely happy to even get a chance to catch a glimpse of the legendary grand elder.

---

After a few days of travel Dax and the elvers arived at the elven capital, and the former was reminded that he truly was in an alien world. Tall buildings were constructed out of, and was in complete harmony with the surrounding nature, with multiple interconnecting walkways that made a spider web of connections between the countless high rises Dax judged to be over 200 meters tall on average. After getting past the surprisingly small outer wall around the city they had been walking on the streets with the border control force surrounding Dax that for some reason still had the metal collar around his neck indicating he was a prisoner, and the elder that was riding Zephyr with a strained expression on her face.

"I really do hate this kind of attention.."

"Yeah I feel you.. Although there are a few things you could do to avoid a good part of it."

Looking at the elder with her rare bright red ridiculously long hair that reached all the way down her back even being tied up sitting on what most of the elven population considered a deity Dax couldn't help but think she was trying all that hard to stay unnoticed, or was just really that oblivius, both were valid a.s.sessments.

(BOTH a.s.sESSMENTS APRER TO BE CORRECT, JUDGING BY THE SUBJECTS LACK OF SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE.)

(Oh really? Continue with the area scans please.)

(DIRECTIVE CONFIRMED.)

Looking at all the blatant stares from the elvers watching him walk through the streets Dax wore a strained smile while ICI used his eye to log the distances and clearings between the buildings and major walkways.

After about 20 more minutes of walking Dax and the elder being by escorded the elven border control force they arrived at a particularly large highrise that rose up through the clouds.

"I really do hate this building…"

Looking at the luxurious outside decoration the elder wore a frown before whispering quietly to Zephyr.

"I'm going inside this building, wait here for me, but stay alert and be vigilant."

"Arf~"

"Good girl~"

Patting Zephyr goodbye the elder raised herself up and then addressed Eva that was leading the border control force.

"So? How long are you going to make me wait?"

"I apologize elder. I'll go summon for a hearing immediately! You two come with me."

""Yes ma'am!""

After having bossed around Eva the elder sat down next to Zephyr in a relaxed manner.

"Why do you hate this building?"

"It stands for everything I hate about this society. 'we are all equal here in elven society, but not really since we have the larger building and have first say when new resources are found'"

"Is that so? Well I can understand that."

(ICI give me a full RDS and complete, all level breaching and evac plan for this building.)

"How could you ever!? You don't know this place like I-"

"Like you do, right? Trust me on this one, greed is universal and part of the condition that makes a intelligent race intelligent. I've seen it in mosts its forms, and I've purged most of those form my government so I have become somewhat of an expert at it.. You just say the word and I bring this place down."

Showing a cold smile to her the elder wasn't completely sure Dax was joking or not but decided to not say more about it for the moment.

(HOLDING PATTERN FULL, AWAITING GO ORDER.)

(Await my command. What is TTA for a Viper to reach this exact location?)

(CALCULATING…. OPTIMAL RUTE ETA: 3 MINUTES, 12 SECONDS.)

(So I'll need about 4 minutes of wiggle room… That should do.)

"So are we just going to stay out here in the courtyard forever?"

Getting tired of waiting Dax stood up and asked one of the border control soldiers that responded with a non response as he simply frowned.

"Do I need to break your other hand before you start talking?"

As Dax said that with a warm smile the elver smiled back before speaking.

"The prisoner seems to be misbehaving, I'm putting him to sleep."

Waving his hand while emitting mana from his hand that was absorbed by the metal collar around Dax's neck and powered the collars shock function, but to no apparent effect.

"What is going on!?"

Not getting the full picture immediately the elver released more mana into the colar as he screamed in Dax's face.

"What? you expect me to fall to my knees in pain so can p.i.s.s all over me while acting all superior and smug about it?"

Without a care in the world Dax gripped the collar with his remaining arm before ripping it apart like it was a aluminum wrapper around a piece of candy.

"So what now, are we gonna dance? Or do I just have to break you in two before I get a straight answer from one of the survivors?"

Pouring out an immense amount of bloodl.u.s.t Dax completely locked up as his heart almost stopped in his chest. Feeling the area around him with his still functioning senses the elven soldier realized that there was no help coming, his fellow soldiers didn't dare more an inch, and the elder only yawned loudly.

"W-we're calling for the elders now, it'll only be a few more minutes."

"Good, now was that so f.u.c.king hard to answer? No it wasn't, right? Good man."

Patting the soldier on the head like a child Dax sat back down next to the elder and somewhat nervously stroked Zephyr's fur to kill the time. After a few more minutes of waiting Dax finally sensed moment coming from inside the large building before a group of elvers in important looking robes exited the building to greet them.

(This is bound to be interesting.. ICI warm up all a.s.sets, ready for engagement.)

(ICI CONFIRMS, READY FOR EXECUTION.)