Death Notice Book 8: Chapter 31: Prince Milleras’s Scheme

Release Date: 2026-06-07 10:23:09

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“Did they agree to let the ‘Fortress’ join the Sun Elf storyline?” Qin Lun was curled up inside a giant elk-drawn wagon, chatting idly with Nicole over the team channel. His physical injuries were no longer serious, but his spirits were still low. Wrapped in a thick blanket, he looked weary.

“Hehe, they had to agree. The Lost novices suffered heavy losses in that attack. The two Novice Apostles who died were support types with low health. One was a pure healing Totem Shaman. I’m the only one who can fill that gap,” Nicole said with a chuckle.

“Toril World boosts me greatly. Although I haven’t broken through the third-tier class barrier yet, my abilities now match those of a purely healing third-tier Priest. You were right about this too—if anyone else from the team had followed them, Lost probably wouldn’t have compromised so easily.”

Qin Lun smiled faintly. The main reason he suggested Nicole, a pure-blooded Moonlit Elf, join the migration group was precisely because she was a pure healing Divine Caster.

He had reminded Nicole earlier to help the Lost novices when necessary. Compared to forcibly approaching Prince Milleras to snatch this major storyline, this gesture of kindness made it easier for Lost to share the mission with them.

The Zhentarim dispatched four high-ranked professionals for this attack on the Sun Elf delegation: one high-ranked Mage, two Warriors, and one dark knight from the Kossuth Church.

The four attackers had hidden among ordinary rogues during the earlier raid by the human bandits, then feigned death, pretending to be corpses. They only emerged to strike at Prince Milleras during the Orc lizard cavalry attack.

Nicole was clever. She didn’t aid the Lost novices at the start. Only after they lost two support members and were locked in chaotic combat did she offer help from a distance.

Strangely, Lost couldn’t really object to this. Accusations of refusing to help didn’t work for Apostles. As competitors for the mission, not kicking them while they were down was already decent.

“They still haven’t shared the mission with you?” Qin Lun glanced at the Death Notice and asked lightly.

“The novices’ leader, Robin, signed a Soul Contract with me. Once we reach the Anker Elf Court, they’ll activate the mission sharing and formally ask Prince Milleras to hire our ‘Fortress Team’,” Nicole shook her head, a trace of regret in her voice.

“It couldn’t be helped. Stark and others weren’t here. Lost suffered massive losses in the fight. Refusing to surrender the mission benefits from Qiongda’er to Anker is only natural.”

Qin Lun nodded understandingly. Nicole could bypass the Lost team and seek the mission directly from Prince Milleras. But that would mean tearing up their relationship—it wouldn’t be cooperation but mission hijacking, likely leading to a fight.

While still chatting with Nicole, the large wagon suddenly jolted to a stop. Qin Lun lifted the wagon’s curtain. Dusk was approaching; the migration group would camp for the night.

Under the orange-red glare of the setting sun, he could just make out the hazy dark outline on the distant plain—the Ank Forest. After more than ten days of trekking, the Moon Elf migration group was finally nearing the end of their journey.

Patrolling the migration group’s perimeter in the distance were cavalry riding Unicorns—the elite Unicorn Knights of the Anker Elf Court’s Royal Guard.

Yesterday, after the group crossed Naga Lake, the Anker Elves arrived as promised, bringing a hundred Unicorn Knights to meet the first Moon Elf kin journeying from afar.

The Elves were incredibly adept at wilderness camping. In barely ten minutes, a camp had taken shape. Scattered campfires dotted the dim plain while the faint aroma of wheat mingled with meat drifted among the tents.

Two young Elf boys helped Qin Lun down from the wagon, settling him into one of the earliest-erected tents and bringing him a steaming bowl of hot soup. Ground wheat cakes had dissolved into a porridge-like soup, floating with unknown greens and bits of minced meat.

Qin Lun lowered his head and took a sip. Warmth surged from his throat straight to his core, making his whole body feel pleasantly warm. His limbs had been dislocated and fractured days earlier. Though reset, they still weren’t at their best. He didn’t mind continuing to play the invalid.

“Firal!” The tent flap flew open. Iristin, dressed in a practical outfit, bent low as she entered. But this time she wasn’t alone—another Elf followed her.

“You… Prince Milleras!” Qin Lun’s eyebrows raised slightly. He hadn’t expected the Sun Elf prince to visit him personally. Had his Apostle identity been exposed? Or had the Lost novices asked Milleras to test him?

“Firal, my apologies for intruding unannounced,” Milleras glanced at the Healing Bandage covering Qin Lun’s right eye and asked with a smile, “I trust your injury has improved?”

Upon waking earlier, Qin Lun had found his right eye painful, swollen, and weeping bloody tears with signs of worsening. So he’d bandaged it with rare healing ointment.

“Nothing bad. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” Qin Lun replied politely. Then he looked askance at Iristin.

“Prince Milleras wished to discuss matters with you. I escorted him here,” Iristin explained after a brief hesitation.

“Please have a seat, Your Highness,” Qin Lun’s eyes flickered as he smiled, “And please, just call me Firal. No need for such formality.”

“Very well, Firal.” Milleras settled himself on the rug in front of Qin Lun and paused thoughtfully before choosing his words. “Firal… I’ve heard you traveled extensively in the human world before returning to Qiongda’er. What are your thoughts on the human kingdoms of Faerûn?”

Prince Milleras specifically means which human kingdom?” Qin Lun lowered his eyelids slightly, countering ambiguously, “The Shaar in the South? Implitur and Sespech in the East? The Silver Marches in the North, inheriting Netheril? Amn, Tethyr, and Calimshan in the Southwest? Or the Sword Coast’s three city-states: Baldur’s Gate, Deepwater City, and Hill’s Edge?”

“Ha! You truly have broad knowledge, Firal. You’ve named nearly all the major human powers of Faerûn,” Prince Milleras’s eyes gleamed with appreciation, “But you misunderstand me. I meant your general view of humans as a whole.”

“… Humans are diligent and studious, their creativity and imagination outstanding among the Sapient Races. They are a race on Faerûn experiencing its rising tide and era of prosperity.” Qin Lun grew ever more circumspect in his phrasing, already guessing Milleras’s intent.

“You forgot to mention that humans tend to be fickle, exceptionally aggressive externally. They even casually tear up promises and contracts sworn before gods—a race focused supremely on self-interest.” Prince Milleras added coolly, “Faerûn today sees incessant wars between the great human kingdoms. For gold and power, countless dark groups aligned with evil have risen. It is indeed an age of chaos.”

“Fighting for power and removing dissidents isn’t a uniquely human trait.” Qin Lun glanced meaningfully at Milleras, stating lightly, “During the Great Elven Civilization period, Faerûn’s various Elven Courts waged many wars.”

Prince Milleras stiffened at this, falling silent.

During the Great Elven Civilization era, apart from the Giant Warcraft pitting air and fire titans, and the two Dragon Wars, most other conflicts were Elven civil wars. Especially the Five Crown Wars, which scorched vast forests and ultimately caused the Elf Race to relinquish control of the continent.

Looking back at the entire Great Elven Civilization, the instigators of these Elf wars were really only two factions: the dark elves and the sun elves. Compared to the Wars of Ascendancy and Wars of Unification launched by Aryvandaar and Ilisrui, other Elven Courts—mostly Moon Elves and Green Elves—had essentially waged defensive battles.

The dark elves were now exiled underground, becoming a sunless race; the Elven goddess Aiounesha turned into the Spider Queen Lolth. They paid their debts. In comparison, the sun elves, who only lost their ancient inheritance and leading status, were extremely fortunate. At least they still had the Cormanthor Forest and Evermeet to dwell upon.

Qin Lun’s words ostensibly spoke of all the Elven Courts, but they were covertly mocking the sun elves of Aryvandaar in ancient times—the Sun Court founded by the Vyshaantar Empire. Prince Milleras understood the implication, but since the youth spoke truth, he had no rebuttal.

“Firal, I won’t deny that ancient sun elves inflicted great harm upon our kin. But all those ‘rights and wrongs’ ended over ten millennia ago. We must look forward…” Prince Milleras sighed before slowly continuing, “I came today… actually seeking a small favor from you…”

“I cannot help you. This matter—you should speak directly to Great Elder Adeline or High Priest Menon!” Before Milleras could even finish, Qin Lun flatly refused.

“You guessed?” Prince Milleras managed a bitter, helpless smile and stood up, “Very well, with that… there’s nothing more to say. But… please reconsider. After all, it would only benefit the Qundar Moon Elves, not harm them.”

After Prince Milleras left, Iristin didn’t immediately depart. Those two men’s brief, cryptic exchange left the Elven Druid completely confused.

She hadn’t grasped anything. Why shift suddenly from discussing views of the human world to wars in the Great Elven Civilization era? And finally—Prince Milleras hadn’t yet stated the favor before Firal directly refused!

“Couldn’t understand?” Qin Lun glanced sidelong at her, finding her mouth open like a curious child screaming internally ‘I want to know!’ An impulse struck him. He flicked Iristin smartly on her smooth forehead.

“Silly, he wanted me to persuade the Great Elders to send some high-rank protectors to the Sun Elf delegation.” Qin Lun said irritably, “Next time he looks for you, don’t bring him to me. Take him directly to Great Elder Adeline or High Priest Menon.”

“Ah! Hurts!” Iristin clutched her forehead in pain, promptly distracted by Qin Lun’s words, “Prince Milleras’ protectors were nearly wiped out? No wonder he’s anxious. But… why didn’t you agree? With his status, requesting us to loan a few protectors isn’t really a big deal!”

Qin Lun regarded Iristin speechlessly. He was starting to understand why High Priest Menon hadn’t supported the tribe’s royal descendants previously vying against the Green Elves for the Elf King throne. These people’s political wisdom was pitifully low!

Both King Testiel and the Moon Elf’s Council of Elders sought to gain favor with the Sun Elf mission—to carve an escape route for their people. But why did King Testiel only hope to get Prince Milleras smuggled onto the diplomatic mission traveling to Ank Forest? Why not just assign royal guards to escort the Sun Elf Prince?

Because letting Prince Milleras accompany them on the diplomatic mission counted as aid and alliance. However, directly sending protectors would announce to every other Elven Court—even beyond Faerûn—Qiongda’er’s official stance towards the Sun Elf mission.

The Sun Elves’ migration had been piecemeal for years—dozens or hundreds moving then stopping. Only after confirming the survival of Evermeet’s third World Tree did they plan an exodus, relying on the island’s unique geography to avoid Faerûn’s increasingly powerful humans. They wanted to establish the Sun Court—a Sun Elf empire—freshly upon Evermeet.

The Moon Elves and Green Elves yearned for peace; longed for a haven free of other races and strife. But were they willing to abandon independence—to re-embrace the Sun Court? Had the agonies of the Five Crown Wars faded sufficiently?

The answer screamed forth!

Secretly aiding Milleras laid a reserve escape path. Openly declaring alignment with sun elves marked another matter entirely. The Qiongda’er Green Elves refused to relinquish kingship to Qundar Moon Elves—would they willingly surrender sovereignty to sun elves instead?

Once protectors were loaned to the Sun Elf delegation, even if the Magic Cup Court stayed silent… would Prince Milleras refrain from announcing it triumphantly at each Elven Court thereafter? When others—like remnants of Ilfaron in Mir Forest—learned… how would they perceive Qiongda’er elves?

Thus, neither King Testiel, nor rulers of other Elven Courts, would willingly rupture this consensus shared between Moon Elves and Green Elves. Build Evermeet into an Elf paradise? Yes! Re-establish the Sun Court? Also accepted! But never again acknowledging Sun Elf leadership—absolutely unthinkable! This restored Sun Court must be alliance governance—multi-Elven-clan rule.

This was Faerûn’s complicated sentiments towards the Sun Elf mission: desiring Evermeet as haven… yet refusing forever Sun Elf rule.

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