Upon hearing Lunara's words, the smile on Nimue's face froze instantly, replaced by an expression of utter resistance.
"Lunara, why are you starting to research Dark Cuisine again?! Scarcely any of the things you make are even edible!" Nimue's voice was filled with helplessness. She then instinctively stole a glance at Castorice beside her, as if fearing these "research results" would scare off their distinguished guest.
"How can you call it 'Dark Cuisine'?" Hearing Nimue's words, Lunara reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly straightening her back. Her previous bashfulness was replaced by a strong sense of professional pride. "Nimue, you are being too narrow-minded! This is clearly exploring the boundaries of nature's bounty and researching the potential edibility of ingredients!"
As she emphasized this, she carefully lifted a plant from the wicker basket hanging on her arm with an almost sacred sense of ritual. It was a Starfern, common in the Twilight Hills; currently, the entire plant was flowing with a strange blue fluorescence, looking exceptionally mysterious in the hazy light.
"Look closely," Lunara's eyes sparkled as if she had discovered a rare treasure. "This kind of Starfern is found everywhere in the Twilight Hills. As a fern, it should theoretically be an excellent sustainable food source, and yet..."
At this point, her tone suddenly became pained and frustrated.
"Simply because of the hallucinogenic substances and natural toxins contained within, people shrink away from it. This is a complete waste of natural resources!"
Then, her voice grew more excited, carrying the fanaticism of a pioneer exploring the unknown:
"So I am researching whether the unique biological enzymes in the eggs of Aphasia Toads can neutralize its toxicity..."
"Stop! Stop right there!" Nimue quickly interrupted her, making a cross gesture with her hands to signal a halt, fearing those terrifying recipes would continue to pollute the ears of everyone present. "I won't stop you from researching those... innovative dishes in the future, but today, right now, absolutely not!"
Having said that, she quickly turned to Castorice, whose expression had already become somewhat subtle. With an apologetic smile instantly plastered on her face, she said:
"Apologies, Your Excellency Castorice. Allow me to introduce Lunara. She was just talking nonsense; please do not pay it much mind."
She then turned back to Lunara and added:
"Lunara, this is Your Excellency Castorice, an important and honored guest of our Moon-marked Clan."
"Elder Maria has already instructed Shalin to find you. She wishes for you to prepare a sumptuous dinner for our guest that reflects the sincerity of the Moon-marked Clan."
"Now?" Lunara clearly hadn't expected the task to come so suddenly. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, and she nearly fumbled the glowing Starfern in her hand.
However, as an excellent chef, she quickly adjusted her state and accepted this important mission.
"Since we've happened to run into each other, I can just ask her directly."
With that, she briskly stuffed the Starfern back into her basket. Her face switched to a professional and enthusiastic smile as she jogged a few steps to stand before Castorice. Bowing slightly, she asked:
"Honorable Your Excellency Castorice, may I ask if you have any preferred tastes? Or are there any ingredients you absolutely cannot accept? Once I understand your preferences, I can begin preparations immediately."
Hearing Lunara's words, Castorice was silent for a moment. She then said with some hesitation, "I have no particular preferences, nor... any dietary restrictions..." However, just after speaking, Castorice suddenly recalled Lunara's earlier words. Her eyes quietly swept over the wicker basket on Lunara's arm as she added seriously, "As long as it is... food cooked with normal, common ingredients."
She had heard every word of their conversation.
She had seen Starfern from the Twilight Hills many times before; although she heard they were inedible, they looked quite beautiful.
But those eggs of Aphasia Toads from the Putrid Root Swamp...
Whether judging by the name of the place of origin or the name of the item itself, they did not seem like anything edible!
Toads...
At the thought, Castorice silently swallowed. Her mind immediately conjured images of those rotting, filthy, ugly, and utterly disgusting toads.
"Rest assured!" Lunara reacted instantly, realizing Castorice must have misunderstood after hearing the previous exchange.
She waved her hands frantically, her head shaking like a rattle as she explained:
"Those experimental dishes are truly just a small, occasional hobby of mine! Usually, I am a very serious and proper chef!"
As if to increase her persuasiveness, she immediately turned to Nimue for help.
"Right, Nimue? You have to say a fair word for me!"
Called upon, Nimue was startled for a moment. Meeting Lunara's earnest gaze and seeing Castorice's slightly inquiring look, she also quickly nodded vigorously and said:
"Indeed, Your Excellency Castorice, Lunara is absolutely one of the top chefs of the Moon-marked Clan! The food she makes tastes wonderful. Although..." At this point, she paused with some difficulty, "she does occasionally make some rather 'bold' attempts, but those are truly rare cases."
"That is good, then."
Hearing this, Castorice let out a soft sigh of relief, her suspended heart returning to its place.
"Then I shall go prepare the food now!"
Seeing that Castorice believed her, Lunara beamed with a smile. She waved goodbye to the two of them, turned, and walked with light steps toward the most magnificent giant tree at the center of the valley.
"Your Excellency Castorice, shall we continue the tour?"
Seeing Lunara depart, Nimue turned to Castorice and asked.
"Very well."
Hearing Nimue's words, Castorice withdrew her gaze from Lunara's receding back and nodded slightly.
Guided by Nimue, the two passed through an arcade naturally formed by ancient trees, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.
A massive residential area revealed itself. The trees here were thick and tall, with many delicately styled treehouse platforms built among branches several or even a dozen meters above the ground. Connecting these aerial homes were countless thick and resilient natural vines, woven into a web in the sky to form a unique and vibrant aerial walkway.
Elves moved freely among them, their lithe figures resembling birds gliding through the woods. Some leaped and climbed directly, while others walked upon the vines as if on level ground; some were moving toward the central giant tree.
Soon, the elves on the treehouses noticed Nimue and the stranger with an extraordinary aura beside her. Curious gazes turned toward them one after another. Immediately, several lively elves leaped lightly from the vines and gathered around.
"Nimue! You're back? Where's Shalin?"
"Who is this beautiful guest?"
"Looking at your appearance... are you a lost clanswoman of our Moon-marked Clan from outside? Your aura is so special..."
Enthusiastic inquiries instantly surrounded Nimue and Castorice.
In response, Nimue patiently explained while gently reminding her tribespeople not to disturb Castorice too much, mentioning it was Elder Maria's wish.
Perhaps out of respect for the Elder's command, or a primal awe toward Castorice's serene and slightly detached aura, although curious gazes still drifted over from time to time, no more elves came forward to pester Castorice with questions.
After a good while, the elves, wearing novel and friendly smiles, leaped back onto the vines and returned to their respective treehouses.
Seeing this, Nimue finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"This place... is truly full of vitality."
Castorice watched the lithe figures disappearing into the green shade and sighed softly.
"Our Moon-marked Clan has guarded this Shadow-fold Valley for generations," Nimue smiled somewhat sheepishly at Castorice's words. "While we are not completely isolated from the world, we rarely venture far from home. Our people are always filled with pure curiosity regarding the outside world and unfamiliar guests."
"Do you... never set foot in the human kingdoms?"
Hearing Nimue's words, Castorice asked out of curiosity.
"No." Nimue's answer was decisive. A cold look surfaced on her originally gentle face. "The human world? It is filled with greedy hunters who covet our elven beauty, skills, and even our lives. They never stop thinking of kidnapping our kin to turn them into commodities for gold coins!"
At this point, she lowered her head, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting together.
"While patrolling the edge of the forest before, I encountered humans twice who claimed to be 'lost.' I gave them the clearest and safest path out of the woods." She paused, her eyes turning angry. "And the result? They tried every possible way to trick me into leaving the protection of the forest. When they finally realized they wouldn't succeed, they... they drew their weapons on me directly!"
Nimue's voice trembled slightly:
"Twice! Both times were like that! I was clearly just trying to help them out of kindness..."
Castorice listened quietly, a flash of realization and faint pity crossing her eyes.
She let out a sigh and then said slowly: "Staying away from the world's clamor, while not the best approach, but..."
She paused there, not continuing, but changed the topic instead.
"Among the humans here, it is not that there are no kind people. However, on this land where the weak are prey to the strong, pure kindness is often fragile and easily broken if there is no power to guard it; whereas evil, whether strong or weak, can always find soil to grow in."