Unexpectedly reunited with Pip, Guts looked relaxed and happy along the way as he left with Nidhogg, continuing deeper into the Island of Fairies.
Their destination was the cherry tree in the distance.
The closer they got to the cherry tree, the more elves they saw, including goblins, elemental elves, unicorns, centaurs, brownies, deer, and all kinds of elves one could only encounter in fantasy stories.
The closeness between the elves and the cherry tree was evident.
Moreover, the concentration of the heavy elemental spirit, Baluthis, was so high that gravity gradually weakened.
Nidhogg and Guts both felt light and buoyant, as if they could leap into the air with a single jump.
They approached the huge cherry tree together. Amidst the cherry blossom rain falling all over the mountain, they met the "Snow King" Danan, who was waiting for them here.
At this time, Danan had removed her magic hat and robe and changed into a beautiful, simple dress. She held a flower scepter, revealing her pointed ears, antennae, and several pairs of wings, in her true form as the Fairy King.
When Danan approached, Nidhogg and Guts could still feel the fragrance spreading through the air.
Danan fully opened her eyes, filled with a certain divine radiance. She said quietly, "You came as promised. Come with me. I will take you to the place the skeleton knight visits every time."
This invitation was initiated by Danan. She said she wanted Nidhogg and Guts to know more about the skeleton knight, because both had an excellent connection with him.
Naturally, Nidhogg and Guts did not refuse.
Led by Danan, the three entered a huge hollow beneath the cherry tree. They saw a sea of flowers everywhere. They saw flying goblins. And they saw an oval stone in the middle of the sea of flowers.
The oval stone was covered with magical spiral patterns. It looked extraordinary.
"This is the 'Spirit Hall.' And this oval stone is the 'Gravestone of the Maiden of the Sanctuary, Princess Sakura.' " Danan stepped aside and said quietly.
Both Nidhogg and Guts knew that Princess Sakura was very important to the skeleton knight, Danan, and Flora.
Flora, having returned to the island, had probably already come to mourn. And the skeleton knight would return here from time to time.
Therefore, Nidhogg and Guts also silently mourned here.
After that, Danan led them out of the Spirit Hall, away from the cherry trees, and even left the forest, heading towards a relatively barren valley on the Island of Fairies.
"I want the Island of Fairies to accommodate all elves. But this backfires: the places where elves want to live and the people they want to associate with are always different. So the Island of Fairies is also divided into two main areas."
"On one side is the lush forest. On the other side is this desolate valley. But this valley is also home to many elves who prefer to stay here."
Danan walked along the cliff and explained to Nidhogg and Guts.
Nidhogg and Guts looked down into the valley, which wasn't too deep. Sure enough, they saw many elves who looked different.
They were either dark, ugly, poisonous, or fierce.
The concentration of the heavy elemental spirit, Baluthis, was also higher here. Its existence not only made matter heavier, but even darkened the sky and caused depression in people.
It's just that as soon as Danan came, the elves in the valley didn't dare approach and consciously moved away.
Of course, not everyone avoided Danan.
Passing by a cave, an old witch in a magic hat with a hooked nose greeted Danan while brewing a pot of soup with various poisons.
Danan responded and introduced Nidhogg and Guts: "This is our teacher, Grandmother Vole. She is our main 'sorceress' here, a master of manipulating the undead and curses."
She gently raised her hand. They both looked and saw huge wicker giants placed deep within the cave.
Flames constantly burned within the wicker giants' bodies.
Long ago, this Island of Fairies was also invaded by powerful forces. Back then, the mages used ancient forbidden magic to create these wicker men.
They also used captured soldiers as sacrifices, igniting the wicker men and using the soldiers' life force to drive them.
Later, on the Island of Fairies, the production of wicker men became taboo. No mages made wicker men anymore. Only the ones before them remained, controlled by Grandmother Vole.
Grandmother Vole cackled and looked at Nidhogg and Guts. "You are guests this time. I heard what Danan and the others said. I didn't expect them to make such a decision."
"However, I am not the owner of the Island of Fairies. So decide as you wish... It seems the words of the old folks' dreams are finally coming true."
Nidhogg asked curiously, "Grandmother Vole, what do you mean by 'the old folks' dreams' ?"
"They were the mages who followed 'Lord' Gaiseric and perished during the Eclipse a thousand years ago. Many of them made prophecies."
Grandmother Vole stared at Nidhogg and Guts with her cloudy eyes.
"They prophesied that those connected to 'Lord' Gaiseric—the current skeleton knight—and Flora would once again lift the fate of the entire Island of Fairies. Hey, it seems that's about you two, right?"
Nidhogg and Guts looked at each other and remained silent.
Grandmother Vole waved her hand and said, "Anyway, it doesn't concern me. You can go. Danan should be taking you to the 'Stone Forest,' right? Don't stay with me, or if you get cursed, don't blame me."
Danan politely nodded to Grandmother Vole and led Nidhogg and Guts deeper into the valley.
Here, they saw a large "forest" of hardened stones, like huge mushrooms clustered together. At the same time, the concentration of heavy elemental spirits reached its peak here.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!—!
From a distance, the three heard the sound of hammering from the depths of the stone forest, accompanied by brief bursts of sparks.
When Danan led Nidhogg and Guts into a spacious but simple stone room, they saw a strong man with a hammer striking a red-hot iron block.
The man hammered, looked at the iron block, then stopped. He turned, revealing a hairy face and torso.
"Danan."
"Hanar, I've brought someone here."
After Nidhogg and Guts met Hanar, Nidhogg's first reaction was that he felt very similar to the "blacksmith" Hewg. Guts felt that he was very similar to the "blacksmith" Godo—in terms of temperament.
"The dwarf blacksmith." Hanar greeted Danan, then looked at the two strangers, especially the Berserker Armor on Guts's body. He raised his eyebrows.
He hadn't seen this armor he made in a long time.