Elaria let out a quiet breath, then began recounting what had happened over the past three days. "While you were unconscious… the palace was thrown into a frenzy because it turned out that my savior was a human," she said, her voice hesitant, as if she still couldn't fully believe it.
"And also… the Hornet princess who was captured alongside me—she's currently resting in one of the palace's secure chambers," she continued. "She's in the middle of her metamorphosis, inside her cocoon now. The elves transferred her with extreme care."
Ren gazed at the ceiling for a moment before turning back to her. "The Hornets and elves… were allies, right?"
"Yes," Elaria replied softly. "Their kind helped pollinate the World Tree. We shared a long-standing bond. Because of that, their queen has already begun pulling back the troops sent into human territory."
