Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2622

Once they landed, a series of powerful arrays cut off their escape routes, sealing the borders of Setraliie.

They were no different from the standard defense protocols of any major city of the Kingdom but Lith's paranoia bugged him to no end for it. He checked his armor's power core, then that his spell-holding rings were fully charged, and that War was hung to his hip before taking the next step.

Only then did he bother looking at the city and its inhabitants.

Setraliie reminded him of the plant folk city of Laruel since the dwelling of the elves hadn't been carved in the wood of the colossal trees so much as grown, yet at a second glance that was where the similarities ended.

Unlike Laurel, the trees were just regular plants altered with light magic. There was no World Sapling spreading their roots throughout the city and growing new buildings at a moment's notice.

The road pavement was comprised of marble tiles that had been smoothened and dulled by traffic but not one of them was broken or damaged. The houses at the base of the trees closely resembled human dwellings, with stone walls and sloped roofs.

People all over their path came out of their homes to stare at the newcomers and Lith exploited the open doors to look inside. The stone buildings were poorly furnished and there was barely enough space to host comfortably their occupants.

There was no trace of magic in their clothes and tools while those living at ground level as well but inside a tree trunk had more space, magical light, and a few enchanted appliances.

The higher Lith looked, the more the houses shone to Life Vision and the worse headache the Eyes gave him.

"Elven society is literally vertical." Le'Ahy explained to Lith's puzzled expression. "The poor and those who are useless to society live on the ground. Their duty is to tend the fields and act as a first line of defense in case of enemy assault."

'Meat shields.' Lith thought.

"To buy the warriors the time they need to prepare their spells and equipment." He actually said with a neutral face.

"I know what you are thinking." She sighed, tormenting her hair. "We must seem as cruel and heartless as humans to you, but there's a good reason for this. Elves live for a long time but that doesn't mean they can achieve much.

"With our low birth rate, the life of a single talented individual is worth that of dozens of ordinary people. A single genius can change our society in their lifetime whereas those with no aptitude for magic, science, or fighting are easily replaced.

"That's why only those who give true value to our colony live on the top of the trees, so that an invader has to fight their way up and exhaust their strength before threatening the best among us."

"Two questions." Lith raised one finger. "What if someone comes flying?"

"That's suicidal." She pointed at the dome formed by the arrays that was at its strongest near the treetops. "The arrays are up at all times. We lowered them only to grant you access, my Lord."

"Makes sense." Lith raised the medium finger as well. "Why these precautions, though? As far as I know, there are no monsters in here, and accessing a Fringe is something very few can do."

"To prepare our people to accept their role into our society once we leave this accursed place." There was no warmth in Le'Ahy's gaze as she looked at Setraliie.

No matter how long the elves lived there and how comfortable they had made themselves, the Fringe was still a prison. An act of pity from Mogar because the elves wouldn't be able to survive by themselves.