Colin nodded; he had also noticed that.
Walking along the ring-shaped corridor, traces of damage were visible, but almost all decorations remained intact. Although they weren't particularly valuable, it was a big contrast to the empty scenes previously seen in the Tree Elf's dwelling.
"I wonder why…" Colin mused subconsciously.
"Maybe it's just a habit of extravagant waste, or perhaps they don't value Liya'er's hard work… who knows." Lillian didn't seem concerned and continued to walk forward.
And so, the two of them explored, floor by floor, checking every door they could open...
But by the time they reached the top floor, with the blue sky within reach, they still had not found any trace of others… not even additional marks.
It was as if a ghost had intruded, leaving only slight traces at the entrance before vanishing like a breeze, disappearing without a trace.
The two stood atop the lookout tower with an excellent view all around.
The multi-functional array blocked the biting cold winds from the high altitude, allowing only a light breeze to ensure ventilation.
Lillian was still carefully observing the lookout tower.
Although the array blocked strong winds, it didn't prevent elves from entering and exiting… If that group had come and gone, perhaps they would've left some trace here.
But after a short while, Lillian, having found no trace whatsoever, finally stopped searching and stared out with pursed lips.
The visibility from the lookout was exceptionally broad, encompassing countless stone trees… making it impossible to guess where that group might have gone.
And the idea of exploring every single stone tree... now seemed rather inefficient.
The breeze whipped Lillian's hair, revealing her somewhat pale cheeks.
Her slender frame was still erect, but Colin always felt as if an invisible pressure was constantly enveloping her shoulders.
"Lillian, I haven't asked you yet about how Atbolde, the tutor, is doing."
After a moment of silence, Colin slowly spoke up.
"It's an injury," Lillian corrected him, then took a deep breath, pulled her gaze back, turned, and continued speaking to Colin: "Let's go down and explore those unopened rooms."
"Yes." Colin nodded and followed Lillian's pace.
"Atbolde is my grandfather," Lillian began as they walked.
She didn't answer Colin's question directly but started to tell her story, organizing her thoughts.
"As you know, I have High Level Elf blood, and my mother is indeed a genuine High Level Elf.
"But perhaps you do not know that like me, my grandfather Atbolde, he also had High Level Elf blood… albeit only a quarter."
'Rudolph, the tutor, actually had High Level Elf blood! Then Lillian's father, Atbolde's elder... could it be that they all had High Level Elf blood? Such a high percentage…' Colin's steps faltered slightly, surprised.
"The Rudolph Family, hundreds of years ago, was a widely known mixed-blood family. In that era, the alliance formed by High Level Elves and Wizards achieved glorious victories, and the relationship between the two clans was very close. Our family was the best testament to the friendly relations between the two clans at the time."
Lillian added, then her tone shifted, and she sighed:
"But later on, although the relationship between the Elf Clan and Wizards remained good, as High Level Elves gradually disappeared, those of us naturally endowed with High Level Elf blood talents and capable of Wizard training attracted jealousy."
"This jealousy was hidden, maybe just an extra mocking remark upon meeting, or perhaps secret curses behind one's back. And of course, the most lethal were some families or councilmen in the Wizard Alliance with old prejudices ingrained in their bones, venerating pure blood.
"Those musty old relics, who not only shunned ordinary mixed-blood Wizards but also maligned us freaks… Now, families like ours with mixed blood are few and far between, whether mixed with Giant Dragon... or Elves like us."
Lillian spoke with a tinge of sarcasm.
"It's a pity that under the verification of some nameless Wizard, the so-called noble pure blood, the so-called talent for Cultivating Magic Power has been proven to exist in every member of the Human Clan, just differentiating in degree!"
"And later, ordinary people also became increasingly significant… sorry."
Realizing she had digressed, Lillian paused, reorganized her language, and continued, "Atbolde, the tutor, was injured by the Hidosh Family—a Pureblood Family of great antiquity."
"This injury was particularly venomous, torturing my grandfather for sixty years… and recently worsened due to a confrontation."
She couldn't help but sigh.
"If it weren't for this injury… Grandfather Atbolde should have already Advanced to a Third Rank Wizard!"
Colin was silent, quietly digesting the news.
"Atbolde, the tutor, has had a recent confrontation?" Colin suddenly asked with confusion after a moment.
"Yes… but it's more accurate to say that the other party came for him, a member of the Hidosh Family... As for the reason."