He hesitated for a moment, then slowly descended, returning to the inconspicuous, protruding, rocky slope he had left earlier.
"Zehtti, Your Excellency," he called out loud.
After a brief wait, the rocky ground beneath his feet split open once more.
Colin re-entered the secret chamber.
"Do you have something else to discuss?"
Zehtti was watching him with a puzzled look, accompanied by Anna and two others.
"That's right, Zehtti, Your Excellency," Colin took a breath, no longer hesitating, and told the Third Rank Witch before him all he knew about the Elf Clan.
As a First Rank Wizard, his words carried little weight, and with Mentor Atbolde gravely injured and far away in the Siya Continent, and with his colleague Lillian also missing, his connection to Zehtti, who could be considered the highest-ranking Wizard he knew, was tenuous at best.
If he could persuade Zehtti, this powerful Witch, it might add some assurance to his mission.
"Are you saying the High Level Elves have perished and the remaining Elves have all fallen to the Divine side? That the Tree Elves who have reappeared are spies hidden among the Wizards?"
After listening to Colin's narration, Zehtti instinctively sought confirmation.
She found it hard to believe...
What Colin described sounded more like a bizarre tale!
"Everything I've told you is true, Your Excellency," Colin said gravely.
Perhaps alerted by the mention of the Elf Kingdom, Nasi, who had been hiding in the hood, suddenly peeked out curiously from behind his neck to glance at Zehtti.
Then, seemingly startled, she quickly retreated back into hiding.
"Is this a sprite?" Zehtti asked, "Does it come from the legendary Elf Kingdom you mentioned?"
Colin paused, then shook his head.
"Nearly all life has faded from the Elf Kingdom, only a few sturdy trees are still clinging on."
For personal reasons, and to avoid unnecessary complications, he concealed the details about the sprite and the Ancient Tree of Life.
He simply claimed he had learned about the changes in the Elf Clan from the traces left within the Elf Kingdom.
He wasn't afraid that his story would be discredited.
After all, the remnants of the Ancient Tree of Life were now utterly lifeless, the mountain's protections had lost their energy source, and those spontaneously operating, unending pollution mechanisms would soon bury any trace that remained.
By then, the Elf Kingdom would indeed appear desolate, just as he had described.
It was just a pity that the Golden Hammer Token had turned to ash when he left the Elf Kingdom; otherwise, it could have served as evidence... Colin thought to himself.
Zehtti scrutinized him carefully for a moment before slowly withdrawing her gaze.
Then, after pondering in place for a short while, she slowly said:
"The Divine is the eternal enemy of Wizards, and every Witch has the duty to resist them, even if only for themselves."
"So, if what you say is true, then this news is of great importance, and I will accompany you on this journey... However, if what you say is a lie—"
Zehtti looked steadily at him and said in a calm voice, "you will learn the cost of deceiving a Third Rank Witch."
Colin's expression became stern, and he nodded earnestly, but he couldn't help the look of joy that emerged on his face.
Seeing this, Zehtti discreetly nodded, her belief in him slightly reinforced.
She then turned to Anna and the others and said:
"As for you, stay here obediently and wait for my return..."