The elves had been isolated from the outside world for many years.
Now, for the health of the Mother Tree, they had to venture out.
The Elf King had his own considerations for who would go.
"Ms. Angelina, I heard you have two dragons in your manor, is that correct?" the Elf King asked Lin Yan.
He had learned from the returning elves about the black dragon Maurice and his sister, the red dragon Anita, being in Lin Yan's manor.
They had also brought a youngling. Thinking of the now healthy little elf, he could probably guess why those two dragons had gone there.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I wonder if your manor would welcome the elven folk?"
"What do you mean?" Lin Yan feigned ignorance.
"They need to go out and find these materials, and they will certainly need a place to stay outside. I was wondering if they could reside with you?"
The Elf King actually wanted the Elf Prince to go along as well. Angelina wanted to build a good relationship with the elves, and his own son would be very safe with her.
With her, he could slowly experience the outside world and learn a lot from her.
"I would be most welcoming, but the dragons might be staying with me for a long time. I wonder if the elves would mind?" Lin Yan, of course, was very pleased.
The Elf King knew the dragons wouldn't leave, but he didn't see it as a problem. Although the two races didn't always see eye to eye, there was no deep-seated hatred, and they could coexist.
"They will get along harmoniously," the Elf King guaranteed.
The summer sun shone on the golden wheat fields, and the fragrance of ripening wheat brought great joy to the villagers.
This batch of crops had been blessed with elven magic, so they grew exceptionally well, with increased yield and no pests or diseases.
Aside from the slight trouble of irrigation, the planting of these fields had been unbelievably smooth.
These villagers were growing to like the elves who came and went in their territory.
When they first met them, they were still reserved, as elves were known for their pride. Now, they could greet these elves.
The Elf Prince had also been living here. Although he didn't quite understand why his father insisted he stay in this manor, he was happy to see scenery different from the Elf Forest.
After all, he had never left the Elf Forest since birth. He wasn't the only one; elves of his age were all like this.
"Alek, you're here." A little ball of fluff ran over and tugged at the hand of Prince Alexis.
"The kitchen made new pastries, they smell amazing. Let's go eat them together."
"Joey, I don't really like pastries. You can go eat them yourself." Alexis couldn't quite handle the hybrid dragon cub's enthusiasm.
"They smell so good, Alek, you'll definitely like them!" Joey's strength was growing, already surpassing human strength.
He couldn't yet control this strength, so he often broke things. In this manor, only his uncle Maurice and Prince Alexis could use their strength without fear of harming them.
The Elf Prince was to Joey's aesthetic liking; he adored the delicate young elf and loved to share everything delicious and fun with him.
He felt Alek was his best friend. Everyone else was busy, but Alek, whenever he looked for him, was always there.
Alexis was pulled towards the dining room. Although the food here was quite good, elves generally didn't enjoy cooked food; they preferred natural plants.
But he couldn't refuse the cub. While they didn't like dragons, cubs were an exception.
"You've come too," Lin Yan greeted the two who had arrived and were sitting at the table.
Some of the new wheat had already been dried, and Lin Yan had instructed them to mill some of it for Chinese pastries.
After eating Western food for so long, she was truly fed up. When the new wheat arrived, she had explained the recipes to the cook. Today was the cook's first attempt, and she was looking forward to it.
"Angelina, are you also looking forward to these pastries?" Joey, upon seeing Lin Yan, immediately let go of Alexis and ran to her.
"Yes, I am very much looking forward to them."
"See? I told you these pastries would be delicious. Alek, you should thank me for calling you here," Joey proudly puffed out his little chest.
"Yes, thank you, little sir!" Alexis also walked over. He was helpless when it came to this hybrid dragon cub.
"Alek, you really don't have to indulge him so much," Lin Yan advised, seeing the Elf Prince's helpless expression.
"It's fine, Joey is still young," Alexis sat opposite Lin Yan.
Although he was a bit boisterous, he was also very cute. Children, after all, had some privileges.
"Angelina, when will Maurice be back?" Joey tugged at Lin Yan's clothes.
Although he had heard Lin Yan's words, this wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation, yet Alek would always indulge him.
Alek was truly a very gentle person, no, a very gentle elf!
"He's gone to help me with something. He might not be back for a few more days."
"Is that so? Then he won't get to eat the new pastries?" Joey looked a bit disappointed.
"When he returns, I'll have the kitchen make him some. The wheat will be harvested in the next few days, and you won't run out of pastries from now on."
As soon as Lin Yan finished speaking, a maid brought in the freshly made pastries.
The aroma of fresh wheat made one's mouth water.
Joey obediently sat at the dining table, waiting for the maid to place the steaming hot pastries on his plate.
Seeing his well-behaved demeanor, Lin Yan had the maid serve him first.
The pastries were ready, but rice was still missing. She wondered when they would find paddy.
With this thought, she turned to the Elf Prince, "Alexis, have you ever seen a certain plant?"
Lin Yan described the appearance of paddy in detail to Alexis. The Elf Forest was eternally spring and home to many different plants; she wondered if paddy existed there.
Humans did not have paddy; their staple foods were bread and oatmeal.
Lin Yan didn't particularly like these. She still craved Chinese food.
She had to maintain her saintess persona, constantly supporting white bread with jam, which had truly been enough for her!