- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 78
**Chapter 78: The Nature Spirit**
As the list of information appeared before him, Thor’s gaze scanned through it line by line, just like he always did. His mind was still racing, thinking about how to best handle the impending crisis.
But in the midst of his swirling thoughts, something caught his eye, causing his pupils to contract sharply.
“A Nature Spirit!” he muttered, his eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.
In this world, elves were synonymous with nobility. Every elf was a natural-born archer and mage.
Even Anna, a mere half-elf, possessed an incredibly high aptitude for magic.
Thor never expected that such a rare Nature Spirit would soon be born so close to his territory. And it wasn’t just any forest elf, but a Nature Spirit, an even rarer being.
Having spent time reading many books after leaving the Dresrosa castle, Thor had developed a deep understanding of the world. And naturally, he had learned a lot about elves.
According to the ancient texts, elves came in different forms. Excluding half-elves like Anna, the biggest distinction lay between forest elves and Nature Spirits.
Forest elves were typically born from the Life Tree, their existence nurtured by its fruits. They possessed strong magical abilities from birth and had a natural affinity for plants.
If Eren’s power was an all-encompassing affinity for living things, then forest elves were specifically attuned to plants. In terms of their relationship with nature, forest elves were far superior.
But Nature Spirits were different. Although they were technically elves, they were not entirely the same as their forest counterparts. Nature Spirits were the embodiment of elements, born with the favor of the Goddess of Life. They wielded the power to control the elements and had an unparalleled connection to them.
If forest elves were born with high magical potential, then Nature Spirits were magic itself.
Moreover, Nature Spirits could form a symbiotic bond with forest elves, allowing both to grow stronger together. While Nature Spirits were weak at first, forest elves were relatively stronger and protected by the Life Tree, giving the Nature Spirits space to develop.
In return, forest elves who bonded with Nature Spirits would see their own powers and potential greatly enhanced, allowing them to grow into even more powerful beings.
As Thor processed this information, his thoughts drifted to the half-elf girl in his service, Anna. A strange expression crossed his face.
There was no Life Tree here, nor were there any other elves.
This bit of intelligence almost seemed like a gift sent specifically for the half-elf maid.
Perhaps, if Thor hadn’t bought Anna, she might have been sold to some other noble in the Northern Province, eventually forming a bond with the Nature Spirit by sheer luck.
And if she were to bond with a Nature Spirit, the high-level symbiotic contract would supersede the lower-level slave contract, freeing Anna from her servitude.
“Looks like the Goddess of Life truly has a plan for you,” Thor murmured with a slight smile, shaking his head.
Having lived two lives, Thor knew better than most that some people were simply favored by fate.
Raine was one such person, as was Anna.
And no doubt there were countless others like them, hidden in the vastness of the world, waiting for their moment to rise.
It wasn’t surprising to him.
As these thoughts ran through his head, Thor began to consider his next steps.
But before long, he paused.
His gaze returned to the intelligence report.
“Perhaps… it’s worth a try,” he muttered softly, and once that thought entered his mind, it was impossible to shake.
Ideas flashed through his head at a rapid pace.
The night passed swiftly.
By dawn, the sunlight of a new day shone over Eagle Ridge, and the whole territory buzzed with activity once again.
Inside the castle, the door to Thor’s room was gently knocked.
“Come in,” Thor called out calmly.
The door creaked open, and Anna entered carrying a tray of fruit.
“Master, your fruit,” she said cautiously, her voice soft.
“Thank you. You can set it down here,” Thor replied, his tone casual.
Then, he added, “Oh, and Anna, stay for a moment.”
Anna’s expression turned slightly puzzled, but she obediently placed the fruit down and waited by his side, curious.
After finishing the task at hand, Thor waved away the other servants, then turned his attention to Anna.
He didn’t speak immediately.
The room fell into an awkward silence, and Anna’s heartbeat quickened.
“Mas—Master?” she stammered nervously. She could feel her pulse racing, her anxiety mounting.
Thor finally broke the silence with a soft chuckle.
“Anna… or should I call you Anna Karenina?” he said, his voice calm but laced with a hint of amusement. “Or perhaps I should address you as the half-elf girl from the Forest of Nature?”
The words were spoken lightly, but they landed like a thunderclap in Anna’s ears.
“What…!” Anna gasped, her head snapping up, eyes wide with shock.
Her heart raced with panic, her mind scrambling. But just as quickly, she tried to compose herself.
“Master, what are you talking about?” she stammered, though her voice trembled, and her body shook uncontrollably.
Anna knew all too well what could happen to an elf in the hands of human nobility. The only reason she had stayed here without attempting another escape was because it seemed safe, as though her identity hadn’t been discovered.
But now, it appeared that might not be true.
“What am I talking about?” Thor smiled knowingly.
“Karenina. One of the three great ducal families of the kingdom. It’s said that years ago, the second son of Duke Karenina brought back a beautiful elf from the Forest of Nature. Do I really need to say more?”
Thor’s words were casual, but his tone was unmistakable.
Of course, he had done his research.
The Karenina name, combined with her elven heritage, made it easy to piece together the truth.
He had known from the start—he just hadn’t mentioned it before.
“You…!” Anna’s voice was filled with fear and disbelief.
But before she could react further, Thor flicked his wrist, sending something flying toward her.
Startled, Anna instinctively raised a wall of fire to shield herself, preparing to retreat.
But then, she froze.
The object struck the wall of flames, and as the fire consumed it, a radiant glow enveloped her.
In that instant, the invisible chains that had bound her were shattered.
Anna stood motionless, her beautiful face filled with shock and confusion.
She stared blankly at the burning object, unsure of what to do, unsure of how to react.
Just moments before, she had been ready to run, even if it meant dying under the constraints of the slave contract.
But now, everything had changed.
She was free.
(End of Chapter)