Chapter Twenty-Two: We Have Returned

Something was wrong.

At first, Eli’s attention was entirely on Orlena, though he noticed this place was peculiar: the civilians dressed in blue, and a few black-haired humans. He had originally assumed it was some form of reverence for that legend—a rare but not unheard-of phenomenon. Anyone could find some dye and color their hair black.

But when he saw the person beside him up close, he realized his mistake. If one could dye their hair black, what about their eyes? Could ink turn eyes black as well?

Eli consoled himself with the thought that perhaps it was some magical effect.

However, once inside the castle, the number of black-haired humans abruptly increased—almost one every ten steps, coming and going, and crucially, every single one possessed both black hair and black eyes.

Was it possible that all these people were magicians capable of turning their eyes black? If so, this magic seemed far too easy to learn. Most importantly, Eli could sense no aura from any of them!

He found himself once again in the grand hall, the only space in the castle suitable for hosting guests.

The long table divided them; they sat opposite each other, gazing in silence. Neither spoke, only watched the other. Qin Le wore a gentle smile, while Eli’s handsome face lost its mirth.

“We have returned,” Qin Le said softly.

An utterly cryptic statement, yet the words made Eli’s expression change dramatically. His handsome features turned pale, and cold sweat appeared on his brow.

The greatest doubt about the legend of the High Humans was this: if they were truly as powerful as the stories claimed, why did they perish? If some irresistible catastrophe had destroyed them, why did other races survive while the High Humans vanished?

The legend had always been considered a fabrication, a myth invented by humanity at some unknown period. Vanity had spread it far and wide, until the whole world believed in it.

Yet today, a group of people who matched the legend exactly stood before him. In that moment, Eli’s worldview began to fracture.

High Humans were not mere fiction, nor had they truly perished. Today, they had returned.

As this idea surfaced, his skin prickled with goosebumps.

“What do you mean, returned? Mr. Qin Le, what are you talking about?” Eli’s expression was confused, but the sweat on his brow betrayed him.

This borrowed tiger’s skin really worked, Qin Le thought with hidden amusement.

For the past ten days, Orlena had repeatedly praised them as High Humans. The phrase eventually caught