After a long cold and tiring night, the daybreak brought glimmers of warmth. The golden light softly caressed the land and ignited the birds into a chorus of melodies.
Magnus can be seen dragging a small bag full of water and some breads he looted from the group of bandit he eliminated last night.
He is heading towards the tree he kept his belongings.
'The girl should probably be gone by now as I freed her from the bandits'
Magnus thought, he didn't even get to see the girl's appearance as last night was pitch black but he wished for her well-beings. Why not? that unfortunate girl just experienced something traumatic.
Arriving in front of the centuries-old tree that has a trace of his mana marked on it, Magnus put down the looted bag and sat down with his back against the tree to rest for a few minutes.
'I better get going'
Magnus stood up after resting for a few minutes and focused his mana on his foot before he started walking up the tree to get his belonging.
As he reached the branch where he kept his belonging, he spotted an unexpected sight.
A silvery pale-green almost whitish haired girl that shines beautifully under the sunlight that somehow made its way through the gap of leaves, she also has a long pointed ears that is elven trademark, and is sleeping comfortably with his cloaks as a blanket and his bag as a pillow.
'Elves' are characterized by their long pointed ears. The short and stocky are Dwarves, Demi-humans are humanlike beings with animal-like traits - and Demons, who comes in various shapes and forms, but all possess high intellect.
"..."
Magnus was speechless at the sight he's witnessing, he thought the girl has already escaped.
Magnus gaze then looked down the branch in realization, he noticed how stupid he was.
'Like hell a normal kid could go down this branch...'
Looking at the girl comfortably sleeping started making him feel drowsy.
'I should also get some good rest...'
Magnus thought as he slowly himself laid next to the girl to avoid opening up his wound, while using his arm to support his head.
***
*Chirp*
*Chirp*
The sound of small animal squealing woke Magnus from his sleep.
'Is it morning?'
Magnus then started rolling his body towards his right before opening his eyes...only to see how high he is staying.
'!? Woah! That was clos-! Ugh!'
Magnus was surprised that he almost fell off the branch before rolling back towards his previous position, his wound was slightly opened as a result.
'Ugh, I moved too much...huh?'
Magnus noticed that he's covered by his cloak, the black one.
'Wha-? Oh...it's her doing huh?'
The corner of his eyes spotted the same elf girl he rescued. She is looking at him curiously with her round gleaming turquoise eyes. She studied him in both surprise and doubt, her eyes almost saying, 'He can't have been the one who save me, right?'
"..."
Feeling weird by getting stared silently by a kid. Magnus raised his finger and wrote
[Can you read this?]
A purplish mirrored sentence formed, startling the girl but that was only for a moment.
*nod*
The girl gave Magnus a shy nod in response. Magnus was relieved that she could read, it makes his job a lot more convenient.
"...W-What happened to those bad guys?"
She sniffled, her voice is shaking a bit.
Staring at the girl reminded Magnus of his good old days.
Shaking his head to get rid of his thoughts, Magnus raised his finger and drew on air.
[Don't worry, you won't be meeting them ever again as they ran into an unfortunate accident]
Reading at Magnus's answer, the girl was relieved before breaking down into tears.
"*hic* I was so scared! They were going to sell me! Hic! I thought I was never going to see my family again! *hic*"
'...she's unexpectedly talkative...'
Getting a good look at her, she had a long silvery pale-green almost white hair that shines beautifully under the sunlight and that it extends just past her shoulder. She has a pair of round, gleaming turquoise eyes set in a small pale face. She also had a small perky nose. As an elf from the elven kingdom, she had distinct pointy ears, the elven trademark.
Her facial features looked like they are carefully molded gems that looked surreal, almost phantasmal work of art.
'~Cute~'
Shaking his head once again to get rid of unnecessary thought, Magnus raised his finger and wrote a mirrored message once more,
[I'm Magnus, what's your name?]
Looking at Magnus's message, the girl sniffled her tears and answered,
"E-Elaina..."
[A fitting name. Okay then, those bad people aren't going to chase you anymore. That being said, do you think you can make it to your home by yourself? You know how to get back right?]
Magnus wrote a long message before reaching for his backpack.
As soon as the girl finished reading Magnus's message, her eyes instantly retracted in fear as a panicked expression spread throughout the rest of her face. Tears welled up and both her hands clenched tightly to Magnus cloak, even an infant would be able to tell what her answer was through her actions.
[Look, I didn't want to have any interaction with anyone as of the moment. Aren't elves generally safe in this forest?]
Magnus let out a sigh while trying to pry open her claws— he mean 'fingers'— from his cloak.
She violently shook her head, much like a dog drying itself, and rebutted,
"Beasts are only scared of adults...Parents warned me that children will get eaten by hounds or Treants..."
Magnus got a little excited hearing the word 'Treant' as it bring back some funny nostalgic memories he had with his friends, but he threw that memories at the back of his head.
Magnus is trying to come up with a solution for all of this. He have the time to escort the girl but it's too risky if he were to have a wanted poster of him. He needs to stay low-key for a few years to let his physical appearance develop.
Raising his index finger, Magnus wrote a question
[How long does it take to get to where you live from here?]
"..."
Still holding onto Magnus's black cloak he's wearing, she looked down and admitted,
"...I don't know...it should be more than t-three days..."
"..."
Magnus held in the temptation to let out a sigh, since the poor girl looked like she was about to cry already, Magnus agreed to take her back home.
[Fine, I will be your temporary escort]
The Kingdom of Elrora shouldn't take more than 3 days if the girl know the way, but she didn't so Magnus could only hope that the journey will not take longer than a week.
Looking at the girl comfortably wearing his favorite white cloak, Magnus will feel bad taking it from her as the weather is also a bit chilly.
*Throw*
Magnus threw his almost empty backpack down the tree, as he's going down.
[Get on. We're going down]
"...o-okay"
The girl's shy voice entered Magnus's ears before feeling that she's accepted his piggy back.
While it's a good idea to use a princess carry when walking up the tree, it's a bad idea to do so when going down.
"Eek!"
The girl was completely startled, looking at Magnus who's casually walking down the tree as if he's walking on the ground.
As they reached ground level, the girl got off and thanked Magnus for helping her get down.
"T-Thank you"
[Don't mention it. So, which way are we going?]
Magnus questioned as he picked up the backpack he threw down and the looted bag from the bandits.
"Err...That way!"
The girl pointed at the way where the mist is concentrated the most.
[If you say so...]
"Let's head out now!"
The girl said enthusiastically which made Magnus wonders 'Was all that shyness she showed an illusion?'
***
Asura Castle of the Asura Kingdom,
Throne room,
A figure of a man in black cloth can be seen kneeling on one knee before a dignified middle-aged man with golden hair standing up like a blazing flame. His face is described as handsome, and his eyes, crimson like blood that shone slightly, it gave off a mysterious radiance that makes people wants to kneel in his presence.
"My king, an unexpected incident happened in 'that' confidential isolated place wher-"
The kneeling man in black was interrupted by his king before he could finish reporting.
"What happened?"
The king who's sitting on a throne asked in a commanding tone with unnoticeable worry in his tone.
"My king, I sorry to break it to you but...'My Queen' has passed away along with all the workers in that isolated household"
The kneeling figure apathetically said. The reason for him to say the phrase 'My Queen' is because he respected her as she's the one who helped him and treated him nicely.
*Silence~*
A Pin-drop silence then took place as the kneeling figure whose expression is unknown finished his report.
"You may go Amon, write a report and send it to me"
The king voice resounded in the quiet hall.
"As you wish, My king"
Amon saluted before darkness engulfed him
*Fwoosh*
As the dark liquid-like substance that engulfed him disappeared, Amon is nowhere to be seen in the throne room, leaving the king to be alone.
"...Aria"
The king muttered as a face of his late wife face appeared in his head. Though the marriage was political, a part of him still loved her.
"..."
The king tightly clenched the necklace under his cloth as a lone tear escaped his right eye.
The reason for him to shed a tear is unknown...
***
In the misty forest,
Two children of a year difference in age can be seen walking together with a rope tying their wrist. The girl's right and the boy's left wrist was tied as to not get separated from each other in this troublesome forest.
Although the girl is an elf who's said to have acute sense of direction in this forest, her sensing ability isn't fully developed yet.
They were walking in a steady pace that is not fast nor slow, but the boy is sweating like he had just ran a marathon.
It was not because he's tired, but it was because the wound on his side has opened and haven't healed yet. The sensation of being cut open each time he took a step is unbelievably painful for his small body that is yet to have any tolerance to pain.
Mysteriously, the boy's breathing was not ragged but instead, it was calm and is moving on its own rhythm. The answer to this mystery is because the boy is using the breathing technique he invented 900 years ago during his time as a hero.
He has 'two breathing techniques' invented; the one he's currently using while walking is, 'Knocking breath', it a special breathing that could stop any of the acupuncture points in the body as well as compressing nerves to numb some part of the body.
Magnus is using this breathing to numb the pain on his side as he would have lost consciousness due to the pain he's experiencing in this body.
"..."
Looking at the girl, Elaina, who kept glancing at him, Magnus raised his index finger and wrote an unmirrored text.
[What is it?]
The girl was startled that Magnus noticed that she wants to ask something for the past hours of walking.
"Err...W-Why do you talk by writing?"
She asked as she used her left hand to awkwardly scratched her cheek while looking at Magnus for answer.
Magnus suddenly gave the girl a smile. To Elaina, she felt like she's being bullied...
[You don't know? Simple, I'm mute (￣ー￣')]
A purplish text appeared along with an emoticon for her to read.
"...hmph!"
The girl pouted and turned her head away from Magnus as she knew she was treated like a child by him, someone who is younger than her, and she disliked being treated like a child the most. The argument she had with her parents is also about this.
Seeing her pouted, Magnus was satisfied before going back to control his breathing.
It's been a few hours of walking now, Magnus figured that the girl has good stamina but he also noticed that the girl walking pace has slowed down by a huge margin.
'Her small feet must be hurting...'
*Halt*
Magnus halted his steps but the girl didn't notice, as she walked for three more steps, so the result is obvious,
"Eek!"
The rope that tied her wrist to Magnus did its job by suddenly stopping her, startling her.
[Let's take a break...Eeking girl ^m^]
Magnus wrote a mirrored message with a 'Giggling with hand covering mouth' emoticon.
"E-E-Eeking?"
The girl was so shocked, she froze.
'I think I found a new hobby...'
Magnus purple eyes gleamed like he's just found a new toy.
.
.
Magnus who's wearing the black cloak can be seen enjoying a dried beef jerky while leaning against a tree.
Elaina is also leaning against the same tree and is drawing circles on the soil as she's still grumpy at the Magnus calling her 'Eeking girl' which is more severe than being treated like a kid...
Looking at Elaina on his left who's not eating nor saying anything, Magnus wrote an unmirrored message in front of him before sliding that whole message towards her.
[I'm sorry <(_ _)> Now, eat something]
Taking a few second to read, she turned her face towards right to face Magnus. Unfortunately, everything is going according to Magnus's plan.
As soon as she turned her head towards him, Magnus shoved a piece of beef jerky in her small mouth.
"MMPH!"
Elaina was startled but then she started chewing the jerky as she intently yet cutely glared at Magnus.
[You don't need to thank me (^_-)-☆]
Magnus smiled, then wrote a message and with a 'Wink' emoticon in it.
"Humph! Mhumomphyunomhoeiam"
She started muttering something inaudible to herself in a low voice but her mood is clearly better.
'She looks like a chipmunk! Aww~ someone's hungry~'
One of the things Magnus like and could never hate is children, he adored them. Though they could be annoying but at the end of the day, they are still kid.
With Elaina...well, she's not like a normal kid. That's what Magnus concluded.
'...She's good at hiding...her feelings to be exact.'
Magnus thought while side-glancing at Elaina who is reaching for another jerky.
Magnus had found out a lot about the elf girl along the way. Firstly, her name was Elaina and that she had just turned five, which meant that she was about a year older than he was, physically that is.
Elaina was a pretty reserved and sometimes out-going, girl. She was also very polite to him at times, and surprisingly never complained, making her a very agreeable traveling companion Magnus could ask for. He found it enjoyable travelling with her especially when he bulli- joked with her.
'...hmm?'
A small white particle slowly fell on top of Elaina's head who's chewing on her second jerky like a chipmunk.
Throwing the remaining jerky from his hand into his mouth, Magnus stood up and took a closer look at the thing that just fell on Elaina's head.
Touching it with his index finger, Magnus could easily guess what it was as it melt almost as soon as his finger comes in contact with it.
'Snow...'
"W-What is it?"
Looking down, Magnus saw Elaina staring at him with her beautiful glassy turquoise round eyes...somewhat warily.
'It must've been weird to suddenly getting poked in the hair...I'm not a pervert don't worry girl'
[Snowflakes (≧∇≦)/]
Magnus wrote a reply professionally.
"Really?!"
Elaina showed an excited expression as she chewed on the jerky. Seeing a kid's innocent smile, Magnus too smiled unconsciously.
[Do you want stop here and rest for today? The sun's setting]
"hmm...okay"
[It's decided then )^o^( ]
With the sun setting and the fog thickening Magnus brought out a small portable tent he looted from the bandits and set it near a particularly large tree for the night.
.
.
Elaina and Magnus can be seen sitting inside the tent. The tent interior's space is enough for 2 adults, so it's more than enough for two kids to comfortably stay inside.
Magnus is slowly trying to take off his cloak as to not let his wound stretch too much.
Elaina is staring at Magnus's slow movement before asking in pure curiosity.
"You don't know how to take off your cloak? I can help, It's very easy!"
Hearing Elaina genuine question and he willingness to give him a hand, he felt like crying...
Magnus just shook his head, denying her help...which is the normal thing to do.
"Okay..."
Elaina was a little dejected before going back to stare.
"..."
After almost a minute, Magnus finally took off his cloak. The wound on his side is slightly visible by Elaina, worrying her.
"Y-You're hurt! Are you o-okay?"
Elaina started panicking like little girl...well, she's one.
[Yes, I am. Can you get me the herbs I collected on the way? Thank you]
Magnus wrote a mirrored message for her to read.
After reading the message, Elaina nodded before hurriedly rummaging through Magnus's backpack.
'Calm down a bit girl...'
Magnus sweat-dropped
"H-Here! With this, you will heal right?"
Elaina innocently expected with her eyes gleaming.
'It's herbs not potion girl...'
Magnus thought before answering something else.
[It will help me get better. You can sleep first (^v^)/ ]
"...Okay..."
Elaina reluctantly went to sleep...
'...'
Magnus saw her glancing at him through the small gap the from the cloak she's using as a blanket.
[Sleep. I see you...]
"...mm"
Getting discovered she turned her head to the other side.
'She's really too worried and anxious...That's quite nice...'
Magnus found the feeling of someone caring for him on their second day of meeting wholesome.
'Now, back to business...'
Magnus slowly twisted and crushed the herbs which released the liquid from the herb. Magnus collected those drops of the herb liquids with magic.
Using water mana generated from his mana core. Magnus cleaned his wound and the dried blood around it.
After cleaning, Magnus poured all of the liquid got from the herb on his wound before covering his wound back with a clean cloth he 'borrowed' from the bandit.
'This is tiring...'
Magnus was tired after making his wound and continuously using knocking breath for a long period of time weakened his body.
*Thud*
Magnus then fell asleep due to the fatigue he accumulated.
"..."
*Stare~*
A round glassy turquoise eyes suddenly fluttered open and stared at the sleeping Magnus between the gap of her cloak silently, blinking a few times.
.
.
In the middle of the night Magnus woke up due to the coldness of the early winter night.
'Fuu~ What a cold nigh-eh?'
Magnus exhaled a misty breath before noticing a little heavy sensation on his belly. Glancing at his belly he saw a leg.
'Wow, what kind of sleeping position is this...?'
Magnus thought after looking at how Elaina sleeps. Her left leg found its way towards Magnus stomach which is quite a warm place.
'...This tent is thin, it's almost the same as sleeping outside...having a heater would be nice'
Magnus complained before concentrating fire mana in his body and focused it on his left palm.
*Fuam!*
A reddish blazing fireball is formed on his palm.
Closing his eyes to maximized his concentration, the fireball dissipated into 5 small fire marble-ball...?
Getting what he desired, Magnus manipulated each of the marble ball-sized fireball to each corner of the tent he's in, to warm it up.
'Perfect...This sure brings back memories...'
Magnus reminisced about the time he's stuck in a freezing dungeon alone.
"hnnn..."
Elaina suddenly moved and positioned herself to a more cozy position. Instead of using Magnus's backpack as a pillow like usual, she used his arm.
'...'
***
The sun has risen in the horizon and that could hardly be seen in the misty forest.
It was a chilling morning that is as expected of winter.
In the tent under a centuries old tree, a dirty darkened brown haired boy can be seen poking a girl with long whitish pale-green hair squishable cheeks.
*Poke*
*Poke*
"Hnn~...5 more minutes..."
"..."
Magnus was speechless,
'How can she be this relaxed? Does she know that her parents are waiting for her?'
*Poke*
'You made me do this girl,
Magnus gave the girl's the poking of her life.
*Poke* *Poke* *Poke*
*Poke* *Poke*
*Poke*
"Eek!! Ah! S-stop! StOP! I'm up! Awake!"
The girl yelled as she rolled her small body till her back touched the tent before getting up and cutely glared at Magnus.
[We need to get going. Winter has already taken her first step upon her months long journey, it also our time to resume our journey...]
"...Don't say something so long in the morning...my head will get dizzy."
Elaina grumbled as she softly rubbed her eyes.
[...That's to be expected from you...Eeking girl :P]
"You!!"
.
.
Magnus and Elaina the elf can be seen walking closely together as Magnus warmed the air around him with magic to keep himself and Elaina warm in this misty yet frosty forest.
*Nom*
*Nom*
The two of them are eating dried rations when Elaina spotted something.
"Mushrooms! I used to eat this at home!...h-home..."
Realization hit her hard. She ran out of her house due to having an arguement with her parents and it's been more than three days already. She was captured on the second day of exploring the forest which prevented her from going home.
Seeing Elaina's melancholy face, Magnus softly ruffled her head to reassure her before slowly crouched down and started picking up different kinds of mushrooms in the vicinity to eat. They've been only been eating dried jerky and breads since yesterday as small beasts are hibernating somewhere.
Elaina just stared at Magnus picking the mushrooms with shocked face before the edge of her mouth curl upwards into a smile.
'...Is this what it's like to have friend?'
Elaina thought as she touched the top of her head where Magnus patted before joining Magnus to pluck out the mushrooms, her long-pointy ears flapping up and down in excitement.
Seeing Elaina enthusiastically plucking mushrooms beside him, Magnus confusedly thought,
'What's up with her now? A few seconds ago she's downcast...It's scary how she could flip her emotion that fast when she's only 5...'
Before long, no more mushrooms can be spotted in the area.
"I got 6 mushrooms!"
[3 with me]
"We have umm...9 Mushrooms!"
Elaina calculated the amount of mushrooms collected.
[...Do you know which one's edible?]
"All! Mushrooms are healthy and tasty!"
Elaina confidently yet innocently gave an immediate answer.
[...I hope so]
Magnus could only mentally facepalmed at this kid.
During his time as the hero, he had 'Appraisal skill'. A convenient skill that is extremely handy to utilize in the wild where many things are unknown.
"Let's cook them for lunch!"
Elaina suggested as she put all the collected mushrooms in Magnus's backpack that is hanging behind his back.
[We will, after walking a little further]
As lunch in in about an hour of walking, Magnus decided to walk a little more.
"Okay~"
Elaina happily walked forward.
'Is mushrooms her favourite or something to get her that excited?'
Magnus pondered before closely following her, it was harder to understand her mind than he thought.
The two have walked passed countless trees and bushes in this misty forest while helping each other.
*Whoosh~*
Hearing a faint gurgling sound, the two looked at each other before heading towards the source,
"It's water!"
Elaina exclaimed loudly, forgetting her fatigue for a moment.
[It's a stream...]
Yes, they spotted a stream, a narrow one to be exact.
'This place is perfect for me to spend time culti- training...'
Magnus observed the surrounding area while Elaina went towards the flowing stream, touching it.
"Eek! It's c-cold!!"
Hearing her yelp, Magnus couldn't ignore his newfound hobby could he?
[What do you expect the temperature of the water to be in winter? Warm? Hahaha, as expected of you, 'Eeking girl' ]
Magnus wrote this as Elaina turned her heads towards him and reads.
"...W-Wha-? You...umm...Adul-no...Oldman wannabe!"
Elaina retorted back.
'Kuh! I've received a critical hit...is mentally being almost 26 considered old? I can't take it...'
[Y-you win...(-_-;)]
"Hmph!"
She proudly puffed her chest. Seeing this, Magnus grew a tick mark, feeling irritated by a kid.
Magnus then put down his backpack and the portable tent to prepare lunch. He had threw away the looted bag from the bandits this morning as all of the necessary things inside it have been used or transfer.
[Can you clean the mushrooms?]
Magnus asked.
"Yes"
'...'
Magnus watched as Elaina walked towards the stream with a bunch of mushrooms in her hand before going back to collecting the dried sticks for the campfire and a stone slab.
Magnus also set up the tent in case they got tired after lunch...
.
.
*Crackle*
Magnus and Elaina can be seen sitting near the campfire while looking at the mushrooms with a troubled look on their face.
[Which one do you think is edible?]
A message appeared in front of Elaina to read.
"All!"
She firmly answered.
'...'
Magnus facepalmed at her answer before going back to look at the mushrooms.
To Magnus, only 3 mushrooms looks good and seemed edible while the other 6 does not look very good which made him speculated it as suspicious.
[...Which one do you think is...bad looking or poisonous then?]
Magnus rephrased his question.
"...hmm...That, that, and that"
Elaina points at the three good-looking mushrooms. Contradicting to what Magnus had thought completely.
[Okay...We'll cook four first. Two good ones and two...bad ones]
Magnus picked up a pair of each before carefully laying it on the hot stone slab to cook them.
*Sizzle*
'It smells great but...this is frustrating!'
Glancing at the slightly drooling Elaina beside him, Magnus thought,
'Elves have good instinct...right?...No no no. Her instinct is tras- I mean...not developed yet, just like her sense of direction.'
Magnus flipped the mushrooms over with two chopsticks stick after some time.
Before long, the mushrooms are ready.
Magnus then put two of the good-looking mushrooms on a leaf that is used as a plate and did the same with the bad-looking ones.
"Which one are you going to eat first?"
Elaina asked.
[I think we should eat the good-looking ones first]
"hmm...no, I don't want to. I want to eat this one"
Elaina declined Magnus's suggestion as she points at the not-so-good looking mushroom.
'...If only any herbivores beasts are present...'
Magnus thought, he wants to capture one beast and see which mushroom it will eat. That way, he could be reassured to eat the one it ate. Unfortunately, they are hibernating...somewhere.
As Magnus is in deep thought. Elaina had already taken a bite in the mushroom she chose.
*nom*
*nom*
Hearing a chewing sound in front of him, Magnus train of thought collapsed before abruptly standing up and tried to stop her.
'Stop!'
"..."
Of course, no sound came out.
*gulp*
Elaina gulped.
"It's yummy~"
'...'
"Why are you standing? Do you not want to eat? It's yummy~"
'...'
[Okay...]
Magnus sat down and picked up the good-looking one
*Bite*
He took a bite and the taste is great.
'This is good'
*Gulp*
Swallowing down the mushroom, Magnus turned to look at Elaina who's staring at him and raised his finger to write.
[This mushroom is gOO...]
Magnus's vision started blurring, Elaina's face enlarged, shrunk, and wobbled in his vision.
'Woah~ The world's spinning~'
Everything in Magnus's perspective is spinning and wobbling like crazy.
Yes, he's extremely drunk at the moment.
With this, he should have once again learned the 'Never judge a book by its cover' quotes.
"It's goo?"
Elaina asked as she skeptically looked at Magnus who suddenly stopped writing and started looking around with drunken eyes and flushed face.
"Are you okay?...You don't look so good..."
Elaina muttered as she stood up and walked towards Magnus who's looking at everything around him.
*Tap*
Elaina touched his forehead with her palm.
'It's a little warm...he's not sick right?'
"Oua!"
Magnus suddenly stood up, startling her.
Magnus's legs were wobbling like jelly, making his body sway left and right unstably.
"Are you okay?"
Elaina anxiously asked as she gripped the black cloak Magnus is wearing. He then suddenly turned towards her with a smile she's familiar with...
'He is drunk?!'
Elaina now understood that Magnus is drunk as he's behaving like her grandfather when he's drunk.
'He needs rest!'
Her eyes darted towards the tent Magnus set up beforehand before dragging Magnus by his cloak towards the tent.
*Thud*
"Eek!"
Magnus suddenly tripped and fell near the entrance of the tent.
"You can do this Elaina"
Elaina muttered with determination before dragging Magnus inside the tent with difficulties.
"Haa...Haa...I did it..."
Elaina tiredly huffed before worriedly looking at the semi-conscious Magnus.
'hmm...?'
She suddenly saw Magnus drunken eyes widened as he looked at her before tears started falling from both his eyes, confusing and panicking her.
Through Magnus's blurry vision, he saw a worried Elaina as the image of his late mother. Elaina's whitish pale-green hair looked white like his mother's hair in Magnus's eyes, coupled with the worried face his mother often showed. Magnus couldn't help but unconsciously cried and voicelessly muttered 'Mother'...It's something Magnus would never do when his mind is stable.
Seeing this, Elaina didn't know what to do.
'W-Why is he crying?! Did he got hurt?...hurt? Ahh!'
Elaina remembered Magnus's injury.
*Gulped*
She gulped down a mouthful of her saliva as she remembered that she'd just dragged him over the ground, completely forgetting about his injury...
She then slowly and nervously opened his cloak...
"AHH!! What have I done?!"
To Elaina horror, there's a little blood flowing out from his wounds, shocking her to the limit.
'What do I do? What do I d- Water! I have to clean it!'
After sorting out her thoughts, Elaina quickly stood up and grabbed a piece of cloth in Magnus's backpack before rushing out towards the stream to wet the cloth, using drinking water in this situation is not wise.
Elaina stopped and crouched down as she arrived at the stream with the palm that is holding a cloth reaching out, soaking it.
'All right!'
Elaina got up after soaking the cloth wet but as she turned around to get back to the tent.
*Thud*
Her face suddenly came in contact with something, halting her movement.
"Ow!"
She then rubbed her nose with a teary eyes before looking up to see what she bumped into.
"!?"
Instantly, Elaina's expression paled. She now looked like a cornered nervous rabbit with her pointy ears drooped.
It was not an object that she bumped into, it was a person who she's familiar with.
The figure that Elaina bumped into is a strikingly beautiful woman with waist-length long blonde hair, her emerald-like eyes is perfectly reflecting the stream's reflected light enticingly. Her face is also devoid of any imperfections, her long pointy ears announced that she's an elf.
"S-s-sister E-Eli..."
Elaina muttered before looking at the ground, not being able to look at the figure straight in the eyes, like a child who got caught red-handed by her mother.
"Elaina. I'm bringing you home, no excuses are allowed."
A soothing yet scary voice said as she then swiftly threw Elaina over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes without effort.
"N-No! Wait! I have t-"
Elaina retorted as she hit her sister's back with her small hands, which did nothing.
"No excuses"
Elaina's sister or Eli as she was called, didn't seem to be slightly affected by the series of hitting Elaina is giving her.
"Sister! I have to go-"
"No excuses, do you know how much her majesty is worried for you?"
"...I know, but-"
"It's good that you know and no buts, I'm bringing you home."
With that said, she seemed to disappeared in untrained person's perspective as the speed she's moving is that fast.
...Elaina never once stopped shouting something inaudible to Eli...
***
A few hours prior, Elrora Kingdom,
A conversation between a parents can be seen going on in the luxurious classy wooden style bedroom.
"Dear, what about our daughter? Today will be the fourth day!"
A breathtakingly beautiful long ash-blonde haired woman in her long nightgown worriedly asked her husband.
"...She will come back, maybe today...or tomorrow."
A handsome man with a short green hair reassured his wife while softly stroking her long pale hair.
"...Send someone to bring her back then, it's already been 4 days...What would happen if...if-"
"Okay okay shuu shu~ You know that our daughter doesn't like being forcefully taken home right?...Nevermind, I will send Elincia, now calm down"
The man did a good job at making life-decision at the second half of his sentence as it calmed his wife who's about to turn into a demon when she heard the first part of his sentence.
As his wife calmed down and fell asleep dur to stress, the man carefully removed himself from his wife's grasp and walked out of the room after giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.
Walking in the hallway while wearing a white robe, he entered a long and wide room that can only be only be a 'Throne Room'.
The room is luxurious on its own, the floor are made of shiny marble and many wooden decorations. Mana lamps brightly lit the room.
He made his way towards the throne and sat down. It was then a figure entered the room from entrance door.
"Summon Elincia as soon as possible, Aeson. I have something to assign her."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
***
Meanwhile, somewhere in the misty forest, in a lone tent near a running stream.
'Where is Mommy?'
.
.
[To be continued...]