Elisa was slowly making her way through the bushes trying her best to not get spotted. Soon another groan could be heard and this time it was all loud and clear.
It was of a boy. Elisa slightly peeked from behind the tree to see what the issue was. As soon as she popped her head from behind the tree, her eyes widened from the scene her sight just witnessed.
A raven haired boy who looked slightly older than her, probably around the age of fifteen, was laying on the ground growling in pain as his right foot was stuck in a bear trap and blood had painted the whole right foot red.
Elisa panicked and stepped out of the cover, alerting the boy. He jolted his head towards Elisa and glared at her, making her flinch. She gulped and slowly started to approach the boy.
"It's okay, I won't hurt you. I'm here to help. Don't worry." Elisa said as she was slowly forwarding her step towards the boy whereas he was just silently observing her. Elisa sat beside the boy's foot which was stuck in the bear trap. She extended her hand to help him remove it but before she could touch it, he yanked her hand making her fall backwards.
"Ow!!! Hey!! I'm trying to help you! Is this how you treat someone who is trying to help you? If you keep doing that I probably won't help you anymore!" Elisa snapped at that boy as he got taken aback at her sudden outburst.
"I didn't ask you though," the boy said in a low voice.
"Oh, so you can speak? I thought you couldn't. Well that's good. Now just stay still and let me help. If you don't cooperate it'll hurt even more, Okay?" Elisa warned as he stayed silent. Elisa slowly extended her hand and held the bear trap in her hands. She closed her eyes and exerted some mana through her hands on the bear trap, causing it to loosen up.
Her hands were glowing, emitting golden lustre which caught the attention of the boy. Soon the bear trap opened as Elisa used a little force to open it. As soon as the foot got released by the trap, the blood started oozing out like there's no tomorrow. Elisa quickly pressed the wound with her hands to stop the blood flow as the boy hissed in pain.
"I'm sorry but it'll hurt a bit. You have to bear it for a little while, please" Elisa said before closing her eyes.
She started to mumble something and soon her whole body started to glow emitting the same golden lustre as her hair started to float. The boy was just too mesmerized by her beauty to even forget the pain he was in. Soon after she finished the procedure and opened her eyes.
She removed her hand from his feet and after taking a look at his feet she had a satisfied look on her face, confusing the boy.
He followed her gaze and took a look at his once injured feet and to his surprise, it was healed as if it was never injured at first place, he neither felt any more pain. He was amazed by the girl's abilities and was in trance until Elisa's voice shook him up.
"'Good job, Kiddo!' Master would say this if he was here. He would be so proud! Look at this! No crumbs left!" Elisa exclaimed while patting herself on her back.
"You're a mage?" the boy suddenly spoke.
"...Wow, you're so smart. Isn't it a little too early to be asking that? Even after witnessing the whole majestic procedure with your own eyes?" Elisa said as the boy rolled his eyes. Oh, the sarcasm. "Of course I'm a mage and that too a special one" Elisa said as the boy furrowed his eyebrows.
Elisa looked here and there before leaning close to him and whispered, "My power animal is a Phoenix", the boy looked at her with a shocked expression whereas Elisa had a proud expression plastered on her face.
"Mommy told me that I am special, which is why I have to protect myself and others as well" Elisa said while sitting back on her spot.
"Oh! Silly me. I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm..." Elisa was saying but stopped as a thought came to her mind.
'I don't even know him. Mommy told me not to talk to strangers, but now I have already helped him. And he doesn't seem so bad. Should I tell him?' she thought. After wondering for a second she finally spoke.
"I'm Eli. What is Big Brother's name?" She asked.
'My name is Elisa and I told him my half name, it should be okay since I didn't lie. I just didn't tell the whole truth. I'm so smart.' Elisa thought while being proud of her intelligence.
"None of your business" he said and got up. Elisa got offended and stood up as well.
"That's rude. I told you my name so you should tell me yours!" she argued. The boy looked at her before saying, "Did I ask you though?" making Elisa more furious.
"Excuse me Big Brother! First, you didn't thank me for helping you. Second, my white clothes and hands are now stained with your blood for which I have yet to answer my mother. Third, I want to be your friend and you are being rude to me. Fourth, you have said 'Did I ask you though?' two times which hurt my feelings. So bad, Big Brother!"
She snapped at him and he was just speechless. Well, she was right though, she did help him and was sweet to him too.
"Thank you" he said in a low voice while averting his gaze, catching Elisa off guard.
"What? What did you say?" she asked with a playful smile plastered on her face. He looked at her and said, "Thank you"
"What? I didn't hear you. Please say it again" Elisa said getting close to him as he got flustered. "I said thank you! Now can you hear it!" He exclaimed as Elisa squealed.
"Oh my God! Are you thanking me? No worries, no worries. It's my duty." Elisa said with a big smile, making the boy's heart flutter.
"By the way? How did you get trapped in that thing?" Elisa asked, pointing towards the bear trap. The boy was silent.
"It's okay if you don't want t-"
"Someone threw it" the boy cut Elisa off. Elisa got confused.
"Someone threw it? I didn't get it?" she asked.
"Someone from the other side of the border threw it here and I was here with my subordina-" he was speaking but stopped midway. "Subordi what?" Elisa asked with a confused expression.
"My friends…I was here with my friends and I subconsciously stepped on it" he explained as she nodded understanding the situation.
"By the way, how did you get here?" he asked.
"I have my ways," Elisa said, proudly.
"But...where are your friends?" she added as realization hit him.
"Right, they must be around here somewhere. You should leave before they get here." the boy said with desperation.
"Eh? Why?" Elisa asked.
"Because...just leave. Don't ask questions and leave." he said and started to drag Elisa towards the border while she opposed it.
"But why?" she asked.
"Just leave already!" he yelled and pushed Elisa as she stumbled.
"Just tell me the reason at least?" she asked again.
"Because they are werewolves!" he exclaimed as Elisa got silent.
"So, you should l-" "I know"
Elisa cut him off as he looked at her. She stepped closer and said, "I know they are werewolves. And I also know that you are too." The boy went silent due to shock.
"And I know this too that, you are no ordinary werewolf but the pact leader's son and the next leader-in-line" she completed as the boy was thunderstruck by Elisa's statement.
"How did you know? And are you not afraid?" he asked, still in shock.
"Do you think I'm dumb? Of course I know this is werewolves' territory so obviously I'll find all werewolves here, am I supposed to meet ducks? And how do I know your real identity? Hmm...that's because I'm smart. It is common sense, Dumbo. You have that crescent moon symbol on your upper arm which you were trying to hide this whole time, I saw it and only pact leaders or upcoming leaders have that on their left upper arm specifically" Elisa looked towards his hand that was covering the symbol. Then she continued,
"As for why am I not scared? because I'm a mage stupid! I can tell people species and due to my power animal I can tell their aura as well which helps me differentiate between evil and good. Just like you, you have a warm aura with a little bit of darkness but your pureness overcomes it. And since I didn't sense any danger from you, even that little darkness couldn't stop me from helping you." Elisa explained while the boy was just stunned by Elisa's observation and sharpness.
"That's really impressive but still, it is dangerous or are you ready to fight off a pack of six to seven wolves with those little fists?" he said as realization hit Elisa.
'He's right. I can't fight off one wolf at the moment, how can I fight off a pack of them. I also don't have much mana left and the one that's left is required for me to pass the border so I can not waste it' Elisa thought.
"You're right. I should leave. I really wish we could meet again." she said with a disappointed expression as the boy smiled.
"Your smile is really pretty," Elisa said.
"What?" The boy got perplexed as his heart started to do flips and he became a red tomato, making Elisa laugh.
"You're so cute, big Brother" Elisa said and patted his head while tiptoeing on her feet and that is when a new feeling aroused.
"Y-Your aura?" Elisa said as the boy got confused. Elisa looked at him and said, "The darkness in your aura disappeared...It is purified!"
Making the boy's eyes go wide. Elisa smiled at him and said, "You started to like me, didn't you?", making the boy flustered and upon his reaction Elisa laughed and again tiptoed before placing a soft peck on his cheek, making him freeze on his spot,
"Even though we met today and that too not for a very long time, but still...I'll really miss you" she said with a smile whereas the boy was still too shocked to react to anything.
"Will you tell me your name? Won't you tell your savior your name? Don't forget, you are now under my debt and you have to return it some day! Don't you dare forget it." Elisa said while slowly stepping backwards.
"My name is...." Elisa stopped in her tracks when he spoke and was about to tell his name.
"A- *Howl*"
Before the boy could speak anything, a loud howl of the wolves could be heard causing him to panic. He rushed towards Elisa before grabbing her shoulders.
"They have sensed your unusual scent. You have to leave! Now!" he yelled as Elisa got perplexed. He slightly pushed Elisa, indicating her to go.
"Run!"
He again shouted as Elisa flinched. She was about to run back but before she could do anything a pack of wolves came out of the bushes from behind the boy, making Elisa's heartbeat rise. The boy also panicked and pushed Elisa, making her fall on the ground. She got confused by his sudden behavioral change.
He growled as his hazel eyes started to change color, scaring Elisa even more. And before anything could happen Elisa jumped up and started to run as the wolves started to chase her. Tears were streaming down her eyes as she was scared. She couldn't fight back since she used up all her mana in healing the boy.
As for the boy, he just stood at his place with teary eyes as he watched the little girl running for her life. He felt guilty for not trying to help her, for being weak, for being a coward.
"Andre...my name is Andre...I'm sorry..." he said as a lone tear streamed down his eye.