Vanya Zylven, the Princess of Vensalor, the Kingdom of Elves, stood leaning against the railing of the Ship, at the forefront. After experiencing a disaster that almost drowned the Ship, they were on. Finally, they would soon land on the docks of Deadbay City, a Human City.
"Come El, we are getting closer."
Vanya continued to pay attention to the landline in the distance that continued to grow, and now there was a pier with several fishing boats anchored along the shoreline.
Elincia walked with heavy steps and a straight face. Standing not far from Vanya, watching the same scene as her.
"So, how is the report from the Kingdom?"
"Ah. So, the King only let us do the errand for mostly…."
Vanya turned to Elincia, something she had expected and didn't really want to happen. Because of the unnatural incident they encountered, Vanya resigned herself to the fact that her trip had to be thwarted this time.
"For mostly two weeks, and only around Deadbay."
Vanya smiled in relief at Elincia's explanation. At least she still had two weeks before returning to Vensalor.
What she really wanted to do was to try human food, enjoy the scenery in their world, and maybe experience fighting monsters in the Dungeon.
"Is there something urgent, El?"
"They said something big might be happening."
"Huuu, what big?"
Vanya bit her lip, thinking.
"Monster attack?"
"I'm not sure myself, princess."
If Zoron didn't provide detailed information about what happened, then the problem they're likely facing isn't that big of a deal. Zoron is the most reliable person in Vensalor. He was a reliable strategist, and his intelligence was also recognized by all the Elves.
Vanya smiled, relieved that the trouble they might be in was nothing to worry about. She had enough time to study and learn a lot about the outside world.
"Who is there, El?"
Vanya pointed to a person who seemed to be standing on the pier, waiting at the spot where their ship would dock.
Elincia immediately recognized the man's identity, the same person who used to accompany them. However, there was one thing that Elincia felt different from before.
"Logan. But why does he look different?"
"Different?"
Elves outlived humans, and so did the way they viewed time. The last time Elincia met Logan was one year ago, but she witnessed a massive change happening to the young man, something that made Elincia amazed at him.
Elincia smiled and turned to Vanya.
"He is a nice guy, princess."
"Is he?"
Elincia nodded her head. Vanya replied with a slow nod, watching the dock slowly getting closer as the ship slowed down and tried to dock.
***
Logan was ready, in the same outfit he wore for the last night's fight. No, it was not the same outfit. He had bought a few sets as a spare. To think he had to immediately use a new one after one fight.
Logan felt he should immediately find an artisan to order more durable clothes for combat.
Logan found the Elves' Ship approaching from a distance. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to reorganize everything that had been weighing on his mind since last night.
Logan reassured himself that everything was still the same as usual. Baneth did not explain in detail about the war they would face. Logan hoped that there was indeed a minor war, something that happened, not recorded in the story he wrote, and would not have a fatal effect.
"Hi…"
Someone snapped Logan out of his daydream. Someone with a sweet voice, a voice that instantly broke the burden that was stuck in his mind and heart.
Logan opened his eyes, startled, momentarily overwhelmed. Someone with a smile as bright as the morning sun, skin as white as snow, beautiful eyes, perfect face shape, and soft blond hair under her robe.
Logan was silent, unable to say a word, let alone return the girl's greeting, who was now standing in front of him. That girl was an Elf that Logan really didn't expect to have such a perfect appearance as a woman.
Someone else walked over and blocked Logan's eyes. A woman with shoulder-length soft pink hair in a dark brown leather dress, with a flat and cold face.
"Hey Logan..."
Logan woke up from his daydream. Trying to get himself back. He immediately recognized the figure in front of him.
"Greeting 5th General, Elincia Roxi…."
"Since when have you been so polite?"
Elincia interrupted Logan's words.
"Am I not?"
"Not really…"
Elincia walked away, directing the other elves who were unloading their goods from the ship.
Vanya waved her hand at Logan as they faced each other again. Logan was at a loss for words.
"Did something big happen to you?"
Elincia rebuked from the other side. Logan immediately turned to the Elven woman.
"Yeah, I got awakened."
Logan tried to identify the other elf girl who had come with Elincia. Someone he didn't recognize. Maybe she wasn't someone important. But he didn't expect that there would be another elf who had a more attractive appearance than the two Elf Generals who were famous for their beauty, Elincia the 5th General and Thessalia the 3rd General.
'Is she Thessalia?'
Logan shook his head, remembering the features of Thessalia, who should have looked like a 25-year-old woman. While the girl in front of him only looked like she was 19 years old.
Elincia noticed Logan, who seemed curious about Vanya's identity, then turned back to them.
"She is..."
"Pan."
"Yea- What? I mean, yeah, she is Pan, my trainee."
Elincia lifted the corners of her lips, trying to copy the movements of someone smiling.
Logan bowed his head at the elf girl in front of him. Pan, a trainee of the 5th General. If she wasn't someone who was talented enough, there was definitely no way Elincia would specially treat that girl.
"My Name is Logan Evans."
"Hi, Logan. Nice to meet you."
Elincia again walked in front of Logan, trying to block his view. She looked into the young man's eyes.
"She is new to human territory. Can you take her for a walk to get to know this place?"
Have a walk? When Logan really wanted to go straight to the Dungeon?
"No, I mean, don't we need to…"
"Sister Elinciaaaaa…."
Someone shouted in the distance, a soft, shrill voice familiar to Logan's ears. Logan turned to where the voice came from and realized Alice was running toward Elincia.
"Hey Alice..."
Alice grabbed Elincia's hand and tried to pull it away. Elincia obeyed the girl and walked away, leaving Logan and Pan alone.
'I need to go to a dungeon.'
Logan intended to ask Elincia to include him in their upcoming Dungeon expedition. Logan couldn't put it off. He tried to catch up to where Alice was taking Elincia but halted when he realized something.
Logan turned to Pan.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Yeah, I'm new to this city. I want to sightsee."
"What? Not a Dungeon?"
Pan was silent, trying to think of why the man before him seemed so eager to go to the Dungeon.
"Let's go to a dungeon."
Logan grabbed Pan's hand and pulled her away. But then stopped, realizing something awkward he was doing.
Logan was used to holding Alice's hand. But by habit this time, he did it to someone he had just met.
Logan turned around, looking at his hand that was holding Pan's. Then looked at the face of the elf girl, who was now also silent, looking back at Logan.
'Should I let go of my hand?' Logan hesitated.
'Are humans used to doing this to people they just met?' Vanya didn't know what to do.