Chereads / The Science and Magic of a Reincarnated Genius / Chapter 30 - The Elf’s new life

Chapter 30 - The Elf’s new life

Three days had passed since Lenna and her companions escaped the suffocating darkness of the underground prison.

They now lived off the land, relying on their resourcefulness and the forest's abundance. The tools they used were rudimentary but effective, crafted from the natural materials they found scattered around.

A bow, fashioned from a pliant piece of fine wood and strong vines, became their primary weapon. Arrows were sharpened sticks, hardened in fire by Nova, the fox girl whose magic was as precise as her determination. They wielded a stone axe, its head tied securely with the same vines, and a sturdy wooden club they had discovered abandoned in the underbrush.

The division of labor came naturally. Nova and Jace, the wolf boy, excelled in hunting, bringing back rabbits or squirrels almost daily. Cara, the wolf girl, worked alongside Lenna to gather fruits, berries, and anything else edible they could find.

Nova, the eldest and seemingly most experienced, took charge of preparing their meals. As dusk settled each day, she would skin their catches with skillfulness and roast the meat using her fire magic. The four of them would then share their modest bounty, huddled close to the crackling flames, their camaraderie a fragile comfort in an otherwise dire situation.

The rhythm of their days was stable until the forest itself turned against them. That morning began like any other. Nova had already prepared a simple breakfast of fruits by the time the others awoke. After eating, they made their way to a nearby river they had recently discovered, its cool, clear waters providing a moment of reprieve. They bathed, filled their water pouches, and laughed softly as if the shadows of their captivity were a distant memory.

But the tranquility shattered when the bear appeared.

It was no ordinary beast. Towering twice the size of any bear Lenna had seen, its fur bristled like armor, and its piercing green eyes glowed with unnatural intensity. A strange, luminous symbol adorned its forehead, radiating an aura of power.

The bear's roar reverberated through the forest, freezing them in place. Nova reacted instantly, her voice rising in an urgent chant. Flames erupted from her outstretched hands, forming fireballs that she hurled at the beast. The flames struck, but they barely singed its hide, dissipating harmlessly against its thick fur. Instead of retreating, the bear's rage seemed to amplify. The glowing mark on its head flared, and the ground beneath them quaked violently.

Cracks spiderwebbed through the earth, throwing the group off balance. A low growl to their right signaled more danger. A pack of wolves burst from the woods, their eyes wild with fear, their direction aimed not at the group but away from the bear. Lenna's breath hitched. Why were they being surrounded? Was this the end?

The bear's magic intensified, the earth heaving beneath their feet. Lenna struggled to stay upright, her heart pounding in terror. Just as despair began to take hold, a blur of movement streaked through the chaos. A woman with pointed ears and a commanding presence appeared, her bow drawn in one fluid motion.

She loosed a volley of arrows, each one finding its mark. The wolves fell instantly, their threat extinguished. The elf—for that's what she must be—was a force of nature. Before Lenna could comprehend what was happening, the elf turned her attention to the bear. In an instant, she vanished from sight, only to reappear directly before the monstrous creature.

The elf lowered her bow and locked eyes with the bear. An eerie silence fell over the forest. The tension was palpable as the two seemed to communicate, though no words were spoken. Lenna could only guess at what transpired between them. Minutes dragged on until, finally, the bear's glowing mark dimmed. It rumbled a low growl and retreated into the shadows of the forest, leaving the group unharmed.

The elf turned to them, her sharp gaze lingering on Lenna with an intensity that made her squirm. "My name is Ava," she said, her voice commanding. She listened as Nova explained their predicament, nodding thoughtfully. "This forest is no place for you," Ava said. "I'll take you to Carmine Village in the Vermont Barony. It's one of the few places where all races are truly welcome." She paused, her expression darkening. "Though the Queen has abolished slavery and encouraged better relations between races, much of the kingdom remains unchanged."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ava set up camp, sharing her rations with the group. Her efficiency was impressive; within moments, a secure tent and warm fire were ready. Lenna found herself drawn to the elf's quiet strength.

That night, as the others succumbed to exhaustion, Lenna found herself drifting into an uneasy sleep. Her dreams were vivid, pulling her into a world that wasn't her own. Shadows thickened and swirled, forming the outline of a dense forest. The air was damp, heavy with the earthy scent of moss and rain-soaked leaves. Somewhere in the distance, a faint cry echoed, thin and desperate, like a bird calling out in a storm.

The shadows shifted, and suddenly Lenna stood within Violet's memories.

A young elven girl emerged from the darkness, her silver hair tangled and streaked with dirt. Her delicate features—high cheekbones and almond-shaped sapphire eyes—were distinctly elven, yet they were streaked with tears and exhaustion.

She crouched low beneath the shelter of thick branches, her breaths shallow and panicked. The pale moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting patterns over her trembling form. Her voice broke the silence, trembling with a mix of fear and urgency.

"Find Helen. She's searching for us. She's the only way we can meet my real mother."

The air around Lenna quivered with Violet's desperation, the plea embedding itself deep within her chest.

The dream shifted violently, plunging Lenna into another scene. She now stood in the middle of a dimly lit human tavern. The heavy smell of ale, sweat, and stale wood smoke hung in the air, clinging to her senses. Lanterns struggled to illuminate the space, their flickering light casting strange shadows on the grimy walls. Violet huddled in a corner, her small frame pressed tightly against Helen's side.

Helen, tall and striking even by elven standards, radiated an otherworldly presence. Her golden hair shimmered faintly even in the dim light, catching the eyes of several patrons who whispered and glanced their way. Her sharp features were set in a grim mask, her piercing blue eyes locked onto an enraged human man who stood opposite her. His bulk towered over the tavern patrons, and his weathered face twisted into a sneer of disdain.

"She's a runaway," the man growled, his voice a venomous rumble that carried through the room. "Elves like her fetch a fine price. Hand her over, and I'll make it worth your while."

Helen didn't flinch. Her hand hovered near the hilt of her sword, her lithe frame taut with tension. "She's a child under my care," she said, her voice low but sharp as tempered steel. "You'll not touch her."

The man stepped closer, his shadow growing larger as it stretched across the floor. "This isn't elven territory," he spat, his words dripping with malice. "You've no rights here. She belongs to me now."

The tavern seemed to hold its breath. The muttering patrons fell silent, their gazes darting between Helen and the man like spectators anticipating a fight. Helen's jaw tightened, her fingers curling around her sword's hilt.

"She belongs to no one," Helen said, her voice cold and unyielding.

The tension snapped like a bowstring. Chairs scraped against the floor as patrons scrambled to move, and the room exploded into chaos. The man lunged, his movements unrefined but fueled by brute strength. Helen moved with the grace of a predator, her blade flashing like a silver streak as it deflected his advance. The clash of steel rang out, sharp and jarring against the dull roar of the scuffle.

Violet's grip on Helen's cloak tightened, her small fingers trembling. Lenna could feel her fear—a suffocating weight pressing against her ribs. Violet's wide eyes darted frantically around the room, searching for an escape.

And then it happened. Amid the chaos, Helen was forced to spin away, her cloak slipping from Violet's grasp. "Stay close!" Helen shouted, her voice barely audible over the shouts and crashes. But Violet couldn't obey. The jostling crowd separated them, bodies pressing in like a crushing tide.

Lenna's perspective shifted again, pulling her to the edge of a dark forest. Violet's breaths came in shallow gasps as she crouched beneath a bush, her small frame shaking. The cool night air pressed against her flushed skin, the earthy scent of damp leaves mingling with the acrid stench of fear.

From her hiding place, Violet could hear the heavy thud of boots on the forest floor. Torchlight flickered through the trees, casting jagged beams that danced closer with every passing moment. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat loud and frantic in her ears.

Run, a voice in her mind urged. But she was frozen, her limbs locked in place.

One of the men stepped closer, his torch illuminating the ground in jagged, wavering light. Violet's panic surged. She bolted, her bare feet slipping on wet leaves and mud. The cold bit into her skin as branches clawed at her arms and face. She darted left, then right, her instincts guiding her as the shouts of her pursuers grew louder.

But it wasn't enough. Her foot caught on a root, sending her sprawling to the ground. She scrambled, clawing at the earth, but rough hands seized her arms before she could rise.

The captor's grip was unyielding, the nails biting into her skin. Violet twisted and screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the darkness. Lenna could feel the elven girl's terror, a cold, paralyzing force that choked the air from her lungs. The last thing she saw before the memory faded was the cruel, triumphant grin of the man as Violet was dragged into the shadows.

Lenna woke with a start, her chest heaving as though she had been the one running. Her fingers dug into the ground beneath her, clutching at the cold, solid earth as if it could anchor her back to reality.

Lenna couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The weight of Violet's words hung in the air, haunting and unrelenting.

Find Helen.

The plea echoed in her mind, a fragile thread tying her to the young elf's anguish and hope.

Unable to sleep, Lenna stepped outside the tent. Ava sat by the fire, her expression contemplative. "Couldn't sleep?" the elf asked without looking up.

Lenna shook her head. "Bad dreams."

Ava nodded knowingly and handed Lenna a fur pelt. "Dreams can't hurt you now. Rest while you can."

Their conversation turned to Lenna's origins. Ava seemed puzzled when Lenna admitted to freezing things with her magic. "That's unusual for someone with dark skin," Ava said thoughtfully. "Most dark-skinned elves are Fire or Dark Elves. It must've been hard for you."

Lenna hesitated. "I… don't remember much. I've lost some of this body's memories."

Ava's brows furrowed, but she didn't press further. "When we reach Carmine, I'll take you to someone who might help."

Dawn broke, and Ava began packing their camp. She urged the group to bathe in the river while she prepared for the day. After the groups bath something had changed. Ava's demeanor toward Lenna grew oddly formal. She addressed her as "my lady," a term that felt out of place. When Lenna asked why, Ava explained, "You bear the mark of Elven royalty—specifically, the heir to the throne."

Lenna stared at her in disbelief. "I don't remember being a princess. Please, just treat me the way you did before."

Ava inclined her head but said nothing more.

The journey to Carmine Village took several days. Upon arrival, Lenna insisted that her royal identity remain concealed. Ava agreed, enrolling Lenna in a magic school where a trusted elf named Maggie would assist her.