The patch of flowers wasn't large, and it was only beautiful. To everyone watching, it would just appear like a theatrical display of magic.
But Naya was horrified at what it being there implied.
[Lia! What is this?!] She shouted into her mind, but she didn't expect a response since Lia had been absent since she agreed to divulge some secrets. It was frustrating.
As expected, there was no response, and Naya had to shove down her anxiety as Sarah began to move. She would not let it show in front of the humans.
"That... I'm not sure what you did, which in itself is amazing." Sarah leaned down and picked up a red flower. "I don't know what this is, but you somehow created flowers where not even a seed had been planted."
Naya didn't know how the ability worked, how she activated it, or what sort of long-term effect it would have.
Lia told her the essence she absorbed was for her, but perhaps that was a lie. But why would she withhold that Naya could use it? Then, Lia seemed unaware of how her abilities functioned, too, given her comment when Naya absorbed the Arcana from Carla's tower.
Her thoughts were met with silence; something was clearly wrong with Lia.
It filled her with a more significant anxiety.
Lia hadn't given any indication of going away, but perhaps she was asleep as she had been before the Silent Forest. Naya didn't know, and she did not like it.
It both made her anxious and angry that she had just gone dark.
The questions were burning in her mind, but she had no choice but to ignore them.
Rula ran into the field and jumped in front of Naya. "That was amazing! It's beautiful!"
"...Yes," Naya responded blankly.
Rula looked at her curiously. "What's wrong? Not satisfied?"
Naya took a deep breath; she couldn't let her nervousness show, especially now, to Rula. "Her magic was beautiful, and I am pleased with it."
Rula looked like she would say more, but Sora and Sarah both walked up to them.
Sarah had a smile, but her gaze contained suspicion. "I suppose you won't tell me what that was, so I won't ask." She held out the red flower. "But, this is absolutely abnormal, even for an Elf, I'm sure."
Naya took the flower. It felt like a real one, including the flowery scent and moister from the stem. It did not show signs of fading like if it were a regular spell.
"It's my unique ability." Naya simply said. They wouldn't have a choice but to accept a lucky escape since nobody really knew the full extent of Elven magic.
"I'm sure." Sarah still looked suspicious, but Sora looked appeased.
Sora stared directly at Naya. "So? What did you think? That was only a taste of Mom's magical ability, and I can do the same!" She patted her chest.
Naya forced her thoughts down again; she had to move on and wait for Lia to speak again. "I admit, it was impressive. Though inefficient, it would likely make for a challenge against any other person."
Sarah quirked a brow. "Inefficient? Ah, you mean giving it shape. No, that's just a simple command put into my circle."
Naya looked at her in surprise. "You do not waste energy giving it form?" When Naya formed the arrow, it used far more than she wanted it to.
Rula also looked interested; she likely had a curiosity about magic.
Naya couldn't help but look forward to potentially teaching her one day.
Sarah crossed her arms. "No, it's only an extra, minuscule step in the formation. In fact, it needs to have a stable form; it makes control far easier, especially if it's a shape we are familiar with."
That was a surprising bit of information, but Naya felt it when she made her arrow. The problem was that it used more Arcana to form, but she didn't want to receive guidance on it from someone who didn't understand Elven magic.
She wished she could ask her mother.
"Anyway!" Sora turned toward the audience gathered around the small flower patch. "Hey, you louts! Don't we have jobs to do?!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
"Yes!
"Okay..."
Various forms of acceptance, and though their tones lacked respect toward their leader, they all obeyed, and the crowd began to disperse.
"I would never guess you're the leader here!" Rula said as she watched them disperse without complaint.
"Of course I am! I may not look it, but my Mom and I are the only defense this place has from monsters." Sora responded, but she didn't seem too thrilled about it.
It was unsurprising since that meant if they died, everyone else here would be next. There were many noncombatants and children mixed in.
"Why do you stay in the forest?" Naya asked. She didn't understand why stick around in a place where the entire settlement relied upon a couple of people, a couple of fragile humans.
Sarah sadly sighed. "It is our home; we cannot abandon it so readily."
"I get it..." Rula mumbled.
Naya looked at the three's sad expressions. She wondered if she'd love her land the same if it were a place with as much danger as this forest.
She didn't have a good answer.
Naya just nodded. "I get it."
Sora chimed in, "Well, there you have it." She stretched and began to walk away. "I don't like your tone, but I'll happily take your help. We don't know when the Flameclaws will attack; they likely know you're here. So we best prepare ourselves."
She moved toward some of the walls that were being enhanced around the trees with brick and wood. Though it seemed futile, it was likely to feel like they were doing something.
Sarah smiled as she watched Sora go. "She may not look it, but the situation is eating her. We know how little we can do against Flameclaws; they are the opposite of us and counter what we do."
"You fought them before?" Naya remembered the claw marks on Sora's side.
"We escaped from them before." Sarah corrected and sighed again. "I could fight one, I think. But two? Three? I would lose, and Sora isn't ready for me to pass just yet."
She looked like a general who had seen many battles as she stared lovingly at Sora's already distant figure.
Naya thought she sounded uncaring about her own death, more worried about what it would mean for her daughter.
It reminded Naya of her relationship with her own mother. She wondered how she convinced the Elders to send her on a quest to let her back in. Did she have to sacrifice anything for her? Were her feelings similar to Sarah's?
Then again, the week gap was her mother's doing. But during the meeting with the Elders, she seemed just as angry that Naya would be banished. So perhaps she didn't expect it to turn out the way it did.
Naya shook those thoughts away, but the sadness remained when she realized she likely would not get answers for a long time.
Rula also had a dejected look. Seeing other people's loving relationships likely reminded her of her own father and sister.
Naya reached down and grabbed her hand.
Rula looked up at her and bitterly smiled.
Sarah turned back to the two of them "It's not that serious; I won't die. Especially with your help, Naya."
Naya would make sure of that.
She said she would help, and so she would not let even a single person die.
"You two may go around and see the sights; if they are smart, they won't attack until nighttime if they even attack today." With those words, Sarah walked away.
"What should we do, Naya?" Rula looked up at her.
Naya wanted nothing more than to run up to the room she was given and figure out why Lia wasn't responding.
"We will explore outside the village." Naya started to walk in the direction of the opened gate. "There are still hours until dusk, so we should observe the surroundings."
"Okay." Rula looked like she wanted to say more but didn't, and she had a sad frown.
"What's wrong, Rula?"
Rula shook her head. "Nothing."
"Do not lie to me; your emotions are easily spotted."
Rula snickered. "Says you, Miss Ears."
Naya's ears twitched, and Rula giggled some more.
They continued walking a bit further through the people who took glances at them as they passed.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this." Rula gestured with her head toward all those taking quick glances at them between their work.
Naya observed them. The stares didn't feel bad; they resembled the curious glances of a child. It had happened every time she entered into civilization, so she had learned to put up with it.
"You get used to it," Naya said.
"You know, I've never killed anything before." Rula suddenly said.
Naya stopped, and Rula, with her head down, bumped into her side.
"Oops."
"You will not be killing anything tonight." Naya resolutely said. She would not allow Rula to fight; she would die, and even if she somehow won, she did not want to force Rula to do that.
"You say that now, but it will happen eventually. I know it." Rula didn't look saddened by that, more resigned. "I wanted this path... I want to get rich and buy a castle!" She exclaimed.
That was an odd desire. "A castle?" Naya asked.
Rula nodded rapidly. "And my family will live in it. I'll have a ton of butlers, and I'll even have a room for you!" Rula explained, like it was inevitable, that it would happen.
Naya felt touched despite how childish the dream sounded. It wasn't too outlandish for her. In fact, if Rula really wanted a castle, Naya could just go take one. But it seemed like it was more profound than that, and Naya hated that she couldn't reach for the meaning.
"So, we need to keep going." Rula looked up at Naya, a newfound determination in her gaze that shook her. "We finish this quest, we go back, we take more, we get super rich, we get super famous."
She almost sounded desperate.
Naya only nodded. "It will all happen." Though she didn't care for the riches, fame was lovely, and she needed to rank up anyway.
Plus, money would be nice to have.
Rula smiled. "So, I need to fight too."
"No, you-"
"Stop!" Rula shouted, which turned some gazes their way. She let go of Naya's hand and moved to her front to stare into her eyes. "It won't be Naya and the Halfling! It will be Naya and Rula! I am not some pet to be protected, Naya!"
Naya shook. So that's what was on her mind. If she did quests with her, it was bound to be seen how she feared it would. A halfling sidekick.
The feeling was not unfamiliar to Naya.
Even now, Naya couldn't recall the names of her mother's various assistants on her projects.
She remembered how she was often called Nayarali's daughter, not Nayalisia.
It allowed her to easily understand Rula's desire.
Naya went to her knee, mimicking precisely as her mother had when she expressed similar thoughts as a child.
"I'm sorry for not realizing sooner," Naya said. "If you wish to fight, to make your name ring alongside mine, I will assist you."
Rula smiled widely. "That's all I want!"
Naya had forgotten that she couldn't treat Rula like a pet, and such a relationship would not be sustainable if Rula would be with her for a long time.
Naya stood and retook Rula's hand.
They made their way outside the village gates, where there wasn't a single guard, and it was left open.
[Their security is lacking. ]
Though it didn't matter since the only combatants were Sarah and Sora, it was odd that there was no security here. A guard was stationed there last night, but it seemed their guard was down during the day.
"I really hope we can save this place," Rula said.
"It will not fall," Naya responded confidently.
Naya wasn't sure how she would fight the Flameclaws now that they knew she could absorb their flames. Hopefully, they kept their low intellect and continued using it either way. Otherwise, she'd have to take a hit from the flaming claws to absorb some.
Once outside the village, Naya continued down the path through the lush vegetation.
She could see and hear monkeys swinging through the trees and noticed a river flowing a short distance away.
The walk continued until Naya barely saw the village gates behind her and made her way to the flowing river.
Naya stopped there and let go of Rula's hand.
"Sometimes, wild animals might forget their places in the world." Naya suddenly said.
"What?" Rula asked, and then her eyes widened.
"Those long ears aren't for show." A deep, male voice spoke with a tinge of a beastly roar in its breath that came from the trees.
"I knew one of you would attack me out here. Your behavior is as predictable as this river; you are still mindless animals, despite what that bitch tried to make you." Naya smirked toward a spot in the trees.
"N-naya, maybe... don't?" Rula backed up toward the river with her sketchbook now in her arms. It seemed she took it out whenever she was nervous.
"The halfling is right, Elf!" The voice growled. "You may have beaten my Father and Sister, but you not have the same luck with me."
"Come out then. You're behaving like the wrong type of beast," Naya said dismissively. "Unless Soranulam mixed in some rat blood with her failed experiments."
"You..."
Naya made a face of faux realization. "Right, Soranulam is just as stupid as you mindless things, so perhaps she did make that mistake." She nodded as if that were the case.
"Naya, what's gotten into you?!" Rula said.
Naya didn't answer. She had too much on her mind, and the beast allowed her the perfect opportunity to vent it out. But despite its words, it obviously had its guard up, and Naya needed it to attack her.
"I will skewer you!"
A red ball of flames launched from the entrance to the trees, one far more condensed and clean than those thrown by Mora and her Father. It traveled in a streak of red light, instantly reaching Naya.
But it didn't matter.
Naya flashed her arm out, and the ball of fire went into her purple vortex as if they were just playing catch.
"You really are stupid." The purple lines went up to Naya's knuckles; evidently, the beast had thrown a lot of power into that fireball.
Realizing its mistake, the beast decided to jump out of the forest.
It was a tiger covered in red flames, with long canines and sharp talons coated in red fire. Its fur was black, but it had red horizontal stripes lining its body from the front to the end of its tail.
Its tail had a ball of red flames at the end, and that's where Naya assumed the flaming sphere came from.
Rula clutched her sketchbook tighter and stepped further back; she nearly stumbled into the river.
"Good," Naya said mockingly. "You shouldn't try to mimic anything with sentience."