Elin hadn't really expected Kim to join her on a walk, though what she had really wanted was to talk with Kim to figure out if she was still interested in her or if her interest had moved on. Elin still liked Kim, but if Kim wasn't interested, Elin didn't see the point in hanging around Kim, hoping that she'd take an interest in her again.
However, when Kim had finished testing out the abilities of her sword, Kim had merely come back and fallen asleep without even given Elin a chance to say anything. Which made her decide to give up on talking with her. Kim's interests were already clear for her to see. That Elin's appeal had worn off and she needed to move on as well.
The problem was the fact that she knew she didn't have any real combat abilities of her own, at least none that would be useful in a drawn-out fight, like the kind they seemed to have more often than not. Especially since her healing abilities were what was the most important aspect about her.
As Kim slept, Elin decided to go on a walk on her own to at least try to clear her head. She wasn't sure what to do right then, but was pretty sure that she should leave at the first opportunity she had. Or at least the first opportunity when they were close to some kind of civilization. If she ended up getting killed because she struck out on her own, then she'd just have to accept that. Life didn't always give you what you wanted, anyway.
Elin didn't really have a planned route as she walked, so she found it a little surprising to find herself walking back into the camp without having even thought about heading back. Almost like she had planned the route to do just that. Even though she couldn't say what route she'd taken in the first place or how she'd even gotten turned around without realizing it.
Still, even though she was back at the camp, that didn't mean that she couldn't just start on another walk. After all, it wasn't like anyone had really taken note of her having returned anyway. Or even have left in the first place, for that matter.
Part of it was satisfying to Elin, but on another hand, she couldn't help but feel most isolated from everyone else by that same fact. Where no one cared to take note of where Elin was at any particular time. Which further showed to her that it didn't matter if she was there or not. Everyone would be able to continue on without any real troubles. That if she stayed, she'd be in the way more than anything else.
Just like how Kim had to get Elin to back off so she could do her training.
Elin didn't bother thinking about which direction to go into for another walk. Though, this time she chose a different direction from where she had previously on the hopes that it wouldn't have her reentering the camp so soon.
If Elmo hadn't gone on the hunting trip, she might have considered asking if he'd like to accompany her, but since he wasn't there, she didn't see the point in further thinking about it.
As she reached the edge of the valley, Elin couldn't help but glance back at the camp. Her thoughts full of longing and disappointment. Kim had been her everything in this world. A world where she only had uncertainty and trepidation. A world that she doubted she'd have been able to survive if Kim hadn't been one of the people helping her.
Elin wasn't sure how far she had travelled, but as the sun started to go down, she stopped when she heard a noise.
It was faint and indistinct, but it was different enough from the other ambient noise that it stood out to Elin. She didn't know what to do about it, only that she couldn't help but wonder what it was.
She could remember several stories from when she was a child about strange things occurring when a person was walking through unfamiliar places. How if the person had a pure and good heart that creatures in the forest would help them out, in whatever way they needed. However, if the person had a dark and evil heart, the creatures would lead that person to their doom. To where they would meet the end all who had such hearts would meet sooner or later.
Elin knew she had a pure and good heart. Though, it ached as she recalled how many times Kim had said something similar to that effect to her. Which she did her best to push out of her mind so it wouldn't bother her as she sought the source of the noise.
It sounded rather melodic, but also sad in a way. Like it was an echo of the emotions Elin could feel tumbling through her heart. She wasn't sure if she was imagining this, but she still felt drawn to it, unable to resist.
Elin wasn't sure how much time passed as she continued walking, nor was she aware of anything other than the noise, which turned into singing as she continued. She wasn't sure what might be singing, but she felt a need to find them. She couldn't say why, just that she needed to.
When she finally found the source, she saw a young woman, about her own age, in a clearing, sitting on a rock, singing a song that felt like it was more vocalizing than actual words. Even though Elin wasn't sure what the words even meant. Just that they added to the tranquil beauty of the song.
The young woman had hair that seemed to be made of reds, yellows, and oranges. Like they naturally shift as the hair grows, so that each strand comes out in a variegated sort of color pattern. Elin could see that the woman's eyes were a dazzling emerald, like actual emeralds were created to imitate her eyes. She wore a simple dress that looked rather light. The color was blue and seemed to enhance all of the young woman's features. Such as being a blue sky for her fiery hair.
"So lovely," Elin breathed, unable to stay quiet.
Elin's words startled the young woman, so jumped up from where she sat and stared at Elin with a frightened expression on her face.
"Who are you?" the woman asked, her voice tinged with fear.
"My name is Elin Davies," Elin said, curtsying. She couldn't help but be curious about the young woman, though she wasn't sure where to start with the questions that rolled through her mind.
"My name is Elysia Violet," the young woman replied. "What're you doing here? No one else has come here before."
Elin shrugged, not really sure where 'here' was in relation to where her group's campsite was. "I just went for a walk when I heard your singing. It was so beautiful."
Elin felt like she should be asking more about Elysia, but her mind kept returning to the song. She wasn't sure if there was something she should be asking instead, but at the moment she couldn't bring herself to care about anything other than that song.
"Would you mind singing it for me?" Elin asked looking away, suddenly feeling rather shy. She wasn't sure how she appeared to the young woman, but she couldn't help but feel like she didn't look as good as she would like to.
Elysia looked like she was relaxing a little, but still looked rather tense. She looked like she wasn't sure how to respond to Elin's request. Like she wanted to continue singing, but also like she wanted to run as fast as she could. Away from Elin.
"If you won't, do you know if I might be able to see you again?" Elin asked, unsure if she should be asking this. After all, she hadn't yet left Kim, even though she expected herself to. While on the other hand, she couldn't be sure if this young woman wouldn't be someone who she could stay with. Someone who's life was on this world and give Elin a life she could live on if she wasn't able to return to her own world.
Elin waited and waited. Time passed by until Elin heard a wolf howl in the distance. The sound didn't pull Elin's gaze away from the beauty in front of her, but it did seem to have an effect on Elysia.
"I'm sorry," was all she said before she turned and ran into the trees.
Elin felt torn about wanting to follow after her or just stay where she was. She wasn't sure what she'd do if she managed to catch up to Elysia Violet. She couldn't say that she would be able to be any more articulate than she already had been, but she couldn't bring herself to care about that.
She couldn't say how or why, but she was confident that she would still see Elysia again. That this wouldn't be their final meeting. Although, she hadn't a clue as why she thought that. Or what Kim would think if she ever became aware of Elysia as well.