The two figures barely held his attention. They moved quietly through the trees, unaware of his presence, and he saw no reason to interfere with their journey. From his perch in the branches, he watched them slip away into the distance.
Once the coast was clear, he leaped down from the tree, landing softly on the forest floor. He had already spoken to his sister; now it was time to seek out her elder sister. There was more on his mind than just the sprained finger he'd been nursing. The person he was about to meet had the answers he needed, and time was not on his side.
He glanced up at the sky. The sun had passed its zenith, casting long shadows across the forest. His heart quickened. He didn't have long before the window to access that strange place would close. Whatever mysteries it held, it wouldn't remain open to him indefinitely.
His pace picked up, but in his rush, he overlooked a critical detail: the two people he had just seen had come from the direction he was heading. He'd have to be cautious.
---
The knock on the wooden door echoed through the small room. Nisha answered swiftly, her delicate hands pulling open the door. "You've arrived," she said softly, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
The figure on the threshold stood still. "There's no need for such formalities," the elf replied, her voice carrying the weight of years. "I am no more than a sinner, stripped of my name and my honor." Behind her, a hulking man loomed, his silent presence filling the doorway, yet he did nothing but stand there, watching.
Nisha frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the elf's self-condemnation. "You may feel that way," she replied, her voice firm, "but you are still my teacher. I was taught to respect my teachers, and I will honor that."
The elf sighed but nodded, knowing it was futile to argue further. "Thank you," she said simply, stepping inside while the man remained outside, his broad frame blocking the light. The elf took a seat at the low table, accepting tea and snacks that she didn't truly need. She placed the untouched offerings beside her and folded her hands.
Nisha was already preparing herself. She pulled out a notebook, her face intent as she flipped to the right page. "Teacher," she began, "I have some questions."
Patiently, the elf answered, her eyes softening at the girl's earnestness. Occasionally, a faint smile flickered on her lips as Nisha asked questions so simple, they bordered on naïve. But the elf respected her curiosity and offered thoughtful answers to each one.
---
Meanwhile, Oliver had finally caught up, though the sun was already sinking toward the horizon. He approached the waterfall, watching as the stream of water plunged from a great height, shattering into countless glimmering droplets that scattered like beads across the surface of the pool. Around him, wild plants and rare herbs grew in abundance, their vibrant colors and unusual shapes giving the place an almost enchanted feel. No one ever came to tend to this patch of wilderness, and it thrived in its unkempt beauty.
Without hesitation, Oliver stepped into the pool, but as always, the sensation was disconcerting. The moment his feet touched the water, he felt an invisible force push up from beneath, supporting him. It was as if the ground had vanished, replaced by an unstable surface, neither water nor earth, that made him feel as though he was sinking. He sighed. No matter how many times he visited, this sensation never felt right.
He moved forward, passing through the waterfall as though it were merely a curtain of mist. Beyond it, another world opened up before him; an endless plain filled with relics of the elven past. The treasures here were unimaginable. Extinct creatures roamed freely, plants long thought lost to time thrived, and scrolls containing the deepest secrets of magic lay scattered among countless books that chronicled the forgotten history of the world. Each item was more valuable than the last, and yet, they were simply left here, untouched by the hands of mortals.
Oliver's goal wasn't the treasures, however. He had come to unravel a piece of history, to seek the truth of an event that had been obscured for generations. His teacher had alluded to it, and now he was here to uncover the facts for himself. Did An, his sister, know about this?
But before he could begin his search, there was protocol to follow. The master of this place would need to give him permission, or else all he would find were weapons too powerful for him to wield.
The air around him stirred as the elements condensed, forming a Philosopher's Stone: a symbol of immense power. The stone glowed briefly before unleashing a surge of energy that erupted in a controlled explosion, a display of the kind of magic that governed this world.
---
As the sun dipped lower, the elf who had called herself a sinner stood up from her seat. "It's time for me to go back," she said quietly, making a motion to bow before Nisha, but the younger woman quickly stepped forward, grabbing the elf's hands to stop her.
"I've told you before," Nisha said, her voice both gentle and firm. "You are my teacher. Please don't do this."
The elf hesitated, her gaze dropping. "But I am still a sinner," she replied softly.
Nisha's frown deepened, her brow furrowing with frustration. "Your so-called sin is nothing but the foolish judgment of your people," she said, her voice gaining an edge. "You don't need to carry that burden any longer. I certainly don't see you as a sinner."
The elf blinked, taken aback by the conviction in Nisha's words. "Thank you, Your Highness... the Second Princess," she murmured, her voice wavering. She wanted to say more, to express her gratitude, but instead, she fell silent, struggling against the habit of lowering herself, of bowing to everyone she met. Finally, she gave a small nod and stood tall, holding herself with a quiet dignity that Nisha hoped she would one day fully believe she deserved.
But he tightened his grip on her hands, refusing to let her bow. The elf, recognizing the stubbornness in Nisha's eyes, relented with a sigh and simply lowered her head slightly, a small gesture of submission. Nisha, her hands occupied, could do nothing but allow it and finally gave up trying to stop her.
"You really are an incredibly naive person," the elf said, raising her head and smiling faintly.
Nisha furrowed her brow. "But I don't understand. Everyone says that: my apprentice brother, my sister, and even my teacher, though I haven't found them yet. How can I be so naive?"
The elf's smile softened, a touch of melancholy in her eyes. "Your innocence isn't the innocence of a child, but a rare quality. You are genuine, without deception or suspicion. That's a trait everyone envies, even me."
Nisha scratched her head, her face puzzled. "I don't get it."
"And that's precisely why it's valuable," the elf explained, her voice thoughtful. "If someone ever truly understands this kind of innocence, they lose it forever."
Nisha nodded slowly, though it was clear she still didn't fully grasp what the elf was saying. "I suppose..."
The elf chuckled and stood up. "I should be going now. If I leave soon, I can return before the sun sets and take her place on duty."
Nisha tilted her head. "But haven't you been on duty for a long time? Aren't you exhausted?"
"I never get tired," the elf said, shaking her head with a serene smile.
"Nonsense. Everyone gets tired," Nisha replied, her tone laced with concern.
The elf smiled again, but this time it was a smile hiding a truth she didn't want to voice: 'The dead don't need rest.' She said nothing and instead called over the burly man who had been waiting outside. He knelt down as she climbed onto his shoulder, settling there as if she weighed nothing at all.
With a final glance at Nisha, the elf turned and left, carried by the silent giant.
---
"So, you're just here for information?" An eyed Oliver suspiciously, her hand hovering over her next spell. "I don't believe you."
Oliver ducked just in time to avoid a fireball, rolling to the side before leaping up, only to dodge an incoming icicle. "Can't we just talk about this?" he pleaded, trying to keep his voice calm despite the barrage of magic coming his way. "What happened to the camaraderie between fellow disciples?"
An snorted in response, another volley of spells flying from her fingertips. "What camaraderie? And if we talk it out, what's to stop you from trying to sneak attack me?"
Oliver narrowly avoided a burst of flames, panting as he responded, "I'm going to use my 'head' to attack you in a place like this?"
An's lips curled in a grin, but her eyes were sharp. "I don't think you're that foolish."
Oliver grimaced, ducking under another fireball. "Great, I'm fighting fireballs and ice cones because of a misunderstanding."
---
On the other side of the waterfall, the elf sensed something was off the moment she crossed through with her companion. "Is there someone here?" she murmured, her eyes narrowing.
Her companion, the burly man, tensed at her side. In the clearing beyond the waterfall, she spotted the flicker of magic. An was mid-attack, and Oliver was doing everything he could to dodge.
"Careful, don't kill her," the elf called out. An, seeing the elf arrive, paused, allowing Oliver a moment to catch his breath. He quickly wiped the sweat from his brow, patting down his clothes to extinguish the small flames still clinging to his sleeves.
The elf slid gracefully off the giant's shoulder and dropped to one knee before An, bowing her head like a servant greeting royalty, or a sinner before judgment. An's expression softened briefly, but she said nothing more, stepping past the elf without acknowledging the bow. Just before disappearing into the forest, An glanced back at Oliver.
"Next time," she said with an icy edge to her voice, "if I smell this herb on you again, you won't leave with your body intact."
Oliver blinked, confused, before sniffing the air around him. The faint scent of Nisha's medicine still lingered on him. 'Is her nose really that good?' he wondered, smacking his lips in frustration.
Despite the tension lifting, one thing was clear to Oliver; An's almost obsessive desire to control her sister had not changed in the slightest.