Just as Oliver was about to speak, a thunderous explosion rocked the air, blasting the door off its hinges and sending it crashing to the ground.
Everyone froze for a moment in shock. An was the first to recover, rushing outside with determination. Oliver, standing closest to the door, quickly followed. Ziggy trailed behind, while Nisha, eager to join them, was halted by An as he darted back in.
"Stay here and keep safe," An instructed firmly.
"Okay," Nisha replied, her eyes wide with worry.
As Oliver burst outside, his keen eyesight quickly spotted a glinting arrow hidden in the distant underbrush. It shimmered provocatively in the sunlight, a clear challenge.
He instinctively thought of releasing his bird familiar, but a wave of dread washed over him; his magic was gone.
"Why aren't you firing?" An asked, stepping out and summoning a protective barrier of shimmering light around herself.
"I'm just used to assessing the situation first," Oliver replied, a nervous smile crossing his face. He then raised his longbow, took aim, and let loose an arrow that sliced through the air, striking an enemy with pinpoint accuracy.
"Really?" An said, her shield flaring to life in anticipation of any incoming threats. "You won't hold me back, will you?"
"Please, I'm not that reckless," he shot back. The arrow he had loosed had a small pouch of potent pepper powder attached to its tail. Unless their enemies held their breath, the moment they coughed, they'd be exposed.
Before casting another arrow, Oliver recalled how he had once relied on this trick to flush out hidden foes. It worked every time, catching both friends and enemies alike.
He released another arrow, and it struck a large tree, causing the pouch to burst and shower the area with a cloud of pepper.
"You didn't kill him?" An noted, surprised. The elf he had shot seemed to struggle to rise. "Why are you suddenly so merciful?"
"Merciful? No way!" Oliver protested, shaking his head vigorously. "I wanted to capture a few alive for questioning!"
"That seems a bit excessive," An remarked, crossing her arms.
"Come on! I can't pinpoint their location with all this chaos. Can you please stop sabotaging my chances?" He sighed, trying to focus again.
On the opposing side, the elves had begun to retaliate, launching arrows and explosives in a haphazard panic, but most misfired, resulting in explosions that lit up the forest.
However, Oliver soon realized he was outnumbered. Despite his accuracy, several elves managed to slip away amidst the chaos.
"It looks like the absence of your magic is really impacting you," An observed, glancing back at him.
Oliver felt a wave of frustration. She had been watching from the sidelines; if she cast a spell to clear the dense foliage, they wouldn't be in this predicament.
He took a deep breath, resigning himself to the situation. But then a thought struck him. Perhaps An's intention was to draw attention away from Nisha. If this area was no longer safe, he could escort her out without attracting notice.
His heart sank. If that was true, it meant the elves' future looked grim.
Steeling himself, he walked back into the house. "Here's the situation: because I let someone escape, it's no longer safe. We need to leave now."
An shot him a knowing look. "Nice try shifting the blame."
Oliver shrugged, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "What can I say? A leader must always prioritize the mission."
Just as Oliver approached, ready to speak, An barreled into him, cradling Nisha in her arms with surprising force.
"Watch it!" Oliver exclaimed, nearly stumbling. Ziggy, who had been gathering important herbs nearby, hurried over, bending down to offer a quick apology before darting off.
"Forget it. No time for that now," Oliver muttered, shaking off the encounter as he quickly fell in step behind them.
With his vision clouded and senses dulled, he struggled to remain alert to their surroundings as they picked up speed. A blank expression settled on his face, and he focused intently on guarding against any sudden attacks. Ziggy sat on the giant's shoulder, maintaining a similar look of concentration as they moved forward.
In less than an hour, they reached the waterfall Oliver had visited previously, its cascading waters shimmering in the sunlight.
"Are we hiding her here?" he panted, catching his breath.
"Sort of," An replied, glancing around cautiously. "Originally, this place was just for storing historical records. But ten years ago, someone; probably my teacher, turned it into a vault for secret treasures and rare herbs."
"Sounds like he's hiding more than just a few trinkets," Oliver remarked, eyebrows raised.
"Exactly. And I'm the only one who knows about it. If word gets out, it could cause trouble."
"Can I ask one more thing?" he pressed, curiosity piqued.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Are there any reinforcements coming?"
An shot him a sidelong glance. "What do you think the teacher is asking you to do?"
Realization dawned on him. "So, I'm just a errand , huh?"
"Just a little bit," she admitted with a smirk as she walked ahead.
"What about those who might help?" he inquired, following closely.
"Like I said, nobody knows about this place. Got it?"
Right, he reminded himself, still just a worker.
As they entered the hidden cave behind the waterfall, Oliver took a deep breath. "Where do I find these elves?"
"I'll give you a map," An replied, tossing him a crumpled piece of paper. "The ten red dots on here mark their villages. I appreciate your help."
"And what are you doing?" he asked, puzzled.
"Someone has to coordinate all this," she said matter-of-factly.
That seemed fair enough.
He unfolded the map, but as he stepped deeper into the cave, disaster struck. Without his magic, he couldn't spot hidden sentry posts or traps. Though none would likely be fatal, he could easily find himself in a tough spot.
If the teacher knew about this oversight, he might reconsider including Oliver in the plan.
---
Meanwhile, Lesley listened attentively, nodding as Enola spoke. "I appreciate your concern, but next time, could you explain things a bit sooner?"
"I'm truly sorry," Enola said, her head lowered in apology.
"There's no need for that," Lesley replied, raising a hand to stop him. "But what's the plan now?"
"I haven't figured it out yet. I'm still unsure about the current situation."
"Since we don't fully understand what's happening, let's hold off on any major moves. We should gather food and survival tools. Even if we manage to escape, we can't afford to starve."
"Good idea," Enola agreed, her determination solidifying.
She sighed inwardly, exasperated by the constant search for solutions. Patience was wearing thin.