Tadio paced around the room, his footsteps echoing in the stillness as his thoughts swirled with worry. Several days had passed since Marcella left home, and the weight of her absence pressed heavily on his heart. He muttered under his breath, "It's been days now... I hope she's alright. Oh heavens, protect Marcella." His hands were pressed together, his knuckles white as he prayed. "Please, don't let her get into trouble. Ivin, guide her, keep her safe. Bring her back in one piece."
He stopped and ran a trembling hand through his hair, his mind circling back to his own mistakes. "It's my fault," he whispered. "I should have stopped her. I thought she was bluffing, but she wasn't. I let her leave." The words felt heavier each time he spoke them, the regret gnawing at him like a persistent ache.
He resumed pacing, his steps quick and erratic. Lost in thought, he bit his finger absently, the gesture betraying his inner turmoil. His movement was so hurried that he didn't notice the edge of the table until his side collided with it. The jolt sent a ceramic cup toppling to the floor, where it shattered with a sharp crash. The sound snapped him back to reality, and he clutched his side, wincing at the sharp pang.
As he looked down, the mess of broken shards and spilled water brought a new wave of frustration. He crouched to clean up, his movements careful but hurried. His hand reached for a shard, but the jagged edge sliced into his finger. He sucked in a sharp breath, watching blood bead and drip onto the floor. Grabbing a napkin from the table, he pressed it against the wound, the fabric quickly staining red.
For a moment, Tadio stood there, the pain in his hand forgotten in the face of his deeper grief. He stared at the wall, his thoughts circling back to Marcella. With a frustrated sigh, he turned and walked toward the next room, disappearing inside as the door creaked shut behind him.
***************************************
"Argh, how many days has it been now?" Liam grumbled, dragging his feet along the road, his voice cutting through the silence.
"Just shut up already," Amelia snapped, her tone sharp with annoyance.
Turning to Marcella, her expression softened. "Are you tired, Master?" she asked, her concern genuine.
Marcella blinked, momentarily pulled from her thoughts. "Not quite," she replied. "And please, just call me Marcella. We're probably the same age."
Amelia tilted her head, considering this. "True, but your status, Master," she said, her tone innocent.
Marcella sighed, shaking her head. "Forget my status. Just see me as your friend."
Amelia's eyes widened, her voice rising in surprise. "Aww, my friend? I've never had one before."
"Well, now you do," Marcella said curtly, though there was an underlying warmth in her words.
Liam, walking a few steps behind them, stopped in his tracks and turned. His expression was mock-hurt as he asked, "What about me? What am I to you?"
Marcella glanced at him briefly, her voice flat. "No idea," she said, brushing past Liam without breaking stride.
Liam threw up his hands, incredulous. "Huh? But we've been together since before they came along!" He scoffed, shaking his head. "This is probably why you don't have friends."
Amelia bristled, stepping forward. "Hey, knock it off! That's my Master—uh, my *friend*—you're talking to!"
. "Alright, alright. We're all friends Happy?" Marcella said looking at liam.
From the back of the group, Alexander nodded silently in agreement.
"See?" Marcella said, gesturing toward Alexander. "Even he agrees."
Liam smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "Uh-huh. We've been through a lot together, Marcella I know you're shy, but I'll accept your feelings towards me—"
Marcella stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing. "Feelings?" She repeated, her tone incredulous.
Liam chuckled, undeterred. "Either way, I've got a question."
Marcella sighed, already weary of whatever was coming next. "What is it now?"
"Don't you have parents?" Liam asked, his tone oddly casual.
Marcella stiffened, her expression hardening. "Why does it matter?" She replied, her voice cautious.
Liam exchanged a look with the twin siblings, who nodded encouragingly. "We just want to know," Liam said with a shrug.
After a pause, Marcella sighed. "Well, I have my father,"she admitted reluctantly.
Liam grinned slyly. "Ah, so you've got daddy issues. Is that why you ran away from home?"
Marcella stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing further. "What does 'daddy issues' even mean?" She asked, her tone a mix of irritation and confusion.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter," Marcella said, brushing the topic aside. "So, why did you run away from home?" Amelia asked
"I didn't run away," Marcella replied, her tone casual. "I just left."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "That's the same thing as having daddy issues. No difference."
Alexander, standing beside her, nodded in silent agreement.
"It's not the same," Marcella said firmly. Her voice carried a rare edge as she continued. "I left because I want to find meaning to my life. I want to understand who I am , what my identity is and my father refuses to tell me , and I'm tired of living the same repetitive, empty lifestyle over and over again. So, I left."
The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Then Liam broke the silence, pointing at the siblings. "Okay, what about you two? What's your story?"
"The elves' village burned down when we were little," Amelia said matter-of-factly.
Ok, Liam's eyes widened. "Wait—what?
"Yes the elves village burnt down," Amela replied, her tone unchanged.
Liam turned to Alexander. "Hold on. You're elves?"
"Yes," Amelia answered simply, her expression neutral,Alexander nodded.
Liam squinted at them, his confusion growing. "But where are your pointy ears?"
Marcella rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about? Their ears are right there," Marcella said.
"Where?" Liam asked, stepping closer to the siblings and looking more closely.
Marcella shot him an exasperated look. "Are you blind or something? Their ears are exactly where they should be."
Liam moved toward Marcella, waving his hand in front of her face with a smug grin. "I think *you* have issues with your eyes," he declared.
Amelia doubled over with laughter, her voice ringing out loudly. "I guess you can't see them. People like you can't see our ears."
Liam froze mid-motion, his expression shifting. "What do you mean, people like me?" he asked, his voice tinged with offense.
Amelia folded her arms and gave a measured look. "Just the right people," she said, her tone firm. " like I mentioned, our village was burned down, due to human greed. That's why we're the only surviving elves now. To protect what remains of our legacy, we keep our ears hidden from ordinary humans."
Liam tilted his head, his brow furrowing as he glanced at Marcella. "Wait—so, Marcella isn't human?"
Amelia rolled her eyes. "Of course, she's human. But she's special."
"How special? All humans are special," Liam said with a teasing grin.
Amelia gave him a flat look. "She's a *supernatural* human. That's different from regular humans. That's what makes her special."
"Ah. Well, that doesn't seem fair," Liam muttered, seemingly coming to a conclusion. He perked up suddenly. "So, where's the gold?"
"What gold?" Amelia asked, blinking in confusion.
"You know, the pot of gold you guys carry around wherever you go," Liam said with a mischievous smile.
Amelia stared at him, completely baffled. "We don't carry gold. What are you talking about?"
"You know! The stories! You guys are all dressed up in green clothes, pointy shoes, and those cute little hats? And you carry around a pot of gold, right?" Liam explained, his enthusiasm growing with each word.
It took a moment, but Amelia's expression darkened as realization hit. She groaned and slapped her forehead. "Those are leprechauns, you dumbass."
Liam's grin faltered. "What the hell are leprechauns?"
Amelia leveled a glare at him. "What you just described, you moron."
"Uh-huh," Liam said, looking unconvinced. "So, what's the difference?"
"The *height,*" Amelia said sharply. "Elves are taller than leprechauns."
"Really? Huh. I thought you guys were the same." Liam scratched his head, his face falling into a pout. "Damn. I thought I could've been rich."
"If I were a leprechaun, I wouldn't give you my gold," Amelia said, grinning mischievously.
Liam raised an eyebrow, looking slightly hurt. "Why not? We're friends, right?"
Amelia stuck her tongue out at him. "I don't make friends with dummies."
Liam pouted, his expression turning playful. "That's just mean."
Marcella, who had been quietly observing, smiled and spoke up. "You guys look cute together."
Amelia quickly shot back, her cheeks flushing. "No, we do not."
Ignoring Amelia's response, Liam's voice grew more serious. "What about your mother?" he asked, looking at Marcella.
Marcella's expression darkened, and her voice became soft and distant. "I don't know. That's why I'm on this journey—trying to find the truth."
Liam nodded, his curiosity piqued. "So, after you learn the truth, what happens next?"
Marcella paused, her thoughts weighing on her. She began to pace, unsure how to answer. Finally, she shifted the focus. "What about your parents, she asked Liam.
Liam's gaze lowered, his voice suddenly distant. "I don't have parents. I'm an orphan," he said quietly. " with no history and significance."
Amelia, noticing the change in his tone, smiled gently. "Come on, Liam. You may be a moron, but you're significant to our journey."
Alexander, who had been silently listening, nodded in agreement.
Liam looked at them both, a wry smile forming on his face. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Marcella smiled back at him, her tone warm. "Regardless, you've grown up well."
Amelia then leaned forward with a curious expression. "So, who raised you?"
Liam scratched his head, a little awkward. "My boss. He might not look like it, but he did."
"That's weird," Marcella remarked, her eyebrow raised. "I got the feeling he wanted you dead when he threw that knife at you."
Amelia's eyes widened in surprise. "He did what now?"
Liam chuckled, brushing it off with a lighthearted shrug. "That's just how he is. It's part of our training—keeps our reflexes sharp."
Marcella raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. Instead, she smiled softly. "Regardless, we're family now. And I promise to do everything in my power to protect you guys."
Touched by her words, Amelia suddenly pulled Marcella into a tight hug. Surprised at first, Marcella quickly embraced her back. Glancing at Liam and Alexander, she saw the quiet understanding in their eyes. With a smile, they both stepped forward and joined the hug, creating a moment of warmth and unity among them, For a brief time, the weight of their individual struggles seemed to lift as they held each other close.