Immediately after speaking, Ariel collapsed, her strength finally giving way as blood poured from the wound on her side, her face paled, and her body hit the ground with a soft thud. Alan and Leon, still catching their breath, scrambled to her side, their triumphant joy now replaced with urgent concern.
Leon quickly pulled a cloth from his backpack and hurriedly pressed it against Ariel's wound, trying to staunch the flow of blood. The piece of cloth quickly soaked in red as panic etched on Alan and Leon's faces.
Ariel looked at the village with a soft smile before saying. "Take me to the village; hurry."
Leon instantly lifted Ariel's body onto his back, making sure to apply firm pressure to her wound. Meanwhile, Alan gathered their backpacks, slinging them over his shoulders, and the two sprinted towards the distant village.
After exiting the forest, the terrain abruptly changed to an extremely steep downhill slope, leading them directly towards the village. Leon's eyes shone an amber colour before the ground beneath Alan and Leon became extremely slippery and wet. The two boys used this to slide smoothly down the hill, eventually accelerating towards the village.
The view of the village eventually became more clear, exposing its deep details. A large black stone wall encircled the village, separating it from the outside world. A massive gate made of black wood is adorned with golden engravings.
Lookout towers stood sentinel along the stone wall, each manned by vigilant elves armed with bows. On the two ends of the gate, two male elves with muscular bodies stood with a giant spear in their grasp, protecting the entrance.
One elf on the lookout tower eventually noticed the figures of the two boys and drew his bow. Within moments, numerous other elves followed suit, their bows aimed with precision at the perceived intruders.
A moment before releasing the arrow, the elf noticed another person hunched over one of the boys back, a figure with a sharp pointed ear.
All the elves within the vicinity withdrew their bows as the two guards in front of the gate gripped their spears towards the two boys.
Alan and Leon soon arrived in front of the two guards, skidding to an abrupt stop. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they looked up at the imposing figures before them
Alan took slow steps in front of Leon, locking eyes with the guards. "Please, take our friend; she is a resident of your village, and she is seriously injured and needs urgent help."
Leon removed Ariel from his back and carried her within his arms, presenting her sorry state to the guards in front of them. The two guards narrowed their eyes as they looked at Ariel before opening them wide open, recognising the lady.
"Open the gates! Chief's daughter as returned!"
The massive gates slowly creaked open as one of the guards took Ariel from Leon's arms and sprinted inside the village. The remaining guard took a deep look at the confused faces on Alan and Leon's faces before heaving a sigh.
"Come inside,"
...
Inside a luxurious manor within the village, Alan and Leon sat side by side on a soft red couch. Leon looked out the window, having a clear view of the remaining areas of the village. Numerous stone houses were built around the area, leading to a massive open space in the middle of the village.
Right in the middle, pointing up at the sky, was an old statue of an elf with moss growing over its head. Store after store was constructed in a circle, offering everything from food to weapons. A large number of elves were shopping, however they were all dressed in armor and carrying bows or swords.
Leon observed this scene thoughtfully before speaking. "This place is nicer than ours."
The sound of footsteps drew Alan and Leon's attention towards the red door with golden engravings.
A tall man with milky white hair reaching his chin entered the room with sharp pointy ears. Without saying a word he slowly walked to the seat directly in front of Alan and Leon and took a seat.
A face of a man in his mid thirties with pale green eyes, took a deep gaze into the eyes of Alan and Leon. "I am Eldar Aurora, the chieftan of Slyvan Village."
Eldar then bowed his head and said, "I am grateful that you brought my daughter home."
Both boys sat there speechless unable to respond to such message.
"Please allow me to reward you." Saying so the village chief clapped his hands and two women walked in, each with an item resting on a red cusion.
The two women placed the two items on the table in front of Alan and Leon, and left right away.
The two red cusions each carried a different object; the one on the left was holding a sword hilt with a distinctive circular guard that resembled the hilt of a katana, but it lacked a blade.
The one on the right held a mysterious cube shining a metalic glow, a perfect cube.
Eldar flashed a light smile towards Alan and slowly grasped the bladeless hilt. "Alan this gift is for you."
Eldar eyes shone a mint light as the swords hilt suddenly conjured countless vines forming into a large sword made of tree vines. Under the eyes of the boys, the hilt with no blade formed a blade.
"This is called a rift hilt, it directly responds with your affinity." The tree vines gradually returned back to the hilt turning into its previous state, Eldar then handed it to Alans hand.
Alan grasped this bland hilt with confusion before activating his blessing. His eyes displayed a flash of azure light around the iris, fire suddenly erupted from the hilt, dancing in the air. The bright blue fire formed a long blade of fire swaying in air.
The flame receded back to the hilt, once again becoming nothing more than a hilt. Alan eyes were wide open in shock as he quickly turned to Eldar. "Thank you!"
Eldar lightly nodded his head and turned his head towards Leon. "Leon, this is for you."
He took up the mysterious cube and placed it in Leon's palm, with a thud leon's arm went nearly hit floor startling Leon with the cube's substantial weight.
Eldar smiled towards him and gave instructions. "Imagine a weapon any kind of weapon."
Leon knitted his eyebrows before the cube began moving, becoming like a circular liquid spinning above his palm. The liquid began spinning faster and stretched above forming a solid grey longsword with a brown wooden hilt.
The sword turned liquid the next instant, changing into a black katana, a wooden bow, and finally a dark hammer—all of which were exact replicas of the originals, down to the bow's wooden texture.
"This is a polymetal made of one of the strongest metal in the world, able to turn into practically anything you imagine." Eldar explained.
Right after Leon leaped to his feet and bowed his head. "I don't know how to thank you."
Alan also followed Leon and bowed his head towards the chief, Eldar chuckled lightly before waving his hand down.
"Don't worry this is my reward to you for helping my daughter." Eldar suddenly narrowed his eyes towards Alan and Leon erasing his smile and grew serious.
"Now tell me what are you two doing here?"