Icarius and Astrid pressed on toward Elfista, knowing full well the risks they were taking. With each step deeper into elf territory, they were betting their lives, given how dangerous elves could be—especially in their current, weakened state. Days passed by in a blur of endless walking, eating the last of the food they had stored in the spacetime chamber, and sleeping under the open sky, exposed to the elements. Every day felt like a struggle, but Icarius refused to give up.
He kept counting the days, marking time in his head, and reminding himself how long was left until the exam. A month had already passed since he arrived in this world, and he knew he couldn't afford to lose track of time. Even if everything felt uncertain, that one deadline kept him grounded.
One night, as they walked quietly through the woods, their breath visible in the cool air, they stumbled across a group of men gathered around a large carriage. Icarius quickly dove behind some bushes, signaling Astrid to stay low. The men had a campfire going, casting flickering shadows on their faces. Icarius's eyes widened in surprise as he noticed their skin—dark and rich, almost blending in with the night. They were dark elves. For the first time, he was seeing real elves in person.
Curiosity sparked within him, but it was tempered by a gnawing hunger in his stomach. The supplies in the spacetime chamber were nearly gone, and he wasn't sure how much longer they could last without finding food. He observed the scene carefully, noting how the elves sat casually, unaware of his presence. Icarius couldn't help but notice the carriage they were guarding. It was bulky, with thick curtains covering whatever was inside.
"We need to see what they're hiding," Icarius whispered, his voice barely audible. Astrid's ears twitched, showing his agreement. Icarius knew that as long as he had no magic aura, he was practically invisible to anyone relying on magical detection. It was the one advantage his sealed state gave him.
He moved stealthily toward the carriage, keeping low to the ground. His heart pounded as he approached it, hoping it contained food or something useful. Carefully, he lifted the edge of the curtain and peered inside. What he saw made his breath hitch.
There, bound in chains, were three young elves—a girl around his age and two younger boys who looked like twins, no older than seven. Their faces were pale and smeared with dirt, and their eyes were filled with fear. The girl had woken up, her eyes locking onto his with a desperate plea. Tears streamed silently down her face as she raised her trembling hands, begging for help without uttering a single word.
Icarius felt a knot form in his chest. He could see the terror in her eyes, the hopelessness. He knew that kind of fear all too well—it was the same fear that gripped him when he lost his magic, when everything he relied on was ripped away. For a moment, he hesitated. Getting involved would be dangerous. He had no powers to rely on, and Astrid was strong but not invincible. Still, he couldn't just leave them there.
"Stay calm," he whispered to the girl, his voice as gentle as he could make it. "I'm going to help you. I promise."
He silently called for Astrid, who came closer, his hooves barely making a sound on the soft ground. Icarius quickly devised a plan. The men were all sleeping near the fire, oblivious to what was happening. They needed to act fast. He would have had Astrid pull the carriage while he dealt with the chains later. They had no time to waste.
With quiet precision, Icarius climbed up onto the driver's seat and signaled for Astrid to move. The unicorn, understanding the gravity of the situation, took off smoothly, pulling the carriage away from the camp with surprising ease. They didn't dare move too fast, fearing the noise might wake the elves, but they managed to get far enough away before Icarius finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Once they were at a safe distance, he stopped the carriage and climbed inside. He unsheathed a sword from his spacetime chamber and carefully began cutting through the chains. It took effort—his hands weren't as steady as they used to be, and his strength was diminished—but eventually, the bindings fell away. The girl rubbed her sore wrists, trying to hold back more tears as she looked at him with a mix of gratitude and disbelief.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The twins clung to her, too scared to speak.
"Don't mention it," Icarius replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "You're safe now. We'll figure out what to do next. But first, let's get out of here before they realize you're gone."
As they continued westward, away from the camp and deeper into the woods, Icarius's mind was racing. He had no idea what he'd just gotten himself into. Helping these elves might lead to more trouble, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. There was something about seeing their fear turn into hope that reignited a small spark within him—a reminder that even without his magic, he still had the power to change things.