Tessia paused for a moment, her face taking on a determined expression. She looked at me and, after a slight hesitation, said:
"Grandfather did say not to do this... but I don't mind sharing the tent with you."
I quickly interrupted her, feeling caught off guard by the suggestion:
"Uh, no, I don't feel like sleeping right now," I said, trying not to show my surprise.
Tessia's ears drooped in embarrassment, and I sensed a bit of awkwardness in the air.
"Alright..." she murmured, turning around and going into the tent.
I sat nearby, cross-legged, and began to meditate. Mana slowly circulated through my body, helping me to focus and clear my mind of stray thoughts. Yet even in this state, I couldn't completely rid myself of the idea that my actions and words were altering the course of events that should have unfolded differently.
"Lucius," Tessia called softly, sticking her head out of the tent.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, turning my head toward her.
"Well, you see... animals might sense you," she said, peeking out with just one eye as if a little shy. "And if they see you're a child, they'll definitely attack. So, I think it's better if you come inside," she added, her voice tinged with concern.
I raised an eyebrow, considering her words. On one hand, her concern was touching, but on the other, she seemed to have forgotten that I had just recently taken down a group of slavers by myself. Smiling to myself, I decided not to argue with her.
"Alright, you've convinced me," I said with a light sigh, standing up from the ground. "But only because you're so worried about my safety."
Tessia narrowed her eyes, sensing that I was teasing her slightly, but her ears perked up, and she looked pleased. I climbed into the tent, lying down in the free space.
"Good night, Tessia," I said, lying opposite her and meeting her gaze.
"Good night, Lucius," she quietly replied, already calming down.
"Can I hold onto your shirt?" Her request sounded so sweet that I couldn't help but smile.
I nodded, and as I felt her gentle touch, I let her grab the edge of my shirt. Tessia snuggled up with one hand resting on me, and I reached out, softly stroking her hair. She closed her eyes, and soon her breathing became slow and peaceful.
As I felt her anxiety and concern gradually fade away, I, too, began to relax, feeling warmth and safety. Soon, I drifted off to sleep as well, sinking into the night's calm.
When I woke up, I opened my eyes and slowly looked around. The early morning light seeped through the tent's fabric. Turning my head, I noticed Tessia had wrapped one arm and leg around me. Her soft breathing was steady, and she looked completely serene. I tried to move carefully, but realized I couldn't get out without waking her up.
"Damn," I thought, smiling slightly. All I could do was wait for her to wake up. After a while, my patience ran out, and I gently shook her.
"Tessia, wake up, we need to go."
She slowly opened her eyes and, realizing the position she was in, jumped up quickly.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to... Are you okay?" she blurted out, her face flushing with embarrassment.
I chuckled softly and shook my head.
"No, it's fine. Good morning, we need to get moving. Let's get packed."
She nodded, still blushing pink. After packing up the tent, I stored it in my ring, and we continued our journey.
Several uneventful days passed. I spent the nights in the tent with Tessia, and during this time, we grew closer, gradually becoming more comfortable with each other. Tessia's genuine kindness began to affect me more deeply than I had expected.
We were nearing Elenoir, the elven kingdom, which Tessia said she was starting to recognize faintly. The landscape and the trees had become familiar to her. During all this time, I had hoped to encounter the main protagonist, Arthur, but there had been no trace of him. I expected him to show up at any moment, but as time passed, my predictions of his imminent appearance turned out to be wrong. This stirred a mild anxiety within me. Could my interference in this world have altered his destiny so much? What if Arthur was already dead, or his path had taken a completely different turn?
These thoughts made me reflect on the effect my presence might have on future events. But one thing I was certain of — whatever happened, I had to be ready for any outcome.
"Uh, Lucius, can I call you Luci? Your name's kinda long," Tessia asked, a little shyly.
"Sure, Tess," I agreed, hearing my new nickname. I even liked it, and I tried it out in my head. For some reason, Tessia blushed and lowered her head bashfully.
"Actually... I didn't give you permission," she mumbled hesitantly.
"Oh? Don't you like it?" I said playfully, poking her cheek lightly. Tess quickly turned away, muttering something under her breath, clearly embarrassed. It made me smile slightly.
Twilight fell, and it seemed that the mist around us was growing thicker. If it weren't for Tess, I probably would've gotten lost in this foggy veil, wandering in circles. But she confidently led us forward, as if she knew every turn and path.
Suddenly, Tess turned around, her face lighting up with a happy smile.
"We've arrived," she said cheerfully.
I nodded, watching as she cupped her hands and softly sang something. Unexpectedly, the mist swirled and was drawn into a massive tree where Tess stood. Moments later, the tree transformed, and right before us, a wooden door appeared, standing alone on the ground without any support. I stood in awe. While I knew of such things from my memories of this world, seeing it with my own eyes was an entirely different experience. This world truly was astonishing.
Tessia grabbed my hand and led me closer to the door. When she opened it, it wasn't just an ordinary entrance — it was a portal, much like the one that had sent me here by the god. The flash of recognition made my heart skip a beat for a moment.
We stepped through the door, and I experienced the familiar sensation of rapid travel, as if time around us had sped up and we had flown to another point in space. When our feet touched the ground, and we landed softly, I looked up and froze in awe. Before us stretched the majestic city of the elves, full of unseen structures that blended so harmoniously with nature, it seemed as if the forests themselves had created them.
I saw buildings made of jade, as if they were literally carved from massive stones. The structures bore no cracks or signs of age.
But what made this place truly breathtaking were the trees, which intertwined with the buildings, giving the city a magnificent, natural appearance. Some branches were even thicker than the buildings themselves.
The ground was covered in lush grass, with only narrow walkways and roads paved in smooth stone. Although much of the city was shaded by trees, the buildings emitted a warm luminescence, and small glowing orbs floated along the streets. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in both of my lives.
Mist surrounded us in a thick ring, and I instinctively tensed, sensing something approaching. Out of the fog, a group of elves emerged, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Several guards in black uniforms with rapiers exuded authority and power, though I didn't feel any magical energy from them.
When the soldiers knelt and placed their hands on their chests, their solemn voices echoed in the air:
"Welcome, princess!"
I did my best to appear genuinely surprised, glancing at Tessia as if I couldn't believe what was happening. She squeezed my hand tighter, and before she could return my gaze, she ordered the guards to leave. The princess turned to me but hadn't even spoken a word before a sudden, emotional cry rang out.
"My girl! Tessia, are you alright? Oh, my little one!"
I noticed a middle-aged man and woman running toward us. From the crown on the man's head and the delicate tiara on the woman's forehead, I instantly understood that we were in the presence of the king and queen.
The king was tall and well-built, though his loose clothing, adorned with intricate patterns, revealed his status as a ruler, not a warrior. His emerald eyes shone with worry, and his tense lips, along with his short military-style haircut, gave him a restrained but imposing appearance.
Yet despite the regal grace of her father, the queen overshadowed him with her beauty. Although she was clearly not young, her age only enhanced her elegance. Her pale blue, almost translucent eyes, full pink lips, long silver hair cascading in luxurious curls, and figure, which hardly hinted at her status as a mother. I could imagine how Tess would look in the future.
Tears streamed down the queen's cheeks, while her husband struggled to hold back his own, though his eyes had also filled with moisture. Both hurried toward their daughter, openly displaying their overwhelming emotions.
Tess was already beginning to cry, and I nudged her toward her parents, signaling that she could explain things to me later. Not wanting to interfere with their reunion, I focused on another figure. His sharp features and piercing gaze were like that of an eagle.
The elderly man standing behind Tess's parents was none other than the former king of Elenoir. Virion Eralith. The Commander-in-Chief, the one who remained loyal to his land until the end, and most importantly: the beast tamer. He was exactly the person I needed.
The grandfather stood silently, but his expression betrayed a sense of relief as he looked at his beloved granddaughter. Noticing my intent gaze, he glanced at me, narrowing his eyes for a moment before turning his attention back to her.
"Please, come with us to the palace so we can hear what happened," he said. With those words, we headed toward the palace. On the way, Tess grabbed my hand and pulled me forward, which caught the attention of her guardians.
The palace was either inside a gigantic tree, or perhaps the tree itself was the palace. Upon entering, I was pleasantly surprised by the magnificent interior. Two curved staircases surrounded a giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It resembled the glowing orbs scattered throughout the city.
Servants were calmly and methodically setting a long dining table on the first floor, adding the final touches in preparation for dinner. The king sat at the head of the table, and as our eyes met, I realized I was seated directly across from him. The queen and Tessia took their places next to the king, while their grandfather sat on the opposite side.
The king, resting his elbows on the table with his fingers intertwined, leaned forward slightly, his emerald eyes studying me closely.
"What is your name, child?" he asked in a calm yet penetrating tone.
I stood, gave a slight bow, and replied, "Lucius."
The king nodded in response, his attention briefly diverted as Tessia's grandfather quietly called over one of the guards. The soldier quickly approached him and then disappeared through the door, seemingly tasked with some assignment.
Continuing the conversation with King Alduin, I briefly recounted everything that had happened. I told him about waking up in the middle of the forest, completely unaware of where I was. Then, I described my encounter with the slavers, the fight with them, and how, after dealing with them, I was able to rescue Tessia. Finally, I mentioned how I had escorted her home, hoping for her safety.
The king listened intently, not interrupting. His gaze reflected respect and a hidden gratitude for saving his daughter, but beneath his calm demeanor, it was clear that something else was on his mind.
Don't forget to give a power stone