The first rays of sunlight timidly pierced the canopy, casting dancing patterns on the forest floor. Morning dew shimmered on the leaves like tiny diamonds, while Merlione leaned over Elios's sleeping form. Despite her imposing Beast stature, her movements held an almost maternal gentleness.
"Elios, wake up," she murmured.
The boy stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering open, eyes still hazy with sleep. "Huh? What's going on?" he mumbled, rubbing his face.
"We need to move," Merlione explained, already gathering their few possessions. Her vigilant gaze swept their surroundings, a deeply ingrained habit of a warrior. "This is something we'll do every month from now on to avoid being found."
Worry crossed Elios's face like a shadow over a summer sky. "Why?" he asked, unable to hide the anxiety in his voice.
Merlione tried to smile reassuringly, though a hint of concern lingered in her golden eyes. "It's a necessary precaution, Elios. Now, grab that bag and fill it with anything important. We need to go."
—Outside the House—
Merlione: Alright, stand back. I'm going to… compress the house.
Elios, surprised: Compress the house? You mean… shrink it?
Merlione, with a wry smile: Exactly. As you know, we're deep in the heart of the Beast Forest. Here, it's essential to leave no trace of our presence—that's survival 101 in hostile territory.
Elios, skeptical: And you're going to shrink it… how?
Merlione: I have a special magic that allows me to create protective spheres. I'll generate one around the house, crush it inward until it reduces to fragments, and then I'll toss the wood remnants into the nearest lake. It'll vanish without a trace.
Elios, amused: Not very eco-friendly! So you're going to pollute the lake?
Merlione, rolling her eyes with a playful look: Oh, Elios… it's only wood; it'll decompose naturally. Nothing the forest can't handle.
Elios, shrugging: Alright, fine. At least it's practical. Are you sure I had enough time to grab everything?
Merlione: I hope so, because once this magic starts, it can't be undone. Are you sure you have everything?
Elios, double-checking his bag: Yeah, yeah, I've got it all. We're good to go.
Merlione, nodding: Very well. Shield!
A nearly invisible, translucent aura began to envelop the house, forming a barely perceptible dome under the light filtering through the trees. The structure seemed to shiver for a moment, as if resisting, then slowly began to contract, creaking and groaning under the magic's force.
A few minutes later, they were moving deeper into the forest, their steps brushing through fallen leaves, blending with the forest's morning symphony. The rising sun cast enchanting patterns of shadow and light, as if the forest itself were weaving a protective veil around them.
Elios walked beside Merlione, his small bag on his back, watching how the Beast moved with surprising grace despite her imposing size. The contrast between this peaceful morning and the memories still haunting him compelled him to break the silence.
"Merlione," he began, his voice barely louder than the whispering wind, "why are there so many wars? You were once a warrior, so you must have… killed people, right?"
Merlione slowed almost imperceptibly, her ears flattening slightly—a gesture Elios had learned to associate with deep thought. "Yes," she admitted after a moment, her voice weighed down by the burden of memories. "I have."
"Was it justified? Was it really worth it?" Elios's curiosity held a premature wisdom, born of the trials he'd endured.
"No." Merlione's response cut through the silence of the forest like a clap of thunder. "That's why I left that world of war."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words, until Elios spoke again. "Do you regret what you did?"
Merlione stopped, her gaze lost among the treetops. The sunlight filtering through the branches bathed her fur, creating a golden halo around her silhouette.
"Yes and no," she finally replied. "Often, I had to kill out of necessity, to survive. Other times, it was to honor my god and my people." She traced a thoughtful claw along the bark of a nearby tree. "Deep down, I always knew that what I was doing wasn't right, but I continued out of respect for my people's beliefs, to be worthy of belonging to that community."
"I see," Elios murmured, his eyes reflecting an understanding beyond his years. "What finally made you decide to leave?"
A shadow crossed Merlione's eyes, as if she were reliving a particularly painful memory. "I was tired of seeing children cry," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "One night, I decided I never wanted to see that pain in their eyes again. That was all."
She placed her hands gently on Elios's frail shoulders. "I'll train you, Elios, and you'll become strong," she promised, her intense gaze locked onto his.
"This world is cruel and difficult. If you continue trying to solve everything with faith and a smile, you won't survive. And if you rely on a god to help you, you'll always be disappointed. We need to become stronger."
She paused, searching for the right words. "I know it's hard for you to see the world this way, since you were raised differently. But that's the harsh truth."
Their solemn moment was suddenly interrupted by the loud rumbling of Elios's stomach. Merlione's warm laugh echoed in the clearing, lifting the tension like sunshine breaking through clouds.
"Hungry already?" she asked tenderly. "It's true we've been walking for a while. Don't worry; we're almost there. Just a bit further."
Elios's face lit up, momentarily regaining the innocence of his age. "Alright!" he exclaimed, hurrying down the path.
Merlione watched him run ahead, her heart caught between the joy of seeing his innocence preserved and the keen awareness of the long journey ahead.
As he ran, Elios kicked up dead leaves, creating a golden swirl around him, blissfully unaware of the shadows trailing behind them.
The Beast followed at a measured pace, her protective silhouette standing tall in the morning light, a silent guardian of a future she hoped would be brighter.