When the sound suddenly stopped, the forest seemed to hold its breath. The silence that enveloped the place was heavy, so much so that even the wind ceased to move. The air grew stifling, charged with something unexplainable. Darkness began to gather unnaturally, as if the forest itself extended its dark limbs to block the view, as if trying to hide what was coming or warning them of what would appear.
Then, from among the tangled bushes, small but heavy steps pierced the silence with a frightening echo. Each step seemed to carry a weight beyond its owner's body, disturbing the dry leaves and making a faint sound closer to a hum.
The creature finally emerged into the dim light cast by the torches hanging from the cart. It stood no taller than half the height of an adult human, but its appearance was enough to make everyone step back.
Its body was completely covered in a thick layer of dry mud, intertwined with twisted branches and withered leaves, as if it were part of the forest itself. The random mix of natural elements gave it the appearance of a primitive monster emerging from an old nightmare.
Its features were almost indistinguishable due to the thick layer of mud, but its eyes captivated everyone. Beneath all that chaos, they glowed with a strange golden gleam, like a small flame in a dark night.
The gleam carried a deep sense of defiance, as if those eyes belonged to a conscious creature, fully aware that it was instilling fear in those around it.
It stood there for a moment, motionless, as if studying the caravan and its members. Breaths were held, distances contracted, even the sound of leaves sticking to its feet as it moved seemed deafening in the surrounding stillness.
Then, without warning, one of the guards moved forward without fear, directing his sword in preparation to strike the creature's neck.
This guard was none other than the impulsive Paul.
The sudden movement drew the creature's attention, and it responded with a strange scream that froze everyone in place, leaving them unable to act. It was a loud, sharp sound, deep and disturbing at the same time, yet it seemed more like a whispered warning, a sound neither fully human nor fully monstrous.
The caravan members stood frozen, not moving a step, as if time had stopped for a moment. Their eyes were fixed on the strange creature before them, trying to decipher its existence.
The only thing that crossed their minds was the story of the Night Hunters that Yuri had told them earlier, while they trembled with fear or cursed Yuri from the bottom of their hearts.
One of the merchants took a step back, causing the ground beneath his boots to creak, breaking the silence. At that moment, the creature turned abruptly, its eyes widening slightly, as though it had noticed an unexpected movement. For a moment, it seemed to bend in on itself, as if preparing to run or leap.
"Stay where you are!" the caravan leader shouted, gripping his sword tightly, though his voice trembled.
Breaths quickened, and some soldiers began to raise their weapons cautiously, but Mai, who had been observing the creature closely, sensed something different.
There was something about the way it stood, in those eyes that didn't seem filled with violence as others had imagined. It was a mixture of caution, fear... and perhaps pain.
"Wait!" Mai suddenly called out, raising her hand to signal everyone to stop. She took a few cautious steps forward, her heart racing, but she couldn't ignore the strange feeling that had come over her. There was something strangely familiar about this creature, something that made her feel it wasn't just a wild beast as it seemed.
"Don't be afraid... we won't hurt you." She spoke softly, trying to make her tone calm and reassuring.
She was sure that she would be more convincing given her smaller size, but it was a risk no child other than her would take. Instead, they would have cried out and become the first target.
Of course, the danger was not negligible, and she couldn't deny it was a gamble.
Just moments ago, the atmosphere had been charged with tension, and Mai had been trembling as she hid behind Yuri. But she had gathered courage and took a step no one expected—not even herself.
Now, she was left to ponder whether her decision had been a good one or not.
Suddenly, she noticed that the creature had unexpectedly approached her and grabbed her hand. Before she could scream, she heard a loud sound cutting through the air.
Ken had attacked the creature with his large axe, causing the creature to stagger back slightly, but it was not seriously harmed.
"Mai, go behind the carts!" Ken shouted, waving his axe firmly.
But before she could move, Mai noticed something strange. She stepped forward another step, trying to verify what her eyes had seen, and then...
"Mai!" Yuri screamed, pulling her away from the danger.
Mai tried to resist as she processed the additional details she had noticed: beneath the mud and branches, there was a faint human feature, as though the mud was hiding a small child. Even the height and build confirmed her belief.
"It's a child!" Mai gasped, her eyes widening.
The others exchanged incredulous looks. How could this strange creature just be a child? But it certainly wasn't an ordinary child. Even as she said it, the mysterious aura surrounding it did not fade. The child—or what appeared to be a child—shivered slightly, then sat down on the ground as if it had suddenly lost all its strength.
***
Everyone agreed that they should care for the child and protect it, but not without keeping a watchful eye on it.
Yuri tried to clean it, but it kept running away each time, even attempting to bite her, which made her truly angry and caused it to cause trouble for several days.
The task of caring for it was passed to Mai, who kept annoying and chasing it until it accepted a bath.
At first, the child did not respond, but it kept watching her, its golden eyes fixed on her in an almost suffocating manner. Then, after moments of tense silence, it let out a soft sound, like a broken sigh, as if something inside it had collapsed.
Mai seized the opportunity, took a bucket of water and a cloth, and began gently cleaning the mud covering its body. At first, the creature seemed tense, but it gradually relaxed as it noticed her kindness and attention.
With each layer of mud removed, the true features of the child began to emerge. Its hair, which had been tangled and hidden under the mud, cascaded in a sky-blue hue, shining like the sky on a clear summer day. Its golden eyes looked even brighter and more radiant after the dirt had disappeared.
Mai gasped loudly, placing her hands on her cheeks in astonishment: "Ah! You... you're like the magical prince from the stories! Why were you hiding this beauty under the mud?"
The child, unaccustomed to attention or praise, lowered its gaze shyly, but the corner of its mouth lifted slightly in a faint smile that quickly faded, so much so that Mai didn't notice it.
The child sat quietly at the back of the cart, either looking at the ground or staring off into the distance whenever Mai moved away from it.
But Mai, curious as always, approached slowly. She sat beside it on the ground, holding a piece of bread and some water in her hand.
"Are you hungry?" she asked softly.
The child slowly raised its head, its golden eyes glowing with a hint of hesitation. It didn't answer, but it took the piece of bread carefully, as if still testing her intentions.
"I'm Mai," she said, smiling gently. "What's your name?"
The child didn't answer, but it took the cup of water and drank slowly.
Throughout the day, Mai spent most of her time by the child's side, trying to break the ice between them. Sometimes she would tell it stories about her small adventures with the caravan, and sometimes she would show it her simple drawings in her notebooks. Though it never spoke a word, its features began to soften gradually.
"Hm, if you won't tell me yourself, I'll give you a name. What do you think?"
"..."
"I can't keep calling you 'it' or 'the child'."
"..."
Mai took its silence as agreement and made her decision quickly.
"Rin... your name is Rin, and there's no arguing about it." She said firmly, placing her hands on her hips with a serious but childish tone.
Rin nodded his head in resignation.
As the days passed, Ren began to show more distinct personality traits. He was quiet and observant, always preferring to sit in the distant corners and silently watch what was going on around him. But he became more comfortable with Mai, even beginning to respond to her with simple gestures or meaningful glances.
One evening, while they were sitting around the fire, Mai decided to try and learn more about him.
"You know, Rin? I think you're someone special," she said, looking at him. "But you're still so mysterious. Why were you in the forest? Are you running from something?"
Rin remained silent, but his expression changed slightly. There was a shadow of sadness in his eyes, as though the question had stirred painful memories.
"It's okay," Mai said quickly. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. But I want you to know... you're safe here. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Her words made Rin look at her with a subtle gratitude that she didn't notice.
The following days passed peacefully, as if the caravan were taking a break from the tension that had previously hung over them. Despite Rin's strange nature, he began to gradually integrate with the caravan members thanks to Mai.
The men and women of the caravan, who had been skeptical at first, began to see him as a child in need of care more than a threat. Yuri, who had always been anxious, became less harsh toward him. As for Ken, he watched him cautiously but did not show any explicit hostility.
"I think the boy doesn't pose a danger to us," Ken said one evening to Yuri. "But he's not normal. I can't ignore that."
Yuri sighed and said, "I know, but as long as he's with us now, we have to protect him."
Every morning, Mai insisted on sitting next to Rin during breakfast, taking a bite of her food, and then trying to feed him. At first, Rin stubbornly refused the food she offered, but Mai didn't give up. "If you don't eat, you won't grow to become a strong prince!" she would say, shaking her head seriously.
Rin, who was starting to trust her more, would take a bite from her shyly, which made the others laugh as they got used to his presence.
During the day, Rin would move around the wagons, initially watching the others from afar, but over time, he began to help them with small tasks. He would gather firewood, carry water, or sit quietly next to Mai as she told fairy tales about him being a brave prince or a hero embarking on amazing adventures.
Even Ken, who had been reserved at first, began to show a kinder side. Sometimes, he would give Rin small tips about self-defense, and at other times, he would just watch him quietly as he tried to imitate him using a small stick as if it were a sword.
As for Yuri, she had become like a mother to Rin, caring for his small details. She would fix his clothes and make sure he didn't feel hungry or cold. One night, she found him sitting by the wagon, looking at the stars, so she gave him her cloak and let him enjoy the moment.
***
On a bright morning, the forest began to change gradually. The trees grew taller and denser, and their leaves seemed to shimmer under the sun with a distinct green glow. The air was pure but charged with a mysterious aura, as if the forest itself was aware of the caravan's presence.
"This is the Elven Forest," Ivan said in a low voice, as though speaking aloud might disturb something hidden.
Mai, who was standing next to Rin, whispered eagerly: "Rin! Do you see? This forest looks like it came out of a fairy tale! The trees are enormous, as if they reach the sky!"
Rin, who always carried a cautious expression, seemed slightly awed. His golden eyes followed the tall trees, as if capturing every detail of the place.
But as they moved deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew stranger. The silence became heavier, and eyes kept darting toward the dark depths between the trees, as if expecting something to appear at any moment.
"Stay in groups," Paul ordered. "The elves don't like visitors, and we must show that we don't intend to trespass."
Suddenly, a faint sound, almost like a whisper, reached everyone's ears. It wasn't a human voice, but something more like the wind carrying incomprehensible words.
Mai felt a chill run through her body, but she composed herself and looked at Rin, who was inspecting the area with vigilant eyes. "Don't be afraid, Rin. We're together, and we won't let anything harm you."
But what Mai didn't know was that the eyes of the elves had been watching the caravan since the moment they set foot in the forest.
"Who are these humans?" A quiet, deep voice came from among the trees, but no one was visible.
Its sound echoed through the forest like the whisper of the wind, leaving the caravan in a state of tense anticipation, with everyone's eyes searching nervously around them.