The first rays of sunlight crept into Ashan's room, illuminating the guitar resting on the worktable. The golden light gave the instrument an ethereal glow, as if it were alive with the energy of the new day.
The silver-haired girl, still nestled on Ashan's bed, stirred as the warm sunbeams brushed against her face. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, revealing a pair of light blue irises that reflected the morning light like a calm lake. Her gaze drifted to the window, where the sun hung low in the sky, painting the world in hues of orange and gold.
For a moment, she smiled at the sight of the sun, but then reality rushed back to her. She bolted upright, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room, her chest rising and falling with quickened breaths.
"W-Where? Where am I?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Her gaze landed on Ashan, who was fast asleep on a nearby sofa. She crept toward him cautiously, her steps light and hesitant, as though she were approaching a fragile dream.
"He... He's the one who freed me before," she murmured, studying his face. "How is he here?"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her head. She winced and clutched her temples as fragmented memories rushed back.
Right… I remember. I followed him because I couldn't transform or escape the pain.
Her hand moved to her stomach, and she gasped softly as she felt the mana core within her, no longer sealed.
It's open… I can feel it now.
Her thoughts returned to the young man before her.
He must have done it," she whispered, a mix of awe and gratitude in her voice. "But how? He's so young, like me…
As she stood there, a strange warmth filled her chest. It was a sense of safety, of comfort, that she couldn't explain.
Why do I feel drawn to him?
Suddenly, Ashan stirred. His eyes opened slowly, and they locked onto hers. Startled, she stepped back, retreating to the edge of the bed. Curling up slightly, she watched him with wary eyes.
Ashan chuckled softly at her reaction. "Good morning," he said gently. "Are you feeling better?"
The girl hesitated before nodding slightly. "You… you're the one who freed me before, right?"
Ashan raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that why you followed me?"
She fidgeted nervously. "I-I was confused. That's why I asked."
Ashan's smile widened. "Fair enough. So, how are you feeling now? Any lingering pain?"
The girl shook her head. "No… I don't feel pain anymore, but I feel… uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable?" Ashan repeated thoughtfully. "Alright, lie down on the bed. I'll check."
He stood and took a step toward her. She tensed visibly, her eyes widening in fear. Ashan paused, then softened his expression.
"Why are you afraid?" he asked calmly. "If I intended to harm you, I would've done so already. Trust me."
His words, spoken with such warmth and sincerity, seemed to reach her. The girl's tense posture relaxed, and she nodded. Slowly, she lay back down on the bed, though her gaze remained cautious.
"Excuse me," Ashan said as he placed a hand on her stomach. He closed his eyes, focusing his mana as he scanned her internal state. After a few moments, he removed his hand.
"As I thought," he said. "Your mana core was under a death lock, and while I managed to remove it last night, it left a few small internal injuries. Don't worry—they'll heal in a day or two."
The girl blinked in surprise at his matter-of-fact tone.
"I need to check one more thing," Ashan continued. "Could you rest your head on my lap for a moment?"
Without hesitation, she obeyed, surprising herself with how natural it felt to trust him.
Ashan placed two fingers on her forehead, his touch light yet steady. He frowned slightly. "It seems you have a headache too. Am I right?"
The girl's eyes widened. "Yes… I feel a bit dizzy. But how did you know?"
Ashan gave her a reassuring smile. "I just know," he said simply. "Let me take care of it."
He placed his palm fully on her forehead, and a soft green light emanated from his hand.
The girl stared in wonder. "What is that?"
Ashan didn't look away from his work. "Healing magic. The shockwaves from the death seal damaged your head. I'm fixing it."
The girl's amazement deepened. "Humans can do things like this? I thought only the spirits of the world tree had such abilities."
Ashan paused, looking at her curiously. "World tree spirits? From the hidden place of the spirit forest you're from?"
She gasped. "How do you know about the world tree? Only my kind knows of its existence."
Ashan's expression turned serious.
"I'll answer that after you answer me. Why did you leave the hidden place in the spirit forest?"
The girl closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"I… I was curious about the outside world, even though my father warned me not to leave. I was caught by a blood wolf but escaped by sheer luck. Then… I was captured. When I woke up, I was in a cage, unable to transform or use my powers."
Ashan's gaze softened with sympathy. "I understand. What's done is done. Crying won't change the past."
After a pause, he asked, "How is your tribe? Are they living happily?"
A faint smile graced her lips. "Yes, they are. It's all thanks to our god."
"Your god?"
"Yes," she said, her voice filled with reverence. "Lord Arcane. He saved our kind in the past, according to our legends. My father told me the stories when I was little."
Ashan's lips twitched into a wry smile.
Even they… What is it with these people? I tried to maintain harmony in my previous life, but to call me a god…
"Is something wrong?" the girl asked, noticing his expression.
"No, it's nothing," Ashan replied quickly. "So, your father must know a lot about Lord Arcane."
"Of course. He's our tribe leader."
Ashan raised his eyebrows.
"Tribe leader? So you must be…"
The girl's cheeks flushed pink.
"I… I'm the second princess of the tribe."
Ashan chuckled softly, as if satisfied. "It's an honor to meet you, Princess. By the way, what's your name?"
The girl wiped her tears and smiled shyly.
"Elowyn. My name is Elowyn. What's yours?"
Ashan smiled warmly. "I'm Ashan."
To be continued…