Kendrick saw a light surrounding elara, it was as if it was protecting her, he reached down and held Elara, his gaze falling on her pointed ears.
Kendrick almost fell when she realized what the baby was.
She was an elf, a fact that felt both wondrous and terrifying.
Just a week ago, the elven kingdom had been wiped out. Demons had attacked, leaving a trail of destruction across the land. Humans, hybrids, newts, orcs, and elves – all had suffered, but the elves… they were gone. Completely annihilated. And now, in his arms, he held the last echo of their world, the last remaining elf.
This realization settled heavily on Kendrick's shoulders. He knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the bone, that protecting Elara was his mission, his purpose.
He carried her and walked back to his secluded home deep within the woods, a small cabin nestled amongst towering trees.
He carefully arranged a soft blanket and pillow before gently laying Elara down making sure she was comfortable.
He stared at the sleeping infant, a wave of awe washing over him.
She was the last elf. The weight of that responsibility pressed down on him. But a more immediate question arose: "what was her name?"
He racked his brain, searching for a name that felt right, when a soft, female voice whispered in his ear, "Her name is Elara."
There was no fear, only warmth, in the voice. He repeated the what the voice said, "Your name is Elara," and the baby smiled, a tiny, perfect smile that mirrored the warmth he felt in his heart.
Kendrick smiled back. He was completely unprepared for this. He'd never cared for a baby before. But he was determined.
When going to the town square Kendrick would cover you and himself making sure no one notices you two, sometimes he'd listened to the women in town gossiping, picking up tips on childcare. He'd even bought milk and other supplies.
The women, initially wary of his eavesdropping, eventually understood his intentions. He just wanted to learn.
Time slipped by. Kendrick raised Elara with unwavering love and care. He celebrated her birthdays, her first steps, and her first words, cherishing every moment. Yet, he never took her to the town square. The fear of discovery was a constant shadow, a chilling reminder of the danger Elara faced.
Years passed and Elara had grown to be a teenager. As Elara grew, so did her curiosity. She noticed the differences between them.
"Why," she asked one day, "are your ears round, and mine pointy?"
"Why aren't there any kids my age around?."
Kendrick, ever the protector, always found a way to deflect her questions, weaving intricate tales to explain the differences and as to why there were no kids around or adults.
One sunny afternoon, Elara played with a baby deer, their laughter echoing through the woods. They skipped and hopped together when suddenly,
She hears voices, children's voices, and her curiosity pulled her towards the sound. Elara peeked at a bush and she saw three children playing by a stream – two boys and a girl.
She was confused as to why they were here but it was quickly change with joy at the sight of other children, out of excitement she was about to approach them when Kendrick quickly pulled her back, placing a finger to his lips. He hushed her, and led her back to the cabin.
Their walk towards the cabin was silent. Elara was quiet, but her eyes were filled with unshed tears.
Kendrick had noticed Elara's facial expressions, he knew that Elara has so many questions as to what she had just witnessed, she saw people. She sensed the deception. When they arrived at the cabin.
Elara's pent-up emotions exploded. "Why did you lie to me?" she cried.
Kendrick heartbroken seeing Elara cry "I was just protecting you my dear I mean no deception." Kendrick replied as he reached to hold her.
Elara slapped his hand away, "so everything is a lie, is that why my ears are different from yours, are you, are you even my real father?" she questioned as her voice shaking in frustration and sadness.
Kendrick was caught off guard by her questions, she was indeed not his real daughter, Kendrick was silent for a while trying to compose himself.
As he was about to tell her, she stormed into her room and slammed the door shut.
Kendrick's heart ached. He knew this reaction was inevitable. He'd known it was only a matter of time before the truth caught up to them. He had decided to tell Elara at dinner time.
He approached her room, knocking softly. "Elara, dear, come eat," he said gently.
There was no response.
"My dear, I know you're mad at me but at least eat something, please dear." still no response.
Kendrick went to clean up. Elara's frustration, the pain, had overwhelmed her, and she had fallen asleep.
Later, as Kendrick cleaned up, a scream pierced the silence.
He raced to Elara's room, his heart pounding. "Elara! What's wrong?" he shouted, his voice laced with panic. In his urgency, he burst through the door.
Elara was crying, her small body wracked with sobs. She'd had a nightmare.
As Kendrick watched, something extraordinary happened.
Her room filled with a soft, ethereal light.
Each tear that fell from her eyes transformed into a tiny, glowing orb of light, floating gently around her.
Kendrick stood there, stunned, amazed, and deeply worried. He wasn't afraid of the light, but the sheer otherworldliness of it was overwhelming.
"Dad," Elara whispered, her voice trembling,
"What's happening?" she asked.
Kendrick took a deep breath. "I think," he said softly.
"It's time you knew the truth, my dear." he replied.
"What do you mean!" Elara replied enraged.
Kendrick approached her slowly and sat on her bed ready to unveil the truth to her.