Kendrick approached Elara, his heart heavy with the truth he needed to share.
As he drew closer, a whisper echoed in his ears, "Not yet," it murmured continuously.
It was the same voice he had heard when he named Elara.
She sat on her bed, her eyes wide with anticipation, waiting for Kendrick to explain what he meant.
Kendrick hesitated, the voice urging him to lie.
"Elara," he began, trying to find the right words. "There's something important I need to tell you, but now isn't the right time."
Elara's expression shifted from curiosity to frustration.
"What do you mean, Dad? You can't just leave me hanging like this!" Her voice trembled with emotion.
Kendrick struggled to maintain his composure. "I promise, Elara, I'll tell you everything when the time is right. For now, you have to trust me."
Elara's frustration grew, and the orbs that floated around her, once a bright white, began to turn dark red.
"Why won't you just tell me?" she demanded, her voice rising. "What are you hiding from me?"
As Elara's anger intensified and the dark red hue of the orbs turned to pure darkness.
She bombarded Kendrick with questions, each one more urgent than the last.
Kendrick felt overwhelmed, unable to keep up with her rapid-fire inquiries.
Finally, Elara's patience snapped, and she shouted, "JUST TELL ME!"
In that moment, the orbs around her began to melt, their light turning into a corrosive liquid that dripped onto the wooden floor.
The floorboards sizzled and began to dissolve, the acidic substance eating away at the wood.
Elara's eyes filled with tears as she watched the destruction she had caused.
Kendrick, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, rushed to Elara's side.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. "Elara, please calm down," he whispered urgently.
"I know you're upset, but you have to trust me. You're not ready to know the truth yet."
Elara sobbed into Kendrick's chest, her tears mingling with the light orbs that continued to float around them.
"Why can't you just tell me?" she cried. "I need to know!"
Kendrick held her tighter, his voice soothing. "I promise, Elara, when the time is right, I'll tell you everything. But for now, you have to be patient. It's for your own safety."
Elara's sobs gradually subsided, and she clung to Kendrick, seeking comfort in his embrace.
"I don't understand," she whispered. "Why is it so important to keep this secret?"
Kendrick sighed, his heart aching for the young girl in his arms.
"It's complicated, Elara. But no matter what happens, I want you to know that I love you. You're like a daughter to me, and I would do anything to protect you."
Elara nodded, her tears slowly turning back into light orbs that illuminated the room.
As Kendrick watched, the floor that had melted began to restore itself, the wood knitting back together by magic. He marveled at the sight, once again in awe of Elara's mysterious powers.
As they continued to hug, Elara's exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she fell asleep in Kendrick's arms.
The orbs remained, even in her unconscious state, casting a gentle glow around them.
Kendrick planted a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispered, "Goodnight, sweetheart."
He carefully laid her down on her bed and tucked her in before leaving the room.
Kendrick made his way to his own room, his mind racing with thoughts of the day's events.
He knew that keeping the truth from Elara was necessary, but it pained him to see her so distressed.
He lay down on his bed, hoping that tomorrow would bring some clarity.
The next morning, Kendrick was jolted awake by a loud bang outside.
He quickly sat up, grabbing his trusty sword from beside his bed.
He rushed outside, ready to face whatever threat awaited him.
To his surprise, he found Elara standing in the yard, her hair messy and surrounded by the glowing orbs.
"Elara, what are you doing?" Kendrick asked, his voice filled with concern.
Elara turned to him, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Dad, look! The orbs followed me when I woke up. I was so surprised that I ran outside, but they kept following me!"
Kendrick's worry deepened. "Elara, you need to be careful. If someone hears these noises, they might discover us ok sweetheart."
Elara nodded, her excitement dimming slightly.
"I know, but I couldn't help it. When I stared at one of the orbs, it exploded! It was amazing!"
Kendrick sighed, trying to balance his concern with understanding.
"I know it's fascinating, but we have to be cautious. We can't risk anyone finding out about your powers." Kendrick replied concerned.
Elara looked down, her enthusiasm fading. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Kendrick softened, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know, Elara. Just promise me you'll be more careful from now on."
Elara nodded, her expression serious. "I promise."
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush.
Kendrick's instincts kicked in, and he quickly hid Elara behind him, drawing his sword.
The rustling grew louder, and Kendrick prepared for the worst.
To his relief, a deer emerged from the bush, its eyes wide with curiosity.
Kendrick lowered his sword, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
Elara giggled and ran to the deer, her orbs following her.
She reached out to pet the animal, her earlier worries forgotten.
Just then, a girl around sixteen years old emerged from the same bush, calling out, "Come back here, Legsy!"
Kendrick's guard went up again, and he pointed his sword at the girl. She froze, her eyes wide with fear.
"Who are you?" Kendrick demanded, his voice stern.
The girl raised her hands in surrender, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to intrude. I was just looking for my deer."
Kendrick studied her for a moment before lowering his sword. "What's your name?"
The girl hesitated before answering, "My name is Lila. I live nearby."
Kendrick nodded slowly, still wary. "Nearby? But we're the only ones who live here."
Lila glanced at Elara, who was still playing with the deer. "Oh we just moved here actually, we heard a loud bang and that little guy over there got scared and ran and thus led us here. I didn't mean any harm."
Kendrick sighed, realizing that Lila was just a curious teenager. "Alright, Lila. But you need to be careful. This area isn't safe for you."
Lila nodded quickly. "I understand. I'll be more careful."
Kendrick watched as Lila approached Elara and the deer. Elara looked up, her eyes curious. "Hi, I'm Elara. This is my Dad his name is Kendrick, I'm sorry he suddenly pointed his sword at you."
Lila smiled nervously. "Nice to meet you, Elara. It's ok." Lila responded.
Lila then notices Elara's ear's, " Hey why are your ears pointy?" she questioned
Kendrick jolted not realizing that he had forgotten to hide elara, he then rushed to the conversation, "Ah Elara has a condition you see."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that Elara." Lila replied
Kendrick sighed, relieved to know that this little girl despite her age, had no idea of the existence of elves.
Kendrick kept a close eye on Lila, still unsure if he could trust her.
But as he watched the two girls interact, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.
(Maybe, just maybe, they had found an ally in this mysterious girl.)
As the day went on, Kendrick and Elara showed Lila around their small home.
They explained the importance of keeping Elara's powers a secret and the dangers they faced if anyone found out.
Lila listened intently, her expression serious.
"Whoa so you're a mage? Amazing, but don't worry I promise I won't tell anyone," Lila said earnestly. "Your secret is safe with me."
Kendrick nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Thank you, Lila. We appreciate it."
As the sun began to set, Lila prepared to leave. "I should get back home before it gets dark," she said. "But I'll come visit again if that's okay."
Elara smiled brightly. "I'd like that. Thank you for understanding."
Lila waved goodbye and disappeared into the forest, leaving Kendrick and Elara alone once more.
Kendrick watched her go, his mind filled with questions. Who was this girl, and could they really trust her?
Kendrick glanced at Elara, Noticing that she had a huge smile the entire day.
"Dad, I'm so happy right now! I have powers and I have a friend too, this might be the best day ever." She concluded happily
Kendrick smiled at her words feeling a mixture of happiness and nervousness. Hoping Lila would keep this a secret.
As night fell, Kendrick and Elara settled in for the evening.
They knew that their journey was far from over, but for now, they had found a moment of peace.
Kendrick looked at Elara, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the orbs, and felt a surge of determination.
No matter what challenges lay ahead, he would protect her with everything he had.