Calypsius stirred awake to the low hum of voices beyond the thin wooden walls. For a moment, he remained still, letting the warm sunlight streaming through the small window soothe his aching muscles. The faint scent of herbs and flowers lingered in the air, grounding him in this strange, tranquil reality. It felt safe—an illusion he knew couldn't last.
The memory of his frantic escape resurfaced like a thunderclap. He was deep in an elven town, an outsider among beings who had every reason to distrust him. The thought sent a ripple of unease through him as he sat up, ignoring the stiffness in his limbs.
The room around him was modest yet impossibly elegant. The carved wooden chair in the corner bore twisting vine-like patterns, and the bed's silken covers glinted faintly in the sunlight. It was a world apart from the grim cave he had barely escaped.
The door creaked, and his pulse quickened. The elven nurse from earlier stepped inside, her movements fluid, her green eyes alight with faint curiosity.
"You're awake," she observed with a small smile, carrying a tray of food. "You're recovering faster than expected. Eat." She set the tray down—a bowl of steaming soup and a dense piece of bread.
Calypsius hesitated, his stomach growling despite his wariness. "Thank you," he murmured, reaching for the bowl. The first spoonful warmed his insides, and the unfamiliar flavors stirred something close to hope in him.
The nurse leaned slightly against the wall, watching him. "What's your name, human?"
"Calypsius," he answered cautiously. "And you?"
"Ellara."
Before he could respond, a sharp knock interrupted the quiet moment. Ellara's warm expression evaporated, replaced by a furrowed brow as she answered the door. She spoke in hurried whispers, her words just audible enough to set him on edge.
"…Yes, he's awake… the elders insist… no time…"
When she turned back to him, her face was grim. "I'm afraid your rest is over. The elders wish to see you now."
Calypsius's chest tightened. Elders. The word carried weight, and he doubted it meant good news.
"They're waiting," Ellara urged, handing him a plain tunic. "You can't meet them looking like you've crawled out of a cave."
The remark stung, but Calypsius dressed quickly, forcing his body into motion. His steps faltered as they entered the heart of the elven town.
The town was unlike anything he'd seen, a harmonious blend of nature and artistry. Homes were carved seamlessly into towering trees, glowing orbs floated gently in the air, and wooden walkways curved along the canopy. Yet, amidst the beauty, sharp eyes followed his every move.
Ellara led him to a clearing where an ancient tree stood, its sprawling limbs sheltering a semicircle of elves clad in robes that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. These were the elders.
One stepped forward—a tall figure with silver hair and piercing blue eyes that radiated authority.
"You have intruded upon our sanctuary," the elder began, his voice steady but sharp. "Few humans find this place. Fewer leave it alive. Speak. Why are you here?"
Calypsius's throat tightened, but he forced the words out. "I… I was lost. Running for my life. I escaped a cave and stumbled here. I didn't know this place existed."
Murmurs rippled through the elders, but one—a golden-haired elf with an intense gaze—stepped forward. "Running from what, human? What danger have you brought to our doorstep?"
The memory of the beast surged forward, sharp and vivid. "There was something… in the cave," he admitted. "It chased me. I barely escaped."
Tension crackled in the air. The silver-haired elder silenced the whispers with a raised hand. "Your presence here may bring us harm. Why should we trust you?"
"I mean no harm," Calypsius said earnestly, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart. "I swear it. I'm just… I'm just trying to survive."
The elder's gaze lingered on him, unreadable. "We will deliberate. Until then, you will remain under supervision."
Ellara's jaw tightened as she dipped her head. "Understood."
As she led him away, Calypsius felt the weight of a dozen eyes on his back. Whatever fate the elders decided, he could only hope it didn't involve his head on a pike.
But that hope was short-lived.
A low, guttural roar ripped through the air. Ellara froze mid-step, her eyes wide with shock. Around them, elves sprang into action, drawing weapons and shouting orders.
"What's happening?" Calypsius asked, gripping her arm.
Ellara's voice trembled. "Something's breached the wards."
Before either of them could move, the trees split apart, and a massive beast emerged—a creature cloaked in shifting shadows, its glowing red eyes locked on them. It growled low, each step burning the ground beneath its feet.
"Elganth," Ellara whispered, her composure cracking. "We need to move—now!"
The beast roared, and they ran. Calypsius's lungs burned as the beast thundered behind them, its guttural snarls growing louder.
"We can't outrun it!" he shouted, glancing back at its massive form tearing through the trees.
Ellara veered sharply, yanking him into a cluster of thick roots. "The sentinels will handle it. Just keep moving!"
But the beast wasn't giving up. It crashed through the forest, splintering trees as it closed in on them. Calypsius stumbled, his foot catching on a root. He hit the ground hard, the beast bearing down on him.
"No!" Ellara shouted, stepping between him and the creature. A burst of golden light erupted from her palms, slamming into the beast and sending it stumbling back.
"Get up!" she screamed at Calypsius, her voice shaking.
He grabbed a broken branch, wielding it like a club. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. As the beast lunged again, he swung with everything he had, striking its side.
The beast snarled, its glowing eyes locking onto him. But before it could strike, a hail of glowing arrows pierced its hide, and a group of elven warriors descended from the trees, blades flashing in the dim light.
"Fall back!" one of the warriors shouted at Ellara.
She didn't need to be told twice, dragging Calypsius away as the sounds of battle raged behind them.
"What was that thing?" he asked breathlessly.
Ellara didn't answer. The look in her eyes said it all: whatever that creature was, it was only the beginning.