He was the only exception in many years.
Illiya stared at the teleportation array before him for a while and took a deep breath.
The decision had already been made, and there was no turning back.
All he could do was brace himself, step onto the array, and close his eyes, leaving his fate to chance.
Since it was a random teleportation, where he ended up would be entirely dependent on luck.
He could only hope that the Goddess of Fortune would favor him this time.
Goddess of Fortune, please bless me.
Illiya Faelorien, who had never worshiped any deity before, silently prayed in his heart.
For the first time, he understood why humans placed so much faith in the Goddess of Fortune—it was simply because luck was truly important.
The teleportation spell worked swiftly.
In the blink of an eye, Illiya had already arrived in a new location.
Towering trees filled his vision, their trunks thick and sturdy, arranged in a scattered yet orderly manner.
The dense canopy above cast the surroundings into a dim twilight, with the fading sunlight filtering through gaps in the leaves, forming scattered patches of golden light on the forest floor.
Illiya furrowed his brows and released his spiritual energy, scanning his surroundings.
Before leaving the Elven Forest, he had made sure to prepare adequately.
He had carefully studied the maps of the continent's most significant locations, particularly large forests and towns.
Unfortunately, no matter how much preparation one did, stepping into an unfamiliar place still meant being completely in the dark.
His current location was eerily silent, as if he had ended up in a desolate wilderness.
Regardless, the most pressing matter now was to ensure his surroundings were safe.
If he encountered danger before he could even get his bearings, that would be a real headache.
Closing his eyes, he calmed his mind and focused on the whispers of the plants and the movements carried by the wind, searching for any subtle disturbances.
This was where elves had a natural advantage.
As a race blessed by the heavens, elves not only enjoyed long lifespans but also possessed an innate affinity for nature and remarkable magical talent that many other races envied.
Once he fully merged his consciousness with his spiritual energy, Illiya felt an unexpected sense of lightness, as if he had cast off heavy shackles and achieved complete freedom in both body and mind.
Suddenly, his pointed ears twitched.
A faint tremor ran through the plants in the distance.
The lush green grass rustled as if something was treading upon it, the sound growing more hurried by the second.
Illiya took a slow breath—there was a faint scent of blood drifting on the wind.
Someone was injured.
His golden eyes snapped open.
A threat was approaching, though it wasn't directed at him.
Not far away, someone was injured.
The cause was unknown, but injury often meant trouble and danger.
If they were merely being chased by a magical beast of the forest, that wouldn't be too concerning.
However, if they were being hunted by another person, the situation could escalate into something far worse.
If his instincts were correct, that unknown people was heading straight in his direction.
Illiya quickly made up his mind—he had to leave this area immediately.
The moment he lifted his head, his golden eyes narrowed sharply, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
The supposed "danger" was already within a few dozen meters of him.
This… was not what he had imagined at all.
Shouldn't it have been an injured person being chased by a magical beast or an assassin?
Then why was there a tall, imposing man wielding a massive sword—chasing after a ferocious magical beast?
Before Illiya could react, the man seemed to notice him as well.
Rather than slowing down, his speed increased.
Just as Illiya was trying to make sense of what was happening, the situation took another unexpected turn.
The savage-looking magical beast suddenly locked eyes with him, its glowing crimson pupils resembling ominous red lanterns.
Its gaze held an intensity that sent a chill down Illiya's spine—like a predator eyeing its most coveted prey.
Instinctively, Illiya took a step back, his fingers forming a quick spell sign beneath the cover of his wide sleeves, ready to attack.
The magical beast rapidly closed the distance between them.
However, something strange happened—it started shrinking.
In the blink of an eye, its once-massive form condensed into a small, palm-sized ball of fur.
Illiya stood frozen.
Before he could devise a countermeasure, the tiny magical beast shot toward him like an arrow—faster than he could react.
Fortunately, it seemed to harbor no hostility.
Because its goal… was to dive straight into his sleeve.
Without even asking permission, the trembling furball burrowed into his clothes and clung to his arm, shivering violently.
Illiya fell silent, his clenched fingers loosening as he abandoned his prepared spell.
Magical beast, my brother… why would you ever think I could protect you?
He was just an underage elf who had barely left the Elven Forest for the first time.
Why was he being thrown into such a ridiculous situation?
Illiya lifted his gaze, staring blankly at the towering man who is brandishing his giant sword in front of him.
Friend, if I say I have absolutely nothing to do with this magical beast, would you believe me?
A deep sense of despair crept over Illiya.
In that moment, he suddenly understood why his teachers always had such strange expressions whenever magical beasts clung to them.
Elves truly were nature's favored children.
Magical beasts, sentient plants, and other creatures with intelligence all felt an innate closeness to them.
Which meant that if these beings were in danger, and an elf happened to be nearby… they would automatically seek shelter with the elf.
Oh, great. So elves are basically living, breathing shields, huh?
Which brought him back to his current predicament: he had just unwillingly become this ferocious magical beast's shield.