Chapter 11 - To and Fro (1/2)
Chapter 11: To and Fro
It felt like a good hour before the little elf girl settled down. I don’t blame her. Being taken away like that is a traumatic experience even for adults, much less a child.
I just sat there waiting for her to settle down, sitting cross-legged, patting her head every so often.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
“What happened to those bad guys?” She manages to say.
Not knowing what I should say to a 7-year-old about killing, I just dismissed it by telling her, “Er… I took care of them so we should okay.”
She looks at me with a slightly confused face. Looking closely at her now, I would imagine she would be quite the beauty later on in the future.
This girl, who looks around 7, has long glowing sliver hair that gently cascades down past her shoulders parted unevenly to the sides. Looking closer, her hair wasn’t exactly pure silver but more of a bright gunmetal grey color. Paired with her unique turquoise eyes that were shaped beautifully like almonds, this elf girl emitted a very mysterious, almost phantasmal feel about her. Her perky nose was slightly red with crying, as were her eyes that still had tears in them, her rose-colored lips that contrasted her fair skin, still quivering.
I shake my head. This is no time to be checking out a child (As if there are times later on when checking out the child is okay)!
I help her up before talking again.
“Those people that tried to kidnap you aren’t going to chase you anymore. Do you think you can make it to your home by yourself?”
Instantly, her eyes turned wide with panic and the tears welled up came flowing down while both her hands clench tightly unto my shirt.
She doesn’t say anything but her actions speak loudly enough.
*Sigh* “Look, I need to get home too. Aren’t elves generally safe in this forest?”
She violently shakes her head in disagreement. “Beasts only scared of adults…Parents warned me that children will get eaten by hounds or tree golems.”
I would normally be pretty amazed about something like a tree golem, but it’s pretty hard to find something that surprises you after seeing a demon king turn into a dragon.
I rub the bridge of my nose, trying to think of the solution to all of this.
“How long does it take to get to where you live from here?”
Still holding unto my badly worn shirt, she looks down and mutters, “… I don’t know.”
Great. I let out a sigh in defeat before telling her that I’ll go with her.
The Kingdom of Elenoir is quite a bit north. My only hope is that there will be a teleportation gate there that can send me to Sapin.
I tell the elf girl to wait in the carriage while I gather some necessities. I also don’t want her to see the mangled carca.s.ses of the slave traders. Even I found it hard to stomach. Finding a backpack obviously too big for a 4 year old, I carefully fold and stuff the small tent inside, along with a leather water bag and some dried rations. I pick up Pinky’s knife from the ground where I fought Danton and George. Before heading back into the carriage, I free the forest hounds.
“Let’s head out now.”
“En!” She nods after hopping out of the carriage. I make sure she doesn’t go to the other side, where all of the bodies are and we head out.
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The elf girl’s name is Tessia Eralith and she just turned 5, meaning she’s about 1 year older than me, physically that is.
From the conversations I had while talking to her while walking, I conclude that she’s a pretty reserved, if not shy, girl. She’s very polite to me, considering that I’m only 4, and is all in all a very agreeable traveling companion. Perhaps if I weren’t traveling in the opposite direction of my home, I would be in a better mood.
It was getting dark so I suggest we stop and pitch the tent for the night.
There were no rods supporting the tent. Instead, it relied on a long line that had to be tied between two trees and hung over to keep it up, the ends weighed down by rocks. After I finished setting up the tent, I take out a couple of tried rations from out of my oversized bag and hand some to her.
“…Thank you very much.”
“You know. You don’t have to be polite with me. I am younger than you and I’d feel a lot more comfortable if you do.” I say, half chewing with a cheek full of dried food.
“O-okay, I’ll try!”
I scratch my nose in defeat and I go back to stuffing my food. She must have very strict parents. Maybe it’s just an elf thing?
We sat against a tree next to the tent while chatting.
“C-can you tell me about the human kingdom?” She suddenly asks with eyes sparkling in interest.
“What do you want to know?”
“What is a human town like? How are humans? Is it true you male humans are perverts and have more than one wife?”
“Pbbt!”
I spit out a mouthful of the dried fruits I was chewing on. This girl!
*Cough*
“No, although it isn’t against the law, only n.o.bilities and the royal families tend to have multiple wives.” I say, while wiping my mouth.
“I see now!” Her eyes seem to say, still sparkling.
Do you really?
I go unto explaining a bit about the town of Ashber and my family to pa.s.s the time before I ask.
“What is it like living in Elenoir?”
“Mmmm….” She ponders before explaining.
“I don’t think it’s too different, except the children all have to go to school to learn about our history and how to read and write. When we awaken, we get teachers a.s.signed to us and we become their disciple. From there, a lot of it is just training with your master.”
“I see…”
I get up from the ground and I hold my hand out to help her get up as well.
I notice her turning a little red, but I think it’s just my eyes playing with me in the dark.